NHAI & Jio National Highway Safety Alert System
• Purpose of the initiative
• Enhance road safety and provide a seamless travel experience on National Highways.
• Offer advance warnings to travellers about potential hazards, enabling safer driving decisions.
• Key features
• Telecom-based system using Jio’s 4G and 5G network.
• Alerts sent via SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls.
• Covers accident-prone stretches, stray cattle zones, fog-affected areas, and emergency diversions.
• Integrated with NHAI digital platforms:
• ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile app
• Emergency helpline number 1033
• How it works
• Automated alerts triggered when Jio mobile users approach identified risk zones on National Highways.
• Uses existing telecom towers—no additional roadside hardware required.
• Phased implementation starting with pilot deployment in select regional offices.
• Will comply with regulatory and data-protection requirements.
• Benefits
• Provides early warnings, allowing commuters to adjust speed and driving behavior.
• Enhances road-safety awareness and reduces preventable road incidents.
• Leverages Jio’s digital infrastructure, reaching over 500 million subscribers.
• Scalable solution that could extend to other telecom providers in the future.
• Statements from officials
• NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav: Initiative enables timely, reliable information, setting a benchmark for tech-enabled road safety.
• Reliance Jio President Jyotindra Thacker: Alerts use telecom reach to make travel safer and more informed.
Plasma-Activated Coordination Polymers for Hydrogen Production
• Background
• Hydrogen is a clean fuel, produced efficiently via water electrolysis.
• Electrolysis involves two reactions:
• Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) – relatively fast
• Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) – sluggish, requires high overpotential.
• Developing noble-metal-free catalysts for OER is a key research challenge.
• Role of Coordination Polymers (COPs)
• COPs are metal-organic frameworks used as electrocatalysts in water splitting.
• Limitation: fully coordinated metal sites by solvent/water molecules leave few active sites, reducing catalytic efficiency.
• Novel Strategy by CeNS Researchers
• Argon plasma treatment used to activate COPs without damaging bulk structure.
• Creates coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUMSs) → more active sites for OER.
• Maintains structural integrity, confirmed by:
• X-ray diffraction (single-crystal & powder XRD)
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
• Contact angle measurements
• Results
• Plasma-activated Ni- and Co-based COPs show:
• Lower onset potentials for OER
• Faster reaction kinetics in alkaline media
• Enhanced electrocatalytic performance without altering bulk framework
• Significance
• Demonstrates a cost-effective, noble-metal-free approach to enhance water-splitting catalysts.
• Provides a blueprint for designing efficient electrocatalysts for clean hydrogen energy.
• Supports the broader goal of sustainable hydrogen production using advanced material engineering.
DRDO High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test of Fighter Aircraft Escape System
• Purpose of the test
• Validate the fighter aircraft escape system (ejection seat and canopy severance) at controlled high velocity.
• Ensure complete aircrew recovery in emergency situations.
• Strengthen India’s indigenous defence and self-reliance capabilities.
• Key highlights
• Conducted at Rail Track Rocket Sled facility, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh.
• Collaboration between:
• DRDO
• Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA)
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
• Places India in the elite group of nations capable of advanced in-house escape system testing.
• Test details
• Dynamic ejection test: more complex than static tests like Net test or Zero-Zero test.
• Dual-sled system used with LCA aircraft forebody.
• Velocity controlled via phased firing of multiple solid propellant rocket motors.
• Anthropomorphic Test Dummy used to record:
• Critical loads
• Moments
• Accelerations experienced by pilots
• Entire sequence captured via onboard and ground-based imaging systems.
• Observations and outcomes
• Canopy severance successfully validated.
• Ejection sequencing confirmed.
• Complete recovery of aircrew simulated successfully.
• Reactions
• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh: hailed as a milestone in indigenous defence capability.
• DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V. Kamat: congratulated the team for successful demonstration.
14th Joint Military Exercise EKUVERIN
• Overview
• Exercise EKUVERIN is a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
• The 14th edition commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 2 December 2025, running until 15 December 2025.
• Indian contingent: 45 personnel from GARHWAL RIFLES.
• Maldivian contingent: equal strength from MNDF.
• Meaning and Significance
• EKUVERIN means ‘Friends’ in Dhivehi, symbolising friendship, trust, and military cooperation.
• Conducted alternately in India and Maldives since 2009.
• Demonstrates India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and commitment to enduring defence partnerships.
• Objectives
• Enhance interoperability between the two forces.
• Improve operational synergy in Counter-Insurgency (CI) and Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations.
• Operate across jungle, semi-urban, and coastal terrain.
• Share best practices, tactical drills, and joint operational planning.
• Strategic Importance
• Reflects growing defence cooperation between India and Maldives.
• Strengthens capacity to address common security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Contributes to regional peace and stability.
Dakshina Kannada Designated as District Export Hub (DEH)
• Overview
• The Government has designated Dakshina Kannada as a District Export Hub under the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative.
• Focus products for the district: seafood and cashew.
• Goal: promote local industry, value-added activities, and global market access while supporting sustainable economic growth.
• Key Objectives
• Strengthen district-level export potential.
• Support local value-chain development and retention of processing activities.
• Facilitate participation in global trade and long-term economic development.
