IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Analysis
Archives
(PRELIMS Focus)
mBridge Project: Multi-CBDC Platform for Cross-Border Payments
Economy
Why in News?
Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from the mBridge cross-border digital-currency project after completing its proof of concept on 13 May 2025. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said the withdrawal followed its original plan and did not necessarily indicate a response to US pressure.
What is mBridge?
mBridge = Multiple CBDC Bridge, a platform designed to enable direct cross-border payments and settlement using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
It uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including a purpose-built mBridge Ledger, allowing participating banks to transact and settle directly in central-bank money rather than relying entirely on conventional correspondent-banking arrangements.
Key Facts
- Initiated: 2021
- BIS role: Developed through the BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre with partner central banks.
- Original partners: Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Bank of Thailand, People’s Bank of China’s Digital Currency Institute and Central Bank of the UAE.
- Saudi Arabia: Observer in 2023; full participant in 2024; completed PoC in May 2025.
- MVP stage: Reached in 2024.
- Technology: Distributed Ledger Technology + wholesale CBDCs.
- Objective: Faster, cheaper and more efficient cross-border payments and foreign-exchange settlement.
Why is it Significant?
Traditional international payments can involve multiple correspondent banks, intermediaries, currencies and settlement systems, increasing cost and settlement time. mBridge explores whether CBDCs can enable near-real-time peer-to-peer cross-border settlement.
It could also reduce the need for an intermediary currency such as the US dollar in some transactions. However, mBridge is not a BRICS project and does not create a common currency. The BIS has explicitly distinguished it from a BRICS payment initiative.
Important Current Development
The BIS concluded its involvement in October 2024, stating that the project had reached a stage where participating central banks could continue independently. The project itself was marked “concluded” by BIS, while participating jurisdictions have continued developing the platform.
Macao joined in 2026, with participating banks beginning transactions through the platform in June 2026.
Sources:
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY 2.0): Rural Youth to Employment
Economy
Why in News?
The Ministry of Rural Development is rolling out DDU-GKY 2.0 training batches across most States/UTs from October 2026. Around 70,000 rural youth are expected to begin training in October, with more than 9 lakh training targets allocated across 31 States/UTs for the 2026–28 period.
What is DDU-GKY?
- Launched: 25 September 2014
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
- Nature: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Umbrella framework: Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
- Target group: Poor rural youth, generally 15–35 years
- Core objective: Placement-linked skill training leading to sustainable employment and livelihoods.
DDU-GKY 2.0 – Key Features
The upgraded guidelines were notified in May 2025, with greater emphasis on:
- Industry-demand-based training
- Placement and employment sustainability
- Post-placement support
- Digital monitoring and end-to-end project management
- PPP mode implementation through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)
- NSQF-aligned courses
- Emerging sectors such as aerospace & aviation, agriculture, green jobs, healthcare, textiles, beauty & wellness, etc.
Training duration can range from 3 to 12 months depending on the course.
Social Inclusion Norms
DDU-GKY incorporates mandatory representation targets for disadvantaged groups:
- SC/ST: 50%
- Women: 33%
- Persons with Disabilities: 5% under the 2025 DDU-GKY 2.0 framework.
Progress Since 2014
Since inception, more than 18.47 lakh candidates have been trained across 800+ job roles and 12.43 lakh have been placed. The scheme has increasingly shifted towards measuring actual employment outcomes rather than merely training numbers.
A 2025 impact assessment reported an average 30.79% salary increase over three years among beneficiaries, with an average salary of about ₹16,500 per month.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2314665®=48&lang=1
Marfan Syndrome: Genetic Disorder of Connective Tissue
Science & Technology
Why in News?
Researchers have reported the first molecularly characterised cases of Marfan syndrome in domestic cats. Two feline siblings, Gary and Shaggy, showed unusually long limbs, abnormalities of the eye lens and enlargement of the aortic root. Genetic sequencing identified a variant in the FBN1 gene, which encodes the connective-tissue protein fibrillin-1.
What is Marfan Syndrome?
Marfan syndrome is a rare inherited connective-tissue disorder affecting structures such as bones, ligaments, eyes, heart and blood vessels.
- Gene: FBN1 (Fibrillin-1)
- Inheritance in humans: Usually autosomal dominant
- Key protein: Fibrillin-1, an important component of elastic connective tissues
- Major systems affected: Skeletal, ocular and cardiovascular systems.
Major Features
- Skeletal: unusually long limbs and fingers, flexible joints and certain chest/spinal abnormalities.
- Eyes: displacement of the eye lens (ectopia lentis).
- Cardiovascular: weakening/enlargement of the aorta, particularly the aortic root, which can lead to serious complications.
