🔆 Dal Lake Hosts First-Ever Khelo India Water Games

📍 Why in Focus?
Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake hosted the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, aimed at boosting India’s Olympic prospects in water sports like rowing, kayaking, and canoeing.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ 409 athletes from 36 States & UTs participated, including 202 female athletes.
✅ Events covered 14 kayaking & canoeing and 10 rowing events, all of which are Olympic disciplines.
✅ Madhya Pradesh sent the largest contingent (44), followed by Haryana (37), Odisha (34), and Kerala (33).
✅ The festival marks India’s first consolidated open-age category championship for water sports.
✅ Dal Lake’s water conditions were said to resemble European settings, ideal for nurturing Olympic talent.
✅ Bilquis Mir, India’s first jury member at Olympics 2025, highlighted its international potential.

📍 Relevance to Governance & Sports:
✅ Strengthens Khelo India’s aim of building a sports culture.
✅ Leverages regional ecosystems like J&K to identify grassroots talent.
✅ Supports gender inclusion in sports.

✅ Prelims Question:
Which iconic lake hosted the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival in 2025?
A. Chilika Lake
B. Vembanad Lake
C. Dal Lake
D. Sardar Sarovar
Ans: C

✅ Mains Question:
Discuss the significance of regional sporting initiatives like the Khelo India Water Sports Festival in boosting India’s Olympic performance and promoting inclusive sports development.

✨ #KheloIndia #OlympicDreams #DalLake

🔆 भारत का साहसिक अंतरिक्ष दृष्टिकोण: 100+ उपग्रह, गगनयान अंतरिक्ष यात्री, और 2040 तक चंद्रमा

📍 समाचार में क्यों?
राष्ट्रीय अंतरिक्ष दिवस 2025 पर, केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉ. जितेंद्र सिंह ने भारत के 15-वर्षीय अंतरिक्ष रोडमैप का खुलासा किया, जिसमें शामिल हैं:
• 🚀 2040 तक 100+ उपग्रह लॉन्च किए जाएंगे (70% छोटे उपग्रह)
• 👨‍🚀 मानव अंतरिक्ष उड़ान (गगनयान 2027 में), चंद्रयान-4, शुक्र मिशन
• 🌕 भारतीय अंतरिक्ष यात्री 2040 में चंद्रमा से “विकसित भारत 2047” घोषित करेंगे

📍 मुख्य विशेषताएं
✅ थीम: “आर्यभट्ट से गगनयान: प्राचीन ज्ञान से अनंत संभावनाएं”
✅ गगनयान अंतरिक्ष यात्रियों (4 वायुसेना अधिकारी) का सम्मान
✅ भारतीय अंतरिक्ष हैकाथॉन और इसरो रोबोटिक्स चैलेंज के विजेताओं को सम्मानित किया गया
✅ निजी क्षेत्र नवाचार, छात्र भागीदारी, एआई/एमएल, और ड्रोन पर जोर
✅ 2035 तक भारत अंतरिक्ष स्टेशन की योजना
✅ 2025 में वायुमित्र (मानव-रोबोट मिशन)

📍 सिविल सेवा प्रासंगिकता
✅ शासन के लिए अंतरिक्ष-प्रौद्योगिकी: आपदा सहनशीलता, भूमि मानचित्रण, स्मार्ट शहर
✅ अंतरिक्ष में भारत की सॉफ्ट पावर और रणनीतिक स्वायत्तता
✅ स्टार्टअप इकोसिस्टम + सार्वजनिक-निजी भागीदारी (PPP) अनुसंधान एवं विकास में
✅ विज्ञान, प्रौद्योगिकी और नवाचार → विकसित भारत की कुंजी

📍 प्रिलिम्स पॉइंटर्स
✅ “फ्लाई मी ऑन मार्स” – इसरो रोबोटिक्स चैलेंज थीम
✅ वायुमित्र → मानव-रोबोट मिशन (2025)
✅ चंद्रमित्र (2028), भारत अंतरिक्ष स्टेशन (2035 तक)
✅ 300+ उपयोगकर्ता विभागों की बातचीत से 5000 पृष्ठों का अंतरिक्ष रोडमैप

📍 मेन्स एंगल – GS3 / निबंध
🔹 विकास के उपकरण के रूप में अंतरिक्ष
🔹 तकनीकी नवाचार में सार्वजनिक-निजी भूमिका
🔹 रणनीतिक स्वायत्तता और वैज्ञानिक राष्ट्रवाद

📌 उद्धरण:
“भारत अब अनुयायी नहीं है; अन्य राष्ट्र अब अपने मिशनों में मूल्य जोड़ने के लिए भारत की ओर देखते हैं” — डॉ. जितेंद्र सिंह

