CA-24/03/2026

• Milestone Achievements: The portal has hosted over 8.81 crore pages of historical records.
• Fee Reduction : On its 135th Foundation Day, the NAI significantly reduced user charges for downloading documents. Indian and foreign scholars can now download the first 20 pages free of cost.
• Ambitious Digitisation: The NAI aims to completely digitise its vast collection of approximately 30 crore pages within the next two years to ensure "any-time, anywhere" access.
• PM Praise: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently lauded the platform for making over 1 crore pages of historic records accessible to those passionate about history and culture. 
• Host Institution: It is maintained by the National Archives of India, which is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.

• Public Records: Official government files from the British administration and post-independence ministries.
• Private Papers: Correspondence and documents from freedom fighters and eminent personalities.
• Cartographic Records: Historical maps, plans, and blueprints.
• Declassified Files: Includes previously classified records related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

• Search & Browse: Keyword-based search filters by department, subject, or date.
• Digitise on Demand (DOD): Users can request the digitisation of specific records not yet available online.
• Page on Demand (POD): Allows users to order and download specific pages from already digitised records for a fee.
• Multilingual Records: Hosts documents in English, Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit, and Urdu.
• Global Access: The portal has over 30,000 registered users from more than 200 countries. 

1. Goal of Developed India: Focused on moving forward with big resolutions to ensure India becomes a developed nation across all sectors by 2047.
2. Remove Any Trace of Colonial Mindset: Aimed at liberating the national psyche from any sense of "slavery" or inferiority inherited from the colonial era.
3. Take Pride in Our Roots: Encouraging citizens to embrace India's rich cultural heritage, traditions, and diverse history.
4. Unity and Solidarity: Emphasising that national strength comes from the collective unity of its 140 crore citizens, regardless of background.
5. Sense of Duty Among Citizens: Highlighting that fulfilling civic responsibilities—from the Prime Minister to every individual—is essential for progress. 

• Reviving traditional arts like Madhubani, Pashmina weaving
• Government schemes like PRASHAD Scheme promote heritage sites

• Recognition of indigenous knowledge systems (Ayurveda, tribal art)
• Decolonizing history narratives and restoring local identities

• Cultural diversity strengthens unity (e.g., festivals like Durga Puja)
• Promotes inclusive development across regions

• Community participation in conservation (e.g., heritage walks, local tourism)
• Respect and preservation of cultural assets

• Culture-led tourism boosts GDP and employment
• Example: tourism around Hampi supports local artisans and guides

• Framework Launch: Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, officially e-launched the tool on December 30, 2025, on the JJM portal.
• National Deadline: The government has mandated that all Har Ghar Jal (HGJ) Gram Panchayats must complete their first cycle of assessment by January 26, 2026.
• Transition to Service Delivery: As millions of households now have tap connections, the news highlights JSA as the primary mechanism to move from "asset creation" to "service sustainability".

• Institutional Ownership: Unlike traditional third-party audits, JSA is a community-led self-assessment process.
• Target Audience: The current cycle applies to approximately 1.17 lakh Gram Panchayats that achieved Har Ghar Jal status on or before December 31, 2020.

• The framework uses 23 specific questions to evaluate water services across three critical pillars:
  • Regularity: Is water supplied according to a fixed schedule?
  • Adequacy: Are households receiving at least 55 litres per capita per day?
  • Quality: Is the water safe and free from contamination?

1. VWSC Discussions: Preliminary review by the Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) and local water users.
2. Gram Sabha Endorsement: Findings must be deliberated and approved in an open Gram Sabha meeting to ensure transparency.
3. Digital Upload: Data is submitted by the Panchayat Secretary to the JJM-IMIS Dashboard.
4. Public Disclosure: Results are made visible on platforms like eGramSwaraj and the Meri Panchayat App.

• Citizen Feedback: Once uploaded, there is a 30-day window for citizens to provide feedback or report discrepancies before findings are finalised.
• Actionable Insights: The data generated helps District Collectors and State authorities identify service gaps and implement corrective actions. 

• Successful IPO: The trust recently concluded its ₹6,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO) in mid-March 2026, which was oversubscribed nearly 14 times.
• Anchor Investor Interest: Ahead of the public issue, the trust raised approximately ₹1,728 crore from 73 anchor investors, including major institutions like EPFO and SBI Life.
• Asset Acquisition: NHAI accepted an offer of ₹9,500 crore from RIIT for the concession of five highway assets spanning over 260 km.

• Sponsor: Sponsored by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• Investment Manager: Managed by Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Private Limited (RIIMPL), a collaborative venture involving major banks like SBI, PNB, HDFC, and ICICI.

• Consists of five operational toll road sections (approx. 260 km) across four states:
  • Jharkhand: Gorhar–Barwa Adda section (NH 19).
  • Andhra Pradesh: Chilakaluripet–Vijayawada section (NH 16).
  • Tamil Nadu: Chennai Bypass (NH 32/48) and Chennai–Tada section (NH 16).
  • Karnataka: Neelmangala–Tumkur section (NH 48).

• Public Participation: Unlike previous private InvITs, this is a Public InvIT specifically targeting domestic retail investors.
• Returns: Aims to provide stable, long-term returns derived primarily from toll-based cash flows.
• Credit Rating: Received a AAA rating from CARE Ratings, reflecting high safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations.

• NHAI plans to transfer an additional 1,500 km of operational highways to RIIT over the next 3 to 5 years.
• Aligns with the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) objectives for capital recycling into new infrastructure projects.

• Phase I (March–June 2026): Focuses on foundational AI literacy using Google Career Certificates and modules like Prompting Essentials and Intro to Generative AI.
• Phase II (July–December 2026): Offers advanced, project-based specialization in storytelling, VFX, and gaming using tools like Gemini, Veo, and Vertex AI.

