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1. In 2025, China recalibrated its foreign policy under Xi Jinping amid intensifying competition with the United States, transatlantic frictions, and a shifting regional security environment.

2. China hosted the SCO Summit in Tianjin on 31 August–1 September 2025 and also participated in the BRICS Summit and the ASEAN–GCC–China Summit.

1. In 2025, the return of President Donald J. Trump was marked by assertive governance, deep political polarisation, and extensive use of executive authority in domestic and foreign policy.

2. The Trump administration used executive orders to reshape institutions, including a directive to review historical narratives in national museums and restore monuments under a “truthful” history framework.

1. In 2025, the global and regional security environment deteriorated sharply due to multiple conflicts, weakening of the international order, rising defence expenditure, technological militarisation, and the expanding terrorism–organised crime nexus.

2. More than 56 wars and armed conflicts were recorded worldwide during 2025, causing extensive casualties, habitat destruction, mass displacement, and the highest scale of violence seen since the Second World War.

1. The global Medical Value Travel market was valued at about USD 115.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach around USD 286.1 billion by 2030.

2. The global Medical Value Travel market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 10.8 percent during the period up to 2030.

1. Public capital expenditure in India rose from ₹2 lakh crore in FY 2014–15 to ₹12.2 lakh crore as Budget Estimate for FY 2026–27.

2. The Union Budget 2026–27 introduced new measures such as the Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund and City Economic Regions to strengthen infrastructure-led growth and urban development.

1. The Great Nicobar Project aims to develop Great Nicobar Island into a strategic maritime and economic hub by leveraging its location near the East-West international shipping route.

2. The project site lies about 40 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route, giving it strong potential for transshipment activity and strategic maritime relevance in the Indian Ocean region.

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8 March 2018 as India’s flagship National Nutrition Mission to improve nutrition outcomes through convergence, technology, and community mobilisation.

2. The mission is anchored in the Ministry of Women and Child Development and brings together more than 26 ministries and departments under a unified nutrition framework.

