Current Affairs 2025–26 – Live Feed + Curated Notes

Mock Test Mitra provides daily current affairs to help aspirants stay updated for competitive exams. The page automatically shows the latest news and important updates relevant for exams like ESE, GATE, SSC JE, UPSC, and other government exams.

Current affairs are organised into key exam topics such as Economy, Awards, Appointments, Government Schemes, Rankings, and Important Days, making revision quick and easy for students.

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► Curated Study Notes (UPSC GS I–IV · Prelims & Mains · Verified Data)

Click any chapter chip to jump directly. All data verified for 2025–26 exam cycle.

Ch 1 · Economy & RBI Ch 2 · Awards & Honours Ch 3 · Appointments Ch 4 · Schemes & Policies Ch 5 · Important Days & Themes Ch 6 · Rankings & Reports Ch 7 · International Relations Ch 8 · Polity & Governance Ch 9 · Environment & Ecology Ch 10 · Science & Technology Ch 11 · History, Art & Culture Ch 12 · Geography & Disaster Mgmt

1Economy & Finance – Key Data 2025–26 GS-III · Prelims + Mains►

India's Key Economic Indicators

Indicator	Value / Status
GDP Growth (FY 2024–25 Advance Estimate)	6.4 % (NSO 1^st Advance)
GDP Growth (FY 2025–26 IMF Projection)	6.2 %
Fiscal Deficit Target 2025–26	4.4 % of GDP
CPI Inflation (Apr 2025)	~3.16 % (within RBI's 2–6 % band)
RBI Repo Rate (Mar 2026)	6.00 % (2 cuts of 25 bps: Feb & Apr 2025)
India Nominal GDP (FY 2024–25)	≈ ₹324 lakh crore (~US$ 3.9 trillion); 5^th globally
Forex Reserves (Mar 2026)	~US$ 686 billion
Capital Expenditure 2025–26	₹11,21,000 crore
Zero income-tax slab (new regime)	Up to ₹12 lakh/year
India's Gini Coefficient (2024)	~0.35 (NSSO); inequality concern flagged by Oxfam
Unemployment Rate (PLFS 2024)	~3.2 % (urban: 6.7 %)
Current Account Deficit FY25	~1.0 % of GDP

RBI Key Rates (Mar 2026): Repo: 6.00 % · SDF: 5.75 % · MSF/Bank Rate: 6.25 % · CRR: 4 % · SLR: 18 % · Standing Deposit Facility introduced: 2022

Budget 2025–26 – Top Allocations

Scheme / Sector	₹ crore
Defence (Total)	6,81,210
Education	1,28,650
Health & Family Welfare	98,311
MGNREGS	86,000
Jal Jeevan Mission	67,000
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi	63,500
PM Awas Yojana (Urban + Rural)	54,500
National Health Mission	38,520

Important Economic Bodies & Their Heads (2025–26)

Body	Head	Key Role
RBI	Sanjay Malhotra	Monetary policy, banking regulation
SEBI	Tuhin Kanta Pandey	Capital markets regulator
NITI Aayog (CEO)	B.V.R. Subrahmanyam	Policy think-tank; replaced Planning Commission 2015
Finance Commission (16^th)	Arvind Panagariya	Devolution of taxes; 2026–31
CAG	K. Sanjay Murthy	Public accounts audit
PFRDA	Deepak Mohanty	NPS, pension regulation
GST Council	FM Nirmala Sitharaman (Chair)	Indirect tax harmonisation

Nobel Prizes in Economics & Finance 2024

Economics Nobel 2024: Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson — for studies on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity. Key work: Why Nations Fail.

