🔆 GlowCas9

📍 What is GlowCas9?
✅ A glowing CRISPR-Cas9 protein developed by Bose Institute, Kolkata
✅ Allows real-time tracking of gene editing inside living cells

📍 How It Works
✅ Cas9 fused with split nano-luciferase (from deep-sea shrimp)
✅ Enzyme pieces stay inactive → activate only when Cas9 folds correctly
➡️ Reassembly → bioluminescent glow (like fireflies) during editing

📍 Key Advantages
✅ Live, real-time visualization of gene editing
✅ Works in cells, tissues, even plant leaves
✅ More stable than standard Cas9 → functions at higher temperatures
➡️ Improved safety & delivery for gene therapy

📍 Applications
✅ Gene therapy: Enhances precision of HDR → useful for diseases like sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy
✅ Crop improvement: Can be used in plants; potential non-transgenic applications

#prelims #GS3
#science_and_technology
#science_technology

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Interview transcripts click here

🔆 Contempt of Court

📍 Current Update
✅ Supreme Court clarified: criminal contempt powers are not a judge’s “personal armour” to silence criticism.
✅ Power to punish also includes the power to forgive.

📍 Contempt of Court (Basics)
✅ Governed by Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
➡️ Two Types:
• Civil Contempt → Wilful disobedience of court orders
• Criminal Contempt → Acts/words that lower court authority, interfere with justice, or obstruct proceedings

📍 Constitutional Provisions
✅ Article 129: Supreme Court → Court of Record with contempt powers
✅ Article 215: High Courts → Court of Record with contempt powers

#cse

🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS — NOVEMBER 2025

🔆 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

📍 Key Updates
✅ Oman elected to UNESCO MAB Council (2025–29)
✅ India joins Brazil’s TFFF as Observer
✅ Botswana gifts 8 cheetahs to India for Project Cheetah
✅ India re-elected to IMO Council (Category B)
✅ US test-fires Minuteman III ICBM
✅ US designates Saudi Arabia as MNNA
✅ China achieves thorium-to-uranium conversion in TMSR
✅ Maldives enforces generational smoking ban
✅ Bangladesh joins UN Water Convention (2025)
✅ EU adopts 90% emission reduction target by 2040
✅ Zohran Mamdani elected New York City’s first Muslim mayor-elect
✅ Gavi–UNICEF deal reduces R21 malaria vaccine cost (30M extra doses)

📍 G20 Summit 2025 – Johannesburg
✅ Theme: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability
✅ India proposes 6 initiatives → TK Repository, Africa Skills Multiplier, Global Health Response Team, Drug–Terror Nexus, Open Satellite Data, Critical Minerals Circularity.

🔆 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
📍 Major Developments
✅ India inaugurates Nyoma high-altitude airbase, Ladakh
✅ Govt notifies four Labour Codes
✅ 16th Finance Commission formed (Chair: Dr. Arvind Panagariya)
✅ Vande Mataram completes 150 years
✅ Skyroot’s Infinity Campus inaugurated
✅ Ambedkar bust unveiled at UNESCO HQ, Paris
✅ India ends deployment at Ayni Airbase, Tajikistan
✅ India becomes 6th largest patent filer globally
✅ INTACH launches Project Gaja-Lok

🔆 DEFENCE & SECURITY
📍 Military Exercises
✅ Trishul 2025 (Tri-Services)
✅ Malabar 2025 (INS Sahyadri at Guam)
✅ Mitra Shakti XI – India–Sri Lanka (Belagavi)
✅ Ajeya Warrior 2025 – India–UK (Rajasthan)
✅ Surya Kiran XIX – India–Nepal (Pithoragarh)
✅ Garuda 25 – India–France (Mont-de-Marsan)

📍 Key Defence Developments
✅ Army secures IPR for Digital Combat Coat
✅ DRDO develops MP-AUVs
✅ India launches Operation Sagar Bandhu
✅ Aid sent to Cuba, Jamaica, Afghanistan

