theIASHub | 01 Aug, 2025 | 5
Get expert-curated videos and notes directly on your phone.
Never miss any important exam-related topic.
INS Himgiri : Recently, in a significant boost to India’s maritime strength and indigenous shipbuilding efforts, the Indian Navy received INS Himgiri (Yard 3022), constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) as part of Project 17A.
o A reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate decommissioned on May 2025, after 30 years of service.
o The vessel has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and the construction was overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team, Kolkata.
o Key Features : The frigate is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which includes both a diesel engine and a gas turbine. This powers a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft.
ü An advanced Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) ensures streamlined control and monitoring of shipboard systems.
o The ship’s weaponry includes: Supersonic surface-to-surface missile systems
ü Medium-range surface-to-air missiles
ü Close-in weapon systems for rapid response and defense
o With 75% indigenous content, the construction of INS Himgiri engaged over 200 MSMEs, underscoring India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
o Aims to construct a new generation of stealth-guided missile frigates with: Enhanced stealth features, Advanced weapons and sensor suites and Modern platform management systems.
Grant-in-Aid to the National Cooperative Development Corporation Scheme : Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved a new Central Sector Scheme titled “Grant-in-Aid to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)”.
o These funds will be used to offer loans to cooperative societies across various sectors for:
ü Setting up new projects
ü Expansion and modernization of existing units
ü Meeting working capital needs
o Target Beneficiaries: Expected to benefit approximately 2.9 crore members of 13,288 cooperative societies across India, particularly in sectors such as:
ü Dairy, livestock, and fisheries
ü Sugar and textile industries
ü Food processing, storage, and cold storage
ü Labour and women-led cooperatives
o Operates under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
o Objectives: To plan, promote, and finance cooperative-based activities related to: Production, Processing, Marketing ,Storage, Export and import of agricultural produce, livestock, and other goods.
India and Morocco Agreement : Recently, India and the Kingdom of Morocco established a strategic legal partnership to enhance cooperation in judicial, legal, and institutional domains.
o Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT): Facilitates mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters under national laws. It Covers:
ü Service of summons and other judicial documents.
ü Taking of evidence through Letters of Request.
ü Execution of judicial judgments (Morocco), decrees (India), settlements, and arbitral awards.
o Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) : Signed between the Ministry of Law & Justice (India) and Ministry of Justice (Morocco). Its objectives includes:
ü Strengthen mutual legal cooperation and institutional linkages.
ü Promote exchange of legal knowledge, expertise, and training.
ü Support legal modernization and capacity building in both countries.
Schengen Visa: Recently, the European Commission introduced a “cascade” system to offer faster, long-term Schengen visas to Indian travellers with a clean visa history.
o Allows visa-free movement across member countries with no internal borders.
o Valid for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
o Issued for purposes like: Tourism, Business, Family visits, Medical treatment and Cultural/sporting events
o Not valid for employment.
o Member Countries: Includes 25 of 27 EU states (excluding Ireland and Cyprus). Also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
o Indian nationals who have held two Schengen visas in the last 3 years can now get a 2-year multi-entry visa.
o This can be upgraded to a 5-year visa, subject to passport validity.
o Tiered Visa Validity Structure:
ü 1-year visa: If the traveller used three Schengen visas in the previous two years.
ü 2-year visa: If they held a 1-year multi-entry visa in the previous two years.
ü 5-year visa: If they held a 2-year multi-entry visa in the past three years.
National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) : According to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), India has made notable strides in malaria control, recording an over 80% decline in cases between 2015 and 2023.
o However, the disease continues to linger in tribal and forested areas, with districts like Lawngtlai in Mizoram and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh still reporting high incidence rates of 56 and 22 cases per 1,000 population, respectively.
o Symptoms: Usually appear 10–15 days after infection and include fever, chills, and headache. In severe cases, it can lead to seizures, jaundice, breathing difficulties, or death, with partial immunity in endemic areas making diagnosis harder.
üThe programme aims to prevent and control six major vector-borne diseases: Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis
Darwin’s Frog : Recently, Chile launched a conservation initiative to protect the endangered Darwin’s frog, a unique amphibian threatened by climate change and human activity. The initiative aims to discover new populations and expand the frog’s current habitat range to ensure its long-term survival.
o Unique reproductive behavior: Males carry tadpoles in pouches in their mouths.
o Defense mechanism: Plays dead when threatened.
o Discovery & Distribution: Discovered by Charles Darwin in 1834 on Chile’s southern Chiloé Islands.
o Endemic to the forest streams of Chile and Argentina.
o Habitat: Prefers mature native forests with a mix of grassland, moss, woody debris, and young trees/bushes.
o Diet: Feeds on insects and other arthropods.
o Species Types: Rhinoderma darwinii (Southern Darwin’s frog) – Endangered (IUCN)
ü Rhinoderma rufum (Northern Darwin’s frog) – Critically Endangered (IUCN)
o Forest fires, climate change, invasive species, and urbanization degrading its humid forest habitat.
Refine your answer writing skills and elevate your UPSC preparation with personalized support and expert feedback.
Fill out the form to get started with the program or any other enquiries !
Are you dreaming of becoming an IAS officer? Then, IAShub can be your best guide. It is one of the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi. Many students who want to clear the UPSC exam join IAShub for learning. The institute gives both online and offline classes. Their teachers are experienced and helpful. They easily explain every topic. Students also get notes, tests, and tips to do well in the exam.
IAShub is in Delhi and is trusted by many UPSC students. It offers coaching for every part of the UPSC exam – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The classes are simple and easy to understand. The teachers are experts and guide students in the right way. IAShub is also known for its helpful notes, test series, and answer-writing practice. IAShub is the best coaching in Delhi and also gives UPSC Online Classes. This helps students from any place in India to learn. The online classes are live and also recorded. So, students can watch them anytime. These classes cover the full UPSC syllabus.
Here are some important services provided by IAShub:
The UPSC Civil Services Exam has three parts:
This exam is tough, but with the right guidance, it becomes easy to manage. Students must study smart and stay regular.
IAShub supports students from the beginning to the end. It gives the right books, tests, and notes. The classes are easy to follow, and the teachers are always ready to help. Students get personal doubt sessions too. The test series and answer checking help students learn where they need to do better. Also, free study materials save time and money.
IAShub also guides students during the final stage – the interview. Experts take mock interviews and give useful tips. This full support makes IAShub one of the best IAS coaching in Delhi.
Detailed Solutions & Explanations
Improve Your Answer Writing & Strategy
