1. India–Philippines Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership | Key Highlights of State Visit

Context

• The President of the Philippines is on a State Visit to India for the first time since assuming office in 2022.

About the Visit

• At a joint press briefing along with Marcos who is in India on a five-day visit, Modi said, "India and the Philippines are friends by choice and partners by destiny. From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. 
• Ours is not just a friendship of the past, it is a promise to the future." He said the Philippines is an important partner in India's Act East Policу.
• India and the Philippines have decided to boost their defence and maritime links, begin direct flights and start negotiating a new trade deal as they upgrade their ties to the level of a strategic partnership.
• India becomes only the fifth strategic partner for the Philippines. This new apex attests as much to the remarkably rapid growth, broadening and deepening of our 75-year-old bilateral relationship,
• India also invited the Philippines to participate in its Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region.

Other Developments

• Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, The President Said, "I carry the message of our solidarity with India both over the tragic attack in Pahalgam earlier this year and in the broader fight against terrorism." 
• The two countries have also agreed to establish mechanisms for service-to-service talks for information sharing and training exchanges among the militaries.

About India - Philippines Relations

• Historical Background: Established diplomatic relations in 1949.
• Rooted in shared colonial history, democratic values, and mutual interests across defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
• 75th Anniversary of diplomatic ties celebrated in 2024–25.
• Look East and Act East Policy: When India launched the Look East Policy and intensified partnership with ASEAN in 1992, this also resulted in stronger relations with countries in the region including the Philippines.
• With the Act East Policy initiated in 2014, the relationship with the Philippines has diversified further into political-security; trade and industry and people-to-people realms. 
• Defence and Security Cooperation: Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2006.
• BrahMos Supersonic Missile Deal: $375 million contract signed in 2022, India delivered the first batch of BrahMos missile system in 2024, making Philippines the first foreign nation to acquire the missile weapon system.
• Maritime Security: Joint patrols, capacity building, and hydrographic cooperation.
• Regular dialogues: Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Service-to-Service Staff Talks.
• Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade between the two countries had grown steadily to reach US$ 3.5 billion in 2023-24. 
• To facilitate bilateral trade, both countries signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Custom Matters ratified in 2023. 
• Negotiations on the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) were revived in 2023.
• Indian Diaspora: It is estimated to be more than 70,000 in the Philippines.
• There has been a growing number of Indian professionals, estimated around 800, who are working in Indian and multinational corporations in the Philippines.
• Multilateral and Regional Cooperation Both countries are members of: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), India-ASEAN Dialogue Mechanism and BIMSTEC (Observer status by Philippines).

Other Facets of Relations

• Joint Military Exercises- Regular navy drills (e.g.,Sama Lahi-Lahi), coast guard exercises, and increased port visits. Discussions on expanding to army/air force collaborations.
• China Factor-Both nations face Chinese territorial pressure (South China Sea/Ladakh), driving alignment on upholding UNCLOS and a"free, open Indo-Pacific."
• ASEAN Centrality- Both support ASEAN-led regional architecture. India's "Act East Policy" aligns with Philippines' "AmBisyon 2040." 
• Digital Partnership- Collaboration on fintech, digital payments (UPIPHLink), and IT skilling. The Philippines is a key market for Indian IT giants (TCS, Infosys).

Challenges in Relations

• Limited Economic Engagement: Despite growth, bilateral trade remains modest considering the size of both economies.
• Progress on the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) is slow, with negotiations still in early stages.
• Maritime Security Gaps: Although MoUs exist, real-time maritime collaboration and joint patrols are limited.
• South China Sea tensions constrain deeper military cooperation, especially due to Philippines sensitivity to external involvement.
• Regional Geopolitics and China Factor: The Philippines’ complex ties with China and its dependency on US defence support limit its willingness to openly align with India in strategic domains.

