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Yuva AI for All Initiative

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched Kaushal Rath under the National AI Literacy programme “Yuva AI for All.”

About Yuva AI for All Initiative:

It is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the IndiaAI Mission.
It is a first-of-its-kind free course that introduces the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to all Indians, especially the youth.
It consists of a course designed to make students, professionals and other curious learners comfortable with the basics of Artificial intelligence.
Aim: To empower the citizens with foundational AI skills.

Key Features of YUVA AI for ALL Initiative

It is simple, practical, and filled with real-life examples to make learning relatable and fun.
It is available for free on leading learning platforms – FutureSkills Prime, iGOT Karmayogi, and other popular ed-tech portals.
Every learner who completes the course will get an official certificate from the Government of India.
It’s 100% free and open to everyone
It allows learning at one’s own pace — anytime, anywhere.

PM RAHAT Scheme

Recently, government of India launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme.

About PM RAHAT Scheme:

It has prioritized life-saving intervention, financial certainty for hospitals, and a structured emergency response system for accident victims.

Features of PM RAHAT Scheme:

It will be integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) enabling victims, Good Samaritans to locate the nearest designated hospital and request ambulance assistance.
Under the Scheme, every eligible road accident victim on any category of road will be entitled to cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim.
It is implemented through amalgamating the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) platform of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways with the Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0) of the National Health Authority.
Reimbursement: To hospitals will be made through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF).
In cases where the offending vehicle is insured, payment will be drawn from contributions made by General Insurance Companies.
In uninsured and Hit & Run cases, payment will be made through budgetary allocation by Government of India.
Grievance Redressal: Grievances will be addressed by a Grievance Redressal Officer nominated by the District Road Safety Committee chaired by the District Collector / District Magistrate.

Vidyanjali Initiative

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Education informed the Rajya Sabha that Vidyanjali initiative has on boarded over 8.5 lakh schools and 5 lakh volunteers.

About Vidyanjali Initiative:

It was launched in 2021 in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020.
It aims to strengthen government schools through community and private sector participation, enabling greater support for students’ holistic development and improved learning outcomes.
It is an initiative of Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, for facilitating the community and volunteers to directly connect with the government and government-aided schools to contribute their services and/or assets/ materials/equipments through a dedicated portal.
The platform connects volunteers, alumni, institutions, civil society organisations and CSR partners directly with schools based on their identified needs.

Salient features of the platform:

Create an interface between volunteers and schools to bridge the gap between them
Help school students in getting exposure other than academic activities
Enable schools to share their activities for Volunteer-ship, where volunteers can participate by performing various activities
Enable Ministry to view various reports like Schools on-boarded, Volunteers, Activities performed etc.
Facilitate the participation of Citizens/Volunteers/Alumni’s to contribute services at schools and their management.

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

Recently, the Finance Minister proposed an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore over the next five years in Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies.

About Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage:

It is a suite of technologies that enable the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large point sources such as power plants, refineries and other industrial facilities, or the removal of existing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Working of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage:

It consists of three stages: capture, transport and storage (or usage) of CO2.
Capturing methods: The main methods for capturing CO2 are: post-combustion; pre-combustion; and oxy-fuel combustion.
Post-combustion technology: It separates CO2 from the flue gas, by using a chemical solvent for instance, after the fuel is burnt.
Pre-combustion methods: It involves converting the fuel into a gas mixture consisting of hydrogen and CO2 before it is burnt.
Oxy-fuel Combustion: Oxy-fuel technology involves burning a fuel with almost pure oxygen to produce CO2 and steam, with the released CO2 subsequently captured.
CCUS can play a strategic role in global decarbonisation efforts in a number of ways.
Reducing emissions in ‘hard-to-abate’ industries
Producing low-carbon electricity and hydrogen, this can be used to decarbonise various activities
Removing existing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Chincha Kingdom

New archaeological evidence reveals that seabird guano – nutrient-rich bird droppings - may have been a major factor in the rise of Peru’s precolonial Chincha Kingdom.

