{"id":57121,"date":"2025-10-17T21:19:38","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=57121"},"modified":"2025-10-24T14:54:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T09:24:16","slug":"news-in-short-17-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-10-2025\/news-in-short-17-october-2025","title":{"rendered":"News in Short \u2013 17 October, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Motion 042<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS3\/Environment&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has adopted Motion 042.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Motion 042<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was passed at the <strong>IUCN World Conservation Congress<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It calls for a global phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, a halt to new extraction projects, and a just transition for affected workers and communities.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is backed by civil society, Indigenous groups, and organisations like WWF and BirdLife International.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It urges the exploration of international mechanisms such as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Relevance\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IUCN became the first multilateral body to explicitly recognise fossil fuel production as a threat to nature.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u00a0 signals a unified call ahead of COP30 to integrate climate and biodiversity goals by confronting fossil fuels as a root cause of environmental degradation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indigenous leaders and environmentalists hailed the move as long-overdue recognition of their realities, positioning the IUCN\u2019s stance as a turning point for global conservation and climate justice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/iucn-names-fossil-fuels-as-threat-to-nature-backs-call-for-global-phase-out-treaty#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DTE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:GS3\/Economy&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Government has introduced new flexibility under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme to promote efficient water use and boost farmer income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is\u00a0 a <strong>centrally sponsored <\/strong>initiative launched in<strong> 2015\u201316,<\/strong> aims to enhance farm-level water use efficiency through micro-irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0Initially part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), it has been implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) since 2022\u201323.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Importance\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A 2020 NITI Aayog evaluation affirmed Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme\u2019s role in boosting productivity, employment, and farmer incomes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u00a0Latest Guidelines\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The new flexibility will empower States and Union Territories to take up micro-level water storage and conservation projects as part of Other Interventions (OI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>States and UTs can now plan micro-level water management activities-such as digging construction and water harvesting systems-based on local needs.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These systems are developed for individual farmers as well as community use, ensuring sustainable water availability for micro-irrigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/pdmc-scheme-boosts-water-efficiency-farmer-income-goals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Air<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India Elected Co-Chair of UN-GGIM Asia-Pacific Committee<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>India has been elected as Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for a three-year term till 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u00a0United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a representative body of the National Geospatial Information Authorities of 56 countries and economies in Asia and the Pacific region.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was established in 1995 and rebranded in 2012.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is one of the five regional committees of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Objectives\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u00a0 aims to promote the use of geospatial information for identifying problems and finding solutions, so that the economic, social and environmental benefits of geospatial information will be maximized in Asia and the Pacific region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/india-elected-co-chair-of-un-ggim-asia-pacific-committee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Air<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Cape Verde<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus:GS1\/Places&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cape Verde made history by becoming the second-smallest country (after Iceland in 2018) to qualify for the FIFA World Cup&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In contrast, India suffered a humiliating loss to world-ranked 158th Singapore in Goa, failing to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cabo Verde\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is an island nation located about 620 km off the west coast of Africa, named after the nearby Cape Verde in Senegal.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has a service-driven economy focused on trade, transport, tourism, and remittances, transitioning toward a market economy since the mid-1990s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Culturally, it blends Portuguese and African influences, evident in its arts and music. Mindelo, on S\u00e3o Vicente, hosts the largest port with a historic deepwater harbor.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :<a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sports\/football-cape-verde-fifa-world-cup-india-position-asia-cup-10310255\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS<\/strong><strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, interacted with interns of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) at Hampi, Karnataka.