Daily Current Affairs 2025  

07/03/2026

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CA-07/03/2026

• Primary Objective: To enhance coconut production and productivity through targeted interventions, ensuring India remains a global leader in the sector.
• Rejuvenation Strategy: A core focus is replacing old, non-productive trees with high-yielding, early-bearing, and climate-resilient varieties.
• Financial Allocation: The scheme is part of a broader ₹350 crore allocation targeting high-value crops, including coconut, cashew, cocoa, and sandalwood.
• Specific Subsidies:
  • Under the revised Area Expansion Programme, the per-hectare subsidy has been significantly increased from ₹6,500 to ₹56,000 to incentivize new plantations.
  • Subsidies for setting up coconut-based industries (e.g., virgin oil, coconut water) can reach up to 33.3% or ₹50 lakh.
• Support for Value Addition: Establishing integrated processing units to strengthen exports of value-added products like Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), desiccated powder, and coir pith.
• Technology & Modernization:
  • Linking farmers to the Bharat-VISTAAR (AI-Advisory) platform for real-time nutrient and pest management.
  • Promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with up to 50% cost support.
• Implementing Agency: The Coconut Development Board (CDB), a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, is the primary agency responsible for executing the scheme.
• Target Regions: Focused on major coconut-growing states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, while expanding into non-traditional areas like Gujarat and Assam.

• Final Approval for Jewar: The license issued to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) clears the last major hurdle for the NIA, enabling it to launch domestic and cargo flights within the next 45 days.
• Operational Readiness: The grant follows a recent security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), signalling that all safety, infrastructure, and navigational systems are now officially certified.
• Strategic Growth: This news highlights India's rapid aviation expansion, with the country reaching 164 operational airports as of early 2026. 

• What it Certifies: An aerodrome license confirms that the airport meets strict regulatory standards for operational procedures, safety systems, infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities.
• License Category: Issued under the "Public Use" category, allowing for 24/7 all-weather operations.
• Technical Specifications at NIA:
  • Runway: Features a 3,900-metre runway (10/28) capable of handling large wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777-300ER.
  • Capacity: The first phase is designed to handle 12 million passengers annually, eventually scaling to 70 million upon full completion.
  • Navigational Aids: Equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) for round-the-clock service.
• Validity: The license for Jewar is initially provisional for six months (valid until September 5, 2026), subject to further periodic approvals.
• Recent Precedent: A similar milestone was achieved by the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which received its aerodrome license on September 30, 2025.
• Economic Impact: The licensing of such major hubs is expected to ease congestion at Delhi's IGI Airport and boost regional tourism and investment in Western Uttar Pradesh.

• 7th Anniversary Celebrations: GeM commemorated seven years of the initiative, highlighting its success in dismantling entry barriers for marginalized and small-scale entrepreneurs.
• Massive Milestone for Women: As of March 2026, women-led enterprises have registered over ₹83,323 crore in cumulative orders on the GeM portal.
• Startup Growth: Orders from startups under the initiative have officially crossed the ₹54,000 crore mark, reflecting a significant rise from previous years. 

• Full Form: SWAYATT stands for Startups, Women and Ayouth Advantage Through e-Transactions.
• Launch Date: It was launched on February 19, 2019, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• Startups and women entrepreneurs.
• Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Youth and entrepreneurs from backward sections of society.

• "Womaniya": Showcases products like handicrafts, handloom, and organic foods specifically from women-led units.
• "Startup Runway": Allows startups to showcase innovative products directly to government ministries.

• Seller Base: Women-led businesses now constitute approximately 8% of GeM's total seller base.
• Market Access: Over 1.77 lakh Udyam-verified women-led MSEs are registered on the platform.

• Strategic Partnerships: GeM recently signed an MoU with the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO) to train and onboard an additional 9,500+ women entrepreneurs.
• Impact: The initiative addresses the "three A's" of small business challenges: Access to Market, Access to Finance, and Access to Value-Addition.

• Operational Review: The Minister recently inspected the ongoing work at the Kavaratti facility, which is identified as a priority project by NITI Aayog.
• Transition to Green Energy: While existing LTTD plants in Lakshadweep rely on diesel generators, this new integrated plant will use OTEC technology to generate its own electricity (approx. 60–65 kW) from ocean temperature differences, making it the first self-powered plant of its kind.
• Expansion Milestones: The government is currently establishing six additional LTTD plants across the islands of Amini, Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, and Kiltan to ensure 100% potable water coverage for the UT. 

