Catastrophe Bonds: Facing recurrent climate-induced disasters, Kerala has urged the Union government to introduce catastrophe (CAT) bonds as a financial safety net against disaster-related losses during pre-Budget consultations for Union Budget 2026–27. Kerala’s repeated disasters strain public finances, highlighting the need for climate-resilient financing tools like CAT bonds, recognised in its Risk-Informed Master Plan (2022), […]
Day: January 12, 2026
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: The Union government recently marked one year of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (BVMB) by launching a nationwide 100-day awareness campaign, reaffirming India’s commitment to the United Nations target of ending child marriage by 2030. BVMB was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, to […]
Magnetic Nanorobots
Magnetic Nanorobots: Magnetic nanorobots are microscopic, externally powered machines made from or coated with magnetic materials like iron oxide. Guided by magnetic fields from outside the body, they can be precisely steered to navigate blood vessels or tissues without an onboard power source.They mimic the corkscrew motion of bacteria, using a tiny, helix-shaped tail that […]
National Youth Day 2026
National Youth Day 2026: National Youth Day is observed annually on 12th January, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, whose ideals of character, courage, service, and nation-building continue to guide India’s youth-centric policies.With over 65% of India’s population below 35 years, youth empowerment is central to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.Swami Vivekananda, born […]
Petrodollar System
Petrodollar System: The US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has renewed attention on the declining influence of the petrodollar amid changing global oil trade dynamics.Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves (~300 billion barrels, ~17% of global stock) but produces only about 1 million barrels per day, leaving vast untapped potential.The Trump administration […]
OrbitAid’s AyulSAT
OrbitAid’s AyulSAT: India is set to demonstrate in-orbit satellite refuelling for the first time as Chennai-based OrbitAid’s AyulSAT is launched onboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62.AyulSAT is a 25-kg dedicated tanker-satellite and target spacecraft designed to demonstrate fuel transfer, power transfer and data transfer in orbit using a standardized docking and refuelling interface.Developed by OrbitAid Aerospace, a Chennai-based […]
Orobanche aegyptiaca
Orobanche aegyptiaca: India’s largest oilseed crop, mustard, is facing a major yield threat due to the rapid spread of the parasitic weed Orobanche aegyptiaca in Rajasthan and Haryana.Orobanche aegyptiaca (locally called Margoja) is a root-parasitic flowering weed that attaches itself to the roots of crops like mustard, extracting water, carbon and nutrients, leading to severe […]
Kathputli Puppetry
Kathputli Puppetry: Jaipur’s Kathputli Nagar, home to nearly 250 families of traditional puppeteers, has drawn attention for preserving one of Rajasthan’s oldest living folk art traditions.Kathputli is a form of traditional string puppetry of Rajasthan, where wooden dolls dressed in colourful costumes are animated with strings to narrate stories of kings, warriors, folklore and moral […]
