AidData publishes Chasing China report highlighting China’s overseas lending portfolio. 

Key Highlights of the Report

• Scale of Lending: China has provided over $2 trillion in loans and grants worldwide since 2000.
  • Over 80% nations got loans from China’s state-owned creditor between 2000-2023.
• Biggest Borrowers: United States is the largest recipient of Chinese loans followed by Russia and Australia.
• and Road Initiative (BRI) Decline: It now comprises only about 25%, showing a strategic pivot away from infrastructure-heavy projects in poorer regions.
• India’s Borrowing Pattern: Indian entities received $11.1 billion, largely for energy and financial services sectors.

Seven Indian names featured in the latest list prepared by the IAU’s Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. 

• E.g. Periyar river, Bekal fort, Varkala beach for geological features on Mars.

About International Astronomical Union (IAU)

• Established in 1919.
• HQ: Paris, France.
• Mission: To promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation.
• National Members: 85 including India’s Indian National Science Academy.
• Key Contributions: Planetary definitions, Standard celestial coordinate system etc.

Prime Minister unveiled Vikram-1, which is India’s new private orbital-class launch vehicle.

About Vikram-1

• Developer: Skyroot Aerospace — a private Indian space-startup based in Hyderabad.
• Purpose: To launch satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO); designed to serve small satellites and rideshare missions. 
• Payload Capacity: It can carry up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit and 260 kg to Sun-synchronous Orbit.
• Propulsion: Four-stage rocket — the first three stages use solid-fuel boosters, the final (upper) stage uses a liquid-propellant “Raman” engine for precise orbital insertion.
• Structure: The rocket uses an all-carbon-fibre body and features 3D-printed engines, aiming for lightweight, efficient design. 

Government has approved the Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-up (Tex-RAMPS) Scheme.

About ‘Tex-RAMPS’ Scheme

• Ministry: Ministry of Textiles
• Funding: ₹305 crore from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
• Aim: To future-proof India’s textiles and apparel (T&A) ecosystem by strengthening Research, Innovation and Competitiveness in Textiles Sector.
• Key Components
  • Research & Innovation:  in smart textiles, sustainability etc.
  • Data, Analytics & Diagnostics: including employment assessments, supply chain mapping, etc.
  • Real-time Integrated Textiles Statistical System (ITSS): to support structured monitoring and strategic decision-making.
  • Capacity Development & Knowledge Ecosystem: Strengthening of State-level planning, dissemination of best practices.
  • Start-up & Innovation Support: Support for incubators, hackathons, and academia-industry collaborations.

37,000-Year-Old Thorny Bamboo Fossil was discovered among the silt-rich deposits of Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, representing the earliest evidence of thorny bamboo in Asia. 

• Thorniness in bamboo is a defense against herbivores. 

About Bamboo or Green Gold

• It is a type of woody plant that belongs to the grass family. 
• It is amongst the fastest growing plants with some varieties growing up to 4 cm in an hour.
• Bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete and finds application in paper industries, furniture making, civil works, food, medicine etc. 

A global study has found that 788 amphibian species have declined in conservation status in the last 40 years.

• Threats to Amphibians: Habitat loss and degradation, Agriculture, Timber and plant harvesting, Infrastructure development, etc.
• They account for 25.2% of all threatened vertebrates on the IUCN Red List (185 Critically Endangered, 37 Extinct).

About Amphibians

• They are cold-blooded vertebrate animals that can live both in water and on land at different stages of their life. E.g. frogs.
• Role in ecosystem: Support nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and productivity. Also provide ecosystem services, e.g., pest control.

Chief of Army Staff unveiled a comprehensive three-phase road map to transform the Indian Army into an integrated, future-ready force by 2047.

• He also highlighted four key springboards for India’s military evolution – Self Reliance (Atmanirbharta), Innovation (Anusandhan), Adaptation (Anukulan), and Integration (Ekikaran). 

About Three Phase Plan

• Phase 1: Till 2032 – Decade of Transformation: Rapid enhancement of capabilities, force structure, and operational readiness to build a modern, agile Army.
• Phase 2: 2032–2037 – Consolidation: Strengthen and integrate the gains achieved in the first phase across organisation, technology, and doctrine.
• Phase 3: 2037–2047 – Fully Integrated Future Force: Achieve a technologically advanced, networked, and fully integrated military prepared for next-generation warfare.

Assam Assembly passes Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2025 to allow Moh Juj sport.

About Moh Juj

• Moh‑Juj refers to traditional buffalo fights held in certain parts of Assam.
• Meaning in Assamese: “Moh” refers to buffalo, and “Juj” means fight together “buffalo‑fight.”
• The fights are part of the cultural celebrations of Magh Bihu (or Bhogali Bihu), the harvest‑festival celebrated in Assam.