BrahMos NG Latest News

The next-generation BrahMos missile, known as BrahMos NG, is approaching its first flight test, slated for 2026, with production set to commence in 2027-28.

About BrahMos NG

• It is an advanced supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India-Russia.
• Features:
  • It is a sleeker missile with the same capabilities as its predecessor.
  • It is lighter, smaller and compact, due to its reduced size, the next-generation missile system will be able to fit on a wider array of platforms.
  • These include the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft and India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, both of which will now be capable of deploying the BrahMos NG.
  • It weighs 1.6 tonnes and is 6 metres long while the older version weighed 3 tonnes and was 9 metres long.
  • Range and Speed: The missile has a range of 290 km and a speed of up to 3.5 Mach.
  • It will have a lesser radar cross-section in comparison to the previous version.
  • It will have a homemade seeker with an AESA radar which will enhance its precision and stealth capabilities.

BrahMos NG FAQs

Q1: What is the speed of BrahMos Ng?

Ans: 3.5 Mach

Q2: What is the BrahMos missile UPSC?

Ans: BrahMos is a long-range nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missile system. It possesses the capability to be deployed from several platforms, including air, sea, and land.

Q3: Who is the father of BrahMos?

Ans: Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai

Source: NIE

J. C. Bose Grant Latest News

Recently, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced the launch of the new scheme J. C. Bose Grant (JBG).

About J. C. Bose Grant

• It is a restructured form of the J. C. Bose Fellowship running under the erstwhile Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
• It recognizes the outstanding performance and contributions of senior Indian scientists and engineers through this extra-mural funding opportunities to enhance their research in cutting-edge scientific and technological areas.
• It is designed to support senior-level researchers who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, with evidence of excellence such as publications records and research outcomes, patents, technology transfers, awards, and grants etc. across various domains of science and technology (S&T) including agriculture, medicine, as well as humanities and social sciences at the interfaces of S&T.

Eligibility for J. C. Bose Grant 

• Participants must be active, senior Indian scientists or researchers with a proven track record of excellence, holding at least a Professor-level position or equivalent at an Indian institution/university.

Selection for J. C. Bose Grant

• The process of selection for J. C. Bose grants will be conducted once a year by a Search-cum-Selection Committee specially constituted for the purpose and as per the broad guidelines of the grant.

Grants for J. C. Bose Grant

• This grant provides an annual research funding of Rs. 25 lakhs for a duration of five years.
• Additionally, an annual overhead of Rs. 1.0 lakh will be provided to the implementing institution.
• If the Principal Investigator (PI) superannuates, during the term of the grants, it can be continued subject to the host institutions willingness to host the PI. The grant can be availed until the age of 68.

Key facts about the Anusandhan National Research Foundation

• It is an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation.
• It will support capacity building at all levels to strengthen the research ecosystem of the country.

J. C. Bose Grant FAQs

Q1:What are the contributions of Jagadish Chandra Bose?

Ans: He was an Indian scientist who made significant contributions to many areas of science. He is well known for his work on the wireless transmission of information using microwaves.

Q2: What is the amount of J C Bose fellowship?

Ans: The fellowship amount is Rs. 25,000 per month in addition to regular income. Research grant of Rs. 25.00 lakh per annum.

Source: PI

Article 356 of the Indian Constitution Latest News

Four days after the Manipur Chief Minister resigned, President’s Rule was imposed in the northeastern State that has been affected by ethnic violence for the past two years.

