Election Commission of India to begin Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar

•  SIR is legally backed by Article 324 of the Constitution & Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act 1950.

About SIR

• It is a House-to-House verification to be done to ensure enrolment of all eligible Citizens.
• It is done by Booth Level Officers.
• Aim: To ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the Electoral Roll.
• Significance: To ensure the integrity of the Electoral Roll (ER) for the conduct of free & fair elections.

Union Minority Affairs Minister launches UMEED Central Portal.

• Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Rules, 2025 operationalises the national UMEED portal.

About Umeed Portal

• Developed by:  Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Aim: To serve as a centralized digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties.
• Features:
  • Creation of a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf properties
  • Online grievance redressal system for better responsiveness
  • Transparent leasing and usage tracking
  • Integration with GIS mapping and other e-Governance tools
  • Public access to verified records and reports

RBI has removed 1,00,010 crore rupees from the banking system through the VRRR.

About VRRR

• It is a method used by the RBI to absorb excess money from banks for a short period.
• RBI takes money from banks and offers them interest in return. 
  • The term variable rate means the interest rate is not fixed and is decided by the market.
  • In the Reverse Repo Rate the rate is fixed by RBI.

The Finance Ministry has announced that all tax benefits available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also apply to the UPS.

About UPS

• It has been introduced as an option under the NPS.
• It is a ‘fund-based’ payout system which relies on the regular and timely accumulation and investment of applicable contributions (from both the employee and the employer (the Central Government)).
• Salient features
  • 50% of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. 
  • Assured minimum pension of 10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service.

Researchers have obtained photographic evidence of a rare supernova involving a different type of star – a stellar ember called a white dwarf – and a double detonation.

• It was obtained using the European Southern Observatory’s Chile-based Very Large Telescope.

About Supernova

• It  is the explosion of a star and is an immensely violent event.
• It usually involves a star more than eight times the mass of our sun that exhausts its nuclear fuel and undergoes a core collapse.

India establishes 1st Internationally Recognised by WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Equine Disease-Free Compartment(EDFC) in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

About Equine diseases:

• These encompass a wide range of illnesses that can affect horses like influenza, herpesvirus, and West Nile virus etc.
• Causal agents: Variety of infectious agents, such as Virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites, as well as non-infectious factors like allergies, toxins, and genetics
• Examples: Equine Infectious Anemia, Equine Influenza, Equine Piroplasmosis, Glanders, and Surra. 
• India has  historically remained free from African Horse Sickness since 2014.

The forest advisory committee has granted ‘in-principle’ approval for diversion of forest land for construction of Sawalkot HEP on Chenab River.

• Sawalkot HEP is one of the six strategic hydropower developments aimed at optimising India’s use of Indus waters.

About Chenab River

• Origin is Bara Lacha Pas.
  • Two streams namely Chandra and Bhaga rise on the opposite sides of the pass and join to form Chenab.
• Chenab valley is a structual trough formed by the great Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges.
• Tributaries  include Miyar Nalla, Sohal, Thirot, Bhut Nalla, Marusudar and Lidrari.
• It was known to Indians in the Vedic period as Chandrabhaga, also Ashkini or Iskmati.

Coal Ministry has launched the RECLAIM framework - A Community Engagement and Development Framework for Mine Closure and Repurposing.

Reclaim Framework

• Developed by: Coal Controller Organisation under the Ministry of Coal in partnership with the Heartfulness Institute.
• Objective: serves as a structured guide for inclusive community engagement and development throughout the mine closure and post-closure phases.
• Fremefork (Refer Infographic)