Recently, more than 200 students from Indian schools in Muscat visited the indigenously built warship INS Imphal while it was berthed at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman.
About INS Imphal
INS Imphal is an indigenously built stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. It is the third ship of the Project P-15B series, also known as the Visakhapatnam-class of stealth destroyers.
The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2023. It was designed in-house by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, while Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) was responsible for its construction.
INS Imphal is the first Indian warship to be named after a city in Northeast India, with Imphal being the capital of Manipur. It was also the first naval warship commissioned with accommodation facilities for women officers and sailors.
Operational Role
INS Imphal is a unit of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet. Its major missions include Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
Major Features
The warship has an indigenous content of approximately 75%, reflecting India’s growing capability in indigenous warship design and construction.
It measures 163 metres in length and 17 metres in breadth, with a displacement of approximately 7,400 tonnes. It has a total complement of around 315 personnel.
The ship is propelled by four gas turbines in a Combined Gas & Gas (COGAG) configuration and can achieve speeds of more than 30 knots, or approximately 56 km/h. It has a maximum operating endurance of 45 days.
Weapons and Defence Systems
INS Imphal has enhanced stealth features, which reduce its Radar Cross Section (RCS).
Its weapon systems include BrahMos missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, indigenous anti-submarine rocket launchers and a 76 mm super-rapid gun mount.
The ship is also equipped with modern surveillance radar, which provides target data to its gunnery and weapon systems.
Protection Against CBRN Threats
INS Imphal has a Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS), which provides protection to the crew against chemical, biological and nuclear threats.
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved 31 more applications under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).
About Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme
The Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) was launched in 2025 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The scheme aims to develop a robust domestic electronic component manufacturing ecosystem by attracting global and domestic investments across the value chain and integrating India’s electronics industry with Global Value Chains (GVCs).
Incentive Structure
The ECMS provides three types of incentive structures.
Turnover-linked incentive is based on the revenue generated by the eligible manufacturing activity.
Capex-linked incentive is linked to investments made in plant and machinery.
Hybrid incentive combines elements of both the turnover-linked and capex-linked models.
Employment Generation
Employment generation is a mandatory requirement for all applicants under the scheme. This applies to both component manufacturers and capital equipment producers.
Tenure
The scheme has a six-year tenure, including a one-year gestation period for the turnover-linked incentive.
The capital expenditure-linked incentive is available for a period of five years.
Focus of the Scheme
The ECMS focuses particularly on passive electronic components. These include resistors, capacitors, speakers, microphones, special ceramics, relays, switches and connectors.
In contrast, active electronic components fall under the purview of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
Why in News?
Recently, India-based defence start-up D-Propulse announced that it had successfully demonstrated a Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) at a Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) facility in Hyderabad.
About Rotating Detonation Engine
A Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) is a type of propulsion system that differs from conventional gas turbines and ramjets in the way fuel is burned.
Deflagration vs Detonation
Conventional engines generally use deflagration, in which fuel burns through a flame in a relatively slow, steady and subsonic process.
In contrast, an RDE uses detonation, where fuel undergoes extremely rapid combustion through supersonic detonation waves that rotate continuously through the engine’s combustion chamber.
This rapid detonation can produce greater thrust for the same amount of fuel.
Advantages of RDE
The more efficient use of the combustion chamber can create volume savings. This additional space can potentially be used for carrying more fuel or payload.
As a result, RDE technology has the potential to provide benefits in terms of range, speed and affordability compared with conventional rockets, ramjets and gas-turbine engines.
Another important feature is that RDEs are mechanically simple and have no moving parts. This can make them potentially less complex, lower-cost and simpler to manufacture than conventional gas-turbine propulsion systems.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report titled “Limiting Overshoot: Navigating Exceedance of 1.5°C and Pathways Towards Return.” The report states that a temporary breach of the 1.5°C global-warming threshold under the Paris Agreement is increasingly inevitable in the near term.
The report proposes an “overshoot, peak and decline” framework to limit peak warming and enable a multi-decadal return towards safer planetary boundaries.
Human-induced global warming has reached approximately 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, increasing at around 0.25°C per decade. Operational decadal forecasts indicate a 75% probability that the five-year mean temperature will exceed 1.5°C during 2026–2030.
To retain a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, the remaining carbon budget is estimated at around 130 billion tonnes of CO₂ from 2026 onwards. At current emissions of approximately 40 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, this budget could be exhausted in about three years.
Every additional five years of sustained high emissions could add approximately 0.1°C to peak warming. Emissions since 2015 have already increased the minimum achievable peak warming by approximately 0.2°C.
Under current policies, median projected global warming could reach 2.6°C by 2100, with a range of 1.9°C–3.6°C. Even if all current NDCs and long-term Net-Zero targets are fully implemented, central peak warming is projected at 1.8°C.
