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➡️Closed-Door Diplomacy A style of diplomacy where negotiations, discussions, or deliberations are held privately, 👉 Examples (India & Global) 🔹India–China 1993 Border Peace Accord → many rounds of closed-door talks. 🔹India–Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty (1996) → quiet negotiations before formal signing. 🔹US–China Ping-Pong Diplomacy (1970s) → began as secret engagement. 🔹Abraham Accords (2020) → UAE–Israel normalization largely prepared via closed-door talks.away from public/media scrutiny. Also called quiet diplomacy / backchannel diplomacy.

➡️Indias 1st overseas defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco. 👉it will produce indias indigenously developed wheeled Armoured platform (WhAP)

➡️in 2025, government of India proposed that all ACs in homes, commercial spaces and vehicles must operate within the temp. Range of 20 C to 28 C. 👉Bureau of energy efficiency (BEE) Estimated that this proposal could save 20 billion units energy annually, amounting ₹10,000cr and reduced emission of 16 million tonnes. 👉in 2021, only 13% of urban and 1% of rural households in India owned an AC. 👉in 2020, Nearly 90% households in U.S and Japan owned AC 👉22% in central and south America and 6% in Sub saharan Africa. 👉Acc. To WHO b/w 2000 and 2019, heat exposure contributed to approximately 489,000 global deaths, India alone more than 20,000 heat related death. 👉 In South asia and sub saharan Africa (SSA), 12% and 15% health Centres, had no electricity while only 50% hospitals in SSA having reliable power supply. 🔹Vaccine refrigeration becomes precarious bcz need stable cooling, during periods of extreme heat in Kenya, Ghana and Burkina Faso have recorded sharp spikes in cardiovascular, respiratory and renal conditions.

➡️India’s Uneven Export Geography 👉 (as per Ministry of Commerce, RBI, Economic Survey 2024) 🔹Northeast 8 states (with international borders with SE Asia): contribute ~0.13% of India’s total exports. 🔹4 coastal states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka): together contribute ~70%+ of India’s exports. 🔹Inland agrarian states (UP, Bihar, MP): together <5% exports despite large population & agriculture base. Challenges 👉 Geography & Infrastructure 🔹Landlocked states → higher logistics cost (India’s logistics cost ~13-14% of GDP vs global avg ~8%). 🔹Northeast lacks major ports, relies on long routes to Kolkata / Haldia. 🔹Poor connectivity: World Bank (2023) ranked India 38th in Logistics Performance Index, but NE states lag far behind. 👉Industrial & Manufacturing Base 🔹Gujarat, Maharashtra, TN, Karnataka → hubs of petrochemicals, textiles, pharma, automobiles, IT. 🔹NE & hinterland states → limited industrial clusters, weak value chains. 👉Policy & Institutional Gaps 🔹Export promotion zones, SEZs, and coastal economic zones concentrated in western/southern states. 🔹Delays in single-window clearances & lack of export facilitation in interior states. 👉Border Trade Issues (NE India) 🔹Despite proximity to ASEAN, barriers include: 🔹Poor trade infrastructure at Moreh (Manipur) and Dawki (Meghalaya). 🔹Non-tariff barriers & border disputes with Myanmar, Bangladesh. 👉Human Capital & Skill Gap 🔹Low penetration of technical training & skilling programs in UP, Bihar, NE → weak manufacturing competitiveness. Solutions 👉Infrastructure & Logistics Reform 🔹PM GatiShakti + Bharatmala + Sagarmala to reduce logistics cost from 13% to 8% by 2030. 🔹Boost multimodal connectivity to NE (Kaladan project with Myanmar, India–Bangladesh riverine routes). 👉 Diversify Export Hubs 🔹Develop Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) – 700+ districts identified. 🔹Special push for ODOP (One District One Product) for inland states. 👉 Policy Support 🔹Extend SEZ/EPZ model to inland dry ports (Dadri in UP, Madhya Pradesh’s Pithampur). 🔹Incentives under RoDTEP scheme and PLI (Production-Linked Incentives) beyond coastal states. 👉Skill & MSME Boost 🔹Skilling missions in UP, Bihar, MP to support labour-intensive sectors (textiles, leather, agri-processing). 🔹Easier credit & digitalisation for MSMEs → they contribute 45% of India’s exports. 👉Border Trade with ASEAN & Bangladesh 🔹Upgrade ICP (Integrated Check Posts) in NE. 🔹Implement India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway to tap SE Asian markets. 👉Enrichment 🔹“Exports are the engine of growth.” – RBI Report, 2023. 🔹NITI Aayog: If logistics cost reduces by 4–5%, India’s exports can rise by 20–25%. e.gGujarat’s Mundra Port alone handles >20% of India’s cargo. 👉Way Forward 🔹Make NE a gateway to ASEAN trade (via Act East Policy). 🔹Inland states → industrial corridors + agro-processing exports. 🔹Coastal states → continue as hubs but with value-addition, not raw export dependence.

