The forest department has launched a comprehensive scientific wildlife census in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the population status and movement patterns of major wildlife species.
About Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is an important protected area in the Central Himalayan region known for:
Dense broadleaf forests
Rich biodiversity
Himalayan wildlife habitat
It was primarily created to conserve shrinking oak forests.
Location: Almora district, Kumaon region, and Uttarakhand.
[2014] If you travel through the Himalayas, you are Iikely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there? 1. Oak 2. Rhododendron 3. Sandalwood Select the correct answer using the code given below [A] 1 and 2 only [B] 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3
The National Jute Board has expanded the implementation of the Jute Crop Information System (JCIS), a technology-driven platform developed with Indian Space Research Organisation to modernize jute crop monitoring and improve production estimation.
National Jute Board (NJB)
The National Jute Board (NJB) is the apex statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles responsible for the development and promotion of India’s jute sector.
Established Under: National Jute Board Act, 2008
Objective
Promote Indian jute globally
Encourage innovative uses of jute
Improve competitiveness of the jute industry
Support both organized and decentralized sectors
Jute Crop Information System (JCIS)
The Jute Crop Information System (JCIS) is a digital crop monitoring platform developed jointly by:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Jute Corporation of India (JCI)
National Jute Board
It replaces traditional manual reporting with:
Geo-referenced
Satellite-based
Data-driven monitoring
[2022] With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Tea Board is a statutory body. 2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru. 4. The Board has overseas office at Dubai and Moscow. Which of the statements given above are correct? [A] 1 and 3 [B] 2 and 4 [C] 3 and 4 [D] 1 and 4
The Union Government launched the SEHAT Mission in New Delhi, marking the first major institutional convergence between India’s agriculture and health sectors to address malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
What is SEHAT Mission?
SEHAT Mission is a national initiative aimed at integrating: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Public Health
It seeks to shift India’s healthcare approach:
From treatment-oriented healthcare
To prevention-oriented healthcare through nutrition and food systems.
The mission is a joint initiative between:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) underMinistry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
“Farm-to-Plate” scientific chain
where agricultural production directly contributes to:
Nutritional security
Disease prevention
Better public health outcomes
[2023] Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care. Statement-II: Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-l are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-is not the correct explanation for Statement-l. [C] Statement-l is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. [D] Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-Il is correct.
The Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance launched the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) worth USD 1.5 billion amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
About Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP)
BMIP is a domestic maritime insurance pool created to ensure uninterrupted maritime insurance coverage for Indian shipping and trade operations.
Total Size: USD 1.5 billion
Sovereign Guarantee: USD 1.4 billion
Approximately ₹12,980 crore
Objective
Ensure continuity of maritime trade during geopolitical crises.
Reduce dependence on foreign insurers and reinsurers.
Strengthen India’s financial and maritime sovereignty.
Protect Indian vessels operating in high-risk war zones.
Beneficiaries
Coverage applies to:
Indian-flagged vessels
Indian-controlled vessels
Ships destined to or originating from India
[2024] Consider the following statements: Statement-I Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and Natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? [A] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I [B] Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I [C] Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect [D] Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
The jewellery industry, led by the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council, has called for revitalising the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) to reduce gold imports and ease pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.
About Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)
The Gold Monetisation Scheme was launched by the Government of India in 2015
Objective:
Mobilise idle gold held by households and institutions
Reduce dependence on gold imports
Integrate gold into the formal economy
Why is Gold Important for India?
India is one of the world’s largest consumers of gold.
Gold is used for:
Jewellery
Investment
Cultural and religious purposes
India imports large quantities of gold annually, increasing:
Import bill
Current Account Deficit (CAD)
Pressure on foreign exchange reserves
[2016] Which of the following is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and ‘Gold Monetization Scheme’?: 1. To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy. 2. To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector. 3.To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports. Select the correct answer using the code given below: [A] 1 only [B] 2 and 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Somnath Temple marking 75 years of its restoration, reviving discussion on the British claim of bringing back the “Somnath Gates” from Afghanistan in 1842.
Somnath Temple
Located at Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
Repeatedly attacked and rebuilt through history
Mahmud of Ghazni attacked Somnath in 1026 CE and looted the temple.
British “Somnath Gates” (1842)
During the First Anglo Afghan War, British forces captured Ghazni.
Governor General Lord Ellenborough claimed to have recovered the original Somnath temple gates from Afghanistan.
He issued a proclamation stating the British had avenged the “insult” suffered by Hindus centuries ago.
