Prelims Nuggets

PSLV-C61: ISRO’s 101st satellite launch mission failed

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) could not complete its 101st satellite launch mission, PSLV-C61/EOS-09, due to a technical glitch.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about PSLV-C61 Mission; PSLV.

ISRO’s 101st satellite launch mission

PSLV-C61 rocket was carrying the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09). However, a few minutes after the liftoff, the rocket suffered an issue in its third stage and the PSLV-C61 mission ended in a failure. (The chamber pressure in the casing that contained the third-stage motor fell during the flight)
The 1,700-kg Earth observation satellite was intended to be placed at an altitude of about 597 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit (the satellite was to pass over a given place at the same time every day).
The EOS-09 satellite carried a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, capable of providing images of the Earth in all weather conditions. It was designed to produce high-quality radar images for civilian applications (such as land-use mapping and hydrology studies) and also for defence surveillance.

ISRO will assess the reasons for the loss of pressure and subsequently reattempt the mission EOS-09.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

PSLV is an expendable launch vehicle developed and operated by ISRO since its first successful launch in 1994.
Workhorse of ISRO known for its reliability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness since 1994.
Stages: Four-stages launch vehicle
- First stage is powered by a solid rocket motor (burns hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene-bound (HTPB) propellant)
- Second stage uses a liquid propulsion system (Vikas Engine which uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidiser)
- Third stage is a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust after the atmospheric phase of the launch (burns HTPB propellant)
- Fourth stage is a liquid-fueled engine (burns a combination of monomethylhydrazine and mixed oxides of nitrogen in two engines.
PSLV can deliver payloads of up to:
- 3250 kg to Low Earth Orbit
- 1600 kg to Sun Synchronous Orbit
- 1400 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
Successful launches: Chandrayaan-1 Mission (2008), Mars Orbiter Mission/Mangalyaan (2013), 104 satellites at one go (2017).
It has been used for launching a wide range of payloads, including Earth Observation satellites, Navigation satellites, Communication satellites, and scientific payloads for various domestic and international customers.
Success rate: Since their introduction in the 1990s, the PSLV rockets have only failed thrice- the first during the inaugural flight in 1993, once in 2017 and the latest in 2025.

Also Read: ISRO’s Satellite Launch Vehicles

India plans to push Pakistan on FATF Grey List

Context: The Indian authorities are planning to apprise the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the latest evidence related to the terror bases in Pakistan destroyed by the Indian defence forces as part of Operation Sindoor, and the existing terror infrastructure in Pakistan. India seeks FATF grey list re-entry for Pakistan.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Financial Action Task Force.

Financial Action Task Force

FATF is an independent inter-governmental body that develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The FATF Recommendations are recognised as the global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standard.
Established in: 1989 by the G7 countries to combat money laundering. In 2001, the mandate was expanded to combat terrorist financing.
Headquarters: Paris, France.

FATF Members:

Currently 39 members: 37 jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations (Gulf Cooperation Council and European Commission).
India, China, Israel, UK and USA are the members. Pakistan, North Korea, and Iran are not the members.

Key Functions

The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a coordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism.
The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques, and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as cryptocurrencies gain popularity.
The FATF works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.
FATF does not address issues related to low tax jurisdiction, tax evasion/avoidance or tax competition.
The FATF conducts peer reviews of each member to assess levels of implementation of the FATF Recommendations. It holds countries to account that do not comply.

FATF 40+9 Standards

FATF issues a report containing a set of 40 Recommendations- intended to provide a comprehensive plan of action needed to fight against money laundering.
In 2001, the development of standards in the fight against terrorist financing was added to the mission of the FATF, thereby further adding 9 Special Recommendations.
Hence, FATF has 40 recommendations against money laundering (AML) and 9 special recommendations against terrorist financing (CFT), commonly known as ‘40+9’ FATF Standards.