➡️13 keralite nurses booked, under 420 of indian penal code(IPC), due to loan defaults, of Kuwait bank. Note - think they took loan in Kuwait from kuwaitian bank) but they booked in India under indian laws. How & why??????

➡️50% of operational Grossly polluting industries (GPIs) located across Uttar Pradesh were not in compliance with gernment stipulated pollution norms. 👉acc to. (CPCB), Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) are those industrial units that discharge 100 kilolitres/day or more of waste water into rivers and water bodies, or those that generate highly hazardous effluents which severely affect water quality.

➡️Mahi–Banswara Nuclear Power Plant (Rajasthan) 👉Location: Napla village, Banswara district, Rajasthan (on Mahi river near Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam). 👉Capacity: 2800 MW → 4 × 700 MW PHWR (Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors) (indigenously developed).

👉Location: Southernmost city of Israel, on the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba). 👉Importance: 🔹Strategic port – Israel’s only Red Sea access for trade with Asia and Africa. 🔹Tourism hub – Coral reefs, diving, desert resorts boost economy. 🔹Trade zone – Duty-free zone promotes commerce. 🔹Security significance – Borders Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia; monitors Red Sea traffic. 👉Adjacent countries: Egypt (west), Jordan (east), Saudi Arabia (southeast).

➡️ Phone Pay files Confidentail IPO Confidential IPO vs Regular IPO 👉Filing with SEBI 🔹Confidential IPO → Draft filed confidentially. 🔹Regular IPO → Draft filed publicly. 👉Public Disclosure 🔹Confidential IPO → Not public until SEBI clearance. 🔹Regular IPO → Public immediately after filing. 👉Market Speculation 🔹Confidential IPO → Minimizes early speculation and leaks. 🔹Regular IPO → Market reacts immediately; speculation possible. 👉Feedback from SEBI 🔹Confidential IPO → Private review allows corrections before public filing. 🔹Regular IPO → Feedback after public filing; less control over market response. 👉Typical Use 🔹Confidential IPO → Large companies, unicorns, or startups. 🔹Regular IPO → Any company eligible for IPO. 👉Insider Trading Risk 🔹Confidential IPO → Lower due to restricted access. 🔹Regular IPO → Higher if info leaks before issue opens.

➡️Personality rights Right of a person to control commercial use of their identity (name, image, voice, likeness, reputation); protected under Article 21 (privacy & dignity). 👉Judicial Protection 🔹 Constitutional basis - Puttaswamy (2017) Privacy made a fundamental right, foundation for personality rights. 🔹 Image rights - ICC v. Arvee (2003), Titan v. Ramkumar (2012) → Only individual can commercially exploit their image (e.g., Bachchan ad case). 🔹Voice/Life story - Phoolan Devi (1995), DM Entertainment (2010) → Consent needed to use someone's life or voice 🔹Posthumous rights - Rajinikanth v. Varsha (2015) → Celebrity's identity protected even after death. 🔹Balancing speech - R. Rajagopal (1994) → Press can publish public record-based life stories without consent. 👉Challenges 🔹No statute → personality rights protected only through case law. 🔹Digital misuse → Al deepfakes, fake ads, social media impersonation. 👉Way Forward 🔹Comprehensive law → clear rights & remedies for misuse. 🔹Digital regulation → protect against Al and unauthorized online use. "Reputation is an integral part of the dignity of the individual." SC, Subramanian Swamy (2016)

