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  • India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Comes into Force

    Why in News?

    The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) came into force, marking one of India’s most comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

    Key Highlights

    • CETA: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
    • DCC: Double Contribution Convention
    • The UK will eliminate tariffs on 96.8% of tariff lines (covering 97.7% of trade value) immediately.
    • India will remove tariffs on 30.3% of trade value immediately, with further reductions phased over time.
    • Covers 30 chapters, including: Digital Trade, Government Procurement, MSMEs, Labour, Environment, Gender, and Innovation
    • Addresses SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) to reduce non-tariff barriers.
    • India has protected sensitive sectors such as dairy, cereals, pulses, vegetables, gold & jewellery, smartphones, and critical polymers.
    • Under the DCC, Indian professionals working in the UK for up to 5 years will be exempt from paying UK social security if they are already contributing in India, benefiting 75,000+ workers and 900+ employers.

    About CETA

    • A comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at boosting trade, investment, services, and economic cooperation.
    • Enhances market access while reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers between India and the UK.

    [2017] ‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and

    [A] European Union

    [B] Gulf Cooperation Council

    [C] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

    [D] Shanghai Cooperation Organization

  • Indian Grey Hornbill Returns to Gir

    Why in News?

    The Indian Grey Hornbill has recorded four consecutive years of successful breeding in Gujarat’s Gir Forest after being reintroduced in 2021, marking the revival of a species that disappeared from the region over six decades ago.

    Key Highlights

    • The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Birds.
    • The species had disappeared from Gir during the 1950s-1960s.
    • 40 Indian Grey Hornbills were released in two phases: 28 birds (2021-22) and 12 birds (2023)
    • 11 males were fitted with satellite transmitters to monitor movement, habitat use, and breeding.
    • The project has achieved four consecutive years of successful breeding, indicating the population is becoming self-sustaining.
    • The Indian Grey Hornbill is an important long-distance seed disperser, aiding forest regeneration.

    About Indian Grey Hornbill

    • Scientific name: Ocyceros birostris
    • IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
    • Habitat: Open forests, wooded farmlands, and urban parks across the Indian subcontinent.
    • Feeds mainly on fruits, insects, and small reptiles.
    • Plays a vital ecological role in seed dispersal and maintaining forest biodiversity.

    [2020] With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned miniyet and White-throated redstart are

    a) Birds
    b) Primates
    c) Reptiles
    d) Amphibians

  • Future-Ready Workforce for India’s Creative Economy

    Why in News?

    The Press Information Bureau (PIB) organised a ‘Varta’ workshop on “Creating a Future-Ready Workforce for India’s Creative Economy” in Nagpur.

    Key Highlights

    • India currently contributes ~3% to the global Orange Economy and aims to increase it to 12 to 15% over the next decade.
    • IICT: Indian Institute of Creative Technology is the National Centre of Excellence for the AVGC-XR sector.
    • AVGC-XR: Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality.
    • Kaushal Bodh curriculum, developed by IICT in collaboration with NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), will promote creativity and skill development from an early stage.
    • Proposal to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 500 colleges and 15,000 schools.
    • IICT will offer industry-oriented courses through a Hub-and-Spoke model, extending training beyond Mumbai to regional and semi-urban centres.
    • Focus on leveraging India’s storytelling tradition and indigenous knowledge systems to strengthen the creative economy.

    About Orange Economy

    • Refers to the creative economy based on creativity, culture, intellectual property, and digital content.
    • Includes sectors such as animation, films, gaming, music, publishing, design, advertising, media, and digital arts.

    [2019] In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:
    1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
    2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.
    3. AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phones or PC.
    4. VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 3 and 4

    [C] 1, 2 and 3

    [D] 4 only

  • NESAC Strengthens Space-Based Governance in Northeast

    Why in News?

    The Union Minister reviewed the initiatives of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), highlighting its role in border management, disaster resilience, and socio-economic development in the Northeast

    Key Highlights

    • NESAC: North Eastern Space Applications Centre, located at Umiam, Meghalaya.
    • Implementing ~130 space application projects, including 78 ongoing and 50 recently completed.
    • Supporting geospatial mapping of the India-Myanmar border and inter-state boundaries.
    • Key sectors covered: Agriculture, Disaster Management, Water Resources, Forestry, Urban & Regional Planning, Geoinformatics, Satellite Communication, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) applications
    • Promoting bamboo resource mapping in collaboration with NECBDC (North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council).
    • Strengthening flood early warning systems and the GeoTourism ‘ManzilNE’ dashboard.
    • Encouraged partnerships with State Governments, academia, startups, and industry to expand space-based applications.

