08^th September 2025

1. Bhupen Hazarika: Recently, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), announced the launch of “Bistirna Parore: A Musical Voyage from Sadiya to Dhubri” at Guijan, Dibrugarh. This unique cultural initiative commemorates the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the legendary “Sudhakantha” (Bard of the Brahmaputra).

• About Bhupen Hazarika: Born on September 8, 1926, in Assam’s Tinsukia district; passed away at age 85 in Mumbai.
• Poet, music composer, actor, journalist, author, and filmmaker.
• One of northeast India’s leading socio-cultural reformers who used art to unite people.
• Composed Bistirno Parore and Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, inspired by Robeson’s Ol’ Man River.
• His songs depicted human emotions and struggles—joy, sorrow, unity, love, loneliness, and determination.
• Served as chairman and director of several cultural boards, including India’s National Film Development Corporation.
• Awards and Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.

2. Blood Moon: Recently, a blood moon was visible in India, during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon appeared dark red due to Earth’s shadow.
   

• About Blood Moon: Refers to a total lunar eclipse, during which the moon appears reddish-copper instead of its normal white glow.
• How it occurs: Happens when Earth comes directly between the sun and the moon.
• Direct sunlight is blocked, but Earth’s atmosphere bends and scatters some light onto the moon.
• Blue light is filtered out, while red light is refracted, causing the moon to appear red.
• Features: The shade of red depends on dust, smoke, and particles in Earth’s atmosphere.
• The reddish hue is caused by Rayleigh scattering, the same effect that makes the sky blue.
• Visible across wide regions where the eclipse is above the horizon.
• Significance: Helps scientists study Earth’s atmosphere, including dust, volcanic ash, and pollution levels.
• Important for astronomy and public science awareness.

3. Impact GST Reforms on Farmers: Recently, the Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister said that the new GST reforms announced by the Central Government will prove to be a boon for farmers, especially small and medium cultivators.

• Major Relief in Agriculture and Dairy Sector: GST on bio-pesticides and micro-nutrients reduced → boost to organic and natural farming.
• GST on fertilizers (ammonia, sulphuric acid, nitric acid) cut from 18% to 5% → lower fertilizer costs for farmers.
• GST on milk and cheese removed; reduced on butter, ghee, milk cans, and other dairy products → benefits farmers, cattle breeders, milk producers, and consumers.
  • Agricultural Equipment: GST on agricultural machinery reduced from 18% to 5% → Farmers save ₹25,000–₹63,000 on tractors + additional savings on equipment.
  • GST cut on preserved vegetables, fruits, dry fruits, fish products, and natural honey → support for allied sectors (animal husbandry, beekeeping, fish farming, poultry, agro-forestry).
  • Women self-help groups in handicrafts, leather goods, and dairy products benefit → empowerment of Lakhpati Didis and rural livelihoods.

4. Heath AI: Recently, India became a member of the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN), joining other pioneering countries to enhance oversight of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

• About HealthAI Global Regulatory Network: Geneva-based independent nonprofit promoting equitable access to AI-driven health innovations.
• Functions as a global network of health regulators ensuring safe and effective use of AI in healthcare.
• Aims to build trust, improve safety, and accelerate responsible innovation.
• Promotes shared learning, joint standards, and early warnings of emerging risks.
• India is part of the network through ICMR-NIRDHDS and IndiaAI.
• About IndiaAI: Central initiative of the Government of India to develop a comprehensive and inclusive AI ecosystem.
• Operates under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) through the Digital India Corporation.
• Seeks to position India as a global leader in AI innovation and development.

5. Protein p47: Recently, researchers at the N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) highlighted protein p47’s unexpected ability to function as a “mechanical chaperone.”
   