FATF Lists:

Black List: FATF issues a list of ‘Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories’ (NCCTs), commonly called FATF Blacklist. These countries or territories are uncooperative in international efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing. Presently, Iran and North Korea are in Black list.
Grey List (Jurisdictions under increased monitoring): List of countries or territories with strategic anti-money laundering/countering financing of terrorism deficiencies, for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. Greylisting is said to limit a country’s access to loans from international bodies.

FATF Grey List and Pakistan:

Pakistan has a fluctuating FATF status. It was initially greylisted in 2008, removed in 2009, and re-added to the list between 2012 and 2015, with a fresh greylisting in 2018 that lasted until 2022.
Pakistan was removed from the FATF Grey List in 2022 with the reminder that Pakistan will continue to work with the Asia Pacific Group to further improve its AML/CFT system. Pakistan was told to implement the action plan, which included demonstration of effective action against United Nations-designated terror outfits, individuals and their associates in terms of financial sanctions, asset seizures, investigation, prosecution, and convictions.

The decision making in the FATF is based on technical compliance of its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) recommendations, which is evaluated through the measures taken by the country concerned and on-ground verification.

Alternative Shipping Route to Suez Canal

Context: Despite a 15% Suez Canal transit fee discount and the US-Houthi ceasefire, shipping lines remain cautious about returning to the Suez Canal Route. Instead, the ships are taking the longer Cape of Good Hope route.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Suez Canal; Cape of Good Hope.

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Built by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, and completed in 1869 but opened for navigation in 1879. The Canal was nationalised by Egypt in 1956.
Length: 193 km
It enables direct shipping between Europe and Asia without circumnavigating Africa.
It links Europe with the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea by cutting the travel distance by approximately 7,000 km.
Handles about 12-15% of global trade, including a significant portion of oil and gas shipments.

Recent Developments

Because of the Houthi attacks starting in late 2023, many global shipping companies began avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal, rerouting their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, a much longer route.
As a result, Suez Canal revenues plunged from $10.3 billion in 2023 to $4 billion in 2024, and global shipping costs soared. To revive the traffic, Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has offered a 15% fee discount on transit fee to cargo ships of minimum 130,000 mt capacity.

Despite the ceasefire and discounts, most shippers stay on the longer Africa route. As the vessels go around Africa, it is leading to higher shipping costs, extended voyage durations by 10-14 days, higher fuel burn, and eventually higher freight rates.

Kaladan Multi Modal Project: North-East Route via Myanmar

Context: India is prioritising the long-delayed Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project linking Mizoram to Kolkata via Myanmar, amid worsening ties with Bangladesh and strategic concerns over the Siliguri Corridor.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, Siliguri Corridor

Mains: Strategic importance of Kaladan Multi-Modal Project.

Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project:

The KMMTTP is a multi-modal infrastructure initiative designed to link Kolkata port with Mizoram via Myanmar, bypassing the Siliguri Corridor and Bangladesh.
The framework was signed by India and Myanmar in 2008, under the broader rubric of India’s Look East / Act East Policy.
The aim is to create a transit corridor from the port of Sittwe in the Rakhine State in Myanmar to Mizoram and then to the rest of the North-East India.

As the term Multi Modal suggests the project combines several modes of transport:

Segment	Mode	Details	Status
Kolkata to Sittwe	Sea	This 539 km stretch between the two seaports will be covered by ship via the Bay of Bengal.	This part of the project has been completed.
Sittwe to Paletwa	Inland waterways	This 158 km stretch on the Kaladan river in Myanmar will be covered by boat.	Completed
Paltewa to Zorinpui	Road	This 108 km four-lane road will be the last leg of the corridor in Myanmar.	The last 50-odd-km of this highway (from Kaltewa, Myanmar to Zorinpui) is yet to be completed.
Zorinpui-Aizawal- Silchar-Shillong	Road	While Zorinpui is connected to Aizawal and the rest of the Northeast by road, the NHIDCL plans to eventually extend the high-speed corridor from Shillong all the way to the border town. MoRTH-sanctioned 166.8 km 4-lane highway from Shillong to Silchar	Under construction

Strategic Importance of Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project:

