02 June 2026

UPSC GS 2

Right to Trauma Care

1. News:    In the SaveLIFE Foundation v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court recognized the Right to Trauma Care as an integral component of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

2.  Supreme Court Directions on Trauma Care:

a. The Court directed the integration of all emergency helpline numbers into the single emergency number 112.

b. It called for the effective operationalisation of the PM RAHAT cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims.

c. It also directed the establishment of Good Samaritan grievance redressal mechanisms to protect and support individuals who assist accident victims.

3. About Article 21:

a. Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the fundamental right to protection of life and personal liberty.

b. It provides that no person shall be deprived of his or her life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law.

UPSC GS 3

Duttaphyrnus Dhara

1. News: A newly discovered species of toad from Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has been named Duttaphyrnus dhara.

2. About Duttaphyrnus Dhara:

a. Duttaphyrnus dhara is a newly identified species of toad found in Meghalaya.

b. The species has been recorded from the East Khasi Hills region of the state.

3.  Habitat: The toad primarily inhabits forest-edge environments and semi-natural habitats.

4.  Taxonomic Significance: The species is distinctly different from its closest known relatives, Duttaphrynus stuarti and Duttaphrynus chandai.

5.  Physical Features:

a. It is a small forest-associated toad, with adult males measuring approximately 40–41.8 mm in snout-to-vent length.

b. The species possesses a compact body structure and a comparatively wider head.

c. It lacks prominent cranial ridges, which helps distinguish it from related species.

d. The tympanum (external ear structure) is small but clearly visible.

e. It exhibits moderate webbing between the toes.

f. Its dorsum is rough and covered with numerous pointed keratinised warts.

6. Colouration and Markings:

a. The body is predominantly brown with irregular black patches.

b. A narrow pale stripe runs along the middle of the back.

c. The fingers and toes are dark in colour.

d. The underside is creamy white and marked with distinct black blotches.

7. Significance of the Discovery: The discovery highlights the rich amphibian diversity of the East Khasi Hills and further emphasizes the importance of the northeastern region as a hotspot for biodiversity and new species discoveries. 

Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI)

1. News: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024–25 along with four major digital initiatives aimed at improving efficiency in the maritime sector.

2.  About Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI):

a. The Logistics Port Performance Index has been developed under the Sagar Aankalan framework.

b. It serves as a national benchmarking mechanism to evaluate and enhance the operational performance of Indian ports.

3. Objective:

a. The index aims to promote efficiency, competitiveness, and continuous improvement in port operations across the country.

b. It seeks to strengthen India's position in global logistics and maritime trade networks.

4. Assessment Framework: The LPPI evaluates ports across three major cargo segments:

a. Dry Bulk Cargo.

b. Liquid Bulk Cargo.

c. Container Cargo.

5. Key Performance Indicators: The assessment is based on operational indicators such as:

a. Cargo handled.

b. Vessel turnaround time.

c. Berth idle time.

d. Pre-berthing waiting time.

e. Container dwell time.

f. Ship berth-day output.

6. Scoring Methodology: The framework assigns equal weightage to:

a. Absolute operational performance.

b. Year-on-year improvement in performance.

c. This approach encourages ports to continuously enhance their operational efficiency.

7. Alignment with National Initiatives: The index is aligned with:

i. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

ii. Maritime India Vision 2030.

iii. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

8. Highlights of LPPI 2024–25:

a. Dry Bulk Cargo Category: Paradip Port Authority secured the top position among ports handling more than 5 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo.

b. Liquid Bulk Cargo Category: Sikka Port and Terminals emerged as the leading performer in the liquid bulk cargo segment.

c. Container Cargo Category: Mundra Port ranked first among ports handling more than 0.5 million TEUs of container cargo. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority secured the second position among major container ports in the same category.

9. Other Digital Initiatives Launched:

a. 24x7 Grievance Redressal Module: A round-the-clock grievance redressal module was launched under the e-Navik platform to improve stakeholder services.

b. Ship Registration Module: A new Ship Registration Module was introduced on the e-Samudra platform to streamline registration procedures.

c. Medical Practitioner Module: A dedicated module for medical practitioners was launched to support maritime healthcare administration.

d. Unified Ship Recycling Credit Note Module: A digital module was introduced to facilitate the implementation of the Ship Recycling Credit Scheme.

