Current Affairs 17-October-2025

Supreme Court Allows Limited Use of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR

• The Supreme Court (SC) has temporarily eased the blanket ban on firecrackers in the Delhi–NCR region.
• This relaxation permits the use of green crackers, which are considered a safer alternative to conventional firecrackers.
• The approval is subject to strict conditions laid down by the court to balance public health and festive sentiments.
  • Green crackers are fireworks developed by CSIR–NEERI (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) to reduce pollution.
  • These crackers reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by at least 30%, helping to control air pollution during festivities.
  • They also exclude harmful chemicals like barium nitrate, arsenic, lithium, and mercury, which are present in traditional crackers.
• The SC first introduced the concept of green crackers in the Arjun Gopal vs Union of India (2018) case, which led to a ban on conventional firecrackers.

Types of Green Crackers – Developed by CSIR–NEERI

• SWAS (Safe Water & Air Releaser) is a type of green cracker that emits very fine water droplets to help absorb dust particles in the air.
• SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium) uses a safe quantity of aluminium, and is designed to produce lower noise levels than traditional fireworks.
• STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker) does not contain potassium nitrate or sulfur, and generates minimal smoke during combustion.

Conditions for Use – As Ordered by Supreme Court

• Use of green crackers is allowed only on specified days and during designated time slots.
• Only green crackers that are approved by NEERI can be legally manufactured and sold.
• These crackers must be sold only through authorised physical retail outlets.
• Sale of firecrackers through e-commerce platforms remains strictly prohibited, even if they are green crackers.
• Any firecracker that contains banned chemicals will not be allowed under this temporary relaxation.

Monitoring and Policy Impact

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will closely monitor air quality during the permitted usage period.
• This real-time data will help assess the environmental impact of allowing green crackers during festivals.
• The SC’s approach reflects a pragmatic balance between the need to protect the environment and the cultural tradition of celebrating with fireworks.
• This move may also serve as a pilot initiative for future evidence-based policymaking regarding firecracker regulations.

India–Mongolia Celebrate 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations and 10 Years of Strategic Partnership

• India and Mongolia marked 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which began in 1955.
• The two countries also celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership, established in 2015.
• The celebrations coincided with the visit of the President of Mongolia to India, during which several key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed.

Key MoUs Signed During the Mongolian President’s Visit

• In the field of Development Cooperation, both nations reaffirmed commitment to the Mongol Oil Refinery Project.
• The oil refinery is being developed with a US$ 1.7 billion Line of Credit from India.
• This project is significant for enhancing Mongolia’s energy independence and reducing import dependence.
• In the area of Cultural Relations, an MoU was signed between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and Arkhangai Province of Mongolia.
  • This agreement aims to foster cultural and regional cooperation at the sub-national level.
• Under Spiritual Cooperation, India announced plans to send the holy relics of Lord Buddha’s disciples Sariputra and Maudgalyayana to Mongolia.
• India also committed to help digitise 1 million ancient Buddhist manuscripts in Mongolia.
• Additionally, India will work to establish a spiritual and academic link between Nalanda University and Gandan Monastery in Mongolia.
• Other MoUs include India’s offer of free e-visas to Mongolian citizens to promote tourism and people-to-people ties.
• Both sides also agreed to explore the use of third-country ports to strengthen bilateral trade connectivity.
• Cooperation will also be enhanced in critical minerals, resilient supply chains, and the uranium sector.

Significance of Mongolia for India

• Mongolia holds strategic importance for India due to its location between Russia and China, two major regional powers.
• This position gives Mongolia a role in promoting geopolitical balance and regional stability in Asia.
• India and Mongolia share a vision for a free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific.
• Both countries also cooperate actively in multilateral fora, including the United Nations and International Solar Alliance.
• In the energy sector, Mongolia is rich in coking coal, which is essential for India’s steel industry.
• This makes Mongolia a valuable partner in ensuring energy and economic security for India.