Bypassing the Chicken’s Neck: Siliguri Corridor, a narrow passage, often described as India’s Achilles' Heel, is susceptible to blockade during conflict with China and Bangladesh. KMMTTP provides a critical redundancy to this chokepoint.
Reduces Dependence on Bangladesh: Offers an independent and alternative route in case of political or diplomatic issues with Bangladesh.
Strengthens India’s Act East Policy: The corridor supports India’s goal of connecting with Southeast Asia.
Economic benefits: Upon completion, the corridor is expected to reduce the Kolkata-Mizoram transit distance by 1,000 km, saving 3-4 days in cargo movement. Boosts trade, tourism, and infrastructure in the region.
Counter to China’s presence in Myanmar: China is building the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). India’s Kaladan Project is a strategic counterbalance to ensure India’s influence in the region.

Recent developments

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has now okayed a 166.8-km four-lane highway from Shillong to Silchar, which will eventually be extended to Zorinpui, Mizoram, and connect the KMMTTP with a high-speed road corridor that runs through the heart of the Northeast.
With the help of the Kaladan project, cargo will reach from Vizag and Kolkata to the Northeast, without being dependent on Bangladesh.

Challenges to operationalisation

Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar is undergoing a civil conflict; only 21% of territory is under junta control.
The Rakhine State, through which the KMMTTP passes, is largely controlled by the Arakan Army, a group designated as a terrorist outfit by the Myanmar junta. While the Arakan Army has expressed support for the Kaladan project and claimed to provide protection, any direct engagement risks violating diplomatic norms and damaging India-Myanmar state-to-state relations.

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Project is no longer just a connectivity initiative- it is a geostrategic imperative. As Bangladesh becomes less predictable and Myanmar remains unstable, India must strategically recalibrate its regional connectivity approach.

First monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey

Context: MoSPI has released India’s first-ever monthly labour market data under the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the month of April 2025.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key trends and statistics from India’s first-ever monthly labour market data under PLFS (April 2025).

First monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (April 2025):

India’s first-ever monthly unemployment data under the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was released for April 2025.
Released by: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
This marks a shift from earlier annual or quarterly datasets to more frequent, granular reporting of labour market conditions.
The size of sample households has also increased, which can help provide better information about the labour market and its seasonality factor.
The revamped model assesses employment and unemployment data from rural areas too.

Periodic Labour Force Survey:

PLFS is India’s primary official source for measuring employment and unemployment indicators.
Launched by: National Statistical Office under the MoSPI in 2017, replacing the earlier Employment-Unemployment Surveys (EUS) conducted by the NSSO.
PLFS provides estimates based on two reference periods:
- Usual Status (US): capturing long-term employment over the previous 365 days.
- Current Weekly Status (CWS): capturing short-term employment over the last 7 days.

Current Weekly Status (CWS) Methodology:

The PLFS uses the CWS approach to estimate labour indicators. Under CWS, a person is considered:

Employed if they worked at least one hour on any day during the 7 days preceding the date of the survey.
Unemployed if they did not work at all but were available for or seeking work for at least one hour on any day during that week.

The estimates of unemployment in CWS give an average picture of unemployment in a short period of 7 days during the survey period. This helps capture dynamic labour market trends more frequently and is the basis for calculating the monthly UR, LFPR, and WPR.

Key Highlights of the First PLFS monthly bulletin:

1. Unemployment Rate (UR):

The unemployment rate (UR) in April was 5.1%. As this is the first monthly data, no comparisons are available.
- The report for 2024 had recorded an unemployment rate at 4.9%.
Male vs Female UR: UR among males was higher at 5.2% compared with female UR of 5%.
Rural vs Urban UR: Urban UR for all persons was higher at 6.5%, as compared to rural UR at 4.5%.

2. Labour Force Participation Data:

Labour Force Participation Rate: LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.

