2 Minute Series_16th August 2025

16^th August 2025

SLINEX-25: Recently, Indian Naval Ships INS Rana, a Guided Missile Destroyer, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker, arrived in Colombo to take part in the 12th edition of the Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25).

· About SLINEX: Launched in 2005, SLINEX has become a key symbol of two decades of maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka.

Focuses on interoperability, best practice sharing, and joint operations for regional maritime security.
The previous edition was hosted at Visakhapatnam, India, in December 2024.

· Structure of SLINEX-25:

o Harbour Phase (Colombo): Professional interactions and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE)

o Joint yoga sessions, cultural programmes, and sports to deepen camaraderie

o Strengthens mutual understanding between the two navies

Sea Phase: Advanced operational drills including gunnery, navigation, and communication exercises
Seamanship training and fueling at sea operations
VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) exercises for maritime security preparedness
SLINEX aligns with India’s “MAHASAGAR” vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

APAAR IDs: Recently, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made it mandatory for students to provide their APAAR IDs while registering for board examinations.

· About APAAR ID: Refers to the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, a digital initiative conceptualised under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

It is a 12-digit lifelong academic identifier assigned to every student in India, enabling their educational progress to be tracked right from early schooling to higher education.
The ID acts as a comprehensive academic record, consolidating details of a student’s qualifications, mark sheets, scholarships, recognitions, and credits.
It is permanent, unique, Aadhaar-linked, and stored digitally in DigiLocker for secure and convenient access.
APAAR reflects the principle of “One Nation, One Student ID”, offering learners a single academic identity across institutions.
The system is powered by the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)

o Key Aims: To create a national-level academic database for all students.

To enable smooth transfer of records when shifting between schools or colleges.
To provide digitally verifiable certificates and mark sheets, reducing paperwork and duplication.
To support evidence-based policymaking by generating reliable education data.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Recently, on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

· About Mission Sudarshan Chakra: A fully indigenous, multi-layered defence initiative aimed at protecting the nation’s strategic, civilian, and religious sites from external threats.

A national security initiative to build an advanced multi-tiered protective shield around India’s most critical installations.
Draws inspiration from the mythological Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna, symbolising the fusion of cultural heritage with modern strategic defence.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence.
Objectives: To establish a homegrown, research-driven security system capable of countering threats across air, land, sea, and cyberspace.
Promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat by indigenising cutting-edge defence technologies.
Ensure integrated, proactive security for vital infrastructure, metropolitan hubs, and sacred sites.
Key Features: Multi-Layered Shield: Incorporates early-warning systems, interception, and rapid counter-attack mechanisms.
Wide-Ranging Protection: Extends to defence assets, civilian centres, and religious landmarks.
Technology Integration: Utilises advanced radars, AI-based surveillance, cyber-defence frameworks, and physical security systems.
Indigenous Focus: Entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in India.
Long-Term Roadmap: Aims at phased expansion and modernisation, with full deployment targeted by 2035.

Study on Estranged Fathers in India: Recently, a study by the NGO Ekam Nyaay Foundation highlighted the grave challenges faced by estranged fathers in India in securing visitation rights with their children.

Key Highlights: Survey Scope: Based on responses from 108 fathers across India.
High Denial Rates: Nearly 3 out of 4 fathers seeking visitation rights were denied access to their children.
Legal & Social Hurdles: Fathers face bias in custody decisions, fear of court proceedings, misinformation about legal remedies, and false legal cases.
Impact of Section 6 (Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956): Automatically grants custody of children under five years to the mother. Fathers often spend years fighting custody battles, while the child grows up without their presence.
Alienation Effect: Early separation from fathers weakens the bond between child and father, making later reconciliation difficult.
Court Experience: 48.2% of fathers surveyed applied for visitation rights.
Out of 52 applications, only 13 fathers were granted visitation.
Even when granted, court orders were often ignored by custodial mothers.
Advice against Filing: Many fathers reported being discouraged from filing visitation petitions, fearing retaliatory actions by estranged spouses.
Call for Reform: The report urges judicial reforms and shared parenting models to ensure fathers are not alienated from their children.

