International Developments
India Re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of COP10 Bureau:
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- India participated in COP10 (20–22 Oct 2025, UNESCO, Paris) marking the 20th anniversary of the International Convention against Doping in Sport.
- India re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of COP10 Bureau for Asia-Pacific (2025–2027); Azerbaijan elected Chairperson.
- India supported COP10 with interactive boards showcasing the Anti-Doping Convention’s journey.
- Focus areas: Strengthening governance and compliance, funding anti-doping initiatives, addressing emerging challenges (gene manipulation, traditional pharmacopoeia, ethical issues).
- India’s proposal: Integrating Values Education through Sport (VETS) to promote ethics, integrity, and sports values among youth and organizations.
- Outcome: COP10 reaffirmed commitment to fairness, integrity, and governance reforms in sport.
(PIB)
Geography, Mapping, Ecology & Environment
International Snow Leopard Day (23 October):
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- Event Overview: India marked International Snow Leopard Day by launching the #23for23 initiative, encouraging citizens to engage in 23 minutes of physical activity to raise awareness about snow leopard conservation.
- Conservation Success: The first-ever Snow Leopard Census recorded 718 individual snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas, with 477 of them residing in Ladakh.
- Commitment to Global Goals: The observance reaffirmed India’s dedication to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP), emphasizing science-based monitoring, habitat protection, and community engagement for the species’ long-term survival.
(PIB)
Pokkali paddy:
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- Region: Cultivated mainly in Kerala, especially Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Thrissur districts, in the coastal saline fields.
- Unique Feature:
1. Saltwater tolerant variety of rice; can survive in brackish water during monsoon.
2. Grows in waterlogged, low-fertility, saline soils where other rice varieties cannot survive.
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- Cultivation Cycle:
1. Alternate farming with prawn/fish culture: rice grown in monsoon; prawns in post-monsoon season.
2. This integrated farming system ensures sustainable income for farmers.
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- Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
1. Recognized for its unique agro-ecological conditions and traditional knowledge.
2. Protects the authenticity and market value of the variety.
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- Significance:
1. Promotes biodiversity and eco-friendly farming.
2. Supports livelihoods of coastal communities.
3. Known for high aroma, taste, and nutritional quality.
(TH)
Science & Technology
SOAR’s Mission:
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- The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative: Targets school students (Classes 6-12) and educators, to build foundational skills in AI.
- For students: three 15-hour modules; for educators: a separate 45-hour module covering topics like ethical AI and basic machine-learning.
- Budget 2025-26 allocates ₹500 crore for setting up a Centre of Excellence in AI for education.
- From FY 2022-23 to June 2025, 1,480 apprentices trained under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme 2 (NAPS 2) in AI-related roles (e.g., AI Data Engineer, ML Engineer).
- SOAR aligns with the Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy 2020 to boost AI literacy in India.
- The programme aims to advance India’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” by creating a digitally inclusive, tech-ready workforce and bridging urban–rural digital divides.
(PIB)
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025:
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- Amendment to IT Rules 2021: MeitY revised Rule 3(1)(d) to strengthen intermediary obligations under the IT Act, 2000.
- Key Features:
1. Senior-Level Authorization: Only officers Joint Secretary level or above (or DIG in police) can issue content removal notices.
2. Reasoned Intimation: Notices must specify legal basis, nature of unlawful content, and URL/identifier.
3. Periodic Review: Monthly review by a Secretary-level officer ensures necessity, proportionality, and compliance with law.
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- Impact:
- Improves transparency and accountability.
- Provides clear guidance for intermediaries.
- Ensures proportionality and adherence to natural justice principles.
(PIB)
Defence & Security
JAPAN-INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE (JAIMEX) – 2025:
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- The Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri (a Shivalik-class guided-missile stealth frigate) participated in the Sea Phase of JAIMEX-2025 from 16-18 Oct 2025 and later made a port call at Yokosuka, Japan on 21 Oct for the Harbour Phase.
- During the Sea Phase, Indian and Japanese ships (including Japan Maritime Self‑Defense Force vessels Asahi, Oumi and submarine Jinryu) carried out advanced anti-submarine warfare drills, missile-defence exercises, flying operations and underway replenishment to enhance interoperability.
- The Harbour Phase at Yokosuka involved professional and cultural exchanges, such as cross-deck visits, joint operational planning, sharing best practices and even a combined yoga session, fostering camaraderie and deeper navy-to-navy ties.
