Why in news?

As Artificial Intelligence increasingly enables sophisticated fraud, deepfakes and attacks on critical financial infrastructure, India's key financial regulators — the RBI and SEBI — are overhauling cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard the financial ecosystem.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Rising Threat Landscape
• SEBI's IT Resilience Index (ITRI)
• Standardised Incident Reporting: The FIRE Format
• RBI's Cybersecurity Framework
• The "Kill Switch" Mechanism
• SEBI's Forthcoming AI Guidelines
• Expert Recommendations

The Rising Threat Landscape

• AI is transforming the nature of financial fraud. Deepfake voices are being used to bypass KYC norms, while more complex scams are infiltrating critical financial institutions.
• Several banks have already faced cybersecurity breaches in 2026.
• Unlike traditional threats built around identifiable vulnerabilities and periodic assessments, AI dramatically increases the speed, scale and sophistication of attacks — from automated vulnerability discovery to autonomous cyberattacks.

SEBI's IT Resilience Index (ITRI)

• SEBI has introduced an IT Resilience Index for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) — entities like clearing corporations and exchanges that enable trading.
• Key features:
  • Quantifies cyber readiness across nine parameters.
  • Availability and security: 20% weightage each.
  • Integrity, governance, reliability and monitoring, modularity and flexibility, business continuity: 10% weightage each.
  • Scalability and miscellaneous ("others"): 5% weightage each.
  • MIIs must compute ITRI half-yearly, submit comparative analysis within 60 days, and outline corrective action.
  • Framework takes effect from early 2027.
  • Includes an "early warning system" for continuous risk monitoring.

Standardised Incident Reporting: The FIRE Format

• SEBI has aligned its cyber incident reporting portal with a standardised "Format for Incident Reporting Exchange" (FIRE).
• This enables staged reporting — from initial disclosure through intermediate updates to final closure — while accommodating incomplete information at the time of first reporting.

RBI's Cybersecurity Framework

• The RBI released a comprehensive cybersecurity framework for banks and financial institutions, mandating:
  • Board-level ownership of cyber risks.
  • Dedicated committees to monitor IT risks.
  • A strict six-hour window for reporting cyber incidents.
  • A revised fraud compensation mechanism (June 2026) expanding victim eligibility and covering newer digital scams.

The "Kill Switch" Mechanism

• Both regulators are exploring a "kill switch":
  • RBI: Would allow users to halt all financial transactions during fraud
  • SEBI: Evaluating a similar mechanism as part of upcoming AI guidelines

SEBI's Forthcoming AI Guidelines

• SEBI plans to "shortly" issue guidelines for the responsible use of AI and machine learning in markets.
• It already uses AI to flag suspicious trading patterns and has constituted a dedicated team to extend AI-based surveillance to corporate investigations, including scrutiny of quarterly filings.

Expert Recommendations

• Legal experts suggest regulators should focus on:
  • AI-specific threat modelling
  • Continuous (not periodic) testing
  • Third-party and cloud concentration risks
  • Model and data integrity
  • Deepfake-enabled fraud and supply-chain vulnerabilities
  • Clear human accountability where AI influences critical decisions
  • Technology-neutral accountability backed by technology-specific safeguards, rather than an overly prescriptive code

Conclusion

AI has fundamentally altered the financial fraud threat matrix, prompting RBI and SEBI to modernise cybersecurity frameworks through tools like ITRI, FIRE reporting and kill-switch mechanisms.

Sustained regulatory agility, technology-neutral accountability and AI-enabled defensive systems remain critical to securing India's financial infrastructure.

Why in news?

India's global diaspora, now numbering over 35 million, is evolving from a source of remittances into a long-term participant in the country's growth story.

