1. What is Evaporative Demand?

Overview:
Evaporative demand refers to how much moisture the atmosphere is capable of absorbing from land surfaces, assuming an unlimited water supply.

Key Points:

• It reflects the "thirst" of the atmosphere and does not equate to actual evaporation, which depends on water availability.

• Factors influencing it include temperature, wind speed, humidity, and cloud cover.

• High evaporative demand is linked to droughts and increased wildfire risk.

• Monitoring sustained high levels can help detect early signs of droughts and fire danger.

• Conditions like high temperatures, strong winds, low humidity, and clear skies elevate this demand.

• It leads to surface drying, reduced soil moisture, and stressed vegetation, making the environment more flammable.

• When prolonged dry spells coincide with high evaporative demand, the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires increases.

What is a Thirstwave?

• A "thirstwave" is defined as three or more consecutive days of intense evaporative demand.

• Unlike heatwaves, which are temperature-driven, thirstwaves are influenced by temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind.

• Due to global warming, thirstwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer in duration.

2. India's First Off-Grid Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant

Key Details:

• Location: Kutch, Gujarat

• Developer: Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL)

About the Plant:

• A 5 MW green hydrogen facility powered entirely by solar energy.

• Operates off-grid using a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

• Features a fully automated electrolyser system that responds to real-time renewable inputs.

• Known as a closed-loop system, it ensures flexible, efficient, and safe operations.

• Aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which promotes energy independence, reduced imports, and decarbonisation.

3. Estimates Committee of Parliament

Overview:

• First established in 1950.

• Composed of 30 Lok Sabha members, elected annually.

• Chaired by a member appointed by the Speaker (ministers are not eligible).

Functions:

• Examines Union Government budget estimates.

• Recommends ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and propose alternative policies.

• Evaluates the justification and impact of expenditures.

• Suggests how budget estimates should be presented to Parliament.

Working Procedure:

• Chooses specific ministries or government bodies to review.

• May form sub-committees for detailed analysis.

• Submits reports with recommendations and follows up with Action Taken Reports.

• Ministries must respond within six months.

• Final grants can be approved even without a report from the committee.

Exclusion:

• It does not deal with public undertakings assigned to the Public Undertakings Committee.

4. Operation Midnight Hammer

Overview:

• A covert U.S.-led military strike targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

• Conducted on the night of June 21–22, 2025.

Details:

• Involved over 125 aircraft, including B-2 bombers, and 30+ Tomahawk missiles.

• Marked the first operational use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).

• Targeted Sites:

  • Natanz and Fordow (uranium enrichment)

  • Isfahan (nuclear support facility)

Importance of Fordow:

• Deeply buried in a mountain near Qom, designed to withstand aerial attacks.

• Houses ~3,000 centrifuges and spans ~54,000 sq ft.

• Iran resumed enrichment there after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.

5. ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

Background:

• Signed in 2009 and enforced from January 1, 2010.

• Emerged from the 2003 Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation.

Scope:

• Covers trade in goods only (services are addressed in a separate 2014 agreement).

• Aims to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90%+ of goods.

• Allows longer tariff reduction timelines for less-developed ASEAN members.

• Includes special provisions for India's sensitive products like tea, coffee, and palm oil.

Additional Features:

• Tariff exclusions and sensitive product lists reviewed annually.

• Seeks to simplify customs and reduce non-tariff barriers.

• Overseen by a Joint Committee, which monitors and updates the agreement.

Current Issue:

• ASEAN is delaying the review process of the agreement, raising concerns from Indian officials.

6. Ambubachi Mela: Key Highlights

Event Overview:
Thousands of devotees have gathered in Assam for the annual Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple—one of Northeast India’s largest religious congregations.

About the Festival:

• Held annually during the monsoon (usually June) at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.

• Celebrates the menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, during which the temple remains closed for three days.

• The festival symbolizes fertility and regeneration, coinciding with the onset of monsoon.

• After the three-day ritual period, the temple reopens with elaborate ceremonies, drawing large crowds for darshan.

