🔆 Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways

📍 Introduction
✅ ETC uses technologies like FASTag, RFID, GNSS, and ANPR for automatic toll payment without manual cash collection.
✅ India can save nearly ₹12,000 crore annually in fuel and man-hours through complete FASTag-based tolling.

📍 Technologies Used
✅ RFID (Radio Frequency Identification): FASTag stickers enable automatic toll deduction at plazas.
✅ GNSS/GPS: Tracks vehicle movement for distance-based toll collection.
✅ ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition): Cameras capture vehicle number plates for seamless payments.

📍 Advantages
✅ Reduces congestion and waiting time at toll plazas
✅ Saves fuel, time, and operational costs
✅ Promotes transparency and minimizes leakages
✅ Enables smoother traffic flow and lowers emissions

📍 Limitations
✅ Dependence on digital and internet infrastructure
✅ Technical glitches and incorrect deductions
✅ Privacy concerns due to vehicle tracking
✅ Digital divide affecting rural and low-income users

📍 Proposed Changes for Seamless Tolling
✅ GNSS-based Satellite Tolling: Vehicles pay toll without stopping at booths
✅ On-Board Units (OBUs): Non-transferable devices installed in vehicles
✅ Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF): Combines RFID, GNSS, and ANPR for uninterrupted tolling
✅ Unified national toll payment platform across highways

📍 Potential Hazards
✅ Cybersecurity threats and data breaches
✅ System failures causing wrongful deductions
✅ Possible exclusion of digitally unaware users

🔆 Conclusion
✅ ETC can transform highway mobility through efficiency, transparency, and reduced congestion. However, strong cybersecurity, reliable infrastructure, and digital inclusion are essential for a safe and seamless transition.

#GS3
#prelims
#science_technology
#science_and_technology

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🔆 Scramjet Propulsion System

✅ DRDO successfully tested its Actively Cooled Full Scale Scramjet Combustor with a record run-time of 1,200+ seconds (earlier 700 seconds).

📍 About Scramjet Propulsion System
✅ Scramjet stands for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet

✅ It is an advanced air-breathing hypersonic jet engine designed to operate at speeds greater than Mach 5.

📍 Operating Mechanism
✅ Uses the vehicle’s high-speed forward motion to:
◦ Compress incoming air into the combustor
◦ Enable supersonic combustion of fuel

✅ Unlike conventional rockets, it uses atmospheric oxygen as oxidizer during flight.

📍 Fuel Used
✅ Common fuels include:
◦ Hydrogen fuel
◦ Advanced liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuels

📍 Key Advantages
✅ Reduces overall vehicle weight by eliminating onboard oxidizer
✅ Enables low-cost and reusable access to space
✅ Provides foundation for hypersonic cruise missiles
✅ Highly efficient at hypersonic speeds

📍 Significance
✅ Strengthens India’s capabilities in:
◦ Hypersonic technology
◦ Advanced missile systems
◦ Future reusable launch vehicles
◦ Strategic defence preparedness

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🔆 Endangered Languages in India & Government Efforts

📍 Context
✅ India is one of the world’s most linguistically diverse countries
✅ UNESCO lists 197 endangered languages in India
✅ Languages fall into categories: vulnerable, endangered, severely endangered, or extinct

📍 Examples of Critically Endangered Languages
✅ Great Andamanese – Andaman Islands
✅ Toda – Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu)
✅ Asur – Jharkhand
✅ Koro – Arunachal Pradesh

🔆 Government Initiatives for Language Preservation

📍 Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL)
✅ Focus: Languages spoken by fewer than 10,000 people
✅ Aim: Documentation, research, and promotion
✅ 117 languages prioritised in the first phase

📍 UGC-supported Measures
✅ Funding for academic research on indigenous languages
✅ Establishment of Centres for Endangered Languages in Central Universities
✅ Promotion of interdisciplinary linguistic studies

📍 Training & Documentation Efforts
✅ Regular training programmes for linguists and researchers
✅ Preparation of:
 • Dictionaries
 • Grammar books
 • Audio-visual recordings
✅ Focus on long-term language survival and revival

🔆 Why It Matters
✅ Language loss = loss of oral history, folklore, ecological knowledge
✅ Preserving languages strengthens cultural diversity and identity
✅ Aligns with constitutional values of pluralism and inclusiveness

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🔆 Iranian Invasion of India

📍 Background
✅ The Achaemenian rulers of Iran invaded India in the 6th century BCE during the reign of King Darius I.
✅ In 516 BCE, Darius conquered regions of the North-West Frontier Province, Sindh, and Punjab.
✅ These territories remained under Persian control until the invasion of Alexander.