As India retains its position as the world's largest remittance recipient, the coming decade may witness a structural shift towards sustained diaspora investment in Indian markets.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Remittances Remain Robust, But the Story Is Changing
• Strong Macroeconomic Fundamentals Underpin Investor Confidence
• Financial Markets Have Matured Significantly
• Digital Public Infrastructure Is Reducing Distance for Investors
• Diaspora Capital Extends Beyond Financial Returns
• Conclusion

Remittances Remain Robust, But the Story Is Changing

• India received $143.6 billion in remittances in FY26, retaining its status as the world's largest remittance recipient.
• These inflows have historically supported household consumption and strengthened India's external sector.
• However, non-resident Indians (NRIs) are increasingly viewing India not merely as a source of emotional ties, but as a compelling long-term investment destination.

Strong Macroeconomic Fundamentals Underpin Investor Confidence

• India remains the world's sixth-largest economy in dollar terms and continues to be the fastest-growing major economy.
• Key strengths include:
  • Foreign exchange reserves exceeding $700 billion, providing a buffer against external shocks.
  • Well-managed inflation and continuing fiscal consolidation.
  • A stronger, cleaner and better-capitalised banking system than a decade ago.
  • Sustained reform momentum through GST, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, and digital public infrastructure.

Financial Markets Have Matured Significantly

• India's equity market capitalisation touched $5.18 trillion in July 2026, placing it among the world's largest equity markets.
• Mutual fund assets under management rose to ₹85.76 lakh crore, with monthly SIP inflows hitting a record ₹31,961 crore.
• Diaspora investment, once concentrated in real estate, gold and bank deposits, now spans equities, debt markets, REITs, InvITs, alternative investment funds, manufacturing and renewable energy.

Digital Public Infrastructure Is Reducing Distance for Investors

• Institutions such as the RBI, SEBI and IFSCA have strengthened governance and market integrity, while GIFT IFSC is emerging as a globally competitive financial platform.
• Digital public infrastructure — Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker and the Account Aggregator framework — has simplified cross-border investment.
• UPI alone processed over 23.66 billion transactions in July 2026.
• Simplified digital onboarding and e-KYC have made investing in India more seamless for global investors, even as regulatory complexity and documentation requirements remain perception barriers.

Diaspora Capital Extends Beyond Financial Returns

• The Indian diaspora today comprises global CEOs, entrepreneurs, professionals, technologists and investors.
• Their participation — through capital markets, enterprise creation, infrastructure financing, startups and innovation — brings not just capital but also networks, expertise and global experience.
• Tier II and III cities, representing the "aspirations of Bharat," are emerging as new frontiers for this diaspora-linked investment.

Conclusion

India's diaspora is transitioning from remittance-sending to long-term capital participation, driven by strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, matured financial markets and robust digital infrastructure.

Sustained reform in taxation, regulation and cross-border investment processes remains essential to fully unlock this diaspora capital for India's development journey.

Context

• India is facing an increasingly serious water crisis, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, industrial expansion, agricultural demand, and climate change.
• Every summer, several parts of the country experience acute water shortages, while excessive dependence on groundwater extraction continues to worsen the situation.
• In this context, the recently notified treated wastewater reuse policies of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand offer an important model of contextualised policymaking. 

Contextualised Policymaking for Diverse Regions

• The policies of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are significant because they avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Both States possess considerable geographical diversity and face different water challenges. The requirements of densely populated plains differ greatly from those of remote hill communities.
• The policies therefore incorporate fit-for-purpose reuse, ensuring that treated wastewater is used according to appropriate needs such as agriculture, industry, landscaping, and ecological restoration.
• They also connect wastewater reuse with urban planning, river rejuvenation, community participation, blended finance, public-private partnerships, and digital monitoring.
• This approach highlights an essential principle: while India may require a common national vision for water security, its implementation must be adapted to local conditions.

