Smart Yak Monitoring Device
Context: Indian scientists have developed an IoT-based smart collar to monitor the health, movement and stress of high-altitude yaks in the Himalayan border regions.
About Smart Yak Monitoring Device
- Smart Yak Monitoring Device an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart collar designed for real-time monitoring of yak health and movement.
- Developed By: ICAR–National Research Centre on Yak (NRC-Y), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati.
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About Indian Yak (Bos grunniens)
- The Indian yak (Bos grunniens) is a domesticated high-altitude bovine known as the “Ship of the Himalayas”.
- It is a vital source of milk, meat, wool, transport and draught power for Himalayan communities.
- India has about 58,000 yaks (20th Livestock Census), with nearly half found in Ladakh; others occur in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Features
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- Adapted to altitudes above 8,000 feet (≈2,400 m) with low oxygen and extreme cold.
- Possesses a thick woolly coat, large lungs and high haemoglobin concentration for high-altitude survival.
Classifications of Yak
- Wild Yak (Bos mutus): Also known as the “silent bull,” the wild yak represents the undomesticated ancestral lineage.
- There are only 15,000 to 20,000 individuals remaining, primarily concentrated in remote, protected reserves in the Changtang region of Tibet.
- Domesticated Yak (Bos grunniens): Also called the “grunting bull,” this species was domesticated thousands of years ago.
- There are over 12 million domesticated yaks, which serve as a critical lifeline for high-altitude communities, providing milk, meat, fiber (wool), and dung for fuel
- India is home to approximately 58,000 domestic yaks (Bos grunniens) With ladakh hosting most number followed by Arunachal Pradesh.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List (Wild Yak): Vulnerable
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (Wild Yak)
- Domesticated yaks in India are not classified or managed under the schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the act explicitly exempts them, classifying yaks as livestock and farm animals.
- The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) recognizes the Himalayan Yak simply as a ‘food animal’.
- CITES: Appendix I (Wild Yak)
Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)
Context: Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
About the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)
- It is an extended-range, precision-guided rocket developed for the Indian Army’s Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
- Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a battle-proven, all-weather, indirect-fire artillery weapon system.
Key Features of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket
- Minimum Range Tested: Successfully tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km.
- High Accuracy: The rocket executed all planned in-flight manoeuvres and struck the target with high precision, following the predicted trajectory.
- Launcher Compatibility: Fired from the in-service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating that different-range Pinaka variants can be launched from the same launcher.
- Development: Designed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
Prambanan Temple Complex
Context: India and Indonesia have launched a joint conservation and restoration project for the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan Temple Complex, with the ASI leading India’s efforts.
About Prambanan Temple Complex
- Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and one of the finest examples of classical Hindu architecture in Southeast Asia.
- Location: Located in Yogyakarta, Central Java, it symbolizes the enduring civilisational and cultural ties between India and Indonesia.
- Dedicated To : The temple complex is dedicated to the Trimurti—Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
- Built By: Constructed during the 9th century CE under the Sanjaya Dynasty of the Mataram Kingdom in Central Java.
- Built as a royal Shaivite temple complex, reflecting the revival of Hinduism in Java.
- Key Features
- Originally comprised 240 large and small temples, making it the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia.
- The central courtyard contains three towering temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, with Shiva Temple (47 metres) being the tallest.
- Three Vahana (vehicle) temples dedicated to Nandi (Shiva), Garuda (Vishnu) and Hamsa (Brahma) stand opposite the main shrines.
- The temple walls feature intricate bas-reliefs depicting the Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana, highlighting the spread of Indian epics into Javanese culture.
- The complex suffered damage from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions (Mount Merapi) and political changes before undergoing systematic restoration.
- UNESCO Status
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- Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 for its outstanding example of Hindu temple architecture and its exceptional cultural significance.
- Conservation Effort: India’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking conservation and restoration of selected structures under a bilateral India–Indonesia heritage partnership.
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Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
Context: India climbed to the 11th largest recipient of FDI in 2025 after foreign direct investment inflows increased by 43.6% over the previous year.
Key Highlights of FDI Flow 2025
- Growth In Inflow: India’s FDI inflows increased from US$27.1 billion in 2024 to US$38.9 billion in 2025, registering a 43.6% annual growth.
- India improved its global ranking from 13th (2024) to 11th (2025) among the world’s largest FDI recipients.
- The growth in India’s FDI inflows significantly exceeded the global average growth of about 6%.
- Global Trends: Global FDI inflows increased from US$1.53 trillion in 2024 to US$1.62 trillion in 2025.
- The United States remained the largest FDI destination, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
- India’s Outward FDI: India’s outward FDI reached a record US$35.7 billion in 2025, up from US$24.3 billion in 2024.
- The rise reflects the increasing global expansion of Indian companies through overseas investments.
About Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) refers to an investment made by a foreign entity in the business or productive assets of another country with the objective of establishing a lasting interest and management control.
- In India, FDI is regulated under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, with policy formulated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and administered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- FDI involves long-term investment with ownership or management control, unlike Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), which involves investment in financial assets without management control.
- In India, FDI is permitted through the Automatic Route and the Government Approval Route, depending on the sector.
- FDI contributes to capital formation, employment generation, technology transfer, export promotion and economic growth.
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TribeX
Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched TribeX, India’s first digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, languages and traditional knowledge.
About TribeX
- TribeX is a comprehensive digital learning and knowledge platform designed to preserve, promote and globally showcase India’s tribal heritage.
- It provides free certificate courses, UGC-recognised postgraduate diploma programmes, and a digital repository of tribal knowledge.
- Launched by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
- Academic Partner: Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi (for PG Diploma programmes).
- Key Features
- Digital Learning Platform: Offers free online certificate courses in tribal arts, crafts, languages and traditional knowledge for learners across the world.
- Integrates a Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning, assessment and progress tracking.
- Knowledge Repository: Functions as a digital archive documenting tribal languages, oral traditions, performing arts, festivals and indigenous knowledge systems.
- Hosts over 5,000 multimedia resources, with a target of expanding to 10,000 resources.
- Skill Development: Enables learners to receive training directly from tribal knowledge experts and master artisans.
- Heritage Preservation: Preserves endangered tribal knowledge through digital documentation and promotes intergenerational transmission of India’s tribal heritage.
- Key Courses Available
- 20 free certificate courses in tribal paintings, handicrafts, handloom, artefacts and traditional musical instruments, with plans to expand to 100+ courses.
- Five UGC-recognised one-year PG Diploma programmes:
- Tribal Language: Santali (Ol Chiki)
- Sustainable Tribal Culture-Based Livelihood Practices
- Museology and Tribal Museum Management
- Tribal Arts and Crafts of India
- Tribal Textiles
- Significance: TribeX leverages digital technology to preserve tribal knowledge, promote cultural heritage, strengthen livelihood opportunities and make indigenous learning accessible globally.
9 Jul 2026