• The Technology: LTTD is an indigenous process developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) that converts seawater into potable water by exploiting the temperature gradient between warm surface water (~28°C) and cold deep-sea water (~7–15°C).

• Warm surface water is flash-evaporated under low pressure.
• The resulting vapor is condensed into fresh water using cold water pumped from depths of about 600 metres.

• No Chemicals: Unlike Reverse Osmosis (RO), it requires no chemical pre-treatment or post-treatment.
• Eco-Friendly: It avoids the discharge of concentrated brine, which protects the fragile coral ecosystems of Lakshadweep.

• Public Health Impact: Local health records show a 90% reduction in water-borne diseases in areas served by these plants.
• Production Capacity: Most existing units produce 1 lakh litres of drinking water daily, while the newer units are designed for 1.5 lakh litres per day.
• Geographic Suitability: This technology is specifically suited for Lakshadweep because the steep seafloor allows access to deep cold water very close to the shore.
• Scale of Investment: The current phase of establishing six new plants involves a total investment of approximately ₹187.75 crore. 

• Deployment at Amayizhanchan Canal: The robot was commissioned to clean the covered stretch of the Amayizhanchan canal near Thampanoor Railway Station, an area with restricted vertical clearance and continuous water flow that is inaccessible to humans.
• Honouring Worker Safety: The decision follows the tragic death of a sanitation worker, N. Joy, in July 2024 during manual cleaning operations in the same canal.
• Urban Flood Prevention: The robot’s systematic cleaning is expected to significantly improve drainage efficiency and prevent urban flooding in the state capital. 

• Developer: Developed by Genrobotic Innovations, a Technopark-based startup famous for the Bandicoot robotic scavenger.
• Robotic Architecture: Built on a Cable-Driven Parallel Robotics (CDPR) architecture, which allows it to operate over large areas with high precision.
• AI & Sensor Intelligence:
  • Equipped with AI-enabled machine vision and sensor intelligence to detect and assess different types of waste in real time.
  • Automatically adapts its operations based on water flow conditions and structural obstacles.
• Mechanism: Features a five-degrees-of-freedom robotic mechanism with a biomimetic claw-type grabber for securely handling mixed and irregular debris.
• End-to-End Automation: The system extracts waste (including plastics and sharp materials) and transfers it directly into collection vehicles, ensuring a completely hands-free process.
• Operational Resilience: Designed to function efficiently even during high water levels and continuous flow conditions.
• Scalability: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has highlighted G-SPIDER as a replicable model for high-risk drainage networks across other Indian cities. 

• Revamped Dashboard (March 6, 2026): The portal now features a high-fidelity dashboard that provides real-time, "drill-down" access to data on works recommended, sanctioned, and completed, along with expenditure details for both ongoing and finished projects.
• New Image Verification: A new mandatory provision was introduced requiring Implementing Agencies to upload geo-tagged photographs at multiple stages of project execution to prevent "ghost projects" and ensure accurate tracking.
• MP Empowerment: Members of Parliament (MPs) are now enabled to personally upload photographs of completed works through their logins to provide accurate visual updates to the public.
• Brainstorming Workshop (January 2026): These updates follow a national-level workshop held in Kochi where stakeholders discussed digital monitoring and the convergence of MPLADS with other central schemes. 

• Core Purpose: The eSAKSHI portal (introduced April 1, 2023) is a unified digital platform designed to manage the entire lifecycle of MPLADS projects—from recommendation to final payment.
• Stakeholder Access: It provides dedicated login credentials to all key players, including MPs, Central Nodal Agencies (MoSPI), State and District Authorities, and Implementing Agencies.

• Direct Recommendations: MPs submit project proposals digitally instead of through physical letters.
• Just-in-Time Payments: The portal facilitates direct vendor payments, eliminating the need to park funds in district-level bank accounts.
• Real-time Monitoring: Stakeholders can track the status of fund utilization and project progress 24/7.

