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13/03/2026

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CA-13/03/2026

• Strategic Acquisitions: Major players are consolidating the market; notably, Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired RayzeBio for $4.1 billion, and AstraZeneca acquired Fusion Pharmaceuticals for $2 billion.
• Supply Chain Resilience: News reports highlight critical efforts to resolve isotope shortages (such as actinium-225 and lutetium-177), which have previously paused major clinical trials.
• Global Research Initiatives: India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) recently detailed its R&D efforts for indigenous synthesis of radiopharmaceutical ligands to meet rising domestic demand. 

• Radioactive Drugs: These are drugs containing radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine to diagnose or treat diseases.
• Structure: They typically consist of three parts: a radioactive isotope (the payload), a targeting molecule (which finds specific cells), and a linker that joins them.
• Function: Unlike traditional radiotherapy that uses external beams, these are ingested or injected, traveling through the bloodstream to deliver radiation directly to target tissues. 

• Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals: Used for imaging tests (PET/SPECT scans) to visualize organ function and locate tumors.
  • Examples: Technetium-99m (bone/liver imaging) and Fluorine-18 (PET scans).
• Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals: Use high-energy particles (alpha or beta) to destroy cancer cells or overactive tissue.
  • Examples: Pluvicto (prostate cancer) and Lutathera (neuroendocrine tumors).
• Theranostics: A dual approach where a diagnostic version identifies the disease, and a near-identical therapeutic version targets it for treatment. 

• Precision Targeting: They seek out cancer cells specifically, sparing healthy surrounding tissue and reducing side effects like hair loss or skin changes.
• Metastasis Treatment: Because they circulate in the blood, they can find and kill tiny deposits of cancer spread throughout the body that external radiation cannot reach.
• Personalized Dosing: Imaging allows doctors to see exactly how much drug reaches a tumor and adjust treatment in real-time. 

• Short Half-Life: Many isotopes decay within hours, requiring high-speed production and immediate transport to hospitals.
• Supply Issues: There is currently a worldwide shortage of critical isotopes like Actinium-225, which is slowing down some advanced clinical trials.
• Specialized Training: These products require nuclear medicine physicians and specialized "Authorized User" training centers, which are currently in short supply. 

• High-Level Collaboration: In February 2026, FAO representatives visited the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre to accelerate the transfer of nuclear innovations from laboratories directly to farmers' fields.
• Indian Strategic Push: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) recently announced it is actively disseminating Trombay crop varieties (developed via gamma irradiation) to state universities for multi-location trials.
• Sustainable Partnerships: A new partnership with the OCP Group was launched in February 2026 to use nuclear technology for optimizing fertilizer use efficiency and soil health. 

• Mutation Induction: Seeds are exposed to ionizing radiation (gamma rays or X-rays) to induce genetic changes that do not occur naturally at high speeds.
• Climate-Resilient Crops: This technique develops varieties with higher yields, better resistance to pests, and tolerance to drought or flooding.
• Example: Sudan developed a groundnut variety that requires 30% less rain and produces a 27% higher yield. 

• Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): Male insects are mass-reared and sterilized using radiation before being released into the wild.
• Environmental Benefit: SIT reduces or eradicates pest populations without the need for harmful chemical insecticides, protecting human health and biodiversity.
• Example: Ecuador successfully used SIT to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly, safeguarding millions in fruit exports. 

• Isotopic Tracers: Scientists use stable isotopes like Nitrogen-15 to track exactly how much fertilizer a plant absorbs, allowing farmers to reduce waste and pollution.
• Erosion Assessment: Radioactive nuclides from past events are used as "clocks" to measure the rate of soil erosion and determine the effectiveness of conservation methods. 

• Food Irradiation: Exposing food to controlled ionizing radiation kills bacteria (like Salmonella and E. coli) and parasites without making the food radioactive.
• Extended Shelf Life: This process slows ripening and prevents sprouting in vegetables like potatoes and onions, significantly reducing post-harvest losses. 

