theIASHub | 26 Apr, 2025 | 5
Get expert-curated videos and notes directly on your phone.
Never miss any important exam-related topic.
Scramjet Engine Development: DRDO successfully conducted a 1,000-second ground test of its actively cooled scramjet combustor, marking a major milestone in India’s hypersonic weapons programme.
o The latest test was conducted at the newly established Scramjet Connect Test Facility of the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, a premier institution under DRDO.
o It uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion, reducing the need for onboard oxidizers and improving fuel efficiency at high speeds.
o About DRDO: Established in 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army, Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP), and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
o Headed by: Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Director General (DG) of DRDO.
o Assistance: The DG is assisted by Chief Controllers, who manage various technology domains.
River Cities Alliance (RCA): The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved an ambitious Action Plan 2025 for the River Cities Alliance (RCA), focusing on enhancing urban river rejuvenation efforts across India.
o Launched by: Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
o Membership: 145 member cities.
o A society: It was registered as a society on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
o Formation: Created as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Revive Our Ocean Initiative: Recently, the global initiative ‘Revive Our Ocean’ was launched with the aim of expanding effective, community-led Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) through local efforts.
o It will initially focus on seven countries: the UK, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico.
o 30X30 Target: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.
o Current Status: Over 16,000 MPAs exist globally, covering 8% of oceans, but only 3% are fully protected (Protected Planet Report 2024).
o Management Issues: Many MPAs are poorly managed or still allow harmful activities like bottom trawling, which damages ecosystems and increases carbon emissions.
o Benefits: MPAs help regenerate marine biodiversity, stimulate local economies through tourism and jobs, ensure food security, and play a critical role in combating climate change by capturing carbon.
o They are collective excitations in the elastic structure of condensed matter, similar to ripples in a pond.
o Play a crucial role in determining a material’s thermal, optical, and electronic properties.
o Essential for developing advanced optoelectronic devices and emerging quantum technologies.
o Their study, published in ACS Nano, shows that moiré patterns (overlap structure) formed by twist angles between 1° and 7° cause the phonon modes to split, offering new ways to tune material properties.
Heat Stress in the Western Ghats: A recent study conducted in Karnataka revealed alarming findings about the impact of extreme heat on the leaves of tropical forest and agroforestry species in the Western Ghats.
o Researchers found that many species, crucial for ecology and local economies, are facing leaf temperatures exceeding critical thresholds, risking irreversible damage.
o T₅₀ parameter is used which indicates the temperature at which a leaf's photosynthetic efficiency declines by 50%, marking the point where irreversible heat damage occurs to plants.
o Agroforestry Species like cardamom, cashew, and coffee frequently exceeded critical leaf temperatures.
o Native species like kindal and ironwood showed visible damage, including blackened leaf areas.
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal(GSTAT): Recently, the government officially notified the GSTAT(Procedure) Rules, 2025, introducing several key reforms to the dispute resolution process under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework.
o Establishment by: Section 109 of the CGST Act 2017 ; HQ: New Delhi
o Composition: Two judicial members and two technical members.
o Headed by : Former Supreme Court judge or a former Chief Justice of a High Court.
o Aim: To provide swift, fair GST dispute resolution, reduce higher court burdens, and enhance system efficiency and transparency.
Iran’s Nuclear Programme: Recently, China, Russia, and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.
o The Agency was set up as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization within the United Nations family.
o Headquartered: Vienna, Austria.
o The objectives: Dual mission: To promote and control the Atom i.e., scientific and technical cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide.
o Independence: Though established independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
o Chairmanship of ISRO (1994-2003): Led ISRO's transition to operational space programs and commercialized India's space program, including leasing transponders for cable TV.
o Visionary Space Missions: EDUSAT for tele-education, INSAT/GSAT for telemedicine and communication, RESOURCESAT for earth resources, METSAT for meteorology
OCEANSAT for oceanography, CARTOSAT for cartography, Meghatropique for earth science, ASTROSAT for space science and Chandrayaan-1 for lunar exploration.
o National Natural Resource Management System (NNRMS): Introduced to apply space technology in agriculture, forestry, town planning, and water resource management.
o Launch Vehicle Development: Oversaw the operationalization of PSLV and GSLV, enhancing India's space capabilities.
o Contributions to Education: Played a key role in the development of NEP 2020, served in the Rajya Sabha, and chaired the Karnataka Knowledge Commission.
Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) Fighter Jet: Recently, India and France confirmed the conclusion of the ₹63,000-crore government-to-government (G-to-G) deal for 26 Rafale-Marine (Rafale-M) fighter jets.
o Performs multiple roles: air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship missions.
o Equipped with advanced systems like RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, front sector optronics, and omnidirectional warning systems.
o Powered by two SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, enabling supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners).
o Capable of speeds up to Mach 1.8, a combat radius over 1,000 km, and carrying up to 9,500 kg of payload across 14 hardpoints.
o Other Rafale variants include Rafale C (single-seat) and Rafale B (twin-seat for training and combat).
o India’s deal includes 22 single-seater carrier-operable Rafale-M jets and 4 twin-seater trainers (land-based only).
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Recently, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) announced the successful scientific review and validation of India’s first indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test kits for cervical cancer screening.
o In most cases, the immune system clears the virus, but persistent high-risk HPV can lead to cancer.
o HPV can affect both women and men, causing genital warts and cancers in areas such as the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
o HPV is responsible for approximately 5% of all cancers globally.
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
