The United States and Israel have launched a significant military offensive against Iran, targeting leadership offices and military installations in Tehran. This marks a major escalation in the long-standing conflict, with Iran retaliating via drone and missile attacks on Israeli and U.S. bases in West Asia. The strikes occurred during Ramzan, signaling a shift in U.S. policy under the Trump administration. The conflict has disrupted regional aviation and led to the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. International reactions are mixed, with concerns over a full-scale regional war and the humanitarian impact on civilians, including reports of casualties at a girls' school.
The strikes targeted members of Iran's leadership and military infrastructure in Tehran and other regions as part of a major combat operation.
Iran responded by launching drones and missiles at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint for oil, was reportedly shut down by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Exam Points
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil consumption passes.
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 is the legal framework often cited for U.S. executive actions in such conflicts.
At least 201 people were reported killed and 747 wounded in the initial strikes according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
In a significant boost to India's cheetah reintroduction program, nine cheetahs from Botswana were released into enclosures at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. This is the third batch of big cats brought from Africa, bringing India's total cheetah population to 48. The group includes six females and three males. While the project has faced challenges, including the deaths of 21 animals (adults and cubs) due to various causes, officials remain optimistic. Future plans include expanding the reintroduction to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to manage the population across different habitats and ensure long-term survival.
Project Cheetah is the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project aimed at restoring the species in India.
The new batch consists of nine cheetahs donated by Botswana during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the country last year.
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the primary site, but Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being prepared as a second home to avoid over-concentration.
Exam Points
Total cheetah population in India currently stands at 48, including 28 Indian-born cubs.
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh.
The first batch of cheetahs arrived from Namibia in September 2022, followed by a second batch from South Africa in February 2023.
The Union Food Ministry has decided to temporarily discontinue rice fortification under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes. This decision follows a study by IIT Kharagpur, which found that factors like moisture, temperature, and storage conditions significantly reduce the shelf life and nutrient stability of fortified rice. Activists have welcomed the move, arguing that fortification is an expensive, unscientific, and potentially toxic method to curb anaemia. The government seeks a more effective mechanism for nutrient delivery while maintaining existing foodgrain entitlements under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The suspension affects rice distributed through PMGKAY and other centrally sponsored welfare schemes until a more effective delivery mechanism is identified.
A study by IIT Kharagpur highlighted that fortified rice kernels are susceptible to micronutrient reduction during prolonged storage and routine handling.
Social activists argue that not all anaemia is linked to iron deficiency, making mass fortification an ineffective and potentially unsafe solution.
Exam Points
PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) is the primary scheme through which fortified rice was being distributed.
The study identifying storage and shelf-life issues was conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.
On Rare Diseases Day, concerns have been raised regarding the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) and the underutilization of allocated budgets. Despite a ₹299 crore allocation for 2025-26, only a small fraction (₹30.79 crore) has been utilized so far, leaving many patients without life-saving treatment. Families of children with disorders like MPS 2 and Gaucher disease report that funding caps of ₹50 lakh are insufficient for long-term care. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear matters related to treatment interruptions, as the rare disease community calls for immediate intervention to ensure continuity of care and prevent further fatalities.
The National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) provides a framework for treatment through designated Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India.
A significant portion of the allocated budget remains unspent while patients face life-threatening delays in therapy due to administrative hurdles.
The current funding cap of ₹50 lakh per patient is often exhausted quickly, leading to a complete halt in life-saving care for many children.
Exam Points
Only ₹30.79 crore has been utilized by the NPRD out of the ₹299 crore allocated for rare disease treatment for the year 2025-26.
The National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) was notified to establish Centres of Excellence and provide a budget for patient assistance.
The prospects of an interim trade agreement between India and the U.S. have become uncertain after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The court ruled that the President requires congressional approval for such levies. This decision complicates the removal of 'reciprocal tariffs' that were part of the proposed deal. While Indian officials were prepared to finalize the agreement in Washington, the visit has been postponed to evaluate the legal implications. The U.S. administration maintains that it expects partners to stand by signed deals despite the judicial setback.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the President cannot unilaterally levy certain tariffs without congressional approval, affecting the 'reciprocal tariffs' strategy.
The proposed interim deal aimed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on various goods, including aluminium and steel, which currently face a 50% tariff.
India has postponed the visit of its chief negotiator to Washington to assess the impact of the court's ruling on the legality of the proposed agreement.
Exam Points
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 is the law under which the contested tariffs were originally levied.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the tariffs occurred on February 20, 2024.
The roll-out of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP), a key recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is facing significant challenges. Students and teachers report chaotic conditions due to a lack of infrastructure, faculty, and clear guidelines. While the program offers multiple entry and exit options and a focus on research, many universities lack the facilities to support fourth-year research projects. The Karnataka government has even decided to abandon the four-year model, returning to the traditional three-year degree. Critics argue the program adds a financial burden to students without providing adequate academic resources or improved employability.
NEP 2020 proposed a four-year bachelor's degree with honours or research focus to align Indian higher education with global standards.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued the Curriculum and Credit Framework for this model in December 2022, but implementation has been uneven.
Major institutions like Delhi University and Aligarh Muslim University are struggling with 'unreasonable research outcomes' and a lack of extra funding from the UGC.
Exam Points
The National Education Policy (NEP) was introduced in 2020 to overhaul the Indian education system.
In 2023-24, 105 universities, including 19 central universities and 22 state universities, enrolled students in the four-year programme.
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