Bio-fortified potatoes, enriched with iron, are set to enter Indian markets soon, with bio-fortified sweet potatoes (vitamin A added) already available in some states. The Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP) is establishing a South Asia regional centre in Agra, focusing on iron fortification in potatoes and collaborating with India's Central Potato Institute. The initiative aims to provide farmers with quality seeds, improve market access, and ensure vulnerable populations have access to nutritious potatoes, leveraging the Indo-Gangetic plains as the world's largest potato-producing area.
Bio-fortified potatoes with added iron content will soon be available in Indian markets.
The International Potato Center (CIP) is establishing its South Asia regional centre in Agra, India.
Bio-fortified sweet potatoes with added vitamin A are already available in Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Exam Points
The International Potato Center (CIP) is a Peru-based research body.
A CIP South Asia regional centre is being established in Agra.
CIP collaborates with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Potato Institute in Shimla.
The article highlights the conviction and life sentencing of Prajwal Revanna for rape and sexual harassment, emphasizing the rarity of powerful perpetrators being held accountable. He was convicted under various sections of the IPC and IT Act for repeated rape, criminal intimidation, disappearance of evidence, and privacy violation. The speedy trial, supported by video evidence, DNA analysis, and victim testimony, offers hope for other survivors. The piece stresses the need for swift, sensitive government action to create a safe environment where survivors can come forward without fear, despite political influence often hindering justice.
Prajwal Revanna, former MP and grandson of H.D. Deve Gowda, was convicted and life-sentenced for rape and sexual harassment.
The conviction involved charges under IPC Sections 376(2)(n), 506, 201, and IT Act Section 66E.
Key evidence included video recordings, DNA analysis, and the domestic worker's testimony.
Exam Points
Prajwal Revanna was convicted under IPC Sections 376(2)(n), 506, 201.
He was also convicted under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
IPC Section 376(2)(n) pertains to repeated rape on the same woman.
India is advancing towards sustainable electronics with a Repairability Index and new e-waste policies, but the article argues that the 'right to repair' must also encompass the preservation of tacit knowledge held by informal repairers. This uncodified expertise, passed down through mentorship, is crucial for India's material resilience and circular economy. Current skilling programs and digital policies often overlook this informal sector, risking the loss of valuable knowledge. The piece advocates for integrating repairability into product design and procurement policies, and formally recognizing informal repairers through platforms like e-Shram to support their contribution to sustainability.
India is implementing a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances and new e-waste policies to promote sustainable electronics.
The 'right to repair' should extend to recognizing and preserving the tacit knowledge of informal repairers.
Informal repair expertise, often learned through observation and repetition, is vital for India's material resilience and circular economy.
Exam Points
Indian government accepted a report proposing a Repairability Index in May 2025.
The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
India generated over 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste in 2021-22, ranking as the world's third-largest producer.
The article critiques India's position in the India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), specifically Article 13.6, which prioritizes voluntary mechanisms for access to medicines and technology transfer. This approach dilutes India's historical advocacy for compulsory licensing to ensure affordable medicines and its demand for technology transfer on favorable terms for developing countries. The authors argue that voluntary licenses are inadequate due to the weak bargaining power of domestic companies and limitations imposed by pharmaceutical corporations, citing past examples like the pricing of remdesivir and the compulsory license for sorafenib tosylate.
The India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) includes Article 13.6, which prioritizes voluntary mechanisms for access to medicines and technology transfer.
This provision dilutes India's long-standing position favoring compulsory licensing for affordable medicines.
India's demand for technology transfer on 'favourable terms' for industrialization and carbon footprint reduction is undermined.
Exam Points
The India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is under negotiation.
Article 13.6 of CETA's intellectual property chapter is a point of contention.
India's TRIPS-consistent Patents Act allows for compulsory licenses three years after a patent grant.
The World Bank classifies countries into four income groups—low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income—based on their Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, converted to U.S. dollars. These absolute income thresholds are updated annually for inflation and serve as a standard for international comparison. While initially tied to the Bank's lending policies, they now primarily categorize countries by economic development. Globally, there's a trend of countries moving up the income ladder, with the population in low-income countries significantly decreasing from 37% in 2004 to less than 10% in 2024, reflecting overall economic growth.
The World Bank classifies countries into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income.
Classification is determined by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, converted to U.S. dollars.
Income thresholds are absolute, not relative, and are adjusted annually for global inflation.