Way Forward

• Enhance Connectivity & Soft Power : Launch direct flights (e.g., Manila-Mumbai/Delhi) and prioritize shipping routes (e.g., Visakhapatnam-Subic Bay).
• Align positions on UNSC reform (Philippines supports India's bid) and climate financing.
• Fast-track additional Brahmos missile batteries and explore Akash SAM systems, torpedoes, and naval vessels.Establish joint R&D in maritime tech (e.g., drones, sonar systems).
• Formalize Philippines as a "Quad Plus" partner for IndoPacific maritime security.
• Conduct trilateral drills (e.g., India-Philippines-US/ Japan) focusing on SCS patrols and disaster response.

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2. NITI Aayog Evaluates MGNREGA for Continuation Beyond 2026 | Key Insights & Challenges

Context

• NITI Aayog is currently evaluating the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).Government has informed Lok Sabha.

About the News

• The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog is currently evaluating the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
• This evaluation is crucial for obtaining approval from the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) for the scheme’s continuation and budget allocation.
• The Ministry of Rural Development has circulated a proposal seeking an outlay of ₹5.23 lakh crore for MGNREGS till FY 2029–30, aligning with the 16th Finance Commission cycle.
• The Ministry of Finance mandates third-party evaluations for all Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes for continuation beyond March 31, 2026.

About Expenditure Finance Committee

• EFC, under the Ministry of Finance, appraises the financial viability of government schemes.
• Its approval is a procedural requirement for MGNREGS continuation, even though the scheme is legally backed under the MGNREGA Act.
• The evaluation and EFC approval process is part of the Centre’s larger strategy to assess and rationalize welfare schemes ahead of the next Finance Commission period.

Significance of Evaluation

• Improves Design & Implementation: Process evaluations identify bottlenecks, enabling midcourse corrections for better efficiency.
• Ensures Accountability & Transparency: Independent assessments build public trust in government spending.
• Enables Evidence-Based Decisions: Datadriven insights guide policy reforms, resource allocation, and planning.
• Promotes Learning & Improvement: Lessons from evaluations help replicate success and avoid past mistakes. 
• Tracks and Achieves Outcomes: Evaluations assess impact, guiding adjustments to meet intended objectives

About MGNREGA

• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, is a legislation that provides a legal guarantee of up to 100 days of unskilled manual work per financial year to adult members of rural households willing to work.
• MGNREGA is to be implemented mainly by gram panchayats (GPs). The involvement of contractors is banned.
• Labour-intensive tasks like creating infrastructure for water harvesting, drought relief, and flood control are preferred.

Features Of MGNREGA

• Guaranteed Wage Employment: Provides 100 days of unskilled manual work annually to rural households.
• Legal Entitlement: Employment is a legal right with provision for unemployment allowance if work isn’t provided within 15 days.
• Gender Equality: Promotes equal wages for men and women; a large proportion of workers are women.
• Universal Coverage : Applicable to all rural households that volunteer for work, promoting inclusive development.
• Decentralized Planning: Empowers Gram Panchayats to plan and implement works. 
• Accountability Mechanisms: Ensures social audits, grievance redressal, and DBT for transparency.

Significance 

• Provides guaranteed employment to rural households, reducing seasonal unemployment and distress migration.
• Ensures minimum wages, improving the financial stability of rural workers.
• MGNREGA promotes gender equality by ensuring equal wages for men and women.
• A significant percentage of beneficiaries are women, leading to greater financial independence.
• Benefits marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other vulnerable groups.

Challenges

• Delayed Wage Payments: Regular delays demotivate workers. 
• Insufficient Funding: Budget constraints lead to reduced workdays and incomplete projects. 
• Corruption & Leakages: Issues like fake job cards and misuse of funds persist. 
• Poor Asset Quality: Some projects fail to create sustainable infrastructure.

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3. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Projects, Benefits & Challenges in India

Context

• Recently the Government informed the Parliament about the initiatives taken for the Animal Husbandry Sector in India.

About the News

• Through the Infrastructure development in the livestock sector, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is supporting individual entrepreneurs, private companies,
• The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), MSMEs, companies under Section 8 and dairy cooperatives, with benefits of 3% interest subvention for a period of 8 years, with 2 years moratorium.
• Under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, projects are being approved to establish dairy and meat processing units, animal feed plants, veterinary vaccine and drug manufacturing facilities, technologically assisted breed improvement farms (cattle/Buffalo/Sheep/Goat/Pig/ Poultry) animal waste to wealth management units, and primary wool processing infrastructure.