📍 Procurements & Deals
✅ MoD–BDL: ₹2,095.7 cr INVAR ATGMs
✅ BEL–Safran JV for HAMMER guided weapons
✅ HAL–GE: 113 F404 engines (Tejas)
✅ L&T–General Atomics: MALE RPAS
✅ Pravaig unveils VEER tactical EV
✅ India–Indonesia Defence Dialogue
✅ INS Vikrant & INS Udaygiri at International Fleet Review, Sri Lanka

🔆 ENVIRONMENT / ECOLOGY
📍 Conservation Updates
✅ Six new butterfly species identified in Arunachal (Siang Valley)
✅ WII releases 1st Pan-India Vulture Assessment
✅ Supreme Court declares Saranda Forest a Wildlife Sanctuary
📍 Wetlands & GI Tags
✅ Gogabeel Lake becomes 94th Ramsar site (Bihar)
➡ India: 1st in Asia, 3rd globally
✅ Ambaji Marble (Gujarat) gets GI Tag
📍 Beaches
✅ Odisha’s Sunapur & Puri regain Blue Flag Certification

🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
📍 Breakthroughs
✅ Amur Falcon tracked 5,400 km in 5 days
✅ India reveals quantum milestones → QSIP, 25-qubit QPU, NexCAR19
✅ India launches CRISPR therapy BIRSA-101
📍 Space
✅ China launches Shenzhou-21
✅ Indian student Kyvalya Reddy Kunchala selected as astronaut candidate (TSI)

🔆 ECONOMY & GOVERNANCE
📍 Policies & Missions
✅ Export Promotion Mission launched – ₹25,060 cr
➡ MSMEs, labour-intensive sectors boosted
✅ CGSE – ₹20,000 cr export credit guarantee
📍 Environment & Fisheries
✅ India ranks 3rd in annual forest gain
✅ India = 2nd largest fish producer
→ New tools: ReALCRaft, NABHMITRA
📍 Law Enforcement
✅ DRI’s Operation Bullion Blaze
✅ NCB + Delhi Police: Operation Crystal Fortress

🔆 STATES
📍 Major Updates
✅ Lucknow becomes UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
✅ Punjab becomes 1st state to implement amended BharatNet Scheme
✅ Maharashtra signs India’s 1st Starlink Internet Agreement
✅ Karnataka approves paid menstrual leave for women employees
✅ Assam passes Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025
✅ PM hoists saffron flag atop Ram Mandir Shikhar, Ayodhya
✅ Goa unveils 77-ft Ram statue (world’s tallest)

🔆 CULTURE & EVENTS
📍 Key Events
✅ Asian Seed Congress 2025 inaugurated, Mumbai
✅ Rotary Tejas – Wings of Change event, Delhi
✅ INTACH launches Project Gaja-Lok
✅ Hornbill Festival 2025 partners: Switzerland, Ireland, UK
✅ IFFI 2025: 240 films; Focus → Japan, Spain, Australia

🔆 RANKINGS & REPORTS
📍 Global Standings
✅ India jumps from Rank 81 → 38 (Global Innovation Index)
✅ Amul & IFFCO ranked 1st & 2nd globally (cooperatives)
✅ India ranks 9th in global forest area; 3rd in annual forest gain

🔆 AWARDS
📍 National & International Awards
✅ National Water Awards 2024 → Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana
✅ JSJB Awards → Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan
✅ Booker Prize 2025 → Flesh (David Szalay)
✅ Tom Cruise receives Honorary Oscar
✅ Indira Gandhi Prize 2024 → Michelle Bachelet

📍 Entertainment
✅ International Emmys 2025 → Oriol Pla, Anna Maxwell Martin

📍 Other Awards
✅ Miss Universe 2025 → Fatima Bosch (Mexico)
✅ Oscar Piastri wins Don Award
✅ Jay Shah awarded Indian of the Year – Outstanding Achievement

🔆 SPORTS
📍 Major Wins
✅ India wins maiden Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup
✅ India wins inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup
✅ India wins Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025

