Padma Awards Latest News

Recently, the President of India conferred 4 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Ganatantra Mandap.

Padma Awards Historical Background

• The Padma Awards were established in 1954 alongside the Bharat Ratna.
• Initially, Padma Awards had three classes: Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg.
• These were renamed in 1955 via Presidential Notification as: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri

Padma Awards Categories 

• Padma Vibhushan: Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
• Padma Bhushan: Conferred for distinguished service of a high order.
• Padma Shri: Recognises distinguished service in any field.

Eligibility Criteria

• All persons, regardless of race, occupation, position or gender, are eligible for the award.
• Government servants, including employees of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), are not eligible, except doctors and scientists.
• Awards are normally not conferred posthumously, but in highly deserving cases, exceptions are allowed.
• A minimum 5-year gap is required for conferring a higher category Padma award upon a previously awarded individual. However, this can be relaxed by the Awards Committee in exceptional cases.
• Nominations are open to the public, and self-nomination is also allowed.

 Selection Process

• All nominations are evaluated by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted annually by the Prime Minister.
• The Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
• Its recommendations are submitted to the Prime Minister and President for final approval.
• The awards are presented by the President, usually in March or April.
• Awardees receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.

Other Key Features

• The total number of Padma awards per year is capped at 120, excluding:
  • Posthumous awards
  • Awards to NRIs, foreign nationals, and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)
• The award does not constitute a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the awardee’s name.
• Disciplines covered: Awards span across art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, among others.

Padma Awards FAQs

Q1. What are the Padma Awards?
Ans. The Padma Awards are civilian honours given by the Government of India to recognise exceptional service in various fields such as arts, education, public affairs, and science.

Q2. What are the three categories of Padma Awards?
Ans. The three categories are Padma Vibhushan (second-highest civilian award), Padma Bhushan (third-highest), and Padma Shri (fourth-highest).

Q3. Are Padma Awards given posthumously?
Ans. Yes, the awards can be conferred posthumously in deserving cases.

Source: PIB

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Latest News

National Supercomputing Mission: Powering India's Future with Indigenous High-Performance Computing.

About National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)

• The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) is a flagship initiative launched in 2015 by the Government of India to strengthen the nation’s High-Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities.
• It aims to enhance India’s computational capacity in sectors like science, technology, academia, research, and industry, making the country self-reliant in supercomputing technologies.
• The mission is jointly steered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), and is implemented by C-DAC, Pune and IISc, Bengaluru.
• The key goal is to position India globally among top nations in supercomputing by enabling research, reducing technological import dependence, and creating a robust indigenous HPC ecosystem.

Indigenisation Milestones

• "Rudra" HPC servers, developed indigenously, are the first HPC-class servers built in India, matching global standards.
• Supercomputers like PARAM Rudra (Pune, Delhi, Kolkata) have been dedicated for advanced research in physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.
• The Trinetra high-speed network (developed under NSM) boosts data transfer rates up to 200 Gbps and is being rolled out in phases – PoC, Trinetra-A (100 Gbps), and Trinetra-B (200 Gbps).

AI Supercomputing: AIRAWAT

• The AIRAWAT project is India’s AI-focused supercomputing initiative under NSM, offering a common AI computing platform for start-ups, researchers, and innovation hubs.
• The Proof of Concept (PoC) system of AIRAWAT features 200 petaflops of AI processing power, scalable to 790 AI petaflops.
• AIRAWAT secured 75th rank in the Top 500 Global Supercomputing List (ISC 2023, Germany), placing India among the top AI supercomputing nations.

Institutional Milestones

• PARAM Shivay (2019) at IIT-BHU was the first indigenous supercomputer under NSM.
• PARAM Pravega (2022) at IISc Bengaluru is among the largest academic supercomputers in India, with 3.3 petaflops processing power.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) FAQs

Q1. What is the objective of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)?
Ans. The NSM aims to develop a high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem in India, including indigenous supercomputers and advanced computing facilities.

Q2. Which two bodies jointly implement the NSM?
Ans. The NSM is jointly implemented by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) and IISc Bengaluru (Indian Institute of Science).

Q3. When was the National Supercomputing Mission launched?
Ans. The NSM was launched in 2015.

