MoU signed for developing India’s First Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu under India- Republic of Korea Comprehensive Framework ‘VOYAGES’.

• Proposed shipyard will have 2.5 Million GT annual capacity and generate 15,000 direct jobs.

About ‘VOYAGES’ (Shared Vision for Operation of Yard Assisted Growth with Efficiency and Scale)

• Signed in April, 2026, it promotes India-South Korea cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics via technology transfer, green shipbuilding and training of Indian professionals in South Korea.

Overview of India’s Shipbuilding Sector

• Global Standing: India holds less than 1% of global share, far behind China (47%), South Korea (25%) and Japan (18%).
• Aging Fleet: Average Indian fleet age is 21 years, creating demand for nearly 2,500 new vessels.
• Market Growth: Sector projected to grow from US$90 million (2022) to US$8.12 billion by 2033.

Recently, Mizoram Ginger Mission was launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Government of Mizoram for cultivation Mizoram’s GI-certified ginger.

About Ginger

• Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale Rosc (Family: Zingiberaceae).
• Status: India is a leading global producer of ginger.
• Major Producing States: Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh.
• Agro-Climatic Requirements
  • Climate:Warm and humid (up to an altitude of 1500m).
  • Temperature: 12-35°C.
  • Rainfall: Requires moderate rainfall for sowing (around 1500mm annually), and dry weather before harvesting.
  • Soil: well-drained friable sandy loam, clay loam, or lateritic loam rich in humus.
• Significances
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Highly effective in treating nausea, managing blood sugar (HbA1c) and cholesterol levels, etc.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is opening build-operate-transfer road projects to large institutional investors.

About BOT Model

• It is a type of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model commonly used for financing large infrastructure projects.
• Working Mechanism: Private company finances, designs, builds and operates the project for a fixed concession period and collects user charges.
  • It involves high private sector participation in construction, operation and maintenance over a long duration.
• Ownership Transfer: After the concession period ends, ownership is transferred back to the government/public authority.
• Risk Sharing: Private entity bears major risks such as financial risk, traffic/volume risk and sometimes pricing risk.

India’s first Alzheimer’s disease therapy donanemab was launched recently.

About Alzheimer Disease

• Definition: A progressive brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia (60–70% of cases).
  • Dementia is a condition involving decline in memory, thinking and behaviour that interferes with daily life.
• Cause: Linked to factors such as genetics, lifestyle and ageing.

The government banned export of sugar until September this year to cool domestic prices.

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the export policy from ‘Restricted’ to ‘Prohibited’.

About DGFT

• Ministry: Attached office under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 
• Headed by: Director General of Foreign Trade.
• Function: Formulates and implements India’s Foreign Trade Policy.
• Role: To promote and facilitate exports/imports, keeping in view the interests of the country.
• Headquarters: New Delhi and 24 regional offices across India.

Assam ships first legal agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

About Agarwood (Oudh or Gaharu)

• Overview: A highly valuable fragrant resinous wood used in perfumes, incense and traditional medicine.
• Formation: Produced when Aquilaria trees are infected by fungi and generate resin as a defence mechanism.
• Species in India: India has three Aquilaria species, including agarwood-producing Aquilaria khasiana and Aquilaria malaccensis.
• Traditional Use: Mentioned in Ayurveda, Unani and Chinese medicine systems.
• Protection Status: 
  • Appendix II of CITES.
  • IUCN Status: Aquilaria malaccensis is classified as Critically Endangered.