1. Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently imposed a penalty of over ₹3.44 crore on BBC World Service India for alleged FDI violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

• About FEMA: Introduced in 1999 to regulate foreign exchange transactions & promote external trade, and empowers the central government to control foreign payments & ensure legal transactions.

o Applicable to Indian citizens, agencies, companies abroad owned by Indians (≥60% ownership).

o Covers: Foreign exchange, foreign security, exports-imports, banking, financial & insurance services.

o Prohibited transactions: Remittances from lottery winnings, racing/riding income → Commissions on equity investment of Indian firms abroad →Transactions with residents of Bhutan & Nepal.

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2. Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)

India has recently assumed the Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation from Bangladesh during the 13th Governing Council Meeting held in Malé, Maldives.

• About BOBP-IGO:
• Establishment: BOBP-IGO is a regional fisheries advisory body comprising member countries bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• Objectives: Promote sustainable management and utilization of coastal and marine fishery resources, and enhance the livelihoods of small-scale fishers in the region.
• Key Activities: Facilitating regional cooperation among member countries → Conducting training and capacity-building programs → Engaging in research and policy advocacy → Addressing issues such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Recent Developments: India, as the new Chair, has pledged to strengthen regional collaboration focusing on marine resource management and the protection of marine ecosystems.
• Collaborations: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), & the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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3. Bharat Tech Triumph Program (TTP)

To support this expansion of digital and online gaming, the Bharat Tech Triumph Program (TTP) has recently been launched as part of the Create in India Challenge Season 1.

• About Bharat Tech Triumph Program (TTP): It’s objective to identify and showcase India’s gaming talent on the global stage.
• Organizers: Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC) in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• Participation: Open to developers, studios, startups, and tech companies in gaming, esports, and business solutions.
• Evaluation: Assesses product quality, pitch, and team strength to gauge success potential.
• Rewards: Winners get a fully sponsored opportunity to showcase their innovations at Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, San Francisco, and WAVES event in India.

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4. F-35 Lightning II & Sukhoi Su-57

India is evaluating advanced fifth-generation fighter jets to enhance its air defense capabilities. The American F-35 Lightning II and the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 are prominent contenders, both showcased at the Aero India 2025 airshow in Bengaluru.

• About F-35 Lightning II:

o Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin, USA.

o Engine: Single-engine, single-seat stealth multirole fighter.

o Speed: Top speed of Mach 1.6.

o Range: Combat range of approximately 1,500 kilometers.

o Features: Advanced stealth capabilities, multirole versatility, and integration with allied defense systems.

• About Sukhoi Su-57:

o Manufacturer: Sukhoi Company, Russia.

o Engine: Twin-engine, single-seat stealth multirole fighter.

o Speed: Top speed of Mach 2.

o Range: Combat range of about 1,900 kilometers.

o Features: Emphasis on agility, speed, and advanced avionics; designed for air superiority and strike missions.

• About Mach: It is a unit that measures the speed of an object relative to the speed of sound in air. Mach 1 equals the speed of sound (~1,235 km/h at sea level). Speeds above Mach 1 are supersonic, while those above Mach 5 are hypersonic.

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5. Mount Etna

Thousands of tourists have recently gathered at Mount Etna to witness its spectacular eruptions, but some are blocking streets, hindering rescue services from aiding those in need.

• About Mount Etna: Also Known As ‘Aetna’.
• Location: Active stratovolcano in the Metropolitan City of Catania, eastern coast of Sicily, Italy.
• Tectonic Setting: Lies above the African and Eurasian Plate convergence.
• Activity: Among the most active volcanoes in the world.
• Elevation: One of Europe’s tallest active volcanoes and Italy’s highest peak south of the Alps.

• Size: Covers 1,190 sq.km, With a 140 km basal circumference.
• Significance: Designated as a Decade Volcano by the United Nations due to frequent eruptions near populated areas, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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6. ‘Khoya-Paya’ initiative

During a startup conclave in Agra, UP Chief Minister has highlighted the success of the 'Khoya-Paya' initiative implemented during the Maha Kumbh.

• About 'Khoya-Paya' Initiative: Launched in 2015.
• Purpose: A web platform enabling citizens to report, track, and share information about missing and found children.
• Functionality: Allows real-time reporting of missing children by parents and guardians → Facilitates uploading of information regarding found children by citizens → Aims to bridge the information gap between missing and found children through public participation.
• Impact: By October 2016, the portal had reported nearly 6,000 missing children cases, showcasing its effectiveness in assisting authorities and families in locating and reuniting children.
• Significance: The 'Khoya-Paya' initiative exemplifies the integration of technology with community involvement to address the critical issue of missing children in India.

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7. Whale Stranding

Recently, Australia has witnessed multiple incidents of whale strandings, including a significant event in Tasmania where numerous false killer whales were found beached.

• About Whale Stranding: It is also known as beaching, occurs when whales are found ashore, typically on beaches.

• Species Affected: While it primarily involves whales, other marine animals like dolphins and porpoises can also experience stranding events.
• Types:

o Single Strandings: Involve an individual whale.

o Mass Strandings: Involve groups of whales, often from species with strong social bonds.

• Causes:

o Natural Factors: Navigational errors, extreme weather conditions, and illness.

o Human-Induced Factors: Pollution, ship collisions, and underwater noise pollution.

• Recent Incidents: In Tasmania, Australia, authorities began euthanizing around 90 false killer whales that survived a mass stranding on a remote beach.

o In New Zealand, approximately 477 pilot whales died after stranding themselves on two remote beaches.

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8. Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor

A mosque in Meerut was recently demolished to facilitate the construction of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor. Authorities stated that the mosque obstructed the progress of the Rapid Rail project, necessitating its removal.

• About Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor: With semi high-speed rail connectivity at its core, the RRTS is an integrated, mass transit network.
• Aim: To ensure “balanced and sustainable urban development” through better connectivity and access across the NCR.
• Objective of RRTS project:

To enhance multi-modal connectivity at the existing transportation hubs within it.

o To nudge commuters towards public transportation and have a positive impact on relieving the congestion both on its road/highways as well as existing metro and railway networks.

o To give a push to employment generation and the opening up of newer commercial hubs along the current contours of the NCR. 

o Shorter travel times are expected to increase the overall economic productivity of the region.

• Identified Corridors: The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has identified eight rail-based rapid transit corridors: (Delhi – Gurgaon – Rewari – Alwar), (Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut), (Delhi – Sonipat – Panipat), (Delhi – Faridabad – Ballabhgarh – Palwal), (Delhi – Bahadurgarh – Rohtak), (Delhi – Shahadra – Baraut), (Ghaziabad – Khurja), and (Ghaziabad – Hapur).

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