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📝 Revision Notes
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Science & Technology
Bharat Forecast System (BFS) – World’s First 6 km Weather Model
BFS is the world’s first weather forecasting model with 6 km spatial resolution, powered by Supercomputer ‘Arka’ (11.77 petaflops, 33 petabytes). Runs models in 3–4 hours vs 12–13 hours on the older ‘Pratyush’ system. Enables hyper-local weather predictions critical for agriculture, disaster management, and aviation across India.
Governance
PAI 2.0 – Streamlined Panchayat Advancement Index
PAI 2.0 reduced indicators from 516 → 147 and data points from 794 → 227 for tracking performance of 2.5 lakh+ Gram Panchayats. The rationalisation aligns with SDG localisation goals under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, making panchayat-level governance data more accessible and actionable for citizens and officials.
Finance & Social Security
EPFO Retains EPF Interest Rate at 8.25% for FY25
EPFO retained the EPF interest rate at 8.25% for FY25 — retained for the second consecutive year. Proposed at the 237th CBT meeting chaired by Mansukh Mandaviya; final approval by Ministry of Finance. Benefits 7 crore+ active subscribers. EPFO manages India’s largest social security corpus for the organised workforce.
Education
First US University UGC-Approved for India Campus – IIT Chicago
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago (QS rank 601–610) became the first American university approved by UGC to set up a campus in India — expected to open in Mumbai by 2026–27. Enabled by UGC’s FHEI Regulations 2023. 5 foreign universities total have received UGC approval to operate campuses in India.
Defence & Technology
Indrajaal Infra – India’s AI-Driven Anti-Drone System
Indrajaal Infra (Hyderabad) is built on the SkyOS platform, covering 4,000 sq km airspace using AI-driven threat detection with sensors, spoofers, and jammers. Represents India’s indigenous counter-drone ecosystem — highly relevant post-Operation Sindoor where drone warfare played a pivotal role.
Culture & Arts
78th Cannes 2025 – Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d’Or
Jafar Panahi (Iran) won the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival 2025 for ‘It Was Just an Accident’. Jury chaired by Juliette Binoche (France); jury included Indian director Payal Kapadia (Grand Prix winner, Cannes 2024 for All We Imagine as Light). Panahi had previously been banned from filmmaking by Iranian authorities.
Sports – Badminton
Malaysia Masters 2025 – Srikanth Runner-Up to Li Shifeng
Kidambi Srikanth (India, rank 65; former world no. 1) reached the men’s singles final of the Perodua Malaysia Masters 2025 (BWF Super 500) but lost to Li Shifeng (China, world no. 4) — 21–11, 21–9. Srikanth’s final run was a strong comeback performance despite his current lower ranking.
Defence
ADTL ‘Surya’ VHF Radar – 360 km Stealth Detection
ADTL’s (Bengaluru) ‘Surya’ VHF radar delivered to IAF can detect targets (2 sq.m radar cross-section) at up to 360 km. Operates in VHF band (30–300 MHz) — effective against stealth aircraft that evade conventional microwave radars. Enhances India’s indigenous air defence and early-warning capability.
Defence Exports
NIBE Limited – Universal Rocket Launchers Exported to Israel
NIBE Limited (Pune) secured a USD 17.52 million export order from Israel for Universal Rocket Launchers with a maximum range of 300 km — produced in India for the first time for international markets. Milestone for India’s defence manufacturing exports under Atmanirbhar Bharat Defence vision.
Environment & Biodiversity
Kozhikode – Kerala’s First District with 8-Category Biodiversity Symbols
Kozhikode became Kerala’s first district to declare official biodiversity symbols across 8 categories: flower, bird, butterfly, tree, heritage tree, aquatic animal, fish, and animal — announced on International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22, 2025). Promotes district-level biodiversity identity and conservation awareness under the Biological Diversity Act.
🎴 Revision Flashcards
Click each card to flip and test your recall
Tap to Reveal
What supercomputer powers BFS and what are its key specs?
