1. Cluster Bombs: An Overview

Iran's reported deployment of a cluster bomb in a missile attack on Israel has renewed global concerns about the dangers these weapons pose.

What are Cluster Bombs?
Cluster bombs, or cluster munitions, are explosive weapons that release numerous smaller explosives—called submunitions or bomblets—across a wide area before impact. These bomblets are designed to detonate on contact or after a brief delay. However, a significant number often fail to explode immediately, remaining active for months or even years, thereby posing a lasting threat to civilian populations.

These weapons can be delivered by air or launched from the ground, capable of saturating large areas, making them especially deadly in urban or densely populated zones. Submunitions, typically the size of grenades and equipped with fins or streamers for stability, target both personnel and unarmoured vehicles. Some variants, such as the US-manufactured DPICM, have dual-purpose charges for enhanced damage.

The primary controversy lies in their high failure rate—or “dud rate”—with estimates ranging from 2% to 40%. This effectively transforms unexploded bomblets into landmines, posing serious risks long after conflicts end. These weapons cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians, amplifying their humanitarian impact in populated regions.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which came into force in 2010, prohibits the use, development, stockpiling, and transfer of such weapons. While 111 countries and 12 entities have ratified the treaty, several major powers—including the US, Russia, China, Israel, Iran, and India—have not joined. According to the UN, 99% of stockpiles declared under the treaty have been destroyed.

2. Bhashini Platform: Bridging India’s Language Divide

A recent agreement between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Bhashini initiative aims to enhance linguistic inclusivity across the country.

What is the Bhashini Platform?
BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) is an AI-driven language translation initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the National Language Translation Mission. It seeks to create a National Public Digital Platform that supports the development of citizen-centric language services and applications.

The platform facilitates translation of content into various Indian languages and aims to significantly expand online content in Indian languages—especially in governance, science, and public policy—encouraging broader internet usage in native tongues. BHASHINI leverages advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to provide seamless access to content and digital services in users' preferred languages.

Implemented by the Digital India BHASHINI Division under the Digital India Corporation (a Section 8 company of MeitY), the platform currently supports over 22 Indian languages. Its features include text and speech translation, optical character recognition (OCR), video and document translation, language detection, and voice-based UPI payments.

BHASHINI also offers an app for public use and APIs for startups to integrate language services, such as multilingual chatbots. A special “Bhasadaan” section allows users to contribute to language datasets via crowdsourcing initiatives. The platform has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to enable voice-based digital payments in Indian languages.

3. QS World University Rankings 2026: Highlights

The QS World University Rankings for 2026 have been released, offering insights into the evolving landscape of global higher education.

About the Rankings:
Published annually by global education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the rankings assess universities based on academic reputation, employer reputation, employment outcomes, and other criteria. This year’s edition evaluated 8,467 institutions, featuring over 1,500 universities from more than 100 countries.

A new metric—International Student Diversity (ISD)—was introduced as an unweighted indicator.

Global Highlights (2026):

• MIT (USA) retained the top spot for the 14th consecutive year.

• Imperial College London rose to 2nd place, followed by Stanford University at 3rd.

• Other top-ranked institutions include Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, ETH Zurich, NUS, UCL, and Caltech.

• The US leads with 192 institutions on the list.

China continues its strong performance, with Peking University ranked 14th, Tsinghua University at 17th, Fudan University at 30th, and CUHK at 32nd.

India's Performance:
India saw its highest-ever representation with 54 universities featured, up from 46 in 2025. This positions India as the fourth most represented country, after the US, UK, and China. Eight Indian institutions debuted this year—the highest number from any country—demonstrating India's rapid growth in global rankings with a 390% increase in a decade.

• Top Indian Institution: IIT Delhi (Rank 123), tied with Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), achieving its best rank so far.

• IIT Bombay is ranked 129th.

• IIT Madras surged 47 places to reach 180th, entering the top 200 for the first time.

• 48% of Indian institutions improved their rankings.

• Five Indian universities are in the global top 100 for Employer Reputation, and eight for Citations per Faculty, indicating strong research output.

Top 10 Indian Institutions (2026):

1. IIT Delhi – 123

2. IIT Bombay – 129

3. IIT Madras – 180

4. IIT Kharagpur – 215

5. IISc Bangalore – 219

6. IIT Kanpur – 222

7. University of Delhi – 328

8. IIT Guwahati – 334

9. IIT Roorkee – 339

10. Anna University – 465

4. Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR): Biodiversity Boost

A recent herpetofauna survey in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), Kerala, discovered eight new species—five amphibians and three reptiles—highlighting the area’s ecological richness.

About PTR:
Located in Idukki district, Kerala, PTR lies within the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills of the Western Ghats, bordering Tamil Nadu. Established in 1982, it spans 777 sq. km and surrounds Periyar Lake, which was formed in 1895 by damming the Periyar River to divert water for Tamil Nadu’s irrigation needs.

• Elevation: Hilly terrain with a maximum altitude of 2016 m at Kottamala peak.

• Rivers: Acts as the watershed for Periyar and Pamba rivers.

• Dam: The Mullaperiyar Dam is located within the reserve.

• Communities: Home to tribal groups like the Mannans and Palians.

• Vegetation: Includes tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests, grasslands, and eucalyptus plantations.

• Flora: Features teak, rosewood, jamun, jacaranda, bamboo, tamarind, and more.

• Fauna: Hosts tigers, elephants, sambar, gaur, barking deer, and Indian wild dogs.

• Primates: Includes lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, golden langur, bonnet macaque, and common langur.