Bioactive Peptides: Recently, a study by the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati revealed that bioactive peptides (BAPs) present in fermented foods may provide population-specific health benefits, paving the way for personalised nutrition in India.

· About Bioactive Peptides: Short chains of proteins (comprising 2–20 amino acids) produced during the fermentation of foods such as yogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, and fermented fish.

Known to possess antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties.
Objectives of Research: To examine how BAPs support the regulation of blood pressure, blood sugar, immunity, and inflammation.
To develop precision nutrition approaches tailored to India’s diverse genetic backgrounds, dietary patterns, and cultural food practices.
Key Features: Mechanism of Action: BAPs interact with biomolecules through electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions.
Health Effects: Impact cardiac health, metabolism, and immune response.
Personalised Nutrition: Their benefits vary due to genetic polymorphisms (e.g., ACE, IL-6), gut microbiome composition, and dietary habits.
Research Tools: Use of omics-based technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) encouraged for deeper insights.
Significance: Public Health Role: Potential to be integrated into dietary guidelines for addressing common lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and immunity-related disorders.
Cultural Relevance: Enhances the global scientific recognition of India’s traditional fermented foods within the framework of modern nutrition science.

Antitrisuloides catocalina: Recently, scientists documented the presence of the rare nocturnal moth Antitrisuloides catocalina in the Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary, located in Palakkad district, Kerala.

· About Antitrisuloides catocalina: A nocturnal moth species belonging to the genus Antitrisuloides and the Noctuidae family.

This is the first recorded sighting in the Western Ghats.
The genus Antitrisuloides has only two known species worldwide.
The Kerala specimen was initially thought to match one reported earlier from North-East India.
Detailed examination confirmed it as the subspecies Antitrisuloides catocalina cyclica.

· About Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary: Also called Mayiladumpara, it is located in Palakkad, Kerala.

It is the only peacock sanctuary in Kerala and the first dedicated peacock reserve in India.
Established in 1996, the sanctuary focuses exclusively on the breeding and conservation of peafowl.
Dedicated to the memory of Induchoodan, a renowned ornithologist and writer from nearby Kavassery village.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Recently, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, a major employment-linked incentive scheme aimed at boosting formal job creation in India.

· About Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Provides direct cash incentives to both employees and employers to encourage formalisation of the workforce.

Target: Support creation of 5 crore jobs within two years.

· Key Features:

o Part A – Support for First-Time Employees: Focus: First-time employees registered with EPFO.

Incentive: One month’s EPF wage, up to ₹15,000, paid in two instalments.
Eligibility: Employees earning up to ₹1 lakh/month.
Payment Schedule: 1st instalment after 6 months of service. 2nd instalment after 12 months of service + completion of a financial literacy programme.
Payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS).

o Part B – Incentives for Employers: Designed to promote new job creation across all sectors, with emphasis on manufacturing.

Employers will receive ₹3,000 per month per new employee (earning up to ₹1 lakh), for two years, provided the employee remains on payroll for at least 6 months.
Payments directly to PAN-linked bank accounts.

GST Reforms: Recently, the Centre proposed next-generation GST reforms aimed at simplifying the indirect tax structure. Announced during the Independence Day 2025 address at Red Fort, the plan seeks to retain only two primary slabs — 5% and 18% — while eliminating the 12% and 28% brackets.

· Key Highlights: 99% items in 12% slab → shifted to 5%.

90% items in 28% slab → shifted to 18%.
No cess to be imposed over GST rates.
Concessional Rate (<1%) – For select items below 5% (e.g., gold, silver, semi-precious stones).
High Sin Rate (40%) – For 5–7 demerit goods (e.g., tobacco, gutka).
White goods (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines): Tax to be reduced (from 28% → 18%).
Daily-use items (toothpaste, soap, and shampoo): Possible reduction from 18% slab.
Lower rates may cause a short-term revenue dip, but expected to boost: Consumption, Tax compliance & Tax base expansion