Thoothukudi Port City
Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture
Context
- PM Modi will inaugurate the newly extended runway and terminal building at Thoothukudi airport.
About
- Thoothukudi, also known as Tuticorin, is a significant port and industrial city in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India.
- It is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
- Thoothukudi is known as the “Pearl City” due to its historical pearl fishing activities. It’s a crucial seaport, often referred to as the “Sea Gateway of Tamil Nadu”.
- The port was officially renamed V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in 2011.
Thoothukudi’s Significance in Ancient Times
- Thoothukudi, along with the nearby ancient port of Korkai, was a major maritime center as early as the 6th century BCE, renowned for pearl fisheries and trade with Rome, Greece, and Southeast Asia.
- Under the Pandya (7th–9th century AD) and Chola (9th–12th century AD) dynasties, it emerged as a hub for international trade and naval expeditions, linking Tamilakam with Southeast Asia.
- In the colonial era, Portuguese (1532), followed by the Dutch and British, capitalized on its natural harbor.
- Thoothukudi rose to prominence during the Swadeshi Movement when V.O. Chidambaram Pillai launched the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in 1906 to break the British monopoly on the Tuticorin-Colombo shipping route.
Source: BS
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Scheme
In News
- The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is India’s flagship social security scheme aimed at workers in the unorganized sector, has crossed a major milestone of over 8 crore total gross enrolments as of July 2025.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
- About: It is a government-backed pension scheme designed to provide social security for workers in India’s unorganized sector.
- Administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the New Pension Scheme architecture.
- Target Group: Aimed at unorganized sector workers, but open to all Indian citizens aged 18–40 years (as of 2025), except those who are or have been income tax payers.
- Defined Pension: Assures a fixed minimum monthly pension of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000, or ₹5,000 starting at the age of 60, selected based on individual contributions and age at joining.
- Contribution Period: Minimum 20 years of contribution, with the contribution amount dependent on the pension amount chosen and age at enrolment.
- Automatic Debit: Contributions are auto-debited monthly from the subscriber’s bank account, ensuring regular savings.
Source: TH
Revamped Mission Vatsalya Portal Launched
Syllabus: GS2/ Governance
Context
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the revamped Mission Vatsalya Portal which is an integrated Digital platform for all the stakeholders related to child protection services.
Revamped Mission Vatsalya Portal
- Mission Vatsalya portal provides digital working platform for various stakeholders across different levels at State and district.
- The earlier Khoya-Paya and TrackChild services have been brought under this unified portal.
- The key features of Mission Vatsalya Portal include single digital platform for use by the Stakeholders i.e.
- At State level: State Child Protection Society and State Adoption Resource Agency level,
- At District level: District Child Protection Unit, Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board, Special Juvenile Police Unit at District level and Child Care Institutions.
| Mission Vatsalya – Mission Vatsalya, earlier known as the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), serves as a roadmap to achieve child development and protection goals aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). – Initially, three separate schemes were implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child Development: 1. Programme for Juvenile Justice, 2. Integrated Programme for Street Children, and 3. Scheme for Assistance to Homes for Children (Shishu Greh). – These were merged into ICPS in 2009–10, renamed as Child Protection Services (CPS) in 2017, and finally subsumed under Mission Vatsalya in 2021–22. |
Source: PIB
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- In Gujarat 185 people were granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019
- It amended the Citizenship Amendment Act, 1955, making two key changes to facilitate citizenship to undocumented migrants belonging to six non-Muslim communities — Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
- It reduced the period to qualify for citizenship from the existing requirement of continuous stay of 11 years to continuous stay of five years.
- However, Pakistani Hindus were anyway eligible for citizenship under Section 5 and Section 6 (1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The CAA only helped fast track the application process.
- The Rules grant the final authority to accord citizenship to an empowered committee headed by the Director, Census Operations, while the scrutiny of applications filed online on the portal was done by a district level committee (DLC) headed by Department of Post officials.
- On successful verification of documents, the DLCs administered the oath of allegiance to the applicants.
