Seven Summits
Syllabus: GS1/Places in News
Context
- Hyderabad teenager Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti has become the youngest Indian and the second youngest person in the world to complete the legendary 7 Summits challenge.
About
- The Seven Summits are defined as the highest peaks on each of the seven continents; it ranks among the most prestigious in global mountaineering.
- The seven mountain peaks are Mt. Everest (Asia), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt. Elbrus (Europe), Mt. Aconcagua (South America), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), Mt.Vinson (Antarctica) and Mt. Denali (North America).
- Some people define ‘continent’ differently leading to an alternate ‘seventh summit’ i.e. Australia: Mount Kosciuszko or Australasia: Carstensz Pyramid.
- Mount Everest in Asia is the tallest of the seven, while Mount Kosciuszko in Australia is the shortest.
- The Descending order of Summits: Mount Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, Vinson Massif, Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Kosciuszko.
| Do you know? – Jordan Romero, an American mountaineer, became the youngest person in the world to complete the Seven Summits upon climbing Vinson Massif in December 2011, at the age of 15 years, 5 months, and 12 days. He broke the previous record held by George Atkinson. – The first person to complete the Seven Summits was Richard Bass, an American businessman and mountaineer, in 1985. |
Source: TH
Know Your DIGIPIN and ‘Know Your PIN Code’ Web Portals
Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, launched two transformative digital platforms: ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’.
About
- These platforms were launched in alignment with the National Geospatial Policy 2022, which envisions the development of an advanced geospatial infrastructure to support digital governance and public service delivery.
- The DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number): It is an open-source, interoperable, geo-coded, grid-based digital address system developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and NRSC, ISRO.
- It offers Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) — an array of services associated with address data management to support secure and efficient interactions between users, government entities, and private sector organisations.
- The ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ portal enables users to: Retrieve their DIGIPIN based on precise geolocation.
- Input latitude and longitude coordinates to fetch corresponding DIGIPINs and vice versa.
- This initiative simplifies location mapping, enhances logistics and emergency response, and ensures last-mile delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas.
- It is now available to all Ministries, State Governments, institutions for integration into their workflows, and users for their own use.
Source: PIB
Measles Vaccine Prevented ‘9 Crore Deaths’ Worldwide
Syllabus: GS2/ Health
Context
- Measles has seen a dramatic decline in global mortality rates due to the development and scale-up of effective vaccination programs.
- Since the introduction of the measles vaccine an estimated 9 crore (90 million) deaths have been prevented worldwide
Measles
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects mostly children.
- Transmission: It is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.
- Symptoms usually appear 10–12 days after infection, including high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.
- Complications: Pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and death, especially in children with poor nutrition or immune deficiency.
- Prevention: Community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.
- John Enders developed the first effective measles vaccine in 1963, from the ‘Edmonston-B’ strain.
Source: TH
Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
- The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Interest Subvention (IS) component under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for the financial year 2025-26.
About
- MISS is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at an affordable interest rate through Kisan Credit card (KCC).
- Under the Scheme:
- Farmers received short-term loans of up to Rs.3 lakh through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) at a subsidized interest rate of 7%, with 1.5% interest subvention provided to eligible lending institutions.
- Additionally, farmers repaying loans promptly are eligible for an incentive of up to 3% as Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) effectively reducing their interest rate on KCC loans to 4%.
- For loans taken exclusively for animal husbandry or fisheries, the interest benefit is applicable up to Rs.2 lakh.
Key highlights of Agriculture Credit
- Institutional credit disbursement through KCC increased from Rs.4.26 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs. 10.05 lakh crore by December 2024.
- Overall agricultural credit flow also rose from Rs.7.3 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs.25.49 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
- Digital reforms such as the launch of the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) in August 2023 have enhanced transparency and efficiency in claim processing.
Source: PIB
Cabinet Approves Hike in MSP for Kharif Crops
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
The government has increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
- The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for nigerseed (Rs.820 per quintal) followed by Ragi (Rs.596 per quintal), Cotton (Rs.589 per quintal) and Sesamum (Rs.579 per quintal).
Minimum Support Prices (MSP)
- It is the minimum rate at which farmers sell their crops to the government.
- This price prevents farmers from market fluctuation and offers stability and income security.
- The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), established in 1965, recommends MSPs after considering multiple factors.
- The final decision on MSP is made by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
- Factors: CACP considers the cost of production, demand-supply dynamics, domestic and global prices, inter-crop price parity, and the broader economic impact. MSPs ensure at least a 50% profit margin over production costs.
- These costs include all paid expenses such as labor, land rent, seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, machinery use, fuel, interest on capital, and the value of family labor.
Source :TH
Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
Syllabus :GS3/Economy
In News
- India’s industrial production growth dropped to an eight-month low of 2.7% in April, mainly due to a decline in mining output, a high base effect, and slower electricity production.
About Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
- The Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) has been compiling the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) since 1950.
- The IIP measures industrial output using Laspeyre’s formula, primarily based on physical production data, though some items like machinery are reported in value terms and adjusted using the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
- The scope of the IIP as recommended by the United Nations Statistical Office (UNSO) includes mining, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas and water supply.
- But due to constraints of data availability, the IIP compiled in India has excluded construction, gas and water supply sectors.
- The Eight Core Industries—Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity—collectively account for 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Source :TH
Electric Hansa (E-Hansa)
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
- India has initiated the process to develop Electric Hansa (E-Hansa), a next-generation two-seater electric trainer aircraft.
About
- The Electric Hansa (E-HANSA) trainer is an aircraft developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).
- The E-HANSA is part of the larger HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft program, which is designed to be a cost-effective and indigenous option for pilot training in India.
- India’s E-Hansa aircraft will also mark a key step toward India’s green aviation goals and use of green or clean energy fuel in running aircrafts.
- It is expected to cost significantly less than imported alternatives.
Source: PIB
Dholes
Syllabus :GS3/Species
In News
- Visakhapatnam’s Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is celebrating World Dhole Day.
Dholes
- They are also known as the Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus).
- They are a canid native to southeast Asia.
- They typically live 10-13 years in the wild, but can live up to 16 years in captivity.
- Distribution: Their global population is estimated to be between 949 and 2,215 adults, mainly located in India and Thailand.
- Factors Contributing to Decline : Habitat loss, declining prey, persecution, disease, and competition with other species have fragmented dhole populations.
- Conservation Status: It is included in CITES – Appendix II
- Dholes are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Source :TH