Hidden Opportunities

• Treated Wastewater as a Reliable Resource
  • Treated wastewater represents one of India's most underutilised resources.
  • Unlike rainfall-dependent freshwater sources, it can provide a relatively reliable and drought-proof supply.
  • Its reuse can reduce pressure on rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater.
  • Agriculture, industry, urban landscaping, construction, and ecological restoration can all benefit from treated water.
  • For water-stressed cities, recycling wastewater could become a crucial component of climate resilience.
  • India's future water security may therefore depend not only on finding new sources of freshwater but also on using existing water resources more efficiently through recycling and reuse.
• From Infrastructure to Effective Utilisation
  • National programmes such as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) have contributed to expanding sewage treatment infrastructure.
  • However, constructing sewage treatment plants alone cannot solve the problem.
  • A treatment facility that simply releases treated water into drains or rivers without productive reuse represents an incomplete system.
  • Infrastructure must be connected to users such as farmers, industries, municipalities, and ecological restoration projects.
  • India therefore needs an ecosystem that transforms treatment capacity into actual reuse.
  • This requires institutional coordination, appropriate pricing mechanisms, credible quality standards, and practical city-level implementation plans.

Role of the National Framework

• The National Framework on Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW), 2022 provides an important foundation for this transition.
• By encouraging States to formulate their own wastewater reuse policies, it recognises that national objectives must be translated into local strategies.
• Several States have begun setting reuse targets and measurable milestones. However, many others still lack a comprehensive approach.
• The challenge now is to move from policy announcements to effective implementation.

An Economic and Environmental Opportunity

• Treated wastewater should be understood not merely as a sanitation issue but as an economic opportunity.
• Its reuse can reduce dependence on expensive freshwater supplies, support industrial growth, strengthen urban development, and contribute to low-carbon development.
• It can also improve drought preparedness and reduce the environmental stress caused by excessive groundwater extraction.
• However, governments and planners must clearly understand the economic value of reuse.
• Policies are unlikely to succeed unless wastewater reuse becomes financially attractive.
• Pricing signals, incentives, and innovative financing mechanisms can encourage industries and urban institutions to adopt recycled water.

Breaking Institutional Silos

• One of the biggest obstacles is fragmented governance.
• Water utilities, irrigation departments, urban authorities, industries, and environmental agencies often operate independently.
• Successful reuse requires integrated governance and coordination across departments.
• Financial resources can also be mobilised through convergence with existing government schemes instead of depending entirely on new budgetary allocations.
• Blended finance and public-private partnerships can further help expand infrastructure and create sustainable business models for wastewater reuse.

The Way Forward: Need for Awareness and Public Trust

• Public perception remains another major challenge. Many people continue to associate treated wastewater with contamination and danger.
• Building confidence in its safety is therefore essential.
• The use of the term Apna Jal, meaning our water, by the National SRTW Framework and the policies of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand reflects an important psychological shift.
• Water reuse requires not only new infrastructure but also a change in public attitudes.
• Awareness campaigns, transparent quality monitoring, and strong safety standards can help build public trust.

Conclusion

• Continued groundwater depletion and growing competition among agriculture, industry, and cities make the existing model increasingly unsustainable.
• Treated wastewater offers a practical solution by transforming a perceived burden into a productive resource.
• The policies of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand demonstrate the importance of localised solutions, institutional coordination, economic incentives, public participation, and technological monitoring. However, these examples must become the norm rather than remain isolated successes.
• India must move towards a future based on circular water management, where every available drop is treated, reused, and valued.

Context

• The recent disaster in Nepal is a serious warning for India and the entire Himalayan region.
• The Himalaya cannot be understood as separate geographical units divided by political borders.
• From the Hindu Kush and Pakistan to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet-China, the mountain system forms one interconnected and geologically active region.
• Earthquakes, glacial disturbances, landslides and floods in one area can produce consequences far beyond national boundaries.
• The central challenge is whether India will learn from Nepal’s suffering and transform scientific knowledge into effective public preparedness.

The Himalaya: One Living and Dangerous System

• The Himalaya are a vast, interconnected and constantly changing geological system.
• Beneath their majestic appearance lie immense seismic pressures, shifting glaciers and unpredictable geological processes.
• Their dangers cannot be precisely forecast in terms of time, location or intensity.
• History offers painful reminders. The Nepal-Bihar earthquake of 1934 and the Assam earthquake of 1950 revealed the catastrophic potential of Himalayan seismic activity.
• Scientists have repeatedly warned about the possibility of a major earthquake affecting northern India.
• Since prediction remains difficult, preparedness must become the most important defence against disasters.

