Union Agriculture Minister announced a target to develop at least 100 Climate Smart Villages.

About Climate Smart Villages (CSV) 

• CSV project (launched in 2011) was pioneered by CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) under its research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). 
  • International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics one of the research centers of CGIAR is headquartered in Hyderabad. 
• Concept: Community-led initiative that act as "open-air laboratories" to test and implement agricultural practices designed to withstand climate change. 
  • Farmers receive training on climate resilient techniques etc. and researchers collect to improve proposed solutions. 
• Significance:  Promotes climate-smart agriculture, integrated farming systems, and water and soil conservation, build resilience to climate change 

CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR–CRRI) has launched the first phase of nationwide deployment of indigenous advanced road infrastructure technologies. 

Key Road Infrastructure Technologies

• Steel Slag Roads: Industrial waste-based roads.
  • Steel Slag is a non-metallic by product of steel manufacturing, processed and used as an aggregate in road construction due to its high strength and durability. 
• Modified Mix Seal Surfacing (MSS+): Enables all-weather construction without heating aggregate and bitumen and the roads built showed superior quality compared to conventional hot mix roads.
• Bio Binder: Synthesized from renewable resources like starch, and other suitable raw materials.
• EcoFix: A ready-to-use cold mix made from processed steel slag, merges science, sustainability, and speed.
• RejuPave: Allows Road construction at lower temperatures, overcoming the challenges of extreme cold.

Indian Council of Medical Research’s study under i-DRONE initiative found that drone transport of TB sputum samples reduced diagnosis time and patient costs.

About ICMR's Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) Initiative 

• Launched in 2021 during the Covid outbreak. 
• Objective:  Initial aim was using drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies in remote areas of North East India
  • However Now it has expanded to other areas. E.g., Himachal Pradesh, Telangana etc. 

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has released the working paper "The World in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): Trends since 1992" 

• PPP measure the total amount of goods and services that a single unit of a country’s currency can buy in another country.
  • China is the largest economy in PPP terms, accounting for 19.6% of world GDP (2025).
  • China contributes 32% of global savings and 30% of global investment, the highest in the world.

Key Highlights

• India is the 3rd largest economy in PPP terms, with an 8.2% share of world GDP; projected to reach 9.7% by 2030.
• India's per capita income increased from 18% of the world average (1992) to 45% (2025).
• India is the 2nd largest contributor to global savings (10.3%) and the 3rd largest contributor to global investment (10.8%) in PPP terms. 

Recently, 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) National Security Advisers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi. 

About BIMSTEC (Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh)

• Genesis: It is a regional organization established in 1997 with signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
  • It was originally called ‘BIST-EC' with only 4 members (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka & Thailand).
• Member States (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. 
• Objective: To create an enabling environment for rapid economic development and social progress and maintain peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal region.
• 7 Priority Areas/Pillars (each led by 1 Member country): India is the Lead Country for Security pillar 

US Food and Drug Administration approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), world's first oral PCSK9 inhibitor. 

• PCSK9 Inhibitor drugs block the PCSK9 protein enhancing the removal of LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the blood,

About Cholestrol

• Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance needed to build cells and make hormones. 
• Types: 
  • Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): Known as “Bad” cholesterol because it can build up in arteries. Over time, this can narrow the arteries and increase the risk for heart attack and stroke.
  • High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Known as "good cholesterol"; removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports it to the liver for disposal.

Recent reports found data pertaining to operations at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant leaked as part of a ransomware attack.

About KNPP

• India’s largest nuclear power plant, developed with Russian collaboration and operated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. 
  • NPCIL is a Public Sector Enterprise under administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). 
• Operational Units 1 & 2 has commissioned two 1,000 Megawatts Electric (Mwe) VVER reactors. 
  • VVER is Russian design of Pressurized Water Reactor that stands for water-cooled water-moderated energy reactor. 
• Future remaining 4 units comprise of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) each 1000 MWe capacity. 

USA has tightened the visa duration for foreign students (F visas), journalists (I Visas) and cultural exchange visitors (J Visas).

Key Highlights

• New regulations create a fixed time period while currently these visas are available for the duration of the programme or employment in the US.
• Under the new regulations, student and exchange visa periods ⁠would be no longer than four years while for journalists it would be for up to 240 days. 
• Rules prohibit graduate students from changing their educational objectives at any point, or from transferring to another school without authorization. 
• It has also reduced the time to leave US after completing degree or training, from 60 to 30 days.

World Health Organization (WHO) released updated guidelines on reducing risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

About Dementia

• Condition caused by brain diseases and affects memory, thinking and ability to function. 
• While it gets worse over time (more common after age 65), it is not an inevitable part of ageing.
• Alzheimer's disease accounts for around 60-70% of all dementia cases.
• While there is no cure for dementia, up to 45% of risks can be attributed to modifiable risk factors like tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).