First India-Iran-Uzbekistan Trilateral Meeting
Syllabus: GS2/IR
In News
- The first India-Iran-Uzbekistan trilateral meeting was held in Tehran focusing on enhancing cooperation against extremism and terrorism and promoting the use of Chabahar Port by Uzbekistan for trade with India.
About
- They also emphasized deeper connectivity via the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC).
- India-Iran-Armenia also held a trilateral focusing on INSTC and Chabahar use. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have shown interest in using Chabahar, while India is pursuing an early harvest FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union to boost trade and access rare earth minerals from the region.
| Do you know? – Chabahar is a deep water port in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province. 1. It is the Iranian port that is the closest to India, and is located in the open sea, providing easy and secure access for large cargo ships. 2. The port is also part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor. – The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which was initiated by Russia, India, and Iran, is a multi-modal transportation project linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via St Petersburg in Russia. 1. The route involves shipping goods from Mumbai to Bandar Abbas (Iran) by sea, transporting them by road to Bandar-e-Anzali, then by ship across the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan (Russia), and finally by rail to Europe. 2. It aims to cut transit time and reduce freight costs compared to the Suez Canal route. |
Source :ET
‘Aadhaar is part of statute, can be used by voters’: SC
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
In News
- The Supreme Court stated that Aadhaar is legally valid for voter verification under the right to vote statute and can be used as identity proof in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls.
| Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification number which serves as proof of identity and proof of address for residents of India. |
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls
- Article 324 of the Constitution gives the Election Commission (EC) the authority to oversee electoral roll preparation, while Article 326 grants voting rights to citizens aged 18 and above.
- Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, non-citizens are disqualified (Section 16), and voters must be 18 and ordinarily resident in a constituency (Sections 19–20).
- The EC has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) under Section 21 of the Act due to concerns about duplicate entries caused by urbanisation and migration. The aim is to ensure only eligible citizens are listed.
- The nationwide SIR begins with Bihar, where the last such revision was in 2003.
Supreme Court’s recent observation
- Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 permits ECI officials to use Aadhaar to authenticate entries in the electoral rolls.
- The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) to include Aadhaar as the 12th “indicative” document for identity verification .
- The Court maintained that Aadhaar is part of the statutory voter verification framework.
Source :TH
National Makhana Board
Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture
Context
- PM Modi launched the National Makhana Board in Purnea, Bihar, approving a development package of about ₹475 crore for the makhana sector.
What is Makhana?
- Makhana (Euryale ferox), also known as fox nut, is an aquatic crop cultivated in stagnant ponds and wetlands.
- This plant is found in freshwater ponds throughout South and East Asia.
- The edible part of the Makhana plant consists of small, round seeds that have an outer layer ranging from black to brown.
- This has led to it being referred to as the ‘Black Diamond.’
- Climatic conditions: For optimal growth and development, Makhana requires a temperature range of 20-35°C, relative humidity of 50-90%, and annual rainfall between 100-250 cm.
- In India, Bihar produces about 90% of the country’s makhana, particularly the regions of Mithilanchal and Seemanchal.
- In smaller quantities it is cultivated in the states of Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Tripura, and Odisha, as well as in neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Korea.
- GI Tag to Mithila Makhana: In 2022, ‘Mithila Makhana’ was conferred a Geographical Indication tag.
Source: PIB
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
- In the past three years, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued 84 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) covering 343 products, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of all 187 QCOs notified so far.
What are Quality Control Orders (QCOs)?
- QCOs are legal instruments issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016.
- They make it mandatory for both domestic and imported products to conform to specified Indian Standards.
- Products covered under QCOs cannot be sold in the Indian market without BIS certification, ensuring consumer safety, fair trade practices, and protection from substandard imports.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- The Bureau of Indian Standards is the National Standards Body of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
- It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 which came into effect on 12 October 2017.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Functions:
- Formulation of Indian Standards (IS) across many sectors.
- Product Certification Schemes, both voluntary and compulsory.
- Release of Quality Control Orders (QCOs): Making compliance with certain Indian Standards mandatory for some products.
- The schemes operated by BIS are, Product Certification (ISI mark), Management Systems Certification, Hall Marking of Gold and Silver Jewellery/Artefacts and Laboratory Services for the benefit of the industry and in turn aiming at consumer protection.
Source: IE
Polypropylene
Syllabus: GS3/Science
Context
- The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Golaghat, Assam.
About
- Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer that belongs to the polyolefin family.
- It is one of the most widely used plastics in the world because it is lightweight, durable, and versatile.
- Applications: Polypropylene is used to manufacture carpets, ropes, bags, fibers, masks, medical kits, and textiles, and also plays a vital role in the automotive sector as well as in producing medical and agricultural equipment.
- Assam is known for its traditional Gamosa and its renowned Eri and Muga silk, the state’s identity will now also include textiles made from polypropylene.
Source: AIR
Enhanced Sterile Insect Technique (Enhanced-SIT)
Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- In Naousa, northern Greece, scientists are testing an Enhanced Sterile Insect Technique (Enhanced-SIT) to control invasive fruit fly species threatening crops, especially peaches.
About
- Project: REACT (EU-funded, €6.65 million, 4 years, 12 countries incl. UK, Israel, South Africa).
- Target Pests:
- Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) – major local pest.
- Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and Peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata) – invasive species from Asia, highly destructive globally.
- Method: Sterile male flies bred at University of Patras.
- These are fed with bacterial supplements making them more resilient, longer-lived, competitive in mating.
- Resulting in no offspring and gradual eradication of population.
- Significance:
- Pesticide-free, eco-friendly, organic farming compatible.
- First European field trial of improved sterile insect release on a small scale.
- Early findings show measurable reduction in pest population.
- Could serve as a model for Mediterranean and European pest control amid rising climate-linked threats.
Source: TH
Indian Navy’s ‘Androth’
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- The Indian Navy has received ‘Androth’ an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC).
About the ASW-SWC
- Named after Androth island (the largest island of the Lakshadweep archipelago), the warship is the second of eight ASW-SWCs being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
- Constructed in line with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification rules, the project—with over 80% indigenous content—embodies the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Source: TH
Sir M Visvesvaraya
Syllabus: Person in News
Context
- PM Modi paid homage to Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary, observed nationwide as Engineers’ Day.
About
- Born on September 15, 1861, Visvesvaraya is regarded as one of India’s greatest engineers whose pioneering work revolutionised infrastructure development.
- He served as the Diwan of Mysore and President of the All-India Manufacturers’ Organisation.
- He was conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 1955.
Contributions of Sir M. Visvesvaraya
- Innovative Flood Management Systems: After the 1908 Musi River floods, Sir M.Visvesvaraya designed reservoirs like Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar and proposed systematic flood control solutions.
- Pioneering Dam Construction and Irrigation: As Chief Engineer of Mysore, Sir Visvesvaraya built the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam in 1932, creating Asia’s largest reservoir.
- His automatic sluice gates improved water regulation at multiple dams.
- Literary Works: Reconstructing India (1920), Planned Economy for India (1936), and Unemployment in India: Its Causes and Cure (1932).
- Autobiography: Memoirs of my Working Life (1951)
Source: PIB
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