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19/03/2026

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CA-19/03/2026

• International Leadership: ISRO assumed a lead role in the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters starting in April 2025, coordinating data from 17 member agencies to support global disaster response.
• Major Satellite Deployments: The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, launched in July 2025, has begun its operational phase, providing high-resolution radar data to monitor earthquakes, landslides, and glacier movements.
• AI Integration: The launch of the Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS) in May 2025 has enhanced weather predictions to a 6 km resolution, enabling village-level disaster alerts. 

• INSAT-3DR and 3DS: Used for cyclogenesis prediction, cyclone detection, and tracking storm evolution through rapid scanning.
• Oceansat-3: Vital for monitoring ocean states and forecasting potential marine-based disasters.

• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): Missions like NISAR use radar to "see" through clouds and darkness, allowing for rapid damage proxy maps after events like the Maui wildfires or Himalayan floods.
• Dual-frequency Radar: NISAR's use of L-band and S-band radar can detect surface changes as small as one centimetre, providing early warnings for tectonic shifts.

• NavIC Messaging: Directly broadcasts emergency warnings for cyclones and tsunamis to fishermen and coastal communities.
• C-Flood Portal: Provides two-day advance inundation forecasts at the village level for major river basins like the Godavari and Mahanadi.

• Geoportals: ISRO utilizes portals like Bhoonidhi, Bhuvan, and NDEM to provide value-added products (like flood maps) to national and state disaster management authorities.

• Space Application Management System (SAMS): Implemented to assess and ensure the effective utilization of Earth observation data across thematic domains like water and forests.

• Plug-and-Play Model: Provides pre-approved land with ready-to-use utilities (power, water, waste management) so businesses can start operations without traditional setup delays.
• Financial Support:
  • The Central Government provides up to ₹1 crore per acre for developing core and social infrastructure.
  • Funding covers up to 25% of the cost for external connectivity infrastructure.
• Park Specifications:
  • General parks will range from 100 to 1,000 acres.
  • In North Eastern and hilly regions, the minimum size is reduced to 25 acres to accommodate geographic constraints.
• Selection via "Challenge Mode": Projects will be selected through a competitive process based on evaluation criteria like PM GatiShakti principles, green energy adoption, and state-led ease of doing business reforms.
• Infrastructure Scope:
  • Core: Internal roads, drainage, and common treatment facilities.
  • Value-Added: Ready-built factory sheds, testing labs, and warehousing.
  • Social: Worker housing and essential amenities to support the local workforce.
• Implementation Partners: Developed through a partnership between the Centre, State Governments, Central PSUs, and private players.
• Regulatory Ease: Includes a single-window clearance system to cut bureaucratic hurdles and speed up project execution. 

• Set up under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) as its chief promoter.
• Aims to create an organic revolution by ensuring better price realisation for farmers through a cooperative value-distribution model.

• The flagship brand currently offers 29 certified organic products, including pulses (tur dal, chana dal), rajma, sugar, and various rice varieties.
• Products undergo rigorous batch-wise testing for over 245 pesticides to ensure authenticity.

• As of early 2026, membership has grown to over 11,000 cooperative societies and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
• 30 States and UTs have nominated nodal agencies to coordinate with NCOL, with 22 having signed formal MoUs for procurement and certification.

• Aggregation & Logistics: Collects produce from small and marginal farmers via local cooperatives.
• Certification & Testing: Empanels accredited labs to lower the cost of organic certification for individual farmers.
• Market Access: Provides retail presence in over 1,000 stores (including Mother Dairy's Safal outlets) and international export linkages through the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL).

• Profits generated from sales are returned directly to member societies and farmers as dividends.
• NCOL helps manage the entire supply chain, reducing dependence on private traders and middle-men.

• Contains only the A2 beta-casein protein.
• Primarily sourced from indigenous Indian breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Tharparkar.

• Not a Standardized Product: FSSAI’s current "Food Product Standards" (2011) do not officially recognize A1 and A2 as distinct categories.
• Conditional Labelling: While the 2024 ban was withdrawn, companies can only use "A2" labels if they can substantiate the claim through genetic testing of cows or protein analysis of the milk.

• Genetic Testing: The most accurate method, involving DNA analysis of the cow to confirm the presence of the A2 gene.
• Protein Analysis: Mass spectrometry or other lab tests on the final milk product to verify the absence of A1 beta-casein.

