03 August 2026

UPSC GS 2 

Favara–UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor

·       News: The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) launched the Favara–UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor, enabling real-time remittances from the Maldives to India.

·    About Favara–UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor:

o   The Favara–UPI Cross-Border Payment Corridor is a real-time cross-border payment system that integrates the Maldives' Favara Instant Payment System with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

o   It enables seamless person-to-person (P2P) fund transfers between the two countries.

·    Participating Countries:

o   India.

o   Maldives.

·    Aim:

o   Facilitate secure, instant, and low-cost cross-border digital payments.

o   Strengthen bilateral financial connectivity.

o   Deepen economic cooperation between India and the Maldives.

·    Key Features:

o   Enables real-time person-to-person (P2P) remittances from the Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR) to UPI-enabled Indian Rupee (INR) bank accounts.

o   Initially launched with:

§  Bank of Maldives Plc.

§  Maldives Islamic Bank Plc.

o   Accessible through the participating banks' mobile banking applications.

o   Supports family-maintenance and gift-related remittances under the Maldives' foreign remittance framework.

·       Implemented through collaboration among:

o   Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

o   Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

o   NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).

o   Participating financial institutions.

·       Future phases will introduce:

o   QR code-based merchant payments.

o   Additional cross-border digital payment services.

·    UPI Accepted Countries: Indian travellers can use UPI for payments in:

o   Cambodia.

o   Singapore.

o   United Arab Emirates.

o   France.

o   Mauritius.

o   Nepal.

o   Bhutan.

o   Qatar.

o   Sri Lanka.

·    About Unified Payments Interface (UPI):

o   Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

o   It enables instant fund transfers between bank accounts using mobile devices.

o   It operates under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

e-Zero FIR System

·       News: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed that the e-Zero FIR System has been introduced across 18 States and Union Territories for cyber financial crime cases.

·    About e-Zero FIR System:

o   The e-Zero FIR System is a technology-based platform that enables the automatic registration of Zero FIRs for high-value cyber financial crimes.

o   Under the system, cyber financial fraud complaints involving losses above ₹10 lakh are automatically converted into Zero FIRs when reported through the 1930 Cyber Helpline or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

·    Statutory Backing:

o   The system is enabled under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

·    Nodal Agency:

o   Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

·    How Does the System Work?

o   Complaints involving cyber financial fraud exceeding ₹10 lakh, filed through the 1930 helpline or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), automatically generate a Zero FIR at the e-Crime Police Station.

o   The Zero FIR is immediately routed to the territorial cybercrime police station based on the complainant's location.

o   The victim must visit the concerned cybercrime police station within three days to convert the Zero FIR into a regular FIR.

·    Integration with Digital Platforms: The system integrates:

o   National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) of I4C.

o   Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

o   This integration enables:

§  Real-time complaint processing.

§  Automatic routing of cases.

§  Nationwide interoperability among law enforcement agencies.

·    What is a Zero FIR?

o   A Zero FIR is an FIR that can be registered at any police station, irrespective of where the offence occurred.

o   It is assigned the number 'Zero' initially and is later transferred to the police station having territorial jurisdiction for investigation.

o   It ensures prompt registration of offences without delays caused by jurisdictional issues. 

UPSC GS 3 

Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) NIPUN

·       News: 'NIPUN', a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) support vessel, was recently delivered to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.

·       About DSV NIPUN:

o   NIPUN is the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) inducted into the Indian Navy.

o   It was built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and delivered to the Indian Navy in 2026.

o   The name "NIPUN" is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "one who is adept, capable, and well-versed in a particular discipline."

·       Key Features:

o   It is a highly specialised vessel designed to undertake deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.

o   It is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment and has the capability to carry out deep-sea saturation diving.

o   A side diving stage has been provided to facilitate diving operations.

o   Its capabilities are enhanced by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which support diver monitoring, underwater inspection, and salvage missions.

o   It will serve as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), enabling the rescue and evacuation of personnel during submarine emergencies.

·       About Diving Support Vessel (DSV):

o   A Diving Support Vessel (DSV) is a specialised ship that serves as a floating base for professional underwater operations, deep-sea salvage, and submarine rescue missions.

o   It is equipped with:

§  Dynamic Positioning Systems (DPS) for precise station-keeping.

§  Saturation diving systems for prolonged deep-sea diving operations.

§  Deployment systems for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and other underwater equipment.

·       About Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV):

o   A Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) is a specialised rescue system designed to locate, dock with, and rescue personnel trapped inside a distressed submarine.

o   It can operate at significant ocean depths and is transported to the accident site by a Mother Ship such as NIPUN. 

Sooty Bark Disease

·       News: Maple trees in British Columbia, Canada, have been affected by Sooty Bark Disease, prompting researchers to explore measures to slow its spread.

·       About Sooty Bark Disease:

o   Sooty Bark Disease is a fungal disease of maple trees that causes rapid wilting and eventual tree mortality.

o   It is caused by the fungus Cryptostroma corticale.

o   The disease also poses a health risk to humans if fungal spores are inhaled.

·       Distribution:

o   The fungus is endemic to the Great Lakes region of North America.

o   It is considered an introduced disease in Europe.

·       Favourable Conditions:

o   The disease is commonly observed after prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.

o   The fungus requires high temperatures over an extended period to become active.

o   It may remain dormant inside a tree for several years before activating under favourable conditions.

