Khurasani Imli (fruit of the Baobab tree) from Mandu, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 

• The fruit is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants and is used in traditional medicine for digestive ailments. 

About Baobab tree

• Popularly known as Upside-down Tree.
• Native to Africa.
• Characterized by a massive water-storing trunk and leafless branches resembling roots, highly drought-resistant.
• Baobabs are a keystone species.
  • A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its population size or biomass.
• Found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka etc.

Biochar offers a way to turn India’s farm smoke into medium that could improve soil health and generate income for farmers.

About Biochar

• Carbon-rich material produced by heating biomass (crop residues, organic waste, etc.) in low-oxygen conditions through pyrolysis. 
• Applications: Used as a soil amendment, growing medium in vertical farming, carbon sequestration tool, etc. 
  • Improves soil fertility, promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, and enhances water-holding capacity by retaining moisture for longer periods.
• Economic Significance: Supports carbon credit generation and converts agricultural waste into a resource.

Starlink, OneWeb and other satcom operators may face tighter security clearances and operational checks under the DoT's draft satellite communication rules. 

Key Provisions

• Under: Telecommunications Act, 2023.
• Satcom firms will require security clearance even after spectrum assignment before commencing services.
• Rollout of satellite phone and broadband services will require explicit approval from the Central Government.
• Spectrum will be assigned administratively (non-auction route) with prescribed fees as per as identified for implementation of International Mobile Telecommunication in the National Frequency Allocation Plan.
• Rules aim to address concerns related to signal spillage across borders, cybersecurity, lawful interception and national security.

Department of Atomic Energy Inaugurates Deuterated Compounds Production Plant and Commissions Prototype Sodium Cell.

About Deuterated Compounds 

• Deuterated compounds are molecules where specific hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium (D or ²H), a stable, non-radioactive isotope of hydrogen containing one proton and one neutron.
• Deuterium contains one neutron and one proton in its nucleus, which makes it twice as heavy as protium (hydrogen), which contains only one proton. 
• Used in advanced scientific research, strategic applications and frontier technologies.

24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell

• An electrochemical device developed for the indigenous production of nuclear-grade sodium.
• Critical for India's Fast Breeder Reactor Programme and the second stage of the three-stage nuclear power programme.

Centre rolls out ‘Nirbhay Chetna’ to sensitise 17.5 lakh male elected representatives.

• It is a flagship component of Nirbhay Raho.

About Nirbhay Chetana

• Ministry: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Funded through: Nirbhaya Fund.
• Components of Nirbhay Raho
  • Nirbhay Chetna: Sensitisation of men on gender equality and women's safety.
    • It aims to create a cadre of 28,500 master trainers at the state, district, and block levels to train male elected representatives nationwide through a cascading training model.
  • Nirbhay Netri: Capacity building and legal literacy for women leaders.
  • Nirbhay Drishti: Strengthening village-level safety infrastructure.

Fibre-Optic Drones (Invisible drones) are being used in the wars recently.

About Fibre-Optic Drones 

• They are electronic warfare-resistant drones that use physical fibre links instead of radio signals, making them difficult to detect and jam.
• They are FPV (First-Person View) drones connected to the operator through a thin fibre-optic cable, transmitting commands and live video as pulses of light.
  • Fibre optics uses very thin glass or plastic threads through which light can travel to carry information. It works on the principle of total internal reflection.
• Features: Immune to Electronic Warfare, Difficult Detection, more accurate navigation in difficult terrains.
• Challenges: Limited Reaction Time and range etc.

The first batch of pilgrims crosses into China via Nathu La pass as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra begins.

• Nathu La is a mountain pass located in the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas (East Sikkim). 
• Connects Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region at an elevation of 4,310 m.

About Mansarovar Yatra

• It is a holy pilgrimage in the Western Himalayan ranges of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
• Conducted annually (April-October) through two different routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
• It includes Mount Kailash (highest peak in Kailash Ranges) and Lake Mansarovar (world’s highest freshwater lake).
• Religious and Cultural significance: Considered holy in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist religions.

Indian Prime Minister gifted various products to foreign dignitaries during recent visits to France and Slovakia, showcasing Indian Heritage.

About Indian Art and Handicraft in News

• Kalamkari Painting (Andhra Pradesh): Traditional hand-painted textile artwork that uses intricate pen-drawing techniques; depicting scenes from the Mahabharata etc.
• Pochampally Silk (Telangana): Handwoven Ikat textile known for distinct Ikat resist-dyeing technique, geometric and floral patterns.
• Kashmiri Silk Carpet: Exquisite handwoven silk carpet featuring floral and paisley motifs.
• Dokra Metal Casting: Tribal metal-craft artwork made using the ancient lost-wax casting technique. Practiced by tribal artisans across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• Thewa Art (Rajasthan): Traditional Jewellery craft combining engraved gold sheets with coloured glass.
• Himroo Silk (Maharashtra): Originating under historical Deccan court patronage, unique silk-cotton blend, famous for its reversible weave and floral motifs.
• Thekua: Traditional sweet from Bihar and Jharkhand, prepared especially during Chhath Puja.

Loop engineering could change how humans interact with AI by replacing manual prompting.

About Loop Engineering

• It is the design of recurring AI-agent workflows (loops) that automate tasks with minimal human prompting. 
• It enables AI agents to plan, execute, review, and coordinate tasks independently.
• ReAct Pattern: Reason, act, observe, repeat is the core of loop engineering.
• Uses: Software development, code maintenance, workflow automation, and continuous monitoring.
• Challenges: High token consumption and costs, security and oversight risks, lack of clear end-points, dependency on external memory, need for human supervision to prevent errors or unintended actions.