India Hosts Inaugural UN Training Programme on Small Arms Control

What's the News

• The Indian Army hosted the inaugural Asia-Pacific United Nations Fellowship Training Programme on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• The three-week programme is organised under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Delegates from 13 Asia-Pacific nations are participating to strengthen regional cooperation on arms control and disarmament.
• The training aims to enhance technical and policy capacity of government officials to prevent illicit small arms trafficking.

UN Fellowship Programme on SALW Control?

Overview

The fellowship is a standing dedicated training programme established by the UN General Assembly in December 2022 (Resolution A/RES/77/71) to strengthen technical and practical expertise of government officials responsible for implementing global arms control frameworks.

Key Details

• Organiser: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD).
• Duration: Three-week intensive training (conducted from mid-February to early March).
• Regional Rotation: The fellowship operates in four iterations covering all regions:
  • Africa.
  • Asia and the Pacific (currently hosted by India).
  • Europe and Other States.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Annual Intake: 60 government officials globally (15 per regional iteration).
• Selection: Competitive evaluation process; each Member State can nominate up to three candidates but only one is selected per country.

Training Programme Overview

Additional Info

• UNODA (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs):
  • Established in 1998 to promote nuclear disarmament and the regulation of conventional weapons.
  • It provides substantive support for norms-setting in the UN General Assembly and other international bodies.
• Defining SALW:
  • Small Arms: Weapons designed for individual use, such as revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles, and sub-machine guns.
  • Light Weapons: Weapons designed for use by a crew of two or three, though some may be carried by an individual, such as heavy machine guns, portable anti-aircraft missiles, and mortars of less than 100mm calibre.
• UN Programme of Action (PoA):
  • Adopted in 2001, it is the primary international framework for countries to prevent, combat, and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms in all its aspects.

Sources

• Economic Times
• DD News

NGT Clears ₹81,000 Crore Great Nicobar Mega Infrastructure Project

What's the News?

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has approved the Great Nicobar Island Integrated Development Project with a total outlay of ₹81,000 crore.
• The tribunal stated it found "no good ground" to intervene in the environmental clearance already granted to the project.
• The NGT cited adequate environmental safeguards and the project's strategic importance due to proximity to the Malacca Strait.
• The project will be implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) under the conceptual framework of NITI Aayog.
• All environmental petitions against the project have been dismissed, allowing construction to proceed.

Project Overview & Key Components

Four Core Components

• International Container Transshipment Terminal: Deep-draft port at Galathea Bay for handling large vessels.
• Greenfield International Airport: Dual-use (civilian and military) airport to enhance connectivity.
• Township Development: Two new townships for residential and commercial purposes .
• Power Plant: 450 MVA capacity gas and solar-based power generation facility.

Strategic Significance of the Project?

Overview

The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project is a holistic infrastructure initiative conceived by NITI Aayog to transform India's southernmost island into a major maritime hub and strategic outpost in the Bay of Bengal, countering foreign influence in the Indian Ocean Region.

Key Components

• International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay:
  • Estimated cost: ₹40,040 crore
  • Phase 1 capacity: 4 million TEUs annually (targeted by 2028)
  • Full capacity: 16 million TEUs annually
  • No foreign operators allowed; Indian private entity to hold majority (>51%) stake with state port trusts as minority partners
  • 50-year concession period with viability gap funding
• Greenfield International Airport: Dual-use civil-military facility to enhance connectivity and defence capabilities.
• Integrated Township: Supporting projected population and economic activities.
• 450-MVA Power Plant: Gas and solar-based energy infrastructure.

Strategic Value

• Geopolitical Positioning: Located just 40 km from the Malacca Strait, through which one-third of global trade passes.
• Act East Policy: Counterbalances China's "String of Pearls" strategy and growing presence in the Indian Ocean.
• Economic Impact: Expected to generate approximately 1,28,558 jobs and save significant transhipment costs currently paid to foreign ports.

Environmental Safeguards Imposed by NGT?

