News In Shorts: 25 March 2026

GARBH-INi

Context: GARBH-INi (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes)  is a flagship initiative aimed at reducing preterm births through indigenous, AI-driven research.

About GARBH-INi

• Launch: GARBH-INi was launched in 2019 as a national maternal health research initiative.
• Implemented By: Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology
• Scale of Study: The programme has created India’s largest pregnancy cohort of ~12,000 women, generating population-specific data for maternal health research.
• Technology Integration: The initiative integrates clinical epidemiology, multi-omics biomarkers, and artificial intelligence to enable personalized prediction of pregnancy risks.
• Key Outcomes: Major outcomes include AI-based pregnancy dating models, microbiome-based predictors, rapid diagnostics, and genetic markers for early detection of preterm birth risks.
• Digital & Research Platforms: It has established the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI platform, facilitating data sharing, collaboration, and global scientific research.
• GARBH-INi–AnandiMaa: It is a translational arm of the GARBH-INi programme aimed at applying research outputs into real-world maternal healthcare systems.
• Significance: GARBH-INi addresses India’s high burden of preterm births, a key cause of neonatal mortality and long-term health complications.

GlobE Network

Context: India hosted the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights of 12th Steering Committee Meeting

• Focus on Asset Recovery: Enforcement Directorate (ED) emphasised that asset recovery is the true measure of anti-corruption success, with India recovering assets worth over $5.6 billion.
• Role of Indian Agencies: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) highlighted its role as the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, facilitating global cooperation, while ED focuses on proceeds of crime under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
• Need for International Cooperation: The meeting underscored that corruption is transnational and technology-driven, requiring real-time and coordinated global enforcement efforts.
• Use of Secure Communication Platform: The GlobE Network’s Secure Communication Platform (SCP) enables encrypted, real-time intelligence sharing among member agencies.
• Strategic Deliberations: Member nations discussed operational priorities, strategic direction, and strengthening global anti-corruption frameworks.

About GlobE Network

• The GlobE Network is a global platform of anti-corruption law enforcement authorities aimed at combating transnational financial crimes through direct cooperation.
• Origin: Conceived under the Riyadh Initiative (2020) during Saudi Arabia’s G20 Presidency and formally launched in 2021 at United Nations General Assembly Special Session against Corruption.
• Members: Open to UN Member States and parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), comprising over 135 countries and 250 authorities.
  • India joined the GlobE Network in 2022, with the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Enforcement as its two designated member agencies.
• Secretariat: Supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
• Objectives
  • Facilitate rapid information exchange and intelligence sharing.
  • Strengthen cross-border investigations and asset recovery.
  • Promote capacity building and best practices.
• Structure: Governed by a Plenary and Steering Committee guiding strategy and operations.
• Significance
  • Enables direct agency-to-agency cooperation, bypassing delays in formal mechanisms like Mutual Legal Assistance.
  • Strengthens global commitment to UNCAC and enhances effectiveness in tackling complex, cross-border corruption.

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World Air Quality Report 2025

Context: The World Air Quality Report 2025 by IQAir ranks India as the 6th most polluted country despite a marginal decline in PM2.5 levels.

Key Findings of World Air Quality Report 2025

• India’s Ranking and PM2.5 Trends: India ranked 6th globally, with a population-weighted average PM2.5 level of 48.9 µg/m³, showing a gradual decline over three years.
  • 3-Year Trend: India’s global air pollution rank shifted from 3rd (2023) to 5th (2024) and 6th (2025), indicating a relative improvement in PM2.5 levels over the last three years.
• Most Polluted Cities and Regions: Loni (Uttar Pradesh) emerged as India’s most polluted city in 2025, while New Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital.
• Global Pollution Scenario: Pakistan ranked as the most polluted country, followed by Bangladesh and Tajikistan, indicating severe air quality issues in South Asia.
• WHO Standards and Compliance: Only 13 countries met WHO’s PM2.5 guideline (<5 µg/m³), while about 90% of countries failed to meet safe air quality standards.
• Policy and Structural Concerns in India: A significant share of funds under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is focused on road dust (64%), with relatively lower allocation to industrial and vehicular emissions.

About World Air Quality Report

• The report is an annual global assessment of air pollution levels, focusing primarily on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure.
  • PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller, capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks.
  • It comprises sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, black carbon, organic compounds, dust, and metal particles, mainly originating from vehicle emissions, industrial processes, biomass burning, and fossil fuel combustion.
• Published By: Released by IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality technology company specialising in air monitoring and filtration systems.
• Parameters Used: Based on PM2.5 concentration levels (µg/m³), which measure fine particulate matter harmful to human health.
  • Uses population-weighted averages to reflect actual exposure levels.
• Data Sources and Coverage: Compiles data from government monitoring stations and validated sensors across countries.
  • The 2025 report covered 143 countries and over 9,400 cities, making it one of the most comprehensive global air quality datasets.

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