NATIONAL – DAIRY

National Scheme for Issuing Letters of Authorization (LoA) for Sustainable High Seas Fishing

• • Background: The Vice President of India launched a national scheme for issuing Letters of Authorization (LoA) to promote sustainable fishing in the high seas.

• This scheme implements the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement aimed at establishing a framework for the sustainable utilization of fishery resources within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas.

• High seas fishing refers to fishing activities targeting marine resources in waters beyond national jurisdiction (extending up to 200 nautical miles, which constitutes the EEZ).

About the National Scheme for Issuing Letters of Authorization (LoA)

• • An LoA is a mandatory permit for Indian-flagged fishing vessels to fish in the high seas.

• Key features:

• • Issued specifically for a single vessel.
  • Non-transferable (cannot be assigned to another vessel).
  • Valid for 3 years.

• It has been made mandatory under the ‘Guidelines for Sustainable Utilization of Fishery Resources in the High Seas by Indian-Flagged Fishing Vessels, 2025’.

• • The entire process is conducted digitally via the ‘ReALCraft’ (Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft) portal; this ensures transparency, streamlined approvals, and effective monitoring. 
  • Priority for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LoA):

• Fisheries cooperative societies

• Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs)

• Indian fishers

• The scheme promotes responsible and sustainable fishing by ensuring that vessels comply with the conservation regulations of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). These regulations include:
  • Catch limit
  • Measures to minimize by-catch (accidental capture of non-target species)
  • Other conservation requirements

Expected Benefits

• Enables India to better utilize high-seas fishery resources, particularly high-value tuna stocks.
• Increases fishermen’s income and boosts seafood exports.
• Enhances the traceability of fish products and helps meet international certification standards.
• Supports the growth of India’s Blue Economy.
• Creates new business and employment opportunities for the youth in the fisheries sector.

 

Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND)

• Context: The Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) has secured another significant international recognition by winning second place for the prestigious ‘Best Egmont Case Award’ for a case involving large-scale online fraud.

About FIU-IND

• FIU-IND was established by the Government of India in 2004.

• It is the central national agency responsible for the following tasks:
  • Receiving information regarding suspicious financial transactions
  • Processing and analyzing the information
  • Sharing information with relevant authorities when required.

• FIU-IND is an independent body; it reports directly to the Economic Intelligence Council headed by the Finance Minister.

Functions of FIU-IND

• Information Collection

• • • FIU-IND receives financial reports from banks and other reporting entities. These include:
      • Cash Transaction Reports
      • Non-Profit Organization Transaction Reports
      • Cross-Border Wire Transfer Reports
      • Immovable Property Reports (purchase or sale of property)
      • Suspicious Transaction Reports

• Information Analysis

• • It examines the received information and identifies suspicious transaction patterns. These methods may indicate the following:
    • Money laundering
    • Other related financial crimes

• Information sharing

• • • It shares critical financial intelligence with:
      • National intelligence agencie
      • Law enforcement agencies
      • Regulatory bodies
      • Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of other countries

• Central data repository

• • It creates and maintains a national database using reports received from various reporting entities.

• Coordination

• • It fosters cooperation and information sharing at the following levels:
    • National level
    • Regional level
    • International level

• It helps prevent money laundering and other related crimes.

• Research and analysis

• • It monitors emerging trends, typologies, and developments in money laundering.
  • It identifies key areas requiring greater focus to strengthen the fight against financial crimes.

 

India Surpasses 50% Clean Energy Share for a Brief Period

• • Context: Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that clean energy met more than 50% of India’s electricity demand.

• This marks the second such instance; the first occurred on July 29, 2025, when the share reached 51.5%.

Key Highlights

• India’s total electricity demand reached 221.5 GW.

• Approximately 110 GW of electricity was generated from renewable and clean energy sources, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and nuclear power.

Installed Power Generation Capacity

• Total installed power generation capacity: 542.3 GW

• Thermal power generation capacity: 250.8 GW

• Renewable power generation capacity: 282.7 GW

Significance

• • It demonstrates the steady progress India is making towards clean and renewable energy.
  • It highlights the country’s commitment to:

• Energy security

• Climate change resilience

• Sustainable development.

 

Landslide

• Background: The Wayanad landslide issue has regained attention following a new landslide that occurred on July 7, 2026, on a tunnel road under construction in Kerala’s Wayanad district.

About Landslides

• A landslide is the downward movement of rock, soil, or debris along a slope due to the force of gravity.
• It is a geomorphological hazard caused by natural processes that shape the Earth’s surface.

Types of Landslides

• Falls: Rocks or debris fall freely from steep slopes.
• Slides: Materials move along a flat or curved surface.
• Flows: Soil and debris flow like a fluid (e.g., earth flows, debris flows).
• Lateral Spreads: Land moves laterally due to weak soil conditions.