• Disease Diagnosis: Nuclear-derived molecular techniques (such as PCR tests) allow for the rapid and accurate detection of transboundary animal diseases.
• Nutritional Optimization: Isotopes are used to study animal metabolism, helping to develop better feed that increases milk and meat production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Network Backbone: A BTS is the fixed radio transceiver that facilitates wireless communication between your mobile device and the core telecommunications network.
• 5G Designation: In 5G technology, the BTS is specifically referred to as a gNodeB (Next-generation NodeB).
• Function: It converts digital data from the network into radio waves for your phone and vice versa, managing tasks like frequency hopping and signal processing. 

• Transceiver (TRX): The heart of the station that sends and receives signals.
• Massive MIMO Antennas: Unlike 4G, 5G BTS use Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output arrays (often 64 or more elements) to focus signals directly at users via "beamforming".
• Baseband Unit (BBU): Processes the digital signals, often centrally located in modern "Cloud-RAN" architectures to save costs and energy. 

• Macro Cells: Large towers providing broad coverage (up to several kilometers), typically used in rural or suburban areas.
• Small Cells: Compact units (often the size of a pizza box) installed on street furniture like lampposts or buildings to provide high-capacity coverage in dense urban areas.
• Pico & Femto Cells: Used for very small areas, such as inside large office buildings, shopping malls, or homes, to bypass physical barriers like thick walls. 

• Ultra-Low Latency: 5G BTS aim for latency of less than 1ms, compared to roughly 20ms for 4G.
• Higher Frequency Bands: They operate in mid-band (1–6 GHz) and high-band (mmWave 24–100 GHz) spectrums, allowing for massive data speeds up to 20 Gbps.
• Increased Capacity: A single 5G BTS can handle a significantly higher number of simultaneous device connections, which is essential for the Internet of Things (IoT). 

• Fiber Backhaul: 5G BTS require high-speed fiber optic connections to the core network to handle the massive data loads.
• Power Consumption: They typically consume more power (between 2 to 10 kW) than older generations, leading to a push for more energy-efficient "green" designs.
• Right of Way (RoW): Obtaining permissions to install small cells on public "street furniture" remains a significant administrative hurdle for telcos.

• Joint Initiative: A collaboration between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DoP).
• Utilization of Assets: Existing Head Post Offices (HPO) and select post offices are repurposed as "mini" passport service centres.
• Objective: To decentralise passport services, bringing them to the doorsteps of citizens in smaller towns and Aspirational Districts. 

• Application Processing: Acceptance of fresh and reissue passport applications.
• Biometrics: Capture of digital photographs and fingerprints.
• Document Verification: On-site verification of original documents against the application.
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): Processing of PCCs, which are essential for long-term visas and employment abroad. 

• Online First: Applicants must register on the Passport Seva Portal or mPassport Seva app, pay the fee, and book an appointment at a POPSK.
• Verification & Granting: Each centre is staffed by a Verifying Officer (VO) and a Granting Officer (GO) to handle the approval process.
• Backend Support: While the front-end interaction happens at the post office, the backend (printing and police verification coordination) remains with the Regional Passport Office (RPO). 

• Reduced Travel: Eliminates the need for rural residents to travel long distances (often 100km+) to major cities for a passport.
• Cost & Time Savings: Lower associated travel costs and faster processing due to more localized appointment slots.
• Transparency: Operates on the same high-security digital platform as regular PSKs, reducing reliance on middle-men or agents. 

• Aspirational Districts: Special focus on 65 Aspirational Districts to ensure no region is left behind in service delivery.
• Infrastructure: The centres leverage India Post's vast network to ensure last-mile connectivity. 

• Beneficiary Milestone: Over 10,000 veteran artists across India are currently receiving monthly assistance under this scheme, with significant fund disbursement reported for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
• Digital Integration: The transition to the Culture Scheme Monitoring System (CSMS) for online applications and the use of Digital Life Certificates (DLC) has been highlighted as a major step to reduce delays.
• State-Level Increases: In a related development, the Kerala government increased its state-level artist pension from ₹4,000 to ₹5,000. 

