Blog

1. Chips to Start-up Programme is a national capacity-building initiative launched in 2022, with ₹250 crore over five years, expanding chip design education, fabrication exposure, and innovation across institutions.

2. It targets creation of 85,000 industry-ready professionals across UG, PG, and PhD levels nationwide, including 200 PhDs, 7,000 VLSI M.Tech, 8,800 allied M.Tech, and 69,000 B.Tech trainees overall.

Background and Vision

Amrit Sarovars plays an important role in increasing the availability of water, both on surface and under-ground. Development of Amrit Sarovars is also an important symbol of constructive actions, dedicated to the country on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, that create sustainable and long-term productive assets, beneficial to both the living beings and environment.

1. Seaweed is a nutrient rich marine plant containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and 54 trace elements, linked with reduced risks of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, and cancers.

2. Cultivation occurs in shallow coastal waters and needs no land, freshwater, fertilizers, or pesticides, positioning seaweed as an eco friendly crop suited for climate resilience, low input livelihoods.

1) UN Peacekeeping supports countries moving from conflict to peace through deployed missions under UN mandates, complementing peacemaking and peacebuilding, with tasks expanding beyond military observation into multidimensional governance support.

2) India is among the largest contributors, with over 2,90,000 peacekeepers serving in more than 50 UN missions since the 1950s, reflecting sustained operational commitment across continents.

1. Over the past 11 years, India has expanded global influence through climate leadership, AI governance, public health diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and strategic defence, aligning international engagement with national interest and inclusivity.

2. India’s G20 Presidency (Dec 2022–Nov 2023) spotlighted the Global South, hosted 200+ meetings in 60 cities, and convened the 18th Leaders’ Summit at Bharat Mandapam.

1. India placed 54 institutions in QS World University Rankings 2026, including 12 IITs and eight first-time entrants, making India the world’s fourth most represented country overall globally today.

2. Representation rose from 11 ranked Indian institutions in 2015 to 54 in 2026, a five-fold decade increase that positions India as the fastest-rising G20 nation over the decade.

1. FATF, created at the 1989 G7 Paris Summit, is an independent inter-governmental body that sets global standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing effectively.

2. FATF standards help authorities trace illicit funds linked to drug trafficking, illicit arms trade, cyber fraud, and other serious crimes, reinforcing coordinated national and international responses globally.

1. India’s tunnelling boom is driven by highways, strategic border roads, metros, rail corridors, bullet train plans, and all weather connectivity, strengthening mobility, security, and regional growth.

2. Atal Tunnel, 9.02 km under Pir Panjal, bypasses Rohtang Pass, enables year round Manali Lahaul Spiti travel, cuts distance 46 km, saving 4 to 5 hours.

1. International Day of Forests is observed on March 21 to celebrate all forest types, highlight benefits like oxygen, food, medicine, and livelihoods, and mobilize protection actions worldwide annually for awareness.

2. United Nations designated March 21 as International Day of Forests in 2012, and each year a theme is selected by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to guide outreach and engagement.

1. Namami Gange began in June 2014 as an integrated mission for pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

2. The programme originally had ₹20,000 crore outlay up to March 2021, later extended to March 2026 with ₹22,500 crore.