Inland Waterways in India   1. India has 111 National Waterways with a total length of 20,187 kilometres, spread across 23 States and 4 Union Territories under the National Waterways framework. 2. As of March 2026, 32 National Waterways were operational in India, spanning 5,155 kilometres and supporting both cargo movement and passenger transport activities. 3. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced the operationalisation of 20 new National Waterways over the next five years to expand inland water transport infrastructure. 4. Cargo transportation on National Waterways reached an all-time high of 145.84 million metric tonnes in FY 2024–25 and 198 MMT till February 2026. Operational NWs in India (as of March, 2026) S. No. State(s) NW No. Limits of NW 1 Andhra Pradesh NW-4 Krishna-Godavari River Systems 2 Assam NW-2 Brahmaputra River (Dhubri-Sadiya) 3 NW-16 Barak River 4 NW-31 Dhansiri / Chathe 5 NW-57 Kopili River 6 Bihar NW-94 Sone River 7 Goa NW-68 Mandovi River 8 NW-27 Cumberjua River 9 NW-111 Zuari River 10 Gujarat NW-48 Jawai-Luni-Rann of Kutch River 11 NW-73 Narmada River 12 NW-87 Sabarmati River 13 NW-100 Tapi River 14 Kerala NW-3 West Coast Canal 15 NW-8 Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal 16 NW-9 Alappuzha-Kottayam-Athirampuzha Canal 17 Maharashtra NW-10 Amba River 18 NW-53 Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway, Vasai Creek and Ulhas River 19 NW-83 Rajpuri Creek 20 NW-85 Revadanda Creek-Kundalika River System 21 NW-91 Shastri River-Jaigad Creek System 22 Odisha NW-5 East Coast Canal and Matai River/Brahmani-Kharsua-Dhamra Rivers/Mahanadi Delta Rivers 23 NW-14 Baitarani River 24 NW-23 Budha Balanga 25 NW-64 Mahanadi River 26 Uttar Pradesh NW-110 Yamuna River 27 NW-40 Ghaghra River 28 Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal NW-1 Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia-Allahabad) 29 West Bengal NW-44 Ichamati River 30 NW-47 Jalangi River 31 NW-86 Rupnarayan River 32 NW-97 Sundarbans Waterway 5. The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways, including continuation of the first five and addition of 106 new waterways. 6. India aims to raise the Inland Water Transport modal share from 2 percent to 5 percent and increase cargo volumes to above 200 MMT by 2030. 7. The Union Budget 2026–27 seeks to increase the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 percent to 12 percent by 2047. 8. Passenger traffic on National Waterways increased from 1.61 crore in 2023–24 to 7.6 crore in 2024–25, indicating major expansion in inland water transport usage. 9. As of November 2025, cargo operations were functional on 29 National Waterways, cruise operations on 15, and passenger services on 23 waterways. 10. A total of 11 National Waterways supported cargo, cruise, and passenger movement together, showing the emergence of multimodal inland water transport integration. 11. The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 was enacted on 30 December 1985 and created the IWAI to regulate and develop inland waterways. 12. The Inland Vessels Act, 2021 was adopted on 11 August 2021 to ensure uniform rules, safe navigation, vessel regulation, and pollution reduction in inland waters. 13. The Jalvahak-Cargo Promotion Scheme, introduced on 15 December 2024, reimburses up to 35 percent of actual operating cost for waterway journeys on selected routes. Key Provisions and Targets of the Harit Nauka Inland Vessels Green Transition Guidelines Focus Area Key Provisions / Targets Green Vessel Ecosystem Promotion of green inland vessels, supporting infrastructure, and development of an operational ecosystem. Alignment with Maritime India Vision 2030 Supports the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030 by promoting a higher share of inland waterways in the national transport system and encouraging greater cargo movement. Alignment with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 Aligns with the long-term goals of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which aims for a complete transition to green inland vessels and a significant expansion of inland waterway cargo capacity. Linkage with Sustainability Builds upon earlier sustainability initiatives, including the Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023, by extending green practices from ports to inland vessels. Complementary Programmes Complements the Green Tug Transition Programme, ensuring a consistent approach to decarbonisation across maritime and inland water transport. Carbon Intensity Targets Targets 30% reduction in carbon intensity of inland waterway-based passenger transport by 2030 and 70% reduction by 2047 State-Level Transition Roadmap Serves as a roadmap for States to shift 50% of passenger fleet to green fuels by 2033 and 100% by 2045. Vessel Greening Targets Aims to green at least 1,000 inland vessels over the next 10 years and achieve 100% green vessels across all Indian water bodies by 2047 14. The Harit Nauka Guidelines launched on 8 January 2024 target a 30 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 and 70 percent by 2047. 15. Under Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1, a ₹5,061.15 crore project covers the 1,390 kilometre Varanasi to Haldia stretch and is targeted for completion by 30 June 2026. Inland Waterways Cruise Operations in India Waterway Operational Stretch Current Status of Cruise Operations NW 1 Varanasi to Haldia River cruise services operate on this stretch; however, large cruise vessels generally operate only up to Patna due to depth limitations and pontoon bridges. NW 2 Guwahati to Neamati River cruise operations are active on this stretch. NW 3 Entire stretch Fully operational for passenger ferry and houseboat services. NW 4 Selected locations Passenger ferry services operate at intermittent locations. NW 8 Alappuzha to Changanassery Fully operational for passenger ferry and houseboat services. NW 97 Entire stretch Fully operational for river cruise movement. Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route Cross-border route Technically feasible; pilot cruise movements have been carried out. Initiatives for Upgrading Inland Water Transport Infrastructure in the North-Eastern States S. No. Initiatives Key Components / Details 1 NW-2 (Brahmaputra River) Comprehensive development has been undertaken during 2020-21 to 2024-25 at a cost of ₹498 crore Construction of terminals at Bogibeel and Jogighopa Development of tourist jetties at Bogibeel and Pandu. Regular fairway development works have been undertaken. Navigational aids have been installed to support smooth shipping operations 2 Ship Repair Facility and Connectivity at Pandu Ship Repair Facility at Pandu and an elevated road connecting National Highway-27 with Pandu Port and the Ship Repair Facility are being developed Project cost of ₹419 crore. 3 Development of NW-16 (Barak River) Development undertaken since 2020-21 at a cost of ₹134.72 crore. Major works include: Upgradation of terminals at Badarpur and Karimganj. Fairway development and maintenance of navigational aids.

1. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census in India and the 8th since Independence, making it the next enumeration after the Census delayed beyond 2021.

2. Census 2027 will mark India’s first digital Census, using mobile-based data collection, digital monitoring systems, self-enumeration options, and geo-referenced jurisdictions for faster data processing.

1. National Panchayati Raj Diwas is observed every year on 24 April and marks the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into force in 1993.

2. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment granted constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions, and provisions relating to Panchayats were placed in Part IX of the Constitution of India.