Current Affairs - National

C-FLOOD is India’s first unified flood forecasting platform, launched by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, on July 2, 2025. Developed collaboratively by C-DAC, CWC, and NRSC under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), this innovative platform aims to provide two-day advance flood forecasts down to the village level. It integrates 2-D hydrodynamic modelling and real-time data from multiple river basins, including Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi. C-FLOOD serves as a vital decision-support tool for disaster management authorities, enabling timely evacuations and preparedness. Its web-based design and integration with emergency response portals enhance India’s resilience to flood-related disasters.

Indore became the first Indian city to implement a QR-based digital house address system, marking a transformative step in urban governance. Under this initiative, each household receives a metal plate with a unique QR code embedded with GPS coordinates, allowing precise property identification. This system is integrated with the national Digipin platform and facilitates services like tax payments and grievance redressal through mobile scanning. Launched as a pilot in Ward 82 of Sudama Nagar, the project is aligned with India’s Smart Cities and Digital India missions, aiming to streamline civic services and create a scalable, tech-driven model for other cities.

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched the SPREE 2025 scheme, aimed at enhancing social security coverage by encouraging unregistered employers and workers to voluntarily register under the ESI Act, 1948. Running from July 1 to December 31, 2025, the scheme offers simplified digital registration through portals like ESIC, Shram Suvidha, and MCA. It provides immunity from past inspections and contribution demands, removing a major deterrent for employers. By covering contractual, temporary, and gig workers, SPREE 2025 promotes inclusivity and seeks to strengthen the social safety net for India’s vast informal and underserved workforce.

The Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme is designed to enhance job creation, employability, and social security across sectors, with a significant emphasis on the manufacturing sector. This focus aims to drive large-scale employment generation by incentivizing industries to hire, particularly benefiting first-time employees who will receive a wage benefit of up to Rs 15,000 in two installments. With an ambitious goal of generating over 3.5 crore jobs in just two years, supported by a financial outlay of Rs one lakh crore, the scheme positions the manufacturing sector as a central pillar for economic growth and employment expansion.

The Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) team participated in the 2025 International Rocket Engineering Competition held in Midland, Texas. In this prestigious event, they competed in the SDL Payload Challenge category. The team's rocket, named "Vayu Vega", not only met all safety requirements but also impressed the judges with its overall performance. As a result, the team achieved second place and received a monetary prize of USD 750. This success highlights the team's engineering skills and their ability to perform at an international level.