About Chincha Kingdom:

The 'Chincha Kingdom,' which was established in the coastal region of modern-day Peru, was a powerful ancient state that flourished before the rise of the Inca Empire.
It ruled the Chincha Valley.
The Chincha Kingdom and its culture were very strong between 900 CE and 1450 CE. This time is known as the Late Intermediate Period in pre-Columbian Peru.
It was organised into specialist communities such as fisherfolk, farmers, and merchants.
The Chinchas did not build enormous cities but left important marks in their religious and administrative constructions.
Their temples, palaces, and fortresses were built mainly with adobe, a technique they mastered skillfully.
They applied stucco to decorate walls, shaping figures of fish heads, gannets, and seabirds.
The dwellings of most of their inhabitants were built around these enclosures, made with mats and reeds.
An important old ruin linked to the Chincha is La Centinela, found near the city of Chincha Alta.

Decline:

Conquered by the Inca Empire around 1476 CE.
Later affected by Spanish conquest in the 16th century.
The population drastically declined due to diseases and colonization.

World Food Programme

Recently, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of rice in support of global humanitarian operations aimed at combating hunger.

About World Food Programme:

It is a branch of the United Nations that deals with hunger eradication and promotes food security in the world.
It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency and was established in 1961.
It operates in more than 120 countries, provides food assistance during emergencies and works with communities to enhance nutrition and generate resilience.
Funding: WFP is funded by voluntary donations from governments, corporates and private donors.
The organization’s work is guided by Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.

Governance:

It is governed by the WFP Executive Board, which consists of 36 Member States and provides intergovernmental support, direction and supervision of activities.
WFP is headed by an Executive Director, who is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Executive Director is appointed for fixed five-year terms.
It is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
WEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Reports by WEF: Report released by the WFP is the Global Report on Food Crisis which describes the scale of acute hunger in the world.
Headquarters: Rome, Italy.

African Union

Recently, the African Union hosted its annual summit in Ethiopia.

About African Union:

It is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
It was officially launched in 2002 and replaced its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was founded in 1963.
Primary Objective: To promote unity, cooperation, and development among African nations while advancing the continent’s interests on the global stage.
Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Governance of African Union:

Assembly: It is the highest decision-making body, consisting of the heads of state and government of member countries.
Executive Council: Made up of foreign affairs ministers, handles policy matters and makes recommendations to the Assembly.
AU Commission: Headquartered in Addis Ababa, is the administrative arm responsible for implementing the decisions of the Assembly and the Executive Council.
The Peace and Security Council: Responsible for maintaining peace and security on the continent.

Piton de la Fournaise Volcano

The Piton de la Fournaise volcano on Reunion Island erupted for the second time this year

About Piton de la Fournaise Volcano:

Location: It occupies the east-southeastern end of French Island La Réunion in the western Indian Ocean.
Type: It is a massive basaltic shield volcano.
It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
It is in a phase of frequent but short-lived eruptions that start with lava fountains and produce large lava flows.
Status: It has been a member of the prestigious club of natural treasures listed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO.

Key Facts about Shield Volcano:

They are the largest volcanoes on Earth.
They do not form soaring mountains with conical peaks like composite volcanoes. Instead, they are broad volcanoes with gentle slopes.
They are almost exclusively basalt, a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted.
Because basalt has a low viscosity, it can flow on the surface better. So, when these types of volcanoes erupt, lava flows outwards at large distances.
They are built by repeated eruptions that occurred intermittently over vast periods of time.
The Hawaiian shield volcanoes are the most famous examples.

Arab League

Recently, the External affairs minister met the foreign ministers of five Arab League member states and held discussions on ways to develop ties with West Asia and the situation in the region.

About Arab League:

The Arab League, or League of Arab States, is a voluntary association of countries whose peoples are mainly Arabic-speaking or where Arabic is an official language.
It is a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
Its stated aims are to strengthen ties among member states, coordinate their policies and direct them towards a common good.
Members: It currently has 22 member states: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Observer Members: Brazil, Eritrea, India, and Venezuela.
Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt.

Governance of Arab League:

The highest body of the League is the Council, which is composed of representatives of each state.
The League makes decisions on a majority basis. The decisions are binding only on states that voted for them.
The General Secretariat, the administrative and executive body of the League, runs the League on a daily basis.
It is headed by a Secretary-General appointed by the Arab League Council every five years.

