1 . Seaweed Cultivation
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Fisheries • Blue Economy • Sustainable Development • Agricultural and Allied Sectors
- The Department of Fisheries is promoting seaweed cultivation to strengthen coastal livelihoods and develop India’s marine bioeconomy. Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, visited Munnaikadu, Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, and interacted with seaweed farmers and women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- Farmers demonstrated monoline and raft-based cultivation methods, along with farming, maintenance and harvesting operations. The Secretary emphasised technology adoption, increased production, value addition and organised cultivation.
- India’s coastline of 11,099 km offers significant potential for seaweed farming. Research institutions have identified 384 suitable sites covering 24,707 hectares across coastal States and Union Territories.
- Seaweed production increased from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to 74,083 tonnes in 2024 and 82,728 tonnes in 2025, highlighting the sector’s growing potential for employment and coastal income generation.
- Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), projects worth ₹181.11 crore were approved for seaweed development during 2020–27. These include the establishment of a Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu.
- Financial assistance has supported 37,255 seaweed culture rafts and 44,080 monoline units. Other interventions include seed banks, awareness campaigns, training and capacity building.
- The Department of Fisheries has notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters to strengthen value chains, improve competitiveness and enhance export potential.
- Lakshadweep has been notified as a Seaweed Cluster, while the ICAR-CMFRI Regional Centre, Mandapam, has been designated as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed development and research. An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) have been established for coordinated sectoral development.
- Seaweeds are macroscopic algae, broadly classified into green, brown and red algae. They lack true roots, stems and leaves. Red algae are important sources of agar and carrageenan, while brown algae provide alginates used in food processing, pharmaceuticals and other industries.
2. Agrivision–2026
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Agriculture | Agricultural Marketing | Food Processing | Farmers’ Income | Agricultural Education |- The 10th National Convention of Agrivision–2026 is being held on 13–14 October at the ICAR–NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi. Organised under the aegis of Agrivision and the ICAR Agricultural Education Division, it brings together around 450 students from agricultural and allied sciences representing 25 States, alongside scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers and senior officials.
- M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, emphasised the need to shift Indian agriculture from a production-centric approach to an agri-food system and value-chain approach.
- The shift involves market research, market intelligence and aligning agricultural production with market demand, rather than focusing solely on increasing crop output.
- Agri-food value chains connect agricultural production with processing, marketing and value addition. The objective is to improve farmer profitability by linking production decisions with market opportunities.
- The convention emphasised agricultural education, technological transformation, research and entrepreneurship, alongside opportunities in teaching, research and agricultural extension.
- ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It coordinates agricultural research and education in India.
- Agricultural extension refers to the transfer of scientific knowledge, improved technologies and farming practices from research institutions to farmers.
- Market intelligence in agriculture involves information on demand, prices and market trends. It helps farmers make informed production and marketing decisions.
3. Towards a TB-Free India
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: Health | Government Policies and Interventions | GS-III: Science and Technology | AI in Healthcare
- India’s annual emergence of new TB cases declined by 21% between 2015 and 2024, compared with a global decline of 12%. TB deaths in India declined by 28% during the same period. Treatment coverage reached 92%, against the global average of 78%, according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect the brain, kidneys and spine. It spreads through the air when people with infectious TB cough, sneeze or speak.
- The JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) campaign was launched on 13 October 2026 on a pilot basis across 11 States and 55 districts. Teams include MY Bharat volunteers, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and a designated Class-I officer. The campaign promotes awareness, early detection, treatment adherence and stigma-free communities.
- Latent TB infection refers to infection without active TB disease. Such individuals generally do not transmit TB but may develop active disease later. TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) helps eligible individuals reduce the risk of progression to active disease.
- The intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has crossed 28.1 crore screenings, provided TPT to over 20 lakh individuals and added 5.7 lakh new Ni-kshay Mitras. A total of 46,118 Gram Panchayats have received TB-free certification.
- The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched on 9 September 2022, promotes community participation as a Jan Andolan. The Ni-kshay Mitra initiative enables individuals and organisations to support TB patients through nutritional assistance and psychosocial support.
- CBNAAT and Truenat are molecular diagnostic technologies used for TB detection. Culture and drug-susceptibility testing help identify the organism and assess resistance to anti-TB medicines. Early diagnosis is essential for timely treatment and reducing transmission.
- The government has introduced the BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant TB. It combines Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid and Moxifloxacin and can reduce treatment duration to six months for eligible patients. More than 15,000 patients with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB have started this regimen, according to the PIB release.
- Drug-resistant TB occurs when TB bacteria do not respond to one or more medicines. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, two key first-line drugs. Appropriate drug regimens and adherence are essential to prevent further resistance.
- The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) replaced the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in 2020. Its approach covers early detection, prompt treatment, prevention, patient support and community outreach. The National Strategic Plan to End TB 2020–25 was structured around four pillars: Detect, Treat, Prevent and Build.
4. Machine Learning-Enabled PLA–ZnO Nanofiber Filter for Wastewater Treatment
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Science & Technology | Environmental Pollution | Wastewater Treatment | Nanotechnology |- Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), developed a multifunctional filter for treating dye-contaminated wastewater. The technology combines zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers, light and mechanical vibrations.
- Industrial dyes, particularly from the textile industry, can be persistent, toxic and resistant to natural degradation. Conventional treatments such as adsorption, sedimentation and flocculation may separate pollutants without destroying them.
- The filter integrates photocatalysis and piezocatalysis. Light activates ZnO, while mechanical vibrations generate piezoelectric polarisation. This helps suppress electron–hole recombination and improves the formation of reactive species that degrade pollutants.
- In photocatalysis, light generates electrons and holes in a semiconductor. Their recombination reduces treatment efficiency. Separating these charge carriers helps generate reactive species that break down pollutants.
- ZnO nanoparticles were synthesised using turmeric extract. Compounds such as curcumin, flavonoids and phenolics acted as reducing and stabilising agents. This green synthesis approach reduces dependence on conventional synthesis involving harmful reagents.
- Green synthesis of nanoparticles uses biological materials such as plant extracts or microorganisms. These can act as reducing and stabilising agents during nanoparticle formation.
- The ZnO nanoparticles were immobilised within porous PLA nanofibers through electrospinning. This creates a mechanically stable, high-surface-area membrane and reduces the difficulty of recovering dispersed nanoparticle catalysts from treated water.
- PLA (polylactic acid) is a polymer that can be produced from renewable feedstocks and is biodegradable under suitable conditions. Electrospinning uses an electric field to produce fine fibres from a polymer solution or melt.
- Under combined light and ultrasonic excitation, the filter achieved 98.6% decolorisation of methylene blue (MB) and 96.7% decolorisation of Congo red (CR) within 120 minutes. It also inactivated approximately 75% of E. coli and 71% of S. aureus after six hours.
5. First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: India and its Neighbourhood | Regional Groupings | International Relations | Security Cooperation |
- The First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting (HMM) concluded in New Delhi on 13 October 2026 with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, marking a milestone in institutionalising regional security cooperation under BIMSTEC.
- BIMSTEC comprises seven countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- Key security threats identified include terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering and organised crime.
- Members stressed cooperation against cross-border terrorism, radicalisation and terrorist financing, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
- The Declaration calls for effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, in force since March 2021.
- Members also called for finalising conventions on extradition, transfer of sentenced persons and trafficking in persons.
- Priorities include implementing action plans on human trafficking, narcotic drugs and anti-money laundering, and developing a BIMSTEC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (BDOMD).
- Cooperation with UNODC, INTERPOL and FATF, along with regional information-sharing and capacity-building, was encouraged.
