Bangladesh seeks China’s support for Teesta project. 

About Teesta River

• Origin: Tso Lhamo Lake in North Sikkim. Pahunri Glacier, Khangse Glacier and Chho Lhamo Lake are also considered its sources.
• Course: Flows through Sikkim and West Bengal in India before entering Bangladesh, where it joins the Brahmaputra River at Fulchori.
• Major Tributary: Rangit River is the main tributary of the Teesta in Sikkim.
• Teesta Water Treaty: In 2011, a draft agreement was proposed where India would get 42.5% and Bangladesh 37.5% of Teesta’s water during the dry season.
  • Implementation was halted due to objections from West Bengal.

MoSPI has released the Uniform Guideline for Compilation of Gross State Value Added (GSVA) Estimates with Base Year 2022-23.

About the Guidelines

• Aim: To improve the compilation of GSVA and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and ensure consistency and comparability of economic data across all States/UTs.
• Key Priorities: Expanding data integration, updating methodology to capture emerging and unincorporated sectors, and standardizing methods across all States/UTs.
• Aims to include previously excluded UTs like Lakshadweep and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu for 100% national coverage.

Significance of GSDP Estimates

• Used for tracking state-level growth, industrial output etc.
• Used by the Finance Commission and Ministry of Finance to allocate resources and distribute Central taxes.

PMEGP has demonstrated robust performance during the 15th Finance Commission cycle. 

• Women beneficiaries: Account for ~40% of the total micro-enterprises.
• SC/ST/OBC categories: ~54% of the beneficiaries.
• Rural: ~80% of the enterprises established under PMEGP are located in rural areas.

About PMEGP

• Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• Implementation Agency: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) (with KVIB, DIC and Coir Board)
• Mechanism: Supports prospective entrepreneurs in establishing new micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by providing Margin Money (MM) subsidy on bank loans.
• Maximum Project Cost allowed: Rs.50 lakhs for manufacturing unit and Rs.20 lakhs for Service Unit.

Recently, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care) platform. 

About JANANI

• Service-oriented digital platform  to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during reproductive age. 
• An upgraded version of existing RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) portal, creating a longitudinal health record by capturing key service delivery events across continuum of care.
• Key Features: 
  • Interoperability: Enabling integration with national platforms like U-WIN and POSHAN. 
  • Unique Identifiers: Like ABHA, Aadhaar (OTP and biometric) and mobile number for registration of beneficiaries. 
  • Others: QR-enabled digital Mother and Child Health (MCH) Cards; automated alerts for high-risk pregnancies, real-time dashboards for supervisory review, etc. 

Insurance division of Department of Financial Services topped Group A Category  in GRAI ranking with Banking Division retaining 5^th position for second month in a row for month of March 2026. 

About GRAI

• Developed by: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). 
• Purpose: Evaluates ministries and departments on effectiveness and timeliness of grievance resolution through Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
  • CPGRAMS is a 24x7 online platform designed for citizens to lodge grievances against government service delivery.
• Based on 4 dimensions (corresponding to 11 indicators): Efficiency, Feedback, Domain and Organisational Commitment. 

INS Sagardhwani arrived in Vietnam marking a significant step towards scientific cooperation. 

• It was flagged off for 5^th edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative.
• Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)' vision. 

About INS Sagardhwani

• Specialised oceanographic research vessel commissioned in July 1994. 
• Designed by Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). 

TDB entered into an agreement with private firm to establish an advanced manufacturing facility for production and commercialisation of indigenously developed Type-IV Composite CNG Cylinders. 

• Type-IV composite cylinders represent next-generation alternative to conventional steel cylinders offering upto 75% weight reduction, improved vehicle efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

About TDB

• Statutory Body:  Under Technology Development Board Act, 1995. 
• Ministry: Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. 
• Purpose: Development and commercialization of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. 
  • Provides equity capital/loans to industrial concerns and financial assistance to research and development institutions.

Rajasthan’s state-owned electricity producer sought to divert 1,742.6 hectares of prime forest and fell 4.48 lakh trees in Hasdeo-Arand forest. 

About Hasdeo-Arand Forest

• Location: Spans Korba, Surguja and Surajpur districts in Chhattisgarh.
• Type: Dense Sal forests. 
• Fauna: Home to nine Schedule-I species, including leopards, sloth bears and elephants.
• Significance: Often called the ‘“lungs of central India”; catchment for Hasdeo River and Bango Dam; dispersal corridor for tigers; vital resource for tribal communities.