‘Arka’ — 11.77 petaflops, 33 petabytes storage
BFS: world’s first 6 km resolution weather model; runs in 3–4 hrs vs 12–13 hrs on Pratyush
Tap to Reveal
How many indicators and data points does PAI 2.0 have compared to PAI 1.0?
147 indicators (from 516); 227 data points (from 794)
Tracks 2.5 lakh+ Gram Panchayats; Ministry of Panchayati Raj; SDG-linked
Tap to Reveal
Which was the first American university UGC-approved for an India campus, and when will it open?
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago; Mumbai campus by 2026–27
QS rank 601–610; enabled by UGC FHEI Regulations 2023
Tap to Reveal
What platform does Indrajaal Infra use and how much airspace does it cover?
SkyOS platform; 4,000 sq km
AI-driven; uses sensors, spoofers, jammers; Hyderabad-based company
Tap to Reveal
Who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2025 and who chaired the jury?
Jafar Panahi (Iran) for ‘It Was Just an Accident’; jury chaired by Juliette Binoche
Indian director Payal Kapadia was on the jury; she won Grand Prix at Cannes 2024
Tap to Reveal
What are the detection range and frequency band of ADTL’s ‘Surya’ VHF radar?
360 km range; VHF band (30–300 MHz)
Detects stealth aircraft; 2 sq.m radar cross-section; developed by ADTL, Bengaluru for IAF
Tap to Reveal
What export order did NIBE Limited secure from Israel and for what product?
USD 17.52 million; Universal Rocket Launchers (max range: 300 km)
NIBE Ltd, Pune; first time produced in India for international markets
Tap to Reveal
Which district became Kerala’s first with official symbols across 8 biodiversity categories?
Kozhikode — announced on May 22, 2025 (International Day for Biological Diversity)
8 categories: flower, bird, butterfly, tree, heritage tree, aquatic animal, fish, animal
Think & Discuss
India’s Counter-Drone Revolution: Is Homegrown AI-Defence Technology Ready for the Next Conflict?
Context from today’s quiz: India’s Indrajaal Infra — built on SkyOS — can blanket 4,000 sq km of airspace with AI-driven counter-drone capability using sensors, spoofers, and jammers. Meanwhile, ADTL’s ‘Surya’ VHF radar can detect stealth targets at 360 km, and NIBE Limited has secured a USD 17.52 million rocket launcher export order from Israel. Taken together, these developments point to a rapidly maturing indigenous defence technology ecosystem — tested in real terms by the drone warfare lessons of Operation Sindoor.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
Operation Sindoor demonstrated that modern warfare is increasingly defined by drone swarms, counter-drone systems, and electronic warfare — not just traditional kinetic platforms. India’s defence indigenisation push is producing capable systems, but the speed of technology maturation and integration into operational forces remains a challenge compared to adversaries who have years of battlefield drone experience.
Is India’s current pace of indigenous counter-drone and radar development fast enough to address the asymmetric drone threats it faces on both its northern and western borders, or does it need a dedicated crash programme — similar to Israel’s Iron Dome or the US’s Counter-UAS Task Force?
Is India’s current pace of indigenous counter-drone and radar development fast enough to address the asymmetric drone threats it faces on both its northern and western borders, or does it need a dedicated crash programme — similar to Israel’s Iron Dome or the US’s Counter-UAS Task Force?
- Indrajaal covers 4,000 sq km — India’s borders stretch thousands of kilometres. Is area-denial through single-system solutions sufficient, or does India need a layered, networked counter-drone grid with mandatory interoperability standards?
- NIBE’s rocket launcher export to Israel while India simultaneously imports Israeli systems — what does this tell us about the maturity of India’s defence industrial base, and is the exchange balanced or asymmetric?
- The Bharat Forecast System (BFS) uses the ‘Arka’ supercomputer for hyper-local weather predictions — how critical is superior weather intelligence for drone and missile operations, and should BFS be classified as dual-use strategic infrastructure?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
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