Henley Passport Index
Syllabus: GS2/ Miscellaneous
In News
- India’s passport ranked 85th, granting visa-free access to 57 countries, a drop from 80th place in 2024.
- Singapore currently holds the top spot.
About Henley Passport Index
- The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking system that evaluates the travel freedom provided by the passports of different countries, based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
- The index is compiled and published by Henley & Partners, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and enhanced by in-house research.
Source: HT
EPFO Clarifies PF Withdrawal Rules
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- Amid mounting criticism over new withdrawal norms, the EPFO has issued a clarification on the revised rules for accessing provident and pension funds in case of unemployment.
Revised Rules
- Simplification of Partial Withdrawal Rules: Earlier there were 13 complex provisions under different heads and now merged into 3 simplified categories:
- Essential Needs: Illness, education, marriage.
- Housing Needs: Construction, purchase, repayment.
- Special Circumstances: Natural calamities, unemployment, etc.
- Liberalized limits:
- Education: Up to 10 times (earlier limit much lower)
- Marriage: Up to 5 times (earlier total limit for marriage + education = 3 times).
- Uniform minimum service: Only 12 months (earlier higher and varied).
- No need to specify reasons for withdrawal under Special Circumstances.
- 25% minimum balance to be maintained to preserve retirement corpus and enjoy 8.25% interest with compounding benefits.
Clarification on Withdrawal During Unemployment
- The members can now withdraw up to 75% of their EPF balance “immediately” after losing their job, while the pension (EPS) accumulation can be withdrawn only after 36 months of unemployment.
- These changes are expected to come into effect in the next 1-2 months.
Source: IE
Prussian Blue Capsules
Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology
In News
- India has gifted critical Prussian Blue Capsules to Indonesia to mitigate the effects of Cesium-137 contamination.
About Prussian Blue Capsules
- Prussian Blue Capsules are a specialized medication used primarily to treat internal contamination with radioactive cesium or thallium, as well as non-radioactive thallium poisoning.
- The capsules work by trapping these toxic substances in the intestines, preventing their absorption into the body, and facilitating their removal through bowel movements.
Source: AIR
Time Rondeau Crystal
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- An international team of scientists has discovered a new phase of matter called the Time Rondeau Crystal (TRC), a state where order and disorder coexist in time.
What is Order in Matter?
- All forms of matter have a specific arrangement of their particles.
- In a solid crystal such as salt or diamond, atoms are arranged in a regular and repeating pattern, which represents order in space.
- In contrast, in a liquid, atoms move freely and lack any fixed arrangement, representing disorder.
- In 2012, scientists proposed that if matter can exhibit order in space, it might also show order in time. This led to the prediction of a new phase of matter called a time crystal.
- A time crystal is a system that repeats its motion or behaviour at fixed time intervals.
- For example, imagine pushing a swing at equal intervals. Normally, the swing moves in rhythm with each push.
- However, in a time crystal, the motion would repeat only after every two pushes instead of one, forming a regular cycle in time.
What is a Time Rondeau Crystal (TRC)?
- A Time Rondeau Crystal (TRC) is a new phase of matter discovered recently.
- It is similar to a time crystal, but with a special difference:
- It shows both order and randomness in time.
- The system repeats its pattern after some time (order), but between these repetitions, its behavior is irregular (disorder).
- Scientists created the TRC by using carbon-13 atoms in a diamond and controlling their spins with microwave pulses.
- The pulses were not given at fixed intervals, there was some randomness, but still, the system showed regular patterns over longer periods.
Potential Applications
- Quantum technology: It can help design new types of quantum sensors that detect specific time patterns.
- Information storage: Data can be stored in the timing of TRC’s repeating patterns.
- Scientific research: Helps scientists understand how order can exist even within disorder, opening new ways to study materials.
Source: TH
SC Allows Sale of Green Fireworks in Delhi
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- The Supreme Court relaxed its earlier blanket ban and permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers in the Delhi–NCR region, subject to strict conditions.