📍 Condition of India at that Time
✅ North-East India: Gradually unified under the rising Magadhan Empire.
✅ North-West India: Politically fragmented with small kingdoms like:
◦ Kambojas
◦ Gandharas
◦ Madras

✅ Lack of a strong central power made the region vulnerable.
✅ Fertile land, rich resources, and easy access through Hindu Kush passes attracted foreign invaders.

📍 The Invasion
✅ Darius I annexed Punjab (west of Indus) and Sindh in 516 BCE.
✅ The conquered region became the 20th Satrapy (province) of the Persian Empire.
✅ Indian soldiers were recruited into the Persian army.
✅ Xerxes, successor of Darius, used Indian troops in wars against Greece.

📍 Impact of Iranian Invasion

✅ Political Impact
◦ Exposed weaknesses of North-West Indian defence
◦ Paved the way for Alexander’s invasion
◦ Introduced the Satrap system, later adopted by Sakas and Kushanas
◦ Highlighted the need for a strong unified empire

✅ Trade & Economic Impact
◦ Increased Indo-Persian trade relations
◦ Indian merchants gained access to the vast Persian markets
◦ Persian goods entered India more smoothly

✅ Cultural Exchange
◦ Intellectual interaction between Indian and Persian scholars
◦ Greater cultural integration and exchange of ideas

✅ Impact on Art & Architecture
◦ Persian influence visible in Mauryan art and architecture
◦ Ashoka adopted the Persian tradition of issuing inscriptions on stone pillars
◦ Indians learnt advanced stone polishing techniques

✅ Kharosthi Script
◦ Aramaic script introduced by Persians evolved into Kharosthi script
◦ Written from right to left
◦ Used in Ashokan inscriptions of North-West India

✅ Influence on Coinage
◦ Persian silver coins inspired Indian minting techniques
◦ Improved refinement and aesthetics of Indian coinage

🔆 Conclusion
✅ The Iranian invasion had limited direct political impact but deeply influenced Indian administration, trade, script, coinage, and art.
✅ It also indirectly opened the route for later foreign invasions, especially that of Alexander the Great.

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Air pollution

Wildlife protection act 1972

Green revolution

🔆 CURRENT AFFAIRS – 11 MAY 2026

🔆 BANKING & FINANCE

📍 11 Years of Jan Suraksha Schemes
✅ PMJJBY, PMSBY & APY completed 11 years since launch in 2015
✅ Total claims settled under PMJJBY & PMSBY: ₹25,160 crore
✅ PMJJBY offers ₹2 lakh life cover at ₹436 premium
✅ PMSBY offers accident cover up to ₹2 lakh at ₹20 premium

🔆 STATES

📍 IALFS 2.0 Held at GIFT City
✅ Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurated India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit 2.0
✅ India aims to become world’s 3rd-largest civil aviation market by 2035
✅ KPMG released report on India’s aircraft leasing ecosystem

📍 Maharashtra CBG Policy 2026
✅ Maharashtra approved Compressed Biogas Policy 2026
✅ Aim: convert waste & agri residue into clean fuel
✅ ₹500 crore allocated for FY27
✅ Supports India’s Net-Zero 2070 target

📍 Jharkhand Achieves Zero Primary Dropout Rate
✅ Primary dropout rate reduced to 0% in 2024–25
✅ Secondary dropout rate declined from 23.2% to 3.5%

📍 Odisha Leads PMAY-U 2.0 Housing Completions
✅ Odisha ranked top in PMAY-U 2.0 house completions
✅ 2,008 houses completed by May 2026

🔆 NATIONAL

📍 India’s First Functional PM MITRA Park
✅ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana
✅ Developed at cost of ₹1,695 crore
✅ Based on 5F Vision: Farm → Fibre → Factory → Fashion → Foreign

📍 Global Meet on Space System Standards
✅ BIS hosted ISO/TC 20/SC 14 meeting in Delhi
✅ Focus on global standards for space systems & operations
✅ Highlights India’s growing role in space sector

