Merger process in respect of two or more unlisted companies, holding and subsidiary companies have been amended.

About Merger of Companies

• A merger is an agreement where two existing, independent companies combine to form a new, singular legal entity.
• Mergers can take several forms, such as horizontal (companies in the same industry), vertical (companies in the same supply chain), and conglomerate (companies from different sectors).
  • Companies Act, 2013 allows mergers/demergers.
• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT): NCLT is the primary authority responsible for approving mergers and demergers.
• Significance: Ease of doing business, reduce compliance burden etc.

Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurated the 11th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference, in Bengaluru.

About The CPA

• It is one of the oldest established organisations in the Commonwealth. 
• Genesis: Founded in 1911.
• Members: Over 180 Legislatures (or Branches). (India is a member). 
• Headquarters Secretariat: Houses of Parliament(UK), London.
• Objective: It offers a vast opportunity for Parliamentarians to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and to share good practice. 

The Union Home Minister virtually inaugurated FFTI-TTP at Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Kozhikode, and Amritsar airports.

About FTI-TTP

• Purpose & Benefit: designed to streamline immigration at Indian airports so that registered travellers can clear immigration in about 30 seconds, avoiding queues and manual checking.
• Rollout & Reach: Launched in 2024 at Delhi, then extended to 13 other airports.
• Eligibility:  Indian Nationals and  Foreign Nationals holding OCI Card.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister stressed on reframing the Disaster Risk Index (DRI) in a meeting with 16th Finance Commission.

About Disaster Risk Index  (DRI)

• Developed by: 15th Finance Commission.
• Aim:  To bring objectivity in resource allocation (fiscal federalism) and take note of disaster risk faced by the states.
• Coverage:   14 hazards, 14 vulnerabilities and 2 exposures are covered.
  • Hazards include: Earthquake, Cyclone, Flood, Drought, etc.
  • Vulnerabilities:  Rural/Urban poor, vulnerable children, vulnerable women, etc.
  • exposures:  Population and GDP are the two parameters considered.

HAL has received the 3rd of 99 F404-IN20 engines, ordered from US firm GE Aerospace.

• Engine supply stability is critical for HAL to meet its delivery schedule of Tejas Mk-1As.

About F404-IN20 engines

• Type & Origin: Afterburning turbofan engine, customized for India’s LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft.
• Power & Performance: Produces around 85 kN thrust, giving Tejas high subsonic/supersonic capability.
• Versatile Military Application: Powers a wide range of aircraft, from subsonic attack to high-altitude interception missions.

Government of India has licensed private firms to produce its first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine, AdFalciVax.

About AdFalciVax Vaccine

• Developed by: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• Mechanism: Targets Plasmodium falciparum(Deadliest malaria parasite Species) at multiple stages, unlike existing vaccines that cover only one.
• Properties: It is a Recombinant Chimeric Vaccine that combines antigens from different parasite stages into a single immunogen using recombinant DNA technology.
• Advantages: Dual-stage protection, longer immunity, and cost-effective production.

The Indian Army conducted Exercise Siyom Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Siyom Prahar

• Aim: To validate drone integration in tactical operations under battlefield-like conditions.
• Drone types used: Forsurveillance, battlefield reconnaissance, target acquisition, and precision strikes.
• Significance: Helped develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for integrating drone inputs with conventional firepower, joint targeting, and rapid decision-making in dynamic scenarios.

Indian researchers have harnessed the wound-healing potential of murikooti pacha.

About Murikooti Pacha

• It is the red ivy plant, locallyknown as Murikooti Pacha and Vranaropani  in Sanskrit.
• Origin:  Native to Southeast Asia, it is also found in other tropical regions including India.
• Characteristics:  
  • It is a small herb with rooting branches, deep reddish leaves and white flowers.
  • The wound-healing pad contains a molecule, acteoside, a natural compound known for its therapeutic potential.