High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs)

Why in the News? Maharashtra’s transport department has now made HSRP number plate mandatory with a final deadline set for 15 August. What is a High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP)? About: It is a standardised, tamper-proof vehicle number plate mandated for all vehicles in India. Launch: It was officially introduced in 2001 under Rule 50 of… Continue reading

Quick fix: On India’s Research Development and Innovation scheme

Why in the News? The Union Cabinet has recently approved a ₹1-lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to encourage private companies to invest more in basic scientific research. What are the aims and design of the ₹1-lakh crore RDI scheme? Promote Private Investment in Basic Research: The scheme aims to shift the R&D… Continue reading

Looking inward: Reservation in Supreme Court

Why in the News? Recently, for the first time ever, the Supreme Court of India has introduced a reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in hiring and promoting its non-judicial staff, such as assistants and attendants. What is the importance of the Supreme Court’s internal reservation policy? Bridges the Gap Between… Continue reading

PARAKH Survey reveals deficits in Student Learning

Why in the News? The Ministry of Education recently released the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (RS) Report, an extensive nationwide student performance assessment for Grades 3, 6, and 9. About PARAKH: Full Form: PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. Establishment: It was established in 2023 as an autonomous institution… Continue reading

Rare Great Hornbill sighted in Kerala

Why in the News? The Great Hornbill (Malamuzhakki Vezhambal)—Kerala’s State bird and a symbol of forest biodiversity—was spotted far outside its usual habitat. About the Great Hornbill (Malamuzhakki Vezhambal) Overview: The Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is the largest hornbill species found in India. Attributes: It is known for its striking yellow casque on the upper… Continue reading

Quad Critical Minerals Initiative

Why in the News? The Quad has launched the “Quad Critical Minerals Initiative” to secure critical mineral supplies, addressing concerns over China’s price manipulation and coercive practices. What is the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative? Launch: The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative was launched during the second Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Washington, DC. Participants: The… Continue reading

RECLAIM Framework for Inclusive Mine Closure

Why in the News? The Ministry of Coal has launched RECLAIM Framework— A Community Engagement and Development Framework for Mine Closure and Repurposing. About the RECLAIM Framework: Launch: The Ministry of Coal has launched the RECLAIM framework to guide inclusive and sustainable coal mine closures in India. Developed By: The framework was developed by the… Continue reading

125th Birth Anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Why in the News? Prime Minister Modi has paid respectful tributes to eminent thinker and educationist Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his 125th birth anniversary. About Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901-1953): Early life: He was born on July 6, 1901, in Kolkata, West Bengal. Academics: He studied at Presidency College and the University of Calcutta, where… Continue reading

Vera C Rubin Observatory

Why in the News? The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has recently begun a 10-year project to study dark matter and dark energy using a 3,200-megapixel camera (of the Simonyi Survey Telescope) from its site in the Chilean Andes. About Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Location: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is situated on Cerro Pachón in… Continue reading

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi erupts

Why in the News? Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in eastern Indonesia has erupted violently, spreading ash up to 18 kilometers into the sky. About Mount Lewotobi: Key Features Overview: Mount Lewotobi is a twin volcano located in East Nusa Tenggara province, consisting of Lewotobi Laki Laki (“Male”) and Lewotobi Perempuan (“Female”). Elevation and Activity: Lewotobi… Continue reading

Rising seas, shifting lives and a test of democratic values

Why in the News? India is seeing a worrying rise in people being forced to leave their homes due to climate change along its coasts, revealing serious gaps in how the country manages the environment and supports affected communities. What are the socio-economic impacts of coastal climate change? Displacement of Coastal Communities: Rising sea levels,… Continue reading

Women MSMEs still struggle for credit despite schemes

Why in the News? Women-led MSMEs are a key part of India’s economic growth, but they still remain underserved. Even though they make up 20% of all registered MSMEs, they contribute only 10% of the total income and receive disproportionate credit and lack of support. Why do women-led MSMEs face persistent credit gaps? Discriminatory Credit… Continue reading

BRICS Rio Declaration, 2025

Why in the News? Gathering in Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7, leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa adopted the BRICS Rio Declaration 2025 — marking a decisive shift in the bloc’s evolution. Back2Basics: BRICS BRICS represents a coalition of nations committed to fostering economic growth, development cooperation, and global governance reform.… Continue reading

Operation Med Max

Why in the News? The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a global drug network spanning four continents through secret Operation Med Max. Back2Basics: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Institutional Mandate: The NCB is India’s central drug law enforcement and intelligence agency, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Establishment: It was established on 14th November… Continue reading

1000 quakes rattle Japan’s Tokara Islands

Why in the News? Japan has recorded over 1,000 tremors in two weeks near the Tokara Islands, signalling a surge in seismic activity. Why is Japan so prone to earthquakes? Tectonic Plate Convergence: Japan lies at the junction of four major tectonic plates—the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American—which constantly collide and shift. Subduction… Continue reading

In news: Nagari Pracharini Sabha

Why in the News? As language debates rise in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the historic Nagari Pracharini Sabha, key to promoting Hindi and Devanagari, quietly resumed its work after decades. Hindi Under the British: A Language in Waiting Until the late 19th century, Persian remained the court language in much of India. Even by 1861,… Continue reading

[7th July 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: The new battle challenge of China-Pakistan collusion

PYQ Relevance: [UPSC 2018] The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. Linkage: The Article state that China’s traditional strategy involves “building up Pakistan’s strategic and… Continue reading

Common goals: On India and a five-nation tour

Why in the News? Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s multi-country diplomatic tour Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and onward to Brazil and Namibia signals a strategic shift in India’s foreign policy toward deepening its engagement with the Global South. What were the key outcomes of recent bilateral visits to Global South nations? Upgraded Strategic Partnerships: India… Continue reading

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for FAO

Why in the News? India has expressed serious concerns over proposed changes to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)—popularly known as the Plant Treaty. About the Plant Treaty, 2001: Adoption: It was adopted by the FAO on 3rd November 2001 and came into force in 2004. Purpose: It governs… Continue reading

How Heat led to Protocells formation on Earth?

Why in the News? A new Nature Physics study suggests that warm volcanic rock surfaces may have concentrated organic molecules in watery cracks, triggering life-like chemistry—offering a clue to how protocells formed without membranes before life began. What are Protocells? Overview: Protocells are primitive, cell-like bubbles believed to be early precursors of real biological cells.… Continue reading

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