- Dr. Mustafa Yusufali Gom, the Managing Director of Care Takers Exterior and Interior Private Limited in Mumbai, was recently conferred with the International Buddha Peace Award 2025 in recognition of his outstanding social activism and leadership. His previous honors include the Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Award and accolades from the governors of Maharashtra and Telangana.

Main Point :-   (i) Dr. Munir Khan, a renowned structural engineer, was also awarded the International Buddha Peace Award for his significant contributions to social initiatives. Over his career, he has conducted more than 1,500 structural audits and restored over 300 buildings in cities across Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Thane.

      (ii) The International Buddha Peace Award, established in 2009 by the Maitri Peace Foundation, is an annual award that recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary efforts to promote peace, both within their communities and globally.

(iii) In 2024, Dr. Rashmi Saluja, Chairperson of the Global Trade & Technology Council of India, was also honored with the International Buddha Peace Award for her contribution to peace and social development.

      - The statue of Bodofa (meaning father or guardian of the Bodos) stands as a symbol of self-respect for the tribal society across India.

Main Point :-   (i) Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, a native of Assam, was a visionary leader and social reformer who dedicated his life to advancing the rights, identity, and empowerment of tribal communities, especially the Bodo community. His work was rooted in ensuring dignity and recognition for marginalized groups.

      (ii) He strongly believed in building an inclusive society where every individual, regardless of background, could live with dignity and secure their rightful place. Through his inspiring leadership, he brought attention to the social and cultural needs of the tribal population.

(iii) As a firm believer in non-violence, Brahma advocated peaceful activism and unity among tribal communities. His famous principle, "Live and Let Live," has become a unifying and enduring philosophy embraced across Bodoland and tribal societies throughout India.

      - This species is distinguished by its fiery orange-and-black eyes, a reticulated throat pattern, and a smooth, rhythmic call that is most commonly heard at dusk.

Main Point :-   (i) The name "aryatium" not only pays tribute to Arya Vidyapeeth College but also reflects the institution's impact on the community.

      (ii) In 2022, the nearby area was renamed from "Sharabbhati" (formerly known for liquor brewing) to "Aryanagar", symbolizing a move toward community upliftment and educational pride.

(iii) Although first observed in 2004, the species was misidentified as Leptobrachium smithi — a frog species found in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh — due to limited scientific information available at that time.

Main Point :-   (i) MMMUA is a structured three-phase financial assistance programme aimed at supporting women in launching and expanding micro-enterprises. In the first year, each eligible woman receives Rs.10,000 as seed capital to start or grow small businesses in sectors like agriculture, livestock, and retail, promoting self-employment and economic empowerment.

      (ii) Second Year: After showing effective use of the initial amount, the beneficiary becomes eligible for Rs.25,000 — comprising a Rs.12,500 bank loan and Rs.12,500 in government support. The Assam government will bear the loan interest.

(iii) Third Year: Entrepreneurs who succeed in the first two stages will be eligible to receive Rs.50,000 to further scale their business operations.

      - Under this collaboration, NABARD and SBI have set a financing target of Rs. 500 crores for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), with plans to increase it to Rs. 1,000 crores annually in the future.

Main Point :-   (i) The initiative will focus on providing financial assistance to the agricultural and rural sectors, ensuring better access to credit, infrastructure, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

      (ii) This partnership is expected to play a crucial role in empowering rural Assam and fostering long-term economic growth.

(iii) NABARD also signed an MoU with Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC), for Digital Rural Empowerment across the country.

      - This collaboration leverages Assam’s rich biodiversity and agricultural strengths to build a strong bio-manufacturing sector.

Main Point :-   (i) The policy emphasizes sustainable bio-manufacturing across multiple sectors, including bio-based chemicals, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), biopolymers, enzymes, climate-resilient agriculture, functional foods, smart proteins, carbon capture and utilization, precision bio-therapeutics (such as cell and gene therapy, messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) therapeutics, and monoclonal antibodies), and advanced marine and space research.

      (ii) It also focuses on developing Bio-Enablers such as bio-foundries, bio-manufacturing hubs, and Bio-Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms.

(iii) The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration where DBT will provide guidance and facilitate partnerships, while the Assam Government will spearhead initiatives by setting up a State BioE3 Cell and formulating the Assam BioE3 Action Plan.

      - ₹342 crore was allocated to provide one-time financial support of ₹5,000 for tea workers.

Main Point :-   (i) Under the new state scheme 'Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerna,' students graduating from government universities and colleges in 2025 will receive ₹2,500 per month for one year.

      (ii) Mukhiya Mantri Nijut Moina Asoni (MMNMA) scheme: ₹391 crore was allocated to promote girls’ higher education and combat child marriage.

      - Under the Samridhi Gram Yojana, each block in Assam will have a 5G Use Application Service to support telemedicine and online education.

Main Point :-   (i) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), announced an investment of over Rs 4,800 crore to boost Assam's inland waterways sector during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.

      (ii) Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vedanta Limited also based in Mumbai, and the Adani Group based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have pledged to invest over Rs 1.5 lakh crore in Assam across various sectors, as announced by their respective leaders at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.

      - Under the Samridhi Gram Yojana, each block in Assam will have a 5G Use Application Service to support telemedicine and online education.

Main Point :-   (i) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), announced an investment of over Rs 4,800 crore to boost Assam's inland waterways sector during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.