- The exercise underlines the strong “Special Strategic & Global Partnership” between India and Japan (established in 2014) and their shared vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
- INS Sahyadri, commissioned in 2012 and domestically built, reflects India’s push for indigenous defence technology (aligned with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision).
(PIB)
Captions and Quotations
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- A reimagined global order must embrace plurality — not just of power, but of experience and voice.
- United Nations remains an indispensable symbol — not of perfection, but of possibility.
- UN at 80 is neither a relic nor a panacea. It is a work in progress — a reflection of our collective aspirations and contradictions.
- United Nations (UN) was born not of triumph, but of tragedy, not as a monument to power, but as a mechanism for peace.
Environment (Plastic pollution):
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- The solutions are equally clear but remain largely unimplemented: cleaner transport, sustainable energy, better waste management, and urban planning that actually reduces pollution sources.
(TH)
PRACTICE MCQ’S
Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. The SOAR initiative aims to build foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills among school students and educators across India.
2. Under the Union Budget 2025–26, ₹500 crore has been allocated for setting up a Centre of Excellence in AI for education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
The SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative is designed to impart foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills to school students (Classes 6–12) and educators across India. It focuses on building digital literacy, ethical AI understanding, and basic machine learning skills in line with the Skill India Mission and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Statement 2 is correct:
The Union Budget 2025–26 earmarked ₹500 crore for establishing a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education, to strengthen AI-driven learning and capacity building under the SOAR initiative.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding JAIMEX 2025:
1. Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri participated in the Sea Phase of JAIMEX 2025 with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
2. The Harbour Phase at Yokosuka included professional exchanges, cultural activities, and joint operational planning.
3. JAIMEX 2025 primarily aims to establish a permanent Indian naval base in Japan under the India-Japan “Special Strategic & Global Partnership.”
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
INS Sahyadri participated in the Sea Phase of JAIMEX 2025 (16–18 Oct 2025) alongside Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels (Asahi, Oumi, and submarine Jinryu). The drills included anti-submarine warfare, missile defense exercises, flying operations, and underway replenishment, aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two navies.
Statement 2 is correct:
During the Harbour Phase at Yokosuka (21 Oct 2025), the exercise included professional and cultural exchanges, such as cross-deck visits, joint operational planning, sharing best practices, and even combined yoga sessions, strengthening navy-to-navy relations.
Statement 3 is incorrect:
JAIMEX 2025 is a bilateral naval exercise focused on training, interoperability, and maritime cooperation. It does not involve establishing a permanent Indian naval base in Japan.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India’s participation in COP10 on the International Convention against Doping in Sport:
1. India was re-elected as the Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau for the Asia-Pacific region for the term 2025–2027.
2. India proposed integrating the Values Education through Sport (VETS) approach to promote ethics, integrity, and sports values among youth and sport organizations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
India was re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau for the Asia-Pacific (Group IV) for the term 2025–2027 during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) held at UNESCO, Paris.
Statement 2 is correct:
India successfully proposed integrating the Values Education through Sport (VETS) approach, aimed at promoting ethics, integrity, and sports values among youth, sport organizations, and society at large.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding India’s celebration of International Snow Leopard Day:
1. India launched the #23for23 initiative, encouraging citizens to engage in 23 minutes of physical activity to raise awareness about snow leopard conservation.
2. The first-ever Snow Leopard Census in India recorded 718 snow leopards, with the majority residing in Himachal Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
India marked International Snow Leopard Day by launching the #23for23 initiative, encouraging citizens to spend 23 minutes on physical activity to raise awareness about snow leopard conservation.
Statement 2 is incorrect:
The first-ever Snow Leopard Census in India recorded 718 individual snow leopards, with 477 of them found in Ladakh, highlighting the region’s critical role in the species’ conservation.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the recent amendments to Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021:
1. Only senior officers not below the rank of Joint Secretary (or DIG in police) can issue notices for removal of unlawful online content.
2. All content removal intimations must specify the legal basis, nature of the unlawful act, and URL/identifier.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
statement 1 is correct:
The amendments specify that only senior officers—not below the rank of Joint Secretary (or DIG in police, if authorized), can issue notices for the removal of unlawful online content. This ensures accountability and prevents arbitrary directions.
Statement 2 is correct:
Notices must be reasoned and detailed, specifying the legal basis, statutory provision, nature of unlawful content, and URL/identifier. All intimations are subject to a monthly review by a Secretary-level officer to ensure necessity, proportionality, and compliance with law.
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