📍 GSTAT Principal Bench Empowered as NAAAR
✅ Finance Ministry empowered GSTAT Principal Bench as National Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings
✅ Effective from 1 April 2026

📍 QR-Code Verification for Census 2027
✅ QR-enabled identity cards introduced for Census enumerators
✅ Citizens can verify enumerator details through mobile scanning
✅ Improves transparency & security in census operations

🔆 INTERNATIONAL

📍 World Yogasana Championship 2026
✅ India to host inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad
✅ Participation from 40+ countries
✅ Aim: promote Yogasana globally & push for Olympic inclusion

📍 UN-Habitat Catalogue of Solutions 2026–29
✅ UN-Habitat launched global catalogue containing 81 tested urban solutions
✅ Focus areas: housing, inequality & urban services

🔆 INDIA & THE WORLD

📍 India–Vietnam Target $25 Billion Trade by 2030
✅ Multiple MoUs signed in rare earths, digital payments, IT & tourism
✅ Vietnam joins Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
✅ Cross-border QR payment linkage announced between India & Vietnam

🔆 AGREEMENTS & MoUs

📍 NIScPR–RIS MoU
✅ Signed to strengthen Science, Technology & Innovation policy research
✅ Focus on science diplomacy & Global South cooperation

🔆 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

📍 New CDS & Navy Chief Appointed
✅ Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani appointed next CDS
✅ Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan appointed next Navy Chief

📍 Tamil Nadu & West Bengal Political Developments
✅ C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM
✅ Suvendu Adhikari became West Bengal’s first BJP CM

🔆 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

📍 National Panchayat Awards 2025
✅ 42 Panchayats selected across India
✅ Karnataka emerged top-performing state with 6 awards
✅ Awards linked with Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0

🔆 BOOKS & AUTHORS

📍 Book Released by Amit Shah
✅ Book: The Bench, the Bar, and the Bizarre and The Lawful and the Awful
✅ Author: Tushar Mehta

🔆 SPORTS

📍 Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026
✅ India to host event in Gandhinagar after 44 years
✅ Around 180 athletes from 28 countries to participate

🔆 RANKS & REPORTS

📍 India Tops Global Remittance Inflows
✅ India remained world’s largest remittance recipient
✅ Remittances rose from $83.15 billion (2020) to $137.67 billion (2024)
✅ Report released by International Organization for Migration

🔆 IMPORTANT DAYS

📍 World Thalassaemia Day – 8 May
✅ Theme 2026: “Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen”

📍 World Lupus Day – 10 May
✅ Theme 2026: “Make Lupus Visible”

#CurrentAffairs

🔆 SEHAT Initiative Launched

📍 Context
✅ SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation) launched as a joint initiative of:
◦ ICMR – Indian Council of Medical Research
◦ ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research

📍 Vision of SEHAT
✅ Transform agriculture from merely a food production system into a driver of:
◦ Nutrition
◦ Health
◦ Well-being

📍 Five Priority Areas of National Significance

✅ Biofortified & Nutrient-Dense Crops
◦ Focus on improving nutritional value of crops through biofortification.
◦ Targets deficiencies of nutrients like zinc and iron.
◦ Helps combat malnutrition and hidden hunger.

✅ Strengthening Integrated Farming Systems
◦ Promotes dietary diversification.
◦ Enhances farm incomes and agricultural resilience.

✅ Addressing Occupational Health Risks
◦ Focus on evidence-based interventions for agricultural workers exposed to health hazards.

✅ Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
◦ Encourages functional foods and nutritionally superior crops to tackle:
▪ Diabetes
▪ Hypertension
▪ Cancer

✅ One Health Preparedness
◦ Integrated surveillance and research at the human–animal–environment interface.

📍 What is Biofortification?
✅ Process of increasing nutrient density in food crops through:
◦ Conventional breeding
◦ Agronomic practices
◦ Biotechnology

📍 Significance of SEHAT
✅ Promotes a proactive, preventive, and holistic healthcare approach.
✅ Addresses the dual burden of:
◦ Undernutrition
◦ Overnutrition & lifestyle diseases

✅ Encourages a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Systems” approach integrating science, policy, and implementation.

#goverment_schemes

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