News at a Glance
| Topic | GS Paper | Context & Key Facts |
| Govt. Allows Transition from UPS to NPS | GS2 – Governance (Initiatives) | Ministry allows Central Government employees to shift from Unified Pension Scheme to National Pension System up to one year pre-retirement; one-way, excludes employees under dismissal/removal |
| India’s Declining Academic Freedoms | GS2 – Social Sector (Education) | FIRs and fund scrutiny against CSDS-Lokniti highlight growing institutional pressure, reduced rankings India in the bottom 20% for academic freedom; erodes research’s role in policy and public trust . |
| Inflation Targeting Framework | GS3 – IE (Inflation) | RBI discussion paper on inflation targeting: India uses 4% CPI target (±2%), adopts headline inflation (not core) since 2016; aims for stability but faces food/fuel volatility |
| GST Exemption on Insurance | GS3 – IE (Taxes) | GoM proposes dropping 18% GST on life insurance; industry warns no ITC will raise costs, may increase premiums suggests “zero rating” for balanced tax relief with ITC . |
| Waiver of Cotton Import Duty | GS3 – IE (Taxes) | Govt. waives 11% import duty amid falling US textile exports, to boost supply, stabilize prices, and help 35M jobs in cotton value chain . |
| India’s EV Export Push | GS3 – IE (Industry) | PM inaugurates Gujarat’s lithium-ion plant, launches EV exports to 100 nations; India targets global auto leadership, 30% EV share by 2030, supports ~37M jobs. |
| Salwa Judum Campaign in Chhattisgarh | GS3 – IS (Issues) | Debate renewed on disbanded Salwa Judum (anti-Naxal vigilante squads); SC ruled it unconstitutional for violating rights and endangering civilians (Articles 14, 21) . |
| Economic Cost of Invasive Species | GS3 – Envi (Degradation) | Study: India underreports highest global cost of invasive plants due to fragmented data, poor monitoring; species like lantana harm ecosystems and local revenues calls for central, cross-sectoral tracking and investment . |
| Melting of Arctic Sea Ice Slows | GS3 – Envi (Degradation) | Melting of Arctic ice has slowed in past 20 years (0.35M sq km decline per decade), but study warns trend is temporary; reversal could accelerate sea-level rise due to GHGs and climate cycles . |
| Eight Firefly Species in Anamalai Tiger Reserve | GS3 – Envi (Species) | TN Forest Dept. finds 8 firefly species in Anamalai TR using DNA barcoding; fireflies provide vital ecosystem services but are threatened by habitat loss/pollution; reserve is a biodiversity hotspot . |
| Fast Radio Burst RBFLOAT | GS3 – S&T (Space) | Astronomers detect brightest, closest non-repeating fast radio burst (RBFLOAT) from NGC-4141; advances studies in cosmic phenomena using CHIME, JWST |
| OpenAI India-First Learning Accelerator | GS3 – S&T (AI) | OpenAI to open India office, collaborate with IIT Madras, distribute 500K ChatGPT licenses in partnership with MoE, advancing AI-driven education and talent . |
| National Youth Award | Prelims – In News | Nominations open for 2024 National Youth Award to recognize excellence and voluntary service (15–29 years), awarded at National Youth Festival. |
| Lok Samvardhan Parv | Prelims – In News | 5th edition in Kochi, Kerala; connects craftspeople, chefs, and entrepreneurs from minority communities to new market opportunities; showcases indigenous art, cuisine, and heritage. |
| Committees to Mark Anniversaries of National Icons | Prelims – In News | Centre forms panels for Sardar Patel (150th), Birsa Munda (150th), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (centenary) to celebrate key national leaders through events, research, and outreach. |
| National Sports Day 2025 | Prelims – In News | To be marked nationwide (Aug 29–31) as a fitness movement; theme: ‘Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main’. Commemorates Major Dhyan Chand’s birth and India’s Fit Movement, supports 2036 Olympics vision. |
| Typhoon Kajiki | Prelims – One Liners | 2025’s strongest Pacific typhoon, expected to intensify and make landfall in Vietnam. Typical regional tropical cyclones, wind speeds 166 km/h . |
| CISF All-Women Commando Team | Prelims – One Liners | CISF forms its first all-women commando unit for counter-terror operations at sensitive installations |