1. Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS), 1988

The Ministry of Finance has notified the Capital Gains Accounts (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2025, bringing key updates to the existing CGAS, 1988.

About CGAS, 1988

• Introduced by the Central Government in 1988 to help taxpayers claim exemptions on long-term capital gains.
• Under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, capital gains must be reinvested within 3 years to avoid tax.
• If the ITR due date arrives before reinvestment, taxpayers may deposit unutilised gains in a CGAS account, which counts as reinvestment.
• Deposits must be made before filing ITR.
• Only long-term capital gains qualify.
• Eligible depositors: Individuals, HUFs, Companies, Trusts, etc.
• Unused balance after the allowed period becomes taxable.

Key Changes in the 2025 Amendment

Earlier, deposits were restricted mostly to public sector banks.

Now, all non-rural branches of 19 major private banks can manage CGAS deposits.

“Non-rural” = population 10,000+ (2011 Census).

Allows electronic payment modes — UPI, IMPS, RTGS, NEFT, cards, net banking, BHIM.

2. Special Leave Petition (SLP)

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court clarified that dismissal of an SLP—speaking or non-speaking—does not cause merger of the challenged order with the Supreme Court’s order.

About SLP

• Filed before the Supreme Court to seek permission to appeal when no statutory right exists.

• Power exercised under Article 136.
• Applicable to both civil and criminal matters.
• Open to individuals, companies, NGOs, and government bodies.
• Can challenge both final and interim orders.

Time Limits

• 90 days from HC judgment, or\60 days from refusal of certificate to appeal.

Procedure

• Petition must include facts, grounds, and be signed by an Advocate-on-Record.

• Declaration required that no similar petition is filed elsewhere.
• SC may grant or reject leave after hearing.

3. Bharat NCAP

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has released the draft Bharat NCAP 2.0 to expand India’s vehicle safety rating system.

About Bharat NCAP

• India’s indigenous crash test star-rating system (1 to 5 stars).

• Developed with Global NCAP.

• Vehicles tested as per AIS 197.

• Covers safety for adults, children, and safety assist technologies.

• Voluntary participation; base variants tested.

Applicability

• Passenger vehicles under 3,500 kg.

• ICE, CNG, and EVs included.

• Ratings valid for 4 years.

• Bharat NCAP 2.0 – Key Features

• New tests and expanded scoring.

• Introduces vulnerable road-user protection.

• 100-point system across five safety pillars.

• Crash tests increased from 2 to 5.

Mandatory: ESC and curtain airbags.

• AEB optional.

• Side-facing seat vehicles excluded.

• 5-star threshold: 70 points (2027–29); 80 points (2029–31).

4. Postojna Cave

Researchers from Poland, the U.S., and Slovenia have validated equations describing stalagmite shapes using samples from Postojna Cave.

About Postojna Cave

• Located in western Slovenia.

• A limestone cave shaped by the Pivka River.
• Only karst cave with a railway system.

• Habitat of the olm (Proteus anguinus) — a blind amphibian with lungs and gills.

5. Pazhayar River

Unregulated sewage discharge in the Pazhayar River in Nagercoil has raised serious environmental concerns.

About Pazhayar River

• Major river of Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.

• Originates in the Mahendragiri Hills.

• Empties into the Arabian Sea near Manakudi.

Tributaries: Alathurayar, Poigaiyar, Thadaveyar, Koya Odai, Ulakkaruviyar.

• Several dams built: Chattupythur, Chettothoppu, Cholanmkattu, Kutty, Kumari, Mission, and more.
• The Manakudi Estuary is ecologically sensitive with rich mangroves and birdlife.

6. HAMMER Weapon System

Bharat Electronics Limited and Safran Electronics & Defence (SED) have signed an agreement to jointly manufacture the HAMMER Weapon System in India.

About HAMMER

• Stands for Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range.

• French precision-guided air-to-ground weapon.

• Range: Up to 70 km.

• Compatible with 250, 500, and 1,000 kg bombs.

• Jam-resistant and effective against hardened targets.

• Integrates with Rafale and LCA Tejas.

• Precision-Guided Weapons

• Built to hit point targets with high accuracy.

• Components: guidance system, payload, fins.

7. Auramine O

India continues to detect cases of food adulteration involving Auramine O, a prohibited synthetic dye.

About Auramine O

• A yellow dye made from dimethylaniline and formaldehyde.

• Found as yellow flakes or powder.

• Banned for food use in India, EU, and U.S.

Industrial uses: textiles, paper, inks, leather, microbiological staining.

Health risks: liver/kidney damage, spleen issues, mutagenic effects, possible cancer.

• Classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic.

8. Hayli Gubbi Volcano

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted after about 10,000 years, sending ash toward northern India.

About the Volcano

• Located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, near Eritrea.

• A shield volcano in the Danakil Depression.

• Part of the Erta Ale volcanic range.

• No modern recorded eruptions until now.

• Shield Volcano Traits

• Largest volcanic type.

• Formed by fluid basaltic lava.

• Broad, gentle slopes.

Ash Cloud

• Contains ash, SO₂, and fine particles.

• Causes respiratory, eye, and skin irritation.

9. Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM)

New Delhi recently hosted the 10th Session of APDIM focusing on Inclusive Disaster Risk Data Governance.

About APDIM

• A regional institution under UN ESCAP.

• Works to strengthen disaster risk information across Asia-Pacific.

• Helps countries design better disaster risk reduction strategies.

• Governed by an 8-member council (India is a member for 2022–25).

• Headquarters: Tehran, Iran.

Functions

• Regional disaster risk data repository.

• Knowledge-sharing platform.

• Facilitates cooperation on disaster information systems.

10. Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has launched the Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0 under ISEA.

About the ISEA Project

• A national initiative to build cybersecurity skills and promote cyber hygiene.

• Focuses on creating trained cybersecurity professionals.

Implementation

• Delivered via 50 institutions following a hub-and-spoke model:

• IITs, NITs, IIITs

• C-DAC, NIELIT

Technical universities

• Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0

• Designed for students and researchers to solve real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Covers 10 domains:

• Network Security, Mobile Security, Hardware Security, Cryptography, Cyber Forensics, Fintech Security, and more.