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6 topicsDefense & Security: 1Economy: 2Editorial: 1Mapping: 1Science & Technology: 1
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Economy

1.Ladakh Apricot Cultivation and Exports (Horticulture Crop)

News on Air

What & Where

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca): temperate Rosaceae tree yielding yellow-orange drupes with single kernel.

Indian belt: Ladakh (premium), Himachal, J-&-K, Uttarakhand; thrives dry-temperate & mid-hill zones.

New milestone: Fresh Kargil apricots exported to Saudi Arabia under ODOP during India’s 79th I-Day in Riyadh.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Economic Angle

  • Income boost; apricot contributes ~50 % horticulture earnings in several Ladakh villages.
  • Value-addition via drying, kernel oil, sweets widens rural non-farm employment.

Trade & Schemes

  • ODOP flagship promotes district-specific produce; Kargil apricot showcased for Gulf market entry.
  • Gulf demand offers reduced freight time versus Europe, improving fruit shelf life viability.

Agronomic Traits

  • Cold-arid adaptability; fruit matures July-August avoiding monsoon damage.
  • Minimal water need; suitable for Ladakh’s meltwater-based irrigation.

Nutritional Profile

  • Beta-carotene abundance supports vision health; iron-rich dried slices combat anaemia in high-altitude diets.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Botanical familyRosaceae
Common Indian namesKhubani (cultivated), Zardalu (wild)
Lifespan of treesUp to ~100 years
Pollination typeMostly self-pollinated white flowers
Key nutrientsVitamin A, natural sugars, iron, antioxidants
Notable traitHigh drought resistance
Primary Ladakh statusImportant cash crop & ODOP item
Major processed formDried apricots for export
First fresh export destination 2025*Saudi Arabia
Occasion leveraged79th Independence Day celebration, Riyadh
Economy

2.India Credit Rating Upgrade (Credit Rating)

IT

What & Where

S&P Global Ratings: US-based agency issuing credit-risk opinions on governments, corporates, infrastructure.

India’s sovereign long-term rating raised to investment-grade BBB after an 18-year gap.

Agency headquarters: New York City, influencing global capital flows into India.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Agency Profile

  • Established credit assessor; issues public and private ratings across sovereigns, corporates, infrastructure.
  • Enhances transparency and investor confidence by publishing analytical credit reports.

Upgrade Metrics

  • Long-term sovereign rating lifted one notch to BBB, remaining within investment-grade band.
  • Short-term sovereign paper now A-2, signalling stronger near-term repayment capacity.
  • Transfer & convertibility assessment upgraded to A-, easing cross-border payment perception.

Economic Impact

  • Upgrade likely attracts greater foreign portfolio inflows into Indian debt markets.
  • Improved rating can trim sovereign and corporate borrowing spreads.
  • Strengthens India’s comparative standing among emerging-market peers.

Upgrade Rationale

  • Robust GDP growth momentum exceeding many peers.
  • Ongoing fiscal consolidation with better-quality public expenditure.
  • Stable monetary policy anchoring inflation expectations.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Credit rating agencyS&P Global Ratings
HeadquartersNew York City, USA
Long-term rating changeBBB- → BBB
Short-term rating changeA-3 → A-2
Transfer & convertibilityBBB+ → A-
Years since last S&P upgrade18 (since Jan 2007)
Key criteria citedGDP growth; fiscal consolidation; stable monetary policy
Expected market effectLower borrowing cost; higher FPI inflows

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

GS1, NDA_GAT 2022PYQ 1

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

GS1, NDA_GAT 2025PYQ 2

S1. Liberalisation and globalisation freed India's economy from the low GDP trap that had impeded India's progress

Mapping

3.Kishtwar District Geography (Place in News)

Times of India
Illustration for Kishtwar District Geography (Place in News)

What & Where

Cloudburst: Sudden torrential downpour hit Chosoti village, Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir Himalayas

Kishtwar: Mountainous district HQ ~209 km from Srinagar, nicknamed Land of Saffron, Sapphire & Shrines

Machail Mata Shrine: Goddess Durga temple in Machail, Paddar subdivision, on Chenab tributaries, focus of annual Chhadi Yatra

Quick Facts for MCQs

Disaster Impact

  • Casualties: At least 12 villagers killed, rescue operations ongoing, Machail Mata Yatra suspended
  • Infrastructure: Remote mountainous terrain hampers quick relief and evacuation
  • Seasonality: Cloudburst risk peaks during monsoon over steep Himalayan slopes

Geography & Terrain

  • Topography: Rugged Himalayan region comparable to Himachal and Ladakh with heavy winter snowfall
  • Elevation: Settlements exist up to 9,500 ft enhancing vulnerability to weather extremes
  • Forests: District rich in conifers, adding eco-tourism potential and landslide susceptibility

Religious Tourism

  • Pilgrimage: Chhadi Yatra covers Bhaderwah–Machail route drawing thousands annually
  • Cultural mix: Area inhabited by Hindus, Buddhists, Thakur serpent-worshippers around shrine
  • Economy: Yatra and sapphire–saffron branding drive seasonal local livelihoods

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Main disasterCloudburst in Chosoti, Kishtwar
Reported deathsAt least 12
District locationJammu division, J&K
Distance to Srinagar≈209 km
Distance to Jammu city≈211 km
Highest habitation altitudeUp to 9,500 ft
Adjacent entitiesHimachal Pradesh (SE), Doda district (SW)
District nicknameLand of Saffron, Sapphire & Shrines
First Machail Mata visit1981 by Thakur Kulveer Singh
Annual processionChhadi Yatra, since 1987
Shrine river systemNear tributaries of Chenab
Science & Technology

4.Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Foods (Personalised Nutrition)

PIB
Illustration for Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Foods (Personalised Nutrition)

What & Where

Definition – Bioactive peptides: 2–20-amino-acid fragments released during fermentation of yogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, fermented fish.

