26^th November 2025

1. Exercise Suryakiran: Recently, the 19th edition of the Joint Military Exercise SURYAKIRAN XIX – 2025 commenced at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

• About Exercise Suryakiran: An annual, bilateral, battalion-level military exercise conducted alternately by India and Nepal to enhance defence cooperation, coordination, and operational preparedness.

• Aim: To improve interoperability in jungle warfare, mountain warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and to integrate modern technologies for more effective joint operations.
• Suryakiran Ex. 2025: Participating Contingents: India: 334 personnel from the ASSAM Regiment|
  - Nepal: 334 personnel from the DEVI DATTA Regiment
• Operational Focus: Conduct of sub-conventional operations under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate, with emphasis on: Jungle warfare
  - Counter-terrorism in mountainous terrain
  - HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief)
  - Medical response
  - Environmental conservation
  - Integrated ground–aviation operations
• Interoperability & UN Alignment: Focus on improving operational harmony, reducing risks to life and property in peacekeeping roles, and aligning drills with UN standards.

2. Hoya Dawodiensis: Recently, a major scientific breakthrough was reported from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, with the discovery of a new plant species named Hoya dawodiensis.

• About Hoya Dawodiensis: Family: Apocynaceae

• Genus: Hoya — a diverse group of tropical flowering plants
• Habitat: Found growing on streamside trees in the remote, biodiversity-rich Vijoynagar valley. The region lies along the Myanmar border and near Namdapha National Park.
• Key Features: Growth Form: A delicate, climbing plant.
  - Flowers: Glossy, white, star-shaped blooms arranged in clusters.
  - Flowering Period: Late September to November.

• Conservation Status: Classified as Critically Endangered (IUCN)|
  - Only 3–4 individual plants are currently known in the wild.
  - Major Threat: Habitat pressure from shifting cultivation in the area.
• Additional Findings: Hoya yingjiangensis has been recorded for the first time in India.
  - Hoya nummularia has been documented for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh.

3. Bioremediation Method: Recently, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) proposed an advanced in-situ bioremediation technique to restore the water quality of Hussain Sagar Lake.

• About Bioremediation Method: The process uses enzyme solutions and Bokashi balls to activate beneficial microorganisms that naturally degrade pollutants.

• Objectives: Remove foul odour, Control algal growth, Improve water and sediment quality, Enhance dissolved oxygen levels and Restore the lake’s ecological balance

• About Bokashi Balls: Bokashi balls are tennis-ball-sized organic spheres packed with Effective Microorganisms (EM) for treating polluted water.

• How They Work: They sink to the bottom and slowly break apart, releasing EM cultures directly into the sediment.
• Benefits: Microbes break down organic sludge
  - Neutralise harmful substances
  - Reduce foul odours and anaerobic decomposition

4. Fujiwhara Effect: Recently, global weather models signalled the development of two cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal, raising the possibility of a rare Fujiwhara interaction that greatly complicates cyclone forecasting.

• About Fujiwhara Effect: A rare meteorological phenomenon in which two nearby cyclonic systems begin to rotate around a common centre due to interaction between their wind circulations.

• First described by Sakuhei Fujiwhara in 1921.
• Most often observed when cyclones in the tropical belt come within ~1,400 km of each other.
• Conditions Favouring: Both storms rotating counter-clockwise (Northern Hemisphere).
  - Warm sea surface temperatures above 26°C that sustain convection.
  - Low vertical wind shear, ensuring structural stability.
• Key Features: Mutual Rotation: Both cyclones circle a common centre anti-clockwise, altering trajectory and speed.
  - Energy Exchange: The stronger cyclone may draw momentum or moisture from the weaker one.
  - Track Uncertainty: Steering winds become disrupted, making landfall and intensity predictions more difficult.
  - Potential Stalling: Slower movement may increase rainfall duration and flood risk.

5. Road Dust: Recently, road dust has surfaced as a significant source of PM₁₀ pollution in Indian cities, especially in the context of the NCAP target of reducing PM₁₀ levels by 40% by 2025–26.

• Consequences of Road Dust: Health Impacts: Continuous exposure to coarse and fine dust particles leads to more respiratory ailments and eye irritation. ICMR reports show increased OPD visits during high-pollution episodes.