Reality
Later investigations found:
Gates were made of cheap pinewood, not sandalwood
Afghan style design, not Indian
Not connected to Somnath Temple
Presently kept in Agra Fort.
Importance
Example of British “divide and rule” politics
Use of religious symbolism for colonial legitimacy
[2022] The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somanath Temple at Verval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple? 1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines 2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni. 3. Pran Pratistha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan. Select the correct answer using the code given below: [A] 1 and 2 only [B] 2 and 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1, 2 and 3
India successfully conducted the flight-trial of an advanced Agni missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) system on May 8, 2026. The test was carried out from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
What is a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)?
MIRV technology allows:
A single ballistic missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads
Each warhead to strike different targets independently
How MIRV Works
Step 1: Missile Launch: A ballistic missile is launched carrying multiple warheads.
Step 2: Mid-course Phase: After reaching space or upper atmosphere:
The missile releases several re-entry vehicles
Step 3: Independent Targeting: Each warhead:
Follows a separate trajectory
Hits a different target
[2026] Consider the following statements 1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of fight. 2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [A] 1 only [B] 2 only [C] Both 1 and 2 [D] Neither 1 nor 2
Two cheetahs brought from Botswana were released into the wild at Kuno National Park (MP) after completing quarantine and acclimatisation. With this, India’s total cheetah population has increased to 57, including cubs born in India.
About Project Cheetah
Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious wildlife conservation programme aimed at:
Reintroducing cheetahs into Indian ecosystems
Restoring ecological balance
Establishing a viable cheetah population in the wild
It is the world’s first intercontinental large carnivore translocation project.
Launch of the Project
The project was launched in September 2022 by Narendra Modi at Kuno National Park
Background
Extinction in India: The Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952
Main reasons: Hunting, Habitat loss, and Decline in prey base
India declared the cheetah extinct officially in 1952.
Source Countries of Cheetahs
Namibia: 8 cheetahs brought in September 2022
South Africa: 12 cheetahs brought in 2023
Botswana: 9 cheetahs brought in 2026
[2024] Consider the following statements: 1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season. 2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. 3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking. Which of the statements given above are correct? [A] 1 and 2 only [B] 2 and 3 only [C] 1 and 3 only [D] 1,2 and 3
The Supreme Court of India has launched two major digital initiatives: “One Case One Data” and “Su Sahay”. These initiatives aim to modernise judicial administration and improve access to justice through technology.
One Case One Data
“One Case One Data” is a nationwide digital integration initiative announced by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
It seeks to create a unified judicial data management system connecting:
Supreme Court
High Courts
District Courts
Taluka Courts
Objective
Streamline case management
Build a comprehensive digital judicial database
Improve coordination among courts
Reduce duplication and delays
Su Sahay
“Su Sahay” is an AI-powered chatbot integrated with the Supreme Court website.
It has been developed by:
National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Supreme Court Registry
Objective: To provide easier access to court-related information and services for litigants.
Role of National Informatics Centre (NIC)
NIC is the premier technology institution under the Government of India responsible for:
E-governance infrastructure
Digital public platforms
Government IT services
[2022] Consider the following: 1. Aarogya Setu 2. CoWIN 3. DigiLocker 4. DIKSHA Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
According to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Department of Financial Services’ Insurance Division topped the Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) rankings in the Group A category for March 2026.
About Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI)
The Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) is an evaluation framework developed by Department of Administrative Reformsand Public Grievances to assess the performance of Ministries and Departments in handling public grievances.
The first edition, GRAI 2022, was released on 21 June 2023.
Objective
To measure the effectiveness and efficiency of grievance redressal mechanisms.
To improve accountability and citizen-centric governance.
To evaluate how quickly and effectively ministries resolve grievances through the CPGRAMS platform.
Four Major Dimensions
Efficiency
Feedback
Domain
Organisational Commitment
These dimensions are measured using 11 indicators.
Significance of GRAI
Encourages timely disposal of grievances.
Promotes transparency in administration.
Improves public service delivery.
Creates competition among departments for better governance standards.
Strengthens citizen trust in government institutions.
Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)
CPGRAMS is an online grievance redressal platform that allows citizens to lodge complaints regarding public service delivery.
It is Available 24×7
A single integrated portal linked with Central Ministries, Departments, and States
Developed and monitored by: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
[2021] With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. 2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister’s charge. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [A] 1 only [B] 2 only [C] Both 1 and 2 [D] Neither 1 nor 2
