Simla Agreement
Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations
Context
- The Simla Agreement completed 54 years on 2 July 2026.
About
- The Simla Agreement was signed in 1972 to establish lasting peace between India and Pakistan post the 1971 war.
- The agreement was signed between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Key Provisions of Simla Agreement
- Peaceful resolution: Both countries agreed to resolve disputes through bilateral negotiations without involving third parties.
- Line of Control (LoC): The ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir was redefined as the Line of Control, with both sides committing not to alter it unilaterally.
- Release of prisoners: India agreed to release Pakistani prisoners of war, and Pakistan committed to normalising relations and recognising the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
MANAS Initiative
Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives
Context
- The National Narcotics Helpline MANAS is strengthening India’s fight against drug abuse by providing a technology-driven platform for reporting drug-related activities and accessing rehabilitation services.
About
- MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) was launched in 2024 under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Digital India Corporation (DIC).
- Built as a secure, technology-driven platform, MANAS enables citizens to report drug-related activities, seek counselling, and access rehabilitation support at any time.
- The platform is accessible through the national helpline number 1933, the official portal, email and the UMANG app.
- MANAS brings together the vision of Digital India and the mission of a Nasha Mukt Bharat.
India’s War Against The Drug Menace
- Constitutional Basis: Article 47 states that the State not to promote consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health except for medicinal purposes.
- Global Commitment: India is a party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Drug Trafficking.
- Legal Frameworks: The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, NDPS Act, 1985, PITNDPS Act, 1988.
- Key Initiatives: NIDAAN Portal for monitoring drug cases; Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan for awareness, prevention and rehabilitation.
Source: PIB
Gait Analysis
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- In a recent murder case in Pune, investigators are using forensic gait analysis and AI-assisted comparison of CCTV footage to aid the investigation.
What is Gait Analysis?
- Gait analysis is the scientific study of how a human walks or runs.
- Walking (or running) is a complex activity where the body has to coordinate continuously between muscles, bones, and the nervous system.
- Gait analysis breaks down these activities to piece together how a particular person walks.
What is a Gait Cycle?
- A gait cycle is the sequence of movements beginning when one foot touches the ground and ending when the same foot contacts the ground again. The cycle has two broad phases.
- In the stance phase, the foot is in contact with the ground and ends when the toes push off. The body absorbs the shock of hitting the surface while supporting the whole body weight in this phase.
- In the swing phase, the foot is off the ground but also moving towards it, to take the next step. In this duration, the body’s focus is on ensuring the toes don’t drag on the floor while positioning the foot for its landing.
Applications of Gait Analysis
- Clinical Study: Gait analysis can be used to understand why someone is in pain or how a specific medical condition is progressing. Sportspersons use it to understand how they can run faster.
- Forensic gait analysis has been used to assess whether the way a person walks, as recorded live or seen on CCTV footage, is consistent with that of a known individual.
- It is used to identify abnormalities in an individual’s pattern of movement. Doctors use it to manage symptoms in people with cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease and as part of post-stroke care.
Source: TH
MECON Achieves Miniratna Category-I Status
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
- The Ministry of Steel has approved the grant of Miniratna Category-I status to MECON Limited.
About MECON Limited
- MECON Limited, established in 1959 and headquartered in Ranchi, is one of India’s premier engineering, consultancy, project management and contracting organizations.
- It is a Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.
What is Miniratna Status?
- Miniratna status is granted by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to eligible profit-making Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
- Introduced in October 1997, the status aims to provide greater financial and operational autonomy to efficient CPSEs.
- It is classified into Miniratna Category-I and Miniratna Category-II based on their financial performance.
Eligibility Criteria for Miniratna Status
- Category I CPSEs should have made profit in the last three years continuously, the pre-tax profit should have been Rs. 30 crore or more in at least one of the three years and should have a positive net worth.
- Category II CPSEs should have made profit for the last three years continuously and should have a positive net worth.