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Scheme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Launched by the <strong>Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)<\/strong>, PMIS is part of the Prime Minister\u2019s package of five schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for Indian youth over a <strong>5-year<\/strong> period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Targets youth aged <strong>21\u201324 years<\/strong> who are currently not enrolled in any full-time academic program or employment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The internship will have a duration of <strong>12 months<\/strong> and plans to provide opportunities to <strong>one crore youth<\/strong> in the top 500 companies across India over the next five years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Financial assistance: Rs. 5,000\/month (Rs. 4,500 by the government + Rs. 500 by company via CSR). Additionally, a one-time grant of Rs. 6,000 for incidentals will be disbursed by MCA to each intern, upon joining the place of internship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insurance coverage:<\/strong> Every intern is covered under <strong>Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)<\/strong> and <strong>Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2179817\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PIB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Private Sector Hospitals Dominance in Ayushman Bharat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health, GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Annual Report of the National Health Authority (NHA) has highlighted that under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) a majority of beneficiaries are utilising private-sector hospitals for treatment, leading to higher overall costs under the scheme.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Findings of the NHA Report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Treatment Utilisation: <\/strong>Since its launch, over 9 crore treatments worth \u20b91.29 lakh crore have been availed under Ayushman Bharat.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Although only <strong>45% <\/strong>of empanelled hospitals are private, <strong>52%<\/strong> of all hospitalisations and <strong>66%<\/strong> of the total treatment cost occurred in private-sector hospitals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commonly Sought Treatments:<\/strong> The most frequently availed treatment was haemodialysis (14% of total treatments), followed by fever (4%), gastroenteritis (3%), and animal bites (3%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The portability feature <\/strong>of the scheme allows beneficiaries to seek treatment anywhere in India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chandigarh (19%), Uttar Pradesh (13%), and Gujarat (11%)<\/strong> were top destinations for patients seeking care outside their home state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conversely, <strong>Uttar Pradesh (24%), Madhya Pradesh (17%), and Bihar (16%) <\/strong>were top contributors to outbound patient flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Ayushman Bharat Scheme<\/strong><br>&#8211; It was launched in<strong> 2018<\/strong>, by the Government of India with the aim of achieving universal health coverage.<br>&#8211; It adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which are -Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)<br><strong>Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>AB PM-JAY<\/strong> is the largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world which provides health cover of <strong>Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year <\/strong>for <strong>secondary <\/strong>and <strong>tertiary care<\/strong> hospitalization.<br>&#8211; <strong>Coverage:<\/strong> It covers up to <strong>3 days<\/strong> of pre-hospitalization and <strong>15 days<\/strong> of post &#8211; hospitalization expenses such as <strong>diagnostics and medicines.<\/strong><br>1. The beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India to avail cashless treatment.<br>2. There is <strong>no restriction<\/strong> on the <strong>family size, age or gender.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Eligibility:\u00a0 <\/strong>The inclusion of households is based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas, respectively.\u00a0<br>1. This number also includes families that were covered in the <strong>Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)<\/strong> but were not present in the<strong> SECC 2011<\/strong> database.<br>&#8211; <strong>Funding: <\/strong>The funding for the scheme is shared by the Centre and the state in a <strong>60:40 ratio.<\/strong><br>1. However, for North-Eastern states, Himalayan states (such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), and Union Territories, the<strong> ratio is 90:10.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/ayushman-bharat-private-sector-hospitals-higher-cost-report-10311119\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>The Impact of Dopamine Overload in the Digital Age<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Modern lifestyles, driven by technology and constant instant gratification, have led to a collective &#8220;dopamine overdose&#8221; that is fundamentally rewiring our brains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dopamine and the Brain\u2019s Reward Circuit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dopamine is a <strong>neurotransmitter<\/strong> responsible for feelings of <strong>pleasure, motivation, and reward.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It operates primarily through the <strong>mesolimbic pathway,<\/strong> linking the <strong>ventral tegmental area (VTA)<\/strong> and the <strong>nucleus accumbens<\/strong>, both crucial in reinforcing behaviours that bring satisfaction or success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When we achieve a goal, receive praise, or enjoy a meal, dopamine is released, motivating us to repeat that action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact on Young Minds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Algorithms used by social media and other digital platforms are designed to maximize engagement by operating on an intermittent reward schedule, similar to a slot machine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact: <\/strong>Dopamine overload leads to <strong>fatigue, demotivation, and loss of focus.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The brain, overstimulated by quick dopamine hits, begins to find ordinary tasks unrewarding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over time, this contributes to <strong>anxiety, sleep disorders, poor self-esteem, and even clinical depression.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modern lifestyles, characterised by <strong>multitasking, constant scrolling, and digital comparison,<\/strong> amplify this mental exhaustion, affecting productivity and creativity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital Detox and Mindful Usage: <\/strong>Scheduled tech breaks, disabling unnecessary notifications, or using grayscale mode can reduce compulsive checking.