About Article 356

• Article 356 of the Indian Constitution pertains to the imposition of President’s rule over a certain state or Union territory.
• It is derived from the Government of India Act of 1935.
• This is of two types:
  • If the President receives a report from the state's Governor or is otherwise convinced or satisfied that the state's situation is such that the state government cannot carry on the governance according to the provisions of the Constitution.
  • Article 365: As per this Article, President's Rule can be imposed if any state fails to comply with all directions given by the Union on matters it is empowered to.
• In simple words, the President's Rule is when the state government is suspended and the central government directly administers the state through the office of the governor (centrally appointed).
• It is also called a State Emergency or Constitutional Emergency.
• Parliamentary approval is necessary for the imposition of President's Rule in any state.
  • The proclamation of President's Rule should be approved in both Houses of Parliament within two months of its issue. The approval is by a simple majority.
• The President's Rule is initially valid for six months. It can be extended up to three years with parliamentary approval every six months.
• The 44th Amendment to the Constitution (1978) brought in some constraints on the imposition of the President's Rule beyond a period of one year. It says that President's Rule cannot be extended beyond one year unless:
  • There is a national emergency in India.
  • The Election Commission of India certifies that it is necessary to continue the President's Rule in the state because of difficulties in conducting assembly elections in the state.
• What happens after the President's Rule is imposed?
  • The President takes up the functions of the state government, the Governor and any other executive authority in the state.
  • The state will be administered by the Governor on behalf of the President. 
  • The Governor will also take the help of the chief secretary of the state or advisors appointed by the President.
  • The powers of the state legislature are also assumed by the President by either suspending or dissolving it. 
  • The Parliament passes the state bills and budget when the legislative assembly is suspended or dissolved under the President's rule.
  • The Parliament delegates law-making powers to the Presidentor any other authority specified by he/she in this regard.
  • The President or a delegated authority makes laws and also imposes a duty upon the Centre, its officers and its authorities.
  • The President can sanction funds for expenditure from the State Consolidated Fund and also pass ordinances, subject to Parliament's approval. 
  • These powers can also be exercised when the Lok Sabha is not in session, subject to sanction by Parliament.
  • A law or rule made for the state during this time continues to remain in force even after the end of the President's rule. It can be repealed, amended, or re-enacted by the new state legislature.
  • The imposition of the President's rule does not affect the fundamental rights of citizens, unlike the National Emergency.
• Revocation of the President's Rule:
  • President's Rule can be revoked anytime after such a proclamation has been made by a subsequent proclamation by the President. 
  • A proclamation of revocation does not require approval by Parliament. 

Article 356 of the Indian Constitution FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between article 352 and Article 356?

Ans. Article 352 deals with Proclamation of Emergency due to war, external aggression, or armed rebellion, while Article 356 deals with President's Rule in a state when the constitutional machinery fails at the state level.

Q2. What is the case law of Article 356?

Ans. The key case law related to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution is the S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) case, which is a landmark judgment.

Q3. What is the difference between Article 356 and 365?

Ans. Article 356 deals with the imposition of the President's Rule in a state due to failure of constitutional machinery, while Article 365 allows the President to intervene if a state fails to comply with directives from the central government.

Source: TH

Climate Risk Index Latest News

According to a new Climate Risk Index report, India ranks sixth among the top 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events over the last three decades from 1993-2023.

About Climate Risk Index

• It has been published since 2006.
• It is one of the longest running annual climate impact-related indices.
• The CRI analyses climate-related extreme weather events’ degree of effect on countries. It measures the consequences of realised risks on countries.
• This backward-looking index ranks countries by their economic and human impacts (fatalities as well as affected, injured, and homeless) with the most affected country ranked highest.
• The findings of the report are based on extreme weather event data from the International Disaster Database (Em-dat) and socio-economic data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• It is published by Germanwatch, an independent development, environmental, and human rights organisation based in Bonn and Berlin.

Highlights of the Climate Risk Index 

• India was among the 10 countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022, accounting for 10% of global fatalities caused by such events, and 4.3% of the damage (in dollar terms).
• It was ranked sixth in the Climate Risk Index, 2025, highlighting its vulnerability to the climate crisis
• Dominica, China, Honduras, Myanmar, and Italy are ranked ahead of India.
• India faced more than 400 extreme events, causing $ 180 billion in losses, and at least 80,000 fatalities.
• India was affected by floods, heatwaves, and cyclones during the period. It experienced devastating floods in 1993, 1998, and 2013, along with severe heatwaves in 2002, 2003, and 2015.

Climate Risk Index FAQs

Q1: What is the rank of India in global climate risk index 2025?

Ans: Sixth

Q2: What is the climate risk index?

Ans: The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) is available at global level (more than 150 countries), and is recognized as one of the indices for monitoring environmental risks and climate resilience

Q3: Who publishes the climate risk index?

Ans: : Germanwatch

Source: DTH

PARAS-2 Spectrograph Latest News

Recently, scientists at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) discovered a new dense sub Saturn exoplanet TOI-6038A b by using PARAS-2 Spectrograph at Mt Abu Telescope.

About PARAS-2 Spectrograph

• The PRL Advanced Radial-velocity All-sky Search-2 (PARAS-2) is a cutting-edge fiber-fed spectrograph integrated with the PRL 2.5m telescope, constituting a significant advancement over its predecessor. 
• It is a state-of-the-art high-resolution spectrograph that operates in 380-690 nm wave-band. It is aimed to unveil the super-Earth-like worlds.
• It was conceived with the primary objective of achieving sub-m/s precision in radial velocity (RV), a crucial capability for the detection and characterization of super-Earths or massive planets orbiting G and K dwarf stars.
• It is the highest-resolution spectrograph in Asia which is under an ultra-stable temperature and pressure environment.