Overview of India–Mongolia Bilateral Relations

• Diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia were formally established in 1955.
• The two countries elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2015, reflecting deeper political, economic, and security cooperation.
• Total bilateral trade between India and Mongolia stood at US$ 110.8 million in 2024.
• In the field of defence, the two countries conduct joint military exercises, namely Nomadic Elephant and Khaan Quest.
• These exercises enhance interoperability, military cooperation, and strategic trust between the two nations.

India-Canada Relations

• India and Canada recently agreed on a new roadmap to strengthen their bilateral relations following discussions between their foreign ministers.
• Relations between the two countries had been strained for nearly two years due to allegations made by the former Canadian Prime Minister regarding India’s involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist.
• To improve cooperation, both nations decided to re-establish the Canada-India Ministerial Energy Dialogue (CIMED), a platform for high-level discussions on energy-related issues.
• As part of this dialogue, they plan to promote two-way trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which are forms of natural gas and petroleum refined for transport and use.
  • They also aim to increase investments in the oil and gas Exploration & Production sector, including the adoption of clean technologies that reduce environmental impact.
• Furthermore, India and Canada will re-launch the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC), a forum to advance collaborative research and innovation.
• The collaboration will focus on sustainable low-carbon fuels, which are energy sources that produce minimal carbon emissions to combat climate change.
• Specific technologies highlighted for cooperation include green hydrogen, biofuels, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and electric mobility.
  • Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen fuel produced using renewable energy, while biofuels are fuels derived from organic materials.
  • CCUS is a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants and either reuses or stores them underground to prevent their release into the atmosphere.
  • Electric mobility involves the use of electric vehicles and related infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
• There is also an emphasis on building research partnerships in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and financial technology (fintech).
  • AI involves computer systems performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence, cybersecurity protects systems from digital attacks, and fintech refers to technology applied in financial services.

Decline of Pax Americana: A Changing Global Order

• The term Pax Americana refers to the U.S.-led global order established after World War II, characterized by stability, liberal values, and American dominance.
• Under Pax Americana, the United States championed liberal democracy, open markets, and multilateral cooperation.
• This global framework fostered international security, economic growth, and a relatively stable world order for decades.
• However, recent global developments show that Pax Americana is under significant strain and transformation.
• The weakening of this order has created a leadership vacuum in global governance and diplomacy.

Factors Contributing to the Decline of Pax Americana

• Historical Factors
  • The U.S. lost credibility due to its contradictory foreign interventions, particularly in Vietnam, Iraq, and other regions of the Middle East.
  • The 2008 global financial crisis, which originated in the U.S., further eroded its economic leadership and trust in liberal capitalism.

• Recent and Ongoing Trends
• A major policy shift occurred during the Trump administration with the adoption of the “America First” doctrine.
• This policy involved unilateral actions, aggressive trade wars, and a retreat from multilateral cooperation.
• The U.S. withdrew from key international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal, weakening its soft power and global influence.
• As a result, there has been a decline in the effectiveness of multilateral institutions such as the UN, WTO, and WHO, traditionally supported by the U.S.

China’s Rising Influence in a Post-American Order

• As U.S. leadership declines, China is actively positioning itself as a global power and defender of multilateralism.
• China is expanding its global influence through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which connects Asia, Africa, and Europe through infrastructure investment.
• Today, China is the largest trading partner for over 100 countries, strengthening its economic and diplomatic clout.
• However, China’s assertive foreign policy, particularly in the South China Sea, raises concerns about regional stability.
• Global human rights concerns, including treatment of Uighurs and curbs on freedoms in Hong Kong, further limit China’s soft power.
• China’s “debt-trap diplomacy”, where loans are extended to vulnerable countries with harsh terms, has also dented its global acceptability.

Future Possibility: Shift Toward Pax Multipolaris

• The decline of Pax Americana may result in the emergence of Pax Multipolaris, a multipolar world order where multiple powers shape global governance.
• This transition opens up opportunities for emerging powers like India to play a more proactive global role.

