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  • Rajasthan farmers object to GI tag for Unjha jeera and saunf

    Why in News?

    Rajasthan’s cumin and fennel farmers have objected to Geographical Indication tags granted to Gujarat’s ‘Unjha Jeera’ and ‘Unjha Fennel’ (saunf), arguing Unjha is a trading hub, not the growing region.

    Key Highlights

    1. The GI tags for ‘Unjha Jeera’ and ‘Unjha Fennel’ were registered in the name of Gujarat’s Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Unjha.
    2. Farmers from Rajasthan contend that a significant share of the crops is cultivated in Rajasthan, making the GI registration misleading.
    3. The Unjha APMC has defended the GI registrations, citing over 1,000 pages of scientific, historical, and commercial evidence submitted during the registration process.
    4. The dispute raises questions over the criteria for GI registration, particularly the link between a product’s reputation, production area, and marketing centre.

    Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

    • A Geographical Indication (GI) identifies goods that possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics essentially attributable to their geographical origin.
    • Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
    • Registration is granted by the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
    • Validity: 10 years, renewable indefinitely.
    • GI protection applies to agricultural products, natural products, handicrafts, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs.

    Value Addition

    • First GI tag in India: Darjeeling Tea (2004-05).
    • Benefits of GI: Protects producers from misuse, preserves traditional knowledge, enhances product value, promotes exports, and supports rural livelihoods.
    • Difference from Trademark: A GI belongs collectively to eligible producers from a specific region, whereas a trademark is an exclusive right owned by an individual or company.

    [2018] India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to

    (a) ILO

    (b) IMF

    (c) UNCTAD

    (d) WTO

  • Maritime sector posts remarkable growth

    Why in News?

    An analysis of India’s port sector found capacity utilisation at about 60%, against a global benchmark of 70%, as Sagarmala 2.0 continues to expand port linked infrastructure.

    Key Highlights

    1. Port capacity utilisation stands at roughly 60%, below the 70% global benchmark.
    2. Sagarmala 2.0 is the next phase of the Sagarmala Programme, aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047.
    3. MAKV 2047 targets positioning India as a global maritime innovation hub.

    Sagarmala Programme

    • Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
    • Vision: Port-led development to accelerate economic growth and reduce logistics costs.
    • Four key pillars:
      • Port modernisation and new port development
      • Port connectivity enhancement
      • Port-led industrialisation
      • Coastal community development

    [2026] Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India:

    I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port led economic growth through cost effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.

    II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.

    III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.

    Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 1 and 2

    (c) 2 and 3

    (d) 3 only

  • CBDT issues crypto asset reporting note aligned with OECD framework

    Why in News?

    The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued a 198 page guidance note on crypto asset reporting under the Income tax Act, 2025, aligned with the OECD’s Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

    Key Highlights

    1. The guidance note runs to 198 pages and is issued under the Income tax Act, 2025.
    2. It aligns India’s crypto asset reporting with the OECD’s Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
    3. The framework enables automatic global information exchange on crypto asset holdings starting next year.

     [2016] With reference to ‘Bitcoins’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
    2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
    3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 2 and 3 only

    [C] 3 only

    [D] 1, 2 and 3

  • Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)

    Why in News?

    NITI Aayog launched the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) to assess and improve the investment ecosystem across States and UTs through competitive and cooperative federalism.

    What is IFI?

    • A data driven index that benchmarks how effectively States and UTs attract and sustain investments by evaluating their policy, regulatory, institutional, and infrastructure ecosystem.

    Background

    • Proposed after the 9th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting (2024).
    • Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.

    Key Features

    • Covers 28 States and 8 UTs.
    • Based on 84 indicators using: Secondary data and Investor perception survey.

    Eight Pillars

    • Infrastructure. Business Climate, Resources, Government Policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health, and Environmental Resilience

    Performance Categories

    • Top Performers: Above 50
    • Frontrunners: 45 to 50
    • Emerging Performers: 40 to <45
    • Aspiring States: Below 40

    Top Performers

    • Overall: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Odisha.
    • Hilly & NE States: Uttarakhand.
    • UTs & City States: Goa.

    Significance

    • Promotes competitive and cooperative federalism.
    • Encourages State level reforms and ease of investment.
    • Supports Viksit Bharat @2047 and Viksit Rajya @2047.

    [2019] Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’?

    [A] Maintenance of law and order

    [B] Paying taxes

    [C] Registering property

    [D] Dealing with construction permits

  • Pandavani Legend Teejan Bai Passes Away

    Why in News?