LFPR in CWS among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.6% during the period.
Rural vs Urban: LFPR in rural areas was 58% and in urban areas it was 50.7% in April for persons of the same age group.
Rural men vs women: LFPR among rural men of age 15 years and above was 79% and it was 38.2% for women.
Urban men vs women: LFPR among women of age 15 years and above was 25.7% compared with 75.3% observed for men of the same age-group.

3. Worker Population Ratio:

Worker Population Ratio: WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population. WPR = (Total number of workers / Total population) × 100

Overall WPR: WPR at the country level was observed as 52.8% during April.
WPR in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.4%.
WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 47.4%

The revamped PLFS marks a significant step towards real-time labour market monitoring in India, enabling more responsive and evidence-based employment policies.

What is Hypertension?

Context: Hypertension, often termed the "silent killer", is a growing public health concern in India. Once considered a disease of old age, recent data indicate that children and adolescents are increasingly affected, highlighting an urgent need for preventive strategies at the population level.

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: Key facts related to Hypertension.

About Hypertension

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. It is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
High blood pressure is consistently at 140/90 mm Hg or higher. It is common but can be serious if not treated.
Hypertension typically progresses without symptoms, gradually damaging the heart, brain, and kidneys.

Risk factors for Hypertension:

Unhealthy Diet: High intake of salt, processed, and packaged foods; alcohol and tobacco use.
High Salt Consumption: Average Indian adolescents consume over 8 grams of salt/day whereas WHO recommends less than 5 grams/day even for adults
Rising Childhood Obesity: Excess weight increases cardiac and vascular strain.
Physical Inactivity: Sedentary lifestyle becoming the norm.

The risk factors also include non-modifiable factors like age, genetics, and co-existing conditions such as diabetes.

Key Trends in India

Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-18): 7.3% of Indian adolescents already had hypertensive blood pressure levels, rising to 9.1% in urban areas.
NFHS-5 (2019-21):
- 12% of teenagers aged 15-19 already exhibit elevated blood pressure.
- 21% women and 24% men aged 15 and above have elevated blood pressure. The rates are slightly higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
A study conducted between 2019 and 2021 revealed that over one in four Indian adults has hypertension. Of these, only one-third are diagnosed, fewer than one in five are treated, and a mere one in 12 have their blood pressure under control.

Government Initiatives to Tackle Hypertension:

Population-Based Screening (2016): Launched under the National Health Mission for early detection of NCDs, including hypertension.
India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI, 2017): Joint initiative by MoHFW, ICMR, WHO India, and Resolve to Save Lives. It focuses on standard treatment protocols, uninterrupted medicine supply, task-sharing, and decentralized care at the primary level.
Integration with NP-NCD: IHCI best practices merged into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) to enable real-time tracking of screening, treatment, and control outcomes down to village level.
‘75 by 25’ Target: Goal to bring 75 million people with hypertension or diabetes under standard care by 2025; 71 million already enrolled (as of 2025).

Solutions & Way Forward

Strengthen Primary Healthcare Delivery: Ensure continuous availability of antihypertensive drugs at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Promote the use of validated, automated BP monitors for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
Enhance Digital Health Integration: Leverage ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) to track patient history and treatment across facilities for better continuity of care.
Incentivize Screening and Follow-up: Expand and align incentives for frontline workers (CHOs, ASHAs) with outcomes such as diagnosis, treatment initiation, and BP control.
Transform Mid Day Meal Scheme: Upgrade PM POSHAN into a nutrition + food literacy platform reaching 120 million children. Incorporate regionally-inspired, fresh menus and student participation in meal planning and preparation.
Adopt Global Best Practices: Adapt Japan’s ShoKuiku model of food education and Vietnam’s school lunch reforms to instill healthy eating habits from a young age.
Policy Actions: Increasing excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, banning their advertisement, reducing salt in processed foods, eliminating trans fats, and promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

Upper Bhavani Pumped Storage Project

Context: The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted initial approval for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the 1000 MW Upper Bhavani Pumped Storage Project in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Western Ghats and Nilgiri Biosphere; EIA; Pumped Storage Hydropower Project.

