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APAAR ID

APAAR ID: A Digital Student Identification System in India

What is APAAR ID?

APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
It is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to streamline student records.
The initiative is based on the 'One Nation, One Student ID'
It is linked to Aadhaar and stored in DigiLocker for easy access.
APAAR is generated through Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

Objectives of APAAR:

To accumulate and store students' academic achievements in a central database
To facilitate seamless transfer between institutions
To provide standardized digital records for mark sheets and institutional affiliations
To help in educational policymaking and analysis

Is APAAR Mandatory?

Officially, APAAR is voluntary, as per government documents. However, CBSE and certain state government boards (e.g., Uttar Pradesh) are pushing for 100% student enrollment.
Many parents are not explicitly informed about the voluntary nature of the program.
Parliament confirmed in December 2024 that APAAR registration is not legally mandated.

How is an APAAR ID Generated?

Schools collect demographic details (Name, Date of Birth).
Parents sign a consent form to authorize APAAR ID creation.
Schools verify details and authenticate before issuing the ID.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised the Union Ministry of Tourism for the poor implementation of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

About the Public Accounts Committee (PAC):

It was established in 1921 as the oldest parliamentary committee in India.
Purpose: It audits the revenue and expenditure of the Government of India to ensure public funds are spent efficiently and legally.

Key functions:

Examines the CAG audit report on government expenditure.
Ensures money sanctioned by Parliament is spent properly.
Investigates financial irregularities, losses, and inefficiencies in government spending.

Membership:

22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha)
Chairperson: A Lok Sabha MP, traditionally from the Opposition
Term: One year
Ministers cannot be members of the PAC
About the Swadesh Darshan Scheme:
Launched: In 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism.
Objective: To develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations in India by creating thematic tourist circuits.
Funding: 100% centrally funded

Implementation:

The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to State Governments, UT Administrations, and Central Agencies.
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) is the responsibility of the respective State/UT government.

Key features:

Development of theme-based tourism circuits
Infrastructure development such as roads, signage, parking, and public amenities
Eco-tourism and heritage conservation efforts.

Finance Commission

Bihar Reiterates Demand for Special Category Status Before the 16th Finance Commission.

What is the Finance Commission?

The Finance Commission (FC) is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Constitution of India.
It is constituted in every five years by the President of India.

It consists of:

One Chairperson (Expert in public affairs)
Four Members (Experts in finance, economics, and administration)
It ensures fiscal federalism and advises on public expenditure and economic policies.
16th Finance Commission: Established in 2023, the 16th Finance Commission is responsible for recommending the distribution of finances between the Centre and States for the period April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2031.

Finance Commission Functions:

Vertical devolution: Determines the share of states in the central divisible pool of taxes (e.g., GST, income tax).
Horizontal distribution: Allocates funds among states based on fiscal needs, revenue-generating capacity, and developmental performance.
Grants-in-Aid: Recommends grants to revenue-deficient states and specific sectors in need of financial support.

What is Special Category Status (SCS)?

Special Category Status (SCS) is a classification given to states to provide them with additional central assistance due to economic and geographic disadvantages.
It was introduced in 1969 based on the Gadgil Formula, recommended by the 5th Finance Commission (Mahavir Tyagi).

Criteria for Special Category Status (Based on Gadgil Formula): A State must have:

Hilly and difficult terrain.
Low population density and/or a significant tribal population
Strategic location along international borders
Economic and infrastructural backwardness
Non-viable state finances

United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) 2025

The 2025 UN World Water Development Report says that Retreating glaciers threatens the food and water supply of 2 billion people around the world.

About United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR):

WWDR is UN-Water’s flagship report on water and sanitation issues.
It offers an authoritative and comprehensive assessment of the overall state, use and management of the world’s freshwater resources.
Launched on World Water Day (March 22), the report focuses on a different theme each year and gives policy recommendations to decision-makers by offering best practices and in-depth analyses.
UNESCO publishes the WWDR on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.

Highlight of the WWDR 2025:

Theme: Mountains and glaciers - Water towers
The report says that “all mountain ranges” have shown evidence of warming since the early 20th century.
It warns that, as global temperatures rise, more mountain precipitation will fall as rain instead of snow, causing snowpacks to thin and melt earlier in the year.
It finds that receding snow and ice cover in mountain regions could have “severe” consequences for people and nature.
This acceleration in snowpack melt often causes river flow to increase in glacier-fed water basins and rivers in the short term.
However, once the snow melts beyond a certain threshold, a “peak water” point is passed and river flow declines again.
The report says there is “strong evidence” that this “peak water” point has already been passed in the glacial-fed rivers of the tropical Andes, western Canada and the Swiss Alps.