• Lack of Infrastructure: There is currently a shortage of high-throughput, affordable testing labs across India to certify milk for millions of small-scale farmers.
• Adulteration Risks: Without a unified certification mark (like the Organic Jaivik Bharat logo), consumers face the risk of buying mislabelled "A2" products at premium prices.

• The government is considering integrating A2 certification with the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to "preimmunize" the milk of native breeds and increase farmer income.
• Proposals are being reviewed to create a Unified Conformity Assessment Scheme by BIS and NDDB specifically for A2 authenticity.

• In India, SHP refers to hydropower projects up to 25 MW capacity, managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Globally, definitions vary: under 10-50 MW, subdivided into mini (<500 kW), micro (<100 kW), and pico (<10 kW).​
• India's scheme revives earlier policies from 2009/2014 with Central Financial Assistance to encourage private investment.​

• Supports run-of-the-river projects for decentralized, low-impact renewable power.
• Focuses on border, hilly, and Northeastern regions for employment, investment, and energy security.
• Builds on 2025 MNRE guideline revisions to address developer challenges and promote growth.​

• High efficiency over 80%, low emissions, and minimal ecological disruption compared to large hydro.​
• Ideal for remote areas, providing reliable clean energy and local jobs.​
• Enhances India's renewable targets with sustainable, community-involved development.

• Site selection, implementation coordination, and performance monitoring in rugged terrains.​
• Past issues like policy gaps, now addressed via updated guidelines.

• Launched in 1967 as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP), renamed JSS; first center in Mumbai's Worli via NGO Bombay City Social Council.
• Part of Skill India Programme (SIP) umbrella with PMKVY 4.0 and PM-NAPS; implemented 100% via NGOs registered under Societies Act, 1860.
• Aims to boost household income through self/wage employment via door-step skill training.​

• Promote vocational skills in non-formal mode for non-literates, neo-literates, school dropouts up to Class 12 (age 15-45; relaxations for women, Divyangjan).
• Prioritize women, SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities in rural/urban low-income areas, aspirational districts, LWE/tribal/border regions.

• 294 JSS operational; target: skill 2.81 million beneficiaries (FY 2022-23 to 2025-26), enhancing annual capacity to 0.9 million by 2025-26.
• Funding: One-time Rs. 20 lakhs establishment grant; annual recurring Rs. 50 lakhs (programme Rs. 24L, emoluments Rs. 20L, office Rs. 6L) in 4 installments.​
• Courses: 51 NSQF-aligned; recent expansions include graduates, PPP for urban slums.

• Managed by MSDE through NGOs; Boards approved by GoI; recent guidelines encourage corporate PPP till scheme sunset.
• Pune event includes capacity-building, skill lab visits, product exhibitions for best practices.

• Long-term Care Infrastructure: Reports emphasized the scheme's focus on bridging the care-dependency gap, as nearly 23.8% of Indian seniors suffer from limitations in activities of daily living.
• Expansion of Coverage: The government recently invited fresh applications from NGOs to run Senior Citizen Homes in "gap districts"—areas previously lacking dedicated old age infrastructure. 

• To improve the quality of life for senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, and medical care, while promoting active and productive ageing.

• Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): Provides grants to NGOs/voluntary organisations to run Senior Citizen Homes, Continuous Care Homes, and Mobile Medicare Units.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Provides free assisted living devices (wheelchairs, hearing aids, spectacles) to seniors in the BPL category or with a monthly income up to ₹15,000.
• Elderline (14567): A national toll-free helpline providing information, guidance, and emotional support, active across 31 States/UTs from 8 AM to 8 PM.
• Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE): Encourages start-ups to develop innovative products for the elderly by providing equity support up to ₹1 Crore.
• SACRED Portal: A dedicated platform for Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity, matching retired professionals with job opportunities.

• It is a Central Sector Scheme where the central government provides 100% of the project cost for many components.
• As of early 2026, the scheme has established over 550 Senior Citizen Homes and distributed nearly 8.5 lakh assistive devices nationwide.

• Additional Initiatives: Includes the Poshan Abhiyan for Elderly (nutritional support) and specialized training for a cadre of professional geriatric caregivers.

• Advanced Tech Integration: Experts plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools to identify and catalog scattered architectural blocks across the grounds.
• Prambanan Shiva Festival (): The complex hosted the Prambanan Shiva Festival, featuring spiritual events like the chanting of 1,008 Shiva mantras and cultural performances.
• Cultural Diplomacy: The project is a key pillar of India's Act East policy, aiming to strengthen civilisational ties through heritage conservation beyond the popular tourist hub of Bali. 

