Centre withdraws approval for animal protein-based biostimulants over ‘religious, dietary’ concerns.

About Biostimulant

• A biostimulant is a substance, microorganism, or mixture that promotes plant growth by stimulating natural physiological processes, improving nutrient uptake and efficiency, and enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought or heat. 
• E.g., Humic acids, seaweed extracts, liquid manure composting and beneficial bacteria and fungi.
• Biostimulant are officially treated as distinct from fertilisers and insecticides. 

India criticizes Pakistan over military infrastructure developments along the Sir Creek area.

About Sir Creek

• It is a 96-km-long tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan. It separates Pakistan’s Sindh province from Gujarat’s Kutch region.
• It is named after a British representative and extends into the Arabian Sea. 
• Dispute:
  • India’s Position: Since 1947, India has sought Sir Creek’s boundary based on the Thalweg Principle, which sets boundaries along the midline of the navigable channel.
  • Pakistan’s Position: Pakistan contends that Sir Creek is not navigable, so the Thalweg Principle does not apply.

Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme, Phase-III (2025-26 to 2030-2031).

About Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)

• Objective: To nurture top-tier scientific talent for cutting-edge biomedical research and promote interdisciplinary research for translational innovation.
  • It will also strengthen systems supporting high-quality research, and reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity, to create world-class biomedical research capacity with global impact.
• Implementation: In partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), United Kingdom and the SPV, India Alliance for Phase III.

India participated in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR-25).

About XPR-25

• It is biennial multinational submarine rescue exercise featuring participation from over 40 nations. 
• Host: Singapore. 

A High-Level Committee, under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister, approved Urban Flood Risk Management Programme Phase-II for 11 cities.

About Urban Flood Risk Management Programme

• Funding pattern: On cost-sharing between the Centre and State as per NDMF guidelines i.e 90% from Centre and 10% from State.
• Cities included: Bhopal, Bhubhaneshwar, Guwahati, Jaipur, Kanpur, Patna, Raipur, Trivandrum, Vishakhapatnam, Indore and Lucknow.
• Activities involved for Urban Flood risk mitigation project include: 
  • structural measures of Interlinking of water bodies to Stormwater Management, Construction of flood protection wall, Erosion Control and Soil Stabilisation using Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) ,etc.
  • non-structural measures such as Flood Early Warning System and Data Acquisition System and capacity building, etc.

Himachal Pradesh's snow leopard population has risen by 62%, from 51 in 2021 to 83 in 2025.

About Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

• Range: They are elusive cats found in 12 range countries in Asia (including India).
• Referred to as the “ghost of the mountains” due to their white-gray coat acting as a natural camouflage in the mountains.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Vulnerable, 
  • CITES: Appendix I, 
  • Wildlife protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• Project Snow Leopard: It was launched in 2009 in India to conserve the animal and its habitat.

As per National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), Foreign Portfolio Investors have sold cash shares worth ₹2.02 trillion in the calendar year through October 01.

About Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)

• FPIs can hold a maximum of 10% of an Indian company’s total paid-up equity capital (amount of money that a company receives from shareholders in exchange for shares).
• Exceeding this 10% cap, FPIs can: 
  • divest (selling off) the surplus shares; or 
  • reclassify themselves as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• RBI and SEBI framework on reclassification of FPI to FDI issued in 2024 made following provisions:
  • reclassification shall not be permitted in sectors prohibited for FDI. E.g., Chit funds, gambling, etc.
  • FPI investment requires government approvals are required, especially from land-bordering countries, and need Indian Investee Company’s concurrence.

India’s first helicopter Final Assembly Line from the private sector in kolar (Karnataka) to roll out Indian-made H125 helicopters in 2027. 

• Airbus has partnered with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture the H125 in India.

About H125 Helicopter

• The H125 is a versatile, single-engine helicopter.
• A light multi-role helicopter, and can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments.

A study warns about the negative impact of deforestation on Amazon’s ‘flying rivers’ worsening droughts across southwestern Amazon.

About Amazon’s Flying Rivers

• It is a natural phenomenon of aerial moisture transport and recycling where massive areas of water vapour flow across the Amazon basin.
• This water vapour is generated by evaporation from the Atlantic Ocean and the ‘Evapotranspiration’ from the Amazon forest.
  • Evapotranspiration is the sum of all processes by which water moves from the land surface to the atmosphere via evaporation (soil etc.) and transpiration (plants).
• It is carried by steady inland trade winds, blowing west along the equator.
• Significance: Regulation of rainfall in the Amazon region especially near the Andes in northwestern South America.