1. Earth's Inner Core

1.Earth's Inner Core: The inner core of Earth may have changed shape in the past 20 years, according to a group of scientists.

• About: The Earth's inner core is the innermost layer of the planet, a solid sphere primarily composed of iron and nickel, located at the very center of the Earth, and is extremely hot with temperatures reaching around 5,200°C.
• Role of the Inner Core: Produces Earth's magnetic field, protecting life from the Sun’s radiation.

  o Spins independently from the outer core and the planet, and essential for sustaining life; without it, Earth could become like Mars, which lost its magnetic field.

  • Connection to Earth's Magnetic Field: Magnetic field jerks in past decades could be linked to inner core changes.
  • Possible Cause of Shape Change: Occurs where the solid inner core touches the hot, liquid outer core, driven by liquid metal flow and uneven gravity pull.
  • Seismic Wave Analysis (1991-2023): Scientists analysed earthquake shockwaves to study core changes → found inner core slowed around 2010 before speeding up again → Evidence suggests core deformation over time.
  • Long-Term Changes: Outer core is freezing into the inner core, but full solidification will take billions of years → by then, Earth may have already been swallowed by the Sun.

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2. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)

2.Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): The CCI is likely to buy 100+ lakh bales of cotton at MSP during the current cotton year.

• About CCI: It is Nodal Agency, established under Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to ensure equitable cotton distribution, fair prices, facilitates import-export, and supports cotton farmers, and promotes Indian cotton globally.

o Procures cotton at MSP to prevent farmer distress sales.

• About Kasturi Cotton India: Launched in 2020 under Ministry of Textiles to promote indigenous premium cotton globally.
• Objective: Traceability, certification, and branding of Indian cotton as per benchmarked standards.
  • Traceability System: QR-based certification at each processing stage → Blockchain-based software for end-to-end traceability and transaction certificates → Microsite with QR code verification for tracking.

  o Implemented at national level and promoted on national & international platforms.

  • Fund Allocation: No state-level allocation; funds managed centrally.
  • Ginner Empowerment: Ginners across India authorized to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat as per protocol.
  • About Ginning: Essential step in the spinning process → Separates seed, lint, and foreign particles from raw cotton → Provides cleaned cotton for spinning mills.

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3. Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

3.Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025: The Bill is likely to be introduced by Union Home Minister in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

• About: The Bill aims to replace existing laws and provide a comprehensive legal framework for immigration and foreign nationals.
• Key Provisions under the Bill:

o Penalty for Unauthorized Entry (₹5 lakh) & Penalty for Fake Passport (₹10 lakh)

o Regulation of Foreign Nationals in universities, hospitals, and medical institutions.

o Provisions for Passports & Visas for entry and exit from India.

o Foreigners’ Registration & Movement Restrictions, control over places frequented by foreigners, liability of Carriers (transporters bringing foreigners into India unlawfully).

o Powers of Central Government: Removal of foreigners, delegation of powers & exemptions.

• Existing Laws to be replaced:

o Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920: Required passports for persons entering India.

o Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939: Required registration of foreigners in India.

o Foreigners Act, 1946: Provided powers to regulate foreigners.

o Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000: Made carriers liable for bringing passengers violating passport laws.

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4. Rainbow capital of the world

4.Rainbow capital of the world:  Due to frequent appearances, a University of Hawaii professor calls Hawaii the "rainbow capital of the world."

• Winter Season: Rainbows are more common during the rainy season (October–April) in Hawaii.
• About formation of Rainbows:

o Sunlight & Raindrops: Rainbows form when raindrops refract sunlight into different colors.

o Best Viewing Time: They appear opposite the sun and seem larger in the early morning and late afternoon.

o Trade Winds’ Role: Hawaii’s trade winds bring small rain showers with enough clear sky for sunlight to create rainbows.

o Clean Air Advantage: Unlike other places, Hawaii has fewer air particles (Dust, Pollen & Pollution), making rainbows more vivid.