Sheathia rosemalayensis

In a recent discovery, researchers recently identified a new species of freshwater algae named ‘Sheathia rosemalayensis’, in Rosemala, located in Kollam district, Kerala.

About Sheathia rosemalayensis:

It is a new species of freshwater algae.
It was discovered in Rosemala, located in the western ghats of Kerala, and has been named after the place where it was found.
This discovery is crucial because Sheathia species are extremely rare in India. Before this, only one other species was reported from the Himalayas.
Sheathia rosemalayensis has so far been documented only in the southern Western Ghats, a geographically distinct region.
In contrast, other species within the Sheathia genus, such as assamica, S. indonepalensis, and S. dispersa, have broader distributions spanning Assam, Nepal, Indonesia, Taiwan and even the Hawaiian Archipelago.

What are Algae?

Algae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that can conduct photosynthesis.
They can be unicellular (single-celled) or multicellular, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to large seaweeds like kelp.
They have no true Roots, Stems, or Leaves. Unlike plants, algae lack vascular tissues.
Certain algae are familiar to most people; for instance, seaweeds (such as kelp or phytoplankton), pond scum, or the algal blooms in lakes.
However, there exists a vast and varied world of algae that are not only helpful to us, but are critical to our existence.

Kursk Region

Russian troops have launched a large-scale offensive to retake swaths of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.

About Kursk Region

Kursk is a city and the administrative centre of Kursk Oblast, positioned along Russia’s southwestern border.
It lies in the heart of the European part of Russia, approximately 450 km (280 miles) south of Moscow, along the upper Seym River.
The region is part of the Black Earth territory, known for its highly fertile soil. Kursk experiences a moderately continental climate, characterized by distinct seasonal variations.

History:

One of Russia’s oldest cities, Kursk was first mentioned in historical documents in 1032, highlighting its long-standing role in the region's development.
The city was completely destroyed by the Tatars in 1240 and remained in ruins until 1586, when it was rebuilt as a military outpost to defend Russian settlers.
World War II & Battle of Kursk: The city witnessed intense fighting during World War II, particularly in the Battle of Kursk (July–August 1943), the largest tank battle of the war, which resulted in a German defeat.
Modern Economy & Industries: Kursk has a diverse industrial base, including machine building, food processing, and the production of electronic equipment and synthetic fibres, contributing to the region’s economic growth.

Recent Developments:

It was captured by Ukrainian troops in the summer of 2024 in an unexpected lightning attack.
Ukraine’s presence in Russia’s Kursk region has deteriorated sharply, with the Russian advance threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining counter at a crucial time in the war.

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

Union Minister for Women and Child Development will lead India’s delegation at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

About Commission on the Status of Women (CSW):

It is the global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights, and the empowerment of women.
It is part of the United Nations, and works to promote women's political, economic, civil, social, and educational rights.
As a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by ECOSOC resolution of 21 June 1946.
The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls' rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
CSW can also highlight urgent problems, such as the situation of women and girls affected by conflict.
In 1996, ECOSOC expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.
The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted by 189 countries, is the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Annual Sessions:

During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN member states, civil society organizations, and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York.
They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls' enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields.
The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

Global Arms Trade

India was the second-largest arms importer during the period between 2020 and 2024, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24, show the recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

About Global Arms Trade:

Ukraine became the largest importer of major arms in the world during the period between 2020 and 2024, clocking a nearly 100-fold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015–2019.
Ukraine received 8% of global arms imports in 2020-24.
Four countries in Asia and Oceania—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia— ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2020-24.
India was the second-largest arms importer, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, a significantly smaller share than in 2015-19 (55%) and 2010-14 (72%).
India was the biggest arms export destination for both Russia and France.
Thus further increased its share of global arms exports to 43%, while Russia’s exports fell by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of global arms exports, falling behind France (9.6%), which emerged as the second largest arms exporter in 2020-24.
India received by far the largest share of French arms exports (28%)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15%).
Russia delivered major arms to 33 countries in 2020-24, of which two-thirds went to three countries — India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%).
European arms imports overall grew by 155% between the same periods as the continent rearms itself.
China dropped out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, showcasing its expanding domestic industrial base.
Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 61% between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
China became even more dominant as its supplier, accounting for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2020-24, compared with 74% in 2015–19.