Baratang Mud Volcano

Context: India’s only mud volcano at Baratang in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands erupted on October 2, 2025 after 20 years.

What are Mud Volcanoes?

• Mud volcanoes are geological formations where mud, water, and gases from deep beneath the Earth’s surface are expelled, creating craters and bubbling mounds.
  • Sidoarjo Mudflow is located in Indonesia and it is the world’s largest mud volcano.

Difference from Lava Volcanoes

• Unlike lava volcanoes, mud volcanoes do not erupt molten rock.
• Their activity is driven by gas pressure from decaying organic matter rather than magma from the mantle.
• Eruptions are generally cooler and less explosive compared to lava volcanoes.

About Baratang Mud Volcano

• Location: Situated on Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a popular tourist destination in the Bay of Bengal.
  • It is part of the Andaman group of islands which lies between the Middle and South Andaman Islands.
• Feature: The mud volcano forms craters and bubbling mounds when gases push mud to the surface.
  • It is a unique geological feature in India, attracting tourists and researchers alike.

Compressed Bio-Gas and Potash Granule Project

Context: India’s first cooperative-based Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Spray Dryer Potash Granule Project was inaugurated at Kopargaon, Maharashtra, promoting circular economy practices.

About the Project

• First Cooperative Initiative: The project is set up at the Sahakar Maharshi Shankarrao Kolhe Cooperative Sugar Factory, marking India’s first cooperative-run CBG and potash initiative.
• Capacity: It will produce 12 tons of CBG daily and 75 tons of potash from jaggery, reducing the import of these products from abroad
• Circular Economy Model: It produces Compressed Bio-Gas and potash granules from sugar factory waste, exemplifying sustainable resource utilization and energy efficiency.
• Expansion Plan: Similar units will be established in 15 cooperative sugar factories across India, with Maharashtra expected to lead the effort.

About Potash Granules

• Potash granules are fertilizers rich in potassium, produced using spray dryer technology from sugar factory by-products.
• They enhance soil fertility, improve crop yield, and contribute to sustainable agriculture practices in rural areas.

About Compressed Bio-Gas

• Compressed Biogas (CBG) is a renewable gaseous fuel produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic matter like agricultural residues, animal dung, food waste, and municipal solid waste.
• It serves as a clean fuel alternative, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.

Significance

• The project boosts rural economy, empowers farmers, promotes circular economy and ethanol diversification, strengthens primary credit societies and women’s self-help groups, supported by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP).

150 years of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved nationwide celebrations to mark 150 years of the national song “Vande Mataram”, recognizing its historic role in India’s freedom struggle. 

About National Song – Vande Mataram

• Composer & Language: Written by Bankimchandra Chatterji in Sanskrit, and first published in Bengali script.
• Official Status: The Constituent Assembly,  in its session of 24 January 1950 accorded Vande Mataram the status of National Song, placing it on par with the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana).
• Origin & Context:
  • The song was first included in Bankimchandra’s 1882 novel Anandamath, set during the Sannyasi Rebellion.
  • It comprises six devotional stanzas dedicated to the motherland, blending themes of divine worship and patriotic zeal.
• Symbolism and Meaning: The song personifies Bharat Mata (Mother India) as a divine figure, embodying strength, compassion, and the spirit of freedom.

Historical Significance of “Vande Mataram”

• Role in the Freedom Movement: The song became an anthem of the Indian National Movement, symbolising resistance, unity, and national pride.
• Rabindranath Tagore’s Contribution:
• • Rabindranath Tagore popularised the song by singing it at the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta in 1896.
  • A historic recording of Tagore’s voice singing “Vande Mataram” continues to be preserved as a cultural treasure.

Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC)

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) status to the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) to enhance compliance, ethical conduct, and standardisation within the non-banking financial companies (NBFC) sector. 

About Self Regulatory Organisation

• A Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) is an industry-led body recognised by a regulator to oversee the conduct of entities within a specific sector. 
• It acts as a bridge between industry participants and the regulator (RBI) to ensure responsible functioning of the financial ecosystem.

Objectives of the SRO

• Sectoral Development: Foster professionalism, compliance, and ethical conduct across the industry.
• Collective Representation: Serve as the voice of the sector before the RBI, government, and statutory authorities, ensuring transparent and equitable treatment for members.
• Data and Innovation: Collect and share sectoral data with RBI for policymaking, and encourage innovation and new product development.
• Research and R&D Promotion: Foster a culture of research, innovation, and self-governance in the sector

Eligibility Criteria for Recognition as SRO

• Must be a Section 8 Company (Not-for-Profit) under the Companies Act, 2013.
• Should possess adequate net worth and infrastructure to perform regulatory functions.
• Must represent the sector comprehensively and meet membership requirements.
• Fit and Proper Criteria: Directors and promoters should have integrity, competence, and financial soundness, with no criminal or legal proceedings.
• Recognition granted by RBI, subject to ongoing compliance and review.

About Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC)

• Nature: Representative body of Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in India.
• Recognition: Holds an “In-Principle Recognition” from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for NBFCs and Asset Managers (AMs).
• Role: Acts as the recognized voice of the NBFC sector, engaging with regulators, policymakers, and financial institutions.
• Membership: Represents NBFCs across all layers — Upper, Middle, and Base — of the RBI’s regulatory framework.
• Mission: 
  • To foster the development of the NBFC sector in India.
  • To promote self-regulation, compliance, and good governance within the industry.
• Function: To act as a trusted bridge between NBFCs, regulators, and policymakers, ensuring balanced sectoral growth.

Net-Zero Banking Alliance

Context: The Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) — the primary global coalition of banks committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 — has ceased operations following a member vote to wind up the organisation.