✅ Quick Recall — India's "Firsts" in Economy: 1st country to launch Unified Payments Interface (UPI) · PM GatiShakti NMP launched 2021 · National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP): ₹6 lakh crore target 2021–25 · India Stack — digital public infrastructure model

2Awards & Honours 2024–25 GS-I · Prelims►

Bharat Ratna 2024 (5 Awardees — Largest Single-Year Batch)

Recipient	Field	Note
M.S. Swaminathan (posthumous)	Agriculture	Father of Green Revolution in India
L.K. Advani	Public Affairs	BJP veteran; former Deputy PM
Karpoori Thakur (posthumous)	Public Affairs	Former Bihar CM; "Jan Nayak"; OBC icon
P.V. Narasimha Rao (posthumous)	Public Affairs	Father of LPG economic reforms (1991)
Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumous)	Public Affairs	Former PM; farmer leader; RLD founder

Padma Awards 2025 (Selected)

Award	Recipient	Field
Padma Vibhushan	Sharda Sinha (posthumous)	Chhath folk music, Bihar
Padma Vibhushan	Osamu Suzuki	Industry (Maruti-Suzuki partnership)
Padma Bhushan	Nandamuri Balakrishna	Arts (Telugu cinema)
Padma Bhushan	Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev	Spirituality / Save Soil movement
Padma Shri (Science)	Multiple ISRO scientists	Chandrayaan-3 mission team

Nobel Prizes 2024 — Full List

Prize	Winner(s)	Country	For
Physics	John Hopfield & Geoffrey Hinton	USA/UK	Neural network foundations enabling AI
Chemistry	David Baker, Demis Hasabis & John Jumper	USA/UK	Computational protein design / AlphaFold
Medicine	Victor Ambros & Gary Ruvkun	USA	Discovery of microRNA
Economics	Acemoglu, Johnson & Robinson	USA	Institutions and prosperity
Literature	Han Kang	South Korea	1^st Asian woman Nobel laureate in Literature
Peace	Nihon Hidankyo (Japan)	Japan	A-bomb survivor organisation

Other Major International Awards 2024–25

Award	Winner	Detail
Man Booker Prize 2024	Percival Everett (James)	USA
Oscar Best Film 2025	Anora (Sean Baker)	Also Palme d'Or Cannes 2024
Ballon d'Or 2024	Rodri (Spain)	Manchester City midfielder
TIME Person of Year 2024	Donald Trump	47^th US President
Goldman Environmental Prize 2025	Alok Shukla (India)	Hasdeo Aranya forest conservation, CG
Ramon Magsaysay 2024	Pooja Mistry (India)	Waste management – The Ugly Indian project
Saraswati Samman 2024	Swaroop Dhruv	Gujarati literature — novel Je Che Te Che
Jnanpith Award 2023	Gulzar (Hindi/Urdu) & Jagadguru Rambhadracharya	58^th Jnanpith; dual winners

Sports Awards 2024–25

Award	Winner(s)	Note
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2024	D. Gukesh (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey)	India's highest sports honour
Dronacharya Award 2024	Mohinder Singh Dhillon, Subhash Rana (others)	Coaching excellence
Arjuna Award 2024	Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani, Salima Tete, M. Shami	MoYAS
ICC Men's Player of Year 2024	Jasprit Bumrah (India)	Test bowling dominance

3Key Appointments 2024–26 GS-II · Prelims►

India – Constitutional & Key Appointments

Post	Person	Key Fact
President of India	Droupadi Murmu (Jul 2022)	15^th President; 1^st tribal woman President
Vice-President	Jagdeep Dhankhar (Aug 2022)	14^th VP; also Rajya Sabha Chairman
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi (Jun 2024)	3^rd consecutive term; NDA government
Chief Justice of India	B.R. Gavai (Nov 2024)	51^st CJI; 2^nd Dalit CJI in history
RBI Governor	Sanjay Malhotra (Dec 2024)	Succeeded Shaktikanta Das; 1^st cut in 5 years
Chief Election Commissioner	Gyanesh Kumar (Mar 2025)	1^st CEC appointed under CEC Act 2023
SEBI Chairperson	Tuhin Kanta Pandey (Mar 2025)	Succeeded Madhabi Puri Buch
CAG	K. Sanjay Murthy (Nov 2024)	Succeeded Girish Chandra Murmu
National Security Advisor	Ajit Doval	5^th term; key in Operation Sindoor
Foreign Secretary	Vikram Misri (Jul 2024)	Diplomatic lead for Operation Sindoor
Army Chief (COAS)	Gen. Upendra Dwivedi (Jun 2024)	Succeeded Gen. Manoj Pande
ICC Chairman	Jay Shah (Dec 2024)	Youngest-ever ICC Chairman
Attorney General	R. Venkataramani	Highest law officer of India

