1 . Space Debris & ISRO’s Debris Free Space Mission
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Space Technology • Space Debris • Space Situational Awareness • Space Sustainability
- The proliferation of LEO satellite constellations, particularly satellite-internet constellations, is increasing the risk of space debris and orbital collisions.
- Large constellations may consist of thousands of satellites operating in similar orbital shells. Failure of even a single satellite can increase collision and fragmentation risks.
- Space debris includes non-functional human-made objects and fragments remaining in orbit. Even small, difficult-to-track debris can cause mission-ending damage because of high orbital velocities and can generate further debris through collisions.
- ISRO’s Debris Free Space Mission aims to safeguard space assets and prevent further debris generation through measures including Active Debris Removal (ADR) and improved end-of-life disposal.
- Active Debris Removal (ADR) is deliberate removal of existing debris objects from orbit to reduce the long-term growth of the debris population.
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is crucial for identifying, tracking and characterising space objects and enabling collision avoidance and safe space operations.
- Indian Space Policy mandates adoption of internationally recognised space-debris mitigation guidelines, including end-of-life disposal of satellites.
- IN-SPACe Norms, Guidelines and Procedures (2024) encourage Indian space actors to undertake post-mission disposal or ensure that space assets have sufficiently limited orbital lifetimes through natural orbital decay.
- ISRO has been a member of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) since 1996. The IADC was established in 1993 and coordinates international efforts on space-debris monitoring and mitigation.
- UN-COPUOS addresses space-debris mitigation and long-term sustainability of outer-space activities, including the safety of space operations.
- Kessler Syndrome: a cascading scenario in which collisions generate debris, which causes further collisions and progressively increases the debris population, potentially making certain orbital regions difficult to use.
2. Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Science & Technology • Critical Minerals • Manufacturing • Electric Vehicles • Renewable Energy • Atmanirbhar Bharat
- The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) received 20 bids for establishing integrated Sintered NdFeB Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) manufacturing facilities under the scheme.
- The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet on 26 November 2025 with a financial outlay of ₹7,280 crore; the scheme notification was issued on 15 December 2025.
- The scheme aims to establish 6,000 MTPA of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity in India.
- The total capacity will be allocated to 5 beneficiaries through global competitive bidding, with up to 1,200 MTPA per beneficiary.
- Scheme duration: 7 years, comprising:
- 2 years gestation period for setting up manufacturing facilities
- 5 years of incentive disbursement linked to sale of REPM.
- The scheme seeks to establish an integrated domestic value chain from NdPr oxide to finished permanent magnets, reducing India’s import dependence.
- Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs) are high-strength magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, aerospace and defence systems.
- NdFeB magnets are permanent magnets made primarily from neodymium (Nd), iron (Fe) and boron (B) and are among the strongest commercially available permanent magnets.
- Their high magnetic strength-to-size ratio makes them particularly important for compact, high-efficiency applications such as EV motors, wind-turbine generators and advanced electronics.
- Neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) are among the rare earth elements (REEs); rare earths comprise 17 elements — the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium.
3. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Government Policies & Interventions • Centre-State Relations • Cooperative Federalism + GS III: Infrastructure • Tourism • Sustainable Development
- SASCI – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism aimed at developing selected tourist destinations into iconic tourism centres of global scale.
- Under the scheme, 40 projects across 23 States were sanctioned in 2024-25 with a total outlay of ₹3,295.76 crore.
- These projects receive 100% Central funding under the scheme.
- The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) is a Central Government mechanism providing long-term/interest-free financial assistance to States for capital expenditure, thereby encouraging infrastructure creation and growth-oriented investment.
- For SASCI 2025-26, States that did not avail funds under Part III of SASCI 2024-25 became eligible for tourism projects under Part II, subject to a maximum assistance of ₹250 crore.
- Under this provision, ₹250 crore each was sanctioned and released to Nagaland, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh for tourism projects.
- The scheme incorporates carrying-capacity assessment, statutory clearances, stakeholder consultation and sustainable operation & maintenance into project planning, linking tourism infrastructure with sustainable tourism.
- A Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) and Mission Directorate (MD) provide the national institutional framework, with participation from relevant ministries/departments and agencies such as ASI, enabling inter-sectoral convergence.
- The Ministry of Tourism has developed a Programme Management Information System (PMIS) as a unified digital platform for monitoring, information sharing, reporting and coordination of destination-development projects.
4. Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (AMB)
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Government Policies & Interventions • Health • Vulnerable Sections • Human Resource Development
- The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organised a National Workshop on Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (AMB) on 12–13 August 2026, bringing together representatives from all States/UTs and multiple ministries.
- The revised AMB Operational Guidelines, launched on 29 June 2026, mark a shift from a primarily supplementation/prophylaxis-based approach towards testing, case-based management, treatment compliance, dietary improvement and digital tracking.
- The revised programme follows a strengthened 7×7×7 strategy, replacing the earlier 6×6×6 framework.
- The 7×7×7 approach emphasises: 7 beneficiary groups + 7 interventions + 7 institutional mechanisms/levels of implementation.
- A major focus is moving from static compliance-based monitoring to testing → tracking → treatment → follow-up → resolution.
- The programme emphasises a life-course approach, extending anaemia prevention and management beyond pregnancy to younger age groups.
- Jan Bhagidari has been incorporated to strengthen community ownership and participation in anaemia reduction.
- The programme calls for inter-ministerial convergence, particularly involving Health, Education, Women & Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports and Tribal Affairs.
- Anaemia is a condition characterised by insufficient healthy red blood cells/haemoglobin to meet the body’s oxygen needs. Iron deficiency is an important cause, but anaemia can also result from nutritional deficiencies, infections, chronic diseases and genetic/other conditions.
5. Sowa-Rigpa System of Medicine
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Health • AYUSH • Traditional Systems of Medicine • Government Policies & Institutions + GS I: Indian Culture • Traditional Knowledge
- Padma Gurmet, Director, National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa, Leh, was conferred the UT Ladakh State Award 2025 for his contribution to the preservation, promotion and development of Sowa-Rigpa.
- Sowa-Rigpa literally means the “Science of Healing” and is a traditional system of medicine practised predominantly in the trans-Himalayan region, particularly Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Himachal Pradesh.
- It is historically associated with the Tibetan medical tradition and has evolved through the interaction of indigenous Himalayan knowledge with Tibetan, Indian and other Asian medical traditions.
- Sowa-Rigpa is based on the understanding of the body, mind, environment and disease as interconnected, with emphasis on diagnosis, prevention and treatment through medicinal and therapeutic practices.
- Traditional diagnostic methods include examination of pulse and urine, along with assessment of symptoms and other physical indicators.
- Sowa-Rigpa uses a wide range of medicinal plants, minerals and other natural substances, particularly resources available in the Himalayan region.
- National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), Leh is the major national institution dedicated to the education, research and development of Sowa-Rigpa and functions under the Ministry of Ayush.
- Sowa-Rigpa is recognised as one of the systems of the Indian System of Medicine under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)
One Response
Rất đáng đọc, cảm ơn tác giả. Công ty Letco cung cấp dịch vụ du học Hàn Quốc trọn gói, tư vấn tận tâm và minh bạch chi phí. Tìm hiểu tại letco.vn.