Projects approved under the Fund

• Since the inception of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), 402 projects have been approved with a total project cost of ₹14,413.88 crore and term loan of ₹10,095.23 crore.
• Additionally, 37 projects with the project cost of Rs. 6776.80 crores and term loan of Rs. 4575.25 crores have also been approved under the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) which has now been subsumed in AHIDF vide cabinet approval 

Implementation stage

• These AHIDF-approved projects are at various stages of implementation and have the potential to generate employment for 43,372 personnel, benefiting approximately 25 lakh farmers. 

Livestock Sector in India

• India has the world's largest population of livestock. 
• India is the largest producer of buffalo meat and 2nd largest producer of goat meat.

Significance of the Sector

• Contribution to GDP: Contribution to total Livestock GVA (at constant prices) was 30.19% of Agricultural and Allied Sector GVA and 5.73% of Total GVA in 2021-22.
• Employment Generation: Livestock rearing is a major source of livelihood for over 70% of rural households in India, with a significant proportion being small and marginal farmers and landless laborers.
• Interlinkages with Agri-activities: The livestock sector is crucial for production of organic inputs like manure and agricultural waste is used as fodder for animals.
• Food and Nutritional Security: Livestock products such as milk, meat, and eggs are rich in essential nutrients, playing a crucial role in combating malnutrition, especially among children and women.
• India is ranked 1st in milk production contributing 23% of global milk production.

Issues Faced by the Sector

• High economic losses due to animal diseases: E.g., Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, etc.
  • Also, zoonotic diseases can be transmitted between animals and humans, as evidenced by recent outbreaks like COVID-19, Ebola, and avian influenza
• Inadequate infrastructure and human resources: India has less than 60 recognized veterinary colleges in India, which are inadequate to turn out the required number of vets. 
• Rise of Anti-Microbial Resistance: India ranks 4th in antibiotics use in animals, wherein the poultry sector is the largest reservoir of antibiotics. 
• Economic Issues:
  • Low Productivity: Due to inadequate nutrition, poor management practices, and low genetic potential of local breeds.
  • Unorganized Sector: About half of total meat production comes from un-registered, make-shift slaughterhouses. 
  • High Marketing and transaction costs: of livestock products at around 15-20% of sale price.
  • Low insurance cover: Only 15.47% of animals are under insurance cover.
  • Shortage of fodder: India has only 5% of its cultivable land under fodder production while having 11% of livestock, creating a huge pressure on land, water and other resources. 
• Inadequate attention towards extension services: There is no exclusive livestock extension program, and most services are animal health-focused, not extension-focused. 
• Green House Gas emissions: Enteric methane emission from Indian livestock contributed 15.1%  total  global enteric  methane  emissions.

Way Forward

• National Animal  Disease Reporting  System  (NADRS) requires to be strengthened with infrastructural support and digitalization for real-time reporting of disease outbreaks.
• Mobile veterinary services for remote areas to provide first aid, artificial insemination, deworming,  and vaccination services at farmers' doorstep.
• To set up a national working group to review staff levels and training needs at DADF and state AHDs.
• Promote Livestock-based integrated farming system (IFS) to integrate crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and other agricultural activities to optimize resource use, enhance productivity, and ensure sustainability.
• Facilitating access to markets, establishing efficient value chains, and promoting digital platforms for marketing and information dissemination.
• Increase insurance Coverage in the Livestock Sector to shift the livestock owners' risk to insurance companies.
• Formulating Area-specific policy. E.g. policy focus in rain-fed areas should be on livestock rearing or livestock-based integrated farming systems.

