1. Chile
India and Chile have recently signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to initiate negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Key Facts about Chile:

• Geographical Location: Chile is a long and narrow nation located in South America. It shares its borders with:

  • Peru and Bolivia to the north,

  • Argentina to the east, and

  • The Pacific Ocean to the west.

  • The Chile–Argentina border is the longest in South America and the third-longest globally.

Significant Geographical Features:

• Andes Mountains: The world's longest continental mountain range.

• Atacama Desert: The driest non-polar desert globally.

• Loa River: Chile’s longest river (approx. 440 km).

• Ojos del Salado: The highest active volcano on Earth and the second-highest peak in South America (6,880 m).

• Due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Chile frequently experiences earthquakes and tsunamis.

Economic Highlights:

• Chile is the world's largest producer of copper.

• It is part of the “Lithium Triangle” (with Bolivia and Argentina), possessing more than 75% of the world's lithium reserves in salt flats.

• Other key resources include molybdenum, iron ore, timber, hydropower, and precious metals.

2. Coal Gasification
The Ministry of Coal has entered into the Coal Gasification Plant Development and Production Agreement (CGPDPA) with selected applicants under Category II of the Coal Gasification Financial Incentive Scheme.

What is Coal Gasification?
It is a thermo-chemical process that transforms coal into syngas, a mixture primarily composed of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrogen (H₂), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), and Water Vapour (H₂O), through controlled reaction with oxygen and steam at high temperatures (1000–1400°C).

Steps in the Coal Gasification Process:

1. Preparation: Coal is finely pulverized to increase surface area.

2. Gasification: The powdered coal is introduced into a reactor with limited oxygen and steam.

3. Chemical Reactions: Partial oxidation occurs, producing syngas.

4. Gas Cleaning: Raw syngas is purified to remove tar, sulfur, and other impurities.

Financial Incentive Scheme (Launched: January 24, 2024):

• Budget: ₹8,500 crore.

• Target: 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.

• Objectives: To maximize domestic coal use for industrial growth, promote clean coal technologies, reduce imports, and ensure energy security.

• The scheme supports both public and private sector participation in developing coal gasification infrastructure.

3. Arnala
India has delivered the first indigenously developed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), named ‘Arnala,’ to the Indian Navy.

About Arnala:

• It is the first of eight ASW SWCs, designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and constructed by L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, under a Public-Private Partnership model.

• Built following Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards, showcasing excellence in indigenous naval design.

• Named after the historic Arnala Fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, symbolizing India’s maritime heritage.

• With a length of 77 meters, it is the largest Indian naval warship using a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system.

Primary Functions:

• Coastal underwater surveillance

• Search and Rescue (SAR) missions

• Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO)

• Coastal Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Advanced mine-laying operations

Over 80% of its components are sourced domestically, marking a milestone in the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative for defence manufacturing.

4. United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20)
India actively participated in the 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), held at the UN Headquarters, New York.

About UNFF:

• Established in 2000 by ECOSOC to promote sustainable forest management.

• Holds annual sessions alternating between technical (odd years) and policy-level (even years) dialogues.

• Comprises universal membership, including all UN Member States and related agencies.

• India is a founding and active member of the forum.

India’s Contributions at UNFF20:

• Showcased its progress in sustainable forest management and reaffirmed its commitment to the Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (2017–2030).

• Reported a consistent rise in forest and tree cover, currently at 17% of total land area.

Key Initiatives Highlighted:

• Aravalli Green Wall for land restoration

• 86% increase in mangrove coverage over the last decade

• Afforestation of 1.55 lakh hectares via Green India Mission

• Planting 4 billion seedlings under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (Plant4Mother) campaign

• Invited global participation in the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to protect seven big cat species through cooperation and capacity-building.

• India also emphasized its use of tools like SEEA and MEA to assess ecosystem services like carbon storage, water provisioning, and biodiversity conservation.

5. Lead-to-Gold Transmutation
Scientists at CERN’s ALICE experiment have confirmed the transformation of lead into gold via nuclear transmutation at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Understanding Chrysopoeia:

• An ancient alchemical concept of converting lead into gold, based on similar physical properties.

• Modern science later clarified the impossibility of such conversion through chemical means due to the distinct atomic structures of the elements.

Transmutation Process at LHC:

• Occurs during ultra-peripheral collisions where lead nuclei (Pb-208) pass close without direct contact.

• Intense electromagnetic fields (generated by the high-speed protons in lead) create brief photon pulses.

• This interaction causes electromagnetic dissociation, leading to the emission of nucleons (protons and neutrons).

• Gold nuclei (Au-203) form when three protons and two neutrons are ejected from a lead nucleus.

Role of ALICE and ZDC:

• ALICE uses Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDCs) to identify interactions and count emitted protons.

• This is the first systematic experimental evidence of gold creation at the LHC.

