Exercise EKUVERIN

Context: The 14th edition of the India–Maldives bilateral military exercise EKUVERIN is being held from 2-15 December 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala., focusing on interoperability and counter-terror operations.

About Exercise “EKUVERIN”

• Exercise Ekuverin, meaning “Friends” in the Dhivehi language, is an annual bilateral military exercise between India and the Maldives, initiated in 2009.
• It aims to strengthen defence cooperation and promote mutual trust between the two countries.
• Venue: The exercise is conducted alternatively in India and the Maldives, reflecting equal partnership in military engagement.
• Participants: It involves joint training between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
• Focus Areas
  • The exercise focuses on counterinsurgency (CI) and counterterrorism (CT) operations in semi-urban, jungle, and coastal terrain.
  • It emphasises integration of niche military technologies, simulation-based training, and sharing of best operational practices.
• Significance
• • The exercise enhances interoperability for joint operations during security contingencies.
  • It reinforces India’s commitment to peace, stability, and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • It deepens defence diplomacy amid India–Maldives strategic cooperation.

Other Military Exercises Between India and Maldives

• Ekatha: Bilateral exercise focused on maritime cooperation and coastal security.
• Dosti: A trilateral maritime exercise involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, aimed at enhancing coordination in maritime search-and-rescue and anti-narcotics operations.

‘Rage Bait’

Context: Oxford Dictionary selected “rage bait” as the Word of the Year 2025, reflecting rising online hostility and engagement-driven digital behaviour.

About ‘Rage Bait’

• Rage bait refers to online content intentionally crafted to provoke anger, outrage or frustration to drive engagement, clicks, and platform visibility.
• Example of Rage bait Content: : It includes polarising posts, exaggerated videos, fabricated anecdotes, or misleading narratives on politics, social behaviour, or conspiracy theoriesthemes.
• Significance: : Rage bait captures how social media algorithms increasingly reward provocative or negative content, reshaping digital culture and online communication patterns in 2025.

Implications of Rage Bait

• Algorithm-Driven Provocation: Platforms incentivise outrage-filled content because higher emotional reactions generate more comments, shares, and time spent online.
• Monetisation of Anger: Engagement-based payment models such as those on X (Twitter ) , Youtube, etc encourage creators to post provocative material for financial gain, normalising divisive discourse.
• Online Hostility and Mental Fatigue: Constant exposure to anger-inducing content compounds digital toxicity, contributes to user stress, and adds to broader “mental drain” trends.

Global Indices for Reforms and Growth (GIRG) Initiative

Context: The Government of India is intensifying efforts under the Global Indices for Reforms and Growth (GIRG) initiative to improve rankings across 26 international indices.

About the Global Indices for Reforms and Growth (GIRG) Initiative

• The GIRG initiative is a coordinated government effort to strengthen India’s global standing by systematically improving performance on key international indices.
• Objective: To identify gaps, align national data with global methodologies, and implement targeted reforms that support India’s economic, developmental, governance, and industrial growth.
• The initiative covers 26 indices published by 16 international agencies, grouped under four themes:
  • Economy
  • Development
  • Governance
  • Industry
• Institutional Coordination
  • Coordinator of framework: The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog serves as the knowledge partner and central coordinator for the framework
  • Inter-Ministerial Approach: 17 nodal ministries are assigned specific indices.
• Responsibilities of Nodal Ministries
  • Reviewing index methodologies and identifying structural gaps.
  • Ensuring use of the latest official Indian data in global assessments.
  • Engaging with international publishing agencies for accuracy and transparency.
  • Implementing corrective measures and policy reforms to improve rankings.

Significance of GIRG

• The initiative strengthens India’s data credibility, enhances policy responsiveness, and ensures evidence-based reforms. By improving global rankings, GIRG helps bolster India’s international reputation, attract investment, and support long-term economic transformation.

Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS)

Context: The Government has reported significant progress under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS) in Assam.

About Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS)

• The Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (2021–26), implemented by the Tea Board of India, supports productivity, quality enhancement, and market expansion of Indian tea, including Assam tea.
• Objectives
  • To increase production and productivity, improve the quality of tea entering markets, and enhance India’s tea exports.
  • To empower small tea growers by collectivising them into SHGs, FPOs, and FPCs.
  • To support value addition through mini tea factories and promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).
• Key Components
  • Plantation Development: Replantation, rejuvenation, organic conversion, and technological upgrades.
  • Market Promotion: Export facilitation, brand promotion, and diversification of markets.
  • Small Grower Empowerment: Formation of SHGs/FPOs, mini-factory support, and value-chain integration.
  • Capacity Building: Farm field schools, training programmes, and dissemination of GAPs.
  • Research and Welfare: R&D, quality improvement, and welfare measures for tea garden workers.
• Implementation in Assam (2021–26)
  • The Tea Board allocated ₹152.76 crore, of which ₹150.20 crore has been utilised.
  • Activities include 437.42 ha replantation, formation of 318 SHGs, 143 FPOs, 26 FPCs, establishment of 31 mini factories, organic conversion of 30.32 ha, 30 farm schools, and 1343 training programmes.
• Outcome : The export of Indian tea, including Assam Tea, has increased from USD 751.07 million in 2021–22 to USD 923.89 million in 2024–25, recording a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.15%

Tea Board of India

• Tea Board is a statutory body regulating and promoting the Indian tea industry, functioning under the Union Government.
• Establishment: Origin traces to the Indian Tea Cess Bill, 1903, enabling a cess on tea exports for promotional activities.
  • The present Tea Board was constituted under the Tea Act, 1953 and became operational on 1 April 1954.
• Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
  • It has regional offices across major tea-producing states.
• Role of Tea Board
  • Oversees tea production, quality control, export promotion, R&D, welfare of tea workers, and policy support.
  • Facilitates market expansion, certification, and support to small tea growers.

DRDO High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test

Context: DRDO has successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of an indigenous fighter aircraft escape system, marking a major advance in India’s aviation safety capability.

About the Rocket-Sled Test

• A rocket-sled test is a dynamic evaluation method where a test article is mounted on a rocket-propelled sled moving on a guided rail track to simulate high-speed flight conditions.
• Purpose
• • Used to validate canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and aircrew-recovery mechanisms in emergency scenarios.
  • Helps assess real-time loads, accelerations and safety parameters that cannot be captured through static tests.

About the Test Conducted

• Introduction: The test demonstrated the performance of the indigenous escape system for fighter aircraft under controlled high-velocity (800 km/h) conditions.
• Conducted By: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with:
  • Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and
  • Observers from Indian Air Force (IAF) and Institute of Aerospace Medicine
• Conducted At: Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) Facility, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.
  • TBRL is a DRDO lab  involved in the development, production, processing and characterisation of different high explosive compositions, Blast, Lethality and Fragmentation studies of warheads, shells and other ammunition, etc.
• Key Features of the Test
  • Dual-sled system carrying LCA Tejas forebody propelled by phased firing of solid rocket motors.
  • Use of instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy to record critical pilot-safety parameters.
  • Entire sequence captured through onboard and ground-based imaging systems.
• Significance
  • Places India among a select group of nations (USA/Russia/France) with in-house dynamic escape-system testing capability.
  • Strengthens self-reliance in military aviation safety and supports LCA Tejas and future fighter programmes.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary.

About Dr. Rajendra Prasad

• A distinguished scholar, lawyer, freedom fighter and statesman, Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as India’s first President and remains the longest-serving head of state.
• Birth and Early Life: Born on 3 December 1884 in Jiradei (Siwan), Bihar.
• Education: He mastered Persian, Hindi and arithmetic early, studied at Presidency College, completed an MA in Economics, and later pursued law in Kolkata.
  • He served as Principal of Langar Singh College, Bihar.

Key Contributions of  Dr. Rajendra Prasad

• Role in the Freedom Struggle
  • He actively supported the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) and led Non-Cooperation Movement efforts in Bihar
  • Left his law practice in 1921 to establish National College, Patna.
  • Imprisoned during Salt Satyagraha-1931(Civil Disobedience Movement) and Quit India Movement (1942).
  • Promoted indigenous education by establishing Bihar Vidyapeeth.
  • Elected President of the Indian National Congress thrice in 1934 (Bombay session), 1939 (Tripuri session), and 1947 (After India’s Independence).
• Leadership in Constituent Assembly
  • Elected Constitutional Assembly  President 11 Dec 1946.
• Led key committees:
  • Ad hoc Committee on National Flag
  • Rules of Procedure Committee
  • Finance and Staff Committee
  • Steering Committee
• Literary Contributions: Authored influential works such as Satyagraha at Champaran, Atmakatha, India Divided, Bapu Ke Qadmon Mein, and Since Independence.
• Recognition and Legacy
  • He is the only Indian President re-elected twice (1952, 1957) and served nearly 12 years.
  • Started public access to Rashtrapati Bhavan Mughal Gardens (now Amrit Udyan).
  • He was awarded the Bharat Ratna (1962) and retired from politics the same year.