• The YUVA AI FOR ALL course is free of charge and available in 11 Indian languages (including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Gujarati).
• Training is delivered through platforms like FutureSkills Prime, iGOTKarmayogi, and DIKSHA.

• The government is establishing 570 Data and AI Labs across NIELIT centers, ITIs, and Polytechnics in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to provide hands-on training.
• Subsidized access to high-performance computing (GPUs) is provided via the IndiaAI portal at roughly ₹67 per hour.

• Strategic Goal: Part of the broader IndiaAI Mission (budgeted at ₹10,300 crore) to prepare the workforce for an estimated 20 lakh new jobs projected in the AI-driven "Orange Economy" (creative sector).
• Certification: Every learner who successfully completes these government-backed programs receives an official certificate from the Government of India. 

• Geography: It stretches approximately 170 km (105 miles). It rises in the Bekaa Valley near Baalbek, flows south through the valley, and then bends sharply west to empty into the Mediterranean Sea near Tyre.
• Strategic Boundary (Resolution 1701): Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River was intended to be a buffer zone free of any armed personnel except the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL).

• Agriculture: It provides irrigation for roughly 80% of farmland in the Bekaa Valley and 20% in southern Lebanon, vital for citrus and banana crops.
• Hydroelectricity: The Qaraoun Dam (Albert Naccache Dam) creates Lebanon's largest artificial lake and is a major source of hydroelectric power.

• The river faces "national catastrophe" levels of pollution due to uncontrolled sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, leading to significant health risks for local populations.

• In August 2025, the UN Security Council extended the UNIFIL mandate for a final time until December 31, 2026, with a planned full withdrawal by mid-2027.

• Chairman: Prime Minister of India.
• Core Members: Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of External Affairs, and Minister of Finance.
• Key Advisors: The National Security Advisor (NSA), Cabinet Secretary, and Defence Secretary are permanent invitees or coordinators.

• Defence Policy: Deals with all issues related to defence expenditure and major military procurements.
• National Security: Reviews both internal and external security environments, including counter-terrorism and border disputes.
• Strategic Affairs: Oversees India's nuclear policy, space policy, and intelligence coordination among various agencies.
• Crisis Management: Serves as the "War Cabinet" during times of conflict or major national emergencies.

• It is the final authority for all capital expenditures exceeding ₹1,000 crore in the Department of Defence Production and R&D.
• It makes all top-level appointments in national security bodies.

• Secretariat: Administrative support and record-keeping are handled by the Cabinet Secretariat.

• Primary Compound: Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), low-cost, chemically stable, and compatible with concrete, asphalt, and tiles.
• Mechanism: Photocatalysis—under UV light from sunlight, TiO₂ generates reactive oxygen species that oxidize pollutants into harmless CO₂ and water.
• Target Pollutants: Nitrogen oxides (NOx, including NO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some hydrocarbons contributing to smog.

• Coating applied to surfaces absorbs sunlight, activating TiO₂ as a catalyst.
• Pollutants contact the surface and get decomposed without consuming the catalyst.
• Proven in trials for gaseous depollution on construction materials.​

• Urban infrastructure: Roads, pavements, buildings, bridges in high-pollution areas like Delhi.
• Potential scalability: Pilot studies planned for large-scale use if effective.
• Earlier mentions: Feasibility study announced by Delhi in late 2025.​

• Cost-effective and durable for widespread adoption.
• No energy input needed beyond sunlight; self-cleaning properties reduce maintenance.
• Environmentally safe with no harmful byproducts.​

• Effectiveness depends on sunlight exposure and pollutant contact with surfaces.
• Questions on real-world efficacy in high-smog scenarios like Delhi winters.​
• Initial studies ongoing to validate long-term impact.

• Sharp Population Recovery: Reports from the 2025–2026 overwintering season in Mexico indicate a 64% increase in the presence of eastern monarchs. This recovery follows a period of record lows and is attributed to favourable environmental conditions and persistent conservation efforts.
• Western Monarch Crisis: In contrast to the eastern population, the Western Monarch Count in December 2025 recorded only 12,260 butterflies—the third-lowest total since 1997—signalling an ongoing risk of "quasi-extinction" for the western population.
• Endangered Status: The migratory monarch remains listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing them as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in late 2024, with formal protections being implemented through 2025–2026. 

• Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus, which translates from Greek as "sleepy transformation".
• Appearance: Distinctive bright orange wings with black veins and white spots along the edges. Males are slightly larger and have a black spot on a vein on each hind wing.

• Milkweed Dependency: Monarchs are "specialists"; females lay eggs exclusively on milkweed plants, which are the only food source for their larvae (caterpillars).
• Toxicity: By eating milkweed, caterpillars sequester toxins (cardenolides) that make the adult butterflies poisonous to predators like birds.

• Eastern Population: Migrates up to 4,000 kilometres from southern Canada and the eastern U.S. to the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico.
• Western Population: Lives west of the Rocky Mountains and overwinters along the California coast.
• Distribution: While most famous in North America, they are also found in India, Australia, Hawaii, and parts of Western Europe.

• Habitat Loss: Urbanization and industrial agriculture have led to the widespread removal of milkweed.
• Pesticides: The use of neonicotinoids and herbicides like glyphosate kills both the butterflies and their host plants.
• Climate Change: Extreme weather events (droughts, storms) and shifting temperatures disrupt their migration and flowering cycles.
• Conservation Actions: Environmental groups such as the Xerces Society and WWF-Mexico lead efforts in habitat restoration and illegal logging prevention.

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