UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 28 July 2025

Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana

July 28, 2025

Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana Latest News

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) recently launched ‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana’, a scheme to strengthen legal aid for defence personnel and their families.

About Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana

It is a joint initiative of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs), and Zilla Sainik Boards (ZSBs), under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.
Objective: Providing free and competent legal services to defence personnel, ex-servicemen, and their families.
It will be implemented through a nationwide network of Legal Services Clinics established across Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards in all states and union territories.
These clinics will operate in close collaboration with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, and respective Directorates of Sainik Welfare.
The scheme is especially relevant for personnel posted in remote locations who often find it difficult to appear in court or follow up on legal matters involving family property, land disputes, or domestic issues.
Through this initiative, NALSA will facilitate proper legal representation in such cases across the country.
Panel lawyers and paralegal volunteers of the legal services authority will provide free legal aid to soldiers.
The support will also extend to paramilitary personnel, including those from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and others who serve in similarly isolated and high-risk conditions.

Source: IE

Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana FAQs

Q1: Which organization is implementing the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana?

Ans: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Q2: What is the primary objective of the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana?

Ans: Providing free and competent legal services to defence personnel, ex-servicemen, and their families.

Q3: Through which network will the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana be implemented?

Ans: Nationwide network of Legal Services Clinics established across Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards in all states and union territories.

Exercise Drone Prahar

July 28, 2025

Exercise Drone Prahar Latest News

The Indian Army recently held Exercise Drone Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Drone Prahar

It is a high-tech military drill conducted by the Indian Army to validate the integration of drone technology into tactical battlefield operations.
It was conducted at the military station at Rayang in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang District.
Carried out under realistic operational conditions, the exercise demonstrated the effective use of drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as real-time sensor-to-shooter coordination and precision targeting.
The aim was to enhance command reach and improve situational awareness for tactical commanders by employing layered surveillance and supporting dynamic decision-making on the ground.
The exercise also evaluated critical aspects necessary for seamless drone integration in battlefield scenarios.
This included testing of airspace deconfliction, ensuring secure communication channels, and establishing coordination protocols among various arms and services.

Source: ET

Exercise Drone Prahar FAQs

Q1: Which organisation conducted Exercise Drone Prahar?

Ans: Indian Army

Q2: What is the main purpose of Exercise Drone Prahar?

Ans: Validating drone technology for battlefield operations.

Q3: Where was Exercise Drone Prahar conducted?

Ans: It was conducted at the military station at Rayang in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang District.

System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) (SPARSH)

July 28, 2025

System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) Latest News

Many ex-servicemen say the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) has only added to their troubles — from inaccessible interfaces to endless corrections that never seem to stick.

About System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA)

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Objective: Meeting the pension sanction and disbursement requirements for Armed Forces viz. Army, Navy, Air Force and Defence Civilians.
It is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj and shall cater to all the three Services and allied organisations.
Without relying on a third-party intermediary, this web-based system handles pension claims, and deposits pension payments into the bank accounts of defence pensioners.
It is a centralized sanction, claim and pension disbursement system with easy validation and rectification of data through self-verification.
It uses a digital process for pensioner identification, removing the requirement of multiple visits by pensioners to the pension offices.
The defence pensioner will be given a completely transparent view of his pension account through this platform.
It will capture and maintain a complete history of events and entitlements the pensioner right from the date of commencement of pension to the date of cessation of pension due to his/her last eligible beneficiary.
The system would cater to all activities of the pension cycle namely
- Initiation and Sanction
- Disbursement
- Revision
- Service and Grievance Request Management.

Source: IE

System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) FAQs

Q1: System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) (SPARSH) is an initiative of which Ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Defence

Q2: What is the objective of the System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) (SPARSH)?

Ans: Administering pension sanction and disbursement for defence personnel.

Q3: System for Pension Administration (RAKSHA) (SPARSH) is administered by which body?

Ans: It is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj.

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025

July 28, 2025

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 Latest News

The 14th edition of the Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025, is set to commence at Jodhpur and will continue till 04 August 2025.

About Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025

It is a joint military exercise conducted between India and Singapore.
It was first conducted in 2005, this exercise underscores the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both countries and enhances cooperation between the two armies.
The exercise will witness the participation of the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
The exercise will be conducted as a Table Top Exercise and Computer-Based Wargame, aimed at validating operational procedures for mechanised warfare.
Objective: The objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and joint training capabilities of both armies under United Nations mandate, thereby strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
Both defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, courses and other professional exchanges.
Significance: Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 will further consolidate the strong defence ties between India and Singapore and foster greater mutual understanding and collaboration at both tactical and strategic levels.

Source: PIB

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 FAQs

Q1: What is the bold Kurukshetra military exercise?

Ans: It is a bilateral military exercise between India and the Singapore army.

Q2: What is Tabletop Exercise?

Ans: A tabletop exercise is a form of cyber defense training in which teams walk through simulated cyberattack scenarios in a structured, discussion-based setting.

