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India will host the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage from 8 to 13 December 2025 at the Red Fort in New Delhi. This is the first time the session will be held in India, and the event aligns with the twentieth anniversary of India’s ratification of the 2003 Convention. The venue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolically brings together tangible and intangible heritage.

The 2003 Convention, adopted during UNESCO’s 32nd General Conference in Paris, was established to address global concerns about the vulnerability of living cultural traditions under pressures such as globalisation, rapid social change and limited resources. The Convention recognises that communities, including indigenous groups and traditional practitioners, play the central role in preserving and transmitting intangible heritage. It seeks to safeguard practices, rituals, performing arts, festive events, craftsmanship, oral traditions and knowledge systems that shape cultural identity.

The Electronics Development Fund (EDF) is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India on 15 February 2016 to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem in electronics, nano-electronics, IT and emerging technologies. It was created under MeitY as a Fund of Funds to support early-stage startups through professionally managed venture and angel funds. EDF has become a key pillar of India’s Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) strategy.

India’s electronics sector has grown rapidly in recent years due to policy reforms, industrial expansion and rising domestic demand. The EDF was conceptualised to accelerate this momentum by increasing risk-capital availability for high-technology entrepreneurs. By nurturing innovation at the seed and growth stage, EDF aims to reduce import dependence and enhance India’s capabilities in indigenous design and IP generation.

International Context and Significance

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed every year on November 25, signals global resolve to combat gender-based violence across social, cultural and digital domains. Initiated by the United Nations General Assembly, it also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism campaign (Nov 25–Dec 10), creating momentum for legislative, social and institutional reforms worldwide.

The Indian Navy is undergoing a strategic transformation under Vision 2047 to become a fully indigenous, technology-driven maritime force. The focus areas are innovation, indigenisation, and integration of advanced technologies, aligned with the national Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.

INDIGENISATION AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

Food irradiation is an advanced food preservation technique in which food items are exposed to a controlled dose of ionising radiation to destroy harmful bacteria, insects and moulds and to slow down spoilage processes such as ripening and sprouting. The treatment does not make food radioactive and does not reduce its nutritional value. Instead, it improves food safety and extends shelf life, making the food safer for human consumption and suitable for long-distance transport and storage.

India’s solar transformation is one of the most rapid energy transitions witnessed in the world. From merely 3 GW in 2014, installed solar capacity has grown to about 129 GW by 2025, marking more than a forty-fold increase. Solar energy has now become the largest contributor to India’s renewable power sector, overtaking wind and hydropower in total installations.

India has also crossed a historic milestone by sourcing over half of its electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources. Out of nearly 500 GW total installed capacity, more than 259 GW now comes from solar, wind, hydro, nuclear and biomass, indicating a major structural shift away from fossil fuel dominance in electricity generation.

Core Identity

Statutory organisation established in 1963 under the Ministry of Cooperation to strengthen India’s cooperative movement through institutional finance and development support.

Financial Scale and Trend (Highlights)

INTRODUCTION

The Asian Youth Games (AYG) is a continental-level multi-sport event organised under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to identify, nurture and prepare young athletic talent from across Asia. The Games target athletes aged 14–18 and function as a structured pathway to elite international competitions such as the Asian Games and the Olympic Games. Beyond competition, AYG promotes cultural integration, discipline, leadership and sporting ethics among Asia’s youth.

India’s Constitution, adopted on 26 November 1949 and enforced from 26 January 1950, has completed 75 years as the foundation of Indian democracy. To commemorate this milestone and strengthen mass awareness about constitutional values, the Government of India launched the nationwide campaign titled “Hamara Samvidhan – Hamara Samman”, which later evolved into “Hamara Samvidhan – Hamara Swabhiman”.

Context

India’s defence sector is undergoing rapid indigenisation under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to reduce import dependence, enhance exports, strengthen R&D, and enable private sector + MSME participation.

Key Achievements