Exam Points
World Bank income groups are low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income.
Classification is based on GNI per capita.
Latest thresholds (in U.S. dollars): low income: $1,135 or less; lower-middle: $1,136 to $4,495; upper-middle: $4,496 to $13,935; high income: More than $13,935.
Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. is scheduled to visit India from August 4 to 8, aiming to deepen maritime cooperation with the Southeast Asian region. This visit, his first to India, will include delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the signing of multiple agreements. Both nations are strong proponents of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The visit follows recent joint patrols by Indian Navy destroyers and the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea, underscoring a mutual commitment to safeguarding the maritime domain and enhancing security cooperation.
Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. will visit India from August 4 to 8.
The visit aims to deepen maritime cooperation between India and the Philippines and with the Southeast Asian region.
Both countries are strong proponents of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Exam Points
Philippines President: Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
Visit dates: August 4-8.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo in March 2025.
The government intends to push for the passage of the National Sports Governance Bill in the Lok Sabha, aiming to enhance transparency in sports bodies. This legislative effort is proceeding amidst a parliamentary deadlock, as the Opposition demands a discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which the government has refused. Other key legislative items on the agenda include the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Bill, and bills related to merchant shipping and Indian ports. The Rajya Sabha is also set to consider extending President's Rule in Manipur.
The government plans to pass the National Sports Governance Bill in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill aims to bring greater transparency to the functioning of sports bodies.
Parliamentary proceedings are currently deadlocked due to Opposition demands for a debate on Bihar's electoral rolls.
Exam Points
The National Sports Governance Bill is listed for passage in the Lok Sabha.
The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill is also on the legislative agenda.
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, is listed.
Activists and farmers in Arunachal Pradesh are urging the Union government to stop using China's planned hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo as a pretext to push the proposed 11,500-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). They argue that the SUMP, a ₹1.13-lakh-crore project, is expected to submerge 27 villages and displace over 1.5 lakh members of the Adi tribe, causing significant environmental and cultural damage. While China's Medog Hydropower Station raises downstream concerns, activists demand direct consultation with China for accurate project status instead of using it to justify a project where local chiefs are allegedly coerced into supporting.
Activists and farmers oppose the proposed 11,500-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh.
They accuse the government of using China's Medog Hydropower Station on the Yarlung Tsangpo as a 'bogey' to push the SUMP.
The SUMP is projected to displace over 1.5 lakh members of the Adi tribe and submerge 27 villages.
Exam Points
The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) is 11,500-megawatt.
The Yarlung Tsangpo river flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang.
China's Medog Hydropower Station in Tibet is expected to generate 60,000 MW of electricity.
A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. The court found that the prosecution failed to provide credible and admissible evidence, citing lack of 'conscious possession' of the explosive device, absence of primary forensic analysis, and inadmissible confessional statements recorded under MCOCA due to procedural lapses. The verdict highlights significant failures in the investigation and raises questions about the integrity of the evidence presented, leading victims' families to consider an independent appeal.
All seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, were acquitted.
The NIA Court cited the prosecution's failure to produce credible and admissible evidence.
Key reasons for acquittal included lack of 'conscious possession' of the explosive device and absence of primary forensic analysis.
Exam Points
The Malegaon bomb blast occurred on September 29, 2008.
Accused included Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit.
Charges were framed under IPC, UAPA, 1967, and Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
The commissioning of the 51.38 km railway track to Sairang, near Mizoram's capital Aizawl, is a significant step towards boosting regional connectivity and India's Act East Policy. This project, part of a broader plan to connect northeastern state capitals to the national rail network, will drastically reduce travel time and transportation costs for landlocked Mizoram. The Sairang railhead is strategically important for trade with ASEAN and East Asian countries, diplomatic engagement, and security cooperation, also serving as a transhipment point for goods from Myanmar's Sittwe Port. However, regional unrest and political instability have stalled other crucial connectivity projects.
The new 51.38 km railway track to Sairang, Mizoram, has been commissioned, enhancing regional connectivity.
This project is crucial for India's Act East Policy, aiming to link the northeast with Southeast Asia via rail and road.
It will significantly reduce travel time and transportation costs for landlocked Mizoram, boosting tourism and trade.
Exam Points
The new railway track to Sairang is 51.38 km long, 18 km short of Mizoram's capital Aizawl.
The project cost more than ₹5,020 crore.
The Act East Policy was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, building on the Look East Policy (1991).
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