•  Mobile Application: A companion e-SAKSHI mobile app allows MPs to propose and monitor developmental works on-the-go.
•  Strict Timelines: The 2023 guidelines integrated into the portal mandate that District  Authorities must sanction or reject MP recommendations within 45 days.
•  Transparency Focus: The portal name "e-SAKSHI" stands for Efficiency, Simplification, Accountability, and Knowledge for Seamless Holistic Implementation.
•  Collaboration: The system was developed in partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI) to ensure secure financial transactions and reporting.

• First edition scheduled from February 14, 2026, in Chhattisgarh, the first state to host this national event.
• Part of the Khelo India Scheme (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports flagship) to promote rural/indigenous sports and tribal empowerment.
• Aims to preserve traditional tribal sports, identify talent, and integrate athletes into national framework with scholarships (₹5 lakh annually for 8 years for top performers).​

• Seven competitive events: Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming, Weightlifting.
• Two demonstration sports to showcase indigenous traditions (specifics not detailed in sources).​

• Jointly managed by Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association, National Sports Federations, and Chhattisgarh committee.
• Builds on successes like Bastar Olympics; benchmarks against international standards to nurture tribal talent historically underrepresented.
• Mascot 'Morveer' reflects Chhattisgarh's tribal culture; event emphasizes cultural authenticity over mainstream formats.

• Official Launch (March 4, 2026): The project was formally introduced as a flagship research endeavour in Bengaluru.
• Strategic Funding: It is financially backed by the Pratiksha Trust, founded by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and Sudha Gopalakrishnan.
• Focus on Stroke Rehabilitation: The project is currently gaining attention for its potential to help stroke survivors regain lost motor functions, such as reaching and grasping objects. 

• Core Technology: Develops brain co-processors that combine neuromorphic hardware (mimicking brain structure) with AI algorithms to interface directly with the human brain.
• Closed-Loop System:
  • Decode: Records and interprets neural activity from the brain using AI.
  • Process: AI algorithms analyze these signals to determine necessary corrections.
  • Re-encode: Sends signals back to the brain via neural stimulation or neurofeedback to restore function.
• Two-Phase Development:
  • Phase 1: Focuses on developing a non-invasive neural co-processor to provide sensorimotor feedback for stroke survivors.
  • Phase 2: Aims to create a minimally invasive embedded implant to restore coordination in patients with chronic deficits.
• Multidisciplinary Approach: Brings together experts from neuroscience, electrical engineering, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic computing.
• Indigenous Solutions: A key goal is to build neurotechnology specifically suited for India's healthcare system, including the creation of India-specific brain-signal databases (stereo EEG and ECoG).
• Open Science: The initiative plans to develop AI tools, datasets, and visualization platforms as open digital public goods to benefit researchers worldwide.
• Significance: Beyond medical rehabilitation, the technology could eventually be used for human augmentation, enhancing natural cognitive abilities like memory, attention, and focus. 

• Situated in Gadag district, North Karnataka, spanning the Deccan Plateau.
• Nicknamed the "Western Ghats of North Karnataka" for its ecological similarity despite the region's aridity.​​

• Covers 32,346 hectares (324 sq km total intended), including dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and riverine zones.
• Major catchment area for the Tungabhadra River.​

• Supports dry-scrub and deciduous vegetation with around 400 medicinal plant species.​

• Hosts 18 mammal species per SACON study (2024), including leopards, Indian wolves, striped hyenas, blackbucks, chinkaras, four-horned antelopes, jungle cats, jackals, foxes, porcupines, and rusty-spotted cats.
• Also features monitor lizards, reptiles, and diverse birds.

• Proposed in 2013 from Kappatagudda Reserve Forest for medicinal plant and wildlife protection.​
• Notified in May 2019 (partial), with board approval in January 2019 for full 300 sq km.​
• Features ancient Chalukya and Rashtrakuta temples/ruins.​​

• Faced mining pressures, with 28 lease applications deferred in 2024 and local movements halting de-notifications.
• 2025 camera-trap surveys (phase-2) confirmed key species to deter illegal activities.​
• Central notification declared surrounding area as Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for ecosystem protection.​

• Karnataka tourism developing jungle hotels and safaris (introduced 2025) with facilities like toilets and no-plastic zones; home to wolves, leopards, etc., spotted on tours.
• Balances wildlife, healing (medicinal plants), temples, mining, and tourism interests.

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