The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), a banned Meitei insurgent group operating from Myanmar, claimed responsibility for a drone-based bomb attack on an Assam Rifles camp in Manipur's Tengnoupal district. This incident, occurring near the India-Myanmar border, marks a significant escalation in the use of low-tech but effective aerial technology by insurgent groups. The PLA, banned since 1979, seeks the secession of Manipur from India. Security forces have since intensified combing operations in the region, which has been under President's Rule since February 13 following ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.
The PLA is a Meitei insurgent group that operates primarily from bases within Myanmar.
The group used a rudimentary, locally assembled drone to drop ammunition on a temporary security camp.
This attack is part of a series of attempts by banned groups like PLA, NSCN (K-YA), and ULFA (I) to regain a foothold in the region.
Exam Points
The PLA has been a banned outfit since 1979.
Manipur was placed under President's Rule on February 13.
The attack took place in the Tengnoupal district along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a strategic vision to eliminate Maoism from India by March 2026, with a specific focus on Chhattisgarh's Bastar division. Speaking at the Bastar Olympics in Jagdalpur, he declared that the seven districts of the region—Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Narayanpur—would become the most developed tribal districts in the country by 2030. The government plans to ensure every household has access to basic amenities, including electricity, banking, and healthcare within a 5-km radius. The Bastar Olympics itself saw participation from over 700 surrendered Maoists, signaling a shift toward social integration.
The Indian government has set a deadline of March 2026 to completely eliminate Maoist insurgency.
Bastar is targeted to become a model developed tribal region by 2030 through infrastructure and service expansion.
The Bastar Olympics is an annual mega sports event used to promote peace and engage local youth.
Exam Points
Target date for eliminating Maoism is March 2026.
The Bastar division comprises seven districts.
The government aims for basic facilities within a 5-km radius of every village.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) has threatened to withdraw from the 850-MW Rattle Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district due to persistent threats and political interference. The project, a run-of-the-river scheme on the Chenab River, was approved in 2021 with a budget of ₹5,281.94 crore and a completion target of May 2026. MEIL alleges that local politicians are pressuring the firm to hire additional local staff despite no vacancies, leading to security concerns for workers. The project is critical for regional power generation and currently employs over 1,400 workers.
The Rattle Hydroelectric Project is an 850-MW run-of-the-river scheme located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar.
MEIL, the executing firm, cites 'undemocratic' pressure from local politicians regarding hiring practices as a major hurdle.
The project involves a 133-metre high dam and underground electricity generation facilities.
Exam Points
The project cost is estimated at ₹5,281.94 crore.
The scheduled commissioning date is May 2026.
It is located at Drabshalla village in Kishtwar district.
The National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025, was introduced in Parliament to address long-standing concerns regarding the safety and availability of blood components in India. The legislation proposes the creation of a dedicated National Blood Transfusion Authority to set uniform national standards for collection, testing, processing, and distribution. It aims to streamline the fragmented regulatory framework, mandate the registration of all blood centers, and promote voluntary donation. Thalassaemia patients and advocacy groups have welcomed the Bill, noting that it provides a science-based framework to ensure safe and equitable access to quality blood, which is a lifeline for chronic patients.
The Bill establishes a National Blood Transfusion Authority to oversee and standardize blood services across India.
It introduces strict penalties for unsafe or non-compliant practices to ensure public trust and safety.
The legislation seeks to move away from fragmented regulations toward a unified national framework.
Exam Points
The Bill is titled the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025.
It proposes the establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Authority.
N.K. Ganguly is the former Director-General of ICMR mentioned in the context.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated Asia’s longest ski drag lift and a rotating conference hall at Gulmarg to enhance the region's winter tourism profile. The ski drag lift, measuring 726 metres, is located at Kongdori, while the rotating hall is situated at an altitude of 4,390 metres at Apharwat. These projects, part of a larger ₹17 crore infrastructure push, aim to position Gulmarg as a premier global winter sports destination. The initiatives are designed to create year-round tourism opportunities, generate local employment, and elevate the site to international standards while ensuring ecological conservation.
Gulmarg now hosts Asia’s longest ski drag lift, measuring 726 metres, at Kongdori.
A new rotating conference hall has been built at Apharwat, one of the highest altitudes for such a facility.
The infrastructure investment is intended to attract international tourists and support events like the Khelo India Winter Games.
Exam Points
The ski drag lift cost ₹3.65 crore.
The rotating conference hall at Apharwat cost ₹86 lakh.
The altitude of the Apharwat facility is 4,390 metres.
Researchers published a study in Current Biology identifying the specific cellular traits that allow mangroves to survive in saltwater, unlike most terrestrial plants. By analyzing 34 mangrove species, scientists found that these plants possess unusually small leaf epidermal pavement cells and thicker cell walls, providing the mechanical strength needed to tolerate low osmotic potentials. Unlike their inland relatives, mangroves do not reduce their stomata size, allowing them to maintain high photosynthetic rates. These adaptations are crucial as rising sea levels threaten coastal regions. Mangroves also provide vital ecosystem services, including erosion protection and habitats for diverse wildlife.
Mangroves have evolved 30 times over the last 200 million years to adapt to saline environments.
Key adaptations include small epidermal cells and thick cell walls to handle osmotic pressure.
Some species use waxy root layers to filter salt, while others excrete salt through specialized leaf tissues.
Exam Points
The study was published in the journal Current Biology.
Scientists analyzed 34 mangrove species across 17 plant families.
Mangroves have evolved independently 30 times over 200 million years.
Australia has become the first country to implement a comprehensive social media ban for users under the age of 16 through the Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024. The law mandates that platforms like Meta, TikTok, and X must take 'reasonable steps' to prevent underage access or face fines up to A$49.5 million. The government’s rationale centers on protecting minors from cyberbullying, harmful content, and predatory practices. While the ban has sparked debates over privacy and the efficacy of age-verification technology, internal documents from tech firms revealed they were aware of the addictive nature and negative mental health impacts of their platforms on teenagers.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 sets 16 as the minimum age for social media accounts.
Platforms face massive fines (up to $33 million USD) for non-compliance with age-gating requirements.
The ban does not allow for parental consent to bypass the age limit, reflecting a 'blanket ban' approach.
Exam Points
The maximum fine for non-compliance is A$49.5 million.
The minimum age set by the law is 16 years.
The Bill was introduced in November 2024 and took effect in December.
The Preah Vihear temple, an 11th-century Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, remains a flashpoint for border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. Located atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, the temple's sovereignty was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, a ruling reaffirmed in 2013. However, disputes over the surrounding 4.6 sq km of land persist, leading to periodic military skirmishes, most recently in July 2025. Built by Khmer kings, the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a masterpiece of Khmer architecture, following a unique north-south axis unlike typical rectangular Khmer temples.
Preah Vihear is a 9th-12th century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, built by Khmer kings like Yasovarman I and Suryavarman II.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 and 2013 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, based on French colonial-era maps.
The site is strategically located on the Dangrek mountain range, forming a natural frontier between Thailand and Cambodia.
Exam Points
The ICJ first ruled on the temple's sovereignty in 1962.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
The temple is located in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.
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