Source: PIB

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) Latest News

IEPFA’s recent MoU with Kotak Mahindra Bank and the launch of the 'Niveshak Shivir' initiative, to boost digital investor awareness and financial literacy across India.

About Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)

• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) was established in 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It manages the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and promotes investor awareness and financial protection.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• The IEPF consists of amounts that remained unclaimed for 7 years, including:
  • Unpaid dividends,
  • Application money is due for refund,
  • Matured deposits and debentures,
  • Interest on investments from the fund,
  • Grants or donations received from the government or other entities.

IEPFA’s ‘Niveshak Shivir’ Initiative

• ‘Niveshak Shivir’ is a joint initiative of IEPFA and SEBI launched to simplify the process of reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares.
• The camps will feature one-stop kiosks set up by companies and RTAs in cities with large numbers of unclaimed dividend holders, starting with Mumbai and Ahmedabad in May 2025.
• Investors can update KYC and nominations, verify claim status, and get real-time grievance redressal at these camps.
• The initiative aims to reduce investor dependence on intermediaries, thereby minimising fraud and misinformation risks.
• A QR-code-based Google Form will be used for pre-registration, supported by the regional offices of ICAI and SEBI.

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) FAQs

Q1. What is the purpose of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)?
Ans. The IEPFA aims to promote investor awareness and refund unclaimed shares, dividends, and debentures to rightful investors.

Q2. Under which Act is the IEPFA established?
Ans. It was established under Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Q3. Which Ministry oversees the IEPFA?
Ans. The IEPFA functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

Source: PIB | PIB

Trends in World Military Expenditure Report Latest News

According to the 2024 edition of the “Trends in World Military Expenditure” report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military spending was nearly nine times higher than Pakistan’s last year.

About Trends in World Military Expenditure Report

• It is an annual report published by the leading Swedish think tank, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• It provides a comprehensive analysis of military spending across the globe.
• Highlights of 2024 Report:
  • The global defence expenditures reached $2.46 trillion in 2024, an increase from $2.24 trillion in the previous year, bringing the average defence spending to 1.9% of global GDP, up from 1.6% in 2022 and 1.8% in 2023.
  • Military spending increased in all world regions, with particularly rapid growth in both Europe and the Middle East, courtesy of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and Israel-Hamas conflict.
  • Military spending in Europe (including Russia) rose by 17 percentto $693 billion and was the main contributor to the global increase in 2024.
  • Military spending by the USA rose by 5.7 percent to reach $997 billion, which was 66 percent of total NATO spending and 37 percent of world military spending in 2024.
  • Military expenditure in the Middle East reached an estimated $243 billion in 2024, an increase of 15 percent from 2023, with Israel and Lebanon emerging as the biggest spenders in the region.
  • 60 percent of the world’s military spending came from only five countries – the USA (37 percent), China (12 percent), Russia (5.5 percent), Germany (3.3 percent) and India (3.2percent).
  • India, the fifth biggest military spender in the world in 2024, increased its spending to $86.1 billion, up by 1.6 percent from 2023 and by 42 percent from 2015.
  • India's military spending in 2024 was nearly nine times that of Pakistan's expenditure.
  • China's military spending rose by 7.0 percent to an estimated USD 314 billion, marking three decades of uninterrupted growth. China alone accounted for half of the defence spending across Asia and Oceania.

Trends in World Military Expenditure Report FAQs

Q1. Who publishes the annual "Trends in World Military Expenditure" report?

Ans. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Q2. Which country has the highest military expenditure?

Ans. The United States has the highest military expenditure in the world.

Q3. What is India’s rank in world military expenditures?

Ans. India is the fifth biggest military spender in the world in 2024.

Source: TRIBUNE

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Latest News

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo moto cognizance against five Delhi restaurants for non-refund of mandatory service charges despite the Delhi High Court's judgment.

Significance of Action

• The move is aimed at protecting consumer rights and preventing undue pressure on consumers to pay additional charges during service availing.
• As per law, no hotel or restaurant can force consumers to pay a service charge, nor can a service charge be collected under any alternative name.

About Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)

• The CCPA was established under Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which replaced the 1986 Act, was notified on August 9, 2019, and came into force on July 20, 2020.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Functions and Powers of CCPA

• The CCPA protects, promotes, and enforces the rights of consumers as a class under the Act.
• It prevents unfair trade practices and curbs false or misleading advertisements.
• The CCPA ensures that no one publishes or disseminates false or misleading advertisements.
• The CCPA can initiate class-action suits, including recalls, refunds, and cancellation of licenses, when necessary.
• The CCPA can conduct inquiries and investigations through its Investigation Wing, headed by a Director-General.
• It can order the discontinuation of unfair practices, impose penalties on errant businesses, and enforce consumer welfare measures.
• Composition of CCPA: A Chief Commissioner heads the CCPA and has two other commissioners:
  • One commissioner deals with goods-related issues.
  • The other commissioner handles service-related complaints.

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) FAQs

Q1. What is the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)?
Ans. The CCPA is a statutory body established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to protect consumer rights, prevent unfair trade practices, and ensure consumer awareness.

Q2. Under which Ministry does the CCPA function?
Ans. The CCPA functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Q3. Where is the headquarters of CCPA located?
Ans. The headquarters of the CCPA is located in New Delhi.

Source: PIB

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

A poacher was arrested while his uncle managed to flee following an exchange of fire with forest guards at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Balasore district recently.

About Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the Balasore District of Odisha within the Eastern Ghats. 
• It is spread across 272 sq.km. in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
• It is part of the larger Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, making it a crucial habitat for the conservation of elephants in the region. 
• It is connected with Simlipal Tiger Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges.
• It features a network of streams, including the Kuldiha stream and its tributaries.
• Vegetation: Kuldiha sanctuary area, adjoining Nilgiri forest in the North and Mayurbhanj Forest in the West, is a typical representative of a mixture of peninsular (coastal) Sal forest and moist mixed deciduous forest.
• Flora: The sanctuary boasts a rich diversity of flora, including dense forests of sal (Shorea robusta), jamun (Syzygium cumini), piyasal (Pterocarpus marsupium), bahera (Terminalia bellirica), mango (Mangifera indica), and simul (Bombax ceiba).
• Fauna: 
  • It is home to a number of endangered and threatened wild animal species like Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Gaur, Mouse deer, Pangolin, Ratel, Giant squirrel, etc. 
  • Besides that, some endangered bird species like Hill myna, Woodpecker, Hornbill and Eagles are also found in the Sanctuary.

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1. Where is Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Odisha

Q2. Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is part of which larger reserve?

Ans. Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve

Q3. What type of forest vegetation is found in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

Ans. Peninsular Sal forest and moist mixed deciduous forest

Source: TOI

India–Bhutan 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting Latest News

The 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting between India and Bhutan was held recently in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Key Facts about Bhutan

• Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan country, bordered by India to the south, east, and west, and China (Tibet Autonomous Region) to the north.
  • Indian states bordering Bhutan: Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan.
  • Phuntsholing is Bhutan’s key financial and trade hub, located along the India-Bhutan border.
• Political System: Bhutan is a parliamentary monarchy.
  • It transitioned to democracy in 2008 with the first democratic elections.
  • The King of Bhutan remains the Head of State.
• Official name: Kingdom of Bhutan. 
  •  Local name: Druk Gyal Khap, meaning "Land of the Thunder Dragon".
• Longest River: The Manas River (376 km), a transboundary river flowing through southern Bhutan into India, forms an important ecological and trade corridor.

Significance of India–Bhutan Customs Cooperation

• India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 80% of Bhutan’s total trade, making border customs cooperation vital for both countries.
• Bhutan, being a landlocked country, relies heavily on Land Customs Stations (LCSs) for trade. There are 10 India-Bhutan LCSs—6 in West Bengal and 4 in Assam.
• The JGC is an annual bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening Customs cooperation, facilitating cross-border trade, and reforming customs procedures in line with global best practices.

India–Bhutan 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting FAQs

Q1. What is the India–Bhutan Joint Group of Customs (JGC)?
Ans. The JGC is a bilateral platform for cooperation in customs and trade facilitation between India and Bhutan.

Q2. When and where was the 6th JGC meeting held?
Ans. The 6th JGC meeting was held in April 2025 in in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Source: PIB

Mackinac Island Latest News

In the heart of the US state of Michigan, known for building cars, there’s a peaceful little island called Mackinac Island, where motor vehicles are not allowed and horses are everywhere.

