Biostimulants
Centre withdraws approval for animal protein-based biostimulants over ‘religious, dietary’ concerns.
About Biostimulant
- A biostimulant is a substance, microorganism, or mixture that promotes plant growth by stimulating natural physiological processes, improving nutrient uptake and efficiency, and enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought or heat.
- E.g., Humic acids, seaweed extracts, liquid manure composting and beneficial bacteria and fungi.
- Biostimulant are officially treated as distinct from fertilisers and insecticides.
- Tags :
- Biostimulant
Sir Creek

India criticizes Pakistan over military infrastructure developments along the Sir Creek area.
About Sir Creek
- It is a 96-km-long tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan. It separates Pakistan’s Sindh province from Gujarat’s Kutch region.
- It is named after a British representative and extends into the Arabian Sea.
- Dispute:
- India’s Position: Since 1947, India has sought Sir Creek’s boundary based on the Thalweg Principle, which sets boundaries along the midline of the navigable channel.
- Pakistan’s Position: Pakistan contends that Sir Creek is not navigable, so the Thalweg Principle does not apply.
- Tags :
- Pakistan
- Sir Creek
- Gujarat’s Kutch region
Biomedical Research Career Programme
Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme, Phase-III (2025-26 to 2030-2031).
About Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)
- Objective: To nurture top-tier scientific talent for cutting-edge biomedical research and promote interdisciplinary research for translational innovation.
- It will also strengthen systems supporting high-quality research, and reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity, to create world-class biomedical research capacity with global impact.
- Implementation: In partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), United Kingdom and the SPV, India Alliance for Phase III.
- Tags :
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
- Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)
Articles Sources
Exercise Pacific Reach
India participated in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR-25).
About XPR-25
- It is biennial multinational submarine rescue exercise featuring participation from over 40 nations.
- Host: Singapore.
- Tags :
- Exercise Pacific Reach 2025
- XPR-25
Articles Sources
Urban Flood Risk Management Programme
A High-Level Committee, under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister, approved Urban Flood Risk Management Programme Phase-II for 11 cities.
About Urban Flood Risk Management Programme
- Funding pattern: On cost-sharing between the Centre and State as per NDMF guidelines i.e 90% from Centre and 10% from State.
- Cities included: Bhopal, Bhubhaneshwar, Guwahati, Jaipur, Kanpur, Patna, Raipur, Trivandrum, Vishakhapatnam, Indore and Lucknow.
- Activities involved for Urban Flood risk mitigation project include:
- structural measures of Interlinking of water bodies to Stormwater Management, Construction of flood protection wall, Erosion Control and Soil Stabilisation using Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) ,etc.
- non-structural measures such as Flood Early Warning System and Data Acquisition System and capacity building, etc.
- Tags :
- Urban Flood Risk Management Programme
Snow Leopards
Himachal Pradesh's snow leopard population has risen by 62%, from 51 in 2021 to 83 in 2025.
About Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
- Range: They are elusive cats found in 12 range countries in Asia (including India).
- Referred to as the “ghost of the mountains” due to their white-gray coat acting as a natural camouflage in the mountains.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Vulnerable,
- CITES: Appendix I,
- Wildlife protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- Project Snow Leopard: It was launched in 2009 in India to conserve the animal and its habitat.
- Tags :
- Himachal Pradesh
- Urban Flood Risk Management Programme
Foreign Portfolio Investors
As per National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), Foreign Portfolio Investors have sold cash shares worth ₹2.02 trillion in the calendar year through October 01.
About Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
- FPIs can hold a maximum of 10% of an Indian company’s total paid-up equity capital (amount of money that a company receives from shareholders in exchange for shares).
- Exceeding this 10% cap, FPIs can:
- divest (selling off) the surplus shares; or
- reclassify themselves as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
- RBI and SEBI framework on reclassification of FPI to FDI issued in 2024 made following provisions:
- reclassification shall not be permitted in sectors prohibited for FDI. E.g., Chit funds, gambling, etc.
- FPI investment requires government approvals are required, especially from land-bordering countries, and need Indian Investee Company’s concurrence.
- Tags :
- Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
- National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL)
H125 Helicopters
India’s first helicopter Final Assembly Line from the private sector in kolar (Karnataka) to roll out Indian-made H125 helicopters in 2027.
- Airbus has partnered with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture the H125 in India.
About H125 Helicopter
- The H125 is a versatile, single-engine helicopter.
- A light multi-role helicopter, and can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments.
- Tags :
- H125 Helicopter
Amazon’s Flying Rivers
A study warns about the negative impact of deforestation on Amazon’s ‘flying rivers’ worsening droughts across southwestern Amazon.
About Amazon’s Flying Rivers
- It is a natural phenomenon of aerial moisture transport and recycling where massive areas of water vapour flow across the Amazon basin.
- This water vapour is generated by evaporation from the Atlantic Ocean and the ‘Evapotranspiration’ from the Amazon forest.
- Evapotranspiration is the sum of all processes by which water moves from the land surface to the atmosphere via evaporation (soil etc.) and transpiration (plants).
- It is carried by steady inland trade winds, blowing west along the equator.
- Significance: Regulation of rainfall in the Amazon region especially near the Andes in northwestern South America.
- Tags :
- Amazon’s Flying Rivers
- Evapotranspiration