{"id":75922,"date":"2026-06-05T18:36:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=75922"},"modified":"2026-06-05T18:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:22:12","slug":"news-in-short-05-06-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-06-2026\/news-in-short-05-06-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 05-06-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Geography<\/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>India and Zimbabwe agreed to enhance bilateral defence ties by expanding existing cooperation.<\/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>Zimbabwe is a landlocked country<\/strong> situated in south-central Africa between the <strong>Limpopo<\/strong> and <strong>Zambezi<\/strong> rivers, covering an area of over 390,000 sq km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is bounded by <strong>Zambia<\/strong> to the north and northwest, <strong>South Africa<\/strong> to the south, <strong>Mozambique<\/strong> to the east and northeast, and <strong>Botswana<\/strong> to the southwest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zimbabwe lies entirely north of the <strong>Tropic of Capricorn<\/strong> and forms part of the southern African plateau.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Victoria Falls, located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the world&#8217;s largest sheet of falling water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6bc81\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31-1024x576.png\" alt=\"zimbabwe\" class=\"has-transparency wp-image-75923\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6bc81; width:411px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-31.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/india-and-zimbabwe-agree-to-enhance-bilateral-defence-ties-by-expanding-existing-cooperation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: 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 Government of India has announced the winners of the <strong>National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A total of <strong>17 initiatives <\/strong>were selected across seven award categories, comprising <strong>10 Gold Awards, 6 Silver Awards, and 1 Jury Award.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The awards are <strong>presented annually<\/strong> to promote excellence in e-governance and digital public service delivery.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They recognize innovative use of technology to improve governance, transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is instituted by the <strong>Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The awards cover initiatives<\/strong> implemented by Ministries, Departments, States, UTs, Districts, Urban Local Bodies, and Gram Panchayats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Major Award-Winning Initiatives (Gold and Silver Awardees)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Agri Stack:<\/strong> Developed by the<strong> Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Creates a digital ecosystem for farmers through unique farmer identities and land-linked databases.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It facilitates targeted delivery of subsidies, crop insurance, credit, advisories, and government schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>e-Jagriti: <\/strong>It is a digital platform for filing and tracking consumer complaints, and developed by the <strong>Ministry of Consumer Affairs.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mahakumbh 2025 Digital Governance Model:<\/strong> Implemented by the <strong>Prayagraj Mela Authority.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It demonstrated large-scale use of technology in managing one of the world&#8217;s largest religious gatherings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blood Bag Traceability and Citizen Interaction Portal: <\/strong>It is developed by Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and enables end-to-end tracking of blood units from donation to transfusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI-enabled Clinical Decision Support system in eSanjeevani telemedicine service: <\/strong>It is developed by the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Jury Award<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project: <\/strong>Real-Time Precise Positioning Services through CORS Network.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It provides highly accurate geospatial positioning services using a network of <strong>Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2268817&amp;reg=48&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India- Nepal Border Disputes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/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>Nepal Prime Minister has said that Nepal too has encroached upon some Indian territories, in what is considered to be the<strong> first such public statement by a Nepali head of government.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India- Nepal Border Disputes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Nepal share a border of about 1,751 km, but disputes persist in certain sectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kalapani\u2013Lipulekh\u2013Limpiyadhura Dispute: <\/strong>Nepal has asserted its claim based on the <strong>Sugauli Treaty of 1816<\/strong>, signed between the <strong>East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under the Treaty, the <strong>Kali River was marked as Nepal\u2019s western boundary<\/strong> with India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nepal claims the river originates at<strong> Limpiyadhura, which would place the Lipulekh and Kalapani regions within its territory<\/strong>. Conversely, India maintains that the river begins at a lower point near Kalapani, keeping the <strong>Lipulekh Pass<\/strong>, a strategic tri-junction between India, Nepal, and China, within its state of Uttarakhand.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Kali River has changed direction over the years,<\/strong> causing confusion in defining the border.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d8cbc3\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d8cbc3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"451\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-32.png\" alt=\"india- nepal border disputes\" class=\"has-transparency wp-image-75927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-32.png 451w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-32-300x251.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Susta Border dispute: <\/strong>Susta is a disputed territory between Nepal and India. It is administered by India as part of West Champaran district of Bihar.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nepal claims the area a part of West Nawalparasi District under Susta rural municipality, alleging that over 14,860 hectares of Nepali land in Susta has been encroached upon by India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Causes of Border Disputes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Different interpretations of the Treaty of Sugauli (1816).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shifting river courses, especially in the Terai region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incomplete boundary demarcation in a few segments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strategic significance of Himalayan passes such as Lipulekh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Existing Mechanisms for Resolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Joint Technical Level Boundary Committee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joint Boundary Working Group (BWG).