About Mackinac Island

• It is an island and city located in northern Michigan, United States.
• It sits in the extreme northeast part of Lake Huron, just as it prepares to join the waters of Lake Michigan - two of North America's Great Lakes.
• It has an area of approximately 4.35 square miles.
• The island is bordered by limestone cliffs and rises in the east to 339 feet (103 metres) above the surrounding waters.
• History: 
  • The French arrived in the territory encompassing the island, which had long been the home of the Anishinaabek People, back in the 1600s. 
  • By the 1700s, the British had taken over, and Americans claimed it shortly thereafter. 
• The Mackinac Island State Park covers the vast majority of the island and provides hiking trails, wooded canopies, and the famous Arch Rock limestone formation.
• It retains an 18th- and 19th-century atmosphere; automobiles are banned, and horses and buggies and bicycles are used for transport.
• The restored Fort Mackinac, Beaumont Memorial (dedicated to U.S. Army surgeon William Beaumont, who, while serving at the fort, made discoveries regarding human digestion), and the Stuart House (1817; the residence of the island’s American Fur Company agent) are preserved as historical museums.

Mackinac Island FAQs

Q1. Which country is Mackinac Island in?

Ans. United States

Q2. Which two Great Lakes surround Mackinac Island?

Ans. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron

Q3. What makes Mackinac Island unique in terms of transportation?

Ans. Motor vehicles are banned.

Source: IE

Uturuncu Volcano Latest News

Scientists from China, the UK, and the U.S. have collaborated to analyze the inner workings of Bolivia's "zombie" volcano, Uturuncu, and identified the causes of Uturuncu's unrest, alleviating fears of an imminent eruption. 

About Uturuncu Volcano

• It is located in southwestern Bolivia, within the Andes Mountains.
• It is a stratovolcano dominated by dacitic lava domes and flows.
• Elevation: About 6,008 meters (19,711 feet) above sea level — it is the tallest mountain in the southern part of Bolivia.
• Uturuncu last erupted 250,000 years ago, yet is seismically active and lies at the centre of a 70 km diameter uplifted region. 
• Uturuncu sits above an enormous and extremely deep underground reservoir of magma named the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB), which stretches beneath southern Bolivia, northern Chile, and northern Argentina.
• Uturuncu is known as a "zombie" volcanobecause of its ongoing but non-eruptive activity.
• The "zombie"-like unrest of Uturuncu is due to the movement of liquid and gas beneath the crater, with a low likelihood of an imminent eruption.

Uturuncu Volcano FAQs

Q1. Where is Uturuncu Volcano located?

Ans. Southwestern Bolivia

Q2. What type of volcano is Uturuncu?

Ans. Stratovolcano

Q3. What is the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB)?

Ans. A massive underground magma reservoir beneath southern Bolivia, northern Chile, and northern Argentina

Source: MSN

GAVI the Vaccine Alliance Latest News

Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, is trying to convince President Donald Trump’s administration to maintain vital funding for the body by arguing that a donation would boost the US vaccine industry.

About GAVI the Vaccine Alliance

• It is an independent public-private partnership that was created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for childrenliving in the world’s poorest countries. 
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Gavi brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to vaccines for children, wherever they live.
• It brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, research and technical agencies, civil society organizations, and private philanthropists.
• Gavi’s main activities include supporting low- and middle-income countries’ access to new and underused vaccines for vulnerable children through financial support, technical expertise, and market-shaping efforts, such as negotiating with manufacturers, to help lower the cost of procuring vaccines. 
• By bringing the key stakeholders in global immunisation together around one mission, Gavi combines the technical expertise of the development community with the business know-how of the private sector.
• Since its beginnings, Gavi has vaccinated more than 1.1 billion children and saved an estimated 18.8 million lives (2023 figures).
• Gavi was one of the organizations leading COVAX, a multilateral effort that supported the equitable development, procurement, and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines globally that began in 2020 and ended in 2023.

GAVI the Vaccine Alliance FAQs

Q1. Where is Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance located?

Ans. Geneva, Switzerland

Q2. Is Gavi part of Unicef?

Ans. UNICEF is a founding partner of the Gavi Alliance, one of four permanent Gavi board members, and a strategic partner within the Alliance.

Q3. Who is Gavi funded by?

Ans. As a public-private partnership, Gavi is funded by governments, foundations, institutions, organisations, corporations and private individuals.

Source: FT