    Padma Vibhushan awardee Teejan Bai (1956–2026), the foremost exponent of Pandavani, passed away at AIIMS Raipur. She played a pivotal role in taking Chhattisgarh’s traditional folk art to the global stage.

    Key Highlights

    • Born in Ganiyari village (Durg district), Chhattisgarh.
    • Learned Pandavani from her maternal grandfather Brajlal Pardha and gave her first public performance at 13 years of age.
    • Broke gender barriers by performing in the Kapalika style, traditionally reserved for men.
    • Performed in over 17 countries, popularising Indian folk traditions worldwide.
    • Received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

    About Pandavani

    • A traditional folk storytelling and musical art form of Chhattisgarh.
    • Narrates episodes from the Mahabharata through singing, narration, acting, and dialogue.
    • The performer uses a tanpura (tambura) as both a musical instrument and a symbolic prop.

    Two Styles of Pandavani

    • Vedamati Style: Performed while sitting, with greater emphasis on narration.
    • Kapalika Style: Performed while standing, combining dramatic acting, gestures, expressions, and dialogue.

    [2014] A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their:

    (a) Martial arts in North-East India

    (b) Musical tradition in North-West India

    (c) Classical vocal music in South India

    (d) Pietra dura tradition in Central India.

  • Delhi High Court declines interim injunction against OpenAI in ANI copyright suit

    Why in News?

    The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim relief to ANI in its copyright infringement case against OpenAI, holding that AI training on copyrighted content is covered by the fair dealing exception under the Copyright Act.

    Key Highlights

    • Justice Amit Bansal held that using ANI’s content to train Large Language Models (LLMs) falls under Section 52(1)(a) of the Copyright Act, 1957.
    • The Court found that ANI failed to prove any loss to its news syndication business.
    • ANI had earlier offered OpenAI a content licence for $7.5 million, indicating any potential damages are quantifiable.
    • The Court rejected ANI’s request to delete training data, noting OpenAI’s legal obligations under US law.
    • It observed that requiring licences from every copyright holder would make AI development economically unviable and highlighted AI’s public benefits in sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and finance.
    • The Federation of Indian Publishers, Digital News Publishers Association, and Indian Music Industry joined the suit.

    Fair Dealing (Section 52, Copyright Act, 1957)

    • A statutory exception permitting limited use of copyrighted works without the owner’s permission.
    • Applies to purposes such as:
      • Private or personal use (including research)
      • Criticism or review
      • Reporting current events

    Copyright vs Patent

    • Copyright: Protects original literary, artistic, musical, dramatic works, films, and software.
    • Patent: Protects new inventions, granting exclusive rights generally for 20 years.

    Copyright Act, 1957

    • Governs protection of literary, artistic, musical, dramatic works, films, sound recordings, and software.
    • Grants creators exclusive rights over reproduction, adaptation, distribution, and communication of their works.
    • Section 52 provides exceptions under the doctrine of fair dealing.

    PYQ (2014, GS3, 12.5 Marks) In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms copyrights, patents and trade secrets.

    [2026] Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?
    1. LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability.
    2. LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors.
    3. LLMs produce unbiased outputs.
    Select the answer using the code given below :

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 1 and 2 only

    [C] 2 and 3 only

    [D] 1, 2 and 3

  • Gujarat deluge erases monsoon deficit, but overall rain still low

    Why in News?

    Heavy rainfall in Gujarat erased India’s July rainfall deficit, but the overall southwest monsoon (June-September) remains below normal.

    Key Highlights

    • Cumulative rainfall since 1 June is 16.1% below normal.
    • East & Northeast India: 31.9% rainfall deficit.
    • South Peninsula: 26.8% deficit.
    • Heavy rainfall in Gujarat resulted from a low-pressure system interacting with a Western Disturbance.
    • Over 40,500 people were evacuated and 6,367 rescued due to flooding.
    • Ahmedabad recorded 294.6 mm rainfall in 24 hours, its highest since 2000.
    • Weak El Niño conditions have contributed to uneven monsoon distribution, affecting agriculture.

    El Niño

    • Warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
    • Characterised by warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
    • Generally leads to weaker southwest monsoon and below-normal rainfall in India.

    IMD Classification of Rainfall

    • Normal: 96% to 104% of Long Period Average (LPA).
    • Below Normal: 90% to 96% of LPA.
    • Deficient: Less than 90% of LPA.