New Wasp Species

July 28, 2025

New Wasp Species Latest News

Recently, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have announced the discovery of four new species of spider-egg parasitic wasps, all from the State of West Bengal.

About New Wasp Species

The new species of parasitoid wasps belong to the genus Idris (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae).
These tiny wasps — Idris bianor, Idris furvus, Idris hyllus, and Idris longiscapus — were collected from agroecosystems and semi-natural habitats across West Bengal.

Features of New Wasps

These extremely small microscopic wasps belong to the genus Idris Förster and are known for laying their eggs inside spider egg sacs.
These are primary egg parasitoids of jumping spiders (Salticidae).
They exhibit an interesting behaviour pattern, the scientists noted that instead of just one wasp growing inside each spider egg sac, many baby wasps grow together and are called “gregarious parasitism”.
Significance of wasps: Parasitoid wasps like Idris play a key role in regulating spider populations and maintaining arthropod community balance.

Key Facts about Parasitism

It is a relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing the host organism.
In parasitism only one species benefits (parasite and predator, respectively) and the interaction is detrimental to the other species (host and prey, respectively).
Predation, parasitism and commensalism share a common characteristic– the interacting species live closely together.
Brood parasitism in birds is a fascinating example of parasitism in which the parasitic bird lays its eggs in the nest of its host and lets the host incubate them.

Source: TH

New Wasp Species FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between parasites and parasitoids?

Ans: A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense, resulting in the death of the host. A parasitoid is an insect whose larvae live as parasites that eventually kill their hosts (typically other insects).

Q2: Where is the Zoological Survey of India situated?

Ans: Kolkata

TRACERS Mission

July 28, 2025

TRACERS Mission Latest News

Recently, NASA’s twin TRACERS satellite was launched to study magnetic reconnection and how solar activity affects near-Earth atmosphere.

About TRACERS Mission

The Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) will help understand magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere.
It will fly in low Earth orbit through the polar cusps, funnel-shaped holes in the magnetic field, to study magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth's atmosphere.
This twin satellite system is set to study the constant stream of solar wind and charged particles flowing from the Sun, which interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield, also known as the magnetosphere.
Significance: The data gathered from TRACERS will help scientists improve space weather forecasting and better protect critical technology here on Earth.

What is Magnetic Reconnection?

When the solar wind hits this magnetic field, it can lead to magnetic reconnection, which also releases a huge amount of energy.
As the solar wind collides with Earth’s magnetic field, this interaction builds up energy that can cause the magnetic field lines to snap and explosively fling away nearby particles at high speeds.
These reconnection events can cause beautiful light shows like auroras, but also cause problems for satellites, astronauts, and GPS systems.
Over the first year alone, the mission is expected to get information on more than 3,000 such reconnection events.
The twin satellites will do this while orbiting through Earth’s polar cusp region, funnel-like openings in the magnetic field where the solar wind has a direct path into our atmosphere.

Source: Nasa

TRACERS Mission FAQs

Q1: What is the mission of NASA's TRACERS?

Ans: NASA's TRACERS mission will help researchers understand magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth's atmosphere.

Q2: What is the definition of a magnetic field?

Ans: A magnetic field is a physical field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials.

Barents Sea

July 28, 2025

Barents Sea Latest News

Russia recently rolled its Bastion coastal defence missile launchers onto the bleak shoreline of the Barents Sea, a dramatic opening move in the navy‑wide exercise codenamed “July Storm.”

About Barents Sea

It is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean located along the northern coasts of Norway and Russia.
It covers an area of 1.4 million sq.km.
It was named for Willem Barents, a 16th-century Dutch navigator who explored it while searching for a northeast passage to Asia.
The sea was known to Vikings and medieval Russians as the Murmean Sea.
Boundaries:
- It is bounded by the Svalbard archipelago in the northwest, the Franz Josef Land islands in the northeast, the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the east, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea in the west, and by the Kola Peninsula in the south.
- It is separated from the Kara Sea by the Kara Strait and the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.
- The White Sea and the Pechora Sea are two parts of the Barents Sea.
- The White Sea is a southern arm of the Barents Sea, which separates the Kola Peninsula from the Russian mainland.
- The Pechora Sea is situated in the southeastern part of the Barents Sea.
The maximum width of the Barents Sea is 1,050 km, and it is about 1,300 km in length.
It covers a relatively shallow continental shelf fringing the Eurasian landmass.
It has an estimated average depth of 230 m.
The climate of the sea is subarctic.
The waters of the Barents Sea have a high salinity of 34 parts per 1,000.
The Gulf Stream keeps the Barents Sea and its adjoining coasts significantly warmer than other sub-Arctic regions.
It has a rich biological diversity, including some of the world’s most numerous colonies of seabirds such as puffins and guillemots, rich seafloor communities with kelp forests, numerous deepwater coral reefs, and a unique variety of marine mammals such as walrus, bowhead whales, and polar bears.