Global – Key Appointments

Post	Person	Key Fact
47^th US President	Donald Trump	Jan 20, 2025; JD Vance – VP; Republican
World Bank President	Ajay Banga	1^st person of Indian origin; since Jun 2023
IMF Managing Director	Kristalina Georgieva	2^nd term confirmed 2024; Bulgaria
WTO Director-General	Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala	Nigeria; 1^st African & 1^st woman DG
INTERPOL Secretary-General	Valdecy Urquiza	1^st Latin-American SG; Brazil; Nov 2024
Pope (Catholic Church)	Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost)	1^st American Pope; May 2025
UN Secretary-General	António Guterres	Portugal; 9^th UNSG; 2^nd term 2022–26
NATO Secretary-General	Mark Rutte	Netherlands; Oct 2024; succeeded Stoltenberg
WHO Director-General	Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus	Ethiopia; 2^nd term; pandemic management

4Government Schemes & Policies 2024–25 GS-II & III · Prelims + Mains►

Major Schemes — Quick Reference

Scheme	Ministry	Key Numbers & Features
PM Internship Scheme	MoCA	1 crore internships in 5 yrs; ₹5,000/month stipend; age 21–24
PM E-Drive (FAME-III)	MHI	₹10,900 crore; EV subsidy for 2W, 3W, buses; replaces FAME-II
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli	MNRE	1 crore rooftop solar; 300 free units/month; ₹75,021 crore outlay
Jal Jeevan Mission (ext. 2028)	Jal Shakti	₹2.3 lakh crore; ~80 % HH functional tap water 2025
PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan	MoTA	63,000 tribal villages; ₹79,156 crore; ST welfare
Mission Mausam	MoES	₹2,000 crore; 60 Doppler radars; 5-day precision forecast by 2026
One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)	DST/MoE	13,000+ journals free to all researchers; ₹6,000 crore / 3 yr
National Quantum Mission	DST	₹6,003 crore; 50–1000 qubit computer in 8 years; 4 hubs
PM MUDRA Yojana (Tarun+ category)	MoF	Loans up to ₹20 lakh; Tarun+ added 2024; small entrepreneurs
PM Vishwakarma Yojana	MSME	₹13,000 crore; artisan recognition; 18 traditional crafts
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam	MoEFCC	140 crore trees campaign; plantation linked to maternal honour
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan (PMJDY)	MoF	53+ crore accounts 2025; zero-balance; DBT backbone
SWAMIH Fund (2.0)	MoF / SEBI	₹15,000 crore; stressed housing projects completion
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)	DOPPW	Effective Apr 2025; assured 50 % pension after 25 yrs service

✅ Mission-Mode Missions (Quick List): Mission LiFE · Atmanirbhar Bharat · Make in India · Digital India · Skill India · Startup India · PM GatiShakti NMP · PLI Schemes (14 sectors) · National Logistics Policy 2022 · National Green Hydrogen Mission · Semiconductor Mission · Deep Ocean Mission · Mission Shakti (Women) · Mission Vatsalya (Children)

Key Acts Passed 2024–25

Act	Year	Key Provision
Waqf (Amendment) Act — UMEED Act	2025	Non-Muslim member; women representation; Waqf portal
Unified Pension Scheme	2025	Replaces NPS for central govt employees; assured pension
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)	2024	Replaced IPC 1860; sedition removed; organised crime added
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)	2024	Replaced CrPC; trial timeline fixed; CCTV mandatory
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)	2024	Replaced Evidence Act 1872; electronic records primary
Digital Personal Data Protection Act	2023	First India data privacy law; Data Protection Board
CEC & EC Appointment Act	2023	PM-led panel; CJI removed from selection committee

