PRELIMS BITS  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued guidelines for evaluating the performance of statutory committees of Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs). About MIIs Definition: Organizations providing infrastructure for trading securities, regulated by SEBI. Includes: Stock exchanges, depositories, and clearing corporations. Purpose: Enabling trading, securing investor holdings, and transaction settlement.

PRELIMS BITS  The Philippines offered to remove the Typhon mid-range missile system, a U.S. missile system, if China ceases its aggressive actions in the South China Sea. About Typhon Mid-Range Missile System Also Known As: The U.S. Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System. Missiles: Capable of launching SM-6 missiles and Tomahawk cruise …

PRELIMS BITS  Guinea has successfully eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. Political and Geographical Features Location: Western Africa, on the Atlantic coast. Boundaries: Guinea-Bissau (northwest), Senegal (north), Mali (northeast), Côte d’Ivoire (southeast), and Liberia and Sierra Leone (south). Climate: Tropical (hot and humid). Mountain Ranges: Nimba, …

PRELIMS BITS The INSV Tarini, under Navika Sagar Parikrama-II, successfully passed through Point Nemo, the location in the South Pacific Ocean farthest from land. About Navika Sagar Parikrama-II Objective: An ambitious circumnavigation of the globe by two female Indian Navy officers aboard the INSV Tarini, covering over 21,600 nautical miles. First …

PRELIMS BITS The TDSAT stayed penalties imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on telecom companies for failing to curb spam. About TDSAT Establishment: A statutory body set up by an amendment to the TRAI Act, 1997, in 2000. Function: Adjudicates disputes, disposes of appeals, and protects the interests of …

PRELIMS BITS The TDSAT stayed penalties imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on telecom companies for failing to curb spam. About TDSAT Establishment: A statutory body set up by an amendment to the TRAI Act, 1997, in 2000. Function: Adjudicates disputes, disposes of appeals, and protects the interests of …

PRELIMS BITS  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published the RBI–Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI). About RBI-DPI Objective: To measure the extent of digitization in payment systems and the adoption of online transactions. Release Frequency: Semi-annual (March and September). Base Period: March 2018. Parameters: Payment enablers, payment infrastructure (demand and supply-side factors), payment performance, and …

PRELIMS BITS A Russian nuclear-powered vessel, ‘50 Let Pobedy,’ collided with a cargo vessel in the Kara Sea. Kara Sea: A shallow marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Siberia, Russia. It is one of the coldest seas in the world. Rivers Draining into Kara Sea: Kara, Ob, Pyasina, Yenisei. …

PRELIMS BITS  The Supreme Court issued directions to curb pollution caused by tanneries in the Palar River, Tamil Nadu. Palar River Pollution: The river is heavily polluted by untreated chemical effluents from tanneries, including toxic heavy metals like chromium. Tanneries: Factories where animal hides are processed into leather. Untreated discharge causes irreversible …

PRELIMS BITS The UN Resident Coordinator in India emphasized the importance of building lasting partnerships for Blue Helmets to effectively tackle global threats. Blue Helmets: Refers to UN peacekeepers, who wear blue helmets during peacekeeping missions worldwide. About UN Peacekeepers Origin: Began in 1948 with the deployment of military observers to West …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH The Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology announced that an indigenous AI model could be ready within six months. The Minister also launched a call for proposals under the India AI Mission, inviting startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop foundational AI models using Indian datasets. Features …

GS3 SCIENCE & TECH  China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as China’s Artificial Sun, maintained a steady-state high-confinement plasma operation for over 1,000 seconds, reaching a temperature of 100 million °C. Tokamak: A machine that confines plasma using magnetic fields in a donut shape to harness fusion energy. Significance of …

GS3 ENVIRONMENT  A recent study analyzed data spanning three decades and examined over 600 species of animals, plants, and fungi across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Genetic Diversity: Refers to the range of inherited traits within a species, crucial for population adaptation to changing environments. It is vital for the long-term survival …

GS3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network 2023-2024 Impact Report, which highlights significant initiatives like the use of drones for healthcare delivery in India and how innovation can address global challenges. Key Highlights of the Report Seven Core Thematic …

GS1: Geography The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to highlight the importance of glaciers and the need for climate action. Glaciers hold 70% of the world’s freshwater, and their rapid melting threatens water supplies, raises sea levels, and risks coastal areas. What Are …

GS3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is gaining momentum with recent initiatives from RITES to improve trade and connectivity between India, the Middle East, and Europe. RITES is focusing on creating a digital interface for cargo clearance between Indian and Middle Eastern ports, marking the first phase …