Opportunities for India in a Fragmented Global Order

• India is increasingly pursuing strategic autonomy, which means making independent foreign policy decisions without aligning fully with any power bloc.
• India is using platforms like BRICS, G20, and Quad to amplify its voice and promote inclusive global governance.
• By diversifying economic partnerships, India is strengthening its resilience and reducing over-dependence on any single country.
• India is actively working to attract foreign investment and position itself as a manufacturing and technology hub.
• India also advocates for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, and IMF, to reflect the interests of the Global South.
• Through these steps, India aims to fill the leadership vacuum, shape a rules-based international order, and promote a more equitable global system.

RBI Governor Urges Central Banks to Prefer CBDCs Over Stablecoins Amid Global Developments

• The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has suggested that central banks across the world should promote Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) over stablecoins.
• This suggestion comes in the context of recent global legislative developments concerning digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
• Notable examples include the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act) in the United States.
• Another key development is the Digital Asset Basic Act proposed in South Korea to regulate stablecoins and other digital assets.

Understanding CBDC and Stablecoins

• A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is a form of sovereign digital currency issued by a country’s central bank.
• CBDC exists only in digital form, unlike physical cash or coins.
• Instead of printing physical currency, the central bank issues digital coins to promote efficient and transparent digital transactions.
  • A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to another asset, typically a fiat currency like the US Dollar.
  • Stablecoins are programmable, and often lack full regulatory oversight, especially when issued by private entities.

Why CBDCs Should Be Preferred Over Stablecoins

• CBDCs are sovereign-backed, meaning they are legal tender, officially recognized by the government for all payments.
• As legal tender, CBDCs provide trust, finality of payment, and universal acceptance within the country.
• CBDCs operate under a regulated financial framework, ensuring consumer protection, data privacy, and anti-money laundering compliance.
• In contrast, many stablecoins operate in unregulated or loosely regulated environments, raising concerns about financial stability and user safety.
• CBDCs enhance cross-border payment efficiency by simplifying and speeding up international trade transactions.
• This reduces dependence on traditional intermediaries like SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).
• CBDCs also allow better integration with national monetary policies, helping central banks maintain macroeconomic stability.
• They promote financial inclusion by offering low-cost public digital payment systems accessible to all.

CBDC in India – Digital Rupee

• India’s CBDC is known as the Digital Rupee, which is issued by the RBI in digital form.
• The Digital Rupee aims to provide features similar to physical cash, such as ease of use, RBI’s guarantee, and finality of settlement.
• It is stored in a user’s digital wallet and can be used for sending, receiving, or making payments, like any regular ₹ (Rupee) note.
• The RBI is currently running pilot projects for two types of Digital Rupee: Retail CBDC and Wholesale CBDC.
  • Retail CBDC is designed for use by the general public, through smartphone apps, digital wallets, and payment platforms.
  • Wholesale CBDC is limited to banks and licensed financial institutions, used for interbank payments, securities settlement, and large-value transactions.

Status of Elephants in India – DNA-Based Synchronous All India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) 2021–25

• The SAIEE 2021–25 is India’s first-ever DNA-based elephant population estimation.
• It was conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under Project Elephant, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• SAIEE uses genetic sampling for more accurate population estimates, replacing traditional methods like direct sighting.

Key Findings of SAIEE Report

• The report estimates a total of 22,446 Asian elephants in the wild across India.
• India hosts approximately 60% of the global wild Asian elephant population, making it the largest stronghold globally.
• Wild elephants are mainly found in four forested hill regions:
  • Himalayan Foothills,
  • Northeastern States,
  • East-Central India,
  • Western and Eastern Ghats.
• A small feral elephant population is also present in the Andaman Islands.
• The Western Ghats hosts the largest wild elephant population in India.
• This is followed by the North Eastern Hills and the Brahmaputra Flood Plains.
• Among Indian states, Karnataka supports the highest elephant population.
• It is followed by Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Key Threats Identified in the Report

• Habitat Shrinkage and Fragmentation is a major threat to elephant populations.
• Once-contiguous elephant habitats in the Western Ghats are increasingly disconnected due to changing land use patterns.
• Key drivers of habitat fragmentation include expanding commercial plantations (especially coffee and tea), invasive plant species, and human encroachment.
• Additional causes include farmland fencing and mushrooming of developmental projects such as construction and mining.
• Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) is another serious concern, rising sharply in Central India and the Eastern Ghats.
  • HEC refers to incidents where elephants damage crops or property, or cause human fatalities, leading to retaliatory killings.
• Linear infrastructure like roads, railways, and power lines disrupt elephant corridors, increasing fatalities due to collisions and electrocution.