The Question of Preparedness

• India has established scientific institutions and disaster-management agencies, but the events in Nepal raise serious questions about whether existing preparations are sufficient.
• A growing danger is posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Rising temperatures and global warming are accelerating glacier melt and increasing the size and instability of glacial lakes.
• When natural barriers collapse, huge volumes of water, mud and debris can rush downstream, destroying settlements, infrastructure and farmland.
• The crucial question is whether people living in vulnerable Himalayan regions are adequately warned and trained.
• Scientific knowledge should not remain limited to laboratories, seminars and technical papers. Communities must understand the risks and know how to respond.
• India possesses considerable scientific expertise, but there remains a serious gap between scientific knowledge and public awareness. Disaster preparedness must involve citizens as active participants rather than passive victims.

Whatever Happened, India Must Learn

• The disaster in Nepal offers several urgent lessons for India.
  • First, the Himalaya must be recognised as a region of continuing natural hazards. Their sacred and cultural significance should not obscure their geological fragility.
  • Second, information about earthquakes, GLOFs, landslides and floods must be communicated clearly and rapidly to vulnerable populations.
  • Third, communities should become part of a comprehensive system of early warning, evacuation planning and emergency response.
  • Fourth, India must address dangers that extend beyond its borders. The proposed Medog hydropower project near the great bend of the Brahmaputra in Tibet raises serious concerns.
• A major earthquake or geological disaster near such massive infrastructure could potentially release enormous quantities of water and debris towards India’s northeast.
• Therefore, India’s engagement with China must include greater transparency and cooperation regarding transboundary environmental risks.

Rethinking Development in High-Risk Zones

• India must critically examine infrastructure located in environmentally fragile and seismically vulnerable regions.
• Dams, reactors and large commercial projects should not be assessed only in terms of economic benefits.
• Their potential consequences during earthquakes, floods and landslides must also be considered.
• Some development projects can become dangerous built hazards. A comprehensive review of infrastructure in high-risk zones is therefore necessary.
• Where risks exceed benefits, governments must be prepared to modify or even dismantle hazardous structures.
• Another challenge is the increasing concentration of people in vulnerable areas. A planned and time-bound decongestion of high-risk settlements, supported by safer relocation and better infrastructure, may become necessary.
• Development without ecological responsibility can transform progress into catastrophe.

From Scientific Knowledge to Public Safeguarding

• The most important task is to transform scientific expertise into public action.
• India needs a stronger culture of disaster resilience involving scientists, governments, schools and local communities.
• Risk maps, public awareness programmes, evacuation drills and reliable warning systems should become essential components of governance in Himalayan regions.
• The objective should not be to spread fear but to build informed and prepared communities.

Conclusion

• Nepal’s tragedy is a warning for the entire Himalayan region. India and its neighbours share the same fragile and restless geological environment.
• Earthquakes, glacier collapse, floods and landslides do not respect political boundaries.
• India must strengthen scientific communication, improve community preparedness, reassess hazardous infrastructure and promote regional cooperation.
• A great nation should be capable of learning from the experience of a smaller neighbour.
• The Himalaya are both a source of life and a source of danger. The real measure of wisdom lies not merely in responding after a disaster but in learning, preparing and acting before the next catastrophe strikes.

Why in the News?

• India is considering a Qualified Most Favoured Nation (MFN) provision while remodelling its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) framework.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About BIT (Meaning, About MFN, Qualified MFN, etc.)
• News Summary (Proposed Reforms in MFN, Significance, etc.)

Bilateral Investment Treaties

• BIT is an agreement between two countries that establishes rules for protecting investments made by investors of one country in the territory of the other.
• BITs generally address issues such as:
  • Protection against discriminatory treatment
  • Expropriation of investments
  • Fair and equitable treatment
  • Transfer of funds
  • Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
• India adopted a new Model BIT in 2015, partly in response to concerns arising from earlier investment disputes.
• The 2015 model adopted a more cautious approach towards investor protections, including not providing an open-ended MFN clause or a full Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standard.

