1 . GOBARdhan – National Circular Bioenergy Scheme
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Renewable Energy • Bioenergy • Waste Management • Energy Security • Circular Economy • Agriculture
- The Union Cabinet has approved GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) as India’s National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas (CBG) with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore to promote waste-to-wealth, clean energy and rural livelihoods.
- GOBARdhan is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG).
- The scheme will be implemented from 2026–27 to 2035–36 to promote production of Compressed Biogas (CBG) from agricultural residue, cattle dung, municipal organic waste, press mud and other biomass.
- The scheme aims to:
- Increase domestic CBG production nearly ten-fold.
- Promote circular bioeconomy and waste-to-wealth.
- Strengthen farmers’ income, rural entrepreneurship and private investment.
- Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and improve energy security.
- Compressed Biogas (CBG) produced under the scheme will be supplied to City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks under the notified CBG Blending Obligation (CBO).
- Compressed Biogas (CBG) is purified biogas (about 90–95% methane) produced through anaerobic digestion of biodegradable organic waste and is chemically similar to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
- Major feedstock includes crop residue, cattle dung, municipal organic waste, sewage sludge and sugar industry press mud.
- By-products of CBG plants include Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM).
- The scheme builds upon the SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) Initiative, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to promote CBG production and marketing.
2. Agni-4 Ballistic Missile
Syllabus Mapping: GS III: Defence Technology • Missile Systems • Strategic Security • Indigenous Defence
- India successfully test-fired the Agni-4 Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), validating its operational readiness and technical parameters.
- Agni-4 is an indigenously developed Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
- It is a two-stage, solid-fuel, road-mobile, surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
- Range: Approximately 4,000 km, enabling strategic deterrence against distant targets.
- Equipped with advanced Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG)-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) for high accuracy.
- Features composite rocket motor, reducing weight and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warheads.
- Ballistic Missiles follow a ballistic trajectory after powered flight, unlike cruise missiles, which remain powered throughout flight.
3. Seasonal Migration of Van Gujjar Tribe
Syllabus Mapping: GS I: Indian Society • Tribes • Nomadic Communities + GS II: Forest Rights • Welfare of Vulnerable Sections
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has urged the Government of Uttarakhand to ensure that the seasonal migration rights of the Van Gujjar tribal community are protected in accordance with the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
- The Ministry reiterated that Section 3(1)(d) of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognises the community rights of traditional seasonal resource access of nomadic and pastoralist communities.
- Van Gujjars are a forest-dwelling nomadic pastoral tribal community, primarily found in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir between the Shivalik foothills and the higher Himalayan pastures.
- They primarily rear buffaloes and depend on milk and dairy products for their livelihood.
- They practise transhumance—the seasonal movement of livestock between lower-altitude forests in winter and higher Himalayan bugyals (alpine meadows) during summer.
- Their migration routes pass through forests such as Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Corbett Tiger Reserve and adjoining forest divisions.
4. PM-YASASVI
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: Welfare Schemes • Education • Social Justice • Inclusive Development
- The Government highlighted the success of the PM-YASASVI, which provides financial assistance to meritorious students from OBC, EBC and DNT communities pursuing higher education in premier institutions.
- PM-YASASVI (PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- The Top Class Education Scheme provides financial assistance to meritorious students belonging to:
- Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
- Economically Backward Classes (EBCs)
- Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)
- The scheme supports students admitted to top institutions through competitive examinations by covering: Tuition fees + Living expenses + Books & stationery + Laptop and other academic support (as per scheme norms)
- Denotified Tribes (DNTs) are communities that were notified as “Criminal Tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, and were denotified after the Act was repealed in 1952.
5. BRICS WAVES Bazaar
Syllabus Mapping: GS II: International Relations • BRICS • Cultural Diplomacy + GS III: Creative Economy • Digital Economy • Media & Entertainment- The BRICS WAVES Bazaar was inaugurated in Mumbai as a premier international marketplace to strengthen collaboration among BRICS member and partner countries in the creative economy through business partnerships, co-production and cultural exchange.
- BRICS WAVES Bazaar is a high-level international platform bringing together government representatives, filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, OTT platforms, investors, startups and creative enterprises from BRICS countries.
- It aims to promote collaboration across: Film & Television + Animation + VFX + Gaming + Music + Digital Media + Emerging Creative Technologies
- The initiative complements the BRICS Film Festival, to be held alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2026.
- WAVES (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit) is India’s flagship global platform for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, led by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
- BRICS currently comprises 11 member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is India’s premier film festival organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in association with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
