UPSC Current Affairs 25 May 2026

• Growth Target: Seeking to maximize the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by turning it into a premier regional "growth pole" in Northeast India.
• Value Retention: Overhauling the old distribution channels to ensure that the core economic benefits of tourism and organic trade are retained locally within state borders.
• Constitutional Safekeeping: Safeguarding the unique cultural identity, harmony, and political rights of indigenous communities under Article 371F of the Constitution.

1. Economic Growth: Boosting state productivity through local entrepreneurship and micro-industry innovation.
2. Environmental Sustainability: Keeping the carbon-negative status intact while scaling green infrastructure.
3. Human Resource Development: Transforming local youth into highly skilled, globally competitive professionals.
4. Good Governance: Enforcing paperless, data-driven, and highly responsive citizen-centric digital governance.

• Youth Employability: Redesigning institutional curricula and launching advanced vocational skilling networks.
• Healthcare & Wellness Hub: Setting up premier high-altitude medical, wellness, and holistic eco-therapy centers.
• Organic Agriculture & Food Processing: Scaling up smart bio-farming and building localized processing plants to expand global export channels.
• Tourism and MSME Boost: Transitioning from general tourism to high-value eco-tourism, backed by credit-linked MSME assistance.
• Civic Amenities & Infrastructure: Expanding clean drinking water grids, robust mountain roadways, and eco-friendly transit systems like urban cable cars.

• India’s First Green Capital: The state is aiming to establish its urban centers as fully resilient, zero-waste Green Capitals and Green Destinations.
• Institute for Transforming Sikkim (ITS): This specialized body serves as the state’s internal think-tank, actively monitoring project timelines alongside NITI Aayog metrics.
• Global Hub Strategy: Leveraging its geographical location to foster long-term international trade, industrial, and tourism collaborations with ASEAN and East Asian economies.

• Nodal Ministry: Administered by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• Primary Objective: Ensuring extreme transaction fairness and structural transparency in commercial trades involving physical volume, numbers, or weights.
• GATC Definition: High-tech third-party facilities approved by the central government, possessing the technical apparatus to verify critical measurements.
• Decentralization Model: Empowers State Governments to independently notify and expand localized list variations under their separate state rules.

• Petrol and Diesel Dispensers
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Dispensers
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Dispensers
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Dispensers
• Hydrogen Fuel Dispensers

• Conventional Fuels: Fixed at ₹5,000 per nozzle for standard Petrol and Diesel dispensing units.
• Clean Alternatives: Fixed at ₹10,000 per nozzle for specialized CNG, LNG, LPG, and Hydrogen dispensers.

• Medical Equipment: Sphygmomanometers (blood pressure cuffs) and clinical thermometers.
• Public Utility Meters: Water meters, commercial gas meters, and electricity energy meters.
• Logistics Devices: Automatic rail weighbridges, speed meters for vehicles, and industrial load cells.
• Standard Industrial Tools: Beam scales, tape measures, counter machines, and moisture meters.

• State Enforcement Shift: Outsourcing standard checks to private GATCs frees up State Legal Metrology officers to focus heavily on market inspections, fraud enforcement, and public grievance resolution.
• Deemed Approved Centers: All national labs under the National Test House (NTH) and Regional Reference Standard Laboratories are legally categorized as deemed GATCs.
• Global Synchronization: Aligns India's industrial testing tolerances with the parameters of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), enhancing export capabilities.
• Administrative Acceleration: Officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above are authorized to handle and sanction GATC applications, cutting down approval delays.

• The Root Cause: Caused by genetic mutations passed down through families. These variations permanently alter or block the instructions required to synthesize melanin.
• Inheritance Pattern: Primarily inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. A child must typically receive two copies of the mutated gene (one from each asymptomatic carrier parent) to manifest the condition.
• Enzymatic Defect: The most frequent underlying pathway involves a deficiency or absolute absence of the tyrosinase enzyme, which is biologically essential for turning the amino acid tyrosine into melanin.

• Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA): The most prevalent form, affecting the skin, hair, and eyes. It is subdivided into types OCA1 through OCA8 based on the exact gene mutation involved.
• Ocular Albinism (OA): Restricted primarily to the eyes while skin and hair coloration remain relatively typical. This form is often X-linked, predominantly impacting biological males.
• Syndromic Albinism: Rare, severe systemic disorders that combine melanin deficiency with fatal medical vulnerabilities. Examples include Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (causing bleeding disorders) and Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (causing immune system failure).

• Extreme Dermatological Risk: Lacking melanin—the skin's natural shield against ultraviolet (UV) radiation—individuals face a critically high risk of sunburns, solar keratosis, and skin cancers (like melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma).
• Visual Impairments: Melanin is essential for the healthy development of the optic nerve and retina. Consequently, nearly all affected individuals suffer from permanent, untreatable vision issues, including:
  • Nystagmus: Involuntary, rapid, back-and-forth eye movements.
  • Photophobia: Extreme, painful sensitivity to bright light.
  • Strabismus: Misalignment of the eyes, often termed "lazy eye".

• Global Statistics: On average, albinism affects roughly 1 in 17,000 to 20,000 people globally.
• Sub-Saharan Vulnerability: The prevalence increases dramatically across parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. It affects up to 1 in 4,000 people in South Africa and nearly 1 in 1,400 in Tanzania.
• Severe Human Rights Obstacles: In several regions, individuals face extreme social isolation, systemic employment discrimination, and horrifying physical violence driven by deep-seated myths and superstitious beliefs.

• Location: Situated in the Damodar River valley within the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.
• Spatial Extent: Spans an area of approximately 280 to 450 square kilometres.
• Reserve Scale: Holds India's largest localized coal reserve, with an estimated 19.4 billion tonnes of premium coking coal.
• Historical Timeline: Commercial extraction began in 1894, while the first instances of spontaneous underground fires were formally recorded at the Bhowrah colliery in 1916.

• Spontaneous Combustion: The high-grade coking coal has a low ignition point; when unscientific, historic mining left loose seams exposed to oxygen, a natural oxidation reaction triggered fires that have smouldered for 110 years.
• The "Chimney Effect": As fires consume the underground coal layers, the overlying rock strata lose stability and fracture. This creates deep, vertical "collapse structures" stretching over 100 metres high, which act as chimneys that continuously suck in fresh air and vent toxic plumes (CO2, CH4, SO2, and CO).
• Extinguishment Barriers: The extreme subterranean depths and vast network of interconnected coal seams make it nearly impossible to isolate or completely suffocate the fire sites using traditional sand-blanketing.

• Target Demographics: Mandates the phased rehabilitation of 15,080 families across 81 high-vulnerability locations.
• Livelihood-Centric Shift: Unlike previous models focused solely on land relocation, the revised framework provides families with a ₹1 Lakh direct livelihood grant and ₹3 Lakh credit support to enable a smooth transition into new self-employed vocations.
• Institutional Restructuring: Dictates clear division of labour; the state government's Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) resettles non-company families into the Belgaria Rehabilitation Township, while Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) handles operational mine sites.
• Corporate Backing: Alongside the core government funding, Coal India Limited (CIL) infuses an additional ₹500 crore per year specifically to scale up subterranean fire-extinguishment technologies.

• Reduction of Fire Footprint: Due to targeted excavations and surface sealing, the active surface fire area has successfully shrunk from 3.26 sq km down to 1.53 sq km. Out of 27 high-priority fire locations originally mapped, 17 have been completely neutralized.
• Advanced Remote Sensing: Law enforcement and public mining bodies are shifting from manual borehole checking to Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and IoT-based thermal sensor arrays to map land subsidence and subsurface heat movements in real time.

