India has joined over 120 nations issuing biometric e-passports to enhance security, expedite immigration, and comply with international standards.
An e-passport is a conventional passport with an embedded RFID chip storing encrypted personal and biometric data like name, date of birth, facial data, and fingerprints.
Security features like RFID encryption, Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), Extended Access Control (EAC), and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) protect data and prevent tampering or forgery.
Benefits include enhanced security against identity theft (due to encrypted biometrics), faster immigration via automated e-gates, and global acceptance facilitated by ICAO standards.
They also offer improved privacy (address stored digitally), convenience for travelers, enhanced national security through better border tracking, and simpler data management.
India’s adoption aims to improve border security, prevent document forgery, streamline procedures, and meet international travel requirements.
made online or at Passport Seva Kendras, involving registration, form filling, payment, appointment, and in-person biometric verification.
E-passports in India are manufactured at Nashik’s India Security Press to ensure data integrity and national security.
The cost in India is ₹1,500 for a 36-page passport and ₹2,000 for a 60-page passport.
GRAIL
GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) was a NASA mission using two spacecraft (Ebb and Flow) to create a detailed gravitational map of the Moon.
It measured variations in the Moon’s gravitational field by tracking the distance between the spacecraft, providing insights into its interior.
Key news finding: GRAIL data revealed significant differences between the Moon’s nearside and farside.
Why differences exist (based on GRAIL findings):
Tidal deformation/Gravitational asymmetry: Earth’s gravity causes the nearside to flex more than the farside during orbit, indicating a different internal structure.
Volcanic activity and heat distribution: The nearside was more volcanically active in the past, concentrating heat-producing radioactive elements (like thorium) in its mantle, making it hotter than the farside and creating a long-term thermal imbalance.
Crustal thickness: The nearside crust is significantly thinner than the farside crust, which allowed magma to more easily reach the surface and form the extensive lava plains (“mare”) seen on the nearside.
Coral Reef Basics
News: Scientists developed SNAP-X bio-ink, boosting coral larvae settlement by 20x for reef restoration.
Why: Offers a breakthrough to help restore reefs facing climate threats.
What they are: Underwater structures of tiny coral polyps bound by calcium carbonate, forming marine ecosystems.
Why: Built by these polyps over time, creating complex habitats.
Key features/formation: Thrive in warm (around 20°C), clear, shallow (up to 55m) saltwater with low nutrients and minimal pollution. Need sunlight and plankton.
Why: Specific conditions required for coral polyps and their symbiotic algae (for photosynthesis) to survive and build the reef structure.
Types: Fringing (near shore), Barrier (farther offshore with deeper lagoon), Atolls (ring shapes around lagoons).
Why: Different formations depending on coastline proximity or geological factors like sinking islands.
Importance: Provide food, shield coastlines, support local economies (tourism/fishing), vital for marine biodiversity.
Why: Their structure and ecosystem support a vast array of marine life and offer protective services and economic benefits to human populations.
Three-Eyed Fentoni Found
Scientists described Mosura fentoni, a new species of extinct radiodont (early arthropod) from the Cambrian period (506 million years ago), providing new insights into ancient life forms.
Discovered in Canada’s Burgess Shale, a site crucial for preserving soft-bodied organisms, allowing detailed study of its structure.
Featured three eyes (two lateral, one central), suggesting advanced visual capabilities for its time.
Possessed a unique segmented, abdomen-like rear section with 16 gill-lined segments, which likely enhanced respiration and shows evolutionary convergence with modern arthropods like insects and horseshoe crabs.
The discovery reveals unexpected diversity and evolutionary experimentation among early arthropods, offering insights into their anatomy and evolutionary paths.
Gyan Bharatam Overview
Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the revamped mission, now called “Gyan Bharatam Mission,” on June 9, 2025 (or June 9, 2025/earlier this year, depending on the source interpretation). This signifies a high-level commitment to preserving India’s heritage.
Ministry: It is a national initiative under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, highlighting its official and governmental backing.
Revamp of NMM: It replaces and restructures the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), established in 2003, which “had not taken off as expected.” This revamp aims to overcome previous limitations and give the mission new impetus, potentially making it an autonomous body.
Primary Objective: To systematically survey, document, conserve, and digitize over one crore (10 million) manuscripts across India. The sheer scale makes it the largest preservation initiative, crucial for saving a vast, scattered heritage.
Digital Repository: A major goal is creating a National Digital Repository of Indian Knowledge Systems, making ancient wisdom globally accessible to researchers and the public, leveraging technology for wider reach.
Massive Coverage & Scale: Targeting over 10 million manuscripts (including those with private collectors, estimated at 80%), which is unprecedented, ensuring comprehensive coverage of India’s manuscript wealth.
Increased Budget: Budget allocation significantly increased from ₹3.5 crore (for NMM) to ₹60 crore (annual allocation mentioned) with a total outlay of ₹482.85 crore for 2024-31. This substantial increase is critical to fund the ambitious scale, modern techniques, and potential autonomy.
Technological Adoption: Will use advanced methods like AI-driven archiving, metadata tagging, translation tools, modern conservation, and 3D imaging. This moves beyond traditional methods to ensure better preservation and accessibility.
Addressing Past Issues: Acknowledges that previous efforts documented metadata for 52 lakh manuscripts but uploaded only a third, with limited viewing access (70,000) partly due to a lack of “access policy,” especially for private collections (80% of total). The revamp likely aims to address these issues and incentivize private owners.