    About NESAC

    • Established in 2000 as a joint initiative of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
    • Provides space technology, remote sensing, GIS (Geographic Information System), satellite communication, and disaster management support for the eight Northeastern States.

    [2024] The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members?
    1. Governor of the Constituent State
    2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State
    3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India
    4. The Home Minister of India
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    [A] 1, 2 and 3 only

    [B] 3 and 4 only

    [C] 2 and 4 only

    [D] 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • Reform Express: Eight New Railway Reforms

    Why in News?

    The Ministry of Railways announced 8 new structural reforms under the Reform Express initiative, taking the total to 17 reforms as part of the target of52 reforms in 52 weeks.

    Key Highlights

    • Aim: Reduce logistics costs, improve freight efficiency, encourage private investment, and promote green transport.
    • Fly Ash Transport: Introduction of containerised transport using ISO containers for pollution-free movement.
    • Container Sector: Unified Pan-India Container Train Operator (CTO) licence replacing multiple categories.
    • Fertiliser Transport: Simplified freight tariff and permission for containerised movement.
    • Skilling Policy: QR code-enabled certification for railway artisans in critical trades.
    • Construction Reforms: Better contractor selection, mandatory insurance, and Rail Bhoomi digital platform for land acquisition.
    • Wagon Design: Industries can now design specialised freight wagons with RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation) approval.
    • Petroleum Transport: Oil companies can own or lease specialised POL (Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants) tank wagons.
    • Foodgrain Transport: Simplified freight rates and containerised transport for foodgrains, flour, and pulses.

    Significance

    • Promotes ease of doing business and multimodal logistics.
    • Shifts freight from road to rail, reducing costs and carbon emissions.
    • Supports PM Gati Shakti and sustainable freight transportation.

    [2025] Consider the following statements:
    I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028.
    II. Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system, development in collaboration with Germany.
    III. ‘Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.
    Which of the statements given above are not correct?

    [A] I and II only

    [B] II and III only

    [C] I and III only

    [D] I, II and III

  • Retail Inflation Rises to 4.4%

    Why in News?

    India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation rose to 4.4% in June 2026, crossing the RBI’s 4% target for the first time since January 2025.

    Key Highlights

    • CPI: Consumer Price Index, the primary measure of retail inflation.
    • Retail inflation: 4.4% (June 2026), up from 3.93% in May.
    • Food inflation: 5.05%, the highest under the new CPI series.
    • Major drivers:
      • Rising food prices due to an uneven monsoon.
      • Higher fuel prices amid the West Asia crisis.
      • Supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
    • Transport inflation rose to 4.3% (from 1.7%) because of fuel costs.
    • Inflation in personal care & miscellaneous goods/services reached 16.7%, driven by higher gold and silver prices.

    About Inflation Targeting

    • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) follows a Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework.
    • Inflation target: 4% ± 2% (2% to 6%).
    • Inflation is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

    [2022] In India which one of the following is responsible for maintaining for prices stability by controlling inflation?

    [A] Department of Consumer Affairs

    [B] Expenditure Management Commission

    [C] Financial Stability and Development Council

    [D] Reserve Bank of India

  • CSIR ASPIRE-SHAKTI

    Why in News?

    CSIR organised ASPIRE-SHAKTI: Celebrating Women in STEM at its headquarters and released the ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium, highlighting the achievements of women researchers.

    Key Highlights

    • CSIR: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    • DSIR: Department of Scientific & Industrial Research
    • STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
    • CSIR-ASPIRE was launched on International Women’s Day 2023 to support women scientists as independent Principal Investigators (PIs).
    • Out of 2,878 proposals from 969 institutions, 301 women researchers were selected (~10% selection rate).
    • Research outcomes include:
      • 253+ SCI-indexed publications
      • 15+ patent filings
      • 20+ international conference presentations
      • Training of 300+ research fellows.
    • Next phase will focus on:
      • Commercialisation of innovations
      • Industry and startup linkages
      • Technology translation
      • Greater participation from the North-East, Ladakh, and Tier-2/Tier-3 institutions.

    About CSIR-ASPIRE

    • ASPIRE: A Special Call for Research Grants for Women Scientists
    • Implemented by CSIR-Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG).
    • Supports women researchers across Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Sciences.
    • Aims to promote women-led research, innovation, and scientific leadership.

