Hydrogen Fuel Cell Passenger Vessel

Context: India launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger vessel in Varanasi, marking a major step toward green, zero-emission inland water transport.

Features of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger vessel

• Powered by a Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system, emitting only water.
• Eight-hour operational endurance on a single hydrogen fill.
• Equipped with a hybrid system integrating hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and solar power
• Service speed around 6.5 knots; certified by the Indian Register of Shipping.

Significance: The vessel advances India’s green mobility transition, reducing emissions, easing urban congestion, boosting tourism and showcasing Make-in-India leadership in clean inland water transport.

About Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system

• The LT-PEM fuel cell system uses a polymer membrane to conduct protons, generating electricity from hydrogen and oxygen at relatively low temperatures (around 80°C).
• Electricity is produced by electrochemical reaction where hydrogen gas is fed into the anode, oxidized to release protons, which then travel through a polymer membrane to the cathode, where they react with oxygen to produce electricity and water.
• It offers benefits like quick startups, high power density, compactness, and quiet operation.
• They are ideal for vehicles and portable power, though water management.

India-Italy JCEC

Context: India and Italy signed the protocol of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC), outlining a roadmap to deepen bilateral trade, investments and industrial collaboration.

About India–Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC)

• The JCEC is a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening economic relations by facilitating structured dialogue on trade, investment, technology and industrial partnerships between India and Italy.

Key Components

• It provides an institutional framework to enhance cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, auto components, textiles, defence, agriculture and food processing.
• It promotes collaboration in research, innovation, education and advanced technologies, supporting diversification of industrial linkages.
  • SAIL has awarded three major steel plant projects to Italy’s Danieli Group, which will supply state-of-the-art green technology representing a contract value of around €500 million.
• It aligns bilateral efforts with broader India–EU engagement to unlock new economic opportunities, including progress on the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement.

Current Status of India–Italy Trade

• Bilateral Trade Volume: India–Italy bilateral trade was around €14.24 billion in 2024, with India’s exports to Italy at €9.02 billion and imports from Italy at €5.22 billion, maintaining a trade surplus in India’s favour.
• Merchandise Trade Patterns: In FY25, India exported goods worth about US$7.7 billion to Italy and imported roughly US$6 billion, showing significant two-way merchandise flows.
• Balance of trade: It remains in India’s favour with EUR 3.8 billion.
  • It has been in India’s favour since 1988.

Mahakavi Subramania Bharati

Context: The Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati on his birth anniversary, highlighting his role in shaping India’s cultural awakening, social reform, and nationalist consciousness.

About Mahakavi Subramania Bharati

• Subramania Bharati, known as Mahakavi for his poetic brilliance, was a revolutionary poet, freedom fighter, and social reformer from Tamil Nadu.
• His writings infused courage and nationalism, powerfully influencing India’s freedom movement and cultural renaissance.
• Early Life: Born in 1882 at Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu.
  • He displayed extraordinary literary talent from childhood and grew into a major voice of modern Tamil literature.
• He worked as a journalist, joining Swadesamitran in 1904 and later editing the Tamil weekly India and the English paper Bala Bharatham.
• Contribution to Freedom Struggle
  • His fiery nationalist songs mobilised the masses in Tamil Nadu and strengthened the spirit of India’s independence movement.
  • Exiled by Britishers to French-controlled Pondicherry in 1908, he spent a decade writing powerful political and social commentary.
  • He supported revolutionary nationalists, collaborated with Aurobindo Ghosh  in Pondicherry, and wrote extensively against colonial oppression.
• Literary Contributions: Major works include Panchali Sapatham (Paanchaali Ka Pran), Kuyil Pattu (Koyal Geet), and Kannan Pattu (Krishna Geet) which introduced new forms of poetic expression.
  • He  also translated Vedic hymns, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, and the Bhagavad Gita into Tamil, enriching Tamil intellectual tradition.
• Death: He passed away in 1921 in Madras after returning from his exile in Pondicherry.

2025 Champions of the Earth Award

Context: UNEP announced the 2025 Champions of the Earth Award recipients, including Tamil Nadu’s ACS Supriya Sahu.

About ACS Supriya Sahu

• Introduction: Supriya Sahu is the Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests and a leading climate governance innovator.
• Contribution: She implemented nature-based solutions, low-tech and high-tech climate interventions, strengthened vulnerable communities’ resilience and advanced large-scale green livelihood generation.
• Inspiration and Action – Supriya Sahu: She delivered integrated climate solutions through sustainable cooling, ecosystem restoration and heat adaptation, creating 2.5 million green jobs.

About UNEP Champions of the Earth Awards

• Introduction: The Champions of the Earth is UNEP’s highest environmental honour recognising transformative contributions to environmental protection and sustainability worldwide.
• Origin: The award was established in 2005 and is conferred annually by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Categories: The award is presented under five categories (2025 Awardee)
  • Lifetime Achievement (Manfredi Caltagirone)
  • Policy Leadership (Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change)
  • Inspiration and Action (Supriya Sahu)
  • Science and Innovation (Imazon)
  • Entrepreneurial Vision (Mariam Issoufou)

No Sand Mining Near Adichanallur

Context: The Madras High Court has prohibited sand mining near the Adichanallur Iron-Age archaeological site or within the village.

About the Adichanallur archaeological site

• It is an ancient Iron Age urn burial site that showcases the megalithic culture.
• Location: It is located on the right bank of the Thamirabarani River, in the Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
• Dated: The site is associated with a pre-1600 BC civilisation.
• Cultural Linkages: The site lies close to Korkai, the ancient Pandyan seaport extensively referenced in Sangam literature.
• First Excavated: The site was first excavated extensively by Alexander Rea of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1903-04.
• Archaeological Significance: Excavations have revealed urn burials, skeletal remains, iron objects, pottery and copper artefacts.
• Protection Measures: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting excavations, and the site has been fenced to prevent encroachment and mining-related damage.

Prime Minister Visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman to strengthen India’s ties in West Asia and Africa.

Key Focus of the Visit

• It aims to deepen strategic, economic and developmental partnerships with Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman while enhancing India’s engagement with West Asia and Africa.
• It focuses on advancing cooperation in trade, investment, defence, energy, security, technology, agriculture, culture and regional stability.
• It also marks milestone anniversaries of diplomatic ties of 75 years with Jordan and 70 years with Oman expanding collaboration and strengthening Global South solidarity.

About Jordan

• Jordan is a key West Asian nation known for its political stability and strategic regional role with capital at Amman.
• Location: It is located in the Levant region of West Asia, positioned between Africa and Asia.
• Bordering Nations: Jordan shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the south and east, Iraq to the northeast, Syria to the north and Israel and Palestine to the west.
• Geography: Its geography features the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea Coast (Earth’s lowest point on Surface) and arid desert landscapes across much of the country.

About Ethiopia

• Ethiopia is a major East African nation and an important partner in the Global South with its capital at Addis Ababa.
• Location: It lies in the Horn of Africa with a strategically important position connecting East Africa and the Red Sea region.
• Bordering Nations: Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south and Sudan and South Sudan to the west.
• Geography: It is characterised by the Ethiopian Highlands, the Great Rift Valley and diverse plateau regions.

About Oman

• Introduction: Oman (Capital: Muscat) is a key Gulf nation with deep historical and strategic ties with India.
• Location: It is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.
• Bordering Nations: Oman borders the UAE to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west and Yemen to the southwest.
• Geography: Its geography includes long coastlines, the Hajar Mountains and desert interiors central to its strategic maritime importance.

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