🧠 #GS3   #SpacePolicy #ViksitBharat2047
#prelims #mains
#science_technology
#science_and_technology

@PIB_UPSC
@upsc_science_and_technology

🔆 प्रधान मंत्री विकास: कौशल, संस्कृति और क्रेडिट के माध्यम से अल्पसंख्यकों को सशक्त बनाना

📍 समाचार में क्यों?
प्रधान मंत्री विकास, अल्पसंख्यक मामलों के मंत्रालय की मुख्य योजना, कौशल विकास, शिक्षा और सांस्कृतिक पहलों को सुव्यवस्थित कर रही है।

📍 प्रधान मंत्री विकास की मुख्य विशेषताएं

✅ पूरा नाम: प्रधान मंत्री विरासत का संवर्धन
✅ प्रकार: केंद्रीय क्षेत्र योजना
✅ मर्ज की गई योजनाएं:
 🔹 सीखो और कमाओ (कौशल प्रशिक्षण)
 🔹 उस्ताद (कारीगर समर्थन)
 🔹 हमारी धरोहर (सांस्कृतिक संरक्षण)
 🔹 नई रोशनी (महिला नेतृत्व)
 🔹 नई मंज़िल (शिक्षा और आजीविका)

📍 लक्षित लाभार्थी
✅ छह सूचित अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय:
 मुस्लिम, ईसाई, सिख, बौद्ध, जैन, पारसी

📍 मुख्य घटक
🟩 कौशल विकास – पारंपरिक और आधुनिक व्यवसाय (NSQF-अनुरूप)
🟩 शिक्षा – NIOS के माध्यम से खुला विद्यालयी शिक्षा
🟩 महिला सशक्तिकरण और उद्यमिता
🟩 बुनियादी ढांचा – प्रधान मंत्री जन विकास कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से
🟩 क्रेडिट लिंक – NMDFC ऋण के माध्यम से
🟩 कारीगर समर्थन – ज्ञान साझेदार के रूप में EPCH

📍 प्लेसमेंट अनिवार्यता
✅ प्रशिक्षित उम्मीदवारों का 75% प्रशिक्षण के बाद नियुक्त होना चाहिए

#Govt_schemes

🔆 ISRO’s Gaganyaan: IADT-01 Air-Drop Test Successful

📍 What is IADT-01?
✅ Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) was conducted at Sriharikota, marking a crucial milestone for India’s first human spaceflight mission – Gaganyaan.
✅ It successfully demonstrated the parachute-based deceleration system for the crew module.

📍 What’s Next?
✅ ISRO will now proceed with:
• TV-D2 (2nd Test Vehicle Mission)
• Uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 (G1) mission
✅ These are critical precursors before sending Indian astronauts to space.

📍 Key Tech Milestones:
✅ TV-D2 will test the Crew Escape System (CES) under complex conditions.
✅ The crewed Gaganyaan mission will use LVM3 rocket and carry onboard Vyommitra, ISRO’s humanoid robot.
✅ VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) played a major role in test design and execution.

📍 Why It Matters?
✅ India will become only the 4th country (after USA, Russia, China) to launch a manned space mission.
✅ Strengthens space safety protocols and India’s capability for independent human spaceflight.

📝 Prelims 2025 – Possible Qs:
✅ Vyommitra is a humanoid robot developed for which Indian mission? (Ans: Gaganyaan)
✅ IADT-01 is related to: (a) ISRO’s satellite launch, b) Nuclear submarine trial, c) Human spaceflight deceleration test, d) PSLV rocket test) — (c)

📝 Mains GS-3 / Science & Tech Q:
“Discuss the significance of the Gaganyaan mission for India’s space diplomacy and technological self-reliance. What safety systems are being tested prior to launch?” (10M / 150 words)

#Gaganyaan #ISRO #Vyommitra #LVM3 #science_and_technology

Consider the following statements about Dal Lake:
1. It is situated in Srinagar at the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountain range.
2. It is a freshwater lake.
3. It receives its inflows primarily from the Jhelum River.

Consider the following statements regarding the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006:
1. The Act recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).
2. It allows recognition of individual forest land rights up to 4 hectares per family for cultivation.
3. The Gram Sabha has the authority to initiate the process of determining forest rights.
4. It recognizes bamboo as a minor forest produce.

