Panchayati Raj Ministry launches Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0 portal. 

• PAI Portal has been designed and developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• PAI 2.0 rationalizes indicators from 516 to 147, ensuring higher data quality, ease of reporting, and actionable insights.

About Panchayat Advancement Index 

• It is a multi-domain and multi-sectoral index intended to assess panchayats' overall holistic development, performance, and progress.
• It is based on nine LSDG-aligned themes, such as Women-Friendly Panchayat, Water-Sufficient Panchayat, etc. 

The prime Minister highlighted that 60 % increase in honey production in the country over a last decade.

About Honey Production In India 

• Production: In the last 11 years, honey production in India increased from 70,000–75,000 metric tonnes per year to around 1.25 lakh metric tonnes (60% increase).
  • India is the 7th largest honey producer. (China is the leading producer and exporter). 
• Major Honey Producing States (2022-23): Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan etc.
• Export: More than 50% of the honey production in India is exported.
• Major Export Destinations (2023-24): U.S.A., UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Libya.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to establish 'Sugar Boards' on their campuses.

• This step follows a recommendation from the The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which has raised concerns over rising cases of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, etc.
  • Type 2 is caused when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin.
  • Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder in which insulin-producing cells are destroyed by the immune system.

About Sugar Boards

• They provide essential information, such as recommended daily sugar intake, sugar content in commonly consumed foods (unhealthy meals such as junk food, cold drinks, etc.), health risks associated with high sugar consumption.
• It will educate students about informed food choices.

INCOIS has sounded a high wave alert along the coasts of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala.

About INCOIS

• Genesis: Established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
  • It is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).
• Located in Hyderabad.
• Mandate: To provide ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvements through systematic and focused research.
• Other INCOIS Services: Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisory, Tsunami Early Warning System, Ocean State Forecast (OSF), Coral Bleaching Alerts System etc.

India unveils first 9000 HP locomotive (D-9 engine) with regenerative braking.

About Regenerative Braking

• A conventional electric train braking system uses dynamic braking, where the kinetic energy of the train is dissipated as waste, mainly in the form of heat.
• While in regenerative braking, the current in the electric motors is reversed. This generates electricity that can be returned to the power distribution system.
• Benefits: reducing overall energy consumption etc. 

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), recommended a 36% increase in the stipend provided under the NAPS.

About NAPS

• It was launched in August 2016. The scheme was extended to continue as NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23. 
• Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Aim: To provide financial incentives to the establishments engaging apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
• NAPS-2 is a Central Sector Scheme (100% funded by the Central Government) and is one of the sub-components under the umbrella scheme of “Skill India Programme‟.
• Under NAPS-2 Minimum age for an apprentice is 14 years, and 18 years for designated trades with an upper age limit of 35 years.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted again after December , 2024 unleashing lava fountains.

• The eruption released a large plume of volcanic material including ash, gas, and Pele’s hair, a glass-like volcanic fiber.
• Primary hazards include high levels of volcanic gas which can interact with the atmosphere to form vog [volcanic smog], which may affect people, animals, etc. 

About Kilauea Volcano

• Location: Southeastern part of the island of Hawaii, U.S.
• It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
• It is situated in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with its larger but less active Mauna Loa (the biggest volcano on Earth).
• Both are shield volcanoes.
  • Shield volcanoes do not form soaring mountains with conical peaks like composite volcanoes.

USA President aborted the move to rename the Persian Gulf as the ‘Arabian Gulf’ or ‘Gulf of Arabia’

About the Persian Gulf 

• It is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.
• Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (southeast).
• It is bordered by Iran, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.
• The small freshwater inflow into the gulf is mostly from the Tigris, Euphrates, and Karun rivers.
• It is an important waterway for marine transport, particularly for oil.