Mud Volcano
Syllabus: GS1/Geography
Context
- The Geological Survey of India will send a team to the Baratang Island (Andaman) to investigate the recent eruption of India’s only active mud volcano.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the subduction zone due to frequent movement of tectonic plates, which causes tremors most of the time.
Mud Volcanoes
- Mud volcanoes are geological formations where mud, gases, and water are expelled from beneath the Earth’s surface — not molten lava, unlike true volcanoes.
- Mud volcanoes are not real volcanoes and are not as hazardous as real volcanoes since they can only emit warm mud and only very locally.
- Formation:
- It is usually found in regions with subsurface hydrocarbon deposits.
- When gas pressure builds up below the surface (often due to tectonic compression), it forces mud and fluids upward through faults or fractures.
- Over time, this builds a cone-shaped mound — the “mud volcano.”
- Though not explosive like lava volcanoes, they can cause localized damage due to sudden eruptions or gas emissions.
Source: TH
UNESCO
Syllabus: GS2/ International Organisations
In News
- UNESCO’s executive board voted to appoint Khaled el-Enany, Egypt’s former antiquities and tourism minister, as the organisation’s next director-general.
About UNESCO
- UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was established in 1945, with its constitution coming into force in 1946.
- It aims to promote peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication.
- Headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO has 194 member states and 12 associate members as of July 2025.
- In July 2025, the U.S. announced it would withdraw from UNESCO by December 2026.
- India has been a founding member since 1948, hosting two UNESCO offices.
- Key Publications of UNESCO are Global Education Monitoring Report, United Nations World Water Development Report, UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030, and Global Ocean Science Report.
Source: TH
Damages for Alienation of Affection (AoA)
Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance
Context
- Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC), in Shelly Mahajan versus MS Bhanushree Bahl & Anr, has opened the door for spouses to seek damages, in the civil sphere, from third parties.
About
- The High Court issued summons in a wife’s suit seeking damages for Alienation of Affection (AoA), against her husband’s alleged affair partner.
- AoA is a term from common law referring to a “heart-balm” tort, which allows a spouse to sue a third party, usually the lover, for wilfully interfering in the marriage and causing ‘loss of affection and companionship’.
- Notably, the Indian legal framework neither codifies nor prohibits AoA.
- In Pinakin Mahipatray Rawal versus State of Gujarat (2013), the Supreme Court held that “alienation of affection by a stranger, if proved, is an intentional tort.”
- In Indra Sarma versus V.K.V. Sarma, the top court further noted that AoA could even give children a cause of action against a third party for alienating their father.
- The doctrine has never been used to award damages in India.
Major Takeaway from the Ruling:
- The HC clarified that while Joseph Shine decriminalised adultery (2018), it did not grant a licence for ‘extramarital relationships’ free of civil or legal implications.
- The ruling clarified that while adultery is decriminalised, it still carries civil consequences in India.
- These include loss of consortium claims, compensation suits like the AoA case, and the personal remedy of divorce.
Source: TH
MY Bharat-National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- President Droupadi Murmu presented the MY Bharat-National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2022–23 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
About
- Instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1993-94, the MY Bharat-NSS Awards are conferred annually to acknowledge outstanding voluntary community service.
- For 2022–23, a total of 50 awards were presented – 10 NSS Units, 10 Programme Officers, and 30 NSS Volunteers – for their exemplary service and leadership.
- Each winning NSS Unit received ₹2 lakh and a trophy, Programme Officers received ₹1.5 lakh, a certificate, and a silver medal, while Volunteers were honoured with ₹1 lakh, a certificate, and a silver medal.
| National Service Scheme (NSS) – NSS, launched in 1969 during the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, is one of the flagship youth programmes of the Government of India. – It aims to foster the personality and character development of students through voluntary community service, inspired by the Gandhian ideals of selfless service. – The motto of NSS – “Not Me, But You” (स्वयं से पहले आप) – reflects its core philosophy of prioritising community welfare above individual interest. – Currently, the NSS has nearly 40 lakh active volunteers across the country. The volunteers engage in diverse activities addressing issues of social relevance such as literacy and education, health and family welfare, environmental conservation, women’s empowerment, disaster relief, Swachhata (cleanliness) drives, and programmes supporting economic and rural development. |
Source: DD News
PM-SETU Yojana
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs- PM – SETU.
