Relevance: GS-3 (Science & Tech – R&D Ecosystem) | Source: The Hindu India’s research spending remains low at 0.65% of GDP and is heavily dependent on public funds. To become a knowledge and innovation-driven economy, India needs a predictable, long-term research pipeline that links universities, industry, and markets. Global Benchmarks (What Works Abroad) Leading tech companies invest 5–20% of revenue in R&D (e.g., Alphabet, Huawei, Meta)….

Relevance: GS-2/GS-3 (Federalism; Disaster Management) | Source: The Hindu, NDMA Act 2005 The July 2024 Wayanad landslide (≈300 deaths) exposed a deep fiscal mismatch: Kerala sought ₹2,200 crore for relief and reconstruction, while the Union immediately approved only ₹260 crore. This pattern, repeated across States, highlights structural weaknesses in India’s disaster-finance architecture and the fraying edges of cooperative federalism. How India’s Disaster Financing Works State Disaster…

Relevance: GS-3 (Economy – Growth, National Accounts) | Source: The Indian Express, IMF Article IV Review India’s Q2 GDP growth stood at 8.2%, outperforming expectations. Manufacturing, services, festive-season demand and front-loaded production boosted output. However, the IMF’s Article IV review assigned India’s national accounts a ‘C’ grade (second-lowest), flagging data-quality and methodological issues. This creates a paradox: strong growth, but questions about how accurately it is…

Relevance: GS-3 (Infrastructure, Shipping & Trade) | Source: The Hindu At the India Maritime Week, the government announced revival measures for the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)</strong), which had lost its dominance in recent decades due to liberalisation, global competition, and delays in fleet modernisation. About the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) Established in 1961; a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and…

Relevance: GS-3 (Science & Tech – Indigenous Manufacturing) | Source: The Hindu CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, has launched the production-ready Hansa-3(NG), an upgraded indigenous two-seater trainer aircraft. Mumbai-based M/s Pioneer Clean Amps will manufacture the aircraft at a new facility in Andhra Pradesh, with plans to produce up to 100 aircraft annually. About the Hansa-3 Aircraft Originally designed in the 1990s by CSIR–NAL; the new…

Relevance: GS-3 (Cybersecurity, Digital Governance) | Source: The Hindu The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed messaging platforms — WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal — to ensure that their services work only when the registered SIM is physically present in the device. Apps must also auto-logout web sessions every six hours. The directive, effective from February 2026, expands DoT’s jurisdiction over internet-based messaging services. What is SIM Binding…

Relevance: GS-3 (Aviation Safety, Technology Regulation) | Source: The Indian Express India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ordered airlines to urgently install a software fix on Airbus A320-family aircraft after Airbus issued a safety alert. Aircraft without the modification had to be grounded. Why Was the Update Needed? A recent incident abroad showed that intense solar radiation could corrupt aircraft sensor data….

Relevance: GS-1 (Geography – Climate & Disasters) | Source: The Indian Express A powerful tropical storm system over the Malacca Strait triggered catastrophic floods and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, causing nearly 950 deaths and affecting more than 4 million people. Extreme rainfall, overflowing rivers, landslides, and disrupted communication links worsened the humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands displaced. Cyclone Basics Cyclone Formation in an…

Relevance: GS Paper 2 (Governance), GS Paper 3 (Security) • Source: The Indian Express The Present & Historical Context The term Military–Industrial Complex gained prominence during the Cold War when nations dramatically increased defence spending. In the United States, President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address warned of the growing influence of defence industries on public policy. Today, rising geopolitical tensions and global arms races make the…

Relevance: GS-1 (Culture), GS-2 (Cultural Integration) | Source: PIB The Government of India inaugurated the latest edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, an initiative to celebrate the civilisational linkages between Kashi (Varanasi) and Tamil Nadu. The event includes academic exchanges, cultural performances, cuisine exhibitions, and people-to-people interactions. What is Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0? A flagship programme under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative, it aims…