17^th October 2025

1. AI Model for Cancer Treatment: Recently, Google unveiled an advanced AI model that independently discovered a promising new approach to cancer treatment.

• Key Highlights: Model Name: Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale) — a 27-billion-parameter foundation model designed to understand the “language” of individual cells.

• Significance: A rare example of AI being used directly in scientific discovery to design practical drug candidates.
  - Marks a major milestone for AI in biomedical research.
• Scientific Objective: Detect early tumours that evade immune detection.
  - Use AI to identify drugs that can boost immune signals when interferon levels are low.
• Breakthrough Finding: AI highlighted silmitasertib, a drug that boosts immune signalling only when a hidden tumour is present. This mechanism of inhibiting CK2 to enhance antigen presentation — was previously unknown in scientific literature.

2. SAIME Model: Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations granted Global Technical Recognition to the Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model implemented in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal.

• About SAIME Initiative: A multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) aimed at promoting sustainable shrimp aquaculture that supports the conservation of mangrove ecosystems in West Bengal.
  • It is a climate-resilient, conservation-oriented livelihood initiative that combines brackish water shrimp farming with mangrove restoration — promoting both ecological and economic sustainability.
  • The initiative represents an ecosystem-based, climate-adaptive approach to community livelihoods.
  • Implementing Partners: The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Global Nature Fund (GNF), Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Naturland, and the Bangladesh Environment & Development Society (BEDS).
  • About Mangroves: Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs found in coastal intertidal zones, mainly across tropical and subtropical regions.

3. AB-PMJAY: Recently, the National Health Authority (NHA) reported that the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has provided over nine crore treatments worth ₹1.29 lakh crore.

• Key Findings: Despite only 45% of the 31,005 empanelled hospitals being private, 52% of all hospitalisations took place in private hospitals.
  • The private sector accounted for 66% of total treatment costs (₹1.29 lakh crore).
  • Most Common Treatments: Haemodialysis (14% of all treatments) – the most frequent treatment, mainly for kidney failure patients needing 2–3 sessions weekly.
  • Fevers (4%), Gastroenteritis (3%), and Animal bites (3%) were other common treatments.
  • Top medical specialities: General Medicine, Ophthalmology, and General Surgery (2024–25).
• About PM-JAY: World’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, providing comprehensive financial protection for healthcare.
• Launched in 2018, it offers health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for both secondary and tertiary care treatments.
• The Health Benefit Packages (HBPs) under the scheme cover surgical, medical, and day-care treatments, along with the cost of medicines, diagnostics, and hospitalization.
• It is an entitlement-based scheme, targeting beneficiaries identified through the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)
• The National Health Authority (NHA) has allowed States and Union Territories the flexibility to include non-SECC family databases with similar socio-economic profiles for linking and validating families not authenticated under the SECC list.

4. World Meteorological Organization: Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that global levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other heat-trapping gases reached record highs in 2024.

• Key Findings: The report warns that this surge has locked in more long-term global warming, intensifying the climate crisis.

• CO₂ Growth Trends: CO₂ growth rate has tripled since the 1960s — from 8 ppm/year (1960s average) to 2.4 ppm/year (2011–2020).
• Between 2023 and 2024, global CO₂ concentration rose by 3.5 ppm — the largest annual increase since modern records began in 1957.
• CO₂ concentration: 2004:1 ppm ; 2024: 423.9 ppm; Increase: 12.5% in just 20 years
• The year 2024 was the warmest on record, strongly influenced by El Niño, which reduced vegetation and ocean CO₂ uptake and caused major forest fires in the Amazon and southern Africa.
• Methane (CH₄): Second most significant warming gas (≈16% of global warming effect).
• Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): Concentration in 2024: 0 ppb, 25% higher than pre-industrial levels.
• WMO described the situation as a “vicious climate cycle” — where warming weakens carbon sinks, which in turn increases CO₂ buildup.

5. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki: Recently, Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupted, spewing ash up to 10 km high and prompting authorities to raise the alert level to its highest category.

• About Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki: An active stratovolcano and part of the twin-peaked Lewotobi volcanic complex—its counterpart being Lewotobi Perempuan, which means “female” in Indonesian. The term “Laki-laki” translates to “male.”
  