📍 Chess & Others
✅ FIDE Trophy renamed Viswanathan Anand Cup
✅ Sheetal Devi → 1st para-athlete in able-bodied event
✅ Javokhir Sindarov becomes youngest FIDE World Cup Champion

📍 Events & Records
✅ India to host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games
✅ Rohan Bopanna retires; oldest-ever World No.1 (Doubles)
✅ Ravindra Jadeja enters 4000-run + 300-wicket club

📍 Medals
✅ Deaflympics 2025 → India wins 20 medals
✅ World Boxing Cup Finals → India wins 20 medals (9G)

📍 Tennis & Hockey
✅ Jannik Sinner regains ATP World No.1
✅ Belgium–Netherlands to host 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup

🔆 OBITUARIES
📍 Notable Personalities
✅ James Watson — Nobel Laureate (DNA structure)
✅ Kumari Kamala — Bharatanatyam icon
✅ Saalumarada Thimmakka — Padma Shri environmentalist
✅ Wing Commander Namansh Syal — IAF martyr

#CurrentAffairs

🔆 Stone Age

📍 Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age)
✅ Time: ~2.5 million yrs ago – 10,000 BCE
✅ Life: Small wandering groups, hunting & gathering
✅ Shelter: Caves & rock shelters
✅ Tools: Hand axes, cleavers, choppers
✅ Sites: Bhimbetka (MP), Attirampakkam (TN)
✅ Culture: Earliest rock paintings (animals, hunting)

📍 Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
✅ Time: 10,000 – 4,000 BCE
✅ Life: Hunter-gatherers → early sedentary
✅ Key change: Animal domestication begins
✅ Tools: Microliths, arrowheads, scrapers
✅ Sites: Bagor (Rajasthan), Adamgarh (MP)

📍 Neolithic (New Stone Age)
✅ Time: 4,000 – 2,000 BCE
✅ Known as: Neolithic Revolution
✅ Life: Agriculture + settled village life
✅ Crops: Wheat, barley, rice
✅ Tools: Polished stone tools, axes, adzes
✅ Sites: Mehrgarh, Burzahom, Chirand

#history

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🔆 Famous Travellers to India (Chronological Order)

📍 Al-Biruni
✅ Nation: Uzbekistan
✅ Time Period: 11th century
✅ Book: Kitab-ul-Hind

📍 Marco Polo
✅ Nation: Italy
✅ Time Period: 13th century
✅ Book: — — —

📍 Ibn Batuta
✅ Nation: Morocco
✅ Time Period: 14th century
✅ Book: Rihala

📍 Abdur Razzaq
✅ Nation: Afghanistan
✅ Time Period: 15th century
✅ Book: — — —

📍 Jean Baptiste Travernier
✅ Nation: France
✅ Time Period: 17th century
✅ Book: — — —

📍 Francois Bernier
✅ Nation: France
✅ Time Period: 17th century
✅ Book: Travels in the Mughal Empire

🔆 Children in India – 2025 Highlights

📍 Nutrition:
✅ Stunting (under-5): 29.6% ↓ from 35.5% (NFHS-5).
✅ Wasting: 17%, still above WHO target (<15%).
✅ Anaemia: 55% among adolescent girls.

📍 Health Services:
✅ Full immunisation: 88% (Mission Indradhanush 5.0).
✅ Infant Mortality Rate: 24 / 1,000 live births.

📍 Education:
✅ Upper primary enrolment: 92%.
✅ Secondary dropout: 14%, higher among rural girls.
✅ Digital divide: Only 47% rural households have internet access.

📍 Child Protection:
✅ POCSO cases ↑ 12% (better reporting).
✅ Child labour ↓ to 3.7% (ages 5–14).

#GS2 #cse

🔆 Delhi Ridge

📍 Current Update
✅ MoEFCC has reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers.

📍 About Delhi Ridge
✅ Dry deciduous forest in the heart of Delhi
✅ Geological extension of the 1,500-million-year-old Aravalli Range
✅ Spread: ~8,000 hectares
➡️ Divided into 4 zones:
• Northern Ridge
• Southern Ridge
• Central Ridge
• South Central Ridge

📍 Significance
✅ Acts as Delhi’s “green lungs”
✅ Shields the city from hot Rajasthan winds
✅ Habitat for 100+ bird species

#cse

🔆 Asian Development Bank (ADB)

📍 Current Update
✅ ADB raises India’s FY26 growth forecast to 7.2% (up from 6.5%).