• About P-47 Protein: A cofactor protein, commonly known as a helper of the cellular machine p97, which is vital for moving and degrading proteins.
• Traditionally considered only an assistant involved in protein trafficking, degradation, and membrane fusion.
• Key Findings: p47 enhances the mechanical efficiency of protein extraction from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen into the cytoplasm.
• It stabilizes polypeptides under stress, guides them through narrow pores, lowers the risk of misfolding, and improves protein translocation.
• Provides the first direct single-molecule evidence that cofactors like p47 have autonomous, force-dependent, chaperone-like activity.
• Shows that p47 is not merely a passive partner of p97 but can directly stabilize proteins under force, acting as a “mechanical chaperone.”
• Indicates that targeting mechanical cofactors such as p47 could open new therapeutic approaches for diseases related to protein instability.

6. Mission Mausam: Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the installation of four additional radars in Jammu & Kashmir under Mission Mausam to provide more accurate, district-wise weather forecasts.

• About Mission Mausam: Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Implemented by IMD, NCMRWF, and IITM.
• Aims to improve weather and climate services through precise observation, modeling, and forecasting.
• Supports multiple sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, and rural development.
• Objectives: Enhance India’s forecasting ability across short-term, medium-term, extended-range, and seasonal scales.
• Develop high-resolution models for better monsoon predictions.
• Strengthen observational networks with advanced radars, satellites, and automated weather stations.
• Provide actionable advisories for agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and disaster management.
• Build capacity through national and international research collaborations.

7. Study to Secure Rural Future: Recently, two international studies highlighted that larger, consolidated landholdings and traditional ecological knowledge can strengthen rural communities, improve forest management, and sustain ecosystems.

• Published in Scientific Reports, the research emphasizes that modern science and local wisdom must work together to secure rural futures.
• Key findings: Rural families depend on forests and ecosystems for food, fuel, income, traditions, and identity.
• Challenges: shrinking landholdings, youth migration, aging populations, environmental stress, and loss of traditional knowledge.
• Studies in China and Iran show how land size, shared services, and traditional wisdom can secure rural futures.
• Larger, consolidated land is more productive when supported by shared services.
• Traditional ecological knowledge strengthens ecosystem services but requires healthy environments to be effective.
• Sustainable rural futures depend on combining modern science with local wisdom.

8. Artificial Sweeteners: Recently, a study revealed that frequent consumption of artificial sweeteners, equivalent to one can of diet soda daily, may accelerate cognitive decline.

• Key Findings: Memory loss progresses 62% faster in mid-life adults who consume artificial sweeteners.
• Regular high intake speeds up brain ageing by about 1.6 years.
• Even moderate consumption (≈66 mg/day) is linked with a 35% quicker overall cognitive decline.
• Policy and Public Health Angle: Sweeteners are commonly added to diet drinks, sugar-free foods, packaged products, and diabetic diets.Health concerns include:
• Aspartame – used in diet sodas and sugar-free goods; flagged by WHO (2023) as “possibly carcinogenic.”
• Erythritol – a sugar alcohol associated with higher risk of blood clot formation.
• In India, with obesity and diabetes on the rise, regulating and tracking sweetener use is becoming more critical.

9. Transgender-Inclusive Curricula: Recently, the Union Social Justice and Education Ministries began developing transgender-inclusive curricula after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre, States, and NCERT.

• Key Highlights: Promoting early awareness among teachers, administrators, and police to create inclusive spaces.
• The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 upholds the right to self-identify gender, but ground-level execution is still weak.
• Initiatives like Garima Greh shelters are being scaled up, with added focus on supporting transgender children and senior citizens.
• The efforts contribute to global goals, especially SDG 4 (education for all) and SDG 10 (reducing inequality).
• Challenges: Despite legal backing, many transgender persons still face obstacles in obtaining gender certificates.
• Local officials often lack adequate training and sensitivity.
• Cultural resistance continues, particularly against including sexuality and gender topics in school education.
• Significance: Supports the inclusivity vision of NEP 2020, which stresses equity and access in education.
• Reinforces India’s constitutional values of equality and aligns with the Supreme Court’s NALSA 2014 judgement.