What is Exoplanet?

• These are planets that orbit other stars and are beyond our solar system.
• Exoplanets come in a host of different sizes. They can be gas giants bigger than Jupiter or as small and rocky as Earth. 
• They are also known to have different kinds of temperatures; boiling to cold.
  • The recently discovered sub Saturn exoplanet TOI-6038A b lies in the transition region between Neptune-like and gas giant exoplanets, called as “Sub-Saturn,” a category absent in our solar system, providing a unique opportunity to study planetary formation and evolution.

PARAS-2 Spectrograph FAQs

Q1: What is a spectrograph used for?

Ans: A spectrograph is an instrument used to separate and measure the wavelengths present in Electromagnetic radiation and to measure the relative amounts of radiation at each wavelength.

Q2: What is the difference between a spectrometer and a spectrograph?

Ans: The two devices do basically the same job but using different technology. A spectrometer generates a spectrum by measuring the intensity of incoming light at a range of wavelengths in step by step increments. A spectrograph generates a spectrum in one go.

Q3: Who discovered the spectrograph?

Ans: William Hyde Wollaston

Source: ISRO

Sudan Virus Disease Latest News

Recently, the Ugandan government and the World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of Sudan virus disease.

About Sudan Virus Disease

• It is a viral hemorrhagic fever disease, belonging to the same family as Ebola virus disease.
• It was first identified in southern Sudan in June 1976.
• It is caused by Sudan virus (SUDV). SUDV is enzootic and present in animal reservoirs in the region.
• It is a severe disease with high case fatality.

Symptoms of Sudan Virus Disease

• It is typically characterized by acute onset of fever with non-specific symptoms/signs (e.g., abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, sore throat) usually followed several days later by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and occasionally a variable rash. Hiccups may occur. 
• Severe illness may include hemorrhagic manifestations (e.g., bleeding from puncture sites, ecchymoses, petechiae, visceral effusions), encephalopathy, shock/hypotension, multi-organ failure

Transmission of Sudan Virus Disease

Person-to-person transmission occurs by direct contact with blood, other bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces and materials with risk beginning at the onset of clinical signs and increasing with disease severity.

Treatment for Sudan Virus Disease

There are no approved treatments or vaccines for Sudan virus, but early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly improve health conditions.

Sudan Virus Disease FAQs

Q1: What are the infectious diseases in Sudan?

Ans: Sudan's conflict has reignited malaria, cholera, and measles outbreaks.

Q2: What causes the Ebola virus?

Ans: Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus.

Q3: What are the symptoms of the Sudan virus?

Ans: Fever, aches and fatigue with potential progression onto diarrhoea, vomiting and unexplained bleeding.

Source: DTH

Ongole Cattle Latest News

A breed of Ongole cattle, named Viatina-19, recently made headlines in Brazil by fetching an astonishing $4.82 million (about 41 crore) at an auction, making it the most expensive cow in the world.

About Ongole Cattle

• It is a famous breed of indigenous cattle from India, native to the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is named after the town of Ongole. The breed is also known as “Nellore” as the Ongole area was earlier in the Nellore district.
• The breed is known for hardiness, disease resistance, and capacity to thrive on scanty resources.
• They are one of the most unique triple-purpose cattle of the tropics, serving well as draught, milk, and meat animals.
• They are very fine and majestic-looking cattle, huge in size, extremely docile, and suitable for steady, heavy draught. 

Ongole Cattle Features

• The breed has a glossy white coat colour. 
• Males possess dark markings on the head, neck, and hump and black points on the knees and pastern. 
• Horns are short and stumpy, growing outward and backward from the outer angles of the poll, thick at the base and firm without cracks. 
• In cows, horns are thinner than bulls. Horns in cows generally extend outward, upward, and inward.

Ongole Cattle FAQs

Q1. What are the characteristics of Ongole cattle?

Ans. Ongole cattles are known for their strength, disease resistance, moderate milk production, and global use in crossbreeding.

Q2. What is the milk yield of Ongole cows?

Ans. The breed produces moderate milk with an average of 798 kg per lactation and with an average fat percentage of 3.79%.

Q3. Which cow gives the highest milk?

Ans. The Holstein Friesian cow holds the record for the highest milk production among all cattle breeds.

Source: ET

Tax Year Concept Latest News

The Income Tax Bill 2025, tabled in Parliament recently, defined a new concept of ‘tax year.

