‘Candida Tropicalis’

Context: A recent paper published in PLoS Biology mentions how ‘Candida Tropicalis’ is showing resistance to common anti-fungal drugs such as fluconazole and voriconazole using chromosome alterations.

• Reason: The reckless use of triazole antifungals in agriculture promoted the emergence of pathogenic strains showing cross-resistance to azoles of clinical importance.

About Candida Tropicalis

• Candida tropicalis is a species of yeast in the genus Candida
• C. Tropicalis is the second most virulent Candida species second only to, C. albicans.
• Candida tropicalis is seen most commonly in patients with neutropenia and malignancy.
• The virulence factors: It  includes adhesion to buccal epithelial and endothelial cells, secretion of lytic enzymes (proteinases, phospholipase, haemolysins) and phenotypic switching
• Resistance: Candida tropicalis shows resistance to azoles generally and shows high resistance to fluconazole specifically 
  • C. tropicalis however shows low resistance to echinocandins
• Features:
  • C. tropicalis is recognized as a very strong biofilm producer
  • Osmotolerant: C. tropicalis is an osmotolerant microorganism and thus can survive in high salt concentration saline environments.
• Potential Application: C. tropicalis can be potentially used in biotechnological processes such as the production of xylitol from corn fiber and the ethanol from marine algae.

India Post Payments Bank

Context: IPPB received the Digital Payments Award 2024–25 from the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.

Top Performance Among Payment Banks

• IPPB achieved 1st position among all Payment Banks in India in the Performance Index for FY 2024–25.

About IPPB – India’s Digital Banking Giant

• IPPB is a 100% government-owned bank under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications.
• Launched on 1st September 2018 with the goal of reaching the unbanked and underbanked population.
• Mission: To be the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common person in India.
• Reaching the Unbanked: IPPB’s main goal is to remove barriers for those who don’t have bank accounts or are underserved, using the extensive postal network.

Technology and Services

• India Stack Integration: IPPB uses the “India Stack” (Paperless, Cashless, and Presence-less banking) to offer simple and secure banking services at customers’ homes. This involves using smartphones and biometric devices.
• Customer Base: IPPB serves 11 Crore (110 million) customers across 5.57 lakh villages and towns in India.
• Multilingual Support: Banking solutions are available in 13 languages, focusing on ease of use for everyone.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Context: At the 51st session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, member states condemned Israel’s recent military actions in Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Istanbul Declaration

• The declaration strongly criticised Israel’s airstrikes as violations of international law and national sovereignty. 
• The Istanbul Declaration reaffirmed support for Palestinian rights, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank as genocide and systemic oppression.
• It called for a permanent ceasefire and the full implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions to rebuild Gaza.
• The declaration raised concern over South Asia, condemning recent military strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. 
• The OIC urged all sides to exercise restraint and stressed the need to respect existing treaties, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). 

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

• It is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states.
• It is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations.
• The organization states that it is “the collective voice of the Muslim world”and works to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony“.
• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
• Permanent Secretariat:  Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Official languages: Arabic, English, and French.
• The OIC is composed of the following main bodies:
  • Islamic Summit Conference (ISC)
  • Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM)
  • General Secretariat

Digital Payment Intelligence Platform

Context: Amid rising digital payment frauds, the RBI and major public and private banks are developing the Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP).

What is the DPIP ?

• DPIP is envisioned as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) designed to bolster fraud risk management in India’s rapidly growing digital payment ecosystem.
• It will enable real-time intelligence gathering and sharing across institutions to detect and block fraudulent transactions before they occur.
• The project is based on recommendations from a committee chaired by A.P. Hota, former MD & CEO of NPCI.

Key Features

• Real-time data analytics from multiple sources to detect anomalies and threats.
• Collaborative platform involving both public and private banks.
• Prototype development led by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in consultation with 5–10 major banks.

Why Now?

According to RBI’s annual report, 

• Bank frauds nearly tripled to ₹36,014 crore in FY25 from ₹12,230 crore the previous year.
• Private sector banks reported most fraud cases in the card/internet payments segment.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Context: The Axiom-4 mission, featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the U.S., was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

• The mission started a 28-hour journey to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic moment in global space exploration.

Key Highlight of Mission

• Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space, over 40 years after Rakesh Sharma
• He also became the first Indian to travel to the ISS.
• He is also one of the four astronaut-designates selected for the ISRO-led Gaganyaan mission.

About Axiom-4

• The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
• Goals: Over 60 cutting-edge scientific experiments are being conducted aboard the ISS in areas such as microgravity biology, artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, and materials science.

Significance to India

• The mission strengthens India’s preparedness for ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
• It contributes valuable technical expertise and international experience for future Indian space endeavors.
• It also strengthens human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA.

Kirsty Coventry became IOC President

Context: Kirsty Coventry became the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

About Kirsty Coventry

Background: She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Zimbabwe in swimming and also served as an IOC member before being elected president.

1. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the presidency of the IOC, a milestone that reflects the IOC’s evolving approach to leadership and inclusivity.

About the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

• The IOC is the governing body responsible for overseeing the Olympic Games. 
• It is tasked with ensuring that the Olympic movement stays true to its core values of promoting peace, unity, and excellence through sport.
• Host City Selection: A significant function of the IOC is selecting the host city for the Summer and Winter Olympics. 
• IOC Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.