- Other: connective-tissue abnormalities can also affect skin and lungs.
2026 Feline Finding
The two cats carried two altered copies of FBN1, unlike the usual single altered copy sufficient to cause Marfan syndrome in humans. Researchers found that their particular variant was hypomorphic—it reduced but did not completely eliminate normal gene function. This helped explain their survival into adulthood.
Sources:
https://phys.org/news/2026-09-case-marfan-syndrome-feline-siblings.html#google_vignette
Exercise VARUNA-26: India–France Bilateral Maritime Exercise
Defence & Security
Why in News?
The 24th edition of Exercise VARUNA is being conducted between the Indian Navy and French Navy. Indian Navy’s INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 September 2026 for the exercise.
Key Facts
- Participating countries: India and France
- Type: Bilateral maritime/naval exercise
- 2026 edition: 24th
- Location: Toulon, France
- Indian platform: INS Trishul
- Phases: Harbour and sea phases
- Activities: Cross-deck visits, operational interactions, professional engagements and sporting activities.
- Objectives:
- Enhance interoperability between the two navies
- Exchange operational experience and best practices
- Improve mutual understanding and maritime cooperation.
India–France Military Exercise Matrix
| Exercise | Domain |
|---|---|
| VARUNA | Navy |
| GARUDA | Air Force |
| SHAKTI | Army |
| FRINJEX | Army |
Thus, VARUNA = India–France naval exercise.
INS Trishul – Static Linkage
INS Trishul is a Talwar-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy, commissioned in 2003. It is designed for multidimensional maritime operations. The ship has a displacement of about 3,700 tonnes, a speed exceeding 30 knots, and an endurance of around 30 days.
Significance
VARUNA forms part of India’s broader maritime engagement with France and contributes to operational interoperability, information exchange and cooperation in the maritime domain. It complements the wider India–France defence partnership involving land, air and naval exercises.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2314333®=3&lang=1
Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme: Deep-Tech Push for Defence Indigenisation
Science & Technology
Why in News?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme with Zero mK India Pvt. Ltd., Alwar, for indigenous development of a 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator for Quantum Applications. It is the first high-value agreement under the ₹500-crore corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects.
About TDF Scheme
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence
- Executed by: DRDO
- Objective: Promote self-reliance in defence technology under Make in India by encouraging private industry, MSMEs and start-ups.
- Supports development of cutting-edge defence and aerospace technologies.
- Maximum project duration: 4 years.
- Projects costing up to ₹50 crore can be considered, with funding support of up to 90% of project cost.
Eligibility
Eligible Indian entities include companies, partnership firms, LLPs, one-person companies and proprietorships, particularly MSMEs and start-ups. Industries must be owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens; entities with more than 49% foreign investment are ineligible. DPIIT recognition is required for start-ups.
Current Project: 20 mK Dilution Refrigerator
A dilution refrigerator is a cryogenic system capable of reaching millikelvin temperatures. Such ultra-low temperatures are crucial for operating/testing several quantum computing platforms. The project supports the National Quantum Mission, indigenous cryogenic capability and reduced dependence on imported infrastructure.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2314536®=48&lang=1
Tokay Gecko: Protected Reptile Targeted by Wildlife Trafficking
Environment & Ecology
Why in News?
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 86 live Tokay Geckos from two persons in Mariani, Assam, in September 2026. The animals were handed over to the Forest Department for further action under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
About Tokay Gecko
- Scientific name: Gekko gecko
- Type: Large arboreal lizard belonging to the gecko family.
- Appearance: Bluish-grey body with conspicuous orange/red/yellow spots; red-spotted and black-spotted variants occur.
- Habitat: Tropical forests, rock crevices and sometimes human-made structures.
- Distribution: South and Southeast/East Asia.
- Behaviour: Primarily nocturnal, solitary and territorial.
- Diet: Carnivorous/insectivorous; feeds mainly on insects and small vertebrates.
- Can autotomise (shed) its tail as a defence mechanism.
Conservation & Wildlife Trade
- IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
- CITES: Appendix II
- India: Schedule I under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- It is illegally trafficked mainly because of perceived medicinal properties, particularly in parts of Asian traditional medicine, besides demand as an exotic pet.
Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2314150®=3&lang=1
National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP): Regulating India’s Allied Health Workforce
Polity & Governance
Why in News?
The NCAHP Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026 were notified on 31 August 2026 and published in the Gazette on 15 September 2026. The regulations establish a framework for registration of allied and healthcare professionals in State and Central Registers.
About NCAHP
- Established under: National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.
- Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- Nature: Statutory regulatory body.