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regular diplomatic dialogues through the India\u2013Nepal Joint Commission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/nepal-pm-says-nepal-has-also-encroached-upon-indian-territory-sparks-uproar-in-parliament\/article71044625.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>PAC Flags Gaps in PMKVY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament recently raised serious concerns about the implementation of the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)<\/strong> as the scheme appears to have been training people for industries that aren\u2019t necessarily hiring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was launched in <strong>2015 under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PMKVY was conceived as a national mission to equip India\u2019s large and young workforce with industry-aligned skills.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The scheme operates through the<strong> National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) <\/strong>and aims to bridge the gap between what Indian youth are capable of and what the job market actually demands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Public Accounts Committee (PAC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is the oldest parliamentary committee in India, <strong>established in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The committee is reconstituted annually. The Chairperson of the PAC is appointed by the <strong>Speaker of the Lok Sabha from among its members<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since 1967-68, by convention, the <strong>Chairperson is usually chosen from the Opposition party.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The PAC examines government revenue and expenditure to ensure that public funds are utilized efficiently, economically &amp; for the purpose approved by Parliament<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It scrutinizes the <strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports on government expenditure.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensures that funds sanctioned by Parliament are spent in accordance with legislative approval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The committee consists of 22 members 15 members from Lok Sabha 8 &amp; 7 members from Rajya Sabha.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2013Venezuela Ties Gain Strategic Momentum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ IR<\/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>Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, visited India and held talks with PM Modi.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Outcomes of the Visit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Towards a Long-Term Energy Partnership:<\/strong> Both sides discussed moving from spot purchases to <strong>long-term crude oil supply contracts.<\/strong> India and Venezuela explored cooperation across the entire energy value chain, including:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Upstream activities<\/strong> such as oil exploration and production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Downstream activities<\/strong> such as refining and petrochemicals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cooperation in Critical Minerals:<\/strong> Discussions covered critical minerals, gold, and diamond mining.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cooperation in Other Sectors: <\/strong>Agriculture and farm mechanization, Animal husbandry, Transportation and logistics, Automotive manufacturing, Science and technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Venezuela for India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Energy Security:<\/strong> Venezuela possesses the world&#8217;s largest proven crude oil reserves.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is the world&#8217;s <strong>third-largest consumer of crude oil <\/strong>and imports more than 85% of its oil requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian refineries are well-equipped to<strong> process Venezuela&#8217;s heavy crude oil.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stronger ties can deepen India&#8217;s engagement with the Latin American region and reduce overdependence on traditional energy suppliers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Securing Critical Minerals for Future Industries: <\/strong>Venezuela possesses significant reserves of critical minerals, including <strong>rare earth elements, nickel,<\/strong> and other strategic resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India&#8217;s Latin America Outreach:<\/strong> Venezuela serves as an important gateway for expanding India&#8217;s economic and diplomatic engagement in Latin America.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>About Venezuela<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location: <\/strong>Venezuela is located on the <strong>northern coast of South America.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It is bordered by<\/strong> <strong>Colombia<\/strong> to the west, <strong>Brazil <\/strong>to the south, <strong>Guyana<\/strong> to the east, and the <strong>Caribbean Sea<\/strong> lies to the north.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Capital: <\/strong>Caracas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Physiographic Regions:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Northwestern Venezuela is traversed by the northeastern extension of the <strong>Andes.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Lake Maracaibo Basin<\/strong> is a major geological and geographical region in northwestern Venezuela.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Llanos<\/strong> the vast, tropical savanna plains occupying over <strong>250,000 square <\/strong>kilometers of central Venezuela.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/venezuela-india-in-talks-for-long-term-energy-pacts-10724637\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme, 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: 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 Department of Higher Education has invited applications for the <strong>Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026.\u00a0<\/strong><\/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>It is a flagship national initiative by the <strong>Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aim: <\/strong>To bring Indian-origin researchers working abroad to leading Indian institutions for high-impact research in priority sectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong> initiative is structured around three pillars<\/strong>: Lead Institutions, Host Institutions and PMRC Fellows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Applicants can apply under the following categories:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Young Research Fellows (YRF):<\/strong> Less than five years of post-PhD experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Senior Fellows (SF): <\/strong>Five years to less than 10 years of post-PhD experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Research Chairs (RC):<\/strong> Ten years or more of post-PhD experience with proven research leadership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>An Empowered Committee<\/strong> chaired by the <strong>Principal Scientific Advisor<\/strong> to the Government of India will <strong>oversee the selection of participating institutions and fellows.