• Monthly Allowance: Eligible artists receive up to ₹6,000 per month.
• Centre-State Sharing: The Central Government contributes up to ₹5,500, while the State/UT must contribute at least ₹500.
• Spousal Support: Upon the death of a beneficiary, the allowance can be transferred to the surviving spouse for their lifetime.
• Medical Aid: The scheme includes provisions for medical insurance for both the artist and their spouse. 

• Age: The applicant must be 60 years or older (age limit does not apply to the spouse of a deceased beneficiary).
• Contribution: Must have made significant contributions in the fields of arts, letters, or traditional scholarship.
• Income Ceiling: The annual income of the applicant (including spouse) must not exceed ₹72,000.
• Exclusion: Applicants must not be receiving financial assistance from any other Ministry of Culture scheme (Repertory Grant). 

• Income Certificate: Beneficiaries now only need to submit an income certificate once every five years, rather than annually.
• Credential Verification: Artists who do not receive a state pension can now have their credentials verified directly by Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCC), removing the mandatory requirement of having a pre-existing state pension.
• Direct Disbursement: To ensure smoother payments, the Ministry signed an MoU with Canara Bank in 2023 for direct fund transfers. 

• Online Portal: Applications must be submitted through the Culture Scheme Monitoring System (CSMS).
• Required Documents: Aadhaar card, income certificate, bank authorization, and proof of artistic contribution/awards.

• Registration: NBFCs are companies registered under the Companies Act (1956 or 2013) that engage in the business of loans, advances, or acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds.
• Principal Business (50-50 Test): A company is classified as an NBFC if its financial assets constitute more than 50% of its total assets and its income from these assets is more than 50% of its gross income.
• Net Owned Fund (NOF): Most existing NBFCs are required to attain a minimum NOF of ₹10 crore by March 31, 2027. 

• No Demand Deposits: NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits (like savings or current accounts) from the public.
• Cheque Issuance: They are not part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves.
• No Deposit Insurance: Unlike bank depositors, those who deposit with NBFCs do not have the protection of the DICGC facility. 

• The RBI categorizes NBFCs into four layers based on risk and size to ensure proportional regulation:
  • Base Layer (NBFC-BL): Generally non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets below ₹1,000 crore.
  • Middle Layer (NBFC-ML): All deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit-taking ones with assets above ₹1,000 crore.
  • Upper Layer (NBFC-UL): Specifically identified by the RBI based on systemic importance (includes the top 10 entities by size).
  • Top Layer (NBFC-TL): Currently empty; reserved for entities posing extreme systemic risk. 

• Financial Inclusion: NBFCs are vital for "banking the unbanked," particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where traditional banks have limited reach.
• MSME Support: They are the primary financiers for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), offering more flexible lending terms than banks.
• Market Share: As of late 2025, NBFC assets were expected to surpass ₹48 lakh crore, representing a significant portion of India's total credit ecosystem. 

• Funding Costs: Unlike banks, NBFCs do not have access to low-cost CASA (Current Account Savings Account) deposits and rely heavily on bank borrowings or market instruments.
• Asset-Liability Mismatch: Many face liquidity risks where their short-term liabilities come due before their long-term loan assets mature.
• Unsecured Loan Risk: Increased regulatory risk weights on unsecured consumer loans have led many NBFCs to shift focus toward secured lending like gold and vehicle loans. 

