Government notifies reconstitution of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

About MPC

• Constitution: Under Section 45ZB of the amended (in 2016) RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a MPC.
• Objective: To maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
• Composition: 6 members with RBI Governor as its ex officio chairperson and 3 members to be nominated by the central government for a period of four years.
• Voting: Each MPC member has one vote; in case of a tie, the Governor casts the deciding vote.

Ministry of Heavy Industries launched the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme.

About PM E-DRIVE

• Objective: To accelerate Electric Vehicles (EV) adoption and establish essential charging infrastructure across the country, promoting cleaner and more sustainable transportation.
• Major Component:
  • Subsidies/Demand Incentives for e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks and other emerging EVs.
  • E-Voucher for EV buyers to avail demand incentives. 
  • Promote Deployment of E-Ambulances, E-Buses and E-Trucks.
  • EV Public Charging Stations in selected cities with high EV penetration. 
  • Test Agency Modernization.

Financial Outlay: ₹10,0 crore over a period of two years.

Little Prespa Lake, on the Albanian-Greek border, is slowly dying due to rising temperatures and increasingly mild winters with little snowfall and a scarcity of precipitation.

About Little Prespa Lake 

• It is located in the Balkan Peninsula, spans both Greece and Albania and is part of the larger Prespa Lake system.
  • Lake Prespa is located on tripoint of North Macedonia, Albania and Greece. It is a system of two lakes – Great Prespa Lake and Little Prespa Lake – separated by an isthmus. 
• The lake is part of the Prespa National Park and designated as a Ramsar Site.

Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 to be conferred on eminent actor Mithun Chakraborty.

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest award in the field of cinema. 
• It is presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals. 
• It was instituted in 1969 in honour of the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered the father of Indian cinema.
• The recipient receives a Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize (currently ₹10 lakhs).
• Some notable winners: Satyajit Ray (1985), Amitabh Bachchan (2018), Rajinikanth (2021), and Waheeda Rehman (2023).

The European Commission has  proposed to extend the implementation of the EUDR, by one year.

About EUDR

• It aims to ensure that a set of key goods placed on the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world. 
• Applies to a wide range of products including palm oil, soy, beef, cocoa, and timber.
• This requires companies to verify the origin of the products and ensure that they are produced in a sustainable manner.
• It will act as a barrier for countries who export to the EU.

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has successfully traced the flow of the Sahibi river.

About Sahibi River

• It originates in Rajasthan and flows through Haryana and Delhi. 
• It is a tributary of the Yamuna River. 
• In ancient times, it was known as Drishadvati River.
• Due to pollution and encroachment, the river's natural flow has been significantly reduced.
  • It is now bracketed into various canals and nullahs and flows only when it rains heavily in the catchment areas.

The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted the GI tag to eight products from Assam.

About Products 

• Traditionally fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage (3): Bodo Jou Gwran, Bodo Jou Gishi & Maibra Jou Bidwi. 
• Traditional Dishes (4): 
  • Bodo Napham: Dish of fermented fish.
  • Bodo Ondla: A rice powder curry.
  • Bodo Gwkha: Locally also known as ‘Gwka Gwkhi’, prepared during the Bwisagu festival. 
  • Bodo Narzi: a semi-fermented food prepared with jute leaves.
• Bodo Aronai: a traditional shawl or scarf.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the People’s Plan Campaign (Jan Yojana Abhiyan). 

About Jan Yojana Abhiyan 

• It is themed as ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’, launched for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for 2025–26.   
  • As part of this campaign, special Gram Sabhas are being organized in over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats. 
• Aim: Strengthening grassroots democracy and promoting inclusive development in Grameen Bharat.
• Significance: Empower rural citizens to take an active role in shaping the future of their villages.