• "Ambubachi" literally means “flowing water,” symbolizing both menstruation and the Earth’s fertility.

Kamakhya Temple Facts:

• Located on Nilachal Hill, near the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.

• One of the oldest and most revered Shakti Peethas, associated with Tantric practices.

• Its unique Nilachala architectural style blends Nagara and Mughal (Saracenic) elements.

• The temple complex includes five main structures: garbhagriha, antarala, Jagan Mohan, bhogmandir, and natmandir.

• Each chamber features distinct structural designs, like domes, double roofs, and shell-shaped roofs, reflecting a fusion of local and Mughal influences.

7. Dravidogecko coonoor: A New Gecko Species from Nilgiris

Discovery:
A new species of gecko, named Dravidogecko coonoor, has been discovered in the Coonoor Hills of the Upper Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.

Habitat & Features:

• Inhabits montane forests, plantations, and areas near human dwellings.

• Spotted on building walls, tree bark, crevices, and plant branches.

• Endemic to the high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats.

• With this discovery, the number of known Dravidogecko species in the Western Ghats now stands at nine.

About Geckos:

• Geckos are small, mostly nocturnal reptiles found globally (except Antarctica).

• Thrive in diverse habitats: from rainforests and deserts to cold mountains.

• Belong to six major families, including Gekkonidae, Eublepharidae, and Phyllodactylidae

8. Sustainable Development Report 2025: India’s Performance

India's Ranking:

• India ranks 99th out of 193 countries in the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, with a score of 67—its first time entering the top 100.

About the Report:

• Published by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

• Tracks global progress on the 17 SDGs adopted in 2015.

Key Highlights:

• Global Progress Stalled: Only 17% of the targets are on track for achievement by 2030.

• Top Performers: Nordic nations lead the index — Finland (1st), Sweden (2nd), Denmark (3rd).

• Challenges Persist: Climate impact and biodiversity loss are key concerns, especially in high-consumption nations.

• Regional Trends: East and South Asia have shown the fastest SDG progress, driven by socioeconomic development.

• India's Progress: Strong improvements in access to basic services like electricity (SDG 7), internet (SDG 9), and reduced child mortality (SDG 3).

• Areas of Concern: Rising obesity, declining press freedom, ineffective nitrogen management, worsening Red List Index and corruption metrics.

• Commitment to Multilateralism: Top countries are Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

• Among G20 nations, Brazil ranks highest (25th), while Chile leads among OECD nations (7th).

9. Coffee Cultivation in India: Key Insights

Export Growth:

• India's coffee exports surged by 125% over 11 years, reaching USD 1.8 billion, aided by efforts of the Coffee Board of India.

About Coffee:

• A tropical crop grown on hill slopes at altitudes of 600–1600 meters.

• Grown under shade in humid, warm conditions with 15°C to 28°C temperature range.

• Requires 150–250 cm rainfall and well-drained, loamy soils rich in iron and calcium.

• Dry conditions are necessary during berry ripening.

Main Varieties:

• Coffea Arabica (sensitive to climate) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta).

• India’s major coffee-producing states: Karnataka (accounts for over 70%), followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

Export Destinations:

• Europe remains the largest market, including Italy, Germany, Belgium, along with Middle East, Korea, and Japan.

10. NAVYA: Skilling India’s Adolescent Girls

Initiative Overview:
The Government of India has launched NAVYA—a pilot project to skill adolescent girls under the Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision.

Full Form:
NAVYA – Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls

Key Features:

• A joint initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

• Targets girls aged 16–18 years (minimum qualification: Class 10).

• Focuses on non-traditional job roles and vocational training.

• To be implemented in 27 districts across 19 states, including Aspirational Districts and Northeastern regions.

• Will leverage existing frameworks like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

Significance:

• Aims to empower adolescent girls with skills and opportunities.

• Encourages self-reliance and economic participation as part of India’s roadmap to becoming a developed, inclusive nation by 2047.