10. About the Unified Ship Recycling Portal:

a. The portal forms part of the Government’s ₹70,000-crore maritime development package announced in 2025.

b. Under the scheme, ship owners who recycle vessels at Indian shipyards compliant with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships are eligible for incentives.

c. They can receive a credit note equivalent to 40% of the vessel’s scrap value.

d. The credit note can be redeemed against new shipbuilding projects undertaken in India.  

India's First Skycast System

1. News:    The Union Minister of Earth Sciences recently inaugurated India's first SkyCast System at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

2. About SkyCast System:

a. SkyCast is an advanced integrated aviation weather monitoring system designed to provide real-time atmospheric and weather intelligence for aviation operations.

b. The system has been developed under the Mission Mausam initiative.

3. Scientific Foundation:

a. The scientific basis of SkyCast originates from the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX).

b. WiFEX was jointly initiated by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2015 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

4. Global Significance: With the deployment of SkyCast, India has become the 19th country in the world to operationalise an advanced integrated aviation weather monitoring system.

5. Key Features of SkyCast System:

a. Integrated Weather Intelligence Platform: The system combines real-time measurements of fog, aerosols, turbulence, moisture, visibility, and atmospheric conditions into a unified aviation weather intelligence framework.

b. Radar Wind Profiler: It serves as the core component of the system. It measures wind speed, wind direction, turbulence, vertical velocity, and boundary-layer dynamics.

c. Ground-based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer (GFAS):

i. It is an advanced fog-monitoring instrument.

ii. It provides detailed information on fog droplets, aerosols, and aerosol-fog interactions.

d. CL61 Lidar-based Ceilometer:

i. It continuously monitors the vertical structure of fog and visibility conditions in real time.

ii. It enhances understanding of fog formation and atmospheric processes affecting aviation operations.

e. High-Altitude Atmospheric Monitoring:

i. The system can assess atmospheric conditions from the Earth's surface up to nearly 10 km altitude.

f. Aviation Meteorological Parameters: It can generate critical aviation weather parameters, including:

i. Wind shear.

ii. Turbulence.

iii. Fog formation indicators.

iv. Icing potential.

Unclaimed Assets Portal

1. News:    The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the Ministry of Finance, has recently launched the Unclaimed Assets Portal to help citizens trace and access unclaimed financial assets.

2.  About Unclaimed Assets Portal:

a. The Unclaimed Assets Portal is a common landing platform for information related to unclaimed financial assets.

b. It has been developed in collaboration with the Public Sector Bank Alliance (PSBA).

c. The portal aims to simplify public access to information regarding unclaimed assets across the financial sector.

3. Objective:

a. The portal seeks to provide citizens with a single-window platform for locating and claiming financial assets that remain unclaimed across various institutions.

b. It aims to improve transparency, accessibility, and public awareness regarding unclaimed financial resources.

4. Key Features:

a. Unified Search Platform: The portal serves as a centralized platform that brings together search facilities for different categories of unclaimed financial assets.

b. Coverage of Financial Assets: Users can access information relating to:

i. Unclaimed bank deposits.

ii. Unclaimed insurance claims.

iii. Unclaimed shares.

iv. Unclaimed dividends.

v. Unclaimed mutual fund investments.

c. Easier Access to Information:

i. The platform enables citizens to search for unclaimed assets available across the financial ecosystem through a single interface.

5. Related Initiative:

a. “Your Money, Your Right” Campaign:

i.  The portal builds upon the nationwide “Your Money, Your Right” campaign launched by the Department of Financial Services.

ii. The campaign has been implemented in coordination with financial sector regulators, banks, and other stakeholders to help citizens recover their unclaimed financial assets.

6. About Public Sector Bank Alliance (PSBA):

a. Establishment: PSBA is a centralized umbrella organization jointly promoted by 12 Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India.

b. Purpose: It was established to provide technology-driven and secure services to the banking sector.

c. Functions:

i. PSBA supports innovation in banking services through digital solutions and collaborative initiatives.

ii. It aims to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the delivery of modern banking services across public sector banks.

d. Significance:

i. The Unclaimed Assets Portal is expected to make it easier for citizens to identify and recover dormant or forgotten financial assets.

ii. It promotes financial inclusion, transparency, and better utilization of unclaimed funds within the financial system.

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