About the MFN Principle

• The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle generally requires a country to provide investors from one treaty partner treatment no less favourable than that provided to investors from another country.
• For example, if Country A gives investors from Country B more favourable treatment under a later treaty, an MFN provision could potentially allow investors from Country C to seek similar treatment if their treaty with Country A contains an applicable MFN clause.
• India moved away from an open-ended MFN provision in its 2015 Model BIT because of concerns that investors could use provisions from treaties with third countries to make broader claims than those expressly negotiated in their own treaty.

Qualified MFN

• A Qualified MFN provision would retain the principle of non-discrimination but place specific limitations on its application.
• Instead of allowing investors to automatically claim the most favourable provision available in any third-country treaty, the provision could include safeguards specifying:
  • Which treaty provisions can be imported?
  • Whether the provision can apply retrospectively?
  • Whether settled disputes can be reopened?
  • What categories of treatment are covered?
• This approach attempts to balance investor protection with the regulatory autonomy of the State.

News Summary

• The Union Government is considering a broader restructuring of its BIT framework. The proposed reforms include Qualified MFN treatment rather than restoring the open-ended MFN rule that was removed about a decade ago.
• The objective is to address concerns of major trading partners such as the European Union, while avoiding the risks associated with allowing investors to import favourable provisions from unrelated third-country treaties.
• The approach could also provide negotiating leverage for Indian companies seeking similar treatment in major overseas markets such as the US and EU.

Changes to ISDS

• The proposed framework would reduce the domestic Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) window from five years to one year.
• Under such a system, investors would generally be expected to pursue domestic legal remedies for one year before moving towards international arbitration.
• The proposal is intended to expedite dispute resolution, but experts have cautioned that shorter timelines would increase the importance of strengthening India’s domestic dispute-resolution institutions.

Longer Post-Treaty Protection

• The draft proposal also seeks to double the period of investor protection after expiry of a BIT from five years to 10 years.
• This could provide greater certainty to investments made under a treaty even after the treaty itself has expired.

Wider Definition of Investment

• Another proposed change is to expand the definition of “investment” to include portfolio investments and other financial assets.
• This could potentially bring certain shares and minority or portfolio holdings within the scope of treaty protection, depending on the final wording of the agreement.
• The proposal also seeks to ban third-party funding of investment-related litigation.

India’s FDI Context

• The proposed reforms come against a backdrop of declining net FDI inflows into India.
• According to the report, average annual net FDI was close to US$40 billion during FY20-FY22, but fell to approximately US$7.65 billion in FY26, based on preliminary data.
• At the same time, Indian companies have expanded their investments overseas. This combination has increased the policy focus on making India’s investment regime more predictable and competitive.

Strategic Balance

• The proposed reforms attempt to balance two objectives: making India more attractive to foreign investors while preserving the policy flexibility sought under the 2015 Model BIT.
• The EU itself has moved towards an Investment Court System model while retaining non-discrimination protections.
• India is also negotiating around a dozen BITs, making the design of its revised framework particularly important.

Conclusion

• India's proposed BIT reforms represent an attempt to create a more predictable investment environment without returning to unrestricted treaty protections.
• A Qualified MFN clause could provide investors with greater protection while limiting the possibility of importing unrelated provisions from third-country treaties.
• The success of the proposed framework will depend on the precise safeguards adopted, the strength of domestic dispute-resolution institutions and India's ability to balance investor confidence with regulatory autonomy.

Why in News?

• India and Uzbekistan have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new phase in ties on the 15th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership.
• During the Indian PM’s visit to Tashkent, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in civil nuclear energy, trade, defence, critical minerals, connectivity, counter-terrorism, pharmaceuticals, technology and education.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Civil Nuclear Cooperation - Uranium Supply
• Trade and Economic Partnership
• Defence and Counter-Terrorism
• Critical Minerals and Strategic Resources
• Connectivity and People-to-People Ties
• Culture, Education and Heritage
• Institutional Mechanisms and Environmental Cooperation
• Strategic Significance for India
• Conclusion

Civil Nuclear Cooperation - Uranium Supply:

• A major new area of cooperation is the proposed long-term arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India.
• India has been exploring uranium imports to support its expanding civilian nuclear energy programme and strengthen energy security. The agreement is reportedly close to being finalised.
• For India, diversified uranium sourcing can reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers and support the long-term expansion of nuclear power as a low-carbon baseload energy source.

