Prelims Digest

-Year of Signing: The treaty was signed in 1960between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. – Rivers Involved: It governs the sharing of water from the Indus River system, which includes: – Eastern Rivers: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej (allocated to India). – Western Rivers: Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab (allocated to Pakistan, with limited use for India). – Key Features: – India can use the waters of the Western Rivers for non-consumptive uses (e.g., irrigation, navigation, and hydropower generation under restrictions). – Pakistan receives 80% of the waters from the Indus River system. – Historical Significance: Despite tense relations, the IWT is considered one of the most successful water-sharing treaties in the world. – Geopolitical Importance: The treaty is often seen as a tool of diplomacy and has implications for India-Pakistan relations. – World Bank Role: It acts as a guarantor for the treaty and can be approached for dispute resolution under the treaty framework

WHY IN NEWS: The Election Commission of India (ECI)’s renewed push to link Aadhaar with voter ID endangers the right to vote Right to vote: Supreme Court rulings: Risks and Issues – Disenfranchisement: Privacy and Surveillance Risks Institutional Concerns

WHY IN NEWS: As India and China mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, we find ourselves not merely at a commemorative sa milestone but also at a pivotal juncture in Asian and global geopolitics Historical Context: 1962 war as a traumatic marker; Galwan Valley clash (2020) catalyzed a policy shift Border Tensions: Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains militarized; permanent deployment of 60,000 troops in Eastern Ladakh. Trade Imbalance: India’s trade deficit with China reached nearly $100 billion (2024-25). Strategic Approach: India follows “competitive coexistence ” balancing deterrence with engagement. Regional Influence: China’s footprint in South Asia (Hambantota Port, Pokhara Airport, Maldives loans); India counters with development aid, defense cooperation. Geopolitical Factors: US-China Rivalry: Donald Trump’s second term revived unilateralism; implications for India’s strategic autonomy. Four Pillars of India’s China Policy:

WHY IN NEWS: India’s logistics sector, which is one of the most carbon-intensive in the world, needs to undergo a green transformation Viksit Bharat 2047: Vision for a self-reliant and inclusive India by 2047. Government Initiatives

WHY IN NEWS: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have initiated a pilot project to explore the implementation of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology across the State Concept & Definition – V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid): India’s Status Kerala-Specific Efforts

WHY IN NEWS: As retail inflation ebbs, government must move to improve farmer income Economic Indicators & RBI Policy Food Inflation & Rural Economy Industrial & Employment Outlook

WHY IN NEWS: The office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) cautioned private and government hospitals to report incidents of births and deaths Registrar General of India (RGI) Directive : Hospitals must report births and deaths within 21 days to ensure compliance with the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 (amended in 2023). ` Registration Deficit: About 10% of births and deaths remain unregistered despite progress towards universal registration. RBD Act 2023 Amendment: Mandatory registration of all births and deaths; failure leads to enhanced fine of up to ₹1,000(previously ₹50). Civil Registration System (CRS): Government hospitals act as registrars; private hospitals must report events. State-Level Variations: Different departments oversee registration across states—health, panchayat, economics & statistics. Centralized Digital Registration (Effective Oct 1, 2023): Digital birth certificates serve as the sole proof for admission, jobs, marriage registration, electoral rolls, property registration. Data Integration: Birth and death records to update National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, etc. Concerns by RGI: Some hospitals delay registration; registrars urged to issue birth/death certificates within seven days.

WHY IN NEWS: The recent safe return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore after a nine-month stay onboard the International Space Station (ISS) underscored the importance of following safety protocols Main Phases of Space Travel Safety Measures at Takeoff Safety During Orbit – Crew vs. Service Modules: Space Station Safety (For Docking Missions) Returning to Earth Safely – Heat shield: Past Incidents – Apollo-1 disaster (1967):

WHY IN NEWS: India’s first automated system for studying bat behavior. -Created by Kadambari Deshpande and Vedant Barje, guided by Jagdish Krishnaswamy at IIHS, Bengaluru. Key Features: Technology Used: Smart program (algorithm) for understanding bat sounds. Uses: Challenges: Importance: