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:
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It reflects the "thirst" of the atmosphere and does not equate to actual evaporation, which depends on water availability.
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Factors influencing it include temperature, wind speed, humidity, and cloud cover.
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High evaporative demand is linked to droughts and increased wildfire risk.
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Monitoring sustained high levels can help detect early signs of droughts and fire danger.
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Conditions like high temperatures, strong winds, low humidity, and clear skies elevate this demand.
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It leads to surface drying, reduced soil moisture, and stressed vegetation, making the environment more flammable.
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When prolonged dry spells coincide with high evaporative demand, the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires increases.
What is a Thirstwave?
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A "thirstwave" is defined as three or more consecutive days of intense evaporative demand.
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Unlike heatwaves, which are temperature-driven, thirstwaves are influenced by temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind.
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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:
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Location: Kutch, Gujarat
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Developer: Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL)
About the Plant:
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A 5 MW green hydrogen facility powered entirely by solar energy.
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Operates off-grid using a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
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Features a fully automated electrolyser system that responds to real-time renewable inputs.
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Known as a closed-loop system, it ensures flexible, efficient, and safe operations.
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Aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which promotes energy independence, reduced imports, and decarbonisation.
3. Estimates Committee of Parliament
Overview:
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First established in 1950.
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Composed of 30 Lok Sabha members, elected annually.
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Chaired by a member appointed by the Speaker (ministers are not eligible).
Functions:
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Examines Union Government budget estimates.
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Recommends ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and propose alternative policies.
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Evaluates the justification and impact of expenditures.
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Suggests how budget estimates should be presented to Parliament.
Working Procedure:
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Chooses specific ministries or government bodies to review.
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May form sub-committees for detailed analysis.
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Submits reports with recommendations and follows up with Action Taken Reports.
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Ministries must respond within six months.
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Final grants can be approved even without a report from the committee.
Exclusion:
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It does not deal with public undertakings assigned to the Public Undertakings Committee.
4. Operation Midnight Hammer
Overview:
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A covert U.S.-led military strike targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
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Conducted on the night of June 21–22, 2025.
Details:
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Involved over 125 aircraft, including B-2 bombers, and 30+ Tomahawk missiles.
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Marked the first operational use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).
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Targeted Sites:
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Natanz and Fordow (uranium enrichment)
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Isfahan (nuclear support facility)
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Importance of Fordow:
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Deeply buried in a mountain near Qom, designed to withstand aerial attacks.
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Houses ~3,000 centrifuges and spans ~54,000 sq ft.
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Iran resumed enrichment there after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.
5. ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)
Background:
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Signed in 2009 and enforced from January 1, 2010.
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Emerged from the 2003 Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation.
Scope:
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Covers trade in goods only (services are addressed in a separate 2014 agreement).
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Aims to progressively eliminate tariffs on 90%+ of goods.
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Allows longer tariff reduction timelines for less-developed ASEAN members.
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Includes special provisions for India's sensitive products like tea, coffee, and palm oil.
Additional Features:
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Tariff exclusions and sensitive product lists reviewed annually.
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Seeks to simplify customs and reduce non-tariff barriers.
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Overseen by a Joint Committee, which monitors and updates the agreement.
Current Issue:
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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:
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Held annually during the monsoon (usually June) at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
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Celebrates the menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, during which the temple remains closed for three days.
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The festival symbolizes fertility and regeneration, coinciding with the onset of monsoon.
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After the three-day ritual period, the temple reopens with elaborate ceremonies, drawing large crowds for darshan.
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"Ambubachi" literally means “flowing water,” symbolizing both menstruation and the Earth’s fertility.
Kamakhya Temple Facts:
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Located on Nilachal Hill, near the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.
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One of the oldest and most revered Shakti Peethas, associated with Tantric practices.
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Its unique Nilachala architectural style blends Nagara and Mughal (Saracenic) elements.
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The temple complex includes five main structures: garbhagriha, antarala, Jagan Mohan, bhogmandir, and natmandir.
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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:
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Inhabits montane forests, plantations, and areas near human dwellings.
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Spotted on building walls, tree bark, crevices, and plant branches.
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Endemic to the high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats.
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With this discovery, the number of known Dravidogecko species in the Western Ghats now stands at nine.
About Geckos:
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Geckos are small, mostly nocturnal reptiles found globally (except Antarctica).
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Thrive in diverse habitats: from rainforests and deserts to cold mountains.
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Belong to six major families, including Gekkonidae, Eublepharidae, and Phyllodactylidae
8. Sustainable Development Report 2025: India’s Performance
India's Ranking:
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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:
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Published by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
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Tracks global progress on the 17 SDGs adopted in 2015.
Key Highlights:
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Global Progress Stalled: Only 17% of the targets are on track for achievement by 2030.
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Top Performers: Nordic nations lead the index — Finland (1st), Sweden (2nd), Denmark (3rd).
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Challenges Persist: Climate impact and biodiversity loss are key concerns, especially in high-consumption nations.
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Regional Trends: East and South Asia have shown the fastest SDG progress, driven by socioeconomic development.
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India's Progress: Strong improvements in access to basic services like electricity (SDG 7), internet (SDG 9), and reduced child mortality (SDG 3).
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Areas of Concern: Rising obesity, declining press freedom, ineffective nitrogen management, worsening Red List Index and corruption metrics.
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Commitment to Multilateralism: Top countries are Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
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Among G20 nations, Brazil ranks highest (25th), while Chile leads among OECD nations (7th).
9. Coffee Cultivation in India: Key Insights
Export Growth:
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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:
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A tropical crop grown on hill slopes at altitudes of 600–1600 meters.
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Grown under shade in humid, warm conditions with 15°C to 28°C temperature range.
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Requires 150–250 cm rainfall and well-drained, loamy soils rich in iron and calcium.
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Dry conditions are necessary during berry ripening.
Main Varieties:
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Coffea Arabica (sensitive to climate) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta).
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India’s major coffee-producing states: Karnataka (accounts for over 70%), followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
Export Destinations:
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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:
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A joint initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
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Targets girls aged 16–18 years (minimum qualification: Class 10).
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Focuses on non-traditional job roles and vocational training.
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To be implemented in 27 districts across 19 states, including Aspirational Districts and Northeastern regions.
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Will leverage existing frameworks like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
Significance:
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Aims to empower adolescent girls with skills and opportunities.
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Encourages self-reliance and economic participation as part of India’s roadmap to becoming a developed, inclusive nation by 2047.