1.Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): India’s decision to exit the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was influenced by concerns over market access for dairy and agricultural products.

• About RCEP: It is a free trade agreement between ASEAN member states and its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners.
• Member Countries: Comprises 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam) and 6 FTA partners — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Launch and Enforcement: Negotiations launched in November 2012; entered into force on 1 January 2022.
• Objective: To create an integrated market among 16 countries, and facilitate easier availability of products and services across the region.
• Focus Areas: Trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, dispute settlement, e-commerce, SMEs, and economic cooperation.

2.Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): India will chair the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) from November 2025 and aims to focus on funding opportunities, integrating technology, and creating maritime-ready courses through academic and research collaborations.

• About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): It was founded in 1997 as an intergovernmental organisation of States on the Indian Ocean rim.
• Apex Body: Council of Foreign Ministers, meets annually.
• Secretariat: Located in Ebène, Mauritius; overseen by a Secretary-General appointed for three years.
• Committee of Senior Officials (CSO): Meets twice a year to progress IORA’s agenda and implement policies.
• Troika Mechanism: Consists of the current Chair, Vice-Chair (future Chair), and past Chair.
• Membership: Expanded to 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners.
• Key Focus Areas: Maritime security → Trade and investment facilitation → Fisheries management → Disaster risk reduction → Academic and scientific cooperation → Tourism promotion and cultural exchanges.
  • Additional Areas of Interest: Blue Economy & Women’s Economic Empowerment
  • Member Countries:

  o Asia: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Yemen.

  o Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles.

  o Oceania: Australia, and Europe: France.

Challenger 150 Initiative: A team of scientists may have discovered dozens of new species on the newly exposed seafloor left behind by the A-84 iceberg that broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf on January 13.

• About Challenger 150 Initiative: It is a UNESCO-endorsed global initiative for deep-sea research.
• The mission explored the newly exposed seafloor after the breakaway of the 510-sq-km A-84 iceberg from the George VI Ice Shelf.
• Scientists used the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian to explore the seafloor for eight days at depths of up to 1,300 metres.
• Discoveries include large corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, octopi, and a giant phantom jelly.
• A vase-shaped sponge was found, which might be hundreds of years old.
• Scientists hypothesize that ocean currents, glacial meltwater, or other factors could be transporting essential nutrients, sustaining life beneath the ice shelf.
• The discovery challenges existing beliefs, as these ecosystems have been cut off from surface nutrients for centuries under 150-metre-thick ice.
• In 2021, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) first reported signs of bottom-dwelling life beneath the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in the Southern Weddell Sea.

Future of Jobs Report 2025: Despite strong economic growth, inequality has risen significantly. India's richest 10% hold nearly 60% of total income, while the top 1% own 22.6% of national income, as per the recent study from the World Inequality Database.

• About Future of Jobs Report 2025: Published by World Economic Forum (WEF).
  • Data Source: Survey of 1,000+ leading global companies representing 14 million workers across 22 industry sectors and 55 economies.
  • Key Highlights:

  o Capital-Intensive Growth Impact: Automation and AI adoption have reduced demand for low- and medium-wage labour while benefiting high-skilled workers.

  o Labour-Intensive Industries Struggling: Textiles and apparel sectors losing competitiveness, leading to fewer employment opportunities.

  o Policy Interventions Required: Need for regulatory reforms, infrastructure improvements, and skill development initiatives to counter job losses.

  o Major Drivers of Labour Market Transformation: Technological Change → Geoeconomic Fragmentation → Economic Uncertainty → Demographic Shifts → Green Transition

  o Fastest-Growing Job Roles: AI & Machine Learning Experts → Software & Application Developers → FinTech Engineers → Farmworkers, Delivery Drivers, Construction Workers → Care Economy Jobs (Nurses, Social Workers, etc.)

  o Top 5 Fastest-Growing Skills by 2030: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Big Data, Networks & Cybersecurity, Technological Literacy, Creativity, and Resilience, Flexibility & Agility

  o Workforce Changes Due to AI Adoption: 41% of companies plan workforce reductions due to increased automation. Companies using AI-driven tools for routine tasks, reshaping employment patterns.