Accessibility: Aims to make manuscripts accessible for academic research, education, and public knowledge globally, democratizing access to India’s historical and cultural texts.
BSF
BSF is India’s first line of defence and sharpest force alongside the armed forces – Why: Crucial during cross-border tensions, particularly highlighted amid escalations from Pakistan.
It is the primary border-guarding organisation – Why: Raised on December 1, 1965, following the 1965 War specifically “for ensuring the security of the borders of India.”
Functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs – Why: It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Primary roles include protecting land borders during peacetime, preventing transnational crime, and assisting the Indian Army in wartime – Why: To secure India’s borders and support defence efforts.
Deployed at the Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh International Borders, Line of Control, and in Anti-Naxal Operations – Why: Covers critical national security and internal security areas.
Known as the world’s largest border guarding force – Why: Reflected in its scale with 186 battalions and 2.57 lakh personnel.
Possesses unique wings like Air, Marine, Artillery, Camel, and Dog units – Why: Supports General Duty Battalions, expands reach into varied terrain, and provides specialised capabilities.
Maintains a unique Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) – Why: Responsible for producing tear gas munitions required for Anti-Riot Forces in India.
Vested with powers of arrest, search, and seizure under various Acts (Customs, NDPS, etc.) – Why: To effectively prevent transnational crime and enforce laws at the border.
Motto is “Duty Unto Death” – Why: Signifies the force’s ultimate commitment to its mandate.
AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM
US approved sale to Turkey is recent news, raising concerns in India. (Why: Indicates its current geopolitical significance and impact on regional security).
It is an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), variant C-8, a highly capable beyond-visual-range (BVRAAM) and surface-to-air missile. (Why: Defines its core identity and roles).
Developed by Raytheon Technologies, it’s designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft at extended ranges, considered a cornerstone of modern air combat. (Why: Identifies its origin and importance in current aerial warfare).
Launch platforms include modern fighters like F-16, F-15, F/A-18, and F-35. (Why: Shows its compatibility with widely used combat aircraft).
Features include a range exceeding 160 kilometers optimally, speed over Mach 4, and sophisticated “fire-and-forget” guidance using active radar, inertial navigation, GPS, and a two-way data link for accuracy updates. (Why: These are key performance aspects enabling long-range, autonomous engagement).
Equipped with an advanced radar seeker designed to detect stealthy aircraft, electronic countermeasures resilience, and an 18.1 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a proximity fuse. (Why: Highlights its ability to counter modern aerial threats effectively).
Capable of engaging multiple targets beyond visual range in contested electronic environments. (Why: Demonstrates high-end combat effectiveness).
J&K PSA Provisions
Srinagar Police recently invoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against 23 individuals (Why: Citing their involvement in subversive activities, threats to national security and public order, and continued disturbance despite previous bail).
The PSA is a preventive detention law (Why: Its purpose is to empower authorities to detain individuals to prevent actions prejudicial to state security or public order without formal charges or a trial).
Key provision: Detention Without Trial (Why: Permits authorities to hold individuals without formal charges or court trial, a core aspect of preventive detention).
Key provision: No Right to Bail or Lawyer (Why: Detainees cannot seek bail or appoint legal representation, significantly limiting their legal recourse).
Key provision: Limited Legal Remedies (Why: The only way to challenge detention is through a habeas corpus petition filed by relatives in higher courts, restricting the detainee’s direct challenge).
Key provision: Re-Detention Possibility (Why: Even if a detention order is quashed by higher courts, the government can issue a fresh order, allowing continued detention).
Key provision: Discretionary Powers (Why: The District Magistrate issuing the order is legally protected, as the PSA considers such actions done “in good faith,” shielding the authority).
Key provision: Broad Grounds (Section 8) (Why: Defines grounds for detention broadly, including promoting enmity or acts threatening harmony, giving wide scope to authorities).
Key provision: Detention Duration Varies (Why: Allows detention for up to one year for disturbing public order and two years for activities harmful to state security, distinguishing based on the perceived threat).
Context: Police describe the recent detentions as part of “systemic targeting” of perceived “anti-national” infrastructure, involving moving detainees outside the Kashmir Valley (Why: Highlights the scale and nature of the current crackdown amidst claims of normalcy).
World Food Prize 2025
Brazilian scientist Mariangela Hungria won the 2025 World Food Prize.
She was recognized for her pioneering work in developing biological seed and soil treatments.
Her research reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and helps boost crop yields and nutrition.
These treatments enable crops to utilize soil bacteria for nutrients, lowering the need for synthetic fertilizers.
The World Food Prize is an international award for individuals who have improved the quality, quantity, or availability of food globally.
It is known as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.
Founded by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, it recognizes contributions across various fields related to the world food supply.
The prize includes a $500,000 award presented around World Food Day in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Sugar Boards”: Why? To monitor/reduce sugar consumption to lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity in children.
Type 2 diabetes is when blood sugar is too high: Why? The body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it well, preventing glucose from entering cells.
Key causes include being overweight/obese, lack of physical activity, and genetics: Why? These factors impair the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
Affects about 6.3% globally, mainly adults over 45, but also children: Why? Shows its prevalence and the increasing concern in younger populations, linking to the school initiative.
Symptoms often develop slowly over years and may be mild or absent: Why? Makes it hard to detect early; includes increased thirst, hunger, tiredness, blurred vision, numbness, slow-healing sores, and unexplained weight loss.
Treatment involves managing blood sugar: Why? Through healthy lifestyle and sometimes medication (pills or injections like insulin) to prevent complications of this lifelong condition.
