26 JULY 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

1. Sohrai, Pattachitra & Patua Art Subtopic: Tribal and Folk Art Traditions of India

   Value Addition:

   • Recognised under Rashtrapati Bhavan’s ‘Artists in Residence Programme’ during Kala Utsav-2025.

   • Sohrai (Jharkhand): Harvest-linked tribal wall art with natural pigments by Sadan, Oraon, Munda & Santal communities.

   • Pattachitra (Odisha): Sanskrit-derived scroll paintings on cloth, depicting mythological themes with intricate brushwork.

   • Patua (West Bengal): Narrative-based folk paintings with musical accompaniment; socio-religious commentary tradition.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 1: Art & Culture – Living traditions, intangible cultural heritage, tribal expressions.

   • Prelims: Art forms and associated regions; medium and cultural background.
     

2. Kamchatka Peninsula Subtopic: Geophysical Activity and Tectonic Landscape

   Value Addition:

   • Experienced five recent earthquakes, max magnitude 7.4.

   • Part of Pacific Ring of Fire; home to 150+ volcanoes (29 active), including Klyuchevskaya Sopka.

   • Geothermal hotspots, snow-covered volcanic peaks, sparsely populated (under 1 person/km²).

   • Strategic location near Bering Sea, Kuril Islands, and Japan.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 1: Geography – Tectonics, Ring of Fire, seismic zones.

   • Prelims: Volcanic landforms, Kamchatka location, highest peak.

────────────────────────────

3. National Telecom Policy 2025 (Draft) Subtopic: Future-Proofing India’s Telecom Ecosystem

   Value Addition:

   • Builds on NDCP 2018; integrates 5G, 6G, AI, IoT, satellite, blockchain, and quantum technologies.

   • Targets: 90% 5G coverage, full 4G coverage, 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots, 80% fiberisation of towers by 2030.

   • Envisions 10 lakh jobs & 10 lakh reskilled workforce.

   • Emphasizes domestic R&D, quantum encryption, AI-based cyber defense, satellite internet for remote areas.

   • Focus on circular economy in hardware reuse; emission reduction by 30%.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 2: Governance – Digital India, public policy frameworks.

   • GS 3: Economy – Telecom infrastructure, manufacturing boost, cyber security.

   • Prelims: NDCP vs NTP-2025, key targets, AI-Cybersecurity linkage.
     

4. National Cooperation Policy 2025 Subtopic: Inclusive Cooperative Economic Framework

   Value Addition:

   • Replaces 2002 policy; guided by “Sahkar se Samriddhi.”

   • Goals: Triple cooperative sector’s GDP share, 1 cooperative per village, 50 crore citizen participation.

   • Expands into tourism, energy, insurance, Sahkar Taxi, Jan Aushadhi, LPG and CSCs.

   • Five model cooperative villages per tehsil backed by NABARD and state banks.

   • 83 reforms identified; 58 under implementation; tech integration and PACS computerisation underway.

   • New university: Tribhuvan Sahkari Vishwavidyalaya.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 2: Governance – Cooperative federalism, rural development.

   • GS 3: Economy – Decentralised growth, sectoral transformation.

   • Essay: “Reviving the cooperative spirit in 21st-century India.”

────────────────────────────

5. AdFalciVax – Dual-Stage Malaria Vaccine Subtopic: Novel Vaccine Strategy for Malaria Elimination

   Value Addition:

   • Developed by ICMR & DBT-NII using Lactococcus lactis platform.

   • Dual protection: Pre-erythrocytic (liver) stage & sexual (mosquito) stage.

   • Targets CSP (circumsporozoite protein); stable at room temperature for 9+ months.

   • Advantages over RTS,S (Mosquirix) and R21: cheaper, broader protection, no cold-chain dependency.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 3: Health – Vaccine R&D, vector-borne disease control.

   • GS 3: Science & Tech – Recombinant vaccine tech, chimeric designs.

   • Prelims: CSP, ICMR, NII, NIMR, malaria lifecycle.
     

6. Bambusa tulda Composite Material Subtopic: Sustainable Materials from Bamboo Value Addition:

   • Developed by IIT Guwahati using biodegradable polymers + Bambusa tulda.

   • Clump-forming, monocarpic bamboo found across NE India, Myanmar, Thailand.

   • Local names: Jati Bahn (Assam), Mritinga (Tripura).

   • Used in edible shoots, traditional medicine, handicrafts, incense sticks, paper.

   • Eco-alternative to plastic with industrial use in packaging and decor.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 3: Environment – Bio-based alternatives, circular economy.

   • GS 3: Economy – Rural resource-based industrialisation.

   • Prelims: Bamboo species, monocarpic plants, regional names.