Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited handed over the sixth Scorpene submarine, Vaghsheer, of Project P-75 to the Indian Navy.

About Vagsheer

• It is named after the sand fish, a deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
• It is the last of the series of six Kalvari-class scorpion submarines.
  • Other five submarines of this class are Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, Vela, Vagir.

Project P-75

• Under the Project, India is building French Scorpene-class submarines.
  • These have diesel-electric propulsion systems. 
• Submarines will be equipped with the indigenously developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system in them.
  • AIP system allows non-nuclear submarines to remain submerged for longer period.

Silver nanowire-based conductive ink technology was recently transferred to two Indian startups. 

About Conductive Ink

• A paint that contains silver or carbon particles, making it electrically conductive.
• Unlike traditional circuits with copper wires, this ink allows circuits to be drawn directly onto surfaces.
• Key Applications
  • Used to repair or enhance circuits on printed circuit boards
  • Used in flexible electronics (e.g., foldable screens, keyboards, defrosters)
  • Applications in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, wearable devices, sensors, displays, and solar panels
  • Potential for interactive marketing or signage through touch.

Union Minister of State for Environment launched 'Nano Bubble Technology' for cleaning and purifying water of National Zoological Park, Delhi.

About the Nano Bubble Technology

• Nanobubbles: They are 70-120 nanometers in size, 2500 times smaller than a single grain of salt. 
  • Nanobubbles have a strong negative surface charge that prevents them from coalescing and
    • It also enables them to physically separate small particles and droplets like emulsified fats, oils, and grease from water.
  • Hydrophobic nature of nanobubbles combined with their surface charge enable lifting organic and inorganic materials off surfaces similar to surfactants.

• Applications of Nano Bubble Technology
  • Water Purification, Agriculture (Enhance oxygenation of irrigation water), Healthcare, food industry, Industrial cleaning etc.

Physicists at Durham University, UK, have discovered over 44 previously unknown stars located behind a cluster of galaxies using GL. 

About GL

• GL occurs when massive objects distort and magnify light from objects behind them (such as a galaxy or a quasar), acting as cosmic telescopes and making distant galaxies appear brighter
• This happens because the object's mass curves space and time, causing light to travel along a curved path.
  • According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, mass causes spacetime to curve, and light follows the curvature of spacetime.
• A key effect of this lensing is magnification, allowing us to see distant, faint objects. The Hubble Space Telescope uses this effect to study galaxies far beyond its normal range.

The United Nations (UN) published its flagship report, World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025.

• The report is produced by  the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in partnership with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five UN regional commissions.

Key Findings

• Global subdued growth: Trade tensions, high debt burdens, and geopolitical risks have subdued growth despite falling inflation and monetary easing measures. This decelerates progress on SDGs. 
  • Global economic growth is forecast at 2.8% for 2025 and 2.9% for 2026.
• India-specific findings
  • India is the fastest growing large economy in the world.
  • The Indian economy is forecast to expand by 6.6% in 2025, primarily supported by solid private consumption and investment growth.
  • India has a robust labour market with strong employment indicators with labour force participation near record highs. (Reserve Bank of India, 2024).

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the Interest Coverage Ratio (ICR) of unlisted companies is at a 30-year high. 

About ICR

• Definition: It is a financial ratio that indicates the ability of a firm to service its outstanding debt.
• ICR Formula: Company’s Operating Profit (Earnings before Interest and Taxes) divided by the Interest Expense (interest payable on borrowings such as bonds, loans, etc.)
• It is used by lenders, creditors and investors to determine the riskiness of lending capital to a company.
• It reflects the short-term financial health and stability  of the firm.
  • Lower ICR indicates greater debt and higher risk of the company’s bankruptcy and vice versa.

Archaeologists have discovered a mud-brick stadium with precise engineering and a marketplace from ‘Mature Harappan’ phase at Rakhigarhi.

• The stadium exhibits a seating arena with an incline suitable for perfect viewing, highlighting the sporting culture.

About Rakhigarhi

• It is one of the largest and oldest known Harappan sites. 
• It is located in Hisar district, Haryana in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain.
• Three layers of Early, Mature and Late phases of Indus Valley civilization have been found at Rakhigarhi. 
• It is also well-known as the site which has yielded the only DNA evidence from the Harappan era.