The Tribunal imposed binding conditions to mitigate ecological damage:

• Shoreline Protection:
  • No erosion or adverse shoreline changes permitted from construction activities.
  • Zero loss of sandy beaches critical for turtle and bird nesting sites.
• Coral Reef Conservation:
  • Translocation of scattered corals as per Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) protocols.
  • Implementation of coral regeneration through proven scientific methods.
  • Protection of all coral reefs along the coastal stretch.
• Endangered Species Protection: Specific conditions for:
  • Leatherback sea turtles
  • Nicobar megapode
  • Saltwater crocodiles
  • Robber crab
  • Nicobar macaque
  • Other endemic bird species
• Compliance Mechanism:
  • Government bound by all environmental clearance conditions.
  • Periodic compliance reviews and monitoring committee oversight.
  • Independent monitoring committees for tribal welfare and pollution control.

Areas of Concern?

Ecological Impact

• Forest Diversion: 130 sq km of primary tropical rainforest (15% of GNI's landmass) to be cleared, involving felling of approximately 10 million trees.
• Wildlife Sanctuary Denotification: Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (designated 1997 for leatherback turtle conservation) was denotified in 2021 for port construction.
• Biodiversity Loss: Project affects unique island ecosystem with endemic species found nowhere else.

Tribal Rights Issues

• Indigenous Communities: Threatens Shompen (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) and Nicobarese communities with displacement from ancestral lands devastated by the 2004 tsunami.
• Consultation Gaps: Allegations of inadequate representation in public hearings and requests for "surrender certificates" for tribal land claims.
• Forest Rights: Mandatory consultation required under Forest Rights Act, 2006 and Jarawa (2004) and Shompen (2015) Policies.

Procedural Concerns

• Data Limitations: Environmental Impact Assessment based on single-season data rather than comprehensive multi-seasonal studies.
• ICRZ Violations: Petitions alleged 700 hectares fall within Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) 1A areas where development is prohibited; NGT accepted High-Powered Committee findings that no prohibited areas were involved.
• Conflict of Interest: High-Powered Committee reviewing clearance included officials from ministries that granted the clearance.

Additional Info

Legal and Constitutional Framework

• National Green Tribunal (NGT):
  • Established under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
  • Chairperson: Justice Prakash Shrivastava (former Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court).
  • Mandate: Expedite disposal of environmental protection and conservation cases.
• Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019:
  • Prohibits development in CRZ 1A (ecologically sensitive areas with coral reefs, mangroves, nesting grounds).
  • Regulates construction in CRZ 1B and other coastal zones.
• Forest Clearance Process:
  • Stage I (In-Principle): Granted 2022.
  • Stage II (Final): Pending; requires compensatory afforestation.
  • Compensatory Afforestation: Proposed in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh (critics argue this cannot replicate lost island biodiversity).

Related Conservation Frameworks

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Galathea Bay notified as sanctuary in 1997; denotified 2021.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Great Nicobar falls within UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006: Mandates free, prior, informed consent of tribal communities.

Maritime Context

• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982: Governs maritime rights and exclusive economic zones.
• Ten Degree Channel: Separates Andaman Islands from Nicobar Islands; critical shipping lane.

Sources

• India Today
• CNBC TV18
• Indian Express

Indian Passport Rises to 75th Rank in Henley Passport Index 2026

What's the News

• India's passport has climbed to 75th position in the Henley Passport Index 2026, jumping 10 ranks from its previous standing.
• Indian passport holders can now access 56 countries and territories without requiring a prior visa.
• The improvement reflects enhanced diplomatic engagements and visa waiver agreements negotiated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• This marks one of the significant gains among Asian passports in the latest global ranking.

Henley Passport Index Overview

Features of the Index

• Global Coverage: Ranks 199 passports across 227 travel destinations worldwide.
• Scoring System: Based on number of destinations passport holders can access without a prior visa.
• Data Source: Uses exclusive data from International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Update Frequency: Rankings are updated quarterly to reflect visa policy changes.

Methodology

• Data Source: Exclusive data from International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database.
• Coverage: 199 passports evaluated against 227 travel destinations.
• Scoring System:
  • 1 point for each destination where no visa is required, or visa-on-arrival, visitor's permit, or basic eTA is available.
  • 0 points for destinations requiring pre-approved visa or full e-visa with prior approval.
• Ranking: Comparative ranking based on total points; countries with identical scores share the same rank.

India's Performance Trajectory

• 2025: Ranked 85th with 57 visa-free destinations.
• January 2026: Dropped to 80th with 55 destinations (after losing Iran and Bolivia).
• February 2026: Improved to 75th with 56 destinations (The Gambia added).

Global Passport Hierarchy?