Major Causes in India

• Heavy and continuous rainfall (the most common cause)
• Earthquakes
• Human activities such as road cutting, stone quarrying, deforestation, and unplanned construction
• Weak or weathered rocks and unstable soil

Highly Vulnerable Areas

• Western Ghats: Kerala, Karnataka, Goa
• Himalayas: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim
• Northeast: Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland

Landslide Early Warning Systems

Sensor-based system (Amrita University)

• • Uses inclinometers, piezometers, pressure gauges, and accelerometers installed on high-risk slopes.
  • Warnings are issued when measurements exceed danger thresholds.

• Advantages

• • Accurate and reliable
  • Provides early warning
  • Successfully deployed in Munnar (2024)

Probability-based Forecasting (IIT Mandi)

• • Utilizes satellite data from past landslides and local rainfall forecasts.
  • Also considers: soil conditions, rock stability, slope gradient, and population density.

• Advantages

• • Covers large areas
  • Easily scalable
  • Identifies regional landslide risk

Institutional Framework

• Disaster Management Act, 2005

• • • The primary legislation for disaster management in India.
    • Established bodies:
      • NDMA (headed by the Prime Minister)
      • SDMAs (headed by Chief Ministers)
      • DDMAs (at the district level)

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

• • Issues guidelines on landslide hazard mapping and mitigation measures.
  • NDRF carries out specialized rescue and relief operations.

• Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• • • Undertakes landslide hazard zonation mapping.
    • Has identified over 66,000 landslide-prone areas across India.

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• • Provides rainfall data and forecasts essential for predicting landslides.
  • Continuously improving weather forecasting systems for better early warning.

• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) / ISRO

• • Provides satellite data for hazard mapping, land-use monitoring, and detecting environmental changes.

Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project

• Background: Residents of several villages affected by the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project have resumed their protests, demanding better compensation and rehabilitation.

About the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project

• In 2021, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project.

Project Details

• The project aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
• Both the Ken and Betwa rivers are tributaries of the Yamuna River.
• The Ken-Betwa link canal will be 221 km long, including a 2 km-long tunnel.
• It is part of the ‘National Perspective Plan’ for interlinking rivers.

Project Phases

• Phase I: Construction of the Daudhan Dam and associated structures.
• Phase II: Construction works: Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

Beneficiary Areas

• The project is located in the Bundelkhand region, covering 13 districts across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

• The project is expected to provide significant relief by improving water availability in this water-scarce region.

Completion

• The project is scheduled to be completed within 8 years.

 

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Nationwide Coastal Cleanliness Campaign 2026

• CONTEXT:The ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ coastal cleanliness campaign will be conducted nationwide from 10 to 19 September 2026 to promote marine conservation and coastal cleanliness. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired a meeting of Science Ministries to strengthen coordination among scientific institutions for the campaign. The initiative focuses on combining scientific innovation, public participation, and inter-departmental cooperation for protecting marine ecosystems. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has also launched a coastal clean-up drive covering 75 beaches across India in 75 days.

ABOUT is the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar Campaign

• It is the first-of-its-kind and longest running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with the highest number of people participating in it.
• The Campaign will culminate on “International Coastal Clean-up Day” (17th September 2022).
  • The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines and on beaches.

• Globally, “International Coastal Clean Up Day” is celebrated on the third Saturday of September, every year.
  • Through this campaign, a mass behavioural change among the masses is intended by raising awareness about how plastic usage is destroying the marine life.
• A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for the common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity.

Objectives:

• Running a cleanliness campaign along India’s entire coastline.
• To reduce marine litter.
• Minimising the use of plastics.
• Encouraging segregation of waste at source and waste management.

Significance of a Clean Ocean

• The ocean is a vital source of nourishment, especially to people in the world’s poorest nations.
• Many depend on fish for their primary source of protein; fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of about 540 million people (8% of the world’s population) directly or indirectly.
• Overfishing, loss of biodiversity and the possible extinction of species put a stress on these limited resources. This could lead to famine, increased poverty and conflicts, including war.
• Learning to manage the ocean sustainably is the only path to global prosperity and peace.

 

World Economic Outlook, 2026

• Context: The ‘World Economic Outlook, 2026’ report was released recently.
• Publisher: International Monetary Fund (IMF); published biannually.
• Objective: It provides analyses and projections regarding the current and medium-term state of the global economy, covering advanced, emerging, and developing economies.

Key Findings

• India’s Position: Supported by robust private consumption and strong service sector performance, India’s GDP is projected to grow by 6.4% in the 2026-27 fiscal year; India will thus continue to be one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
• Global Economic Growth: Projected to slow to 3.0% in 2026 and subsequently recover to 3.4% in 2027.
• Core Inflation: Expected to decline gradually.
• Energy Prices: Currently 25% higher than pre-war levels (prior to February 28); expected to remain elevated.
• Emerging Markets and Developing Economies: Growth is projected to slow to 3.8% in 2026 and recover to 4.5% in 2027.
• Asian Economies: China’s growth is projected to slow to 4.6% in 2026 due to high oil prices and structural challenges.
  • Vietnam’s growth estimate has been raised to 7.5%; meanwhile, Malaysia’s economy is expected to grow by 4.7%, driven by the global technology cycle. 

• Major commodity-producing economies—Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar—are expected to face a severe economic downturn in 2026; meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s economy is projected to grow by 1.7%.