📍 About ADB
✅ Founded: 1966
✅ HQ: Manila, Philippines
✅ Supports sustainable, inclusive, resilient growth in Asia–Pacific

📍 Membership
✅ 69 members (50 from Asia–Pacific)
✅ India = founding member

📍 Top Shareholders (2025)
✅ Japan – 15.6%
✅ USA – 15.6%
✅ China – 6.4%
✅ India – 6.3%
✅ Australia – 5.8%

#cse

🔆 Supernova

📍 Why in News
✅ JWST observed one of the earliest recorded supernovae
✅ JWST: NASA–ESA–CSA mission, orbits at L2, observes in infrared

📍 What is a Supernova?
✅ Explosion of a star, releasing immense energy
✅ Key source of heavy elements in the universe

📍 Major Types
✅ Core-Collapse Supernova
✅ Massive star (5–8× Sun) exhausts fuel → gravity wins → collapse
✅ Leaves neutron star or black hole (if ~10× Sun) + nebula

✅ Thermal Runaway (Type Ia)
✅ In binary system with a white dwarf
✅ White dwarf accretes too much matter or collides → explosion
✅ White dwarf = remnant of Sun-like star

#prelims #GS3
#science_and_technology
#science_technology

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🔆 SHANTI Bill, 2025

📍 What is SHANTI Bill?
✅ Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India
✅ Approved by Union Cabinet (Dec 2025)

📍 Key Provisions
✅ Allows regulated private sector participation in nuclear power
✅ Ends exclusive control of Department of Atomic Energy
✅ Creates a unified legal framework for nuclear laws

📍 Why Important?
✅ Mobilises capital for 100 GW nuclear target by 2047
✅ Boosts SMRs & advanced reactor technologies
✅ Strengthens energy security & low-carbon transition

📍 Key Challenges
✅ High liability burden under CLNDA, 2010
✅ National security & safeguards concerns
✅ Long gestation period (7–10 years)

#goverment_schemes

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🔆 Narco Test

📍 Current Update
✅ Supreme Court: Forced or involuntary narco tests are unconstitutional & invalid

📍 What is a Narco Test?
✅ Investigative technique using sedative drugs (e.g. Sodium Pentothal)
✅ Reduces inhibitions & reasoning, making subject more talkative

📍 Legal Position
✅ Article 20(3) → Protection against self-incrimination
✅ Selvi v. State of Karnataka → Narco test only with free consent
❌ Without consent → results inadmissible as evidence

📍 Recent Clarifications
✅ Manoj Kumar Saini (2023) & Vinobhai (2025)
➡️ Narco tests do not establish guilt
➡️ Information may be used only for investigation leads, not as proof

#polity #mains #cse

🔆 Satavahana Dynasty

📍 Overview
✅ Ruled the Deccan region from 1st century BCE to 3rd century AD
✅ First major dynasty to establish control over Dakshinapatha (South India)

📍 Founder & Capital
✅ Founder: Simuka
✅ Capital: Pratishthana (modern Paithan, Maharashtra)

📍 Territorial Extent
✅ Present-day Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
✅ At times extended into Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh

📍 Rise & Legacy
✅ Emerged after the Mauryan decline
✅ Initially strong in Maharashtra, later expanded to Andhra & Karnataka

📍 Greatest Ruler: Gautamiputra Satakarni (c. 106–130 AD)
✅ Defeated Shakas (Western Kshatrapas)
✅ Revived imperial power and prestige
✅ Known from inscriptions like Nashik Prashasti by his mother Gautami Balashri

📍 Significance
✅ Played a key role in reviving Vedic Brahmanism
✅ Patronized Prakrit language and Buddhist art (e.g. Amaravati, Nasik caves)

#history

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🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS — 15 DEC 2025