About the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)

• Establishment: Founded in 2021 under the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) as part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).
• Purpose: To mobilise global banks to align their lending and investment portfolios with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
• Commitments: Members pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, set 2030 interim targets, and disclose progress transparently.
• Membership: At its peak, the alliance represented over 40% of global banking assets, including major U.S. and European financial institutions.
• No Indian bank is a member of the NZBA.
• Governance: 
  • Governed by a 12-member Steering Group and a Chair, representing diverse geographies and business models.
  • Steering Group is selected by member banks to oversee strategy and decision-making.
  • The UNEP FI Secretariat supports the Alliance, and the United Nations holds a permanent seat on the Steering Group.

EXERCISE KONKAN – 2025

Context: Recently the bilateral naval exercise “KONKAN-2025” between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom commenced off the western coast of India.

About Exercise Konkan

• Inception: The Exercise Konkan series is an annual exercise began in 2004 as a modest bilateral engagement and has since evolved into a complex, multi-dimensional maritime exercise.
• Purpose: It aims to enhance mutual understanding, interoperability, and joint operational capability between the two navies in diverse maritime domains.
• Strategic Significance: It forms part of India’s broader vision of fostering defence partnerships with like-minded democracies to promote a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• The exercise will be held in two distinct phases — Harbour Phase and Sea Phase.
• Harbour Phase: It involves professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and cultural engagements.
• Sea Phase encompasses complex maritime operational drills covering:
  • Anti-Air, Anti-Surface, and Anti-Submarine warfare operations.
  • Flying operations involving shipborne and shore-based aircraft.
  • Seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres.
• Participating Forces
  • India: The Carrier Battle Group (CBG) led by the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, accompanied by surface, sub-surface, and air assets.
  • U.K.: The UK Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG-25) led by HMS Prince of Wales, along with assets from Norway and Japan, marking the multilateral dimension of the exercise.

Significance: Exercise KONKAN 2025 reflects the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in the “India–UK Vision 2035”, focusing on defence, technology, and maritime cooperation.

Compressive Asphyxia

Context: Recently ,the Karur stampede during actor-politician Vijay’s rally tragically killed 41 people, highlighting the dangers of compressive asphyxia in overcrowded situations.

About Asphyxia

• Asphyxia occurs when the body does not receive enough oxygen, preventing normal respiration, which can lead to hypoxia causing unconsciousness or death.
  • At rest, a healthy adult typically consumes approximately 200-250 milliliters of oxygen per minute.
• Types of Asphyxia: Mechanical Asphyxia, Traumatic Asphyxia, Perinatal Asphyxia, Compressive Asphyxia, and Other Types such as Suffocation, chemical asphyxia, strangulation, and drowning.

About Compressive Asphyxia

• Definition: Compressive asphyxia occurs when external pressure on the chest or abdomen prevents the diaphragm from functioning, restricting air intake and carbon dioxide removal.
• Causes:
  • Crowd Pressure: Large, dense crowds crush individuals, preventing chest expansion.
  • Direct Compression: Objects or people sitting, kneeling, or pressing on the chest or abdomen.
• Preventive Measures:
  • Crowd Awareness: Stay aware of exits, avoid high-density areas, and move diagonally or sideways to safer zones.
  • Preparation: Plan in advance, check venue layout, go with a companion, and leave early if the crowd feels unsafe.
• Safe level of Crowd: The U.K.’s Green Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds states 47 persons per 10 square metres (4.7 per square metre) should be the maximum number to calculate the capacity of standing areas at sports grounds.
  • A massive congested crowd can lead to oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) and carbon-di-oxide level increases (hypercapnia), triggering respiratory distress.

Significance

Understanding compressive asphyxia and taking preventive steps is crucial to reduce fatalities in stampedes and crowded events.

Xenobiology

Context: Xenobiology is an emerging scientific field studying life forms based on biological systems fundamentally different from those found on Earth.

What is Xenobiology?

• Xenobiology, derived from the Greek word xenos meaning “alien”, literally means “the study of alien life.”
• It examines whether life must always depend on DNA, RNA, and proteins made from Earth’s 20 amino acids or if other biochemical systems are possible.
  • Scientists have engineered bacteria with extra genetic letters beyond A, T, C, and G, creating proteins with new structures and functions.
• The discipline bridges chemistry, genetics, and astrobiology, probing how many distinct forms of life might exist across the universe.
• Xenobiology offers potential to develop microbes that can produce medicines or degrade toxic waste safely, as they cannot survive outside controlled lab conditions.

Cyclone Shakhti

Context: Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the formation of Cyclone Shakhti over the northeast Arabian Sea, moving away from the Indian coast.

About Cyclone Shakhti

• Cyclone Shakhti is a severe cyclonic storm named by Sri Lanka, forming over the northeast Arabian Sea.
• Origin and Location: As of October 3, 2025, it was centered about 340 km west of Dwarka,Gujarat  near latitude 22.0°N 
  • Initial movement is west-northwestwards, shifting to west-southwestwards, expected to reach central parts of the north and adjoining central Arabian Sea.

Condition for Cyclone Formation

• Cyclones form in warm tropical waters, typically above 26–27°C, with low vertical wind shear and sufficient Coriolis force for rotation.

Rising Frequency in the Arabian Sea

• Warming Sea Temperatures: The Arabian Sea is becoming increasingly cyclonically active due to rising sea surface temperatures, which enable rapid intensification.
  • Earlier, it was less cyclonically active than the Bay of Bengal.
• Recent Cyclones: Severe cyclones such as Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023) off India’s west coast indicate a rising trend in cyclone formation over the last five years.

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