11 June 2026

UPSC GS 2

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) Platform

1. News:   The Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform has been awarded a Guinness World Records title for achieving the highest participation in an online quiz within one week.

2. What is MY Bharat?: Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is an autonomous body established by the Government of India to promote youth development and youth-led nation building.

3. Nodal Department: It functions under the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

4. Legal Status: It has been registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

5. Objective: The platform aims to provide equitable access to opportunities that enable young people to realize their aspirations and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

6. Key Features of MY Bharat Platform:

a. Youth-Centric Platform: The platform is specifically designed to serve the needs of young people in the age group of 15 to 29 years.

b. Technology-Driven Ecosystem: It provides a comprehensive institutional mechanism powered by technology to facilitate youth development and youth-led development.

c. Opportunity Linkages: The platform connects youth with programmes, projects, and learning opportunities offered by:

i. Businesses.

ii. Government departments.

iii. Non-profit organizations.

iv. Experiential Learning:

d. It promotes practical learning opportunities that complement classroom education.

e. Youth can gain exposure to real-world work environments through engagements with local businesses, local self-governments, and government institutions.

f. Community Leadership: The platform seeks to create an ecosystem that empowers young individuals to become agents of community transformation and social change.

g. Digital Youth Profiles: Users can create individual profiles showcasing their:

i. Skills.

ii. Achievements.

iii. Interests.

iv. Activities and experiences.

h. Networking Opportunities: The platform enables youth to connect with peers, professionals, and potential mentors.

i. Mentorship and Resource Support: It provides access to:

i. Learning resources.

ii. Mentorship programmes.

iii. Experiential learning opportunities.

iv. Professional networks.

v. Industry linkages and career guidance.

7. Significance:

a. Youth Empowerment: It serves as a national platform for empowering India's youth through skill development, learning, and civic participation.

o Bridging Opportunity Gaps: The platform helps connect young people with opportunities across sectors, improving employability and engagement.

o Nation Building: By promoting youth participation in governance, community service, and professional development, MY Bharat contributes to the creation of a skilled, innovative, and socially responsible workforce for Viksit Bharat.

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Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award

1. News:  Bidar district of Karnataka has emerged as a winner of the Centre’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign.

2. Launch: The initiative was launched in 2024.

3. Aim: The initiative aims to enhance water recharge through measures such as rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, borewell recharge, recharge shafts, and other water conservation interventions.

4. Objective: Its objective is to ensure that every drop of water is conserved through collective efforts based on a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.

5. Participatory Approach: The initiative is designed to encourage active participation from:

a. Government agencies.

b. Local communities.

c. Industries.

d. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

e. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).

6. Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

a. Boost in Groundwater Levels: The initiative seeks to capture and store rainwater and surface runoff to stabilize and improve groundwater levels.

b. Promotion of Water Conservation: It aims to foster a culture of water conservation by involving communities in the management and protection of local water resources.

c. Enhancement of Climate Resilience: The programme seeks to mitigate the impacts of climate change by creating water-storage solutions for periods of heavy rainfall and by providing buffers against drought conditions.

d. Improvement of Water Quality: Artificial recharge methods help naturally filter water as it percolates through soil layers, thereby reducing salinity and contamination.

7. Key Features:

a. Community-Centric Approach: The initiative emphasizes people's participation and collective responsibility in water resource management.

b. Sustainable Water Management: It promotes long-term conservation and replenishment of groundwater resources.

c. Integrated Water Recharge Measures: Multiple recharge mechanisms such as rainwater harvesting structures, recharge pits, borewell recharge systems, and recharge shafts are encouraged.

8. Nodal Ministry: The initiative is implemented under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

SAPLING 2026 Dialogue 

1. News:     Union Minister for Food Processing Industries recently inaugurated SAPLING (South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth) Dialogue 2026.

2. SAPLING Regional High-Level Policy Dialogue 

a. The dialogue was held in Ahmedabad.

b. The event was organized under the title “Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Employment Generation and Sustainable Growth in South Asia”.

3. Objective:

a. It is a two-day regional dialogue that brings together stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening food-processing ecosystems and building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.

b. The event aims to promote employment generation, nutrition security, and sustainable economic growth across South Asia.

4. Alignment:

a. The dialogue is aligned with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect initiative and the SAPLING platform.

b. These initiatives seek to accelerate resilient and nutrition-focused food systems through policy reforms, investment mobilization, and technology-driven solutions.

5.   Organised By: The event was inaugurated by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in collaboration with the World Bank Group-led SAPLING initiative.

6.  Participants: The dialogue brought together:

a. Policymakers.

b. Industry leaders.

c. Development partners.

d. Innovators.

e. Researchers.

f. Startups.

g. Representatives from South Asian countries.

7.  Major Thematic Sessions:

a. Think Big, Act Local: Unlocking South Asia’s Food Processing Opportunity.

b. From Farm to Factory: Strengthening Agricultural Supply Chains for Food Processing.

c. From Shadow to Spotlight: Formalizing Informal Food Processors.

d. Smart Tech, Bold Innovations: Transforming Food Processing Through Technology.

e. Safe Food, Strong Markets: Health, Quality and Standards for Competitive Trade.

f. Farm, Firm and Finance: Mobilizing Investment for Food Processing Growth.

g. Shaping a Shared Food Future: Regional Collaboration and Policy Action in South Asia.