Structure of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

• President: The highest authority responsible for overseeing the IOC’s operations and representing the Olympic movement.
• Session: The supreme governing body made up of all IOC members, responsible for key decisions such as electing the president and selecting host cities for the Olympic Games.
• Executive Board: Responsible for the day-to-day governance and implementation of decisions made by the Session, including overseeing the organization of the Olympic Games.
• IOC Members: Elected individuals who represent various countries and contribute to decision-making in the IOC.
• National Olympic Committees (NOCs): Organizations that promote Olympism and support athletes in their respective countries.

Rare Antique Lamp

Context: A rare 15th-century antique lamp, blending Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, has been discovered at the Anantapadmanabha temple in Udupi district, Karnataka.

About the Lamp

• The artifact, donated in 1456 A.D. by Basavannaras Banga, is confirmed by a stone inscription within the temple’s inner prakara.

Key Features

Shaiva Face

• Depicts Lord Shiva’s Pralaya Tandava (destructive dance).
• Central figure: Nataraja (Shiva in dancing pose) surrounded by Parvati, Ganapati, Bringi, Khadga Ravana (with sword, plough, skull, and severed head), and Kumara on a peacock.
• Reflects mythological storytelling in sculpture, showcasing Shaiva rituals and beliefs.

Vaishnava Face

• It features Anantapadmanabha (Vishnu) with Brahma, Indra, Agni, and Varuna praying for protection from Shiva’s destructive dance.
• Vishnu is shown holding a uddharane (ritual spoon), shankha (conch), with missing elements likely once part of a full depiction.
• Garuda and a calm Shiva in Anjali mudra appear at the lamp’s base, symbolizing divine reconciliation.

Cultural Importance

• Dual depiction of deities symbolizes religious syncretism and interconnected worship practices.
• Khadga Ravana and Goddess Mari are worshipped even today in the outer prakara, linking past to present ritual practice.

Qatar

Context: Iran launched missile attacks on the U.S. al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq, in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.

Al-Udeid Air Base: Located in Qatar, it’s the largest US air base in the region. 

Qatar

• A small peninsular nation in West Asia.
• Location:  Northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, projecting into the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf)
• Geographical Features
  • Predominantly flat and arid desert.
  • No rivers or lakes; water comes from rainfall and groundwater.
  • Southern region: Sand dunes dominate (notably in Khor al Adaid, the “Inland Sea”).
  • Northern and western areas: Slightly elevated with limestone ridges (e.g., Dukhan).
  • Wadis: Dry riverbeds that occasionally carry water during rains.

Ambubachi Mela

Context: Thousands of devotees have arrived in Assam for the Kamakhya Temple’s annual Ambubachi Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in Northeast India.

About Ambubachi Mela

• The name ‘Ambubachi’  means ‘water flowing’.
• The festival is held during the monsoon, generally in June at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, a shrine to the Goddess Kamakhya and one of the most important centres of Tantrik Shaktism. 
• The period of Ambubachi is believed to be the period of the goddess’s annual menstruation, and the shrine is closed for this.
• The festival is associated with fertility, with the onset of monsoon, and the common historical association across cultures of the Earth as a fertile woman.

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)

Context: Recently, the government held over 22,000 ‘Jan Seva’ camps as part of its Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.

• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is celebrated annually on Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary to honour the contributions of tribal communities.

About DAJGUA

• Launch Year in 2023 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Central Feature: Part of the celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh marking the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.
• Objective: Ensure saturation coverage of government schemes in tribal-majority villages through comprehensive interventions.
• Key Components of DAJGUA:
  • 25 Interventions: Involves about 25 different government interventions from 17 line Ministries.
  • Target Group: Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities across 68,000 villages.
  • Coverage: Aims to reach over 53 lakh individuals from ST communities.
  • Geographical Focus: Over 550 districts, including areas inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)

Context: Gujarat has become the first state to operationalise the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), marking a significant step towards rural digital empowerment. 

• This initiative aims to provide high-speed, reliable digital connectivity across all 14,654 Gram Panchayats in Gujarat and enhance rural digital infrastructure.

About the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)

• Launch: The Union Cabinet approved the ABP in August 2023, 
• Purpose: It aims to deliver optical fiber (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats and 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on a demand-driven basis. 
• Nodal Agency: BSNL has been appointed as the Project Management Agency (PMA) to ensure smooth implementation.
• Program Features:
• • Total Cost: ₹1,39,579 crore, including capital expenditure (CAPEX) of ₹42,847 crore and operational expenditure (OPEX) for 10 years of ₹48,717 crore.
  • Upgrade and Expansion: Upgrading 1.64 lakh Gram Panchayats and creating 47,000 new GPs, including satellite GPs.
  • IP-MPLS Network: Deployment of an IP-MPLS (Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching) network to provide high-speed links to blocks and GPs.
  • Last-Mile Network: To be implemented through the BharatNet Udyami model.
  • FTTH Connections: The program will provide 1.5 crore FTTH (Fiber to the Home) connections across rural households and institutions over five years, with a minimum of 25 Mbps download speed for each subscriber.
• Implementation Timeline: The upgradation of BharatNet infrastructure and the creation of new Gram Panchayats is scheduled for completion by March 2027.

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