Polity 

The importance of the Deputy Speaker- The Hindu 

The Deputy Speaker’s post has remained unfilled for the past six years, raising concerns about adherence to constitutional norms and the strength of democratic institutions.

The office of the Deputy Speaker is a constitutional imperative, not merely a political option. A prolonged vacancy in this position undermines the spirit of the Constitution and weakens the foundations of democratic governance.

Addressing this issue promptly is essential to restore institutional balance and uphold the effective functioning of the Lok Sabha in line with constitutional principles.

Environment 

What Experiment Stimulating drought in amazon found- Indian Express 

A long-term experiment simulating drought conditions in the Amazon rainforest, part of the “Esecaflor” project, has revealed significant forest degradation due to reduced rainfall, with severe consequences for carbon storage and biodiversity.

About Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforests are vast tropical forests spread across the Amazon River basin and its tributaries in northern South America, covering around 6 million square kilometres.

• Climatic- Tropical forests like these grow within 28° latitude north and south of the equator. They are characterised by dense canopies, high humidity, and receive over 200 cm of rainfall annually—either seasonally or year-round. Temperatures remain consistently high, ranging between 20°C and 35°C.
• Global Distribution of Tropical Forests- These forests are found across continents including Asia, Africa, Australia, South and Central America, Mexico, and several Pacific Islands.
• Geographical Boundaries- The Amazon covers about 40% of Brazil’s land area and is geographically bounded by the Guiana Highlands in the north, the Andes in the west, the Brazilian Plateau in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

International Relations 

Why US Trade Court Struck down many of Trump's Tariff- Indian Express

The US Court of International Trade (CIT) has ruled that former President Donald Trump misused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on imports from several countries, including Mexico, Canada, and China.

Economy 

Bank fraud amount jumps by three times to 36,104 crore in FY25 :RBI- Indian Express

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reported a sharp threefold increase in the total value of bank frauds for the financial year 2024–25 (FY25), reaching ₹36,014 crore. This marks a 194% jump compared to the previous year’s figure of ₹12,230 crore.

RBI’s Strategic Measures to Mitigate Fraud

In light of the rising bank fraud cases, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed several targeted interventions to enhance fraud prevention and operational resilience within the banking sector.

1. Enhanced Supervisory Framework - RBI plans to strengthen oversight, especially for private sector and small finance banks. Emphasis will be placed on improving the operational resilience of digital banking services.

2. Liquidity Stress Testing - The central bank is developing cash-flow-based stress testing models to assess banks’ liquidity positions under extreme yet plausible conditions. The goal is to ensure banks maintain adequate buffers during crises.

3. Digital Forensic Monitoring -A framework is being developed for near real-time monitoring of digital banking uptime and performance. A phased rollout of a customer dashboard will provide analytics and transparency on service quality.

4. Strengthened Fraud Risk Governance- RBI aims to tighten reporting norms by mandating automated red flag systems for large advances, improved internal controls, and periodic audits for high-risk accounts.

Defence 

India has initiated the process to develop Electric Hansa (E-Hansa), a next-generation two-seater electric trainer aircraft :PIB

India has commenced the development of Electric Hansa (E-Hansa), a next-generation two-seater electric trainer aircraft.

Electric Hansa (E-Hansa) Trainer Aircraft: 

• Development Initiative: India has initiated the development of the Electric Hansa (E-Hansa), a next-generation two-seater electric trainer aircraft.
• Developer: The aircraft is being indigenously developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru.
• Program Context: E-Hansa is part of the larger HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft program aimed at providing an affordable and indigenous pilot training solution.
• Cost Advantage: The E-Hansa is expected to cost around Rs 2 crore, which is roughly half the price of comparable imported trainer aircraft, making it a cost-effective alternative.
• Green Aviation: The aircraft represents a significant step towards India’s green aviation goals, as it uses clean energy fuel for operation.
• Strategic Importance: The project underlines India’s focus on indigenous technology development in the aerospace sector, contributing to both economic and environmental sustainability.