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cDopamine fasting\u201d \u2014 consciously avoiding overstimulation \u2014 allows the brain to reset its reward baseline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Good sleep and balanced diets<\/strong> help regulate neurotransmitter activity and enhance cognitive performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/the-dopamine-overdose-how-modern-lifestyles-are-rewiring-our-brains\/article70138414.ece#:~:text=Contemporary%20life%2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>The PUNCH Space Mission<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The PUNCH Space Mission<\/strong>, launched by the <strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) <\/strong>has observed the solar winds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>PUNCH Mission<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PUNCH stands for <strong>Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aim:<\/strong> To study the Sun\u2019s corona (outer atmosphere) and the solar wind as a unified system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Features:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PUNCH consists of four small satellites in low Earth orbit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will make 3D global observations of the inner heliosphere to understand how the Sun&#8217;s corona becomes the solar wind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The satellites will map the transition zone where the Sun&#8217;s corona turns into solar wind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Achievement:<\/strong> The mission is \u201cmaking the invisible visible\u201d by imaging the solar wind, which is normally hard to detect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scientific Significance:<\/strong> Understanding and forecasting space weather is critical because solar events like solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can affect Earth and other parts of the solar system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Solar Wind and the Corona<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The corona is the Sun\u2019s outermost atmosphere, extremely hot and tenuous.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solar wind is a continuous flow of charged particles released from the corona, spreading throughout the solar system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both the corona and solar wind influence space weather, which can impact satellites, communication systems, power grids, and astronauts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/152361\/OPS\/GEIF0KH46.1+GM8F1PV8F.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Google unveiled a family of artificial intelligence tools that <strong>proposed a drug combination for detecting cancer<\/strong> that human experts did not know about, which seemed effective in laboratory conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AI Model and Purpose: <\/strong>Google unveiled Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale), a 27-billion-parameter foundation model designed to understand the language of individual cells.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>C2S-Scale generated a novel hypothesis on cancer cell behavior, validated experimentally in living cells.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Task:<\/strong> The problem that researchers set out to solve was <strong>how to detect an emerging tumour when the immune system itself was unaware of it.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A strategy was to force such nascent tumours to display immune-triggering signals through a process called antigen presentation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scientific Significance: <\/strong>It is a rare example of AI actively contributing to scientific discovery rather than just analyzing data.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Could lead to new pathways for developing cancer therapies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It requires<strong> pre-clinical and clinical testing before confirming its therapeutic potential.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/152361\/OPS\/GEIF0KH49.1+G0MF1PUOE.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Su-57 fighter jets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Indian Air Force (IAF) is now considering a proposal from Russia to procure the<strong> Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets<\/strong>, which may also involve manufacturing them locally in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Su-57:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Developed by Russia\u2019s <strong>Sukhoi Company<\/strong>, the Su-57, also called Felon, is a <strong>twin-engine, single-seat, fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Role:<\/strong> Air superiority and strike missions; capable of engaging both <strong>aerial and ground targets<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>First flight:<\/strong> 2010.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Top speed:<\/strong> Mach 2 (~2,136 km\/h).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Combat range:<\/strong> ~1,900 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maximum takeoff weight:<\/strong> ~35 metric tons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stealth &amp; survivability:<\/strong> Low radar cross-section, reduced infrared and electro-optical signatures; designed for covert operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do you know?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Among friendly countries, only the <strong>US and Russia<\/strong> currently operate <strong>fifth-generation fighter aircraft<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>US F-35<\/strong>, though more advanced and stealthy, is <strong>not offered under the Make in India route<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Su-57<\/strong> is significantly cheaper, with an estimated unit cost of <strong>$35\u201340 million<\/strong>, less than half the price of an F-35.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/152361\/OPS\/GEIF0KH44.1+G2VF1PPSF.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In News<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has adopted Motion 042.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Motion 042<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It was passed at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It calls for a global phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, a halt to new extraction projects, and a just transition for affected workers and communities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It is backed by civil society, Indigenous groups, and organisations like WWF and BirdLife International.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It urges the exploration of international mechanisms such as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-10-2025\/news-in-short-17-october-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":57177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/upsc-news-in-short-17-october-2025.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57121"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57132,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57121\/revisions\/57132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}