About the Large Hadron Collider (LHC):

• The LHC is the world’s largest and most advanced particle accelerator, managed by CERN.

• It features a 27-km ring equipped with superconducting magnets to accelerate hadrons at nearly light speed.

• It includes four primary detectors: ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb.

About CERN:

• Founded in 1954, CERN is Europe’s premier physics research organization.

• Located near Geneva, it has 23 member states and 10 associate members, including India.

• Dedicated to high-energy particle physics research and home to the LHC and its experimental programs.

6. Competition Commission of India (Determination of Cost of Production) Regulations, 2025

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has introduced the Determination of Cost of Production Regulations, 2025, with the aim of better evaluating cases of alleged predatory pricing and deep discounting in sectors like quick commerce and e-commerce.

Key Highlights:

• The regulations were issued by the CCI to improve the framework for assessing predatory pricing—where dominant firms set prices below production cost to oust competitors and later raise prices to regain profits.

• Such practices are prohibited under Section 4(2)(a)(ii) of the Competition Act, 2002.

• The new rules implement updated standards for cost evaluation, reflecting current economic theories, court judgments, and global best practices in competition law.

• Under the regulations, the cost of a product or service is primarily considered to be its average variable cost—calculated by dividing total variable cost by total output over a given period.

• Total variable cost excludes fixed costs and overheads.

• A significant shift in the new framework is the move from sector-specific benchmarks to a case-by-case assessment, making it more adaptable to various industries, especially the digital economy.

• These regulations replace the earlier 2009 Cost Regulations and signify a modernized approach to maintaining fair competition.

7. What is Thalassaemia?

Observed on May 8, World Thalassaemia Day aims to raise awareness about this inherited blood disorder that affects millions globally.

About Thalassaemia:

• Thalassaemia is a genetic condition that results in reduced levels of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen.

• Insufficient hemoglobin can cause anemia, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, pale skin, cold sensitivity, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.

• The disorder results from inherited mutations in the genes responsible for hemoglobin production.

• The severity of the condition depends on the specific genetic mutation involved.

Treatment Options:

• Regular blood transfusions to manage anemia, often needed monthly in severe cases.

• Chelation therapy to eliminate excess iron that accumulates due to frequent transfusions.

• Stem cell or bone marrow transplant is the only known cure but is rarely performed due to its associated risks.

8. Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN)

The Quad nations recently carried out a Tabletop Exercise at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, simulating the deployment of the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN).

About IPLN:

• Launched during the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit in September 2024, the IPLN aims to enhance rapid and efficient civilian response to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region by utilizing shared logistics infrastructure.

• It complements initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and underscores the Quad’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

About the Quad:

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue includes India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

• Initially formed in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the group was revived in 2017 to focus on strategic cooperation.

• Its goals include ensuring a rules-based international order, promoting free navigation, countering terrorism, and providing alternative financing to regional nations—often seen as a strategic balance against China.

9. What are HAROP Drones?

As part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Indian armed forces recently deployed HAROP drones to conduct precision strikes on Pakistan’s air defence systems.

About HAROP Drones:

• Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the HAROP is a loitering munition—a type of drone that can hover over an area for extended periods (up to 9 hours) before striking a target.

• Equipped with electro-optical or infrared seekers, HAROP drones detect, track, and directly crash into targets with a 16 kg explosive payload.

• They serve dual purposes: reconnaissance and targeted attacks.

• These drones can be operated autonomously or with human oversight ("man-in-the-loop") and include an abort mission feature to avoid collateral damage.

Specifications:

• Wingspan: 3 meters | Length: 2.5 meters

• Speed: Up to 417 km/h | Range: 200 km

• Flight Time: Over 6 hours | Ceiling: ~15,000 feet

• Accuracy: CEP of < 1 meter

• Special Feature: Effective even in GNSS-denied environments due to satellite jamming resistance.

India has operated HAROP drones for more than a decade.

10. INS Vikrant

Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, the Indian Navy has deployed INS Vikrant—India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier—to the Arabian Sea.

About INS Vikrant:

• Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, INS Vikrant was commissioned in 2022.

• It has 76% indigenous content and positions India among elite nations (like the US, UK, France, Russia, China) with aircraft carrier construction capabilities.

• It boosts India's status as a ‘Blue Water Navy’, capable of long-range power projection.

Features:

• Length: 262 m | Width: 62 m | Decks: 14

• Personnel Capacity: 1,500 | Displacement: 43,000 tonnes

• Propulsion: 4 gas turbines generating 88 MW | Speed: 28 knots

• Endurance: 8,600 miles | Autonomy: 45 days at sea

Air Wing Capabilities:

• Can operate 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH-60R and Kamov-31 helicopters, along with indigenous ALHs and LCA (Navy).

• Uses STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) mode, with a ski-jump ramp for launches and arrestor wires for recovery.