5Important Days & Themes 2025 Prelims · Static GK►

Important Days with 2025 Official Themes

Date	Day	2025 Theme / Key Fact
26 Jan	Republic Day	76^th; Chief Guest: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
28 Jan	Data Privacy Day	Significant post DPDPA 2023
4 Feb	World Cancer Day	"United by Unique" — UICC
20 Feb	World Day of Social Justice	"Strengthening Social Justice Through Climate Justice"
21 Feb	International Mother Language Day	"Multilingual Education — A Pillar of Learning" — UNESCO
8 Mar	International Women's Day	"Accelerate Action" — UN Women
15 Mar	World Consumer Rights Day	"Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy"
22 Mar	World Water Day	"Glacier Preservation" — UN
23 Mar	World Meteorological Day	"Closing the Early Warning Gap" — WMO
7 Apr	World Health Day	"Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures" — WHO
22 Apr	Earth Day	"Our Power, Our Planet"
5 Jun	World Environment Day	"Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience" — UNEP; Host: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
8 Jun	World Oceans Day	"Awaken New Depths" — UN
21 Jun	International Yoga Day	11^th edition 2025; theme: "Yoga for One Earth, One Health"
11 Jul	World Population Day	India ~144 crore — world's most populous nation (surpassed China 2023)
15 Aug	Independence Day	79^th Independence Day 2025; 2047 → Viksit Bharat centenary
5 Sep	Teachers' Day (India)	Dr. S. Radhakrishnan's birthday; 2^nd President of India
16 Sep	International Day for Ozone Layer	Montreal Protocol anniversary; 1987
2 Oct	Gandhi Jayanti	156^th birth anniversary; also UN Int'l Non-Violence Day
24 Oct	UN Day	80^th anniversary 2025 (established 1945)
1 Nov	World Vegan Day / Kerala & Karnataka Rajyotsava	State formation days
14 Nov	Children's Day (India)	Nehru's birthday; also World Diabetes Day
10 Dec	Human Rights Day	UDHR adopted 1948; 77^th anniversary 2025

📌 IYM 2025: 2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) declared by UN — directly relevant to National Quantum Mission.

6Rankings, Reports & Indices 2024–25 Prelims · GS-II & III►

India's Global Rankings

Index	India's Rank	Publisher	Note
Global Innovation Index 2024	39^th	WIPO	Best ever; 1^st among lower-middle income economies
Human Development Index 2024	134^th/193	UNDP	Score 0.685; Norway tops
Global Hunger Index 2024	105^th/127	Concern Worldwide / Welthungerhilfe	India contested methodology
Press Freedom Index 2024	159^th	RSF (Reporters Sans Frontières)	Norway 1^st
Corruption Perception Index 2024	93^rd	Transparency International	Score 39/100; Denmark cleanest (90)
Global Firepower Index 2025	4^th	GFP	USA 1^st, Russia 2^nd, China 3^rd
SIPRI Military Expenditure 2024	4^th (US$ 86.1 bn)	SIPRI	USA 1^st, China 2^nd, Russia 3^rd
Ease of Doing Business	63^rd (last WB report)	World Bank	Discontinued after 2020; replaced by B-READY
Henley Passport Index 2025	82^nd	Henley & Partners	Visa-free to 58 countries; Singapore tops
Logistics Performance Index 2023	38^th	World Bank	Up from 44^th (2018)
Global Peace Index 2024	116^th	IEP	Iceland most peaceful
Swachh Survekshan 2024 – Cleanest City	Indore (8^th time)	MoHUA	Maharashtra – cleanest state; Surat 2^nd
QS World University Rankings 2025	IIT Bombay – 118^th	Quacquarelli Symonds	Best Indian university globally

📌 "India is 4^th" Quick Recall: Economy (PPP basis) · Global Firepower · Military Spending · Forex Reserves · Steel Producer · Renewable Energy Capacity

Key Reports & Their Publishers

Report	Publisher	Frequency	Latest Key Finding
World Economic Outlook	IMF	Biannual (Apr & Oct)	India 6.2 % growth FY26
Human Development Report	UNDP	Annual	India 134^th; Medium HDI
Global Risks Report	WEF (Davos)	Annual (Jan)	Misinformation & climate top risks 2025
India State of Forest Report (ISFR)	FSI, MoEFCC	Biennial	ISFR 2023: forest cover 21.76 % of India
Economic Survey	MoF / CEA	Annual (pre-Budget)	CEA V. Anantha Nageswaran; 2024–25 edition
SIPRI Yearbook	SIPRI	Annual	Global military spending $2.4 trillion 2024
ASER Report	Pratham	Annual	Learning outcomes in rural India
State of World's Children	UNICEF	Annual	Child nutrition, education data
World Development Report	World Bank	Annual	2024: Middle Income Trap

