16^th August 2025

1. SLINEX-25: Recently, Indian Naval Ships INS Rana, a Guided Missile Destroyer, and INS Jyoti, a Fleet Tanker, arrived in Colombo to take part in the 12th edition of the Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25).

·      About SLINEX:  Launched in 2005, SLINEX has become a key symbol of two decades of maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka.

• Focuses on interoperability, best practice sharing, and joint operations for regional maritime security.

• The previous edition was hosted at Visakhapatnam, India, in December 2024.

·      Structure of SLINEX-25:

o   Harbour Phase (Colombo): Professional interactions and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE)

o   Joint yoga sessions, cultural programmes, and sports to deepen camaraderie

o   Strengthens mutual understanding between the two navies

• Sea Phase: Advanced operational drills including gunnery, navigation, and communication exercises

• Seamanship training and fueling at sea operations

• VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) exercises for maritime security preparedness

• SLINEX aligns with India’s “MAHASAGAR” vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

2. APAAR IDs: Recently, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made it mandatory for students to provide their APAAR IDs while registering for board examinations.

·      About APAAR ID:  Refers to the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, a digital initiative conceptualised under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

• It is a 12-digit lifelong academic identifier assigned to every student in India, enabling their educational progress to be tracked right from early schooling to higher education.

• The ID acts as a comprehensive academic record, consolidating details of a student’s qualifications, mark sheets, scholarships, recognitions, and credits.

• It is permanent, unique, Aadhaar-linked, and stored digitally in DigiLocker for secure and convenient access.

• APAAR reflects the principle of “One Nation, One Student ID”, offering learners a single academic identity across institutions.

• The system is powered by the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)

o   Key Aims: To create a national-level academic database for all students.

• To enable smooth transfer of records when shifting between schools or colleges.

• To provide digitally verifiable certificates and mark sheets, reducing paperwork and duplication.

• To support evidence-based policymaking by generating reliable education data.

3. Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Recently, on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

·      About Mission Sudarshan Chakra: A fully indigenous, multi-layered defence initiative aimed at protecting the nation’s strategic, civilian, and religious sites from external threats.

• A national security initiative to build an advanced multi-tiered protective shield around India’s most critical installations.

• Draws inspiration from the mythological Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna, symbolising the fusion of cultural heritage with modern strategic defence.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence.

• Objectives: To establish a homegrown, research-driven security system capable of countering threats across air, land, sea, and cyberspace.

• Promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat by indigenising cutting-edge defence technologies.

• Ensure integrated, proactive security for vital infrastructure, metropolitan hubs, and sacred sites.

• Key Features: Multi-Layered Shield: Incorporates early-warning systems, interception, and rapid counter-attack mechanisms.

• Wide-Ranging Protection: Extends to defence assets, civilian centres, and religious landmarks.

• Technology Integration: Utilises advanced radars, AI-based surveillance, cyber-defence frameworks, and physical security systems.

• Indigenous Focus: Entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in India.

• Long-Term Roadmap: Aims at phased expansion and modernisation, with full deployment targeted by 2035.

4. Study on Estranged Fathers in India: Recently, a study by the NGO Ekam Nyaay Foundation highlighted the grave challenges faced by estranged fathers in India in securing visitation rights with their children.

• Key Highlights: Survey Scope: Based on responses from 108 fathers across India.

• High Denial Rates: Nearly 3 out of 4 fathers seeking visitation rights were denied access to their children.

• Legal & Social Hurdles: Fathers face bias in custody decisions, fear of court proceedings, misinformation about legal remedies, and false legal cases.

• Impact of Section 6 (Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956): Automatically grants custody of children under five years to the mother. Fathers often spend years fighting custody battles, while the child grows up without their presence.

• Alienation Effect: Early separation from fathers weakens the bond between child and father, making later reconciliation difficult.

• Court Experience: 48.2% of fathers surveyed applied for visitation rights.

• Out of 52 applications, only 13 fathers were granted visitation.

• Even when granted, court orders were often ignored by custodial mothers.

• Advice against Filing: Many fathers reported being discouraged from filing visitation petitions, fearing retaliatory actions by estranged spouses.

