News In Short – 13 September, 2025

“Gyan Bharatam” Portal

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• Prime Minister Modi launched the Gyan Bharatam portal at the International Conference on Gyan Bharatam.

About

• The International Conference on Gyan Bharatam is being held under the theme “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage”.
• Bharatam Portal is a dedicated digital platform to accelerate manuscript digitisation, preservation, and public access, and address the gathering on the occasion. 
• India’s manuscripts exist in nearly 80 languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, and Marathi. 

Gyan Bharatam Mission

• National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) is aimed to preserve, document, and disseminate India’s rich manuscript heritage. 
• The Mission has been restructured with the nomenclature ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ as a Central Sector Scheme for the period 2024-31. 
• The key objectives of the Mission include Survey and Documentation, conservation and preservation, publication and research etc. 

Source: AIR

Draft National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In Context

• Draft National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for public consultation.

About 

• The classification introduces new categories for renewable energy, fintech, digital commerce, AYUSH healthcare, and platform-based services, reflecting the digital and green transformations in the economy.
• This is the first revision in 17 years and captures the vast changes in India’s economy and technology landscape.
• It will standardize how industries and activities are categorized which would be vital for government, researchers, and business.

Source: PIB

RBI’s CPI Inflation Framework

Syllabus: GS3/Economy 

In News

• Recently, former MPC members supported retaining India’s current Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) regime, with a 4% CPI inflation target within a 2-6% band, citing its role in stabilising inflation expectations and economic growth.

Consumer Price Index

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services, reflecting the cost of living and consumer purchasing power.
• In India, the CPI is compiled by the National Statistical Office using 2012 as the base year. 
• It tracks inflation by comparing current prices to past prices, with rising CPI indicating inflation.
• Initially used to adjust workers’ wages, CPI now guides monetary policy, inflation targeting by the RBI, and measures real economic growth.
• India also publishes specific CPI indices for industrial workers, agricultural labourers, and rural labourers.

Source :IE

Government Announced Annual Licensing Policy for Cultivation of Opium Poppy

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• The annual licensing policy for opium cultivation is announced under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Rules, 1985.

About

• India is the world’s only country legally producing opium gum for medicinal and scientific purposes under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
• Cultivation is strictly regulated by the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• States permitted: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (specific notified tracts).
• Conditions:
  • Farmers must obtain a license each year.
  • Required to achieve Minimum Qualifying Yield (MQY) of morphine content in latex.
  • Entire produce must be tendered to CBN; government fixes procurement price
• Opium and derived alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine) are critical for palliative care, pain management, and essential narcotic drugs.

Source: DTE

Cicadas

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park, a biodiversity hotspot in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site), has recently reported the return of cicadas.

About Cicadas

• It is a conspicuous group of insects, mainly found in warm and temperate biomes across the world.
• They are known for their unique sound production (tymbals), often used to attract mates.
• They act as bioindicators, reflecting the health of ecosystems.
• Cicadas had reportedly declined due to deforestation, climate stress, and human interference.

Source: DTE

Coal Gasification

Syllabus: GS3/Environment 

In News

• The Government has set up a committee to review mining plan guidelines and add provisions for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG).

Coal gasification

• Coal gasification is a process that transforms coal into synthesis gas (syngas), a blend of hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). 
• This syngas can be used for generating electricity and manufacturing chemical products like fertilizers.
  • Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) provides environmental and operational advantages by accessing deep, unmineable coal seams with minimal surface impact, using less water, and producing cleaner fuels like methanol, dimethyl ether, and synthetic natural gas.

Benefits of Coal Gasification

• It can utilize India’s abundant coal resources, lowering reliance on imported energy, chemicals, and feedstock.
• It can promote self-reliance through large-scale coal-to-chemical plants, boosting regional economies, especially in interior states.
• It can enable cleaner use of coal by allowing cost-effective capture and reuse of CO₂ and other pollutants for industrial purposes.

Source: PIB

Exercise Siyom Prahar

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Indian Army successfully concluded Exercise Siyom Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh, validating drone technology’s role in modern warfare.

About the Exercise

• The central focus of the exercise was the development and validation of new Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for future battlefields. These included methods of fusing drone-derived intelligence with conventional firepower, refining joint targeting processes and ensuring rapid decision-making in dynamic combat environments.
• The outcomes of the exercise are expected to provide lessons for operational integration, employment concepts and force multiplication. 

Source: TH

INS Aravali commissioned in Gurugram

Syllabus: GS3/Defence 

In News

• The Indian Navy commissioned INS Aravali at the commissioning ceremony in Gurugram in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. 

INS Aravali

• It was named after the Aravali Range and would serve as a hub of technology and collaboration, linking platforms and partners across oceans. 
• Its motto is “Maritime Security through Collaboration,” and it aims to strengthen the Navy’s operational readiness and maritime security.
• It will enhance information and communication capabilities.

Importance 

• It  embodies the Prime Minister’s vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions .
• It strengthens India’s role as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

Source :TH

F404-IN20 Engine

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has ordered 99 F404-IN20 engines from the US firm GE Aerospace for the LCA Mk-1A fighter aircraft.
  • India signed a contract in 2021 with GE for F404-IN20 engines for HAL to use in the Tejas Mk1A.

About F404-IN20

• The F404-IN20 is a variant of the GE (General Electric) F404 family of afterburning turbofan engines. It is tailored for India’s LCA Tejas Mk1/Mk1A fighter jets.
  • It is the highest thrust version in the F404 line.
• Key Specifications:
  • The F404-IN20 produces a maximum thrust of about 84 kN with afterburner.
  • The engine operates at a pressure ratio of around 28:1, enabling efficient compression and power output.
  • It is equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) for precise management of performance and fuel efficiency.
  • The design incorporates a higher-flow fan, advanced hot-section materials, and single-crystal turbine blades, which improve durability and reliability.

Source: HT

Disaster Risk Index (DRI)

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management

Context

• Himachal Pradesh CM urged reframing of the Disaster Risk Index (DRI), arguing the Himalayan region faces unique hazards not captured adequately.

Disaster Risk Index (DRI)

• The Disaster Risk Index (DRI) generally refers to a measure combining hazard exposure, vulnerability, and capacity/resilience of geographic units.
• In India, the DRI is used to identify which states/UTs are most vulnerable to disasters — not just based on natural hazards but also:
  • how many people are exposed, 
  • how much population/agriculture/economy might be affected, infrastructure preparedness, etc.
• Prepared by the 15th Finance Commission (2017–2025). 
• 14 hazard types considered: Earthquake, Cyclone, Flood, Drought, Landslide, Tsunami, Avalanche, Heat Wave, Cold Wave, Coastal Erosion, Forest Fire, Fire, Industrial Hazards, Lightning.
• The indices are worked out at the district (census district) level (640 districts, per Census 2011) and then aggregated to State/UT level.

Source: TM