• Launched amid the Civil Disobedience Movement after Gandhi's unheeded ultimatum to Viceroy Irwin on salt tax abolition.​
• Protested the British salt monopoly, which taxed an essential commodity, symbolizing economic exploitation.​
• Gandhi viewed salt as a unifying issue, accessible to all Indians regardless of class or region.​

• Began on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 satyagrahis, covering 387 km (241 miles) to Dandi village in Gujarat over 24 days.
• Reached Dandi on April 5-6, 1930; Gandhi picked up natural salt from the shore and boiled seawater to make salt, violating the law.
• Sparked nationwide salt-making and boycotts along coasts.​

• Core group: Gandhi and 78 volunteers, including Sarojini Naidu, Abbas Tyabji, and Manilal Gandhi.​
• Later joined by thousands; women like Sarojini Naidu led follow-up raids at Dharasana Salt Works.​

• Mobilized millions, marking the peak of Gandhi's mass appeal and drawing global media attention.
• Demonstrated non-violent satyagraha's power, inspiring worldwide civil rights movements.​
• Led to over 60,000 arrests, including Gandhi, but no major British concessions until Gandhi-Irwin Pact.​

• Galvanized Civil Disobedience Movement, with illegal salt production and sales nationwide; Gandhi's salt pinch fetched 1,600 rupees.​
• United diverse groups—farmers, urbanites, women—in defiance.​
• Key turning point in independence struggle, pressuring Britain internationally.​

• Purpose: To strengthen the livelihood efficiency of the EWS through technology delivery and the creation of social enterprise models.
• Target Groups: Includes small and marginal farmers, landless labourers, traditional artisans (weavers, blacksmiths, etc.), and workers in the unorganized sector.
• Former Name: It was previously known as the TARA (Technological Advancement for Rural Areas) programme. 

• Participatory Approach: The programme uses a "Land-Lab-Land" model, which identifies local livelihood challenges on the ground ("Land"), develops scientific solutions in the laboratory ("Lab"), and deploys them back to the community ("Land").
• Collaborative Network: It mandates a partnership between at least one Knowledge Institution (KI) (like IITs or NITs) and one Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to balance research with community participation.
• Local Involvement: Actively engages Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for last-mile delivery. 

• Agriculture & Farming: Precision agriculture, farm automation, and climate-resilient farming.
• Energy & Environment: Decentralized clean energy solutions, like mountain solar water heating systems and water mills.
• Essential Services: Natural resource management, drinking water, sanitation, and health & nutrition.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: Eco-tourism, handicrafts, and supply chain optimization for on-farm and off-farm ventures. 

• Duration: Projects are typically supported for a period of 3 to 5 years.
• Eligibility: Scientists, engineers, and technologists from government or private institutions with at least 3 years of field experience in S&T interventions.
• Application Portal: Proposals are submitted online through the e-PMS Portal of the DST. 

• Income Enhancement: Assessments indicate diversification of income through agri-tech, poultry, and sustainable S&T-based rural enterprises.
• Skill Development: Has significantly enhanced the technical skills and innovation capacity of rural and underserved communities, allowing them to manage technologies independently. 

• Sustainability: Commissioned an on-site green hydrogen project, powering port facilities and EV stations.
• Performance Metrics: Achieved record high daily cargo handling of 2,16,631 tonnes and over 8 lakh TEUs of container traffic by early March.
• Security: Implemented a new advanced anti-drone system for enhanced security. 

• Location & Significance: An all-weather, deep-sea port in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, positioned near key international shipping routes (East-West).
• Key Infrastructure: Operates 14 berths (including container, coal, and oil) with planned deepening to 18 meters for larger vessels.
• Green Initiatives: Boasts the highest rooftop solar capacity (1.04 MW) among Indian ports and is introducing shore-to-ship power.
• Industry Focus: Top exporter of windmill blades, having recorded 147 blades on a single vessel in March 2026.
• Background: Renamed in 2011 to honour V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, who initiated India’s indigenous shipping service.
• Logistics: Strategically connected to NH-38 and rail, serving a wide hinterland in Tamil Nadu.