About
- It is a centrally sponsored scheme to transform 1,000 Government ITIs across India into modern, industry-aligned training institutions.
- PM-SETU will follow a hub-and-spoke model, with 200 hub ITIs linked to 800 spoke ITIs.
- The scheme will:
- Introduce new, demand-driven courses and revamp existing ones in collaboration with industry;
- Set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with credible Anchor Industry Partners to manage clusters and ensure outcome-based training;
- Create pathways for long-term diplomas, short-term courses, and executive programs;
- Strengthen 5 National Skill Training Institutes in – Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Chennai (Tamilnadu), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), as Centres of Excellence with global partnerships.
- Under the first phase of PM-SETU, 15 hub-and-spoke ITI clusters have been identified across the country.
- Each cluster will serve as a centre of excellence in skills, equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, and industry-led training, creating model ecosystems that can be replicated nationwide.
Source: AIR
All Jal Jeevan mission Pipelines to be mapped on PM-SETU Yojana
Syllabus :GS2/Governance
In News
- The Union government is planning to map all drinking water assets, including pipelines under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), on the GIS-based PM Gati Shakti platform.
Background
- Government of India had launched Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a centrally sponsored scheme in August 2019, aiming at providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024.
- The Central Government is considering the continuation of the Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028 with an enhanced total outlay, following announcement in the Union Budget 2025-26 to extend the Mission.
- The proposal focuses on improving infrastructure quality, ensuring effective operation and maintenance of rural piped water supply schemes, and promoting citizen-centric water service delivery, with guidelines for further funding under active review.
| PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) – It was launched in 2021 for providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones. – It is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by 7 engines, namely: Railways,Roads,Ports,Waterways,Airports,Mass Transport and Logistics Infrastructure. |
Source :IE
Securities Transaction Tax
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
- The Supreme Court of India decided to examine a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the Securities Transaction Tax (STT).
Securities Transaction Tax (STT)
- It is a direct tax levied on securities transactions through a listed stock exchange, as imposed under the Finance Act, 2004.
- It aims to combat tax evasion in the stock market.
- It is charged on the transaction value of securities traded on the Indian stock exchange.
- It includes – derivates, shares, and equity-oriented mutual funds.
- It is applied on the buying and selling of securities irrespective of the profit or loss made in the transaction.
Criticism
- The STT is argued to violate fundamental rights to equality, trade, and dignity by imposing double taxation—stock traders pay capital gains tax on profits and also have to pay STT on the same transactions, leading to an unfair additional tax burden.
- Unlike other taxes in India that apply only on profits, STT is charged even when traders incur losses.
- STT is similar to TDS for salaried individuals, but unlike TDS, it is not refundable or adjustable, forcing traders to pay both STT and income tax.
Source :TH
VLGC Shivalik
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) received India’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), Shivalik, under the Indian flag, marking a significant milestone in the country’s maritime resurgence and energy security.
About
- Shivalik, built in South Korea and named after the Himalayan range, is an 82,000 cubic metre (CBM) state-of-the-art LPG carrier equipped with advanced safety, temperature control, and operational systems.
- The vessel joins the Shipping Corporation of India Limited’s (SCI) two existing VLGCs — Sahyadri and Anandamayi.
- The arrival of Shivalik symbolizes India’s march toward maritime self-reliance and aligns with the government’s vision to make India one of the top five maritime nations by 2047 under the Maritime India Vision framework.
Source: PIB
World Para Athletics Championships 2025
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
In News
- India won a record 22 medals, including six gold, nine silver and seven bronze in World Para Athletics Championships 2025.
About World Para Athletics Championships
- It is the premier global championship for para-athletics (track & field for athletes with impairments) outside of the Paralympic Games.
- Prior to 2017, it was called the IPC Athletics World Championships. Since 2011, the championships are held biennially (every two years) to provide high-level competition in non-Paralympic years.
- The first edition was in Berlin, Germany, 1994.
- Athletes compete in different classes depending on their impairment type and severity (e.g. visual impairment, limb deficiency, cerebral palsy, wheelchair classes).
- In the 2025 Championships, the mascot is named Viraaj — a figure embodying strength, resilience, and spirit of para-athletes.
Source: AIR
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