Initiatives for India's Livestock Sector

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Focuses on the development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding and genetic upgradation.
• National Livestock Mission: Aims to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders.
• Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the sector and establishment of Animal Health Infrastructure Development Fund etc.
• Dairy Development Programs: Schemes like the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) aim to modernize the dairy sector and promote entrepreneurship.
• Livestock Health and Disease Control Programs: Include the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for FMD and Brucellosis, and the Livestock Health and Disease Control Scheme to strengthen disease surveillance and diagnostic services.

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4. PAHAL Scheme: Aadhaar-Based LPG Subsidy Transfer & DBT Reform

Context

• Recently, the government has strengthened LPG subsidy transfers by enhancing the PAHAL scheme through Aadhaar-based authentication, leading to the identification and blocking of over 4 crore fake LPG connections.

About PAHAL Scheme

• Launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, PAHAL is India's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for LPG subsidies. 
• Under this scheme, consumers pay the market price for LPG cylinders, and the subsidy is directly transferred to their linked bank accounts. 
• With coverage of over 17 crore LPG users, it is the world's largest cash transfer program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a registered LPG consumer. 
• The combined annual taxable income of the consumer and spouse should be below *10 lakh, as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.

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5. Sea Star Wasting Disease: Cause Identified After 12 Years | Impact on Marine Ecosystems

Context

• Recently, after 12 years of extensive research, scientists have uncovered the cause of the devastating sea star wasting disease that has led to the death of over 5 billion sea stars along North America's Pacific coast since 2013.

Key Findings

• The epidemic devastated more than 20 sea star species, with the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) being hit the hardest. Ο Ο 
• Symptoms: White lesions, twisted limbs, and rapid disintegration of body tissue.
• Causal Agent: The bacterium Vibrio pectenicida was identified as the cause of the epidemic. • 
• Detection Method: The bacterium was present in high concentrations in the coelomic fluid (sea star's internal fluid) of infected individuals but absent in healthy ones. 
• Ecological Disruption: The collapse of predatory sea star populations allowed sea urchins to proliferate, leading to destruction of kelp forests, critical marine habitats.

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6. LEAP-1 Mission by Dhruva Space: India’s First Commercial AI-Powered Satellite Launch

Context

• Recently, Dhruva Space, an emerging Indian space-tech startup, unveiled plans for its first commercial satellite mission, LEAP-1.

About Leap - 1 Mission

• Stands for Launch, Experiment, Analyze, Progress. 
• It is Dhruva Space's first commercial satellite mission, launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9. 
• The mission carries international payloads focused on Al and Earth observation. 
• Developed in collaboration with Akula Tech and Esper Satellites (both Australia) 

Objectives

• Demonstrate real-time geospatial Al processing in space. 
• Enable affordable hosted payloads for sectors like defense, agriculture, and disaster management. 
• Exhibit Dhruva's P-30 satellite platform for commercial applications.

Payloads

• Nexus-01 (Akula Tech): An Al/ML module with onboard self-retraining capabilities.
• OTR-2 (Esper Satellites): A hyperspectral imaging sensor for high-resolution Earth observation. 

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7. Microplastic Pollution in India: Causes, Types & Coastal Impact

Context

• Recently, surveys conducted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), have revealed that abandoned fishing gear and riverine discharges are the major contributors to microplastic pollution along India's coasts.
• These studies spanned 19 transects along the west coast, from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), and 25 transects on the east coast, from Puri (Odisha) to Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu).

About Microplastics

• They are tiny plastic fragments, typically less than 5 mm in size. They are persistent in the environment, highly mobile, and difficult to remove once released into nature.

Types

• Primary in Microplastics: Intentionally manufactured small plastic particles. Found products like cosmetics, or released from synthetic textiles (e.g., clothes, fishing nets) during use or washing. Enter the environment through direct release, such as spills during production, abrasion, or consumer use. 
• Secondary Microplastics: Formed when larger plastic items (e.g., bottles, bags) break down due to environmental exposure. Breakdown is caused by factors like sunlight (UV radiation) and ocean wave action.

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8. Restitutionary Damages: Supreme Court on Pollution Control Powers in India

Context

• Recently, the Supreme Court affirmed that Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) have the authority to impose restitutionary damages. The judgment clarified that under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, PCBs are empowered to:
• Levy fixed monetary penalties for environmental degradation, and 
• Demand bank guarantees as precautionary measures to avert potential environmental harm.

