Today's Brief 2-9/08/2025

1 .BIMSTEC:

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

The Acroynm stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional organization established on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration. Initially known as BIST-EC, it expanded to include Myanmar in December 1997, changing its name to BIMST-EC, and then Nepal and Bhutan in February 2004, leading to its current acronym.

Comprising seven member states Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka from South Asia, and Myanmar, Thailand from Southeast Asia BIMSTEC serves as a vital bridge between these two dynamic regions.

Its primary objectives include fostering rapid economic development, accelerating social progress, promoting active collaboration in areas of common interest, and enhancing regional connectivity.

Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, since 2014, the organization operates across seven key areas of cooperation: Trade, Investment, and Development; Environment and Climate Change; Security; Agriculture and Food Security; People-to-People Contact; Science, Technology, and Innovation; and Connectivity.

3 .Green Hydrogen :

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

India is rapidly accelerating its efforts in the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen plants, driven by its ambitious National Green Hydrogen Mission. 

The goal is to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, usage, and export, contributing significantly to its climate targets of achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070.

A significant milestone was recently achieved with the commissioning of India's first 'Make in India' 1-megawatt (MW) Green Hydrogen plant at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat, on July 31, 2025. 

These projects are bolstered by the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched on India's 75th Independence Day (August 15, 2021), with an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore. 

The Mission aims for a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) per annum by 2030, with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW.

It also includes financial incentives under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program for electrolyzer manufacturing and green hydrogen production. 

4 . Ayurveda Aahara:

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in significant collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, has recently unveiled a definitive list of Ayurvedic food preparations, categorizing them under "Ayurveda Aahara."

This pivotal move aims to integrate India's ancient dietary wisdom into modern regulatory frameworks, providing clarity for both consumers and Food Business Operators (FBOs).

This initiative stems from the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022, which recognize foods based on recipes, ingredients, and processes described in authoritative Ayurvedic texts listed in "Schedule A" of these regulations.

The newly released list, issued under Note (1) of Schedule B, draws directly from these classical texts, ensuring the authenticity and traditional basis of the included food formulations.

The primary objective is to assist FBOs by offering a clear and credible reference for the manufacture of "Ayurveda Aahara" products, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of Ayurveda-based nutrition for better public health outcomes.

Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, has emphasized the long-term health benefits of incorporating "Ayurveda Aahara" into daily lives, highlighting their role in nourishing the body, strengthening immunity, supporting digestion, and promoting overall well-being.

5 .Barter System :

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 reports from Gaza and other conflict-affected regions indicate a significant return to barter systems as a direct consequence of economic collapse and severe cash shortages.

In Gaza, months of intense conflict have crippled the traditional economy. Banks have ceased operations, cash is scarce and often unusable, and prices for what little is available have skyrocketed due to blockades and supply chain disruptions. 

This dire situation has left thousands of people with no other means to acquire essential goods, particularly food.

People are resorting to exchanging whatever they have for what they desperately need. 

This includes:

• Staple foods: Flour, lentils, sugar, rice, oil, and canned goods are being traded for other foodstuffs.

  
  

• Household items: In some heartbreaking instances, people are even trading more valuable items like washing machines or refrigerators for basic necessities like a bag of flour or baby formula.

  
  

• Personal care items: Soap for shampoo, for example.

  
  

• Services: Barbers and other service providers are also engaging in bartering for their livelihood.

  
  

This ancient system of exchange is primarily facilitated through word-of-mouth, but increasingly, online platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp groups have become active hubs for bartering. These groups allow individuals to post what they have and what they need, connecting them with others for direct exchanges.

The return to bartering is a stark indicator of the catastrophic humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza.

It highlights not only the extreme scarcity of resources but also the breakdown of conventional financial systems, forcing residents to devise their own informal economies for survival. 

While it demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability, it also underscores the immense suffering and the urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian and economic interventions in the region.

This phenomenon is often seen in conflict zones where infrastructure is destroyed, markets collapse, and conventional currency loses its value or availability.

6 .Rudrastra:

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

Indian Railways has achieved a new milestone by successfully conducting a trial run of Asia's longest freight train, 'Rudrastra'.

The train is approximately 4.5 kilometers long and was formed by linking six standard-length rakes, comprising 354 wagons and powered by seven locomotives.

The trial run was conducted by the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Division of the East Central Railway.

The train traveled from Ganjkhwaja station in Uttar Pradesh to Garhwa Road station in Jharkhand, covering a distance of over 200 kilometers at an average speed of 40 km/h.

According to railway officials, operating a single, long train like 'Rudrastra' is a more efficient and cost-effective method of freight transportation.

It saves time, manpower, and operational costs by eliminating the need to arrange separate crews, schedules, and routes for multiple individual trains.

While 'Rudrastra' is India's and Asia's longest freight train, the world record is held by an Australian company's train that stretched 7.3 kilometers and had 682 wagons.

7 .The Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

is a transformative online platform for public procurement in India, launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2016. 

Its core mission is to bring greater transparency, efficiency, and speed to the process of government purchasing. 

Acting as a unified, one-stop-shop, GeM connects government buyers with a wide array of registered sellers of goods and services. 

The platform is designed to be completely paperless and cashless, using tools like e-bidding and reverse e-auctions to ensure that government

departments, public sector units (PSUs), and other authorized bodies get the best possible value. 

It has also been instrumental in fostering an inclusive marketplace, actively promoting participation from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and women entrepreneurs. In essence,

Thanks For Visitng!!