18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)
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India is hosting the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) from 11 to 21 August 2025 in Mumbai.
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- The 18th edition of IOAA began on August 12, 2025, with over 300 high school students from 64 countries participating in the ten day event.
- The Olympiad is hosted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, an autonomous institution under the Department of Atomic Energy.
- This year’s theme is ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’, the ancient Indian idea of the world as one family under a common sky.
- This is the second time India is hosting the IOAA, after the 2016 edition held in Bhubaneswar.
International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)
- The IOAA is an annual international competition in Astronomy and Astrophysics for secondary school students.
- It was conceived in 2006, with the first edition held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2007.
- It serves as a platform to inspire young minds, encourage international collaboration, and promote careers in science and technology.
- According to the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, the IOAA’s curriculum is designed to challenge students in theoretical, observational, and data analysis.
Dirghavadhi Krishak Punji Sahakar Yojana
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The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) implements the Dirghavadhi Krishak Punji Sahakar Yojana to provide long-term financial support to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives for agriculture-related lending.
Scheme Details
- The scheme provides long term financial assistance to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives towards their onward lending of long-term loans/advances for activities/commodities/services under the purview of NCDC.
- NCDC follows a robust appraisal and monitoring system to ensure financial prudence, covering aspects such as technical feasibility, financial viability, management expertise, and repayment capacity.
- Projects are monitored periodically through field visits, inspections, and progress reports, ensuring judicious utilisation of funds.
Key Objectives
- Ensure increased and uninterrupted credit flow to cooperatives and their members
- Boost capital formation in agriculture and allied sectors
- Support non-farm sector activities thereby promoting alternate employment opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas
About NCDC
- NCDC is a statutory organisation in India, established in 1963 under the Ministry of Cooperation.
- NCDC supports the integrated development of cooperatives through financial and technical assistance.
- The objective of NCDC is promoting, strengthening and developing farmer cooperatives for increasing production, productivity and instituting post-harvest facilities across the country.
- NCDC also implements Central Sector / Sponsored schemes of Government of India to provide assistance for sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, dairy, livestock, food processing, marketing, storage, and cold chain.
State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH)
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Recently, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) to strengthen the state drug regulatory system.
SHRESTH Overview
- SHRESTH is a first-of-its-kind national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems through a transparent, data-driven framework.
- The initiative, proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), aims to improve the performance of state drug regulatory authorities across India, ensuring that drug safety and quality standards are consistently met.
- SHRESTH is a virtual gap assessment tool for states to evaluate their current status and progress toward maturity certification, aiming to ensure drug safety, quality, and efficacy across all states and UTs.
Framework of SHRESTH
- States are divided into two categories – Manufacturing States and Primarily Distribution States/UTs, and ranked accordingly.
- It includes 27 indices for Manufacturing States across themes like Human Resources, Infrastructure, Licensing Activities, Surveillance Activities, and Responsiveness.
- For Primarily Distribution States, there are 23 indices.
- States submit data on predefined metrics monthly; scores are shared with all states and UTs to promote targeted improvements and cross-learning.
Manual for Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity
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Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued India’s first Manual for Rating of Properties for digital connectivity to guide digital infrastructure development and upgrades across India.
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- It is the country’s first standardised framework to evaluate how effectively buildings are equipped for high-speed, reliable digital access.
- The move addresses the challenge that over 80% of mobile data in India is consumed indoors, where signals are often weakened by construction materials.
- The manual was developed under the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024.
Key Features
- Establishes a uniform assessment methodology for Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs).
- Serves as a reference for Property Managers and Service Providers to plan, implement, and maintain future-ready Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI).
- Defines transparent criteria for property ratings, including fibre readiness, in-building mobile coverage, Wi-Fi, broadband speeds, and user experience.
- Enables informed decision-making for buyers, tenants, and businesses based on actual connectivity performance.
- Encourages developers to integrate robust digital infrastructure from design and construction stages.
About TRAI
- Established in 1997 under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
- Regulates telecom services, including tariff fixation and revision.
- The Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was established in 2000 to adjudicate disputes and hear appeals against TRAI’s decisions.
153rd Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh
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The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Sri Aurobindo Ghosh on his 153rd Birth anniversary.
About Sri Aurobindo Ghosh
- Also known as Aurobindo Ghose, he was a prominent Indian philosopher, yogi, nationalist, and poet.
- Born on 15 August 1872 in Calcutta.
- Received early education in a Christian convent school in Darjeeling before going to England for higher studies.
- Returned to India in 1892, took administrative posts in Baroda and Calcutta, and began studying Yoga, Indian philosophy, and Sanskrit.
Role in Indian Revolutionary Movement
- The Partition of Bengal in 1905 was a turning point, pushing him into the nationalist struggle.
- He co-founded the secret revolutionary organisation Anushilan Samiti with his brother Barinder Ghosh.
- Used writings to rally against the British and promote Swadeshi and Swaraj.
- Accused and imprisoned in the Alipore Bomb Case in 1909; he was acquitted after a year.
- Fled to Pondicherry in 1910 to escape prosecution for sedition.
Political and Social Ideas
- Viewed nationalism as a spiritual mission, considering India a divine Mother whose liberation was sacred.
- Swaraj was seen as inner spiritual self-liberation leading to political freedom.
- Advocated passive resistance and boycotts, preceding Gandhian Satyagraha, but not strictly non-violent.
Spiritual Life and Integral Yoga
- Met Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) in Pondicherry, leading to the development of Integral Yoga.
- Integral Yoga aimed at transforming life through spirituality, harmonising material and higher consciousness.
- Founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926, a centre for spiritual research and practice.
Major Literary Works
- Bande Mataram (journal, 1905)
- Bases of Yoga
- The Bhagavad Gita and Its Message
- The Future Evolution of Man
- Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
- The Hour of God
Death and Legacy
- Passed away on 5 December 1950 in Pondicherry.
- Rabindranath Tagore called him the Messiah of Indian Culture; C.R. Dais called him the poet of patriotism and prophet of nationalism.
- Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1943 and for Peace in 1950, but did not receive the award.