1 . Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH)
Syllabus Mapping: GS I: Indian Heritage & Culture • Archaeology • Marine Archaeology
- The Government informed Parliament that the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is undertaking exploration and research at several submerged heritage sites, while expanding India’s marine archaeological research up to 2030.
- Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) refers to traces of human existence having cultural, historical or archaeological character that have remained partly or completely underwater for at least 100 years (UNESCO Convention, 2001).
- In India, underwater archaeological research is carried out by the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- Current exploration sites: Dwarka, Bet Dwarka (Gujarat), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) and Karaikal (Puducherry).
- Sites identified for exploration up to 2030: Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Vijaydurg, Janjira, Mahabalipuram and Karaikal.
- Important Underwater Heritage Sites
- Dwarka (Gujarat): Associated with the ancient city of Lord Krishna; submerged structural remains have been reported in the Gulf of Kachchh.
- Bet Dwarka (Gujarat): Island near Dwarka with evidence of Late Harappan and historical maritime activity.
- Poompuhar/Kaveripattinam (Tamil Nadu): Ancient Chola port city, mentioned in Silappadikaram and Manimekalai; parts believed to have submerged due to coastal erosion/sea-level changes.
- Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu): UNESCO World Heritage Site; underwater remains linked to the Pallava period and the legend of the Seven Pagodas.
- Vijaydurg (Maharashtra): Historic Maratha naval fort associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Kanhoji Angre.
- Janjira (Maharashtra): Island fort of the Siddis, renowned for never being captured by the Marathas
2. National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Agriculture • Biodiversity • Genetic Resources • Food Security
- The National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR) held its first meeting after reconstitution to formulate a roadmap for the conservation, sustainable utilisation and equitable sharing of India’s agrobiodiversity, with emphasis on climate-resilient agriculture and food security.
- NABMGR was first constituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2011 and reconstituted in 2026 to advise on national policies and strategies for agricultural genetic resources.
- The Board promotes integrated management of plant, animal, fish, microbial and insect genetic resources, ensuring their conservation and sustainable utilisation.
- It functions under the leadership of ICAR, which operates under the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
- The Board emphasised strengthening pre-breeding programmes by utilising conserved germplasm and crop wild relatives (CWRs) to develop climate-resilient, high-yielding and stress-tolerant varieties.
- It recommended strengthening Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and greater coordination with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- The Board reviewed progress on establishing the National Safety Genebank (NSG), which serves as India’s long-term backup repository for conserving valuable germplasm.
- It also proposed an inter-institutional programme to mainstream traditional and underutilised crop varieties, livestock breeds, fish species, microorganisms and insects.
3. Integrated Aquaparks under PMMSY
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Fisheries • Blue Economy • Food Processing • Infrastructure
- Integrated Aquaparks are being developed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) as integrated hubs for fisheries and aquaculture, providing end-to-end infrastructure across the value chain from production to processing and exports.
- Integrated Aquaparks are established under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D).
- They are developed as integrated fisheries hubs, providing production, processing, storage, packaging, branding, logistics and export facilities at one location.
- The parks are theme-based, catering to local potential such as shrimp, marine finfish, crab, seaweed, ornamental fisheries and seafood processing.
- Integrated Aquaparks are a non-beneficiary-oriented component under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component of PMMSY.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- Flagship scheme launched in 2020.for the fisheries sector.
- Implemented by the Department of Fisheries.
- Objective: Sustainable, responsible, inclusive and holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture.
- Supports production enhancement, infrastructure, value addition, exports, fisheries management and fisher welfare.
- National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, is the nodal agency for capacity building, training and fisheries development.
- Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) was launched in 2018 to finance fishing harbours, cold chains, processing plants, hatcheries and aquaculture infrastructure.
- Blue Economy promotes the sustainable use of ocean and aquatic resources for economic growth, livelihoods and ecosystem conservation.
- India is among the largest exporters of seafood, with shrimp accounting for the largest share of marine product exports.
4. Sun’s Atmosphere Rotates Faster than its Surface
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Science & Technology • Space Science • Solar Physics
- Scientists from ARIES, Udaipur Solar Observatory (PRL) and collaborators have discovered that the Sun’s upper atmosphere (corona) rotates faster than its visible surface (photosphere), and the rotation speed increases with height, challenging the expectations of classical physics.
- The study used observations from the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (Japan) and found that the solar atmosphere does not strictly obey the classical law of conservation of angular momentum, unlike Earth’s atmosphere.
- Researchers also observed that the rotation rate decreases slightly during periods of higher solar activity, indicated by an increase in sunspots.
- The findings improve understanding of solar dynamics and will help refine space weather prediction, which affects satellites, navigation systems (GNSS/NavIC), radio communication and power grids.
- Layers of the Sun (Centre → Outwards):
- Core – Site of nuclear fusion (~15 million °C).
- Radiative Zone – Energy transported by radiation.
- Convective Zone – Energy transported by convection currents.
- Photosphere – Visible surface (~5,500°C); sunspots are observed here.
- Chromosphere – Thin reddish atmospheric layer visible during solar eclipses.
- Corona – Outermost atmosphere; extends millions of kilometres into space and has temperatures of over 1 million °C.
- Sunspots are temporary dark, cooler regions on the photosphere caused by intense magnetic fields.
- Increased sunspot activity is associated with solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), the primary drivers of space weather.
5. Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP)
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Insurance • Maritime Sector • Blue Economy • Shipping
- The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) to strengthen domestic maritime insurance capacity and reduce dependence on foreign insurers.
- Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) was operationalised by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance on 12 May 2026 with sovereign guarantee
- BMIP provides war risk insurance and Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance to Indian shipping companies, ensuring uninterrupted insurance cover during geopolitical crises.
- War Risk Insurance covers losses arising from war, terrorism, piracy, hostile acts, civil unrest and related perils, which are generally excluded from standard marine insurance policies.
- The introduction of BMIP has reduced war risk insurance premiums by around 35–40% compared to the peak levels witnessed during the West Asia conflict.
- BMIP supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by developing domestic underwriting capacity, retaining insurance premiums within India and reducing reliance on international marine insurance markets.