About Tax Year Concept

• Currently, income tax laws use the assessment year to refer to the year following the financial year in which income is earned. 
• This often leads to confusion when filing taxes or depositing self-assessment and advance tax. 
• The new bill proposes a unified 'Tax Year', which will simply refer to the same financial year (April 1–March 31),in which income is earned and tax is filed. 
• Under the new system, the 'Tax Year' will run from April 1 to March 31, replacing the assessment year.
• Benefits of Tax Year:
  • The primary benefit of Tax Year is that this will remove the confusion between Previous Year and Assessment Year.
  • This will also help India fall in line with international standards since many countries follow the concept of a singular tax year.
  • Advance tax computation will also be made easier since taxpayers will be able to refer to the Tax Year alone instead of navigating through Previous Year and Assessment Year.
• An example of how Tax Year will work:
  • According to the Income Tax Act 1961, if a person earns in the year April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025, this time period will be known as the Previous Year and 2025-26 when tax will be assessed for said income; that time period is known as the Assessment Year.
  • In the new draft bill, if a person earns in the year April 1, 2025–March 31, 2026, it will simply be known as Tax Year 2025-26. 

Tax Year Concept FAQs

Q1. What is TDS in income tax?

Ans. TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is a system where tax is deducted at the time of payment for income like salary, rent, or professional fees and deposited with the government to ensure advance tax collection.

Q2. Is GST direct or indirect tax?

Ans. GST, known as the Goods and Services Tax, is an indirect tax.

Q3. What is angel tax?

Ans. Angel Tax is a tax levied on the excess capital raised by a startup when it receives investments from angel investors or other sources at a valuation higher than its fair market value.

Source: NDTVP

Black Seadevil Fish Latest News

Researchers recently recorded the first-ever sighting of an adult abyssal anglerfish, also known as ‘black demon fish’ or ‘black seadevil fish’, in broad daylight.

About Black Seadevil Fish

• The Black Seadevil Fish, also known as abyssal or humpback anglerfish, is a deep-sea fish known for its terrifying appearance and unique hunting adaptations.
• Scientific Name: Melanocetus johnsonii
• It belongs to the anglerfish family (Melanocetidae).
• It is referred to as the black devil due to its dark colours, sinister-looking sharp teeth, and monstrous shape.
• Habitat: It is found in the deep ocean, often at depths exceeding 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). It prefers total darkness and high-pressure environments.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Black Seadevil Fish Features

• It has a huge head, glassy fangs, and a body that can stretch to contain prey larger than the fish itself. 
• It lures other fish towards it with a “fishing rod” with a luminous lure on its nose.
• It has a gelatinous body, which helps it survive under extreme pressure.

Black Seadevil Fish FAQs

Q1. What does black seadevil eat?

Ans. The Black Seadevil Anglerfish is a carnivorous predator that primarily feeds on small fish and invertebrates in the deep ocean. 

Q2. Are Black Sea devils endangered?

Ans. As of now, the Black Seadevil Anglerfish (Melanocetus johnsonii) is not classified as endangered or facing any immediate conservation threat.

Q3. What is an anglerfish?

Ans. An anglerfish is a type of deep-sea fish known for its bioluminescent lure, which it uses to attract prey in the dark depths of the ocean. 

Source: ET

BRICS Grouping Latest News

The US President recently issued a blunt warning to BRICS nations, threatening a 100% tariff on all imports into the United States if they proceed with launching a common currency.

About BRICS Grouping

• BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a bloc of countries that formed a partnership following the creation of the term in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill (but it didn't include South Africa at the time).
• South Africa joined in 2010, making it "BRICS".
• Representatives of the BRIC countries first began meeting informally during the 2006 meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
• The group was designed to bring together the world's most important developing countries to challenge the political and economic power of the wealthier nations of North America and Western Europe.
• It is an attempt to form a geopolitical bloc capable of counterbalancing the influence of Western-dominated global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
• The BRICS countries operate as an organization that seeks to further economic cooperation amongst member nations and increase their economic and political standing in the world.

BRICS Grouping New Members

• Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt joined BRICS in 2024.
• Indonesia joined the bloc as a full member on January 6, 2025.
• The expanded group has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world's inhabitants.
• Combined, members' economies are worth more than $28.5tn - about 28% of the global economy.
• With Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE as members, BRICS countries produce about 44% of the world's crude oil.

BRICS Grouping FAQs

Q1. What are the three pillars of BRICS?

Ans. The three pillars of BRICS are political and security cooperation, economic cooperation, and cultural and social cooperation, which focus on strengthening global peace, trade, and inclusive development among member countries.

Q2. Where is BRICS headquarters?

Ans. The BRICS headquarters is located in Shanghai, China. 

Q3. What is the present name of BRICS bank?

Ans. New Development Bank (NDB) is a multilateral development bank established by BRICS countries.

Source: ET