The report identifies methane mitigation as an important near-term climate action. Methane currently contributes around 0.5°C to global warming.
Because methane has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime, reducing methane emissions can slow the rate of warming more rapidly than equivalent CO₂ reductions. While reducing oil and gas leaks is relatively feasible, reducing methane from agriculture and waste remains more challenging.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 by the European Union and the United States, has been joined by more than 155 countries and aims to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
The proposed framework shifts climate strategy from merely trying to prevent a 1.5°C breach towards actively managing the consequences of an overshoot.
Overshoot: Global warming exceeds the 1.5°C threshold but has not yet reached its peak.
Peak/Plateau: Warming reaches its maximum level above 1.5°C and begins to stabilize.
Decline: Global temperatures gradually decline from the peak as a result of global net-negative emissions.
Stabilization: Temperatures eventually return to or below the 1.5°C target and stabilize at that level.
Climate overshoot could produce long-lasting and potentially irreversible impacts.
Cryosphere: Glaciers outside Greenland and Antarctica could lose 25–40% or more of their mass by 2100, contributing approximately 9–15.4 cm to sea-level rise.
Sea-Level Rise: Sea levels will continue rising for centuries to millennia because of deep-ocean warming and ice-sheet inertia. Every 100 years above 1.5°C could commit the world to approximately 40 cm of additional median sea-level rise by 2300.
Oceans: Ocean acidification and deoxygenation can persist for centuries because recovery of deep-ocean circulation and chemistry is extremely slow.
Food Security: Global food production could decline by up to 14% by 2050 without effective adaptation.
The report highlights risks to major Earth-system components, including weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), potential transformation of the Amazon rainforest from a carbon sink to a carbon source, and irreversible retreat of parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
The report calls for rapid and deep reductions in CO₂ and methane emissions, expansion of renewable energy, responsible deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), stronger Loss and Damage finance, protection of natural ecosystems and stronger climate-resilience measures.
It recommends increasing renewables to 60–70% of global electricity generation by 2030, supported by grid expansion, energy storage and demand flexibility.
The report also emphasizes that carbon dioxide removal should complement, not replace, aggressive emission reductions, with appropriate governance to manage environmental and land-use risks.
Why in News?
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Accounts Statistics 2026, using 2022–23 as the new base year. The publication provides updated estimates of GDP, national income and other key macroeconomic indicators, incorporating revised statistical methodologies and updated data.
Major Changes in National Accounts Statistics 2026
Revision of Base Year
A major change is the adoption of 2022–23 as the new base year for key macroeconomic indicators. The revised series incorporates updated statistical sources, including the new Producer Price Index (PPI), Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and Banking Services Price Index (BkSPI).
Adoption of Double Deflation
MoSPI has adopted the Double Deflation method for estimating Gross Value Added (GVA) in the Manufacturing sector, in alignment with the UN System of National Accounts (SNA).
Under the earlier approach, a single deflator was used for both output and intermediate consumption. Under double deflation, gross output and intermediate inputs are deflated separately. This is intended to provide a more accurate estimate of real value added by capturing changes in the prices of both finished goods and raw materials.
Q1 FY 2026–27 Economic Performance
GDP and GVA
Real GDP at constant prices was estimated at ₹81.36 lakh crore in Q1 FY 2026–27, registering 7.8% growth, compared with 6.9% in Q1 FY 2025–26.
Nominal GDP grew by 10.3%, compared with 8.1% during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Real GVA and nominal GVA grew by 8.2% and 11.5%, respectively.
Investment and Consumption
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) grew by 11.9%, compared with 5.8% in Q1 FY 2025–26, indicating stronger investment in fixed assets.
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew by 7.1%, compared with 6.8% in the corresponding period of the previous year.
External Sector
Growth in exports of goods and services accelerated to 12.0%, compared with 6.0% in Q1 FY 2025–26.
Sectoral Performance
The primary sector grew by 2.9%, with agriculture and allied activities recording 3.6% growth.
The secondary sector's GVA expanded by 8.6%, compared with 6.1% in the previous year. Manufacturing grew by 9.2%.
The services sector recorded 10.0% real GVA growth, compared with 8.0% previously. Financial, real estate, IT and professional services grew by 12.1%.
National Accounts Statistics (NAS)
The National Accounts Statistics (NAS) is an annual publication of MoSPI that provides a comprehensive picture of India's national income, production and expenditure aggregates.
It covers important indicators such as GDP, GVA, per capita income, capital formation, savings and Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE).
NAS serves as an important statistical foundation for the Union Government, RBI, researchers and policymakers to assess structural changes, evaluate policy outcomes and analyse economic trends.
