UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 2 October 2025

Biomedical Research Career Programme Phase III

October 2, 2025

Biomedical Research Career Programme Phase III Latest News

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), Phase-III.

About Biomedical Research Career Programme Phase III

It will nurture top-tier scientific talent for cutting-edge biomedical research and promote interdisciplinary research for translational innovation.
It is being implemented in partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust (WT), United Kingdom and the SPV, India Alliance
Time Period: Between 2025-26 and 2030-31 with an additional six-year support period until 2037-38.
Funding: It will have a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore, of which DBT will contribute ₹1,000 crore and the Wellcome Trust ₹500 crore.
In Phase-III, the following programmes are proposed to be implemented:
- Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships in basic, clinical and public health: These are globally recognized and tailored for the formative stages of a scientist's research career.
- Collaborative Grants Programme: These include Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for 2-3 Investigator teams for early and mid-senior career researchers respectively with strong research track record in India.
- Phase III will also focus on strengthening mentorship, networking, public engagement, and developing new and innovative national and international partnerships.

What is the Biomedical Research Career Programme” (BRCP) ?

It was first launched in in 2008-2009 through the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (India Alliance), a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
It offered research fellowships, based in India, for biomedical research at the world class standards.
Subsequently, Phase II was implemented in 2018/19 with an expanded portfolio.

Source: PIB

Biomedical Research Career Programme Phase III FAQs

Q1: What is the funding agency for BRCP Phase III?

Ans: Department of Biotechnology and Wellcome Trust India Alliance.

Q2: What is the primary objective of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) Phase III?

Ans: To foster a career path for clinician-scientists in biomedical research.

Payments Regulatory Board

October 2, 2025

Payments Regulatory Board Latest News

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a six-member Payments Regulatory Board (PRB).

About Payments Regulatory Board

It derives its authority from the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
It replaces the Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS), a committee of the RBI’s Central Board.
Composition of Payments Regulatory Board
- Ex officio Chairperson: RBI Governor
- Ex officio members: Deputy Governor and the Executive Director in charge of Payment and Settlement Systems.
- Government nominees: Central government nominates 3 members to the board.
- The principal legal adviser of the RBI is a permanent invitee to the meetings of the board.
The PRB will be supported by the RBI’s Department of Payment and Settlement Systems (DPSS), which will report directly to the PRB.
Decision Making: Decisions by a majority of members present and voting. In the event of a tie, the chairperson — or in his absence, the deputy governor will have a second or casting vote.
The Board is required to meet at least twice a year.
Function of PRB: It is responsible for the regulation and supervision of all payment systems including electronic and non-electronic, domestic and cross-border systems.

Source: IE

Payments Regulatory Board FAQs

Q1: What is the primary purpose of the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB)?

Ans: The PRB aims to ensure the stability and efficiency of payment systems, promote innovation, and protect consumer interests

Q2: How often does the Payments Regulatory Board meet?

Ans: At least twice a year.

Fatah-4 Missile

October 2, 2025

Fatah-4 Missile Latest News

Pakistan recently announced the successful test of its new long-range cruise missile, Fatah-IV.

About Fatah-4 Missile

It is Pakistan’s indigenously developed long-range cruise missile.
It has a range of 750 kilometers (470 miles) and is equipped with advanced avionics and modern navigation systems.
It can reach speeds of Mach 0.7 (865 kmph) during flight.
Weighing around 1,530 kilos, the missile is around 7.5 metres in length.
The missile can be fired from transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicles.
It uses solid-propellant propulsion, which allows it to be readied for launch and fired quickly.
It can carry a warhead weighing around 330 kilos. It is made to carry conventional munitions and not nuclear warheads.
The missile is guided by a navigation suite comprising global positioning system (GPS) and an inertial navigating system (INS).
It is said to use electronic countermeasures and AI to lock on to targets in difficult environments.
The most significant feature of the Fatah-4 missile is its circular error probability (CEP).
- The Fatah-4 can hit its target with an error of just 4 meters, which is considered very low for Pakistani missiles.
It is capable of evading enemy air defences through terrain-hugging flight.

Source: N18

Fatah-4 Missile FAQs

Q1: The Fatah-4 missile, recently in the news, belongs to which country?

Ans: Pakistan

Q2: What is the range of the Fatah-4 missile?

Ans: It has a range of 750 kilometers (470 miles).

Q3: What type of propulsion system does the Fatah-4 missile use?

Ans: It uses solid-propellant propulsion.