Transforming Forest Finance Report: The UNDP-backed Transforming Forest Finance Report highlights a severe funding gap in global forest conservation and the misdirection of funds toward activities driving deforestation.

• About key highlights of the Report: Funding Gap → Misaligned Investments → Ineffective REDD+ → Debt Burden on Developing Nations.
• Key Recommendations for Reform:

o Reform Public and Multilateral Finance: Institutions like the World Bank should increase funding for forest conservation.

o Overhaul Sovereign Debt Systems: Address high debt levels to reduce pressure on countries to exploit forests.

o Redirect Harmful Subsidies: Shift funds away from deforestation-driving industries toward sustainable alternatives.

o Increase Direct Funding for Local Communities: Ensure Indigenous Peoples and local groups receive financial support for conservation.

o Strengthen Financial Regulations: Require banks and investors to account for deforestation risks.

o New Financing Models: Develop initiatives like the Tropical Forest Forever Facility for stable long-term conservation funding.

• Significance for Global Climate Action: The findings are expected to shape global discussions at the upcoming COP30 under the UNFCCC.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): The Government, through Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to ensure energy security and mitigate supply disruptions.

• About Strategic Petroleum Reserves: They are emergency stockpiles of crude oil, held by governments and sometimes private industry, to safeguard economies and maintain national security during energy crises, particularly short-term supply disruptions.
• Existing Facilities: Total Capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) across 3 locations - Vishakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur
• Expansion Plans (PPP mode): In July 2021, Government approved 2 additional SPR facilities with a total capacity of 6.5 MMT Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka)
• Diversification of Crude Supply: Reduced dependence on single regions by procuring crude oil from diverse regions like the Middle East, Africa, North America, South America.

o Diversified LNG imports by adding Australia, USA, and UAE as sourcing destinations.

o Long-term LNG procurement agreements to ensure uninterrupted supply and safeguard against price volatility.

• Clean Energy Initiatives: Promoting natural gas as fuel/feedstock to increase its share and move towards a gas-based economy.

o Promotion of Renewable and Alternate Fuels: Focus on ethanol, second-generation ethanol, compressed bio-gas (CBG), biodiesel, Green Hydrogen, and EVs.

o Refinery Process Improvements: Enhancing energy efficiency and promoting conservation measures.

o Increasing Oil and Gas Production: Through various policy initiatives.

• SATAT Initiative: Promoting CBG as automotive fuel through the Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative.
• Biofuel Promotion Programmes: Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme & Biodiesel Blending Programme.

National Conference on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): It was recently organized by Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and WRI India in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

• Key Highlights: Emphasis on environmental protection and minimizing carbon emissions.

o Net Zero Target (2070): Achievable through technology coordination and public awareness.

o Banana Fibre Plant: Foundation stone laid in Lakhimpur for a plant to produce banana fibre products that decompose in three months.

o Open Burning Strategy: Discussion on making Gorakhpur free from open burning of waste by 2027.

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): First national attempt to develop a framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction goal.

o Target: Reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by at least 20% over five years (Base Year: 2017).

o Implementation: 131 cities identified for city-specific action plans.

o Monitoring: PRANA Portal: Launched by MoEFCC to monitor NCAP implementation and city action plans.

• About World Resources Institute India (WRI India): Independent research organisation, registered as India Resources Trust, inspired by and affiliated with the World Resources Institute (WRI), founded in 1982, Washington, DC.

o Objective: Promote environmentally healthy and socially just development.

o Develop transformative solutions to protect the environment → Enhance livelihoods → Improve human well-being through research, analysis, and policy recommendations.

o Focus Areas: Works on sustainable development projects across various Indian states.

o Headquarters: Located in New Delhi.