Upper Bhavani Pumped Storage Hydropower Project

Location: Near Upper Bhavani dam and Avalanche-Emerald reservoirs, within 1 km of Mukurthi National Park.
The pumped hydropower project aims to harness the waters of the Upper Bhavani Dam and Avalanche-Emerald reservoirs in the Nilgiris to generate 1000 MW of power.
Developer: NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Ltd.
Concerns: The area is part of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. These hills host unique ecosystems like the Shola forests and are home to several rare and endangered species.
The expert panel had earlier raised concerns due to the region’s ecological sensitivity. However, the developers submitted a revised layout and proposed that major infrastructure components including the water conductor system will be constructed underground to minimise ecological impact. Additionally, the revised layout avoids the highly sensitive Shola forest areas and does not involve displacement of local communities. Based on these changes, the EAC granted Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting the EIA study.

What is the Pumped Storage Hydropower Project ?

Pumped storage plants use the principle of gravity to generate electricity using water that has been previously pumped from a lower source to an upper reservoir.
Operation of pumped storage power plants requires two reservoirs viz. upper and lower reservoir. Water in the upper reservoir is used for generating power during peak demand hours. The water in the lower reservoir is pumped back to the upper reservoir during the off-peak hours and the cycle continues.
Energy storage capacity of a pumped hydro facility depends on the size of its two reservoirs and the head between reservoirs, while the amount of power generated is linked to the size of the turbine.
Central and state governments have promoted pumped hydropower projects as part of India’s plans to achieve its non-fossil fuel energy targets.

Bhavani River:

Bhavani is an interstate Indian river which flows through Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It originates in the Western Ghats from the Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu. It enters the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala and re-enters Tamil Nadu.
Bhavani is one of the main tributaries of the Cauvery River. It travels for 216 km and joins the Cauvery from the right bank at the Kooduthurai holy site, Tamil Nadu.
Upper Bhavani dam is located in the Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu.

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA):

EIA is a tool used to assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project before it is given clearance to proceed.
It aims to predict environmental impacts, find ways to reduce adverse effects, and help decision-makers choose environmentally sustainable options.
If a project fails the EIA process, it is denied environmental clearance and cannot proceed further unless revised and approved.
Governed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
EIA Notification 2006 outlines the procedure, including public hearings

Now the developers must conduct a comprehensive EIA study, organise a public hearing to gather feedback from affected communities, submit the final report to the EAC and facilitate a site visit by a MoEFCC subcommittee. Based on the findings, the final environmental clearance will be considered.

SC strikes down Retrospective Environmental Clearances

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that granting retrospective environmental clearances to construction and infrastructure projects is illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to environmental law and constitutional principles.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Retrospective Environment clearance, EIA etc.

What is Retrospective Environmental Clearance?

Retrospective Environmental Clearance (also called ex-post facto EC) means giving environmental approval to a project after it has already started construction or operations, instead of getting permission before beginning the project.

Background:

The EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Notification of 2006, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, mandates prior environmental clearance before commencing any construction or industrial activity.
However, the Environmental Amnesty Notification 2017 introduced a one-time amnesty window (March-September 2017), allowing violators who had commenced projects without EC to apply for retrospective clearance.
The 2021 Office Memorandum, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to handle such violation cases. Thus it effectively continued the regime of ex-post facto approvals.

SC strikes down retrospective Environmental Clearances:

In Vanashakti vs Union of India, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Ex-post facto ECs are illegal, arbitrary, and anathema to environmental jurisprudence.
The SC struck down the Environmental Amnesty Notification 2017, and the Office Memorandum 2021 which allowed for ex-post facto (retrospective) Environmental Clearances (ECs).
Environmental Clearances already granted under the 2017 and 2021 policy regime will not be invalidated, but no new such clearances shall be granted.
The Union government is restrained from issuing any future policies or circulars that seek to regularise such violations.
The judgment is rooted in the Precautionary Principle, a cornerstone of Indian environmental law, ensuring environmental risks are assessed before harm occurs
The Court emphasised that the government has a constitutional duty (Article 48A and 51A(g)) to protect the environment.
Retrospective clearances violate Article 21, infringing upon citizens' right to health and clean air.
Also, Ex-post facto clearances defeat the very purpose of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which are meant to assess risks before project approval, not after damage is done.