• Impact of Climate Change: Some regions (Brazil, the Mediterranean, and Central Africa) may see fewer rainbows by 2100.

o Places with less snow and more rain (e.g., Alaska) may see more rainbows.

o Hawaii’s leeward (dry) sides may experience fewer rainbows due to longer dry spells.

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5. Exercise CYCLONE

5.Exercise CYCLONE: The 3rd edition of Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE commenced at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan recently.

• About: It is a Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE, conducted alternately in India and Egypt.

o The previous edition of the exercise held in Egypt in January 2024

• Participating Contingents: 25 personnel from two Special Indian Forces Battalions & 25 personnel from Special Forces Group & Task Force of Egyptian Special Forces.
• Objective & Focus Areas: Enhance military-to-military relations through interoperability, jointness, and tactical exchange → Focus on high physical fitness, joint planning, and tactical drills → Includes advanced Special Forces skills and modern tactics, techniques, and procedures.
• Benefits: Exchange of best practices in tactical operations → Strengthens bonhomie and camaraderie between Indian and Egyptian troops.

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6. Sudan Virus Disease (SVD)

6.Sudan Virus Disease (SVD): The Ugandan government and the World Health Organization recently confirmed an outbreak of Sudan virus disease.

• About: Sudan virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever disease, belonging to the same family as Ebola virus disease, caused by Sudan virus (SUDV). It is a severe disease with high case fatality.
• Symptoms & Progression:

o Early symptoms: Fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, sore throat.

o Later symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, variable rash, hiccups.

o Severe illness: Hemorrhagic manifestations (bleeding, ecchymoses, petechiae, visceral effusions), encephalopathy, shock, multi-organ failure, spontaneous abortion in pregnant women.

o Recovery issues: Arthralgia, neurocognitive dysfunction, uveitis (may lead to cataracts).

o Persistent infection possible in immune-privileged compartments (CNS, eyes, testes).

o Ebola vaccines are ineffective against Sudan virus.

• Transmission & Risk Factors:

o Person-to-person transmission via direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces.

o Higher risk groups: Family members, healthcare providers, burial participants.

o Risk increases with disease severity.

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7. Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB)

7.Gender-responsive Budgeting (GRB): The Union Budget 2025-26 has raised the gender budget to 8.8% (from 6.8% in the previous year) of the total allocation.

• About: GRB is a strategy that ensures that government budgets consider the needs of all people, regardless of gender. GRB aims to promote gender equality and inclusive development. 
• Four Priority Groups in India: Poor, youth, farmers, and women.
• Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) rose to 42% in 2023-24 (from 33% in 2021-22).
• Global average: 47%, but still 37 percentage points behind men’s FLP of 79%.
• Target: 70% women’s participation by 2047 requires investment in skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, and social security.
• Major schemes include: Skill India Programme, Entrepreneurship & Skill Development Programme (ESDP).
• National Skill Training Institutes, DAY-NRLM, MGNREGS, PM Employment Generation Programme.
• PM Vishwakarma, Krishonnati Yojana.
• New schemes: PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, first-time entrepreneurs’ scheme, sustainable livelihood for urban workers, Centres of Excellence for Make in India.
• Focus on Gig Workers: 90% of India’s working women are in the informal sector.

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8. AI Diffusion Framework

8.AI Diffusion Framework: The US Framework for AI Diffusion is evaluating India solely based on its AI capabilities, ignoring the India-U.S. strategic partnership.

• About: The framework aims to Preserve U.S. dominance in AI technology → Balance innovation and national security → Restrict AI access to adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
• Mechanism of the Framework:

o The U.S. extends export controls across the entire AI technology stack: AI chips, chip-making tools, and closed AI model weights (essential for AI decision-making).

o Three-tier country classification:

ü Tier 1 - Key U.S. allies (unrestricted AI access)

ü Tier 2- Other countries, including India (limited AI access)

ü Tier 3 - U.S. adversaries (strict AI restrictions).

o U.S. companies can operate in Tier 2 countries but with strict conditions: Limited compute capacity & Restricted

o Impact: India may diversify its tech partnerships to reduce dependence on the U.S.

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