At the recent BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting, India called for dismantling of export controls among BRICS members.

Key Annexures Adopted:

• BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of Multilateral Trading System: India’s emphasised on proposal for a “30 for 30” initiative, suggesting 30 incremental reforms to mark the WTO’s 30th anniversary in 2025.
• BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding: Recognized Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a crucial driver of digital transformation.
• BRICS Trade and Sustainable Development Framewor: Affirmed that trade measures should not be misused for unjustifiable discrimination or disguised restrictions.

Supreme Court orders cadre review in all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) within 6 months. 

• CAPF are armed police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 
• CAPFs include Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force etc. 

Key Highlights 

• Promotions must be the primary method of filling posts within CAPFs to prevent career stagnation and to safeguard the morale of personnel.
• The SC also instructed that deputation of officers to CAPFs up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) should be progressively reduced within two years.
  • Currently, senior positions in CAPFs are largely occupied by officers on deputation from the Indian Police Service (IPS), limiting promotion opportunities for personnel within the forces.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified the Payments Regulatory Board Regulations, 2025, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

• These regulations replace the earlier Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations, 2008.

About Payments Regulatory Board

• Composition: 
  • Chairperson: RBI Governor 
  • Ex-officio Members: Deputy Governor in charge of payment systems, 1 RBI-nominated officer.
  • 3 members nominated by the Central Government.
  • The board may also invite experts from fields like payments, IT, cybersecurity, law, etc.
• Tenure of Members: Government-nominated members will have a fixed tenure of 4 years, and no re-nomination is allowed.
• Meetings: At least twice a year.
• Quorum: Minimum of 3 members, including Chairperson or Deputy Governor.
• Decisions: by majority vote. In case of a tie, the Chairperson has a casting vote.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has invited applications under the “Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters” as part of the PMKSY.

About PMKSY

• Type: Central Sector Scheme approved in 2017. It has been continued till FY 2026 with an allocation of Rs. 4600 crore.
• Ministry: MoFPI
• Objectives:
  • Creation of modern infrastructure for food processing mega food parks/ clusters and individual units.
  • To create effective backward and forward linkages - linking farmers, processors and markets.
  • To create robust supply chain infrastructure for perishables.

Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Industries (APC)

• Aim:  Development of modern infrastructure and common facilities to encourage group of entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on a cluster approach. 

Vice President of India inaugurated the statues of Caraka & Susruta installed at Raj Bhavan, Goa.

Caraka

• He was the royal physician in the Kushan Kingdom and is known as the father of medicine.
• He authored the Caraka Samhita.
  • It records the proceedings of a conference on Āyurveda, which took place at the Himalayan foothills.
  • Chaired by physician Atreya.
  • Focuses on internal medicine and elaborates on the fundamental principles and management of health and diseases in Āyurveda.

Susruta

• He is considered the “Father of Plastic surgery”.
• Authored the Susruta Samhita.
  • Deals with surgery, anatomy and the topics of contemporary interest such as cataract and reconstructive surgery

Key Highlights of Judgement

• Dual taxation is permissible as it taxes different aspects of the same activity under distinct legislative powers.
• Centre can levy service tax on broadcasting as a service (under Entry 97, Union List).
  • Service tax is charged on all services with few exceptions e.g., services covered in the negative list (Section 66d of Finance Act 1994).
• States can impose entertainment tax on the content delivered for entertainment (under Entry 62, State List).
  • Entertainment Tax is a tax on commercial entertainment activities such as cinematograph exhibitions, amusements and other forms of entertainment.

Uttarakhand Forest Department’s latest report highlights the conservation of 2,228 plant species, including White Himalayan Lily and Tree Ferns.

About White Himalayan Lily (Lilium polyphyllum)

• A rare and fragrant lily species native to the Himalayan region, known for its white or pink flowers with dark spots and stripes.
• Rich in active chemical constituents like alkaloids and furocoumarins.
• Traditionally used to treat hyperdipsia, haematemesis, bronchitis, rheumatism, etc.
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered

About Tree Ferns 

• These are the vascular plants which don’t have seeds, flowers, fruit or any kind of common reproductive part of plants.
• Known for pharmacological properties like antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-asthmatic effects.
• The Kumaon region of Uttarakhand have a cluster of species of Tree ferns.

UAPA tribunal upholds Centre’s decision to declare Meghalaya’s Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) as ‘unlawful association’ for another five years 

About UAPA 1967

• Aim: Effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities.
  • It was amended in 2019 to include the provision of designating individuals as terrorists, not just organizations.
• UAPA Tribunal
  • The Central Government can constitute the Tribunal by notification in the Official Gazette.
  • It consists of one person, who must be a High Court Judge.
  • The Central Government provides necessary staff and covers all expenses from the Consolidated Fund of India.
  • It has powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure (1908).