Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a significant simplification of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, effective September 22. The previous four-slab structure (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) has been streamlined into two primary slabs of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate reserved for specific luxury or demerit goods. This restructuring has led to price drops for 54 items of daily use, including motorcycles, cars, and televisions. The Minister emphasized that manufacturers have successfully passed these tax benefits to consumers, resulting in a notable surge in sales for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles.
The GST regime was simplified on September 22 to reduce the complexity of the tax structure.
The four existing tax slabs have been consolidated into two main slabs of 5% and 18%.
A special 40% tax rate is applied to a specific category of goods.
Kerala is grappling with an outbreak of amoebic meningoencephalitis, with the death toll rising to 26 and total cases reaching 129 this year. Health officials have identified Acanthamoeba as the causative pathogen, which can enter the human body through skin wounds when they come into contact with contaminated water bodies like streams or resort pools. Currently, 53 individuals are undergoing treatment. Thiruvananthapuram has reported the highest concentration of cases. Epidemiological investigations highlight that unlike some other amoebic infections, this strain can infect individuals through non-nasal routes, specifically open injuries.
Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a severe brain infection caused by free-living amoebae found in water.
The Acanthamoeba pathogen can enter the body through skin wounds, not just the nasal passage.
Kerala has recorded 129 cases and 26 deaths so far in the current year.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and UP CM Yogi Adityanath commissioned the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the new Lucknow unit of BrahMos Aerospace Ltd. The facility, inaugurated in May 2025, is designed to produce approximately 100 missiles annually for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Minister highlighted India's growing stature as a defense exporter, citing recent contracts worth ₹4,000 crore, including a major deal with the Philippines. The BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, is a symbol of India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative and its increasing indigenous manufacturing strength.
The first batch of BrahMos missiles from the Lucknow production facility has been officially commissioned.
The Lucknow unit has an annual production capacity of approximately 100 missiles for the Indian Armed Forces.
India's defense exports are rising, highlighted by a ₹4,000 crore contract with the Philippines.
Exam Points
Production facility location: Lucknow unit of BrahMos Aerospace Ltd.
The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) has bloomed in the high-altitude grasslands of Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, after its characteristic 12-year cycle. This rare botanical event is a vital indicator of the health of the Western Ghats ecosystem and climate change. While Strobilanthes kunthiana is the most famous, there are approximately 450 species of Kurinji worldwide, with 150 found in India and 60 endemic to the Western Ghats. Experts warn that invasive species like black wattle and uncontrolled tourism pose significant threats to these unique habitats, which are essential for local biodiversity and wildlife.
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a shrub that blooms once every 12 years in specific high-altitude regions.
The mass flowering is an indicator of a healthy grassland ecosystem and supports local insect populations.
India is home to 150 Kurinji species, 60 of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Exam Points
Scientific name: Strobilanthes kunthiana.
Blooming cycle: 12 years.
Number of Kurinji species endemic to Western Ghats: 60.
Member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have postponed a critical vote on a framework to move the shipping industry toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The delay, initiated by a Singaporean proposal and supported by 57 nations, pushes the decision back by one year. The framework aimed to establish a new fuel standard and a global carbon pricing mechanism. The postponement follows opposition from the U.S. administration and countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia. Climate advocates expressed concern, noting that shipping emissions must be reduced by at least 40% by 2030 to meet global climate targets.
The IMO has delayed the adoption of a carbon-free shipping framework by 12 months.
The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy targets a minimum 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
Proposed measures include a global carbon tax on shipping and mandatory new fuel standards.
Exam Points
IMO GHG Strategy Target: 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
The National Health Authority's annual report for 2024-25 indicates that women constitute 49% of total hospital admissions under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This reflects a significant improvement in institutional healthcare access for women. The scheme, launched in 2018, provides ₹5 lakh annual health cover per family and has facilitated over 9.19 crore admissions. Recent expansions include the 'Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0)' initiative for grassroots outreach and the inclusion of all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status, as of October 2024.
Women represent nearly half of all beneficiaries receiving hospital treatment under the AB-PMJAY scheme.
The scheme provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.
The ADA 3.0 initiative leverages technology and community campaigns to increase scheme enrollment.
Exam Points
AB-PMJAY Launch Year: 2018.
Health cover amount: ₹5 lakh per family per year.
Total hospital admissions facilitated: Over 9.19 crore.
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that rice paddy microbes, rather than just soil arsenic levels, determine arsenic toxicity and crop losses. The study identified 17 key microbes that predict arsenic risk. Specifically, arsenic-methylating bacteria produce dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), causing 'straighthead disease,' which can lead to a 70% yield loss. Conversely, demethylating archaea found in older soils (over 700 years) help mitigate toxicity. This discovery suggests that managing microbial balance through agronomic practices, such as midseason drainage to reintroduce oxygen, could significantly protect rice yields and ensure food safety.
Microbial composition in paddy soil is a more accurate predictor of arsenic risk than total arsenic concentration.
Arsenic-methylating bacteria increase toxic organic arsenic, leading to straighthead disease in rice.
Demethylating archaea, prevalent in long-cultivated soils, act as a protective barrier against arsenic toxicity.
Exam Points
Disease name: Straighthead disease.
Toxic compound: Dimethylarsinic acid (DMA).
Yield loss potential: Up to 70% in severely affected areas.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) released the 'Status of Elephants in India' report, estimating the population at 22,446 across four major landscapes. While this is lower than the 2017 figure of 29,964, experts note that the new DNA-based SAIEE methodology provides a more accurate baseline for future monitoring. The Western Ghats landscape remains the most critical habitat, housing 53.17% of India's elephants. The report identifies habitat fragmentation due to infrastructure, mining, and invasive species as the primary drivers of human-elephant conflict, particularly in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
The 2021-25 census utilized the Synchronous All-India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) method for improved accuracy.
The Western Ghats landscape holds the largest share (over 50%) of India's total elephant population.
Habitat fragmentation is the leading cause of increasing human-elephant conflict across the country.
Exam Points
Estimated elephant population (2021-25): 22,446.
Project Elephant launch year: 1992.
Western Ghats population share: 53.17%.
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