• Geographic Distribution: They are primarily concentrated along the riverbanks of the Ganges in Bihar, specifically in the Bhagalpur, Purnia, and Madhepura districts.
• Social & Legal Status:
  • Bihar: Categorised as an Extremely Backward Class (EBC).
  • Central List: Currently listed under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
  • Pending Demand: There is a long-standing demand for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list to secure greater constitutional benefits.
• Occupation: Historically a community of marginalised farmers, landless labourers, and fishermen (Bataidars). Their name is believed to be derived from the river Ganga, as they traditionally reside in flood-prone "Diara" (riverbed) lands.
• Demographics: According to the 2022 Bihar Caste-Based Survey, their population is 6,48,493.
• Political Clout: They play a decisive role in electing candidates in constituencies such as Kahalgaon, Bihpur, Gopalpur, Nathnagar, Rupauli, Alamnagar, and Bihariganj. In some areas like Nathnagar, they are estimated to comprise up to 70% of the local population.
• Socio-Cultural Identity: They claim descent from Sage Jahnu. Traditional customs include Sindoordan as the binding part of marriage and the practice of widow remarriage, specifically to the late husband's younger brother. 

1. They contain radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine for diagnosis or treatment.
2. They are administered only through external radiation beams.
3. They typically contain a radioactive isotope, targeting molecule and linker.

• Statement 1 – Correct: Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive drugs used in nuclear medicine.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: External beam radiation is traditional radiotherapy. Radiopharmaceuticals are injected or ingested internally.
• Statement 3 – Correct: They usually consist of
  • Radioactive isotope (payload)
  • Targeting molecule
  • Linker joining them.

Radiopharmaceutical	Application
1. Technetium-99m	Bone and liver imaging
2. Fluorine-18	PET scans
3. Lutathera	Diagnostic imaging

• Technetium-99m → used for diagnostic imaging (bone, liver).
• Fluorine-18 → PET scans.
• Lutathera → therapeutic drug for neuroendocrine tumors, not diagnostic.

1. Mutation breeding exposes seeds to radiation to create useful genetic variations.
2. Food irradiation makes food radioactive.
3. Isotopic tracers help determine fertilizer use efficiency.

• Statement 1 – Correct: Radiation induces mutations for crop improvement.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Irradiation does not make food radioactive.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Isotopes like Nitrogen-15 track fertilizer absorption.

1. Eliminating insect pests without chemical pesticides.
2. Increasing the reproductive rate of beneficial insects.
3. Controlling agricultural pests through radiation sterilization.

• Statement 1 – Correct: SIT suppresses pest populations.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Sterilized insects cannot reproduce.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Male insects are sterilized using radiation and released.

• In 5G architecture, the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) is called gNodeB (Next-generation NodeB).
• It connects mobile devices with the core network.

1. Massive MIMO antennas
2. Ultra-low latency around 1 ms
3. Exclusive operation in sub-1 GHz spectrum

• Statement 1 – Correct: Massive MIMO enables beamforming.
• Statement 2 – Correct: 5G latency aims for <1 ms.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: 5G uses mid-band (1–6 GHz) and mmWave (24–100 GHz).

1. They are a joint initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Posts.
2. Passport printing and police verification are conducted at POPSKs themselves.
3. Applicants must apply online before visiting the centre.

• Statement 1 – Correct: MEA + India Post collaboration.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Backend processes handled by Regional Passport Offices.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Online appointment is mandatory.

1. NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
2. NBFCs are part of the payment and settlement system.
3. Deposits in NBFCs are not insured by DICGC.

• Statement 1 – Correct: NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: They are not part of the payment system.
• Statement 3 – Correct: NBFC deposits lack DICGC insurance.

1. It began from Sabarmati Ashram in 1930.
2. It was launched to protest the British monopoly on salt.
3. The march ended at Dharasana Salt Works.

• Statement 1 – Correct: Began March 12, 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram.
• Statement 2 – Correct: Protest against Salt Tax and monopoly.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: March ended at Dandi, though Dharasana raids followed later.

1. It focuses on strengthening livelihoods of economically weaker sections using technology.
2. It follows the “Land-Lab-Land” approach.
3. It is implemented exclusively by private companies.

• Statement 1 – Correct: Targets EWS, farmers, artisans, unorganized workers.
• Statement 2 – Correct: Uses Land-Lab-Land model.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: Implemented through collaboration of knowledge institutions, NGOs, SHGs, FPOs.

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