The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heatwave conditions over multiple states.

About Heatwave

• IMD declares a heatwave when the temperature of a place crosses 40 degrees Celsius (°C) in the plains, 37°C in the coastal areas and 30°C in the hills. Further, it uses following criterion:
• Based on departure from Normal Temperature 
  • Heat Wave: Between 4.5°C to 6.4°C from normal
  • Severe Heat Wave: >6.4°C
• Based on departure from Actual Maximum Temperature (for plains only)
  • Heat Wave: ≥ 45°C
  • Severe Heat Wave: ≥47°C

The National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) recorded its highest-ever annual disbursement of ₹613 crore in FY 2025-26.

About NBCFDC

• Objective: Promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes and to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures.
• It is a Section 8 company. 
  • A Section 8 Company, is a company regulated under the Companies Act, 2013,  is a specialized non-profit organization (NPO) established to promote charity, science, education etc.
• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 
• NBCFDC provides financial assistance through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the State Governments/UTs and Banks (PSBs & RRBs).

Recently Dr Reddy’s Labs received approval from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to make and sell generic versions of semaglutide tablets. 

• Generic Drug is an affordable, identical copy of a brand medication containing same active ingredients, safety and effectiveness.
• Introduced in market only after the original patent expires.

About Semaglutide 

• Classification: Belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists).
  • They mimic natural GLP-1 hormone, helping regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.
• Treatment: Used for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, Weight loss, Kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
• Administration: Can be injected or taken as tablet
• Brand Name: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus

Researchers have developed a new kind of brain-inspired nanodevice, a hafnium-oxide memristor. 

About Memristor  

The term “memristor” is derived from the words “memory” and “resistor.”

• It is inspired by biological synapses and functions similarly, enabling both data storage and processing within the same location.
  • A synapse is a junction between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another, through which the two neurons communicate. 
• Advantages: 
  • It will eliminate the energy-intensive data shuttling between separate memory and processing units in conventional computer architectures. 

• By fusing memory and processing, these devices could reduce the energy consumption of AI by over 70%
• Operates at extremely low currents (up to a million times lower) than conventional devices. 

Record exports achieved in FY 2025–26 despite disruptions due to the West Asia conflict.

Export Profile of India

• Status: Total exports $860.09 billion; India among top 20 exporters and top 10 in services exports.
• Trade dynamics: Imports $979 billion; trade deficit ~$119 billion (overall) and ~$333 billion (merchandise); services surplus ~$214 billion offsets deficit.
• Structural feature: Non-petroleum exports ~$388 billion (+3.62%), indicating diversification.
• Major destinations (trend): Growth in China, Spain, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Sri Lanka; diversification towards ASEAN, Africa.
• Major products: Petroleum products, engineering goods, minerals, agricultural products (cereals), handicrafts; strong services exports (IT, business services).

Memory price inflation (memflation) refers to the continuing price hikes on Semiconductor memory chips. E.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)

• It is driven by surging demand from AI, cloud computing, and data centres, which require high-performance memory chips.
  • At the same time, limited supply, industry concentration, and costly advanced memory technologies push prices upward. 

Iran's threatened to block trade through the Red Sea, if the US naval blockade continues around its ports.

About Red Sea

• It  is a fiord type marginal sea. 
  • A fjord is a long, deep, narrow body of water that reaches far inland.
• It is connected to the Gulf of Aden via Strait of Bab El Mandeb and to the Mediterranean sea via Suez Canal.
• Bordering Nations: Egypt ,Sudan and Eritrea (West), Israel & Jordan (North East) via the gulf of Aqaba and Saudi Arabia & Yemen (East).
• It receives very little precipitation and no water enters the Red Sea from rivers.