About Kimberly Process

• Genesis: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched in 2003.
• It is a tripartite initiative involving governments, the international diamond industry and civil society, 
• It aimed at preventing the trade in “conflict diamonds”. 
  • Conflict diamonds refers to rough diamonds used by rebel groups or their allies to finance conflicts that undermine legitimate governments.
• Mechanism: It mandates that all international shipments of rough diamonds carry a tamper-resistant KP certificate (KPCS) and allows trade only among certified member countries.
• Global Reach: 60 participants, govern over 99% of the global rough diamond trade via strict certification (KPCS).

The environment ministry’s expert panel has declined an exemption to the minimum operational depth limit for underground coal gasification projects.

• The coal ministry had sought the removal of the condition stipulating a minimum depth of 300 metres for R&D pilot projects.

About Coal Gasification

• Process: Converts solid coal into synthetic gas (syngas) using heat, pressure, and steam or oxygen, rather than burning it directly.
  • The resulting syngas primarily consists of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
• Significance: It enhances energy security and offers a cleaner alternative to traditional combustion with lower sulfur emissions. 
• Major Initiative take: National Coal Gasification Mission (Ministry of Coal) aims to gasify 100 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal by 2030.

Indian Armed Forces Contingent arrived in Seychelles for Exercise LAMITIYE. 

About Exercise LAMITIYE 

• It is a biennial joint military exercise conducted between India and Seychelles.
• The 2026 edition is the first tri-services participation from India.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025. 

• SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. 

Key Highlights

• Second Largest Importer: India was the second largest recipient of major arms (Ukraine on top) globally in 2021–25, accounting for 8.2% of total global arms imports 
  • India's overall arms imports fell by 4.0% between the 2016–2020 and 2021–2025 periods. This decrease is partly attributed to the country's growing capacity to design and produce its own weapons domestically. 
• Top Suppliers: India's primary arms suppliers in 2021–25 were Russia (40%), France (29%), and Israel (15%)
• Pivot to the West: Over the past decade, India has actively shifted its reliance away from Russia and towards Western suppliers, notably France, Israel, and the USA

NHAI, in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO, released the inaugural NH-Green Cover Index (GCI) for 2025–26.

Key highlights of the Index

• Coverage: ~30,000 km of National Highways across 24 states for the period between July and December 2024.
  • It will track year-on-year green cover improvements.
• Satellite-based methodology: by detecting chlorophyll content via high-resolution satellite sensors of Resourcesat-2/2A and Cartosat-2S.

The Human Rights Watch claimed to have verified the use of white phosphorus (a Chemical Weapon) by Israel in Lebanon.

About White Phosphorous

• Properties: A translucent, yellowish-white waxy solid. 
  • It glows in the dark (chemiluminescence) and ignites instantly upon contact with air.
• Hazards: Extremely toxic to humans. It causes severe burns to the skin and deep tissue, and causes major internal damage if inhaled or ingested.
• Weapon Uses: primarily as an incendiary agent for smoke screens and illumination.
• Regulations: Not explicitly banned but prohibited but under International Humanitarian Law.