➡️India's salt overload 👉WHO limit: < 5 g/day. 👉India’s average: ~10–11 g/day (ICMR-NIN, 2024) → 2× WHO limit. 👉Deaths: ~1.75 lakh annually in India due to excess salt (The Hindu, 2024). 👉Health Risks 🔹Hypertension – 220M Indians hypertensive (ICMR, 2023). 🔹CVD & Stroke – Major contributor; Kerala shows high stroke burden linked to diet. 🔹Kidney disease – AIIMS 2022 flagged rising CKD from high salt. 👉Challenges 🔹Cultural diet: Pickles, papad, achar. 🔹Processed foods: Instant noodles, chips, biscuits (FSSAI 2022). 🔹Weak regulation: No strict sodium limits unlike UK. 👉Solutions 🔹Awareness: National Salt Awareness Week (ICMR-FSSAI, 2023). 🔹Policy: Front-of-pack labelling (proposed 2022). Such as in Latin American countries. 🔹Community model: ICMR Project NAMAK (Punjab & Telangana, 2024–27). Counseling to cut salt intake 🔹Food reformulation: UK example → 15% BP reduction nationwide. 👍All packaged food items have hidden salt as a preservative. 👍research suggest 1$ invested in scaling up salt reduction, give return of at least $12. 👍 replacing sodium based salt with high potassium could be Risky diseases.

➡️Operation Nmkhor by Customs (preventive) commissionerate, kochi, kerala 👉Targeting high value pre owned vehicles smuggled into kerala

Large drones flew over Copenhegen airport, cause concern of attack

➡️According to CBFC's Central board of film certification data. 👉there are 3 categories of film certifications 🔹(A) Adults only 🔹(U) Unrestricted for all ages 🔹(U/A) Parental guidance/ general audience. Note- in every language, over 50% of the films were rated U/A 👉Tamil and Bhojpuri had the lowest share of U-rated release. 🔹A-rate, (10%)Tamil and kannada films (highest in english A-rated) 🔹Tamil and Malayalam 7% A-rated.

➡️India’s Vaccination Drive 👉Scale & Coverage 🔹UIP = world’s largest, vaccinating 2.6 crore infants + 2.9 crore pregnant women annually. 🔹Covers 12 diseases (11 nationwide + 1 endemic area). 🔹Full immunisation coverage: ● 62% (NFHS-4, 2015-16) ● 76% (NFHS-5, 2019-21) 🔹By 2023, 12 phases of Mission Indradhanush: vaccinated 5.46 crore children & 1.32 crore pregnant women. 👉Achievements 🔹Polio-free since 2014. 🔹Maternal & neonatal tetanus eliminated (2015). 🔹Yaws eliminated (2016). 🔹COVID-19 vaccination drive: Jan 2021–Jan 2023 → 220+ crore doses covering 90% adults with at least one dose. 🔹Tech integration: CoWIN + U-WIN (tracking up to 16 years). 👉Challenges 🔹COVID-19 disrupted UIP, causing setbacks in routine immunisation. 🔹Outbreaks (2022–24): measles, diphtheria, rubella — especially in under-immunised clusters. 🔹Migratory & missed populations remain under-covered. 👉Global Contribution 🔹Vaccine Maitri (2021): supported many low- & middle-income countries with COVID-19 vaccines. 🔹Reflects “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One World, One Family). 👉Recent Initiative 🔹Measles-Rubella elimination campaign (2025): launched to push coverage beyond 95%.