🕸️BPSC WEB🕸️

Speaking at the ASEAN Summit, PM Modi said, “The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEAN's century. I am confident that the aim of 'ASEAN Community Vision 2045' and 'Viksit Bharat 2047' will develop a bright future for the entire humanity.” Know more 🔗 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/21st-century-is-ours-pm-modi-virtually-addresses-asean-summit-with-donald-trump-in-the-room-101761476596074.html

🕸ASEAN SUMMIT = KUALA LAMPUR 🕸"As the international landscape becomes in-creasingly dominated by contestation rather than consensus, division rather than dialogue, ASEAN finds itself at a crossroads," 🕸This year's summit marks a milestone for ASEAN as it welcomes a new member for the first time in 26 years. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, applied for member-ship in 2011. The last member to join ASEAN was Cambodia in 1999.

Google’s ‘Quantum Advantage’ Leap Researchers from Google, MIT, Stanford, and Caltech reported that Google’s “Willow” quantum processor outperformed the world’s second-fastest supercomputer in solving a specific optimization problem. “Willow ran the algorithm – named Quantum Echoes – 13,000x faster than the best classical algorithm on one of the world’s fastest supercomputers,” “This new algorithm can explain interactions between atoms in a molecule using nuclear magnetic resonance, paving a path towards potential future uses in drug discovery and materials science.” Importance : Marks progress toward establishing true “quantum advantage”; where quantum computers solve problems beyond the reach of classical systems. Data point : The experiment completed in hours what classical supercomputers would take over three years to solve. Impact : Sets the stage for future breakthroughs in cryptography, data analysis, and AI, though commercial scalability remains distant.

Rashtriya vigyan puruskar types 1. Vigyan Ratna : lifetime achievement and contributions made in any field of science. 2. Vigyan Shri : distinguished contributions in any field of science. 3. Vigyan yuva : young scientists under age of 45 years to recognize their exceptional contributions. 4. Vigyan team award : team comprising 3 or more scientists Selection Process Independent panel rashtriya vigyan puruskar panel steered by PSA decides on award recipents and makes recommendation to minister of science and technology. It is unclear whether minister enjoy veto or not. There are allegations of biasedness.

Chhath - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath#:~:text=It%20is%20believed%20that%20the,faith%20regarding%20the%20Chhath%20festival.

To be focussed 1. Jurisdiction of lokpal 2. Data - cases being filed , prosecution sanctions 3. Issues in the functioning of lokpal ? 3.1 Complaints dismissed on technical grounds. 3.2 Serious corruption charges go unaddressed 3.3 Institutional challenges : annual report not updated regularly, prosecution wing created in June 2025 that is 12 years after lokpal act was enacted 3.3 Controversial tender of luxury cars for chairman and members of lokpal

About UN 1. UN@80 Mechanism for peace, not a monument to power. 2. Foundational principles: sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, collective security. 3. UN's Evolution : Evolved from Cold War battleground to post-Cold War cooperation. 4. Indispensable despite imperfections; Needs to adapt to a fragmented,multipolar world. UN is a mirror of the world, reflecting differences and inequities. 5. Challenges : 5.1 Struggles with bureaucracy, politics, and failures (Rwanda, Srebrenica). 5.2 Erosion of post-war consensus, rise of nationalism, strain on liberal internationalism. 5.3 UN Security Council(UNSC) : Frozen in time, reflecting 1945 power dynamics, not 2025 realities. Calls for reform from India, Germany, Japan, Brazil, South Africa (G4 nations). 6. India's case: World's most populous nation, largest democracy, major UN peacekeeper, rising economic power. Exclusion of India undermines UNSC legitimacy and effectiveness. 7. Positive Role played by UN 7.1 UN's Vital Role Humanitarian agencies (UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF) deliver life-saving aid. 7.2 Peacekeepers provide stability in fragile states. 7.3 Convening power for negotiation and deliberation. 7.4 Normative influence: Shapes global norms on human rights, gender equality, sustainable development (SDGs). 8. Constraints & Accountability 8.1 Constrained by member-states (vetoes, flouting international law). 8.2 Funding shortfalls (e.g., U.S. defaults) weaken agencies. 9. India's Strategic Autonomy & Vision 9.1 India's foreign policy emphasizes sovereignty and strategic autonomy. 9.2 Seeks to protect regional interests without aligning with power blocs. 9.3 Vision: World of dignity, where sovereignty is respected, cooperation valued, and institutions shaped by many. 10. Way Forward for UN Reform UNSC for contemporary realities and efficacy. 10.1 Invest in agility: streamline decision-making, empower field operations, embrace digital tools. 10.2 Reclaim moral voice: uphold universal values, defend vulnerable. 10.3 Member-states must recommit: political will and financial support are crucial.