Trade and Economic Partnership:

• The two countries set an ambitious target of raising annual bilateral trade from around USD 1 billion to USD 5 billion by 2030.
• Key areas identified include trade and investment, agriculture and pharmaceuticals, energy and critical minerals, jewellery and mining, and infrastructure and connectivity.
• To achieve the target, India and Uzbekistan intend to address market-access barriers, connectivity constraints, banking and payment mechanisms.
• Significance: Uzbekistan is an important gateway to Central Asia, while India seeks greater economic engagement with the resource-rich and strategically located region.

Defence and Counter-Terrorism:

• Defence cooperation:
  • It is being expanded from traditional military exchanges towards defence-industrial collaboration.
  • Both sides will promote direct linkages between defence industries. Focus will be placed on co-development and co-production of military equipment.
  • The Joint Working Group on Military Cooperation is exploring new avenues in defence-industrial cooperation.
  • The Dustlik joint military exercise continues to strengthen operational cooperation.
• Zero tolerance on terrorism:
  • The two countries unequivocally condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, and rejected its justification on any grounds.
  • They agreed to strengthen -
    • Intelligence sharing
    • Law-enforcement cooperation
    • Countering violent extremism
    • Action against terrorist financing
    • Tackling safe havens and terrorist infrastructure
    • Combating organised crime and illicit drug trafficking
    • Cooperation against cyber threats
  • This has particular significance given the security uncertainties in Afghanistan and their implications for Central Asia.

Critical Minerals and Strategic Resources:

• Critical minerals and mining have emerged as important pillars of the relationship.
• Uzbekistan possesses significant mineral resources, while India is seeking to diversify its sources of critical minerals essential for clean energy, electronics, advanced manufacturing and strategic technologies.
• This cooperation can contribute to India's broader objective of building resilient and diversified global supply chains.

Connectivity and People-to-People Ties:

• Connectivity remains a key challenge in India–Central Asia relations because India lacks direct overland access to the region.
• The partnership therefore assumes significance in the context of India's broader Connect Central Asia Policy and efforts to develop alternative connectivity corridors.
• Other measures include -
  • Uzbekistan’s decision to remove visa requirements for Indian citizens for stays up to 30 days, facilitating tourism and business.
  • Expansion of digital payment connectivity, with UPI-enabled applications expected to become usable in Uzbekistan.
  • Cooperation in tourism, culture and education.
• Strategic relevance: Improved connectivity and digital-payment integration can strengthen India's economic and societal presence in Central Asia.

Culture, Education and Heritage:

• The partnership also has a strong civilisational dimension.
• A Letter of Intent was agreed for restoration and conservation of the Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa in Uzbekistan.
• 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri Hindi scholarships were announced.
• An ICCR Sanskrit Chair will be established at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
• Cooperation will also cover Ayurveda, education and culture.
• These initiatives leverage the historical links between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

Institutional Mechanisms and Environmental Cooperation:

• The upgraded partnership will receive stronger institutional mechanisms -
  • A Foreign Minister-level Coordination Group will be established.
  • The existing Joint Commission will be elevated from the secretary level to the ministerial level.
• Additionally, India announced a USD 1 million grant for afforestation in the Aral Sea region, linking bilateral cooperation with environmental restoration.

Strategic Significance for India:

• Uzbekistan occupies a pivotal position in Central Asia, a region increasingly shaped by competition and cooperation involving Russia, China, Türkiye, Iran and other powers.
• For India, deeper engagement can help -
  • Diversify energy and critical-mineral supplies.
  • Strengthen security cooperation amid instability surrounding Afghanistan.
  • Expand India's economic footprint in Central Asia.
  • Counterbalance growing Chinese economic and strategic influence.
  • Advance connectivity and India's wider Extended Neighbourhood Policy.
  • Promote India's technological and digital public infrastructure capabilities.