7International Relations 2024–25 GS-II · Mains Essay►

India's Key Foreign Policy Events 2024–25

Event	Date	Significance
Operation Sindoor	May 7, 2025	India strikes 9 terror camps in PoK & Pakistan post Pahalgam attack; tri-service precision strikes; Indus Waters Treaty suspended
India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement	2025 (ongoing)	Tariff negotiations under Trump 2.0; "Big Deal" framework discussed
India–UK Free Trade Agreement	Signed May 2025	8 yrs of negotiations concluded; Scotch whisky, cars vs Indian textiles
SCO Summit 2024	Astana, Kazakhstan	PM Modi attended; India holds SCO Presidency 2023–24
G20 Presidency (India)	Dec 2022 – Nov 2023	"One Earth One Family One Future"; New Delhi Declaration; AU joins G20
BRICS Expansion 2024	Jan 2024	Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia join (BRICS+)
India–Maldives Relations	2024	Muizzu govt seeks Indian troop withdrawal; India–First replaced India-Out
Pahalgam Terror Attack	Apr 22, 2025	26 tourists killed; Pakistan-based TRF blamed; triggered Op. Sindoor

India and Multilateral Groupings

Grouping	Members	India's Role / Key Facts
QUAD	India, USA, Japan, Australia	Maritime security; tech cooperation; cancer moonshot; no military alliance
SCO	9 members (India, China, Russia…)	India full member since 2017; counter-terror; Eurasian connectivity
BRICS (expanded)	9 full members + partners	De-dollarisation push; India–China tensions within BRICS
SAARC	8 members	Stalled due to India–Pakistan tensions; replaced by BIMSTEC focus
BIMSTEC	7 members	India prioritises over SAARC; Bay of Bengal connectivity
I2U2 (West Asia Quad)	India, Israel, UAE, USA	Food security, energy, technology
IPEF	14 countries led by USA	Indo-Pacific Economic Framework; trade, supply chains, clean energy

India's Neighbourhood Policy — Doctrine & Updates

Neighbourhood First Policy — India's foreign policy priority. Key: Act East Policy (ASEAN, Japan), Connect Central Asia, Arctic Policy 2022, Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as strategic priority. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — India's G20 theme.

Neighbour	Status 2025	Key Issue
Pakistan	Hostile — Op. Sindoor fallout	Cross-border terrorism; Indus Waters Treaty suspended; LOC tensions
China	Partial normalisation	LAC patrolling agreement Oct 2024; Depsang, Demchok; CPEC concerns
Bangladesh	New govt (Yunus-led)	Sheikh Hasina exile; Teesta river water sharing pending; minority protection
Nepal	Stable	Power export agreement; hydropower cooperation; Kalapani dispute pending
Sri Lanka	Improved	New President Dissanayake; India-assisted IMF bailout; Katchatheevu
Maldives	Improving after reset	India troop withdrawal done; India resumes aid; strategic importance

8Polity & Governance 2024–25 GS-II · Mains + Prelims►

Constitutional Amendments (Recent)

Amendment	Year	Key Provision
106^th Constitutional Amendment	2023	Women's Reservation Bill — 33 % seats in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies; effective after next delimitation
105^th Amendment	2021	Restored State/UT power to identify OBCs for reservations
104^th Amendment	2020	Extended SC/ST reservations in Parliament by 10 years (to 2030)