8.   Key Highlights of the Dialogue:

a. Food Systems Transformation: Discussions focused on making food systems more resilient, efficient, and nutrition-oriented.

b. Infrastructure and Market Linkages: Emphasis was placed on strengthening infrastructure and improving market connectivity for food processors and farmers.

c. Collaborative Investment Agenda: Stakeholders explored opportunities for mobilizing public and private investments to accelerate growth in the food-processing sector.

9. About SAPLING (South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth) Initiative: It is a regional engagement and partnership platform aimed at transforming resilient and nutrition-focused food systems across South Asia.

10. Alignment: The initiative is aligned with the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect programme.

11.   Leadership: SAPLING is led by the World Bank Group.

12.  Core Themes of SAPLING:

a. Post-harvest loss reduction.

b. Climate-smart agriculture.

c. Food safety standards.

13. Pillars of SAPLING:

a. Policy Dialogue: Facilitates regional discussions on food system reforms and best practices.

b. Government Support: Assists governments in designing and implementing effective food-system policies.

c. Technology Solutions: Promotes innovation and technology adoption to improve productivity, sustainability, and nutrition outcomes.

14. Key Features of SAPLING:

a. Multi-Stakeholder Platform: It brings together governments, private-sector actors, innovators, researchers, and development partners.

b. Policy and Investment Support: It promotes policy reforms, mobilizes investments, and supports technology-driven solutions.

c. Knowledge Exchange: It encourages collaboration and sharing of best practices among South Asian countries.

d. Private Sector Participation: The initiative seeks to enhance private-sector involvement in food-system value chains and unlock investments for sustainable growth.  

UPSC GS 3

Crotalaria Phulei

1. News:    Indian botanists have discovered a previously unknown species of flowering plant named Crotalaria phulei from the forests near Nagpur in Maharashtra.

2. Discovery: The species was discovered in the Khairi-Umred forest region near Nagpur, Maharashtra.

3. Naming: It has been named in honour of Savitribai Phule, India's first woman teacher and one of the country's most prominent social reformers.

4. Taxonomic Classification: The plant belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family.

5. Growth Form: Crotalaria phulei is an undershrub that can grow up to 1.5 metres in height.

6. Stem Characteristics: Its young branches are covered with silvery silky hairs.

7. Flowers: The species bears large, bright yellow flowers measuring approximately 3.4–3.5 centimetres in length.

8. Seeds and Pods:

a. It produces pods containing seeds with a distinctive mottled creamy-olive colour.

b. Researchers identified this seed characteristic as unique within the genus Crotalaria.

9. Flowering and Fruiting Period:

a. Flowering occurs between November and January.

b. Fruiting takes place between December and January.

10. Closely Related Species: The species most closely resembles:

a. Crotalaria juncea, commonly known as sunhemp.

b. Crotalaria shrirangiana, found in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.

11. Conservation Status: According to preliminary assessment under IUCN criteria, the species has been categorized as Data Deficient (DD).

Screw Pine (Pandanus Odorifer)

1. News: Farmers in Ganjam district of Odisha have increasingly shifted from paddy cultivation to kewra (screw pine) cultivation due to recurring crop damage caused by wild boars.

2. Classification:

a. Screw pine, commonly known as kewra or kewda, is a small branched tree or shrub belonging to the Pandanaceae family.

b. It is a monocotyledonous plant and is more closely related to grasses and palms than to conifers.

3. Habitat: The species naturally grows in tropical coastal environments.

4. Growth Form: It is a small, slender, branching tree with a flexible trunk supported by characteristic brace or prop roots.

5. Leaves:

a. The plant bears rosettes of long, pointed, stiff, leathery, bluish-green leaves with spiny margins.

b. The leaves are also known for their fragrance.

6. Distinctive Features: Its prominent prop roots and long narrow leaves are among its most recognizable characteristics.

7. Global Distribution: It occurs naturally in southern India, Myanmar (Burma), and the Andaman Islands.

8. Distribution in India: The plant grows abundantly along the coastal regions of Odisha, particularly on the Ganjam coast between the Rushikulya River in the north and the Bahuda River in the south.

9. Climate: It requires bright sunlight and thrives in warm and humid climatic conditions.

10. Soil:  The species grows best in loamy soils rich in organic matter with good moisture-retention capacity.

11. Rainfall: It performs well in areas receiving moderate annual rainfall of about 1,500–2,000 mm.

12.  Applications:

a. Food Industry: Kewra is widely used as a flavouring agent in various food preparations.

b. Perfumery and Cosmetics: The plant is an important source of aromatic extracts used in perfumes and cosmetic products.

c. Traditional Medicine: It is used in Ayurvedic formulations and traditional medicinal preparations.

d. Fragrance Extraction: Fragrant oil and essence are extracted primarily from the male flowers of the plant.

e. Handicrafts: Its leaves are commonly used for making mats, baskets, bags, and other handicraft products.

13.  Ecological Significance:

a. Shoreline Protection: The plant plays an important role in stabilizing coastal sand dunes and shorelines.

b. Biodiversity Support: It provides habitat and ecological support for various coastal organisms.

c. Keystone Species: Owing to its ecological functions, screw pine is regarded as a keystone species in many Indian coastal ecosystems.