Geography – Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology (IASST), Guwahati; focus on India’s genetically diverse population.

Source spectrum – Fermented dairy, cereal-legume batters, soy products, vegetable ferments, fermented marine products.

Quick Facts for MCQs

Health Impact

  • Antihypertensive effect via ACE inhibition; antioxidant action mitigates oxidative stress; antimicrobial activity controls gut pathogens.
  • Cardiac, metabolic and immune parameters demonstrably modulated in preclinical assessments.

Personalised Nutrition

  • Response varies with host genetics, gut microbiota composition and habitual regional diets.
  • Enables precision dietary guidelines for Indian cohorts tackling hypertension, diabetes, low immunity.

Research Tools

  • Genomics, proteomics, metabolomics recommended for peptide identification, bioavailability, target mapping.
  • Population-specific peptide libraries underpin design of next-gen functional foods.

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Optimal length2–20 amino acids
Key bioactivitiesAntimicrobial, antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory
Primary mechanismElectrostatic, hydrogen-bond, hydrophobic interactions with host biomolecules
Health targetsBlood pressure, blood sugar, immunity, inflammation
Influencing genesACE, IL-6 polymorphisms
Core foods citedYogurt, idli, miso, kimchi, natto, fermented fish
Lead institutionIASST, Guwahati
Suggested analyticsOmics-based peptide & host-response profiling
Defense & Security

5.Mission Sudarshan Chakra Defence Shield (National Security)

Hindustan Times
Illustration for Mission Sudarshan Chakra Defence Shield (National Security)

What & Where

Mission Sudarshan Chakra: indigenous, multi-layer shield for India’s strategic, civilian, religious installations against air, land, sea, cyber threats

Announced on 79th Independence Day; nodal Ministry of Defence; nationwide deployment envisioned

Completion roadmap till 2035, covering major cities, defence bases, pilgrimage hubs

Quick Facts for MCQs

Tech & Schemes

  • Multi-layer architecture integrates sensors, shooters, command networks for seamless threat kill-chain
  • AI-enabled tracking enables predictive engagement, trims reaction time
  • Embedded cyber shield secures command networks from hacking and spoofing attacks

Security Dimension

  • Provides strategic deterrence against conventional, hybrid, cyber aggressors on multiple fronts
  • Enables proactive defence for nuclear plants, metros, dams, heritage shrines
  • Import reduction enhances sovereign response and strategic autonomy

Indigenisation Drive

  • Aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat, boosting domestic R&D, MSME and startup participation
  • Guided by Defence Acquisition Procedure for faster prototype-to-production cycle
  • Export potential considered for friendly nations post domestic stabilisation

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Launch occasion79th Independence Day
Nodal ministryMinistry of Defence
Mythological inspirationSudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna
Defence layersSurveillance, interception, counter-attack
Threat domainsAir, land, sea, cyber
Key techRadar, AI tracking, cyber shield, physical security
Coverage scopeStrategic, civilian, religious sites
Completion horizonExpansion & modernisation by 2035
Strategic parallelIsrael’s Iron Dome (concept)
Development model100 % indigenous, research-based

Related UPSC Prelims PYQs

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 1

भारत का ‘मिशन शक्ति’ (DRDO) निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबंधित है?

CAPF_GAI, CDS_GK 2024PYQ 2

"Mission Shakti" (DRDO) is the name given by India to

Editorial

6.Smartphone Overuse and Cognitive Decline (Digital Addiction)

LiveMint

What & Where

Concept: “Algorithms of the Mind” – structured cognitive processes (memory, attention, creativity) analogous to computer algorithms

Nature: Mental algorithms shaped by learning and environment; disrupted by heavy smartphone and generative-AI use

Geography: Issue most acute among Indian youth, backed by 90 % rural adolescent smartphone access

Quick Facts for MCQs

Cognitive Impact

  • Smartphone-presence: McCombs 2017 showed reduced attention, working memory, retention even when device is silent
  • Addiction-grades: Zhang & Zeng 2024 linked compulsive use to lower academic scores and higher anxiety
  • Cognitive-offloading: Reliance on GenAI weakens deep reading and independent problem-solving

Behavioural & Health

  • Reward-loops: App design leverages dopamine circuits, driving impulsiveness and compulsive scrolling
  • Emotional-issues: Overuse tied to low self-esteem, shyness, poor emotion regulation (Wacks & Weinstein 2021)
  • Physical-effects: Sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbance, aggression and lethargy reported by many urban parents

Policy & Governance

  • Policy-gap: India lacks a comprehensive youth digital-well-being framework
  • Mission-proposal: Experts urge National Digital Well-being Mission with age-gated, non-addictive app norms
  • Awareness-drive: School, college and workplace campaigns suggested to detect and curb early addiction

Key Data Points

FeatureData-Point
Rural adolescents (14-16) with smartphone access90 % (ASER 2024)
Rural adolescents able to operate device82 % (ASER 2024)
Average daily phone time5 h (EY 2024)
Share of phone use on entertainment/social media69 % (EY 2024)
Under-5 average screen time2.2 h/day (AIIMS 2025)
WHO screen-time cap for under-5≤1 h/day
Urban parents citing addiction (9-17 yrs)50 % (LocalCircles 2024)
Smartphone presence effectAttention & working-memory drop (McCombs 2017)

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