Recommendations from the SAIEE Report

• Strengthening wildlife corridors to ensure free movement of elephants across forest patches is essential.
• Restoration of degraded habitats must be prioritised to support healthy elephant populations.
• Improved protection strategies including better monitoring and anti-poaching measures are recommended.
• Development projects must undergo rigorous environmental assessments to minimise their impact on elephant habitats.

About Asian Elephants

• The Asian elephant is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent.
• They inhabit a range of ecosystems, from dry forests to wet forests and grasslands, across 13 range countries.
• Asian elephants live in complex social groups led by a matriarch, which is a female leader of the herd.
• They have the longest gestation period of any mammal, lasting about 22 months.

Ecological Role of Elephants

• Elephants are considered ecosystem engineers due to their crucial role in maintaining forest health.
• They create pathways for other species in dense forests.
• Their movement and feeding behaviour lead to the creation of micro-ecosystems.
• Elephants also aid in seed dispersal, promoting forest regeneration and biodiversity.

Conservation Status of Asian Elephants

• The Asian elephant is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and poaching.
• In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest legal protection.
• It is also included in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which bans international commercial trade.

2025 Global Hunger Index Report: “20 Years of Tracking Progress – Time to Recommit to Zero Hunger”

• The 2025 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report has been officially released.
• The theme of the report is “20 Years of Tracking Progress: Time to Recommit to Zero Hunger.”
• The report is jointly published by three organizations:
  • Concern Worldwide (an Irish humanitarian organisation),
  • Welthungerhilfe (a German aid agency), and
  • The Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV).

Key Global Findings of GHI 2025

• The report finds that global hunger has seen little reduction since 2016.
• Progress in reducing hunger has stalled, and the world is now off track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, a key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).
• Multiple global crises are driving this stagnation in hunger reduction efforts.

Factors Behind the Global Hunger Crisis

• Conflict is identified as the primary driver of hunger, especially in vulnerable regions.
• Climate change and environmental shocks are destroying local food systems and reducing food availability.
• Economic fragility, including high inflation, currency depreciation, and volatile markets, is worsening access to food.
• There is a reduction in official development assistance (ODA), particularly in humanitarian aid, which further deepens food insecurity.
• Rising income inequality and weak governance structures are also contributing to food system breakdowns.

India’s Performance in GHI 2025

• India ranks 102nd among the 123 countries assessed in the 2025 Global Hunger Index.
• India’s GHI score is 25.8, which places it in the “serious” hunger category.
• A GHI score between 20.0 and 34.9 is classified as serious, indicating a significant hunger burden.

About the Global Hunger Index (GHI)

• The Global Hunger Index is a comprehensive tool to measure and track hunger across global, regional, and national levels.
• The GHI score is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100, where:
  • 0 represents no hunger (best possible score).
  • 100 represents the worst level of hunger.
• The GHI is based on four key indicators, each measuring a different dimension of hunger:
  • Undernourishment measures the proportion of the population with insufficient caloric intake.
  • Child stunting measures the share of children under 5 with low height for their age, indicating chronic undernutrition.
  • Child wasting measures the share of children under 5 with low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
  • Child mortality captures the mortality rate of children under the age of 5, which reflects the combined effects of poor nutrition and unhealthy environments.

Latest Status of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

• The number of districts most affected by Naxalism has now been reduced to 3 from 6.
• These three districts are all in Chhattisgarh: Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur.
• The total number of LWE-affected districts has also come down to 11 from 18.

About Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) / Naxalism

• Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India is often referred to as Naxalism, originating from the Naxalbari movement of 1967 in West Bengal.
• The movement is ideologically rooted in Maoist principles and focuses on armed struggle against the state.
• Its rise is primarily linked to deep socio-economic inequalities, land rights issues, and tribal marginalisation.
• LWE has historically affected remote, underdeveloped, and tribal-dominated regions of the country.
• The Government of India has set a target to completely eradicate LWE by March 31, 2026.

India’s Multi-Dimensional Strategy to Counter LWE

1. National Policy and Action Plan (2015)

• The National Policy and Action Plan (2015) aims to eliminate LWE through a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
• It focuses on neutralising top LWE leaders and underground operatives.
• It includes countering the Maoist ideology through awareness and development.
• It targets the choking of financial resources used by extremist groups.
• It emphasises strong coordination between the central and state governments.

2. SAMADHAN Strategy

• The government implements the SAMADHAN strategy, which is a multi-pronged framework for LWE elimination.
• SAMADHAN stands for:
  • S: Smart leadership,
  • A: Aggressive strategy,
  • M: Motivation and training,
  • A: Actionable intelligence,
  • D: Dashboard-based KPIs,
  • H: Harnessing technology,
  • A: Action plan,
  • N: No access to financing.

3. Developmental Interventions in LWE Areas

• Financial inclusion is promoted through the opening of bank branches, ATMs, post offices, and deployment of Banking Correspondents.
• Skill development and education initiatives include setting up Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Skill Development Centres.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been established to improve education access for tribal children.
• The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan aims to provide personal amenities and deliver welfare benefits to tribal households.

4. Community Engagement and Perception Management

• The Civic Action Programme (CAP) builds trust and rapport between security forces and local communities.
• CAP helps humanise the role of security personnel in LWE-affected areas.

5. Other Key Measures

• The government also runs a Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation policy for Naxalites willing to join the mainstream.
• The policy offers financial incentives, skill training, and rehabilitation support to former extremists.

Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 Report

• The Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 Report has been released by the Forest Declaration Assessment initiative.
• The report warns that the world is off track to meet the 2030 global goal of ending deforestation.

Key Findings of the Report

• In 2024, the world lost 8.1 million hectares of forest cover.
• This rate of loss is 63% higher than the required pace to halt deforestation by 2030.
• Financial flows are heavily misaligned with forest goals.
• Harmful subsidies, which support deforestation-linked activities, outweigh green subsidies by a ratio of over 200:1.

Major Drivers of Forest Degradation

• Permanent agriculture is the largest contributor to deforestation, accounting for around 86% of global forest loss.
• Key crops involved include oil palm, cacao, rubber, orchards, nuts, seasonal crops, and pasture for livestock.
• The mining sector is also a major pressure on forests and biodiversity.
• About 77% of global mines are located within 50 km of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).
• Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites of global importance for the conservation of biodiversity.
• Environmental crimes such as illegal logging and forest clearing are major contributors to forest degradation.
  • These crimes generate around $281 billion annually, making it one of the most lucrative illegal trades.

Shifts Needed to Halt Global Deforestation

• The report calls for a shift from voluntary pledges to mandatory regulations.
• Mandatory regulation ensures accountability, traceability, and enforceable compliance by actors involved.
• The real economic costs of deforestation must be internalized and priced correctly, ending the externalization of environmental damage.
• The report stresses the need for inclusive decision-making in forest governance.
• Full participation must be ensured for Indigenous Peoples (IPs), local communities (LCs), women, and civil society.

Key Global Forest Restoration Goals

• The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to restore degraded and deforested lands.
• Its target is to restore 150 million hectares by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
• India has committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
• Another important framework is the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), adopted in 2022.
• Under Target 2 of KM-GBF, countries aim to bring at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030.

Update to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – 2025

• The IUCN World Conservation Congress has released the latest update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • The Red List is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species.
  • It was established in 1964 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The Red List categorises species into nine levels, ranging from Not Evaluated to Extinct, based on risk of extinction.
• These categories are: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct.
• The Red List is updated at least twice a year to reflect the latest scientific findings and conservation outcomes.