    Southwest Monsoon

    • Contributes nearly 75% of India’s annual rainfall.
    • Normally spans June to September.
    • Two branches:
      • Arabian Sea Branch
      • Bay of Bengal Branch

    PYQ (2014, GS1, 10 Marks) Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El Niño effect. Do you agree?
    [2020] With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1.OMT is measured up to a depth of 26ºC isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
    2.OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Ken-Betwa stir claims its first win, activist suspends fast

    Why in News?

    An activist ended an 18-day hunger strike after the Madhya Pradesh government agreed to conduct fresh surveys of families allegedly excluded from rehabilitation under the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

    Key Highlights

    • Jai Kisan Sangathan leader Amit Bhatnagar suspended his indefinite fast after the government accepted the demand for fresh village-level surveys.
    • The issue concerns villages in the Daudhan Dam submergence area in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
    • Protesters alleged exclusion of eligible families from compensation and rehabilitation, flawed surveys, and irregularities in Gram Sabha proceedings.
    • Joint teams of government officials and Jai Kisan Sangathan representatives will conduct fresh surveys.
    • The agitation will continue under the banner of “Nyay Satyagraha.”

    Ken-Betwa Link Project

    • India’s first river interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan.
    • Links the Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) with the Betwa River (Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).
    • Comprises the Daudhan Dam, a 221-km canal, and associated infrastructure.
    • Aims to provide irrigation, drinking water, hydropower, and drought mitigation in the Bundelkhand region.

    Concerns

    • Submergence of forest areas, including parts of Panna Tiger Reserve.
    • Displacement and rehabilitation of affected communities.
    • Ecological impacts on river ecosystems and wildlife.

    National River Linking Project (NRLP)

    • Conceived by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) in 1982.
    • Envisages 30 inter-basin links (16 Peninsular and 14 Himalayan) to transfer water from surplus to deficit basins.

    PYQ (2017, GS3, 10 Marks) Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.

    [2016] Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?

    [A] Cauvery and Tungabhadra

    [B] Godavari and Krishna

    [C] Mahanadi and Sone

    [D] Narmada and Tapti

  • Telecom infra data can’t be shared outside India, says Govt

    Why in News?

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated that telecom infrastructure providers store and process telecom network data only within India.

    Key Highlights

    • DoT barred telecom infrastructure providers from sharing telecom network data outside India.
    • Covers cloud-based telecom networks, mobile tower operators, and satellite gateway providers.
    • Mandates that all telecom network systems, data, logs, and related information be stored within India.
    • No copies of such data can be routed, shared, or made available outside the country.
    • Issued under the authorisation framework of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, replacing the earlier licensing regime.

    Data Localisation

    • Refers to storing and processing data within the country’s borders.
    • Benefits:
      • Strengthens national security and cyber resilience.
      • Improves regulatory oversight and law enforcement access.
      • Enhances protection of critical digital infrastructure.
    • Challenges:
      • Higher compliance costs for companies.
      • Concerns over cross-border data flows and global cloud operations.

    Telecommunications Act, 2023

    • Replaced the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
    • Introduces an authorisation-based regime instead of licensing.
    • Aims to strengthen telecom security, spectrum management, user protection, and digital infrastructure governance.

    PYQ (2018, GS3, 15 Marks) Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber crimes. The Justice B. N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weaknesses of the Report relating to protection of personal data in cyberspace?

  • Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

    Why in News?

    The Union Government introduced the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha to extend statutory protection to the National Song (Vande Mataram).

    Key Highlights

    • Introduced by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
    • Seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
    • Extends penalties for insulting the National Flag, Constitution, and National Anthem to the National Song.
    • Opposition members argued that the Constituent Assembly intentionally did not accord the National Song the same constitutional status as the National Anthem.
    • The government cited Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s statement (24 January 1950) that both should enjoy equal respect.

    National Anthem

    • Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
    • Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.
    • Full rendition duration: 52 seconds.

    National Song

    • Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
    • Taken from the novel Anandamath (1882).
    • Only the first two stanzas enjoy official status as the National Song.

    Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

    • Prohibits insults to the National Flag, Constitution, and National Anthem.
    • Prescribes imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both.
    • The 2026 Amendment Bill seeks to include the National Song within its ambit.

    [2023] Consider the following statements in respect of the National Flag of India according to the Flag Code of India, 2002:
    Statement-I: One of the standard sizes of the National Flag of India is 600 mm x 400 mm.
    Statement-II: The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.
    Which one of the following is correcti in respect of the above statements?

    [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-l.

    [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

    [C] Statement-l is correct but Statement-II is incorrect is incorrect.

    [D] Statement-l is incorrect Statement-II is correct.