Rafah Border Crossing

Recently, Israel reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

About Rafah Border Crossing:

It's the southernmost post of exit from Gaza and borders Egypt's Sinai peninsula.
It is controlled by Egypt.
There are only two other border crossings from and into the Gaza Strip –
Erez: A crossing into Israel in northern Gaza, which is for people.
Kerem Shalom: A solely commercial goods junction with Israel in southern Gaza.

Key facts about Sinai Peninsula

It is a triangle-shaped peninsula located in northeastern Egypt.
It serves as a land bridge connecting Asia and Africa.

Boundaries:

North: It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea and to the east by Israel and the Gaza Strip.
West: To the west of the Sinai Peninsula is the Suez Canal, across which lies the African part of Egypt.
It is bordered to the southwest by the Gulf of Suez and to the immediate south by the Red Sea.
The Gulf of Aqaba borders the Sinai in the southeast.

Urban Challenge Fund

Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF).

About Urban Challenge Fund:

It is a new centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Fund aims to build resilient, productive, inclusive and climate-responsive cities, positioning those as key driver of the country’s next phase of economic growth.

Features of the Urban Challenge Fund:

A minimum of 50 per cent of project financing have to be mobilised from market sources, including municipal bonds, bank loans and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs). The remaining share may be contributed by States, Union Territories (UTs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or other sources.
Projects will be selected through a transparent and competitive challenge mode, ensuring support to high-impact and reform-oriented proposals.
Focus area: A strong thrust on reforms across Urban Governance, Market & Financial systems, Operational efficiency, and Urban Planning

The Fund will cover:

All cities with a population of 10 lakh or more (2025 estimates);
All State and Union Territory capitals not covered above; and
Major industrial cities with a population of 1 lakh or more
Additionally, all ULBs in hilly States, North-Eastern States, and smaller ULBs with population below 1 lakh will be eligible for support under the Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme.

Lead Bank Scheme

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently issued the draft circular on the revised guidelines for the Lead Bank Scheme (LBS) for public comments.

About Lead Bank Scheme (LBS):

On the recommendations of the Nariman committee, the LBS was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 1969.
Aim: Coordinating the activities of banks and other developmental agencies in order to achieve the objective of enhancing the flow of bank finance to the priority sector and other sectors and to promote banks' role in the overall development of the rural sector
For coordinating the activities in the district, a particular bank is assigned ‘Lead Bank’ responsibility of the district.
The Lead Bank is expected to assume a leadership role for coordinating the efforts of the credit institutions and the Government.
For the preparation of District Credit Plans and monitoring their implementation, a Lead bank Officer (LBO), now designated as Lead District Manager was appointed in 1979.

Idukki Hydroelectric Project

As the Idukki hydroelectric project, Kerala’s largest hydel power project, marks a historic 50-year milestone, the Moolamattom power plant has recorded a total generation of 115,852.672 million units (MU) over the past five decades.

About Idukki Hydroelectric Project:

It is built across the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala.
It is the largest hydroelectric project in Kerala.
The powerhouse at Moolamattom is the longest underground power station in India, and the pressure shaft is the largest in the country.
There are three dams associated with this project. They are: Idukki Arch Dam, Cheruthoni Dam & Kulamavu Dam.
The Idukki dam is one of the highest ten arch dams in the world and the third highest in India after the Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) and Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh).
It is the first dam in Asia that is constructed in a double-curvature arch dam type and the second in the world.

PM-SURAJ Portal

The PM-SURAJ portal disbursed Rs 1,389.61 crore in loans to 1.39 lakh entrepreneurs in the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing its target.

About PM-SURAJ Portal:

Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) portal was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2024.
Objective: To provide credit support to entrepreneurs from disadvantaged sections of society virtually.
It is a centralised platform where individuals from underprivileged backgrounds can apply for and track the progress of all available loans and credit schemes.
Only those intending to establish a new business can apply on this portal, as this platform provides loans exclusively for business startups.
Business loans up to Rs 15 lakh are available at low interest rateS through this portal, which are transferred directly to your bank account through banks, NBFC-MFIs, and other financial institutions.
It is run by government bodies like the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC), and the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC).
It is designed to uplift the most marginalized segments of society, such as the backward classes, scheduled castes, tribes, and other disadvantaged sections, and extend credit assistance to one lakh entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities.A