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eligible applicants include<\/strong> Indian nationals working abroad, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and Persons of Indian Origin with significant achievements in research, innovation and technology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eligible host institutions include<\/strong> government higher educational institutions ranked among the top 100 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Overall or Engineering categories, or among the top 50 in the NIRF Research category.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National laboratories and research institutions<\/strong> under agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PMRC Fellows will receive<\/strong> fellowship and research grant support, access to laboratories and research infrastructure, and opportunities to work with leading government institutions in the country.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/department-of-higher-education-invites-applications-for-pm-research-chair-scheme-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Neelkanth Mishra Appointed as World Bank Executive Director<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/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 <strong>Appointments Committee of the Cabinet<\/strong> has approved the appointment of Neelkanth Mishra as<strong> Executive Director, World Bank Headquarters,<\/strong> Washington, DC, for a tenure of three years.\u00a0<\/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>He will represent a <strong>South Asian constituency <\/strong>comprising<strong> India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka at the World Bank\u2019s board.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He succeeds Parameswaran Iyer, who has held the position since February 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Executive Director is part of the <strong>World Bank\u2019s board,<\/strong> which oversees policies, lending decisions and development priorities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>World Bank<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was founded in <strong>1944.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The World Bank is like a <strong>cooperative,<\/strong> made up of 189 member countries.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It provides <strong>financial and technical assistance to developing countries<\/strong> to reduce poverty and promote economic development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a <strong>Board of Governors, <\/strong>who are the ultimate policymakers at the World Bank.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Generally, the governors are member countries&#8217; ministers of finance or ministers of development.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Main Institutions of the World Bank Group:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development): <\/strong>It lends to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IDA (International Development Association): <\/strong>It provides low-interest loans and grants to the poorest countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IFC (International Finance Corporation):<\/strong> It supports private-sector development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency): <\/strong>It encourages foreign investment by providing guarantees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes):<\/strong> It resolves investment disputes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/acc-clears-neelkanth-mishras-appointment-as-executive-director-world-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Biomimicry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biomimicry is shifting business innovation from mere replication to nature-inspired breakthroughs, offering sustainable frameworks across industries.<\/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>Biomimicry involves learning from and <strong>replicating nature\u2019s billions of years of evolutionary ingenuity to design sustainable, efficient human solutions<\/strong>. Rather than exploiting nature, it positions nature as mentor and model.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its <strong>applications are transformative like <\/strong>Japan\u2019s Shinkansen bullet train, redesigned after the kingfisher\u2019s streamlined beak, eliminating disruptive tunnel pressure waves while enhancing speed and energy efficiency.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As India advances its green transition, integrating biomimicry into manufacturing, urban design, and agriculture can drive innovation that is inherently circular, resource-efficient, and ecologically harmonious.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: ET<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2013UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ S&amp;T<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The India\u2013UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) has been formally launched.\u00a0<\/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>It was announced during the 2025 Prime Ministers&#8217; bilateral summit and finalized via a March 2026 Research Collaboration Agreement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The GSCO is a tripartite joint initiative spearheaded by TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Exploration &amp; Mining Foundation at IIT-ISM Dhanbad), the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, and the University of Cambridge.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The GSCO aims to mitigate supply risks through market intelligence, supporting both strategic decision-making and the goals of the <strong>National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Background &amp; Launch: <\/strong>The NCMM was approved by the Union Cabinet of India in January 2025, with a total outlay of approximately \u20b916,300 crore over a period of 7 years (up to 2030\u201331).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is anchored under the Ministry of Mines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives<\/strong>: Ensure a reliable and sustainable domestic supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements (REEs), titanium, and others.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce India&#8217;s import dependence for minerals vital to the energy transition (EVs, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries) and defence\/electronics sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: TH<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India and Zimbabwe agreed to enhance bilateral defence ties by expanding existing cooperation. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Zimbabwe is a landlocked country situated in south-central Africa between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers, covering an area of over 390,000 sq km. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It is bounded by Zambia to the north and northwest, South Africa to the south, Mozambique to the east and northeast, and Botswana to the southwest. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/05-06-2026\/news-in-short-05-06-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75922","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=75922"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75931,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75922\/revisions\/75931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}