- The court noted that blanket bans had led to smuggling and use of more harmful conventional fireworks, and cited its 2018 Arjun Gopal judgment, which introduced green firecrackers and showed reduced emissions.
Green firecrackers
- They are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fireworks, developed to address air pollution concerns.
- They offer a balanced solution by enabling festive celebrations while minimizing environmental and health impacts.
| Types – SWAS (Safe Water Releaser) emits water vapor to reduce dust; free of sulphur and potassium nitrate. – STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker) low sound and particulate emissions; no sulphur or potassium nitrate. – SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium) uses less aluminium and more magnesium for reduced noise. |
Features
- Green firecrackers are eco-friendly alternatives designed to reduce pollution and health risks during celebrations.
- They emit 30–35% less particulate matter and harmful gases like SO₂, NOx, and CO, and exclude toxic substances such as barium nitrate.
- They are developed and approved by CSIR labs (NEERI and CEERI).
- They comply with prescribed noise limits and are identifiable by green logos and QR codes.
Source :TH
WTI Founder Menon Becomes First Asian to Chair Key IUCN Panel
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
In News
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) elected Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) founder Vivek Menon as the new chair of the Species Survival Commission (SSC), making him the first Asian to hold the post.
Species Survival Commission (SSC)
- The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of more than 10,500 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world.
- It is one of the six expert commissions under the global body that advises the IUCN secretariat on matters concerning biodiversity and species conservation.
- The commission and its specialist groups play a key role in preparing the IUCN’s red list of threatened species.
| Do You Know? – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), founded in 1948, is the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, comprising over 1,400 member organizations and 17,000 experts. – It serves as a global authority on nature conservation, offering a neutral platform for governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, and communities to collaborate on sustainable development. – It incubates ideas, sets international standards, and implements conservation projects that blend scientific research with traditional knowledge to restore ecosystems, combat habitat loss, and enhance human well-being. |
Source :IE
Seventh National Security Guard (NSG) Hub to Come up in Ayodhya
Syllabus :GS3/Security Forces
In News
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that a new NSG hub will be set up in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- This will be the seventh NSG hub, joining existing ones in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Jammu.
About National Security Guard (NSG)
- The National Security Guard (NSG) was established in 1986 as a Federal Contingency Force to combat terrorism, following a Cabinet decision in 1984.
- It is modeled on the UK’s SAS and Germany’s GSG-9, its philosophy emphasizes swift strikes and rapid withdrawal.
- It comprises two units: the Special Action Group (Army) and Special Ranger Groups (CAPFs/State Police), tasked with handling all forms of terrorism nationwide.
- It was established to create a Federal Contingency Force composed of highly motivated, specially equipped, and well-trained personnel to combat terrorism.
Source :TH
Exercise Samudra Shakti 2025
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
- The Indian Navy is hosting the fifth edition of the Indo-Indonesian Joint Bilateral Maritime Exercise, ‘Samudra Shakti – 2025’ at Visakhapatnam.
About
- Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ is a key bilateral engagement aimed at enhancing interoperability, strengthening mutual understanding, and sharing best practices between the two navies.
- The exercise was first conducted in 2018.
- Exercise Phases:
- Harbour Phase: Aimed at building camaraderie and professional understanding.
- Sea Phase: Focused on complex operational coordination. Includes Helicopter Operations, Air Defence Exercises, Weapon Firing Drills, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises.
Source: TH
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
- Birth anniversary of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) was observed recently.
About
- Born on 15 October in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, he was a renowned aeronautical engineer and scientist, widely known as the “Missile Man of India.”
- As Project Director at ISRO, he led the development of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), successfully launching the Rohini satellite in 1980.
- Later, at DRDO, he spearheaded the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), overseeing the development of the AGNI and PRITHVI missiles and India’s nuclear capabilities, including the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
- He served as the 11th President of India (2002–2007) and is fondly remembered as the ‘People’s President.’
- His literary works include Wings of Fire, India 2020, My Journey, and Ignited Minds.
- He was awarded the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), and the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna (1997).
Source: PIB
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