Conclusion:

• The elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will be meaningful only if the announced targets translate into implementation.
• In essence, India–Uzbekistan ties are evolving from a predominantly diplomatic and security partnership into a multidimensional strategic relationship.

About Dung beetle:

• It scientifically known as the Scarabaeidae family within the Animal Kingdom’s order
• Appearance:
  • They are robust, compact insects known for their hard, protective exoskeletons and strong, clawed legs adapted for digging and rolling dung.
  • They vary in color, with some species displaying dull, black or brown hues, while others exhibit metallic shades of blue, green, or copper.
• Habitat: They live in habitats that range from desert to forest.
• Distribution: Dung beetles are found worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica.
• Diet: They feed on the feces of large herbivores during both their larval and adult stages. 
• Working: Dung beetles span three main lifestyles: rollers (ball-makers), tunnelers (bury beneath), and dwellers (live in the pat).
• Several dung beetles navigate using celestial cues; some use the Milky Way as an orientation reference during straight-line rolling.
• Many scarabs have fan-like (lamellate) antennae that open to sample odors-useful for locating fresh dung fast.
• Ecological Role: They play major ecological roles in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, seed dispersal, and parasite/flies suppression.

About Index of Industrial Production:

• It is a composite indicator designed to measure the changes in the volume of the production of item basket over a period of time with respect to its base year.
• It provides insight into the growth or contraction of industrial activity over a given period, making it a crucial economic performance indicator.
• It is compiled and released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• It is released every month.
• Base Year: It is 2022-23.
• The first IIP was prepared with base year 1937 and thereafter the base year has been revised successively to 1946, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1980-81, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2011-12.
• The base year is a chosen year taken as a reference point (index = 100) to compare production over time.

About CosmoCube Mission:

• It is a proposed satellite that will study the universe’s earliest stages by listening for faint radio signals from more than 13.5 billion years ago.
• It is being developed by a team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
• Working:
  • It would operate near the Moon and use the lunar far side as a natural shield against radio interference from Earth. 
  • Observation Period: It will spend around 40 minutes on the far side during every two-hour orbit. 
  • Time Period: Over a proposed two-year mission, the satellite could collect roughly 1,000 hours of data at extremely low radio frequencies.
  • The satellite would use a lightweight radio antenna to detect the early-universe signal.
  • It would also repeatedly determine its own position using onboard information and observations of its surroundings.
• Significance:
  • This mission concept could help scientists study the poorly understood period between the Big Bang and the formation of the first stars.
  • The measurements could offer scientists a clearer picture of the cosmic dark age and the transition towards the formation of the first stars and galaxies.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana:

• It was launched in 2016 to bring the maximum number of farmers under crop insurance coverage. 
• It covers risks from pre-sowing, including prevented or failed sowing, widespread mid-season adversity, localized calamities caused by hailstorms, inundation, landslide, etc.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Premiums
  • Farmers pay a maximum premium of 2% for Kharif and 1.5% for Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops. For commercial and horticultural crops, the maximum premium is 5%.
  • The Central & State Governments subsidizes the remaining premium in 50:50 proportion. For the farmers in North-Eastern & Himalayan States/UTs, the contribution of Central & State Govt. subsidy is in a 90:10 proportion.
• Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
  • All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, growing the notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage.
  • Compulsory Component: All farmers availing Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from Financial Institutions (i.e. loanee farmers) for the notified crops would be covered compulsorily.
  • Farmers must have an insurable interest in the insured crops.
  • Farmers must possess a valid and authenticated land ownership certificate or a valid land tenure agreement.
  • Farmers must not have received compensation for the same crop loss from any other medium or source.
  • PMFBY covers both loanee and non-loanee farmers across the agricultural range.
    • Non-loanee farmers are those without crop loans or with non-standard Kisan Credit Card (KCC)-linked loans.
    • Loanee farmersare those who take seasonal crop loans from banks or financial institutions, and their loans or KCCs are active and standard.