Polity 

PAC members flag failure of Swadesh Darshan scheme - The Hindu 

Members of the Public Accounts Committee headed by senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal slammed the Union Tourism ministry for shoddy implementation of its flagship scheme — “Swadesh Darshan” — launched in 2014-15.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• Established: 1921 (oldest parliamentary committee)
• Purpose: Audits government revenue and expenditure to ensure legality and efficiency.
• Key Functions:
  • Examines CAG audit reports.
  • Ensures Parliament-sanctioned funds are properly spent.
  • Investigates financial irregularities and inefficiencies.
• Membership:
  • 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha)
  • Chairperson: Lok Sabha MP (traditionally from Opposition)
  • Tenure: 1 year
  • Ministers excluded from membership

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

• Launched: 2015 by Ministry of Tourism
• Objective: Develop sustainable, theme-based tourist destinations
• Funding: 100% centrally funded
• Implementation:
  • Financial support to States/UTs/Central Agencies
  • Operation & Maintenance by State/UT governments
• Key Features:
  • Development of thematic tourism circuits
  • Infrastructure creation: roads, signage, amenities
  • Focus on eco-tourism and heritage conservation

World Affairs 

India, Malaysia plan counter-terrorism exercises for 2026 - The Hindu 

At the 14th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT), held in New Delhi, co-chairs India and Malaysia announced plans for a table-top exercise in Malaysia in 2026 and a field training exercise in India in 2027. These exercises form part of the 2024–2027 work plan for the group.

ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)

• Members: 10 ASEAN countries + 8 Dialogue Partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, USA)
• Purpose: Strengthen regional peace, stability, and defence cooperation
• Launched: 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam
• Meetings: Annual since 2017
• Parent Body: ADMM – ASEAN’s highest defence consultative mechanism
• Objectives:
  • Build ASEAN capacity to address shared security challenges
  • Promote mutual trust through dialogue and transparency
  • Enhance regional security cooperation
  • Implement Vientiane Action Programme for a peaceful and secure ASEAN
• Seven focus areas:
  • Maritime Security (MS)
  • Counter-Terrorism (CT)
  • Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR)
  • Peacekeeping Operations (PKO)
  • Military Medicine (MM)
  • Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA)
  • Cyber Security (CS)
• Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs):
  • Co-chaired by one ASEAN country and one Plus country
  • Operate on a 3-year cycle to facilitate practical cooperation

Economy 

Why X has challenged govt's use of Section 79 of the IT Act - Indian Express 

X has recently challenged the government’s use of Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) to moderate and order the removal of content on social media.

Shreya Singhal Case & Section 69A

• Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015):  SC struck down Section 66A of the IT Act for being vague and violating freedom of speech.
• Section 69A (Post 66A): Allows Centre to block online content if necessary under Article 19(2) grounds (e.g., public order, morality, security).  Requires the recording of reasons, ensuring judicial review.

Section 79: Safe Harbour Provision

• Purpose:  Shields intermediaries (like X) from liability for user-generated content. 
• Section 79(3)(b):  Intermediary loses protection if it doesn’t remove unlawful content after:
  • A court order, or
  • Government notification on grounds under Article 19(2).
• SC Clarification in Shreya Singhal: Blocking is valid only after court/government action under proper constitutional grounds.

Government Action & ‘Sahyog’ Portal

• MeitY Directive (Oct 2023): Permits ministries, states, and police to issue blocking orders under Section 79(3)(b).
• ‘Sahyog’ Portal (Oct 2024): Created to upload and issue blocking orders by authorities.

X’s Challenge in Karnataka HC

• Petition Claims:
  • MeitY is bypassing safeguards of Section 69A.
  • Section 79 only provides exemption from liability, not blocking powers.
• Court Proceedings:
  • HC did not grant interim relief but allowed X to seek redress if coercive action occurs.
  • Next hearing on March 27.

The Grok Controversy

• Grok 3:  X’s AI chatbot criticized for political responses and use of Hindi slang.
• Legal Grey Area: Raises the unresolved question—whether AI-generated content qualifies as third-party content under Section 79.

C-DoT launches program to support startups in 5G, 6G, IoT, quantum tech sectors - The Hindu 

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has launched the ‘Samarth’ incubation program.

Samarth Incubation Programme

• Launched by: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), under DoT, Govt. of India
• Implemented by: Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
• Support startups in:
  • Telecom software
  • Cybersecurity
  • 5G/6G technologies
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Quantum technologies
• Goal: Facilitate scalable business models, from ideation to commercialisation
• Eligibility: Startups recognised by DPIIT

• Structure:
  • Delivered in hybrid mode
  • 36 startups across 2 cohorts (6 months each)
  • 18 startups per cohort
• Support Provided:
  • Grant up to ₹5 lakh per startup
  • Office space at C-DoT for 6 months
  • Access to lab facilities
  • Mentorship by C-DoT and industry experts
• Future Scope: Opportunity for collaboration under C-DoT Collaborative Research Program

Environment 

Iguanas - Indian Express 

In research published recently, an evolutionary biologist at the University of San Francisco, and his colleagues make the case that the ancestors of Fiji’s iguanas crossed on mats of floating vegetation.

Iguanas

• About: Large herbivorous lizards native to Central & South America (Mexico to Brazil).
• Features: Scaly skin, spines, dewlap, and multiple color morphs (green, blue, grey).
• Adapt to varied habitats: deserts, rainforests, wetlands, urban areas.
• Nature: Arboreal by nature; descend mainly for nesting.
• Native: Central & South America
• Introduction: Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean islands
• Habitat Preferences:
  • Forests, rainforests, wetlands 
  • Rivers, lakes, coastal waters
  • Urban and agricultural areas
• IUCN Status: Not threatened
• CITES Status: Appendix II (regulated trade)
• Threats:
  • Pet trade & leather industry exploitation
  • Habitat loss from deforestation and urban growth
• Rafting Theory
  • Rafting: Natural ocean travel via floating vegetation
  • Rare for large reptiles but previously observed:
    • 1995 Caribbean: 15 iguanas rafted 300 km post-hurricane
    • Galápagos: Iguanas rafted ~1,000 km from South America
    • Fiji case: ~8 times longer, marking a rare transoceanic journey
       

Sci and Tech 

Several airlines operating aircraft in and around Amritsar report GPS interference: Government - The Hindu 

As many as 465 GPS interference and spoofing incidents have been reported in the border region, mostly in the Amritsar and Jammu areas, between November 2023 and February 2025.

Spoofing Attack

• About: A cyberattack where fake data is made to appear from a trusted source to deceive systems or users.
• Types:
  • GPS Spoofing: Misleads GPS devices about location.
  • IP Spoofing: Used in DDoS attacks to mask identity.
  • SMS/Caller ID Spoofing: Fakes sender identity in messages or calls.
• GPS Spoofing:
  • Uses fake radio signals to imitate genuine GPS signals.
  • Misleads receivers, causing incorrect navigation data.
     
• Working Mechanism:
  • GPS relies on satellite signals received on Earth.
  • These signals are weak and vulnerable to being overridden.
  • Spoofers study the victim's GPS system.
  • They transmit stronger, fake signals, mimicking satellite data.
  • The GPS receiver accepts these fake signals, resulting in false location readings.