Key Supreme Court Judgements 2024–25

Case	Ruling	Significance
Sub-classification within SC/ST quotas	Allowed (7:0)	States can sub-classify SC/STs for reservation; overrules E.V. Chinnaiah (2004)
Electoral Bond Scheme	Struck down (5:0)	Violated Art. 19(1)(a) right to information; SBI ordered to disclose data to EC
PMLA & ED Powers	Upheld	Arrest without written grounds challenged; SC holds ED powers constitutional
Bulldozer Action	Restrained	SC lays down guidelines; demolitions without due process unconstitutional
Same-sex Marriage	Not a fundamental right (5:0)	Left to Parliament; no right to marry under Art. 21
Article 370 Abrogation	Upheld (5:0)	J&K reorganisation constitutional; statehood to be restored

Governance Reforms & Bodies

Topic	Detail
One Nation One Election	Ram Nath Kovind Committee report submitted Jan 2024; simultaneous Lok Sabha + Assembly + local body elections proposed
Delimitation	Next delimitation post 2026 census; southern states fear reduced seats due to lower population growth
Lateral Entry into IAS	UPSC advertised 45 posts; cancelled Aug 2024 after political opposition; reservation concerns
Chief Minister Immunity	SC holds sitting CMs/governors do not have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution
16^th Finance Commission	Arvind Panagariya; 2026–31; vertical & horizontal devolution; 41 % devolution upheld
Parliamentary Committees 2024	JPC on WAQF amendment; PAC scrutiny of MGNREGS; Privileges Committee recommendations

Constitutional Basics (Prelims Quick Recall): Articles 12–35 (FRs) · Art. 36–51 (DPSPs) · Art. 51A (FDs added 1976 by 42^nd Amdt.) · Art. 352/356/360 (Emergency) · Art. 368 (Amendment) · Schedules: 9 (land reform immunity) · 10 (Anti-defection) · 11 (Panchayati Raj) · 12 (Municipalities)

9Environment & Ecology 2024–25 GS-III · Prelims + Mains►

Climate Change – India's Commitments (NDC 2022)

Target	Commitment
Non-fossil energy capacity	500 GW by 2030
Renewable share in electricity mix	50 % by 2030
Emission intensity reduction	45 % below 2005 levels by 2030
Carbon sink (forests)	2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent by 2030
Net zero target	2070 (announced COP26, Glasgow)

Important Environmental Conventions & India's Status

Convention / Protocol	Focus	India's Status
UNFCCC + Paris Agreement	Climate change	Ratified 2016; NDC updated 2022
Kyoto Protocol	GHG reduction (Annex-I nations)	Ratified; India not Annex-I (developing nation)
Montreal Protocol	Ozone-depleting substances	Ratified; Kigali Amendment (HFCs) ratified 2021
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)	Biodiversity	Ratified; Kunming-Montreal GBF 2022 — 30×30 target
CITES	Trade in endangered species	Ratified; 3 appendices; tiger, elephant protection
Ramsar Convention	Wetlands	India: 85 Ramsar sites (most in world, 2024)
Basel Convention	Hazardous waste transboundary	Ratified
Nagoya Protocol	Access & Benefit Sharing (biodiversity)	Ratified 2012; ABS under Biological Diversity Act

Protected Areas & Conservation

Category	Numbers (2025)	Key Facts
Tiger Reserves	56	Project Tiger 1973; India holds 75 % world tigers; latest: Veerangana Durgawati (MP)
National Parks	106	Jim Corbett – 1^st NP (1936); total 106 NPs
Wildlife Sanctuaries	573
Biosphere Reserves	18 (12 UNESCO-designated)	Nilgiri – 1^st BR; Sundarbans, Gulf of Mannar among UNESCO BRs
Ramsar Wetlands	85 sites	Highest in world; Chilika Lake – 1^st Ramsar site (1981)
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	43 (34 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)	Hoysala temples & Shaivite temples (Moidams) — latest 2024

Recent Environmental Events 2024–25

Event	Key Outcome
COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov 2024)	New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): $300 bn/yr by 2035 from developed nations to developing; Loss & Damage fund operationalised
Global Biodiversity Framework (Kunming-Montreal)	30×30: Protect 30 % land & oceans by 2030; $200 bn biodiversity finance
India's Forest Cover (ISFR 2023)	21.76 % of geographical area; increased by 1,445 km² since 2021
IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report	"Unequivocal" human influence on climate; 1.5°C likely exceeded by 2040
Great Nicobar Island Project	NGT orders fresh EIA; biodiversity concerns — leatherback turtles, indigenous Shompen tribe
Cheetah Reintroduction	Kuno NP, MP; 8 from Namibia (2022), 12 from South Africa (2023); 2 cheetahs died 2024