• Call for Reform: The report urges judicial reforms and shared parenting models to ensure fathers are not alienated from their children.

5. Bioactive Peptides: Recently, a study by the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati revealed that bioactive peptides (BAPs) present in fermented foods may provide population-specific health benefits, paving the way for personalised nutrition in India.

·      About Bioactive Peptides: Short chains of proteins (comprising 2–20 amino acids) produced during the fermentation of foods such as yogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, and fermented fish.

• Known to possess antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties.

• Objectives of Research: To examine how BAPs support the regulation of blood pressure, blood sugar, immunity, and inflammation.

• To develop precision nutrition approaches tailored to India’s diverse genetic backgrounds, dietary patterns, and cultural food practices.

• Key Features: Mechanism of Action: BAPs interact with biomolecules through electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions.

• Health Effects: Impact cardiac health, metabolism, and immune response.

• Personalised Nutrition: Their benefits vary due to genetic polymorphisms (e.g., ACE, IL-6), gut microbiome composition, and dietary habits.

• Research Tools: Use of omics-based technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) encouraged for deeper insights.

• Significance: Public Health Role: Potential to be integrated into dietary guidelines for addressing common lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and immunity-related disorders.

• Cultural Relevance: Enhances the global scientific recognition of India’s traditional fermented foods within the framework of modern nutrition science.

6. Antitrisuloides catocalina: Recently, scientists documented the presence of the rare nocturnal moth Antitrisuloides catocalina in the Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary, located in Palakkad district, Kerala.
   

·      About Antitrisuloides catocalina: A nocturnal moth species belonging to the genus Antitrisuloides and the Noctuidae family.

• This is the first recorded sighting in the Western Ghats.

• The genus Antitrisuloides has only two known species worldwide.

• The Kerala specimen was initially thought to match one reported earlier from North-East India.

• Detailed examination confirmed it as the subspecies Antitrisuloides catocalina cyclica.

·      About Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary: Also called Mayiladumpara, it is located in Palakkad, Kerala.

• It is the only peacock sanctuary in Kerala and the first dedicated peacock reserve in India.

• Established in 1996, the sanctuary focuses exclusively on the breeding and conservation of peafowl.

• Dedicated to the memory of Induchoodan, a renowned ornithologist and writer from nearby Kavassery village.

7. Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Recently, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, a major employment-linked incentive scheme aimed at boosting formal job creation in India.

·      About Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana:  Provides direct cash incentives to both employees and employers to encourage formalisation of the workforce.

• Target: Support creation of 5 crore jobs within two years.

·      Key Features:

o  Part A – Support for First-Time Employees: Focus: First-time employees registered with EPFO.

• Incentive: One month’s EPF wage, up to ₹15,000, paid in two instalments.

• Eligibility: Employees earning up to ₹1 lakh/month.

• Payment Schedule: 1st instalment after 6 months of service. 2nd instalment after 12 months of service + completion of a financial literacy programme.

• Payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS).

o  Part B – Incentives for Employers: Designed to promote new job creation across all sectors, with emphasis on manufacturing.

• Employers will receive ₹3,000 per month per new employee (earning up to ₹1 lakh), for two years, provided the employee remains on payroll for at least 6 months.

• Payments directly to PAN-linked bank accounts.

8. GST Reforms: Recently, the Centre proposed next-generation GST reforms aimed at simplifying the indirect tax structure. Announced during the Independence Day 2025 address at Red Fort, the plan seeks to retain only two primary slabs — 5% and 18% — while eliminating the 12% and 28% brackets.

·      Key Highlights: 99% items in 12% slab → shifted to 5%.

• 90% items in 28% slab → shifted to 18%.

• No cess to be imposed over GST rates.

• Concessional Rate (<1%) – For select items below 5% (e.g., gold, silver, semi-precious stones).

• High Sin Rate (40%) – For 5–7 demerit goods (e.g., tobacco, gutka).

• White goods (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines): Tax to be reduced (from 28% → 18%).

• Daily-use items (toothpaste, soap, and shampoo): Possible reduction from 18% slab.
• Lower rates may cause a short-term revenue dip, but expected to boost: Consumption, Tax compliance & Tax base expansion