- Purpose: Regulate and maintain standards of education, training and professional services in allied and healthcare professions.
- It seeks to bring greater uniformity in curricula, nomenclature, education standards and professional registration.
2026 Registration Regulations
- Professionals will require registration to practise recognised professions under the Act.
- Registration involves inclusion in the State Register + Central Register and obtaining a Unique Identification (UID) number.
- Five-year validity, renewable subject to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
- Digital certificates will contain UID and QR code for verification.
- Professionals registered in one State can practise in another State, improving professional mobility.
- Interim registration is available for students undertaking internships/clinical training.
- Temporary registration is possible for eligible foreign-qualified professionals for specified purposes.
- Where a State Council is non-functional, eligible professionals can register directly with the Commission.
Static–Dynamic Linkage
NCAHP is also standardising education: UGC has notified 33 new and 21 restructured UG/PG degrees, while NCAHP has released competency-based curricula covering multiple allied-health disciplines.
Sources:
Etruscan Civilization: Pre-Roman Culture of Ancient Italy
History
Why in News?
Archaeologists recently discovered a 2,700-year-old monumental Etruscan tomb at Vulci, an important ancient Etruscan town north of Rome. The tomb contained weapons, gold and bronze plates, chariot components, women’s shoes and a complete banquet set, indicating the high status of the buried individual.
About Etruscan Civilization
- Period: Flourished roughly between the 8th and 3rd centuries BCE.
- Region: Etruria in central Italy, broadly between the Arno and Tiber Rivers and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Also known as the Tyrrhenians.
- Developed a confederation traditionally associated with 12 city-states.
- Major wealth came from metal resources, agriculture and maritime trade.
- Possessed a strong navy and played an important role in western Mediterranean trade.
- Known for elaborate tombs, frescoes, sculpture, metalwork and funerary practices.
- Developed sophisticated urban planning, including grid-based layouts, and used architectural techniques involving arches and vaults.
- Etruscan religious traditions and symbols significantly influenced early Rome.
Etruscans & Rome
The Etruscans were an important influence on early Roman political, religious, architectural and urban traditions. Their territories were progressively incorporated into the expanding Roman Republic, particularly from the 5th century BCE onward.
Sources:
(MAINS Focus)
The Election Umpire's Independence Begins with Its Appointment
GS II – Polity and Governance
Election Commission, Judicial Review, and Constitutional Interpretation
Introduction
The Election Commission of India’s neutrality is central to free and fair elections. Article 324 provides its constitutional framework. In Anoop Baranwal (2023), the Supreme Court prescribed an interim appointment mechanism involving the PM, LoP and CJI. The 2023 CEC Act replaced the CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM. Petitions challenging this change are now before the Supreme Court, with the matter being considered for a Constitution Bench.
The Legal Question: Application vs. Interpretation
Justice Datta’s Opinion
- Elementary Distinction: Application of law is not interpretation.
- Thakur Ganga Singh (1960): A question of interpretation arises only when competing constructions of a provision are canvassed.
- Parliamentary Overruling: Does not, by itself, make the constitutional question new.
- PUCL (2003): Three-judge bench struck down Section 33B; called the demand for a reference “totally misconceived.”
- Conclusion: Where the governing principle is conclusively established, the remaining task is simply to apply it.
What Anoop Baranwal Settled
- Binding Declaration: The appointment process must be free of exclusive executive control.
- Standard: “Binding on all courts.”
- Not Binding: The machinery the bench devised (CJI’s inclusion was “a deliberate signalling advice, and not a mandate”).
- Principle: Appointments must be insulated from exclusive executive control; “it is not enough for the ECI to be independent, it must also appear to be independent.”
Justice Sharma’s Reasoning
- Accepts: Anoop Baranwal committee was an “ad hoc arrangement”; free and fair elections are part of the Basic Structure; law declared under Article 141 is to be applied.
- Question: Whether the Act fails the test of free and fair elections has to be “independently examined.”
- Critique: To examine whether a statute fails a settled test is the definition of application.
The NJAC Analogy
The Solicitor General’s Argument
- NJAC (2015): If the Law Minister’s presence in the committee to appoint judges offended the judiciary’s independence, “a corresponding degree of constitutional independence” must be recognised for the executive.
The Critique
- Turning NJAC on its Head: NJAC shielded an independent institution from the executive; the SG’s analogy invokes it to shield the executive’s hold over another independent institution.
- Article 324: Protects the independence of the umpire, not the players.
- The Executive: Itself “a participant in the electoral process.”
The Way Forward
Reading Down the Law
- Two Judges Could Not Agree: On upholding the law.