• Measures to Support Exporters
- District Export Action Plans (DEAPs)
• Identify logistics gaps: connectivity, warehousing, packaging, and testing.
• Recommend district-level improvements. - Operationalisation of SEPCs and DEPCs
• State/District Export Promotion Committees coordinate among authorities, exporters, customs, and logistics providers. - Infrastructure & Logistics Enhancement
• Improve first-mile connectivity, establish common facility centres, enhance warehousing/testing facilities, strengthen port linkages. - Promotion of E-commerce Exports
• Partnerships with Amazon, Shiprocket, DHL to provide cost-effective courier and small-consignment shipping options. - Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs)
• Postal export facilities for documentation, packaging, and small-parcel shipments. - Capacity-Building & Outreach
• Exporter awareness programs on logistics planning, export procedures, packaging, and compliance. - Monitoring of Export Performance
• District-wise data analysis to identify challenges and enable responsive interventions.
• Institutional Mechanism
• District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC):
• Coordinates actions among district authorities, port authority, exporters, logistics agencies, and state/central departments.
• Ensures implementation of DEAP recommendations, including port-connected warehousing and logistics support.
• Strategic Significance
• Aligns district-level export requirements with ongoing and proposed infrastructure developments, including New Mangalore Port.
• Facilitates local value-chain retention, reduces dependency on intermediaries, and strengthens the export ecosystem.
India’s Renewable Energy Capacity and Initiatives (Oct 2025)
• Achievements
• India has reached 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years ahead of its Paris Agreement target.
• As of 31 October 2025, non-fossil fuel installed capacity is ~259 GW, with 31.2 GW added in the current financial year.
• Role of Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs)
• Key REIAs: SECI, NTPC, NHPC, SJVN.
• Since April 2023, REIAs issued LoAs for 67,554 MW in renewable power procurement tenders.
• No cancellations of issued LoAs.
• Capacity addition also occurring via State tenders, commercial & industrial sectors, and Green Energy Open Access / Captive route.
• Shift in Renewable Energy Preferences
• Declining cost of solar-plus-storage and dispatchable renewable power is driving demand.
• Preference for solar-plus-storage over plain solar or wind-solar hybrid due to:
• Supply during peak demand hours
• Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) options
• Government Measures for PPA Execution
• States urged to comply with Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) under the Energy Conservation Act.
• REIAs advised to aggregate demand from DISCOMs and other consumers before tendering.
• Regional workshops organized to address implementation challenges and accelerate PPA signing.
• Transmission and Storage Planning
• Central Electricity Authority (CEA) prepares transmission plans based on MNRE-declared RE potential.
• Transmission system implemented in phases aligned with generation capacity addition.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) (~47.2 GW) planned up to 2032:
• Enables peak shifting
• Reduces network congestion
• Improves utilization of transmission assets
• Policy and Regulatory Support
• CERC Third Amendment Regulations, 2025: Connectivity granted for solar and non-solar hours, enabling efficient transmission use.
• Facilitates integration of additional RE with co-located BESS without extra transmission infrastructure.
Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) – implemented from FY 2022-23.
• Objective: Capacitate Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for effective governance through training of Elected Representatives (ERs), functionaries, and other stakeholders.
• Training & Capacity Building:
• Basic orientation, refresher, thematic, specialized, and Panchayat development plan training.
• Exposure visits and development of training modules and materials.
• Institutional mechanism for ongoing capacity building support.
• Infrastructure Support:
• Construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawans.
• Procurement of computers and limited co-location of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in Panchayat Bhawans.
• e-GramSwaraj Application:
• Digital platform for planning, budgeting, accounting, work management, and monitoring at Gram Panchayat level.
• Real-time tracking of works: work identification, geo-tagging, progress reporting, financial tracking, and activity-wise reports.
• Integrates planning and implementation, strengthening evidence-based decision-making.
• Promotes transparency and accountability by making Panchayat information publicly accessible via dashboard and mobile interface.
• Outcome/Impact:
• Enhances governance capabilities of Panchayats.
• Enables efficient monitoring of physical and financial progress of works.
• Improves service delivery, transparency, and public trust in PRIs.
Initiatives to help MSMEs and promote digital payment transactions
1. Credit Assessment Model (CAM) for MSMEs:
• Launched to facilitate automated, objective, and digital loan appraisal for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Leverages digitally fetched and verifiable data from the ecosystem.
• Supports Existing to Bank (ETB) and New to Bank (NTB) MSME borrowers.
• Enables model-based limit assessment for loans and promotes faster and transparent credit decisions.
• Collaboration between Government, RBI, and NPCI ensures integration with the digital ecosystem.
2. Digital Payment Promotion Initiatives:
• Incentive schemes for RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M).
• Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) supports deployment of POS terminals, QR codes, and digital infrastructure in underserved regions.
3. PM SVANidhi Scheme (Street Vendors):
• Launched on 1 June 2020, now extended until 31 March 2030.
• Provides working capital loans to street vendors in three tranches: ₹15,000, ₹25,000, ₹50,000.
• Introduces UPI-linked RuPay Credit Cards with a credit limit of ₹30,000.
• Offers cashback incentives for digital transactions to encourage adoption of digital payments.
• Jointly implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Department of Financial Services.