Guinea-Bissau

Context: Guinea-Bissau’s military ousted President Embaló before election results were released, installing Gen Horta N’Tam as transitional leader amid regional diplomatic pressure.

• The junta controls Bissau under curfew, suspends elections, and faces  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and AU (African Union ) demands to restore constitutional order.

About Guinea-Bissau

• Guinea-Bissau is a small West African nation spanning 36,125 sq km, located in the Northern and Western Hemispheres with the capital at Bissau.
• Bordered by : Senegal to the north and Guinea to the east and south, with the Atlantic Ocean forming its western boundary. 
• Landscape: The terrain is predominantly low-lying, covered with mangrove swamps, marshlands, and tidal flats that extend nearly 100 km inland.
  • Savannah woodlands emerge toward the eastern interior near the Fouta Djallon Plateau.
• Major rivers: Geba, Corubal, and Cacheu drain the landscape and shape its estuarine ecology. 
• Bijagos Archipelago lies off the coast comprising about 18 major islands, known for Orango Islands National Park.

PAHAL (DBTL) Scheme

Context: The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas informed Rajya Sabha about major reforms under the PAHAL (Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG) Scheme.

About PAHAL (Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG) Scheme

• The DBTL–PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme is India’s flagship initiative that transfers LPG subsidies directly into the bank accounts of eligible consumers.
• Aim: The primary aim is to reduce subsidy leakage, prevent duplication of LPG connections, and ensure that the subsidy reaches the correct beneficiaries.
• Implementing Authorities: 
  • The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
  • It is implemented through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), with technical support from UIDAI for Aadhaar-based verification.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • All domestic LPG consumers who complete KYC formalities and link their Aadhaar or bank account with their LPG consumer number are eligible.
  • The total taxable income of the applicant and their spouse must not exceed ₹10,00,000 in the preceding financial year, as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Subsidy: The government provides a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills annually to PMUY beneficiaries.
  • After each purchase of an LPG cylinder, the subsidy amount is transferred directly into the consumer’s bank account.

Measures taken to Remove Ineligible Consumers

• Common LPG Database Platform (CLDP): It  is used to eliminate duplicate or fraudulent connections using Aadhaar, bank details, ration card data, and other identifiers.
• Biometric Aadhaar Authentication: Biometric verification is mandatory for new PMUY and PAHAL beneficiaries.
  • As of November 2025, 69% of existing PMUY beneficiaries have been authenticated.
• Weeding Out Inactive or Fraudulent Connections:
  • A total of 8.63 lakh PMUY connections have been terminated for ineligibility since inception.
  • A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), issued in January 2025, mandates removal of inactive connections
• Third-Party Evaluation: A study conducted by the Research and Development Initiative (RDI) found that over 90% of respondents were satisfied with the subsidy reimbursement mechanism.

National Legislative Index

Context: India plans to introduce the National Legislative Index (NLI), the country’s first state-wise benchmarking system to assess the performance, transparency and innovation of State Assemblies and Legislative Councils.

What is the National Legislative Index (NLI)?

• Annual index offering India’s first comparative, data-driven system to benchmark the functioning of state legislatures.
• Aims to make assemblies productive, transparent, research-driven and digitally enabled.
• Objectives:
  • To enable national comparison of legislative quality and innovation.
  • To identify gaps and challenges to guide reforms.
  • To promote peer learning and highlight inter-state disparities.
  • To strengthen the Speaker’s office as a driver of institutional excellence.
• Key Indicators:
  • Productivity Measures:
    • Number of sitting days and duration of sessions.
    • % of Bills referred to committees.
    • Average time taken to pass Bills
    • Hours devoted to Question Hour and floor debate.
  • Transparency & Institutional Strength
    • Levels of digitisation, real-time accessibility of records.
    • Use of technology for knowledge preservation.
    • Integration of e-governance tools into legislative functioning.

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