Operation DRISHTI
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
Context
- The Indian Army and Indian Air Force have launched a Mega Advanced Surgical Eye Camp under Operation DRISHTI at Military Hospital Namkum, Ranchi.
About
- Operation DRISHTI is a flagship humanitarian outreach programme of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) that combines advanced ophthalmic expertise with social service.
- The initiative seeks to deliver specialized eye care services to remote, underserved, and geographically challenging regions of the country.
- Earlier the initiative successfully conducted eight advanced surgical eye camps across the country, including in Leh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Bhuj, Kutch, and Bagdogra.
Source: PIB
SC Seeks Response from Centre, States on Aadhaar ‘misuse’
Syllabus: GS2/Govenance
Context
- The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and States on a plea alleging misuse of Aadhaar cards.
About
- An Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to Indian residents.
- It was introduced in 2010.
- It serves as valid proof of identity and address and is essential for availing government welfare schemes, financial services, and digital authentication.
Purpose of Aadhaar
- Unique Identification: The unique identification number serves as a universally accepted proof of identity and address.
- Social Welfare Schemes: Aadhaar streamlines the distribution of government benefits and subsidies, reducing fraud and ensuring that benefits reach the rightful recipients.
- Data-Driven Governance: Aadhaar assists in creating data-driven policies and governance by providing accurate population statistics and demographics.
Misuse
- Identity Theft and Fraud: Unauthorized use of Aadhaar details can enable impersonation, fake accounts, and fraudulent financial transactions.
- Privacy and Data Security Risks: Leakage of Aadhaar numbers or biometric data may compromise citizens’ personal information and privacy.
- Unauthorized Surveillance and Profiling: Excessive linking of Aadhaar with various services may raise concerns regarding tracking, profiling, and misuse of personal data.
Related Governance Framework
- Aadhaar Act, 2016: It is the primary law governing Aadhaar, provides the legal framework for issuance, authentication, and use of Aadhaar numbers for delivery of subsidies, benefits, and services.
- Information Technology Act, 2000: Provides legal protection against unauthorized access, data theft, hacking, and cyber offences involving Aadhaar-related information.
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Establishes safeguards for processing and protection of personal data, including Aadhaar-linked information, and recognizes individuals’ data privacy rights.
- Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018): It upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and restricted mandatory Aadhaar linkage in several private-sector services.
- Emphasized privacy as a fundamental right and required safeguards against misuse.
Source: AIR
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Syllabus: GS2/Regional Groupings
Context
- Canada’s application to become an observer in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is being examined at the 28th meeting of the Committee.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association
- It is an intergovernmental organization of 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners, for regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
- Established in 1997.
- Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius.
- Apex Body: Council of Ministers (COM)
- Decision Making: Consensus based.
- IORA focuses on six priority areas:
- Maritime Safety and Security;
- Trade and Investment Facilitation;
- Fisheries Management;
- Disaster Risk Management;
- Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation;
- Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.
- Cross-Cutting Areas: Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment.
- Major members include India, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, France, Iran, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, and other Indian Ocean littoral states.
- It also has 12 Dialogue Partners including the United States, Japan, China, and United Kingdom.
Importance for India
- Supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
- Promotes maritime security and freedom of navigation.
- Enhances cooperation in the Blue Economy.
- Strengthens India’s role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Provides a platform for regional economic and strategic engagement.
Source: TH
GRAPES-3: A cosmic-ray tracker
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
- Researchers from India and Japan have used the GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) Telescope to develop a method for monitoring changes in the Earth’s upper atmosphere in real time.
What is GRAPES-3?
- GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS–Phase 3) is a cosmic ray observatory located at Ooty, Tamil Nadu at an altitude of about 2,200 metres above sea level.
- It is operated by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
- Objective: It is designed to study the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays.
- The observatory investigates extensive air showers, which are cascades of secondary particles produced when high-energy cosmic rays or gamma rays enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
- It measures particles in the tera-electronvolt (TeV) to peta-electronvolt (PeV) energy range, among the highest energies observed in nature.
- Besides cosmic ray research, GRAPES-3 also studies:
- Solar phenomena, including the influence of solar activity on cosmic rays.
- Thunderstorm-related phenomena, particularly atmospheric electric fields and their interaction with cosmic-ray muons.
- The observatory uses:
- An array of plastic scintillator detectors to detect extensive air showers.
- A large-area muon detector based on proportional counters to measure high-energy muons reaching the Earth’s surface.
What are Muons?
- Muons are elementary subatomic particles similar to electrons but about 200 times heavier.
- They are produced when high-energy cosmic rays originating from outer space collide with atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
- Due to their high energy and penetrating ability, many muons reach the Earth’s surface and can be detected.
Source: TH
RBI Allows Zero Risk Weight for ECLGS 5.0 Loans
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted banks and other lenders to assign a zero-risk weight to a significant portion of loans covered under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0.
What is Risk Weight?
- A risk weight is a percentage value assigned to different bank assets or loans to reflect their level of credit risk.
- Regulators use these percentages to determine exactly how much core capital a bank must set aside as a buffer against potential defaults.
RBI’s New Provision under ECLGS 5.0
- Exposures covered under ECLGS 5.0 will attract a 0% risk weight for up to 75% of the guaranteed portion of the loan.
- This benefit applies where the guarantee settlement is expected within 30 days of invocation.
- The remaining exposure will continue to be assigned risk weights according to existing prudential norms.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0
- ECLGS 5.0 is the latest version of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The scheme aims to provide additional working capital support to businesses facing temporary financial stress.
- The scheme launched in 2026 addresses financial stress faced by MSMEs and the aviation sector due to disruptions arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict.
- It allows eligible borrowers to obtain additional loans of up to 20% of their existing working capital limits.
Credit Guarantee Structure
- Guarantee coverage: For MSMEs, the government provides a 100% guarantee on the additional credit extended by banks. For non-MSME borrowers as well as the airline sector, the guarantee coverage is 90%.
- Guarantees are provided through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).
- Tenor of Loan:
- For MSMEs/Non MSMEs (except Airline sector): 5 years from the date of first disbursement including a moratorium of 1 year.
- For the airline sector: 7 years from the date of first disbursement including a moratorium of 2 years.
- Tenure of Guarantee Cover: Maximum period of guarantee cover shall be co-terminus with the tenor of the loan.
Source: BS
Kashmir Saffron
In News
- The West Asia conflict has disrupted Iranian saffron exports, triggering a global demand surge for Kashmiri saffron.
About
- Crocus sativus derived spice, dried stigmas of the flower — called Red Gold or bahukam in ancient Sanskrit texts.
- Cultivated in the Karewa (highland plateaus) of J&K, received GI tag in 2020.
- India is the world’s second-largest saffron producer, after Iran. Higher crocin content than Iranian variants: Kashmiri crocin is ~8.72% vs Iran’s ~6.82% — giving it darker colour and enhanced medicinal value.
- Three Commercial Grades are Mongra, Lachha & Guchhi.
Source: TH
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