NITI Aayog released the report highlighting the rising participation of women in formal credit systems.

Key Highlights

• Rising Credit Share: Women hold ₹76 lakh crore credits (26% of the total).
• Credit Exposure: grew 4.8 times since 2017, with penetration rising to36%.
• Shift in Borrowing: Transition from microfinance to retail and business loans.
• Regional Spread: Growth expanding to northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Indian scientists find new way to measure distances in deep space

• They developed a new method combining dispersion measure (earlier method) and scatter broadening of pulsar signals to improve the accuracy of distance measurement in space.
  • Dispersion Measure: Estimates distance by measuring the delay in pulsar signals caused by free electrons in space.
  • Scatter Broadening: Measures how pulsar signals spread and distort due to turbulence in interstellar plasma. 
• The technique overcomes limitations of existing models and enables more reliable estimation of cosmic distances. 

About Pulsars

• Pulsars are highly magnetized, rapidly rotating neutron stars formed after supernova explosions that emit narrow beams of electromagnetic radiation from their magnetic poles.
• Due to their highly stable rotation, they act as cosmic clocks and are used in astrophysical measurements.

Cabinet approved 12% hike in Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for Kharif Season 2026.

About NBS Scheme

• Launched: in 2010 by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Objectives: To promote balanced use of fertilizers, reduce the subsidy burden on the Government, etc.
• Features:  Subsidy is linked to nutrient content, primarily Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulphur (S) content.
  • It covers 28 grades of P&K fertilizers (including DAP, Urea-SSP).

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) initiated campaign to build Skills Outcomes Fund. 

About Skills Outcomes Fund 

• It is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at unlocking aspirational livelihoods for youth from low-income backgrounds.
• It builds on the success of India’s first outcomes-based initiative, the Skill Impact Bond, launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in 2021.
  • Skill Impact Bond used private sector capital and expertise, focusing on job placement and retention rather than merely on training and certification.
• It will be also anchored by the NSDC. 
• It adopts a blended finance model to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth.
  • It links funding to verified employment outcomes such as job placement and retention.

CAQM penalised Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for violating Biomass Co-firing norms under the 2023 Environmental Rules.

About 2023 Environmental Rules

• Notified: under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Norms: Mandate 5% biomass co-firing using paddy straw pellets with coal in all coal-based TPPs.
  • Minimum threshold of 3% co-firing prescribed for FY 2024-25.
• Objective: Promote ex-situ crop residue management and curb stubble burning in National Capital Region (NCR).
• Applicability: Applicable to the NCR and the adjoining areas, up to 300 Km.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved Investment Proposal for construction of Kalai-II and Kamala Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Arunachal Pradesh. 

About Projects 

• Kalai-II HEP: Located on Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, originating in eastern Tibet and flowing through Arunachal Pradesh into Assam. 
• Kamala HEP: Located on Kamla River, a major tributary of Subansiri River. 

An Indian Army contingent will participate in the 4^th edition of Exercise Cyclone-IV at Anshas, Egypt.

About Exercise Cyclone-IV

• It is a bilateral India–Egypt jointSpecial Forces military exercise.
• Objective: Enhance interoperability & joint operations capability.