- Suggested Solution: Read it down by requiring the selection committee to make its decisions unanimously.
- Effect: An Election Commissioner could be appointed only with the agreement of both the government and the Opposition—stronger assurance of independence and credibility.
Constitutional Principle
- Independence: Must be insulated from exclusive executive control.
- Appearance: It is not enough to be independent; must also appear to be independent.
Conclusion
The independence of the ECI begins with its appointment process. In Anoop Baranwal (2023), the Supreme Court stressed that appointments must not remain under exclusive executive control. The 2023 Act replaced the CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, raising constitutional concerns. Justice Datta viewed this as an application of an established principle, while Justice Sharma favoured examination by a Constitution Bench. The matter has now been placed before the CJI for appropriate consideration.
Practice Question
- A democracy can survive an umpire’s wrong call, but it cannot survive the suspicion that the umpire was deliberately chosen to make it. Critically examine the constitutional principles governing the appointment of Election Commissioners and the controversy surrounding the 2023 Act. (250 words, 15 marks)
Overweight and Weak: On the UN and the 81st UNGA Session
GS II – International Relations
United Nations, Multilateralism, and Global Governance Reform
Introduction
The 81st UN General Assembly comes amid unprecedented global challenges and marks António Guterres’s final session as UN Secretary-General. With 65+ conflicts across 35 countries in 2025, rising geopolitical tensions, nuclear risks, unilateral sanctions and rapid AI advances, the UN faces growing questions over its effectiveness, representation and relevance.
The UN’s Crisis of Relevance
Record Conflicts and Polarisation
- Conflicts (2025): 65+ across 35 countries—highest since 1946.
- Polarisation: Growing on every major issue.
- Violations: Wars by global superpowers in violation of the UN Charter.
- Weapons of Influence: Nuclear threats; unilateral and illegitimate sanctions.
The UN at 81
- Overweight: Bureaucratic, unwieldy.
- Weak: Unable to prevent or resolve major conflicts.
- Unrepresentative: Does not reflect contemporary global realities.
South Asia’s Role
- UNGA President: Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman elected President of the 81st session.
- Oversight: Will oversee the selection of the next UNSG.
The 81st Session: Key Moments
Disappointing Leadership
- US President Donald Trump: Spoke of possible “annihilation” of Iran; defended US actions in Venezuela; claimed to have negotiated peace in the 2025 India-Pakistan four-day war (to India’s chagrin).
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: Referred to the US and Israel as “murderers, terrorists and assassins.”
- Russian President: Skipped the session.
- Palestinian Delegation: Denied US visas.
- Result: Rancour drowned out well-meaning initiatives.
Partnership for Multilateralism (P4M)
- Led By: European Union and a few other countries.
- Co-Sponsored By: India.
- Objective: Build multilateralism beyond superpower hegemony.
- Outcome: Drowned out by rancour at this year’s UNGA.
India’s Campaign for UNSC
- Campaign Launched: For a second two-year non-permanent term in the UN Security Council in 2028-29.
- Surprise: PM Modi skipped the UNGA speech this year, fresh from hosting the Delhi BRICS Summit.
- India’s Voice: Of a balancing power speaking for a rules-based international order based on the UN Charter, diplomacy, and dialogue—needed more than ever.
The Way Forward: Reform and Renewal
Strengthen and Reform the UN
- Move Away from Superpower Hegemony: The UN must reflect contemporary realities.
- UNSC Reform: Expand permanent and non-permanent membership; address veto paralysis.
- UNGA’s Role: Strengthen its role in accountability and emergency response.
- Next UNSG: Choose a leader who can guide reform over the next decade.
India’s Role
- Balancing Power: Speak for a rules-based international order.
- Diplomacy and Dialogue: Promote peaceful resolution of conflicts.
- UNSC Candidacy: Campaign for 2028-29 term.
- P4M: Support initiatives beyond superpower hegemony.
Global Cooperation
- Partnership for Multilateralism: Build coalitions beyond great powers.
- Conflict Resolution: Address Ukraine, Gaza, and the Persian Gulf.
- AI Governance: Address the advent of a dangerous age of AI.
Conclusion
The UN at 81 faces growing challenges, with 65+ conflicts in 2025, rising polarisation and weakened multilateralism. The 81st UNGA saw sharp divisions, while India continued advocating a rules-based international order and campaigning for a UNSC term in 2028–29. The session underscored the need for a stronger, more representative and reformed UN.
Practice Question
- The UN at 81 is overweight, weak, and unrepresentative, and the 81st UNGA session underscored the urgent need for reform. Critically examine the challenges facing the United Nations and India’s role in shaping a reformed multilateral order. (250 words, 15 marks)