Top Performers (2026)

• 1st: Singapore – 192 destinations
• 2nd: Japan & South Korea – 187 destinations
• 3rd: Sweden & UAE – 186 destinations
• 4th: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland – 185 destinations
• 5th: Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal – 184 destinations
• 10th: United States – 179 destinations

India's Neighbourhood Comparison

Sources

• Business Standard
• The Hindu
• NDTV
• CNBC TV18

Ol Chiki Script Marks Centenary: President Murmu Inaugurates National Celebrations

What's the News?

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script at a national event organised by the Ministry of Culture in New Delhi.
• The celebrations mark 100 years (1925–2025) since the script's invention by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, a scholar from Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
• On the occasion, the President released a commemorative coin and postage stamp and felicitated 10 achievers from the Santal community for promoting the script.

Ol Chiki Script and Its Significance?

Origins and Creation

• Inventor: Pandit Raghunath Murmu (1905–1982), born in Dandbose village, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

• Year of Invention: 1925 (first publicised in 1939 at Mayurbhanj State exhibition)
• Etymology: Derived from Santali words – 'Ol' (to write/draw an imaginary picture) and 'Chiki' (pictorial representation/symbols).
• Philosophy: Murmu believed "if a community doesn't have any script, the community may lose its own identity one day".

Linguistic Features

• Script Type: True alphabet (not an abugida like most Indic scripts), giving vowels equal representation with consonants.
• Character Set: 30 letters total – 6 vowels and 24 consonants.
• Design Principle: Pictographic-phonetic – letter shapes resemble objects or actions representing their names in Santali.
  • Example: The letter 'ol' (/l/ sound) is shaped like a hand holding a pen, as 'ol' means 'writing' in Santali.
• Writing Direction: Left-to-right.
• Scientific Approach: Designed to accurately represent Santali phonemes (including glottalization, nasalization, and checked plosives) that Indic scripts cannot capture.

Historical Context

• Pre-Ol Chiki Era: Santali was written in Roman, Devanagari, Odia, and Bengali scripts in different regions; these could not accurately capture Santali phonetics.
• Development Journey: Murmu developed the script while teaching at Badamtalia Primary School (1933), first book 'Horh Sereng' published in 1936, first play 'Bidu-Chandan' in 1942.
• Recognition: Conferred the title 'Guru Gomke' (the great teacher) by Jaipal Singh Munda at the 1956 All India Sarna Conference.

Constitutional and Educational Status?

• Eighth Schedule Inclusion: Santali language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 – first tribal language from eastern India to achieve this status.
• State Recognition: Official recognition in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar; introduced as medium of instruction at primary and high school levels in Santal-dominated areas.
• University Education: Courses in Santali literature using Ol Chiki script offered at universities in Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• Unicode Standard: Script included in Unicode, facilitating digital representation and modern communication.
• Optional Holiday: Odisha government declared Guru Purnima (full moon day in May, Murmu's birth anniversary) as an optional holiday in 2016.

Cultural and Literary Impact?

• Community Identity: Ol Chiki serves as a powerful symbol of Santal identity worldwide and an effective means of establishing unity among the Santal community.
• Literary Corpus: Murmu authored over 150 plays, short stories, novels, and poems in Ol Chiki, including:
  • Bidu-Chandan (love drama)
  • Kherwal Bir (patriotic drama)
  • Sido Kanhu (patriotic drama)
  • Hital (scripture on evolution)
  • Ol Chemed (primary learning syllabus)
  • Parsi Poha (essential elements of Ol Chiki)
• Religious Significance: Characters Bidu and Chandan from Murmu's plays are worshipped as 'God of Knowledge' by some Santals; annual prayers offered at the confluence of Jual and Bhangra rivers near Jhargram.

Additional Info

Demographics and Geographical Spread

• Speaker Population: Approximately 7 million people in India.
• Primary States: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam.
• International Presence: Significant Santali-speaking populations in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
• Language Family: Munda branch of Austroasiatic language family (distinct from Indo-Aryan languages).
• Linguistic Features: Agglutinative structure with tonal elements; rich oral literature preserving history, ecology, and social values.

Institutional Recognition

• Sahitya Akademi: Recognises Santali literature; annual awards given for literary contributions.
• Educational Infrastructure: Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (Mayurbhanj), Nayagram Pandit Raghunath Murmu Government College (Jhargram), and other institutions named after the inventor.
• Cultural Organisations: Adivasi Socio-Educational and Cultural Association (ASECA) established by Murmu in 1953 to promote tribal education and culture.

Constitutional Framework for Minority Languages

• Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities (right to conserve distinct language, script, or culture).
• Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
• Article 350A: Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage.
• Article 351: Directive for development of Hindi while safeguarding other languages.

Related Tribal Scripts in India

• Kui Lipi: For Kondh community (Odisha).
• Sorang Sompeng: For Saura community (Odisha).
• Mundari Bani: For Bhumij community (Odisha).
• Ol Chiki remains the oldest and most widely adopted among indigenous scripts developed in eastern India.

Sources

• wikipedia

UPI Overtakes Cash as India's Most Preferred Payment Mode

What's the News?

• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the most preferred mode of transaction in India, accounting for 57% of total payment transactions among surveyed users, surpassing cash at 38%.
• The findings are from a socio-economic impact analysis released by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, during the Chintan Shivir held in February 2026.
• The report evaluates the effectiveness of the government's Incentive Scheme for Promotion of RuPay Debit Card and low-value BHIM-UPI (Person-to-Merchant) transactions, implemented from FY 2021–22 through FY 2024–25.

Findings of the Survey?

Methodology

• Sample Size: 10,378 respondents across 15 states.
• Respondent Categories: 6,167 users, 2,199 merchants, and 2,012 service providers.
• Geographical Coverage: Five zones – North, South, East, West, and North-East.
• Locations: Urban and semi-urban areas.
• Fieldwork Period: July 22 to August 25, 2025.
• Method: Face-to-face Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI).

User Behaviour

• Daily Usage: 65% of UPI users report multiple digital transactions per day.
• Youth Adoption: 66% adoption rate among 18–25 age group, indicating strong shift toward digital-first financial habits.
• Confidence: 90% of users reported increased confidence in digital payments after using UPI and RuPay cards.
• Motivators:
  • 52% cited cashback incentives as key motivation.
  • 74% identified speed of payment as primary advantage.
• Cash Decline: Marked reduction in cash usage and ATM withdrawals observed.

Merchant Adoption

• Near-Universal Acceptance: 94% of small merchants now accept UPI payments.
• Satisfaction: 72% expressed satisfaction with digital payments.
• Benefits Cited: Faster transactions, improved record-keeping, operational convenience.
• Business Impact: 57% reported increase in sales following digital adoption.

Infrastructure Growth and Scale?

Transaction Growth

• 11-Fold Increase: Digital transactions increased nearly 11 times during the scheme period
• UPI Dominance: UPI's share in total digital transactions surged to ~80%.
• Monthly Records:
  • January 2026: 21.70 billion transactions worth ₹28.33 lakh crore.
  • December 2025: 21.63 billion transactions worth ₹27.97 lakh crore.
  • Average daily transactions: 700 million (January 2026).

Infrastructure Expansion

• UPI QR Codes: Deployment expanded dramatically from 9.3 crore to 65.8 crore.
• Bank Participation: Banks on UPI platform increased from 216 (March 2021) to 661 (March 2025).
• Third-Party Apps: Rebounded from 16 to 38 providers.
• Annual Volume (2025): Approximately 228 billion transactions.

Government Investment

• Total Budgetary Support: ₹8,276 crore
• Year-wise Disbursements:
  • FY 2021–22: ₹1,389 crore.
  • FY 2022–23: ₹2,210 crore.
  • FY 2023–24: ₹3,631 crore.
  • FY 2024–25: ₹1,046 crore.

Additional Info

UPI Architecture

• Operator: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) – umbrella organisation for retail payments under RBI and IBA guidance.
• Launch: April 2016 (pilot), enabling instant bank-to-bank transfers using mobile numbers or QR codes.
• Components:
  • BHIM-UPI: Government-backed app.
  • Third-Party Apps: PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and others.
  • RuPay: Domestic card network integrated with UPI.

Policy Framework

• Digital India Programme: UPI serves as cornerstone for less-cash economy vision.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Linked accounts enable direct benefit transfers and digital payments.
• Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007: Regulatory framework governing NPCI operations.

Comparative Metrics (H1 2025)

• UPI Share: 84.8% of total retail digital payment volumes.
• Value Share: 9.1% of total retail digital payment value (indicating high-frequency, low-ticket nature).
• Average Ticket Size: Declining trend showing penetration into micro-payments.