About Restitutionary Damages

• Financial compensations or guarantees required from polluters to either restore damaged ecosystems or prevent potential environmental harm, even before any actual damage occurs.

Objective

• To restore air, water, and ecosystems to their original state, focusing not just on penalizing polluters but on promoting ecological recovery and long-term sustainability. 
• Grounded in the "Polluter Pays" principle and the Precautionary Principle. 
• Reinforces constitutional duties: 
• Article 48A: Obligation of the State to protect and improve the environment. 
• Article 51A(g): Fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment.

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9. District Flood Severity Index (DFSI): Measuring Flood Impact in Indian Districts

Context

• Recently, researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar introduced a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI), which assesses the severity of floods using a range of indicators.

About

• Evaluates the historical severity of floods in Indian districts based on population impact, geographic spread, and flood duration. 
• Based on the India Flood Inventory with Impacts (IFI-Impacts) database.
• Parameters Used in DFSI: Mean duration (in days) of all flooding events in a district.
• Percentage of area historically affected by floods. 
• Total number of deaths and injuries caused by floods. 
• Population size of the district.

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10. India–Philippines Naval Exercise in South China Sea: Strategic Significance Explained

Context

• Recently, India and the Philippines conducted their first-ever joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea

About Exercise

• Purpose: To enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies 
• (Duration: Two days) 
• To reinforce freedom of navigation in disputed waters. ° 이 
• Location: Within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. 
• Indian Naval Assets Involved: INS Delhi - Guided missile destroyer
• INS Shakti - Fleet replenishment tanker 
• INS Kiltan - Anti-submarine warfare corvette 

Strategic Significance

• A symbolic move against China's "Nine-Dash Line" claims. 
• Supports India's Act East Policy and maritime cooperation through the "Necklace Diamonds" strategy. 
• Strengthens defence diplomacy and freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs). 

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11. Biochar in India: Carbon Removal, Soil Health & Waste Management

Context

• Recently, India has turned its focus to carbon removal technologies such as biochar, recognising their potential in addressing climate challenges. This shift comes as the country prepares to launch its national carbon market in 2026. 

About Biochar

• A carbon-rich, granular charcoal produced by pyrolysis (heating organic material in low-oxygen conditions). Made from agricultural residues and organic municipal solid waste. Produced at 400-600°C in kiln-like structures.

Key Benefits

• Acts as a long-term carbon sink (stores carbon in soil for 100-1,000 years). 
• Improves soil health and fertility. Manages organic waste sustainably. 
• Produces valuable byproducts: bio-oil and syngas. 
• India can convert 30-50% of its agri and urban waste into 15-26 million tonnes of biochar, removing 0.1 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent annually.

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12. Hepatitis D Virus (HDV): WHO Declares It Carcinogenic to Humans

Context

• Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) officially classified the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) as carcinogenic to humans. With this, HDV joins Hepatitis B and C as a major contributor to liver cancer.

About Hepatitis D

• A serious blood-borne viral infection that depends entirely on the presence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate. It cannot infect or multiply on its own and occurs in two forms: Co-infection: Simultaneous infection with both HBV and HDV. 

Superinfection

• HDV infects a person already chronically infected with HBV. 
• Common Symptoms of Hepatitis D, often misdiagnosed, include fatigue, jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, and dark-colored urine. 
• Transmission: Through infected blood, unprotected sex, unsafe injections, and from mother to child during birth.

Why Is HDV Considered Cancer-Causing:

• Aggravates HBV infection: Increases the risk of liver cancer by 2 to 6 times compared to HBV alone. 
• Rapid liver damage: Up to 75% of co-infected individuals develop cirrhosis within 15 years, vs. ~50% in HBV-only cases. 
• Faster progression: Leads to early onset of fibrosis and liver failure, especially among younger patients. 
• Mechanism: HDV hijacks HBV's replication system, dramatically increasing viral load and oncogenic risk.

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