·       Symptoms:

o   Rapid wilting of affected maple trees.

o   Predominantly black, sooty patches beneath the bark due to massive spore formation.

o   Progressive decline that can kill a tree within about three years.

·       Human Health Impact:

o   Inhalation of fungal spores can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, commonly known as Maple Bark Disease, an allergic lung condition affecting people exposed to infected trees.

·       Control Measures:

o   No effective treatment or control measure currently exists for Sooty Bark Disease.

o   Early detection, removal of infected trees, and safe handling of infected wood are the primary management strategies to reduce spore spread. 

Machilipatnam ASW Warship 

·       News: The Machilipatnam (BY 529) Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) was recently launched for the Indian Navy.

·       About Machilipatnam ASW Warship:

o   Machilipatnam (BY 529) is the seventh vessel of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

o   It derives its name from the historic port city of Machilipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.

o   It has been built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the Indian Navy.

·       Key Features:

o   It has a displacement of around 900 tonnes.

o   It can attain a maximum speed of 25 knots.

o   It has an endurance of about 1,800 nautical miles.

o   The warship is equipped with indigenously developed hull-mounted sonar and low-frequency variable depth sonar for advanced underwater detection.

o   It has an indigenous content exceeding 80%, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

·       Operational Capabilities:

o   Underwater surveillance.

o   Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations.

o   Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).

o   Mine warfare capability. 

Samudra Manthan (National Offshore Exploration Scheme)

·       News: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved Samudra Manthan (National Offshore Exploration Scheme) to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration and production.

·    About Samudra Manthan (National Offshore Exploration Scheme):

o   Samudra Manthan is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at accelerating offshore oil and gas exploration and production across the entire exploration value chain.

o   It adopts an integrated approach to strengthen offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production in India.

o   Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

·    Objectives:

o   Increase India's domestic oil and gas production from around 62 MMTOE to 80 MMTOE annually.

o   Expand India's hydrocarbon resource base from 1.6 billion TOE to 2.2 billion TOE.

o   Reduce dependence on imported crude oil and strengthen energy security.

o   Note: The additional production is expected to reduce India's crude oil import bill by nearly ₹1 lakh crore annually.

·    Budget and Duration:

o   Budget Outlay: ₹84,084 crore.

o   Implementation Period: Up to FY 2030–31.

·    Key Features:

o   Large-scale acquisition, processing, and interpretation of high-quality offshore seismic data.

o   Accelerated exploratory drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas.

o   Scientific drilling in frontier sedimentary basins.

o   Development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure.

o   Establishment of an Integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone.

·    Dedicated support for:

o   Digital programme management.

o   Capacity building.

o   Technology adoption.

o   Stakeholder engagement.

o   International outreach.

·    Major Components:

o   Acquisition and processing of modern offshore seismic data.

o   Drilling of 60 deepwater exploration wells.

o   Development of common offshore infrastructure hubs for commercialisation of discoveries.

o   Establishment of Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zones to promote domestic manufacturing and localisation of critical equipment and services.

·    Expected Outcomes:

o   Reserve accretion of over 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE).

o   Significant increase in offshore exploration and domestic oil and gas production.

o   Development of a globally competitive ecosystem for offshore technologies and services.

o   Increased investment across the exploration and production (E&P) value chain.

o   Enhanced energy security through greater utilisation of domestic offshore resources.

o   Large-scale employment generation and promotion of indigenous manufacturing under Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

·       News: The 25th anniversary of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) was recently celebrated with a conference highlighting its history.

·    About Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT):

o   The Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) is a 2-metre optical-infrared telescope named after Nobel Laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

o   It is located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, Ladakh.

o   Situated at an altitude of about 4,500 metres, it is currently the tenth-highest optical telescope in the world.

·    Location Advantage:

o   Hanle has cloudless skies, low atmospheric water vapour, and minimal light pollution.

o   These conditions make it one of the world's best sites for observations in:

§  Optical wavelengths.

§  Infrared wavelengths.

§  Sub-millimetre wavelengths.

§  Millimetre wavelengths.

·    Timeline:

o   First Light: 26 September 2000.

o   Dedicated to the Nation: August 2001.

·    Remote Operation:

o   The telescope is operated remotely through a dedicated satellite communication link.

o   It is controlled from the Centre for Research & Education in Science & Technology (CREST) of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Hosakote, Karnataka, about 35 km northeast of Bengaluru.

·    Scientific Instruments: The HCT is equipped with:

o   HFOSC – Optical spectrograph and camera.

o   uTIRSPEC – Near-infrared spectrometer and imager.

o   HESP – High-resolution Echelle spectrograph.

·    Applications: The telescope is used to study:

o   Planets and asteroids.

o   Comets.

o   Stars.

o   Galaxies.

o   Exoplanets.

o   Other deep-space astronomical objects.

·    Major Scientific Contributions:

o   Spectroscopic studies of comets.

o   Research on the atmospheres of exoplanets.

o   Participation in the discovery of the TRAPPIST-1b exoplanet.

·       Numerous studies in stellar, galactic, and planetary astronomy.

·    About Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO)

·       The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is located at Hanle, Ladakh.

·       It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).

·       It is one of the world's highest astronomical observatories and is internationally recognised for its excellent observing conditions.