• Significance: It is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat.
• Dedication: The complex is dedicated to the Trimurti—Shiva (the Destroyer), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Brahma (the Creator).
• Architecture:
  • Characterized by tall, pointed spires typical of Hindu architecture.
  • The central Shiva Temple is the tallest, rising to 47 metres.
  • The original compound consisted of 240 temple structures.
• Historical Origin: Built in the 9th century (around 850 CE) by the Sanjaya Dynasty, likely during the reign of Rakai Pikatan.
• Artistic Features: The walls are adorned with intricate bas-reliefs depicting the epic of the Ramayana and Krishnayana.
• UNESCO Status: It has been recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1991.
• Cultural Performances: It is world-renowned for the Ramayana Ballet, a professional dance-drama performed in an open-air theatre with the illuminated temple as a backdrop.
• Restoration Technique: Uses anastylosis, a method of reassembling structures using mostly original stones to maintain authenticity. 

• Technological Milestone: The successful test marks a breakthrough in India’s indigenous marine technology, reducing dependence on expensive imported systems.
• Offshore Wind Push: The system is a critical enabler for India's goal of achieving 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, as it provides the precise wind data needed to secure project financing and investor confidence.
• Advanced Weather Forecasting: Beyond energy, the data will be used to improve cyclone tracking and atmospheric modelling, providing higher-resolution insights into how the sea and air interact.

• The buoy emits laser pulses (infrared light) into the sky.
• These pulses bounce off microscopic particles like dust or moisture (backscattering).
• The system calculates wind speed by measuring the frequency shift in the returning light, known as the Doppler Effect.

• It is a high-tech, ocean-based instrument that measures wind speed, direction, and atmospheric profiles from the sea surface up to 300 metres high.
  • Motion Compensation: Uses advanced algorithms and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to correct for the buoy's constant rocking on waves, ensuring 99% data accuracy.
  • Self-Sustaining Power: Equipped with solar panels and small wind turbines to operate autonomously in harsh offshore environments.
  • Real-time Transmission: Transmits high volumes of data to shore stations for immediate analysis.

• Cost Efficiency: Provides the same high-quality data as a fixed meteorological mast but at only 10–20% of the cost.
• Mobility: Unlike fixed masts, the buoy can be towed to different locations to map vast stretches of the coastline.
• Sovereignty: Developed under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives to bolster domestic innovation in the "Blue Economy". 

• UV Radiation: Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds is the leading cause, responsible for an estimated 86% of cases.
• Genetic Factors: Rare cases are hereditary, and people with fair skin, light hair, or many atypical moles are at higher risk.
• A cancer that begins in the melanocytes, the specialized cells responsible for producing melanin (skin pigment).

• Personalized Vaccines: Ongoing trials by Moderna and Merck indicate that experimental mRNA vaccines can reduce the risk of recurrence by nearly 50% over five years.
• TIL Therapy: In 2024, AMTAGVI (lifileucel) became the first cellular therapy approved for a solid tumour (melanoma), using a patient’s own immune cells multiplied in a lab.
• Checkpoint Inhibitors: Combinations of drugs like Nivolumab and Ipilimumab are increasingly being used before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink tumours.

• Asymmetry (one half unlike the other).
• Border (irregular or scalloped).
• Colour (multiple shades).
• Diameter (larger than 6mm).
• Evolving (changing in size, shape, or colour).
• Global Projections: Experts predict melanoma cases will increase by 50% by 2040, reaching approximately 500,000 new cases per year worldwide.

1. Indian Space Research Organisation leads the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters from 2025.
2. NISAR uses only optical imaging to monitor disasters.
3. Bharat Forecasting System provides weather predictions at village-level resolution.

1. Development of plug-and-play industrial parks
2. Mandatory minimum size of 500 acres for all parks
3. Selection of projects through a challenge-based approach
4. Provision of single-window clearance

1. It is established under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
2. It directly exports organic products without any intermediary organization.
3. It provides certification and testing support to farmers.

1. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India officially recognizes A1 and A2 milk as separate categories.
2. Genetic testing is considered the most accurate method for A2 verification.
3. A unified certification logo for A2 milk already exists in India.

1. In India, SHP projects have a capacity of up to 25 MW.
2. The scheme mainly promotes storage-based large dams.
3. It focuses on development in hilly and northeastern regions.

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