• Location: It was extracted from sandy ocean sediments at a depth of 14 metres in the shallow marine waters of the Bay of Bengal, specifically near Markandi in Odisha, India.
• Method of Extraction: Scientists used a specialized mechanical scoop called a Van Veen grab from a local fishing trawler to collect the bottom sediment and then carefully isolated the microscopic creatures using microscopes and ultra-fine brushes.
• Understudied Realm: While there are over 1,500 known species of tardigrades worldwide, marine tardigrades are highly understudied and account for only about 17% of total tardigrade diversity.

• Body Shape: It possesses a unique dome-shaped body surrounded by transparent, wing-like lateral flaps called alae, which are held up by translucent internal pillars.
• Shorter Wings: Unlike its sister species within the genus that feature long wings, Actinarctus odissi has noticeably shorter lateral wings.
• Unique Sculpturing: The back (dorsal side) of this micro-animal is heavily sculptured with unique, tiny trombone-shaped pillars.
• Sensory Appendages: It features simple, un-split sensory organs on its back legs that are significantly shorter than those of its cousins, along with blunt-tipped (rather than sharp) sensory appendages.

• Nickname: Tardigrades are microscopic, multicellular animals popularly referred to as "water bears" or "moss-piglets".
• Physical Structure: They are typically short (0.05 mm to 1.2 mm in length), plump, segmented, and bilaterally symmetrical with four pairs of legs ending in claws.
• Diet: They rely on feeding on the fluids of animal cells, plant cells, and bacteria.
• Extreme Resiliency: They are world-renowned for surviving extreme environmental hazards, including freezing cold, boiling heat, high radiation, and even the vacuum of outer space.
• The "Tun" State: Under unfavourable conditions, they enter a state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis (or the "tun" state). Their bodies dry out into a ball, and their metabolism drops to a staggering 0.01% of normal levels, allowing them to wait out hostile conditions for decades.

• Location: It is an island borough located in southwest New York City, United States.
• Boundaries: It sits in the New York Harbor, positioned south of Manhattan, west of Brooklyn, and east of New Jersey.
• Size: The island covers a triangular area of roughly 155 square kilometres (60 square miles) with 56 kilometres of waterfront.

• The "Forgotten Borough": It is the least populated of NYC’s five boroughs, holding around 500,000 residents.
• Suburban Character: Unlike its dense skyscraper-heavy neighbours, it features a highly residential, suburban layout.
• Economic Standing: It holds the second-highest median income among the city's boroughs, relying heavily on services, trade-related employment, and local businesses.

• Borough of Parks: More than one-third of the island is dedicated to protected wildlife, forests, and green spaces.
• Staten Island Ferry: A world-famous free transit system connecting the St. George Terminal directly to Lower Manhattan.
• Historic Richmond Town: A preserved 17th-century historic village featuring 30 restored buildings, farms, and schoolhouses.
• Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge: A massive suspension bridge linking the island's eastern shore directly to Brooklyn.

• Indigenous Roots: Long before European colonisation, the island was home to the Native American Lenape people.
• Name Origin: It was named "Staaten Eylandt" (States Island) by Dutch colonizers in honour of the Dutch Parliament.
• Revolutionary War: The famous Billopp House (Conference House) hosted an unsuccessful 1776 peace conference to reconcile Great Britain and the Continental Congress.
• NYC Consolidation: Staten Island officially consolidated into New York City in 1898 under the borough name "Richmond" before being renamed Staten Island in 1975.

• Global Market Target: The central goal is to help India secure a 10% share of the global services market by 2047, aligning with the "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) roadmap.
• Bridging the Gaps: The panel acts as a dedicated vehicle to eliminate structural mismatches between degrees earned in classrooms and skills demanded by commercial enterprises.
• Demographic Dividend: It is specifically tasked with converting India's massive youth demographic asset into a tangible economic growth engine.

• Services Sector Focus: The committee prioritizes the services industry as the primary driver for high-value economic growth, commercial exports, and job creation.
• Frontier Technology & AI: Members are mapping out the precise disruptions that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated tools will inflict on traditional employment.
• Curriculum Modernization: It recommends the integration of AI modules directly into early school curricula and upgrading regional teacher training centers like SCERTs.
• Workforce Migration: The team is engineering pathways to assist the smooth transition of rural and informal labourers into structured, non-farm sectors.