Environment Quick Mnemonics: CITES = "CITEs wildlife trade" · Ramsar = wetlands (Ra-water) · CBD = biodiversity (B for Bio) · UNFCCC = climate (C-C) · Montreal = ozone (M-O-zone)

10Science & Technology 2024–25 GS-III · Prelims + Mains►

ISRO Missions — Key Missions 2023–26

Mission	Status	Key Fact
Chandrayaan-3	Success (Aug 23, 2023)	1^st soft landing near lunar South Pole; Vikram lander + Pragyan rover; 23 Aug = National Space Day
Aditya-L1	Operational (Jan 2024)	1^st Indian solar observatory; Lagrange point L1; SUIT, VELC instruments
NISAR	Launch 2025	NASA–ISRO joint; synthetic aperture radar; most expensive Earth-observation satellite ($1.5 bn)
Chandrayaan-4	Approved 2024	Sample-return mission; LVM3 + PSLV dual-rocket; 3 kg lunar soil target
Gaganyaan	TV-D1 test done (Oct 2023)	India's 1^st crewed spaceflight; 3 astronauts; Vyommitras (robot)
XPoSat	Launched Jan 1, 2024	X-ray Polarimeter Satellite; 2^nd in world after NASA IXPE; black hole study
EOS-09 (RISAT-1B)	Launch 2025	All-weather radar imaging; strategic surveillance; used in Op. Sindoor intelligence

Defence Technology 2024–25

System	Type	Key Fact
Agni-V (MIRV)	ICBM	Mission Divyastra (Mar 2024); Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles; range 5,000+ km
BrahMos-ER	Cruise missile	Extended range 450+ km; supersonic; India–Russia joint; Philippines export deal
Tejas Mk-2	Fighter aircraft	Prototype unveiled 2024; twin-engine; AESA radar; HAL Bengaluru
NASM-MR	Naval anti-ship missile	HAL-developed; replaces Sea Eagle; tested from Jaguar maritime strike aircraft
Pralay	Ballistic missile	Quasi-ballistic; surface-to-surface; range 150–500 km; inducted 2023

AI & Emerging Technology

Initiative	Detail
IndiaAI Mission	₹10,372 crore; 10,000 GPUs compute infrastructure; AI startups, safe AI regulation
National Quantum Mission	₹6,003 crore; 50–1000 qubit systems; 4 Technology Hubs (T-Hubs)
Semiconductor Mission	₹76,000 crore incentive; Tata Electronics (Assam), CG Power (Gujarat), Micron (Gujarat)
5G Rollout India	Launched Oct 2022; 700+ cities covered 2025; Jio & Airtel lead; 6G policy announced
Digital Public Infrastructure	UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, ONDC, ABDM — India Stack exported to 50+ countries
ChatGPT / LLMs	OpenAI GPT-4o; Google Gemini; Meta LLaMA 3; Anthropic Claude — AI governance emerging

Physics Nobel 2024 (Hopfield & Hinton — Neural networks) and Chemistry Nobel 2024 (AlphaFold / protein structure) are directly relevant to Science & Technology GS-III paper.

11History, Art & Culture 2024–25 GS-I · Prelims + Mains►

UNESCO World Heritage Sites — India (2024 Additions)

Site	State	Type	Year Inscribed
Hoysala Sacred Ensembles (Belur, Halebid, Somnathapura)	Karnataka	Cultural	2023
Moidams — Mound-Burial System of Ahom	Assam	Cultural	2024
Santiniketan	West Bengal	Cultural	2023
Dholavira (Harappan City)	Gujarat	Cultural	2021
Kakatiya Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa)	Telangana	Cultural	2021

