Blog

Global Standards Against Money Laundering and Terror Financing       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 […]

Carving Connectivity: India’s Tunnel Revolution     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 […]

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 […]

Ganga Rejuvenation: Projects, Standards, and Basin Strategy     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. 3. For 2025–26, the National […]

Intensity-Based Carbon Market Framework     1. Carbon Market Buildout: India is developing a regulated carbon pricing ecosystem, combining a rate-based emissions trading system with voluntary crediting to support decarbonisation and climate-aligned growth. 2. Rate-Based ETS Concept: In a rate-based ETS, entities face benchmark emissions-intensity limits rather than absolute caps, allowing flexibility for growth while […]

Somnath Swabhiman Parv: A Millennium of Resilience and Living Heritage     1. Somnath Swabhiman Parv (8–11 January 2026) marks 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s first recorded assault on Somnath Temple in January 1026 at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, Saurashtra, on western coastline. 2. Somnath is revered as the first among twelve Jyotirlingas, positioned at […]

India’s Groundwater Revival: Recharge Gains, Quality Challenges, and Key Management Initiatives   “We must adopt the mantra of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle’ to secure the nation’s water future” ~Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi     1. Total annual groundwater recharge increased by 15 billion cubic meters in 2024, while annual extraction declined by 3 […]

Mission 100% Electrification: Transforming Indian Railways with Near-Complete Network Electrification and Solar Power Integration       Key Takeaways   Indian Railways has electrified about 99.2% of its network by November 2025, making it one of the world’s most extensively electrified rail systems.   Electrification pace has surged from 1.42 km/day (2004–2014) to over 15 […]

Catalyzing Indigenous Chip Design: Key Features and Outcomes of the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme     Key Takeaways Semiconductor chip design is the main value driver, contributing up to 50% of value addition, 20–50% of Bill of Materials cost (BOM), and 30–35% of global semiconductor sales via the fabless segment. MeitY’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme under the Semicon India Programme aims to […]

Green Hydrogen Mission: Targets, Certification, Infrastructure, and Strategic Interventions           Key Takeaways     India targets 5 MMT of Green Hydrogen production annually by 2030. A port-based Green Hydrogen pilot has been commissioned at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, and Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla has commissioned a megawatt-scale, indigenous Green Hydrogen Facility Hydrogen […]