Source: ET

Barents Sea FAQs

Q1: The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of which ocean?

Ans: Arctic Ocean

Q2: The Barents Sea is located along the northern coasts of which two countries?

Ans: Norway and Russia

Q3: What was the Barents Sea known as to the Vikings and medieval Russians?

Ans: Murmean Sea

Q4: What keeps the Barents Sea warmer than other sub-Arctic regions?

Ans: Gulf Stream

World Food India

July 28, 2025

World Food India Latest News

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries will organise the 4th edition of World Food India 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 25th of September this year.

About World Food India

The first edition was held in 2017, followed by a successful second edition in 2023 and the third in 2024.
It is a gateway to the Indian food economy and an opportunity to showcase, connect, and collaborate.
It is organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India,
It is the largest gathering of investors, manufacturers, producers, food processors, policy makers, and organizations from the global food ecosystem.
It aims to provide opportunities for both investment and trade in the food processing sector for leading Indian and international companies.
WFI serves as a premier platform for stakeholders from across the world to connect, collaborate, and explore opportunities in India's dynamic food processing landscape. Building on the remarkable success of previous editions,
Theme of WFI 2025: “Processing for Prosperity”
The food processing sector is a priority under the Make in India initiative, with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries implementing schemes to attract investment and develop infrastructure.
Mega Food Parks with essential utilities and common processing facilities are being established in agriculturally rich areas, offering a plug-and-play model for entrepreneurs.

Source: News On Air

World Food India FAQs

Q1: What is world food India?

Ans: World Food India serves as a premier gateway to India's thriving food economy, uniting key players across processing, packaging, logistics, and technology under one platform.

Q2: Which Ministry hosted world food India?

Ans: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI), Government of India

Deep-Brain Stimulation

July 28, 2025

Deep-Brain Stimulation Latest News

More than 1.6 lakh people worldwide have received Deep-brain stimulation (DBS).

About Deep-Brain Stimulation

It is a medical technique where doctors implant electrodes deep inside specific areas of the brain to treat certain disorders.
How does it work?
- These electrodes are connected by wires to a small device, similar to a heart’s pacemaker, which is usually placed under the skin in the upper chest.
- The device sends controlled, mild electrical impulses to targeted brain regions, helping adjust abnormal brain activity or chemical imbalances.

Application of Deep-Brain Stimulation

DBS is most commonly used for movement disorders, especially in people with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, whose symptoms no longer respond well to medication.
It has also been approved for some psychiatric conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, and is being studied for severe depression and epilepsy.
DBS works by modifying how groups of neurons talk to each other. Many of these disorders involve faulty electrical signals in the brain.
Delivering electrical pulses through DBS can interrupt these erratic signals, helping reduce symptoms such as tremors or muscle stiffness.

Advantages of Deep-Brain Stimulation

One advantage of DBS is that, unlike brain surgery that destroys tissue, its effects are reversible: if you turn off the device, the stimulation stops.
It is believed to help normalise disrupted brain circuits at both the cellular and network levels.

Source: TH

Deep-Brain Stimulation FAQs

Q1: What is Deep Brain Stimulation?

Ans: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that uses implanted electrodes and electrical stimulation to treat movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Q2: What is Neurocysticercosis?

Ans: Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic infection of the central nervous system and is caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Humans become infected after consuming undercooked food, particularly pork, or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs, or through poor hygiene practices.

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)

July 28, 2025

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team Latest News

In a first, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) recently made it mandatory for private and public-sector organisations that own or operate digital systems, processes, or infrastructure to undergo a comprehensive third-party cybersecurity audit at least once a year.

About Indian Computer Emergency Response Team

It is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur.
It is a functional organisation of the Ministry of Information & Electronics Technology, Government of India.
Objective: Securing Indian cyberspace.
The constituency of CERT-In is the Indian cyber community and Indian cyberspace.
CERT-In has been designated under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:
- Collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
- Forecasts and alerts of cybersecurity incidents.
- Emergency measures for handling cybersecurity incidents.
- Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
- Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes, and white papers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response, and reporting of cyber incidents.
- Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed.
To perform these functions, CERT-In is empowered to call for information and issue directions to service providers, intermediaries, data centres, body corporates, and any other person.
CERT-In provides services to organizations in the Government, Public, and Private sectors. In addition, CERT-In provides services to individuals and home users as well.
CERT-In collaborates with international counterparts to share information regarding emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and malware.
Disclosure of information will be followed in accordance with Indian Constitutional laws.

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team Key Projects

Cyber Swachhta Kendra (www.csk.gov.in)
National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing Platform
Cyber Abhyas Suvidha (CAS) Advanced Skill Development Platform

Source: BS

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team FAQs

Q1: What is the primary objective of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)?

Ans: Securing Indian cyberspace.

Q2: CERT-In operates under which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Q3: What is the constituency of CERT-In?

Ans: The constituency of CERT-In is the Indian cyber community and Indian cyberspace.