• Location: Situated on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
  - Located about 30 km southeast of Maumere city.
  - Lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of intense tectonic activity known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
• Key Features: Twin System: Forms part of the Lewotobi complex, with summit craters less than 2 km apart.
  - Eruption Style: Characterized by explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and volcanic ash plumes.
  -Elevation: Around 1,584 metres (5,197 ft) above sea level.
  - Cultural Aspect: Locally known as the “husband and wife” volcanoes, Lewotobi Laki-laki and Lewotobi Perempuan hold deep symbolic meaning in Flores Island folklore, representing balance and duality in nature and community life.

6. MERCOSUR: Recently, India and Brazil reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties and expanding trade cooperation under the MERCOSUR–India Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

• About MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market): a regional economic bloc in South America, established to promote economic integration and cooperation among its member countries.

• It was founded in 1991 through the Treaty of Asunción.
• Objective: To facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people among the member nations, thereby strengthening regional trade and economic ties.
• Members: Founding Members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
• Later Additions: Bolivia and Venezuela joined later, though Venezuela has been suspended since December 1, 2016.
• Associate Members: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname.
• Headquarters: Located in Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Languages: The official working languages are Spanish and Portuguese.
• Significance: MERCOSUR is the fourth-largest integrated market in the world, after the European Union (EU), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

7. State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI): Recently, the Ministry of Mines released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) along with the State Rankings for 2025.

• About SMRI: To assess, compare, and motivate States in improving their mining governance, efficiency, and sustainability.

• Acts as a performance-based framework to highlight best practices and identify gaps in the mining ecosystem.
• Structure of the Index: The SMRI evaluates States using key indicators related to non-coal minerals, including:
  - Auction Performance – success in conducting transparent mineral block auctions.
  - Early Mine Operationalization – speed and efficiency in starting mining operations post-auction.
  - Exploration Thrust – efforts in promoting mineral exploration activities.
• Sustainable Mining Practices – emphasis on environmental responsibility and community welfare.
  - Categorization of States: States have been grouped into three categories based on mineral endowment:
  - Category A (Mineral-Rich States): Madhya Pradesh – Rank 1; Rajasthan – Rank 2; Gujarat – Rank 3
  - Category B (Moderately Endowed States): Goa – Rank 1; Uttar Pradesh – Rank 2; Assam – Rank 3
  - Category C (Lesser Endowed States): Punjab – Rank 1; Uttarakhand – Rank 2; Tripura – Rank 3

8. Silent Valley National Park: Recently, an odonate survey in Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, led to the discovery of six new species of dragonflies and damselflies.

• About Silent Valley National Park: Situated in the southwest corner of the Nilgiris, in the Palakkad district of Kerala, South India.

• It forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

• River SystemThe Kunthipuzha River flows through the valley, nourishing its dense and diverse ecosystems.
• Name Origin: The valley is termed “Silent” because of the absence of cicadas, insects known for their loud buzzing in tropical forests.
• Flora: Around 1,000 species of flowering plants. 107 species of orchids, 100 species of ferns and allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens, and 200 algae. Contains plants of high medicinal value and towering Culinea trees.
• Fauna: Flagship Species: The lion-tailed macaque, an endangered primate endemic to the Western Ghats. Other mammals: Nilgiri langur, Malabar giant squirrel, Indian elephant, tiger, leopard, and gaur (Indian bison).
• Avifauna: Over 200 bird species, including the great Indian hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, and several raptors and owls.

9. Special Prisons: Recently, the Union Home Minister proposed setting up international-standard prisons to ease extradition and bring fugitives back to India.

• Key Highlights: This move aims to counter legal objections raised in foreign courts, where fugitives often argue against extradition to India citing poor prison conditions.

• These prisons will help eliminate excuses that prevent extradition of criminals hiding abroad.
• Passport and Law Enforcement Coordination: Called for real-time coordination between passport authorities and law enforcement agencies.
  - Passports should be red-flagged or cancelled immediately when a Red Corner Notice is issued.
  - The goal: to restrict fugitives’ movement and facilitate faster extradition.
• Economic Enforcement Successes: Under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, the government has recovered nearly $2 billion from economic fugitives in four years.
  - Under the Money Laundering Act, assets worth about $12 billion were attached between 2014 and 2023.