The ITBP has relocated 33 border posts closer to the India-China LAC to boost security and operational readiness.

About ITBP

• It is a Central Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Motto: Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha.
• Genesis: Initially raised under CRPF Act, in the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the ITBPF Act.
• Diverse Roles: 
  • Guards 3,488 km long India-China borders.
  • Provides security to various installations of national importance including Rashtrapati Bhawan. 
  • First Responders' for natural calamities in the Himalayan region. 

Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports launches Multilingual Functionality on e-Shram Portal.

• The Bhashini project upgraded the e-Shram portal to support all 22 Scheduled Languages (previously it only included English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi).

About The Bhashini project

• Launched in 2022.
• Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• It is part of the broader National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
• It is an AI-based language translation tool, enabling multilingual support for Indian languages. 
• Aim: Bridge language barriers and provides content and services in speech and text to citizens in their native language.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways announced major initiatives to boost the capacity at Kandla Port.

About Kandla Port

• Establishment: Constructed in the 1950s as a replacement for the Karachi Port (lost after the partition of India).
• Official Name: Deendayal Port (renamed in 2017 under the Indian Ports Act, 1908.)
• Location: Kutch District, Gujarat, India  
• Significance:
  • India's second largest port by cargo volume (Paradip Port ranked one). 
  • It serves as a gateway port for states in North, West, and Central India.
  • It hosts the Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ), established in 1965 as the first SEZ in India and Asia.

India's coastline has been recalculated from 7,516 km in 1970 to 11,098 km in 2023-24, reflecting a 48% increase over the past 53 years. 

• Upward revision is attributed to a new methodology to measure India's maritime established by National Maritime Security Coordinator. 
  • It measures complex coastal formations like bays, estuaries, and inlets, unlike older methods that used straight-line distances.

Key Findings 

• West Bengal recorded highest percentage increase (357%) while Kerala  (5%) reported the smallest increase. 
  • Puducherry's coastline contracted by 4.9 km. 
• Gujarat retains its position as the state with the longest coastline followed by Tamil Nadu which overtaken Andhra Pradesh (now 3^rd).

The Indian Railways has unveiled a monumental engineering achievement with the completion of the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge.

Anji Khad Bridge: Key Details

• Location: Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project.
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 725.5 meters
  • Height: 331 meters above the Anji River (a tributary of the Chenab).
• Significance:
  • Enhances connectivity between Katra and the Kashmir Valley.
  • Expected to boost tourism and foster economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Karnataka launched the ‘Garudakshi’ online FIR system to curb wildlife crimes.

About Garudakshi

• It is software to enable an online FIR system similar to that of the Police Department.
• It will allow the public to register complaints on forest offences using mobile phones or email addresses
• Developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India.

The GEAPP and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) signed an agreement to establish a $100 million fund to support high-impact solar energy projects.

• Additional Initiatives Announced:
  • Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition (DUET)
  • Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE 2.0)

About Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) 

• GEAPP is a global, public-private initiative focused on accelerating the clean energy transition in developing countries.
• Goals: 1 billion people with energy access, 150 million green jobs, 4 billion tons of emissions avoided.
• Focus Areas: Distributed renewable energy solutions, energy poverty alleviation, sustainable development.