• Birds: Over 260 species, including the great hornbill and Malabar grey hornbill.

PTR is also considered a potential habitat for the Nilgiri Tahr, a vulnerable mountain goat species.

5. Vineet Joshi Panel: Reforming Exam and Coaching Culture

The Central Government has set up a panel headed by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to address rising concerns over students’ dependence on coaching centres and the fairness of entrance exams.

About the Panel:

• Comprises nine members, including CBSE Chairperson, Joint Secretaries from the Education Ministry, representatives from IIT Madras, NIT Trichy, IIT Kanpur, NCERT, and principals from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, and a private school.

• A Joint Secretary from the Higher Education Department will serve as Member Secretary.

Key Objectives:

• Reduce the influence of coaching centres on students.

• Examine gaps in the school education system—like limited focus on critical thinking, reasoning, and innovation—that push students towards coaching.

• Investigate the emergence of "dummy schools" and suggest preventive measures.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of formative assessments and their impact on students’ preparedness for competitive exams.

• Analyze the demand-supply imbalance in premier institutions and its effect on the coaching industry.

• Study awareness levels among students and parents about diverse career options beyond elite institutions.

• Assess the fairness and relevance of competitive entrance exams within the school education context.

• Review coaching centre advertisements and propose guidelines to curb misleading claims and exaggerated success stories.

• Strengthen career counselling frameworks in schools and colleges.

6. NAKSHATRA

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched its first high-performance computing (HPC) facility, named NAKSHATRA, at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

Key Features of NAKSHATRA:

• NAKSHATRA is a cutting-edge HPC cluster dedicated to virological research.

• It comprises 12 compute nodes, 700 cores, and a storage capacity of 1 petabyte.

• The system supports advanced bioinformatics workflows including next-generation sequencing (NGS), transcriptomics, metagenomics, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics.

• It enhances genomic research through optimized data storage and analysis pipelines, improving India's ability to conduct viral genomic surveillance and respond to future pandemics.

• The facility enables rapid analysis of complex genomic data, aiding in early detection of disease threats, efficient outbreak response, and accelerating AI-driven vaccine and drug development.

• Developed under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM), it forms the foundation for the High Performance Computing Next Generation Sequencing Hub project.

• It will serve as a central repository for sequencing data and provide support to Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs), initially benefitting five ICMR institutes.

Significance:

• Tasks such as analyzing multiple viral strains, which previously took weeks, can now be completed in just 24–48 hours.

• It significantly boosts India’s genomic surveillance capabilities, enhancing pandemic preparedness

7. What are Hypnic Jerks?

Hypnic Jerks are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that occur during the early stages of sleep.

Overview:

• Also known as sleep starts, hypnic jerks affect over 80% of the population.

• They typically occur during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, particularly in the first or second stages.

• The brain, as it begins to relax, may misinterpret muscle relaxation as a sensation of falling, triggering a quick muscle contraction.

• Though harmless, their frequency and intensity can vary among individuals.

Causes:

• Elevated stress and anxiety levels

• Excessive caffeine intake

• Sleep deprivation

Management:

• Stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can help.

• Limiting caffeine, maintaining consistent sleep schedules, and regular physical activity are also effective strategies.

8. Energy Transition Index (ETI)

India ranked 71st on the 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI) released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

About ETI:

• The index evaluates how well countries are transitioning to sustainable energy systems.

• It is based on two sub-indices:

  • System Performance (60%) – includes equity, security, and environmental sustainability.

  • Transition Readiness (40%) – includes core enablers (policy, investment) and enabling factors (innovation, infrastructure, education).

2025 Highlights:

• Top 5 countries: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland.

• Other rankings: China (12th), US (17th), Pakistan (101st), Congo (lowest).

• India and China showed the most significant progress among large economies, particularly in improving energy access and transition readiness.

• India advanced in reducing energy intensity, curbing methane emissions, enhancing energy policies, and increasing clean energy investments.

• The WEF noted that the world’s largest economies—China, US, EU, Japan, and India—will play a pivotal role in shaping the global energy transition.

9. Central American Integration System (SICA)

India recently held a virtual meeting with the Central American Integration System (SICA) to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

About SICA:

• SICA is the institutional framework for regional integration in Central America.

• Established: December 13, 1991, via the Tegucigalpa Protocol, amending the 1962 Charter of ODECA. Operational since February 1, 1993.

• Founding Members: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Later joined by Belize and the Dominican Republic.

• UN Support: The Tegucigalpa Protocol is registered with the UN, allowing SICA institutions to coordinate with the UN system.

Objectives:

• Promote peace, liberty, democracy, and development in the region.

• Establish a free trade area and customs union.

• Foster infrastructure integration and regional policy coordination (including passport/visa policy).

• Develop common stances on regional and international matters.

• Headquarters: Republic of El Salvador

• Presidency: Rotates every six months

10. Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV)

A recent genomic study has highlighted the spread of the Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) across African rice-growing regions.

About RYMV:

• Originated in the mid-1800s in the Eastern Arc Mountains (modern-day Tanzania).

• Affects rice and a few grass species, posing a serious threat to African rice cultivation.

• Endemic to Africa, and prevalent in most of the continent’s rice-producing countries.

• Belongs to the Sobemovirus genus.

• The virus has high genetic variability, making it capable of evolving rapidly and overcoming resistance genes in rice.

Transmission:

• Spread primarily by beetles (especially Chrysomelidae), grasshoppers (e.g., Conocephalus merumontanus, Oxya spp.), and even larger animals like cows, rats, and donkeys.

• Can infect plants via injured roots, though seed transmission is not considered a major route.