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

October 2, 2025

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Goa’s State Board for Wildlife recently recommended that the proposal for wildlife clearance for iron ore handling at Kalem railway station in Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park be placed before the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for their “consideration”.

About Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary

It is located on the eastern border of the state of Goa, near the village of Mollem.
Set amidst the foothills of the Western Ghats, it covers an area of 240 sq. km, out of which 170 sq.km. is dedicated to the Mollem National Park built at the core of the sanctuary.
Originally known as the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and then renamed the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is also home to the famous Dudhsagar waterfall, the Devil’s Canyon, the Tambdi Surla temple, the Tambdi falls, and a number of other historic and religious sites.
Vegetation: West Coast tropical evergreen forests, West Coast semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests.
Flora: Teak, bamboo, cashew, and eucalyptus trees dominate the landscape.
Fauna:
- The sanctuary is particularly known for its Leopards, Elephants, Deers & Gaur, or Indian Bison.
- The chief attraction of the sanctuary is the King Cobra, which is found here in abundance.
- It is home to around 200 species of various types of birds, like the Malabar pied hornbill, Indian black woodpecker, great Indian hornbill, kingfishers, paradise flycatcher, shrikes, grey jungle fowl, etc.

Source: IE

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: The Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which Indian state?

Ans: Goa

Q2: Which famous waterfall is located inside the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: Dudhsagar Falls

Q3: What is the total area of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: It covers an area of 240 sq. km.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty

October 2, 2025

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Latest News

Recently, the central government invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Singapore over the singer's death.

About Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty

It is a mechanism whereby countries cooperate with one another in order to provide and obtain formal assistance in prevention, suppression, investigation and prosecution of crime.
It aims to ensure that the criminals do not escape or sabotage the due process of law for want of evidence available in different countries.
India provides mutual legal assistance in criminal matters through Bilateral Treaties/Agreements, Multilateral Treaties/Agreements or International Conventions or on the basis of assurance of reciprocity.
The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) in criminal matters are the bilateral treaties entered between the countries for providing international cooperation and assistance.
India has entered into Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with more than 45 countries.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Common forms of assistance provided to or sought by India are as follows:
- Identifying and locating persons and objects;
- Taking evidence and obtaining statements; assisting in the availability of person in custody or others to give evidence or assist in investigations or appear as a witness;
- Effecting service of judicial documents;
- Executing searches and seizures;
- Providing information, documents, records and other evidentiary items;
- Taking measures to identify, locate, attach, freeze, restrain, confiscate or forfeit the proceeds and [7]instrumentalities of crime;

Source: TH

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty FAQs

Q1: What is the primary purpose of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)?

Ans: To provide a framework for exchanging information and evidence in criminal investigations.

Q2: What type of assistance can countries request under an MLAT?

Ans: Various forms of assistance, including taking evidence, serving documents, and executing searches and seizures.

Niger River

October 2, 2025

Niger River Latest News

An accident involving a boat carrying passengers on the Niger River in north-central Nigeria has killed at least 26 people recently.

About Niger River

It is the principal river of western Africa.
With a length of 4,200 km, it is the third longest river in Africa, after the Nile and the Congo.
In West Africa, it’s the longest and largest river and is nicknamed the “Boomerang River” due to its serpentine shape.
Course:
- It takes one of the most unusual routes of any major river.
- It rises in Guinea, just 240 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, but the river runs away from the sea into the Sahara Desert.
- It then takes a sharp right turn near Mali’s Timbuktu city.
- It flows through Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Niger Delta.
Niger Delta:
- It is located in southern Nigeria, where the Niger River meets the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea).
- It is the largest river delta in Africa and features the fifth largest mangrove forest on Earth.
The Niger passes through virtually all of the vegetational zones of western Africa, including grasslands, rainforests, and swamps.
The Niger River Basin covers 7.5 percent of the African continent, and its main tributary is the Benue River.
The northern part of the river, known as the Niger Bend, is an important area because it is the closest major river and source of water to the Sahara desert.
The Niger Valley is sparsely settled. The largest cities are Bamako in Mali, Niamey in Niger, and Onitsha in Nigeria.

Source: HT

Niger River FAQs

Q1: In which country does the Niger River originate?

Ans: It rises in Guinea.

Q2: What is the total length of Niger River?

Ans: 4,200 k

Q3: Which river is the main tributary of the Niger River?

Ans: Benue River

Q4: Name three cities situated along the Niger River?

Ans: The largest cities are Bamako in Mali, Niamey in Niger, and Onitsha in Nigeria.