Shingles Vaccine lowers Dementia Risk

Context: A new study by Wales finds that the Shingles vaccines may reduce the risk of dementia.

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: Key facts related to shingles; dementia.

About Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that causes painful rashes. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus- the virus which also causes chickenpox.
Shingles typically produce a painful and blistering rash, erupting in a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of the torso, along a nerve path. It can occur anywhere on the body.
Symptoms: Painful rashes, and in severe cases, vision loss, brain inflammation, or paralysis.
Transmission:
- Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life as shingles.
- The virus could be transmitted if the person comes into direct contact with the blisters of someone with Shingles to develop chickenpox.
Vaccine: Shingles vaccine prevents this reactivation and is typically recommended for individuals over the age of 50 and those with compromised immunity (e.g., people living with HIV).

Findings of the Recent Study:

A recent study from Wales has found the potential of the shingles vaccine to reduce the risk of dementia (a major neurodegenerative condition for which there is currently no cure).
It found dementia diagnoses among people who had gotten the shingles vaccine reduced 3.5% over a seven-year period. This equates to a 20% lower relative risk of getting dementia compared to the unvaccinated population.

How do vaccines prevent dementia?

Scientists are yet to determine what might be behind this but there are two leading theories:

Viral Reactivation Hypothesis: The varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles, has been linked to long-term cognitive damage; vaccination may reduce dementia risk by preventing the virus from reactivating.
Immune Modulation Hypothesis: The vaccine may induce beneficial changes in the immune system that help protect against neurodegenerative processes associated with dementia.

Shingles Vaccines & their Effectiveness:

There are two approved shingles vaccines- Zostavax and Shingrix, both available in India.
Zostavax uses a live, weakened virus, while Shingrix uses a recombinant technology to develop parts of the virus that do not cause the disease.
Both vaccines show promising results in reducing dementia risk, but the recombinant Shingrix is preferred globally due to its stronger and longer-lasting protection, especially in older adults.

These findings suggest that routine adult vaccinations may play a broader neuroprotective role beyond preventing infectious diseases.

Revamped Multi Agency Centre: AI-Powered Intelligence Grid

Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs launched the revamped Multi Agency Centre (MAC), a common counter-terrorism grid under the Intelligence Bureau (IB). It has been enhanced with AI/ML capabilities to improve data analytics and integration across intelligence agencies.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to Multi agency centre (MAC)

Multi Agency Centre

MAC serves as India’s centralised intelligence-sharing platform aimed at ensuring coordination among multiple security and intelligence agencies.
It was conceptualised in 2001, post the Kargil War.
MAC has been technologically upgraded at a cost of Rs 500 crore to add more nodes for sourcing information from even remote areas in island territories, insurgency-affected areas and high-altitude terrains. It is to ensure last-mile connectivity down to the level of district SPs in the remotest areas through a fast, secure, and stand-alone system.
The new MAC network securely connects all police districts in the country. 28 organisations, including the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), armed forces and State police, are part of the platform, and various security agencies share real-time intelligence inputs in the MAC.
The revamped MAC is integrated with cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities to enhance predictive analysis and real-time intelligence sharing.

Significance of Multi Agency Centre

Integrated National Security Architecture: Synergise the efforts of all security agencies through a seamless and integrated platform. This will enhance India’s capacity to address complex and interconnected national security challenges such as terrorism, extremism, organised crime, and cyberattacks.
Enhances real time intelligence sharing and accelerates response mechanisms.
Elevate the quality of data analytics- enabling accurate trend analysis, hotspot mapping and timeline analysis to give predictive and operational outcomes.

The revamped MAC strengthens India’s tech-enabled security architecture. In the face of a potential 2.5 front war, external threats from China and Pakistan, and internal challenges like terrorism, it enables real-time intelligence sharing and a unified response.