Source: AIR
Tobacco Epidemic
Syllabus: GS2/Health
Context
- A Lancet review stresses the need for targeted research and policy changes to address tobacco use among women, who are increasingly vulnerable to second-hand smoke and related diseases.
Major Findings
- The dangers of tobacco use have been well-known since the 1950s but the industry continues to push its products and add to the global disease burden.
- In 2021 alone, 7.3 million people lost their lives to ailments related to tobacco-use.
- Smoking is the primary reason for the around 30% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths and half of all lung cancer deaths.
- Further, women are more vulnerable to second-hand smoking, with more than 64 per cent of second-hand smoke-related deaths occurring among women.
- Key policies like the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the National Tobacco Control Programme have contributed to reduction efforts, but challenges persist due to gender-specific socio-economic and cultural factors.
Source: DTE
TRACERS Mission
Syllabus: GS 3/Space
In News
- NASA’s twin TRACERS satellites launched aboard a Falcon 9 to study magnetic reconnection and how solar activity affects near-Earth atmosphere.
TRACERS Mission
- Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission will fly in low Earth orbit through the polar cusps, funnel-shaped holes in the magnetic field, to study magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere.
- Magnetic reconnection occurs when activity from the Sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
- By understanding this process, scientists will be able to better understand and prepare for impacts of solar activity on Earth.
Source: NASA
Kargil Vijay Diwas
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War.
About
- The conflict began in May 1999, when Pakistani intruders occupied Indian posts across the Line of Control (LoC), aiming to cut off National Highway 1A — the strategic lifeline to Ladakh.
- India launched Operation Vijay to reclaim the occupied territories, leading to nearly three months of intense combat in the icy heights of Kargil, Ladakh.
- Battles at Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Point 4875 are now etched in national memory as enduring icons of valor and heroism.
- On July 26, 1999, the operation was officially declared successful, marking a decisive Indian victory.
Source: TH
Missile (ULPGM)-V3
Syllabus :GS 3/Defence
In News
- Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted successful flight-trials of Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3
- It is Designed, developed and tested by DRDO and It is also referred to as ULM-ER (extended-range variant).
- It is an advanced version of DRDO’s UAV-launched precision munition, and features passive homing using an imaging infrared (IR) seeker, allowing for accurate engagement in both day and night conditions.
- It can be fired in plain and high-altitude areas.
Features
- The 12.5-kg fire-and-forget air-to-surface missile is powered by a compact dual-thrust solid propulsion unit, enabling it to reach a maximum range of 4 km during daytime operations and 2.5 km at night.
- It also incorporates a two-way datalink for communication and offers multiple warhead options to engage a variety of static and moving targets.
Source: AIR
The Global SPECS Network
Syllabus: GS2/Health
In News
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a global initiative — ‘Global Specs 2030’ — to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare services by 2030.
| Do you know? Over 800 million people across the world have vision problems and do not have access to eye care. 1. Vision problems affect millions of people worldwide. It not only affects eyesight, but also affects education, economic productivity, and overall well-being. 2. Children and adolescents between five and 15 years of age suffer from vision impairment and refractive errors. |
The Global SPECS Network
- It is a network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the WHO SPECS 2030 initiative through coordinated advocacy and united action across all sectors.
- The Global SPECS Network membership application process is open, and eligible organizations can apply throughout the year.
Objectives
- It aims to unite stakeholders around a shared vision to achieve the 2030 global target for refractive error.
- It promotes evidence-based advocacy to support WHO’s public health goals and raise awareness of refractive error.
- It encourages discussion, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among network members.
Source: IE
Henley Passport Index 2025
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- India’s ranking in the Henley Passport Index in 2025 has improved significantly, jumping from 85th in 2024 to 77th in 2025.
- Indian passport holders now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries, up from 57 the previous year.
- Singapore remains the strongest passport globally.
About Henley Passport Index
- The Henley Passport Index is a popular ranking of global passports that measures passport strength by the number of destinations that holders can visit without a prior visa.
- The index ranks countries based on statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Source: TH
