Manasarovar Lake
Syllabus :GS1/Geography
In News
- The first batch of Indian pilgrims has arrived at Lake Manasarovar in Tibet after a five-year pause, marking the resumption of the sacred pilgrimage.
Lake Manasarovar
- It is one of the world’s highest freshwater lakes, located about 2,000 km from Lhasa at the southern foot of Mount Kailash.
- Mount Kailash and the Mansarovar Lake lie in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
- It is known for its crystal-clear blue shores and emerald green center.
- It is revered in both Hinduism and Buddhism and attracts pilgrims mainly from India, Tibet, and neighboring countries.
Religious Significance Lake Manasarovar
- According to Hindu mythology, the lake was created by Lord Brahma for his sons to perform religious rituals.
- In Buddhism, Lake Manasarovar is associated with Jambhala, the Tibetan Buddhist god of wealth and abundance.
Source :TH
Adi Karmyogi Programme
Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Programme
In News
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Adi Karmyogi Programme.
About the Adi Karmyogi Programme
- Launched by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Aim: To capacitate nearly 20 lakh stakeholders involved in tribal welfare delivery, including bureaucrats, block officials, and frontline workers.
- Focus Areas: The program will focus on improving outcomes in critical areas such as:
- Healthcare gaps (with special attention to Sickle Cell Disease)
- School staffing shortages
- Poor access to public services in tribal belts
- Connection to Mission Karmayogi: While “Adi Karmyogi” is specifically for tribal affairs, it aligns with the broader “Mission Karmayogi” (launched in 2020) – the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB).
Source: TH
SPREE Scheme
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
In News
- In the 196th meeting, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) re-launched this scheme for 2025 with the objective of expanding ESI coverage across the country.
About SPREE Scheme
- Genesis: Originally introduced in 2016, SPREE (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees) has facilitated the registration of over 88,000 employers and 1.02 crore employees.
- Objective: It aims to bring unregistered employers and left-out workers (including contractual and temporary staff) under the ESI Act.
- Duration: The renewed SPREE scheme will be open from July 1st to December 31st, 2025.
- Benefit: By focusing on voluntary compliance rather than penalisation, the scheme will seek to ease the litigation burden, encourage formal registration, and foster improved engagement and goodwill among stakeholders.
Amnesty Scheme – 2025
- The Corporation also approved Amnesty Scheme – 2025, a one-time dispute resolution window from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 aimed at reducing litigation and promoting compliance under the ESI Act.
Source: ET
Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) Auction
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- Recently, The Reserve Bank of India conducted a 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction to manage liquidity, receiving and accepting ₹84,975 crore in bids against a notified amount of ₹1 lakh crore.
- The cut-off rate was 5.49%, with a weighted average rate of 5.45%, indicating the interest at which RBI absorbed excess funds from banks.
Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR)
- It is a short-term tool under RBI’s Liquidity Adjustment Facility.
- It used to absorb surplus liquidity at market-driven rates.
- It helps the RBI maintain monetary stability and control short-term interest rate volatility, reflecting its ongoing focus on effective liquidity management.
Source: AIR
India Reports Current Account Surplus
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
Context
- According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s current account balance recorded a more than expected surplus of $13.5 billion in Q4 (January-March) of FY25.
About
- The CAB surplus is higher than expected is underscored by the fact that India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) had estimated it at around 7billion (0.7 per cent of GDP) in the reporting quarter.
The Current Account Balance
- The Current Account Balance is a key component of a country’s Balance of Payments (BoP) and reflects its transactions with the rest of the world in goods, services, income, and transfers.
- The Current Account comprises trade in goods, trade in services, primary income (investment income), and secondary income (transfers and remittances).
- A surplus in the current account occurs when inflows exceed outflows.
- Significance of CAB Surplus:
- Indicates Strong External Position.
- Strengthens Foreign Exchange Reserves.
- Improves Investor Confidence.
Source: TH
AlphaGenome
Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology
Context
- Google DeepMind has released a new tool called AlphaGenome.
About
- This is a new AI model that is specifically tuned to accurately predict how individual mutations in human DNA affect their functions.
- It can analyze extremely long DNA sequences (up to 1 million base pairs) and predict how genetic variants affect gene regulation.
- It is capable of analyzing both common and rare genetic variants, across diverse cell types and biological processes, using a single unified model.
- It is trained using large public genomic datasets.
- Availability: Currently available via Application Programming Interface (API) for non-commercial, research-focused use.
- Not approved for clinical diagnosis yet.
Significance
- Marks a major step in AI-powered genomic research.
- Enhances understanding of non-coding DNA, often overlooked but critical to genetic diseases, including cancers.
- Reflects the growing role of AI in biosciences and precision health.
Source: IT
Tec-Verse 2025
Syllabus: GS 3/Science and Technology
In News
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the Tec-Verse 2025.
Tec-Verse 2025
- It is the inaugural technology showcase event organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to support the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
- It brings together MeitY’s premier R&D institutions—Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), SAMEER, and C-MET—to exhibit indigenous innovations addressing real-world societal challenges.
- It marks a shift towards a product-driven economy and will be held annually to promote research, development, and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.
Source: PIB
IBAT Alliance
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- IBAT Alliance doubled its investment in biodiversity data from 2023 to 2024.
About IBAT (Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool) Alliance
- Founded in 2008 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.
- It is a collaboration of four major global conservation organisations like BirdLife International, Conservation International, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) & UNEP-WCMC (United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre).
- Its mission is to provide data, tools, and guidance that help organizations act on biodiversity-related risks and opportunities.
- IBAT data help monitor progress towards international biodiversity goals, including those outlined in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (adopted in Dec 2022)
- Headquarter: The UK
Source: DTE
Green Data Centre
Syllabus: GS3/Sustainable Development
Context
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Union Minister for Science & Technology, laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Green Data Centre in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad.
About
- A Green Data Centre is a facility designed to house computer systems and associated components (like storage and networking) while minimizing environmental impact through energy efficiency, sustainable practices, and the use of renewable resources.
- It is set up through a collaboration between Central Electronics Limited (CEL) (a PSU under the Ministry of Science & Technology) and ESDS.
- Purpose: Strengthen India’s digital self-reliance and infrastructure.
- Sustainability Features: Energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources.
- Smart cooling systems, reflective roofing, rainwater harvesting.
- Designed to minimize environmental impact and support 200 high-density racks per floor.
- Tier III/TIA/Uptime-compliant for high availability and disaster resilience.
- The Green Data Centre is expected to attract startups, enterprises, and government agencies, while generating skilled jobs and fostering local innovation.
Central Electronics Limited (CEL)
- Established in 1974 to commercialize indigenous technologies.
- Developed India’s first solar cell in 1977, and India’s first solar panel in 1978 and installed India’s first solar power plant in 1992.
- Awarded Mini Ratna status recently.
Source: IE
Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog)
Syllabus: GS3/Species
Context
- The Dhole, or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), once thought locally extinct, was recently seen in Assam’s Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL), according to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- The last confirmed sighting of dholes in northeast India was reported from Nagaland in 2011.
About the Dhole
- Social Behaviour: Highly social; typically form packs of up to 30 but may hunt alone or in pairs depending on prey availability.
- Lifespan: 10–13 years in the wild; up to 16 years in captivity.
- Threats: Major threats include habitat loss, prey depletion, persecution, disease, and competition with other predators — causing population fragmentation.
- Distribution: Now restricted to parts of Central and Eastern Asia, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
- Conservation Status: It is included in CITES – Appendix II
- Dholes are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Source: TH
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