India’s WPI Inflation falls to 13-month Low

Context: As per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s wholesale inflation fell to a 13-month low of 0.85% in April 2025. It is down from 2.05% in March and 2.38% in February.

The decline in inflation was largely due to a decline in prices in the fuel & power and primary articles segments, although the manufacturing sector continued to show resilience.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

Wholesale Price Index:

WPI is an economic indicator that measures inflation at the wholesale level i.e., the average change in price of goods and commodities before they reach the retail or consumer market.
It reflects price movements of basket of goods, including primary articles (food, oilseeds, minerals), fuel and power, and manufactured products.
Compiled by: Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Base year: 2011-12
Unlike CPI, WPI does not include services. WPI is used to monitor supply-side inflation and is a critical input for industry pricing, taxation and policy making.

WPI Food Index

Sub-index of WPI. It is a combination of the food articles from the Primary Articles basket, and the food products from the Manufactured Products basket.

Measurement of Inflation in India:

Criteria	Wholesale Price Index (WPI)	Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Level	Measures Inflation at Wholesale level	Measures Inflation at Retail Level
Who Calculates?	Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry	National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and programme Implementation
Base year	2011-12	2012
Categories	Primary Articles, Manufactured products, Fuel and Power	Food and beverages, Tobacco and Intoxicants, Clothing and Footwear,Housing,Fuel,Miscellaneous- Education, Healthcare, Transportation etc.
Highest Weightage	Manufactured products > Primary Articles > Fuel and Power	Food and Beverages
Impact of increase in Food items	Less impact on WPI as compared to CPI, since WPI provides higher weightage to manufactured products and lower weightage to Food items.	Larger impact on CPI as compared to WPI since it gives more weightage to food products.
Services included	No	Yes
Indirect Taxes Included?	No	Yes
Targeted by RBI?	No	Yes. The RBI is required to maintain CPI rate of inflation of 4% with a deviation of 2%.

Cabinet approves India's Sixth Semiconductor Unit

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved India's sixth semiconductor unit- a ₹3,706 crore project to be set up in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to India’s efforts towards semiconductor self-reliance.

India's Sixth Semiconductor Unit

The chip manufacturing unit will be a joint venture by Indian firm HCL and Foxconn (Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant). This is the first semiconductor plant in Uttar Pradesh.
The plant is designed for 20,000 wafers per month. The design output capacity is 36 million units per month.
The facility will manufacture display driver chips for a wide range of devices, including mobile phones, laptops, personal computers (PCs), automobiles and other display-enabled technologies.
The unit will attract investments worth ₹3,700 crore. It will fulfill about 40% of India’s chip needs and boost chances of bringing display panel manufacturing to India.
This semiconductor unit is the sixth to be supported under the ₹76,000 crore first phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

India Semiconductor Mission

Strategic initiative aimed at establishing a robust semiconductor and display ecosystem in the country. It seeks to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and chip design.
Launched: 2021
Implemented by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called the India Semiconductor Mission.
Budget outlay: The total outlay for ISM under the Semicon India Programme is ₹76,000 crore.
Incentives: Financial incentives up to 50% of the project cost are provided to companies involved in Semiconductor Fabs, Display Fabs, Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP/OSAT) units, Semiconductor Design.

Project approved under India Semiconductor Mission:

As of 2025, six major projects have been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission. Already five semiconductor units are in advanced stages of construction.

Company / Joint Venture	Location
Micron	Sanand, Gujarat
Tata Electronics + PSMC (Taiwan)	Dholera, Gujarat
Tata Semiconductor Assembly & Test (TSAT)	Morigaon, Assam
CG Power + Renesas (Japan) + Stars Microelectronics (Thailand)	Sanand, Gujarat
Suchi Semicon	Surat, Gujarat
HCL + Foxconn (Taiwan)	Jewar, Uttar Pradesh

Also Read: India’s push for Semiconductor Chip Production amid Rising Imports