    [2018] Consider the following statements :
    Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables
    1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
    2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
    3. accumulation of tangible wealth.
    4. accumulation of intangible wealth.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    [A] 1 and 2

    [B] 2 only

    [C] 2 and 4

    [D] 1, 3 and 4

  • Guardians of India’s Maritime Frontiers

    Why in News?

    The Indian Navy recently commissioned INS Mahendragiri, INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray, strengthening India’s indigenous maritime capabilities.

    Key Highlights

    • Three indigenous naval classes strengthen India’s layered maritime security:
      • Nilgiri Class: Stealth Frigates (Project 17A)
      • Sandhayak Class: Survey Vessel (Large)
      • Arnala Class: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC)
    • Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) with high indigenous content under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
    • Protect India’s 11,098 km coastline, 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and sea lanes carrying ~90% of India’s trade by volume.

    About the Three Classes

    • Nilgiri Class (Project 17A): Next-generation stealth guided missile frigates for anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
      • Equipped with BrahMos missiles, advanced radar, sonar, and helicopters.
    • Sandhayak Class: Conducts hydrographic surveys, seabed mapping, and nautical charting.
      • Supports the Blue Economy, navigation safety, and disaster relief.
    • Arnala Class: Designed for coastal anti-submarine warfare in shallow waters.
      • Equipped with lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and shallow-water sonar.

    Strategic Significance

    • Strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous shipbuilding.
    • Supports SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions.
    • Enhances maritime security, defence exports, and the Blue Economy.

    [2016] Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?

    [A] Amphibious warfare ship

    [B] Nuclear-powered submarine

    [C] Torpedo launch and recovery vessel

    [D] Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

  • Bharat Tex 2026

    Why in News?

    Bharat Tex 2026, India’s largest global textile exhibition, will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 14 to 17 July 2026

    Key Highlights

    • Organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) with support from the Ministry of Textiles.
    • Based on the 5F Vision: Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign.
    • Participation of 1,600+ exhibitors, 7,000+ buyers, and delegates from 20+ countries.
    • Over 4,000 Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, 100+ Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings, and 30+ Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) expected.
    • Covers the complete textile value chain including fibre, yarn, fabric, apparel, home textiles, and technical textiles.
    • Features 100+ knowledge sessions on sustainability, technical textiles, Industry 5.0, innovation, and exports.
    • Includes Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) Textile Sustainability Awards 2026 and AI-enabled digital business matchmaking.

    About Bharat Tex

    • India’s flagship global textile and apparel exhibition.
    • Promotes exports, investment, innovation, sustainability, and international partnerships.
    • Showcases India’s textile manufacturing capabilities and strengthens its position in global value chains.

    Government Initiatives

    • PM MITRA: Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks
    • PLI Scheme: Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles
    • NTTM: National Technical Textiles Mission
    • SAMARTH: Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector

    [2022] Which of the following activities constitute real sector in the economy?
    1. Farmers harvesting their crops
    2. Textile mills converting raw cotton into fabrics
    3. A commercial bank lending money to a trading company
    4. A corporate body issuing Rupee Denominated Bonds overseas.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 2, 3 and 4 only

    [C] 1, 3 and 4 only

    [D] 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • Gaganyaan: ISRO Successfully Tests Key Crew Module Systems

    Why in News?

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted three major qualification tests of the Gaganyaan Crew Module to enhance astronaut safety during re-entry and recovery.

    Key Highlights

    • Crew Module Uprighting System (CMUS): Uses a stored cold gas inflation system to automatically restore the crew module to an upright position after sea splashdown, ensuring crew safety.
    • Crew Module Umbilical System (CSU-2): Successfully tested the separation of the Crew Module Umbilical-2 (CSU-2), which connects the Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM).
      • Enables clean separation before atmospheric re-entry while maintaining structural integrity.
    • Apex Cover Separation Test: Validated the structural integrity during separation of the apex cover, which protects the parachute system.
      • The cover separates before parachute deployment to ensure safe deceleration and landing.
      • Note: Parachute systems are deployed to slow descents through the atmosphere or space.

    About Gaganyaan Mission

    • India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission.
    • Implemented by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
    • Objective: Demonstrate India’s capability to send three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (about 400 km) for up to 3 days and safely return them to Earth.

    Significance

    • Strengthens astronaut safety during splashdown and re-entry.
    • Validates critical crew escape and recovery systems.
    • Advances India’s human spaceflight capability and future space exploration.

    [2025] Consider the following space missions:
    I. Axiom-4
    II. SpaDeX
    III. Gaganyaan
    How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?

    [A] Only one

    [B] Only two

    [C] All the three

    [D] None