Archaeological Finds & Culture Events 2024–25

Event	Detail
Ram Mandir Consecration (Prana Pratishtha)	Jan 22, 2024; Ayodhya, UP; PM Modi presides; construction began 2020 post SC verdict (Nov 2019)
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2024	Varanasi; cultural exchange between Tamil Nadu & Kashi; deepens cultural integration
Surajkund Crafts Mela 2025	38^th edition; Faridabad; theme state — Telangana; partner nation — Malaysia
Pashupati Seal re-analysis	IIT Kharagpur study 2024 — links Harappan proto-Shiva to later Vedic traditions
Nataraja statue controversy	Chola-era bronze in USA returned to India via repatriation; diplomatic success

Classical Dance Forms — Quick Recall

Dance	State	Scripture / Origin
Bharatanatyam	Tamil Nadu	Devadasi tradition; Natyashastra
Kathak	UP / Rajasthan	Lucknow & Jaipur gharanas; Mughal fusion
Odissi	Odisha	Mahari & gotipua tradition; Jagannath temple
Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh	Village Kuchipudi; male-dominated historically
Manipuri	Manipur	Vaishnavism; Ras Leela; circular movements
Mohiniyattam	Kerala	Lasya style; feminine; temple tradition
Kathakali	Kerala	Elaborate makeup; Navarasas; male performers
Sattriya	Assam	Vaishnava monastic tradition; recognised 2000

GI Tags 2024 (Selected): Toda Embroidery (TN) · Pochampally Ikat (Telangana) · Kolhapuri Chappal (Maharashtra) · Nagpur Orange · Mizo Puanchei textiles · Tawang Monastery Thangka paintings (Arunachal)

12Geography & Disaster Management 2024–25 GS-I & III · Prelims + Mains►

India — Physical & Economic Geography Quick Facts

Parameter	Data
Area	32.87 lakh km² — 7^th largest country
Coastline	7,516.6 km (mainland); 11 coastal states + 2 UTs
Highest Peak	K2 (disputed) / Kangchenjunga (within India) — 8,586 m
Longest River	Ganga (2,525 km within India); Indus overall longest originating in Tibet
Largest State (area)	Rajasthan (3.42 lakh km²)
Smallest State (area)	Goa (3,702 km²)
Largest UT (area)	J&K (42,241 km² after reorganisation)
Tropic of Cancer	Passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, WB, Tripura, Mizoram
Standard Meridian	82°30'E (Mirzapur, UP) — IST = UTC+5:30

Important Passes — Prelims Focus

Pass	State / Region	Significance
Zoji La	J&K	Connects Srinagar–Leh; Z-Morh tunnel under construction
Rohtang Pass	Himachal Pradesh	Atal Tunnel (Rohtang) — world's longest high-altitude tunnel (8.8 km)
Nathu La	Sikkim	India–China trade route; Silk Road branch
Bomdi La	Arunachal Pradesh	Strategic pass; 1962 war route
Lipulekh	Uttarakhand	Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route; tripoint India-Nepal-China
Banihal Pass	J&K	Connects Kashmir Valley to Jammu; Banihal Tunnel

Disaster Management — Key Events & Frameworks

Disaster / Framework	Detail
Wayanad Landslide (Jul 2024)	Kerala; 300+ deaths; Mundakkai village devastated; NDRF deployed; rehabilitation ongoing
Cyclone Remal (May 2024)	Bangladesh–Myanmar–WB coast; severe cyclone; 40+ deaths; IMD early warning credited
Sikkim Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)	Oct 2023; South Lhonak Lake; 100+ deaths; 4 dams damaged; Teesta disruption
NDMA (National Disaster Mgmt Authority)	Statutory body under DM Act 2005; PM as Chairperson; state level — SDMA
Sendai Framework 2015–30	7 global targets; reduce mortality, economic losses; disaster risk reduction (DRR)
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)	India-led; launched at UN Climate Summit 2019; 39 member nations; 6 IOs
Tsunami Early Warning System	India Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) — INCOIS, Hyderabad; Indian Ocean focus

Rivers & Interlinking of Rivers (ILR)

Ken–Betwa Link Project (approved 2022) — 1^st ILR project; MP & UP; 10.62 lakh hectares irrigation; Panna Tiger Reserve & environmental concerns. National River Linking Authority (NRLA) set up 2024 to fast-track remaining 30 links.