Status of Indian Bird Species in the Latest Update

• In the latest update, the conservation status of 12 Indian bird species has been modified.
• Eight Indian bird species have been downlisted, indicating positive trends in their conservation status.
• Four Indian bird species have been uplisted, which signals increased threats and a deteriorating situation.
• The uplisted species include the Indian Courser, Indian Roller, and Rufous-tailed Lark, now classified as Near Threatened.
• The Long-billed Grasshopper-warbler has been uplisted to Endangered.

Ecological Context and Threats to Uplisted Indian Birds

• All four uplisted species depend on open natural ecosystems for their survival.
• These habitats include grasslands, semi-arid landscapes, deserts, croplands, hilly scrublands, and fallow lands.
• These ecosystems are under threat from expanding power infrastructure such as transmission lines and wind farms.
• Other pressures include the intensification of agriculture and the spread of invasive species.
• An additional threat is the conversion of grasslands into woodlands due to misguided afforestation programmes.

LIMBS

• The Ministry of Law and Justice has launched the “Live Cases” Dashboard under the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS).
• The Dashboard provides real-time data visualization of court cases.
• This enables proactive decision-making and enhances inter-ministerial coordination.
• LIMBS is a web-based litigation monitoring system designed from the central government’s perspective.
• It serves as an easy-to-access online tool to monitor court cases 24×7 throughout the entire litigation lifecycle.
• LIMBS promotes transparency, effectiveness, and proactive management of legal cases for the government.

World Economic Outlook (WEO)

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected India’s GDP growth rate for 2025-26 to be 6.6%, revised upwards from the earlier estimate of 6.4%.
• For 2026-27, India’s GDP growth is projected at 6.2%.
• Meanwhile, global economic growth is expected to slow down from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025, and further to 3.1% in 2026.
• These projections are part of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report published by the IMF.
• The WEO provides detailed analyses and projections of the global economy in the near and medium term.
• The report is generally published twice a year, with additional updates released as needed.

UN Human Rights Council

• India has been elected unopposed to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the seventh time.
• India’s new term on the council will last for three years (2026–28), starting next year.
• The UN Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations that promotes and protects human rights worldwide.
• The council was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly, replacing the former Commission on Human Rights.
• The council has 47 members, elected annually by the UN General Assembly, who serve three-year terms with a limit of two consecutive terms.
• The council’s key functions include providing a global forum on human rights, adopting resolutions, reviewing the human rights records of member states, and mandating investigations and special procedures.

REDD+

• Only a small number of tropical forest carbon offset projects under REDD+ have achieved significant reductions in deforestation.
  • REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus, a framework developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty aimed at combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• REDD focuses specifically on reducing emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
  • The “+” in REDD+ represents additional forest-related activities, including sustainable management of forests, conservation, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• Sustainable management of forests refers to practices that maintain forest resources without causing long-term damage or loss.
• Forest carbon stocks are the amount of carbon stored in forest vegetation and soils, which help mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.
• Under REDD+, developing countries can receive results-based payments, which are financial rewards given when they successfully reduce deforestation and related emissions.
• REDD+ is also a part of the Paris Agreement, a global accord aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

Time Rondeau Crystal (TRC)

• Scientists have recently discovered a new phase of matter called a Time Rondeau Crystal (TRC).
  • A Time Rondeau Crystal is a state of matter that exhibits a unique combination of order and disorder over time.
  • Unlike normal crystals, which have a repeating spatial pattern, a TRC shows a pattern that repeats in time rather than space.
• The behavior of a TRC is partly ordered and partly random, meaning it does not repeat exactly like traditional time crystals.
• This new phase has been observed in quantum systems, such as nuclear spins in diamonds, under carefully controlled experimental conditions.
  • Nuclear spins refer to the intrinsic angular momentum of atomic nuclei, which can be manipulated in quantum experiments.
• The discovery of TRCs is significant because it can enhance quantum computing, which uses quantum phenomena to perform complex calculations more efficiently.
• Additionally, TRCs have potential applications in time-sensitive technologies that rely on precise control over temporal patterns.