🔆 BANKING & FINANCE

📍 India’s Forex Reserves
✅ Forex reserves rise by $1.03 bn
✅ Total reserves: $687.26 bn (RBI data)
✅ FCA remains largest component
✅ Increase supported by gold reserves & SDR gains

🔆 INSURANCE / LEGISLATION

📍 Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill, 2025
✅ Approved by Union Cabinet
✅ FDI cap in insurance ↑ 74% → 100%
✅ NOF for foreign reinsurers ↓ ₹5,000 cr → ₹1,000 cr
✅ LIC empowered to open zonal offices without govt approval
✅ Amends: Insurance Act 1938, LIC Act 1956, IRDAI Act 1999

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 Passport Index 2025 (Arton Capital)
✅ UAE ranks 1st (Mobility Score: 179) – 7th consecutive year
✅ Rank 2 (joint): Singapore & Spain
✅ India rank: 67th (Mobility Score: 74)

📍 Global AI Rankings
✅ India ranks 3rd globally in AI competitiveness
✅ Source: Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Tool
✅ India = highest-ranked lower-middle-income country

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 PM Modi’s Three-Nation Visit
✅ Countries: Jordan, Ethiopia, Oman
✅ Jordan: Marks 75 yrs of diplomatic relations
✅ Ethiopia: PM’s first-ever visit
✅ Oman: Marks 70 yrs of diplomatic ties

📍 ASEAN–India Tourism Exchange Programme 2025
✅ Launched in Guwahati
✅ Duration: 12–17 Dec 2025
✅ Locations: Guwahati, Kaziranga, New Delhi
✅ Participants: 41 ASEAN delegates

📍 Atomic Energy Reform
✅ Cabinet approves SHANTI Bill
✅ Opens civil nuclear sector to private players
✅ Target: 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047
✅ Nuclear Energy Mission outlay: ₹20,000 cr
✅ Goal: 5 indigenous SMRs by 2033

📍 India–Oman CEPA
✅ Cabinet clears FTA between India & Oman
✅ Bilateral trade (FY25): $10.61 bn
✅ Petroleum + urea = ~75% of imports from Oman

📍 Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav 2025
✅ Organised by Ministry of Education in New Delhi
✅ Theme: Many Languages, One Emotion
✅ Adi Vaani AI tribal language translator showcased
✅ Developed by IIT Delhi

🔆 DEFENCE

📍 Indian Navy
✅ INAS 335 (Ospreys) – MH-60R helicopter squadron to be commissioned
✅ Date: 17 Dec 2025 | Location: INS Hansa, Goa

📍 Military Exercise
✅ Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025
✅ Participants: India & Malaysia
✅ Venue: Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan

🔆 STATES

📍 Madhya Pradesh
✅ Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve to become cheetah habitat
✅ Will be MP’s 3rd cheetah site

📍 Maharashtra
✅ Brookfield to invest $1 bn to build Asia’s largest GCC (Powai)
✅ Jobs: 30,000+ by 2029

📍 Chhattisgarh
✅ Kopra Reservoir declared state’s 1st Ramsar site

📍 Uttarakhand
✅ CM launches ‘Meri Yojana’ portal
✅ Aim: Awareness & access to welfare schemes

🔆 IMPORTANT DAY
📍 National Energy Conservation Day
✅ Observed on 14 December

🔆 APPOINTMENTS
📍 Key Appointments
✅ Aman Jain → Head of Public Policy, Meta India

🔆 AWARDS
📍 National Energy Conservation Awards 2025
✅ Presented by President Droupadi Murmu
✅ Organised by BEE (Ministry of Power)
✅ India achieves 50% non-fossil installed capacity (5 yrs ahead of NDC target)

🔆 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
📍 Medical Breakthrough
✅ AIIMS Delhi conducts India’s 1st clinical trial of Supernova Stent
✅ First stroke device cleared via domestic clinical trial

🔆 SPORTS
📍 Squash
✅ India wins Squash World Cup for first time
✅ Final: India 3–0 Hong Kong
✅ Venue: Chennai

#CurrentAffairs

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