12 October 2025

• Space: The EU Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers entered deployment from today.
• Scheme: PM-SETU for ITI upgradation was formally notified with state-level implementation guidelines.
• Environment: IUCN World Conservation Congress continued in Abu Dhabi. India's National Red List roadmap was endorsed.
• Awards: The IUCN Kenton Miller Award 2025 was given to Dr Sonali Ghosh, the first Indian recipient.

GS area: Environment (Conservation, Awards)

The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas awarded the Kenton Miller Award 2025 to Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam.

• Award frequency: annual; given since 1999 by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
• Prize: USD 5,000.
• Dr Sonali Ghosh: the first Indian to receive this award. Recognised for integrating surrounding communities into Kaziranga's conservation model; developing eco-friendly tourism frameworks; strengthening anti-poaching operations; and building gender-inclusive field teams.
• Kaziranga: a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam. Holds two-thirds of the world's wild one-horned rhinoceros population. Also has tigers, elephants, wild buffalos and swamp deer.
• Context of the IUCN Congress: the award is given at the quadrennial IUCN World Conservation Congress. The Abu Dhabi 2025 congress also saw India announce its National Red List Roadmap.

Static linkage: Wildlife conservation, Kaziranga, IUCN, conservation awards.

GS area: International Relations (EU, Travel)

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) began its phased deployment from 12 October 2025, with full implementation across all Schengen borders by April 10, 2026.

• Coverage: all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein (the full Schengen Area).
• Who is affected: all non-EU nationals, including Indian passport holders and British nationals.
• What EES does: replaces passport stamping with biometric capture (fingerprints and a facial image) at the border. Tracks the 90-day maximum stay within any 180-day period automatically.
• ETIAS (expected 2026): the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Will require non-EU nationals to obtain pre-travel authorisation, similar to the US ESTA, before travelling to Schengen.
• India's current status: Indian nationals require a Schengen visa. The EES adds biometric border registration on top of the existing visa requirement.

Static linkage: EU institutions, Schengen Zone, India-EU relations.

GS area: Economy (Minerals, Science and Technology)

The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) added two institutions, IISc Bengaluru and C-MET Hyderabad, to its research network, bringing the total to nine institutions.

• NCMM: announced in Union Budget 2024-25. Ministry of Mines is the nodal ministry.
• Scope: covers exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing and recycling across all critical minerals, including offshore polymetallic nodules (cobalt, rare earth elements).
• Critical mineral applications:
  • Solar: silicon, tellurium, indium, gallium.
  • Wind: neodymium, dysprosium (for turbine magnets).
  • EV batteries: lithium, nickel, cobalt.
  • Defence: rare earth elements in sensors, guided missiles and radar systems.
• IISc Bengaluru: Indian Institute of Science, India's premier research institution for materials science and engineering.
• C-MET Hyderabad: Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, specialises in advanced electronic materials including rare earth processing.

Static linkage: Critical minerals, green energy transition, defence technology.

GS area: Economy (Corporate law, Banking)

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code turned nine in December 2025 (enacted December 2016). A detailed stock-take was published this week.

• Debt resolved: Rs 26 lakh crore in total.
• Pre-admission settlements: 30,310 cases settled with Rs 13.78 lakh crore in defaults resolved before cases reached NCLT.
• Post-admission outcomes: 1,314 cases settled; 1,919 withdrawn under Section 12A.
• NPA trajectory: gross NPAs fell from 10.9 per cent of bank advances in FY2017-18 to 2.3 per cent in FY2024-25. Net NPAs fell to 0.5 per cent.
• Average recovery time: reduced from 248-344 days of default to 30-87 days for resolution.
• Post-resolution company performance: 76 per cent sales growth, 130 per cent capex increase, 80 per cent liquidity improvement, 50 per cent employment and wages rise.
• Key amendments: 2017 (Section 29A, disqualifying promoters from bidding); 2018 (homebuyers as financial creditors); 2019 (330-day resolution cap); 2021 (pre-pack insolvency for MSMEs).

Static linkage: IBC, corporate governance, banking sector health.

GS area: Agriculture

State-level implementation plans for the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses began to be finalised.

• "One Block – One Seed Village" model: each development block identifies one village as a seed production hub. This concentrates quality seed supply and creates local expertise.
• 416 focused districts: higher than the 100 districts under PMDDKY. The pulse mission uses a cluster-based approach covering more geography.
• SATHI portal operational details: farmers can verify seed authenticity by scanning QR codes on certified seed bags. The system tracks from the foundation seed stage through certified seed distribution.

Static linkage: Agricultural policy, seed systems, food security.

GS area: International Relations, Geography

Armenia became a new State Member of the IUCN at the Abu Dhabi congress.

• Capital: Yerevan.
• Location: South Caucasus, landlocked between Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran.
• Average elevation: 1,800 metres; highest peak: Mount Aragats (4,090 metres).
• Lake Sevan: one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. A key water source for the region.
• Context: Armenia joined IUCN to access conservation expertise as it works to protect Lake Sevan and manage its Caucasus mountain ecosystems.

Static linkage: International organisations, geography of Central Asia and Caucasus.

• UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects: launched at MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona. The world's first virtual museum of stolen artifacts. Covers 240 artifacts from 46 countries. Uses 3D modelling, AI and virtual reality. India's two entries: 9th-century sandstone Nataraja and Brahma sculptures from Mahadev Temple, Pali, Chhattisgarh.
• International Purple Fest 2025: 9 to 12 October in Goa. Organised by DEPwD and UN India. Key launches: IELTS Training Handbook for persons with disabilities; Recognition of Prior Learning in Indian Sign Language interpretation; ASL and BSL training programme.
• Coral Triangle, Philippines cryobank: Southeast Asia's first coral larvae cryobank established by the Philippines in partnership with Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Larvae are cryopreserved at -196°C in liquid nitrogen for long-term reef restoration.