Current Affairs - National

The 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) was inaugurated in Mumbai, hosted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). The event witnessed participation from 288 high school students representing a record 64 countries, with 12 countries joining for the first time. Hosting such a large and diverse international academic competition highlights Mumbai’s role as a hub for science and education. It also reflects India’s growing contribution to global scientific collaboration, encouraging young minds to pursue research and innovation in astronomy and astrophysics.

India’s first Animal Stem Cell BioBank was inaugurated at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. This advanced facility, spanning 9,300 sq ft and costing ₹1.85 crore, is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure such as stem cell culture units, 3D bioprinting, bacterial culture labs, cryostorage, and high biosafety standards. It is designed to revolutionise animal health, regenerative medicine, and agricultural productivity through research in disease modelling, reproductive biotechnology, and tissue regeneration. The inauguration also included the launch of five breakthrough veterinary technologies aimed at improving livestock health and combating antimicrobial resistance.

Between January 2025 and August 2025, the female electorate in the draft rolls fell from 3.72 crore to 3.41 crore, amounting to a net deletion of around 31 lakh voters and representing an 8.3% decrease. This decline was notably higher than the male deletion rate of 6.1%, with 37 out of 38 districts recording greater female voter deletions. The disparity cannot be explained by death rates or migration patterns, as men typically migrate more. Instead, low female literacy rates and challenges in completing self-enumeration forms during the Special Intensive Revision are considered likely causes, possibly compounded by administrative verification issues.

Mission Poshan 2.0, launched to improve maternal and child nutrition in India, has achieved significant coverage. By July 2025, 72.22 lakh pregnant women had been registered as beneficiaries through the Poshan Tracker system. This initiative works alongside the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which focuses on providing financial assistance to mothers. Mission Poshan 2.0 integrates Anganwadi services, nutritional supplementation, and health monitoring, targeting not just pregnant women but also lactating mothers, children, and adolescent girls. The use of technology, such as the Poshan Tracker and Facial Recognition System, ensures transparency and efficient delivery of services to registered beneficiaries.

The 4.5 km long ‘Rudrastra’, Asia’s longest freight train, was developed by Indian Railways with the key aim of boosting goods transport efficiency. Its design allows for the movement of large cargo volumes in fewer trips, leading to reduced congestion on freight corridors, lower fuel consumption per tonne of goods, and faster delivery times. With a load capacity of 72 tonnes per wagon and an average speed of 40.5 km/h during trials, the train can significantly improve logistics and cost efficiency for industries dependent on bulk transport. This milestone also showcases engineering innovation in coupling and engine distribution.