Concerns Regarding India's GDP Data
Deflator Issues
The adoption of double deflation in manufacturing has generated discussion regarding the measurement of real growth. Under this approach, input costs and output prices are adjusted separately. If input prices increase faster than output prices, the resulting deflator can become negative, potentially making measured real manufacturing growth appear higher.
Representation of the Informal Sector
India has a very large informal or unorganised sector, for which real-time data is limited. Historically, growth in the formal corporate sector has been used as a proxy for parts of the informal sector.
This has raised concerns about “large firm bias”, whereby the performance of large formal firms may not accurately represent smaller and informal enterprises.
Dependence on MCA-21 Data
GDP estimation relies significantly on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA-21) database. Concerns have been raised regarding issues such as company classification and “blowing-up factors”, which may affect estimates.
The source also notes that some economists have suggested that underlying growth could be considerably below the headline 7.8% figure.
Base-Year Revision and Back-Series
Changing the base year from 2011–12 to 2022–23 requires historical data to be recalculated under the revised methodology.
The source notes concerns regarding the delayed release of the GDP back-series, which can make it more difficult to assess long-term historical growth and structural changes.
WPI versus PPI Deflator
India has historically relied heavily on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for deflating nominal GDP into real GDP. The adoption of a new Producer Price Index (PPI) is therefore significant.
The concern with WPI is that it has a substantial weight for commodities such as oil. Changes in global commodity prices can therefore affect measured price changes even in sectors such as services that have relatively little direct connection with those commodities.
Policy Initiatives Supporting Growth
High-Tech Manufacturing and Industrial Scaling
Initiatives such as Semicon 2.0, the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (2026–31), BHAVYA Rasayan Scheme and National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 (NIPU-2026) focus on strengthening domestic manufacturing, increasing value addition and reducing import dependence.
Energy Security and Green Infrastructure
Samudra Manthan promotes offshore oil and gas exploration, while the Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Scheme targets 100 million tonnes of coal/lignite gasification capacity by 2030.
GOBARdhan promotes compressed biogas production from agricultural and municipal waste, supporting the waste-to-energy and circular economy approach.
The PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (2026–31) targets 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity integrated with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
Trade and Capital Markets
The India-UK CETA and Social Security Agreement is intended to expand market access for Indian exports.
The India-Israel Bilateral Investment Agreement provides a framework for cross-border investment.
The Fully Accessible Route (FAR) facilitates foreign portfolio investment in Government Securities, while the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) provides protection against geopolitical and shipping-related risks.
MSME Support
ECLGS 5.0 provides credit guarantees to MSMEs and larger enterprises, while the MSME Development (Amendment) Act, 2026 focuses on simplifying compliance and supporting business expansion and formalisation.
Agriculture and Rural Demand
The PM-KISAN Extension provides continued direct income support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for selected Kharif crops are intended to support domestic production, particularly in areas such as oilseeds and pulses.
The Kapas Kanti Mission for Cotton Productivity focuses on improving cotton yields, pest resilience and modern agronomic practices.
New treatments for Huntington’s disease (HD) could be on the horizon following research led by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States.
Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that gradually affects brain functioning. It is a rare hereditary disorder in which neurons in certain areas of the brain progressively break down.
The disease primarily affects the basal ganglia, a region involved in regulating body movements. It also affects the cerebral cortex, which plays an important role in thinking, decision-making and memory.
As neurons degenerate, Huntington’s disease can cause emotional disturbances, loss of intellectual abilities and uncontrolled movements.
Huntington’s disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the HTT gene.
The HTT gene produces a protein called huntingtin. Although its exact function is not fully known, researchers believe that huntingtin plays a role in supporting the functioning of nerve cells in the brain.
The genetic mutation results in the production of an abnormally shaped huntingtin protein, which ultimately contributes to the destruction and death of neurons.
Huntington’s disease follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. If one parent has the disease, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease-causing gene.
Huntington’s disease affects an estimated 3–7 people per 100,000 population. It occurs most frequently among people of European ancestry.
Symptoms can begin at any age, but they most commonly appear between 30 and 50 years of age.
Around 5–10% of affected people develop symptoms before the age of 20, known as Juvenile Huntington’s Disease, while approximately 10% develop symptoms after the age of 60.
The characteristic movement disorder is chorea, which involves involuntary, irregular and dance-like movements. Patients may also develop abnormal body postures.
The disease can additionally cause problems related to behaviour, emotions, thinking and personality. Other symptoms may include tremors and unusual eye movements, with abnormal eye movements potentially appearing early in the disease.
The symptoms generally worsen progressively, and advanced disease may require constant assistance and supervision.
There is currently no cure for Huntington’s disease.
Available medicines can help manage certain symptoms, but they cannot stop or reverse the underlying progression of the disease.
People generally die within 15–20 years after the development of symptoms.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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