• Ambient Air Pollution: Road dust accounts for 20–52% of PM₁₀ and 8–25% of PM₂.₅, worsening AQI and intensifying winter smog in metropolitan clusters.
• Heat Amplification: Bare verges and open soil surfaces raise local temperatures and promote dust resuspension. IPCC AR6 indicates that urban greening can lower heat by 2–4°C.
• Economic Losses: Pollution-related illness reduces labour productivity, contributing to an estimated 4% GDP loss (World Bank).
• Why Road Dust Reduction Matters: Largest PM₁₀ Source: With a 20–52% share across 17 surveyed cities, road dust control is essential for meeting NCAP targets and reducing premature deaths.
  - Regional Necessity: Northern India’s high silt loads make dust suppression critical to stabilising urban air quality; for instance, Delhi records an average 47 g/m² silt load.
  - Policy Priority: Nearly 64% of NCAP budget has already been allocated for dust mitigation measures.

6. Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS): Recently, the Ministry of Finance issued the Capital Gains Accounts (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2025, introducing key changes to the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS),

• About CGAS, 1988: Introduced in 1988 to help taxpayers claim exemptions on long-term capital gains.

• Under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, capital gains must be reinvested within 3 years to avoid tax. When taxpayers cannot reinvest before the ITR filing due date, they may deposit the unutilised gains into CGAS.
• Deposits must be made before filing the income tax return.
• Money deposited in CGAS is treated as reinvestment, making the taxpayer eligible for exemption.
• Short-term capital gains are not eligible under this scheme.
• Second Amendment: Earlier, CGAS deposits were limited to public sector banks and a few older institutions.
  - Now, 19 major private banks (all non-rural branches) can accept and maintain CGAS deposits.
  - Non-rural means branches in locations with population ≥ 10,000 (2011 Census).
  - The amended scheme formally includes electronic modes of deposit, such as:
  UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, credit/debit cards, net banking, BHIM/Aadhaar Pay, etc.

7. Pigeons: Recently, a study published in Science indicated that pigeons sense Earth’s magnetic field through tiny electrical currents produced in their inner ears.

• Key Findings: Many animals like birds, insects, turtles, also detect magnetic fields for migration and locating feeding grounds.

• Researchers exposed six pigeons to a magnetic field slightly stronger than Earth's, with the birds’ heads immobilised.
• The magnetic field was rotated to simulate how a pigeon’s head would naturally move relative to Earth’s geomagnetic field.
• Scientists mapped brain activity and compared the results with pigeons not exposed to the magnetic field.
• Vestibular nuclei (brainstem region receiving input from the inner ear) were activated by magnetic fields.
• Signals travelled to: Mesopallium — integrates sensory information and Hippocampus — responsible for spatial navigation
• Single-cell sequencing revealed proteins in inner-ear cells that are sensitive to electromagnetic changes.
• Conclusion: When pigeons bob their heads, their inner-ear loops detect electric currents linked to Earth's magnetic field. This allows them to navigate long distances back to their home location.

8. Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025: Recently, the Assam government tabled the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, which proposes strict penalties.

• Key Highlights: The Bill makes polygamy a criminal offence, with: Up to 7 years’ imprisonment + fine for entering into a second marriage while the first is valid.

• Up to 10 years’ imprisonment if the person hides an existing marriage.
• Punishment doubled for repeat offenders.
• Jurisdiction & Coverage: Applicable across Assam except Sixth Schedule areas.
  - Does not apply to Scheduled Tribes under Article 342, whose customary laws permit multiple marriages.
  - Covers residents of Assam entering polygamous marriages outside the State.
  - Includes non-residents who own immovable property in Assam or receive State-funded benefits/subsidies.

9. SC Over CCTV Non-Compliance: Recently, the Supreme Court strongly rebuked the Union government for not adhering to its 2020 order directing the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations and interrogation rooms of central agencies.

• Key Highlights: It has been five years since the 2020 judgment made CCTV installation mandatory in all police stations and central agencies with interrogation powers.

• Court expressed shock over continued custodial torture, citing 11 custodial deaths in 8 months in Rajasthan.
• Only 11 States/UTs have filed compliance reports; Centre has filed none.
• SG argued that CCTVs outside police stations may be counter-productive, citing security concerns.
• Court suggested open correction centres to reduce overcrowding and prison expenditure.
• 2020 Supreme Court judgment mandated CCTV and audio-video recording in:
  - All police stations
  - Offices of central investigative agencies (NIA, CBI, ED, NCB, DRI, SFIO, etc.)
  - Any agency with interrogation and arrest powers
  - CCTV installation aimed to safeguard the right to dignity and life and act as a deterrent to custodial torture.