1 . Mangrol Water Craft
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Defence & Security • Maritime Security • Indigenisation of Defence Technology
- ‘Mangrol’, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 21 August 2026.
- The craft has over 80% indigenous content and is designed for underwater surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in coastal waters, Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and mine warfare.
- It is equipped with waterjet propulsion, torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars and sonars, enabling operations in shallow and coastal waters.
- Mangrol is named after the coastal town and minor port of Mangrol in Junagadh, Gujarat, a prominent marine-fishing harbour. It also carries the legacy of erstwhile INS Mangrol, an Indian Naval Minesweeper that served until 2004.
- Significance: Strengthens India’s coastal underwater surveillance and maritime security capabilities while advancing indigenous naval shipbuilding and Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
2. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Agriculture & Animal Husbandry • Food Security • Allied Activities • Biotechnology/Health • One Health
- NADCP was launched in September 2019 to control and eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis through nationwide vaccination, surveillance and disease-control measures.
- FMD: Highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs; reduces milk production, growth, reproductive performance and working capacity and can restrict international trade.
- Brucellosis: Bacterial reproductive disease caused by Brucella abortus, primarily affecting cattle and buffaloes; causes infertility, reproductive failure and reduced milk/meat production. Vaccination is the key control measure.
- Vaccination strategy:
- FMD: Mass vaccination every 6 months for eligible livestock.
- Brucellosis: One-time vaccination of female bovine calves aged 4–8 months.
- Disease surveillance: Includes sero-surveillance/sero-monitoring, outbreak investigation, virus isolation and typing, animal movement control, quarantine and cold-chain management.
- Outcomes: 16 crore FMD vaccine doses administered, benefiting 8.04 crore farmers. Reported FMD outbreaks declined from 132 (2019) to 40 (2025), while Brucellosis outbreaks declined from 22 to 15.
- FMD immunity: Average protective immunity against serotypes O, A and Asia1 stands at 1%, 71.7% and 77.6%, respectively. There has been no FMD outbreak caused by Asia1 for the last 3 years.
- Digital livestock surveillance: Bharat Pashudhan Portal assigns each animal a unique 12-digit Tag ID and integrates livestock registration and vaccination data. 39 crore+ livestock were registered by July 2026.
- Veterinary infrastructure: 4,019 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) across 29 States/UTs provide doorstep services through 1962, benefiting 136 lakh farmers and treating 276 lakh animals.
- NADCP has been subsumed under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) along with the LH&DC component and Pashu Aushadhi. LHDCP outlay for 2026-27: ₹2,010 crore.
- One Health: NADCP integrates animal, human and environmental health, helping reduce zoonotic disease risks, antimicrobial misuse and pandemic threats through early detection and surveillance.
- Pandemic preparedness: The US$25 million Pandemic Fund Project (2024), supported by the G20 Pandemic Fund and implemented with ADB, FAO and World Bank, strengthens genomic/environmental surveillance, laboratories and response capacity.
3. Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)
Syllabus Mapping: GS I: Indian Society • Issues Related to Scheduled Tribes GS II: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
Why in News: PMJVM is aimed at strengthening the tribal forest economy by promoting value addition, enterprise development and market access for Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
- Launched: 2021-22; implemented through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).
- Focus: Organising tribal MFP gatherers into community-owned enterprises, providing skilling, processing, infrastructure, finance and market linkages.
- Minor Forest Produce (MFP): Includes honey, tendu/kendu leaves, mahua, tamarind, lac, bamboo, medicinal plants, herbs, roots, tubers, tussar cocoons, wax, etc.
- MSP for MFP: Government has notified MSP for 87 MFP items; TRIFED procures MFP at predetermined MSP through State implementing agencies.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: Recognises rights of forest-dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers to own, collect, use and dispose of MFP.
- PESA Act, 1996: Gram Sabhas/Panchayats in Scheduled Areas have ownership over MFP.
- Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Tribal SHGs are organised into VDVKs for primary processing, value addition, packaging and marketing.
- Generally 15 SHGs + ~300 members form a VDVK.
- At least 60% members must be STs.
- Van Dhan Yojana: Launched on 14 April 2018; provides the foundation for the VDVK model.
- Current status (July 2026): 4,172 VDVKs sanctioned, 2,911 functional, covering 48 lakh tribal members, with reported sales of about ₹168 crore.
- Livelihood significance: MFP contributes around 20–40% of annual income for many tribal communities; PMJVM seeks to shift them from raw-produce sellers to value-adding entrepreneurs.
- Women empowerment: Women constitute a major share of collection and processing; VDVKs promote collective ownership and income generation.
4. BRICS Chennai Declaration
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: International Relations • Groupings & Agreements involving India • Global South
GS III: Science & Technology • Emerging Technologies • Research & Innovation
- Chennai Declaration/Consensus was unanimously adopted at the 14th BRICS Science Ministerial Meet, chaired by India, reaffirming commitment to a resilient, inclusive and future-ready framework for Science, Technology & Innovation (STI).
- People-centred and humanity-first STI cooperation, focusing on sustainable development, social inclusiveness, resilient growth and improving quality of life.
- India’s BRICS Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
- Key STI areas: Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, quantum technologies, biotechnology, advanced materials, nanotechnology, photonics, health, climate, renewable energy, geospatial technologies, ocean & polar science and disaster management.
- BRICS GRAIN: BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network to facilitate greater access to research facilities and strengthen collaborative research.
- BRICS Science & Research Repository: Proposed as a digital public good for mapping research institutions, researchers, research outputs, datasets, infrastructure and collaboration opportunities, while promoting knowledge sharing and open science subject to national regulations and data governance.
- Youth & innovation: Strengthening BRICS Young Scientist Forum, Young Innovator Prize and STI Entrepreneurship Partnership; promotes mobility of young researchers, incubators, accelerators and early-stage investors.
- BRICS Youth Startup Platform: Supports startup collaboration; a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund is also under consideration.
- Emphasis on making frontier technologies accessible, affordable and responsible, with STI cooperation responding to the developmental priorities of the Global South.
- BRICS STI cooperation includes 14 thematic Working Groups, 11 editions of Young Scientist Forum, 9 Young Innovator Prize editions and 9 BRICS STI Framework Programme calls.
- BRICS STI Calendar 2026–27 endorsed; next BRICS Science Ministerial Meeting will be under China’s Chairship in 2027.
5. National Cloud & AI Skilling Initiative
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Skill Development • Human Resource Development • Information Technology • Artificial Intelligence • Inclusive Growth • Employment
- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Cultus Education and Amazon Web Services (AWS), has launched a nationwide Cloud and AI skilling initiative.
- The initiative aims to equip 5 lakh learners with foundational cloud and AI literacy through AWS digital training content.
- 10,000 participants will receive intensive, job-ready training through the AWS re/Start programme, which provides cohort-based workforce development in cloud computing and connects trained candidates with employment opportunities.
- The initiative particularly targets youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, addressing gaps in access to globally recognised technical training, industry credentials and technology employers.
- The programme will be delivered 100% online through Cultus Education, enabling learners from underserved regions to access training without relocating to metropolitan centres.
- Successful participants will earn an AWS Certification, providing an industry-recognised credential and access to qualified interview opportunities through connections with local employers.
- The learning journey will culminate in a National Hackathon, allowing participants to demonstrate their cloud and AI solutions before industry leaders, hiring managers and other stakeholders.
