Bihar to Adopt e-voting System for Urban Polls

Context: Bihar is going to become India’s first state to adopt a mobile based e-voting system for urban polls scheduled on 28th June.

• Estonia is the only country in the world who has so far implemented a nationwide mobile-based e-voting system.

About the e-Voting System

• Implementing Agency: The E-voting system will be rolled out by the Bihar State Election Commission
• Aim: To increase voter turnout and make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible by eliminating  logistical or physical barriers to voting.
• Execution: The entire e-voting process will be executed through two mobile apps, namely
  • “e-Voting SECBHR”: It is developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and another app developed by the Bihar State Election Commission.
• Features: The e-voting system possesses features like,
  • Digital Security: A blockchain platform, liveness detection, face match, live face scan, and face comparison
  • Audit trail: Like EVMs feature of VVPAT, an audit trail has also been put in place in the e-voting process.
• Advantages: 
  • Convenience: Electorates will be able to exercise their right to vote via e-voting and without visiting polling booths. 
  • Beneficiaries: The biggest beneficiaries of this initiative will be migrant labourers, migrant voters, divyang voters, pregnant female voters, elderly and senior citizens, and seriously ill electorates.
  • The initiative will help to increase voter turnout and make elections more inclusive

Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025

Context: ISRO has launched a nationwide innovation challenge called Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025 in partnership with Hack2skill as the innovation partner.

About Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025

• Purpose of the Hackathon
  • Encourages young innovators to contribute to India’s space mission.
  • Focuses on problem statements directly from ISRO, ensuring relevance and real-world impact.
• Who Can Participate?
  • Eligible: Undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students.
  • Not eligible: Working professionals.
• Format & Challenge Areas
  • Total of 14 problem statements related to space applications, data, systems, and hardware.
  • Participants select one challenge to develop an innovative solution.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Context: A newborn identified with the SMN1 gene mutation for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) through prenatal genetic screening  became the first in India to receive presymptomatic treatment for SMA (before symptoms appear).

• The Presymptomatic treatment can minimise motor neuron damage and improve motor function.

About SMA

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): is a rare genetic neuromuscular disease that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting.
  • Motor neurons are specialized nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control movement of the body as well as skeletal muscle activity.
• Cause: Mutation in a gene known as the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1).
  • The SMN1 gene encodes SMN, a protein necessary for the survival of motor neurons.
• Treatment: No cure, but early therapies (like Risdiplam,one of the rare disease-modifying drugs) can delay progression.
  • The presymptomatic treatment offers no guarantee that the child will not later develop the disease
• Challenge in early detection Of SMA: Most cases of SMA occur when the affected gene is passed down from the individual’s parents. 
• KARE (Kerala Against Rare Diseases) initiative: Kerala is providing Risdiplam free of cost to around 100 SMA patients, aiming for early management of rare diseases.

FASTag Annual Pass

Context: The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is introducing a FASTag annual pass effective from August 15, 2025

About the Annual Pass

• The pass allows toll-free travel at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for up to 200 trips or one year, whichever occurs first.
• It can be activated on an existing FASTag if the tag is properly affixed, linked to a valid, non-blacklisted vehicle registration number.
• The Annual Pass is available exclusively through the Rajmarg Yatra mobile app and the NHAI website.
• Activation requires vehicle and FASTag verification, followed by online payment of ₹3,000.
• Eligibility: Only for non-commercial private vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans); not valid for commercial/freight vehicles.
• Coverage: Valid only at National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas; standard FASTag charges apply at state highway/local tolls.

What is FASTag? 

• FASTag is a contactless electronic toll collection system that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable automatic toll payments while the vehicle is in motion.
• It is a passive RFID tag, typically affixed to the windscreen of a vehicle, allowing seamless passage through toll plazas without stopping.

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