🔆 NASA’s CHAPEA Project: Simulating Life on Mars

📍 What is CHAPEA?
✅ CHAPEA = Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog
✅ It’s a series of year-long simulation missions designed to mimic life on Mars
✅ Second CHAPEA mission will begin in late 2025 with 4 crew members

📍 Habitat Details
✅ Located at NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston
✅ 1,700 sq. ft. 3D-printed habitat, built to replicate Martian conditions
✅ Includes separate zones for living & working
✅ Designed for long-duration exploration-class missions

📍 Mission Objectives
✅ Simulate spacewalks & surface operations
✅ Study crew health, performance, & behavior under Mars-like isolation
✅ Data to support planning for future human missions to Mars

📍 Why It Matters
✅ Helps NASA understand how astronauts can live & work on Mars for a year
✅ Builds tech & insights for sustainable interplanetary missions

#GS3
#prelims
#science_technology
#science_and_technology

Join @PIB_UPSC
@upsc_science_and_technology

🔆 About Hadean Protocrust

📍 What is it?
✅ The Hadean protocrust refers to Earth’s earliest outer crust layer, formed during the Hadean aeon (~4.0–4.6 billion years ago).
✅ The term “Hadean” is derived from Hades, Greek god of the underworld — indicating a hellish early Earth.

📍 Geological Conditions in Hadean Aeon
✅ Earth’s surface was partially molten, hit by intense meteor showers and volcanic eruptions.
✅ As the magma ocean cooled, pieces of crust began to form.
✅ These early crusts became proto-continents, floating over the asthenospheric mantle (~400 km deep).

📍 Plate Activity Begins
✅ Continental plates began sliding, colliding, and subducting — processes that left chemical signatures in the crust.
✅ These signatures are crucial in tracing the origins of plate tectonics.

📍 🧪 New Study: A Paradigm Shift
✅ A recent study shows chemical signs of tectonics existed even before active subduction began.
✅ Implies that the continental crust began forming much earlier than previously believed — already present in Hadean protocrust.

#PlateTectonics #geography

🔆 How Earthquakes Cause Tsunamis

📍 Why in Focus?
A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami waves as high as 16 feet. This highlights the critical connection between earthquakes and tsunamis.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Tsunami Definition: A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves triggered by a sudden movement of water, often caused by an earthquake.
✅ Causes of Tsunami: Most tsunamis occur from underwater earthquakes or those near the coast that displace a large volume of water.
✅ Earthquake Depth: Shallow quakes (0-70 km deep) are more likely to cause tsunamis because they push the sea floor upward, displacing water.
✅ Tectonic Plate Movements: Earthquakes in subduction zones (plates moving under each other) cause vertical shifts in the sea floor, generating tsunami waves.
✅ Magnitude’s Role: Earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher usually cause tsunamis. Stronger quakes (above 8.0) create more powerful waves.

📍 Challenges / Issues / Implications:
✅ Coastal Vulnerability: Regions near tectonic plate boundaries like the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench are at high risk for tsunami-causing earthquakes.
✅ Early Warning Systems: Need for improved tsunami early warning systems to prevent loss of life and property.

✅ Prelims Question (MCQ style):
Q. What type of earthquake is most likely to cause a tsunami?
A) Deep earthquakes (below 70 km)
B) Shallow earthquakes (0 to 70 km)
C) Earthquakes with horizontal movement
D) Earthquakes with low magnitude
Ans: B

✅ Mains Question:
Q. Discuss the relationship between earthquakes and tsunamis, and how the magnitude, depth, and type of earthquake influence the formation of tsunami waves.

✨ #EarthquakeTsunami #TectonicPlates #Geography #mains #prelims

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Upsc EPFO

https://www.tgoop.com/upscepfo_2025/131

🔆 Return of Urjit Patel: India’s Voice in the IMF

📍 Why in Focus?
Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed as Executive Director at IMF, marking a major return to global policy platforms.

📍 Key Highlights
✅ Patel, an Oxford & Yale alumnus, became RBI Governor in 2016; known for his low-profile yet firm style.
✅ Oversaw demonetisation (2016) & defended RBI’s independence, strengthening inflation-targeting and banking reforms.
✅ Resigned in 2018 citing differences with government over RBI autonomy, surplus transfer, and regulation.
✅ Authored Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver (2020), critical of weak insolvency reforms.
✅ At IMF, Patel will represent India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Bhutan — giving India a stronger voice in global financial governance.

📍 Challenges / Issues
✅ Balancing India’s domestic policy priorities with IMF’s structural prescriptions.
✅ Navigating global debates on subsidy policies, fiscal prudence & energy transitions.
✅ Maintaining RBI-style autonomy in multilateral settings.

✅ Prelims Question:
Urjit Patel, recently in news, has been appointed as Executive Director at:
A. World Bank
B. International Monetary Fund
C. Asian Development Bank
D. BRICS Bank
Ans: B

✅ Mains Question:
“Discuss the significance of India’s representation in global financial institutions like the IMF. How can such positions help safeguard India’s economic and strategic interests?” (150 words)

✨ #IMF #UrjitPatel #EconomicGovernance