Source: PIB
RBI’s upper layer NBFCS
Syllabus:GS3/Economy
In News
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reinstated the definition of “indirect receipt of public funds” in its NBFC master directions, effective July 1, 2026.
Do you know?
- The RBI had originally defined indirect receipt of public funds in a circular issued on April 2026 as “funds received not directly but through associates and group entities which have access to public funds.”
- The RBI replaced the previous methodology to determine NBFC-UL with a simple criterion that only NBFCs with assets of Rs 1 lakh crore or more will be classified as NBFC-UL.
- Under RBI rules, an NBFC-UL is required to list on a stock exchange within three years of being notified and comply with stricter governance and disclosure norms.
Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)
- It is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013 and whose principal business is that of financial activities like loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase etc.
- However, it does not include companies whose main business is agriculture, industrial activity, trading of goods (other than securities), provision of general services or real estate activities such as sale, purchase or construction of immovable property.
Requirements for registration with the Reserve Bank
- A company needs to be incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013 to start an NBFC business, and needs to meet the eligibility norms of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- It should have a minimum net owned fund of ₹10 crore but there are different thresholds for specialised NBFCs based on their category.
- The company will also be required to register with the RBI’s PRAVAAH portal and submit all the necessary documents as per the RBI’s stipulation.
Major differences between banks and NBFCs
- NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
- NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself.
- DICGC is not available to depositors of deposit taking NBFCs
Source :IE
Hasdeo-Arand Forests
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted environmental clearance for mining in the Kente Extension Integrated Coal Block in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo-Arand forests.
Hasdeo-Arand forests
- The Hasdeo-Arand forests, spread across Chhattisgarh’s Korba, Surguja, and Surajpur districts, cover about 1.7 lakh hectares and are considered the Green Lungs of Central India.
- They are home to around 640 plant species and nine schedule-1 wildlife species, which are accorded highest legal protection.
- It is also the catchment area of the Hasdeo river, the largest tributary of the Mahanadi.
Geographical Distribution of Coal in India
- Gondwana Coals: About 98% of total coal in India is based on Gondwana time;
- Majorly found in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh etc.
- Major Gondwana Coal Mining Centres:
- Damodar Valley: Daktonganj, Bokaro, Jharia, Dhanbad, Raniganj, Durgapur
- Son Valley: Associated with North Koel river, Singrauli
- Mahanadi Valley: Associated with rivers like Hasdeo, Ib, South Koel etc, Korba, Jhilmil, Talcher
- Godavari and Wardha Valley: Singreni, Kotagundam (Telangana), Kamptee Valley (Nagpur, Maharashtra).
Source: IE
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awards (PMRBP) 2026
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
In News
- The Ministry of Women and Child Development invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awards (PMRBP) 2026.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awards (PMRBP)
- It is India’s premier national honour dedicated to celebrating the exceptional resilience, courage, creativity, and indomitable spirit of young citizens.
- It started in 2019.
- It is conferred annually by the President of India at a special ceremony in New Delhi on Veer Bal Diwas, observed on 26th December.
- The award recognizes outstanding achievements across six distinct categories: Bravery, Social Service, Environment, Sports, Art and Culture, and Science and Technology.
- It recognises the extraordinary achievements of children aged 5 to 18 years.
- Any citizen, school, institution, or organisation can nominate candidates they deem deserving.
- Children may also apply through self-nomination.
- The awards include a medal, a certificate and a citation.
Veer Bal Diwas
- The Government observes Veer Bal Diwas on 26th December every year. The day remembers Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
- Zorawar and Fateh Singh were aged 9 and 7 respectively. On December 26, 1704, they were martyred for refusing to abandon their faith under coercion.
- Their martyrdom represents courage, moral strength and devotion even at a young age. Their sacrifice and bravery in the face of adversity were extraordinary, and they continue to inspire children today.
Source :PIB
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News In Short 03-07-2026