• Leadership: The committee is led under the direct chairpersonship of the CEO of NITI Aayog, Nidhi Chibber.
• Inter-Ministerial Presence: It integrates senior representatives from the Ministry of Skill Development, Ministry of Labour, Department of Higher Education, and MeitY.
• State Participation: Core representation includes delegated officials from diverse state governments including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Industry & Tech Alliances: High-profile industry lobbies such as NASSCOM, CII, and FICCI have active seats to voice private-sector expectations.

• Birsa Munda Tribute: The mega-gathering was primarily organized to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary year of legendary tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• Core Theme Motto: The central message of national unity was promoted under the slogan "Tu Main Ek Rakt — Vanvasi, Gramvasi, Nagarvasi, Hum Sab Bharatvasi" (You and I share the same blood — forest dwellers, villagers, city dwellers, we are all Indians).
• Identity Safeguards: The event focused on the absolute protection of indigenous faiths, traditional laws, forests, and cultural identities against modern disruptions.

• During the Janjati Sanskritik Samagam (Tribal Cultural Gathering) Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a major policy assurance that any future Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will completely exempt tribal communities across India.

• Host Body: The entire conclave was spearheaded by the Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM), an RSS-affiliated tribal welfare group.
• Five City Processions: Tribal delegations launched cultural parades from five distinct Delhi landmarks—Rajghat Chowk, Ramlila Maidan, Ajmeri Gate, Qudsia Bagh, and Shyamgiri Temple—before uniting at the Red Fort.
• Nationwide Footprint: Attendees included large regional contingents, such as nearly 2,700 participants from Arunachal Pradesh, alongside delegations traveling from remote areas like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

• Cultural Tapestry: Despite severe summer heat, participants dressed in vibrant ethnic attire performed traditional folk dances, displayed indigenous handicrafts, and played ancestral musical instruments on Delhi streets.
• Political Dignitaries: Prominent leaders including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared the stage.
• Delisting Historical Roots: Organizers highlighted that the push to strip converted individuals of reservation benefits links back to a historic campaign led by tribal leader Kartik Oraon in the late 1960s.

• Definition: A common refractive error of the eye where close objects appear clearly, but distant objects look blurry.
• Physical Cause: It occurs when the eyeball grows too long (increased axial length) or the cornea is too curved.
• Mechanism: This structural change causes light rays entering the eye to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, blurring the final image.

• Prolonged Near Work: Children spending 4 to 6 hours daily focusing closely on mobile phones, tablets, and books overworks the eye lens.
• Sunlight Deprivation: Staying indoors deprives the eyes of natural sunlight, which is necessary to stimulate dopamine release—a chemical that naturally stops the eyeball from stretching too long.
• Genetic Component: A child's risk rises exponentially if one or both biological parents have a history of nearsightedness.

• Not Just Glasses: Health experts warn that myopia is an irreversible structural alteration, not a simple cosmetic issue.
• High Myopia Risks: Leaving progression unchecked significantly increases the risk of blindness-inducing conditions later in life, including:
  • Retinal Detachment (peeling away of the back of the eye)
  • Glaucoma (increased inner-eye fluid pressure)
  • Early Cataracts (clouding of the eye lens)
  • Myopic Macular Degeneration

• The 2-Hour Outdoor Rule: Medical bodies now mandate that children spend at least two hours daily in natural outdoor light to slow eye elongation.
• The 20-20-20 Rule: For every 20 minutes of digital screen exposure, look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to relax eye muscles.
• Screen Restrictions: Zero screen time for kids under 2 years old, and a strict cap of 1 to 2 hours maximum for older children.
• Advanced Medical Controls: Clinicians are increasingly turning to low-dose Atropine eye drops, Orthokeratology (nighttime contact lenses), and specialized peripheral-defocus spectacle lenses to actively halt eye growth.

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