      (ii) Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vedanta Limited also based in Mumbai, and the Adani Group based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, have pledged to invest over Rs 1.5 lakh crore in Assam across various sectors, as announced by their respective leaders at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit.

Main Point :-   (i) PM Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone for the 'Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute' in Garha village, Chhatarpur district, MP, and inaugurated the 'Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025' in Bhopal, MP.

      (ii) In Bihar, PM Narendra Modi recently launched the '19th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme', providing financial support to farmers nationwide.

(iii) While in Assam, PM Narendra Modi recently attended the 'Jhumoir Binandini (Mega Jhumoir) 2025' and inaugurated the 'Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit 2025' in Guwahati, Assam.

Main Point :-   (i) The project, costing Rs. 82.03 crores, was managed by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), New Delhi, under the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), MoPSW.

      (ii) The terminal features a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Jetty and an Electric Level Luffing Crane for efficient cargo handling.

(iii) Located 91 km from Gelephu (Bhutan), 108 km from the Bangladesh border, and 147 km from Guwahati, the terminal is projected to handle 1.1 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2027.

Main Point :-   (i) Organized by the Nagaon Wildlife Division under Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam), the two-day event showcased the region's rich cultural heritage through traditional performances, ethnic cuisine, and community activities.

      (ii) The festival featured a 20-kilometer cyclothon and a nature orientation program for school students.

(iii) The event also emphasized the importance of preserving Assam's biodiversity, which faces various environmental challenges.

Main Point :-   (i) For the first time, MSDE, through the Guwahati (Assam)-based Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), in coordination with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), has introduced a structured, stage-wise entrepreneurial process covering awareness, development, mentorship, and funding support.

      (ii) The initiative will facilitate structured training through the Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP), introducing entrepreneurship as a viable career option for 600 female students via a two-day session covering fundamental entrepreneurial concepts and opportunities.

Main Point :-   (i) Indian industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024. He was renowned for his contributions to education, healthcare, and rural development.

      (ii) He served as the Chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), India's largest private-sector philanthropic trusts.

(iii) In 2000, he received the Padma Bhushan, India's 3rd-highest civilian honor, for his service in trade and industry. In 2008, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India's 2nd-highest civilian award, for his exceptional contributions.

      - The goal of these projects is to improve the competitiveness of the fisheries sector.

Main Point :-   (i) The initiative was launched with the presence of Ministers of State (MoS) Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian from MoFAH&D.

      (ii) Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh also launched 50 new projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a total investment of Rs 50 crores, benefiting all states in the North Eastern Region, except Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

(iii) In 2016, Sikkim became India's first state to be fully certified as organic.

      - The WEF announced the addition of 17 innovative industrial sites to the GLN, raising the total number to 189 facilities, with 25 recognized as Sustainability Lighthouses for leveraging advanced Industry 4.0 technologies to reduce environmental impact.

Main Point :-   (i) Among the latest Lighthouses, 13 sites have been recognized as 4IR Lighthouses for achieving significant performance improvements through technology-driven transformations, while 5 were named Sustainability Lighthouses.

      (ii) The latest cohort of Lighthouses reported a 53% average increase in labor productivity and a 26% reduction in conversion costs, driven by digital solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Advanced Analytics (AA).

(iii) The Global Lighthouse Network (GLN), launched in 2018 by the WEF and co-founded with McKinsey & Company, aims to enhance manufacturing and supply chain performance by leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, promoting productivity, resilience, and environmental sustainability.

      - Devajit Saikia, a former first-class cricketer who played four Ranji Trophy matches for Assam in the 1990-91 season, transitioned to a legal career and is now a practicing lawyer at the Guwahati High Court.

Main Point :-   (i) Devajit Saikia has extensive experience in cricket administration, having served as Joint Secretary of the BCCI, Vice-President (2016–2019) and Secretary (2019–2022) of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), and currently as the acting interim Secretary of the BCCI.

      (ii) Prabhtej Singh Bhatia is a young entrepreneur from Chhattisgarh, involved in the liquor industry. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Simba Beer.

(iii) He was a member of the Apex Council during BCCI's 2019-2022 tenure and also served as a councillor for three years. Bhatia brings his expertise in finance and management to his new role as BCCI Treasurer.

Main Point :-   (i) During the event, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled initiatives worth over Rs. 1,400 crore to boost inland waterways transport networks across 21 Inland Waterway States.

      (ii) The National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) was launched to ensure safe, seamless, and sustainable movement of inland vessels.

(iii) The Union Minister also announced an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore over the next five years to strengthen infrastructure on national waterways.

Main Point :-   (i) Established in 1994, NIELIT is the only university under MeitY, dedicated to advancing education and research in Electronics and Information Technology (IT).

      (ii) During the event, NIELIT and Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL), based in Bangalore, Karnataka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the semiconductor skill development ecosystem in India.

Main Point :-   (i) During the event, the Union Minister distributed certificates to fisheries beneficiaries, including registration certificates for the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), Kisan Credit Card (KCC) cards, awards for the best Fisheries-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and Fisheries Start-ups.

      (ii) He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 50 major projects, worth Rs 50 crores, under PMMSY, covering all Northeast Region (NER) states, except Arunachal Pradesh (AR) and Mizoram.

(iii) Additionally, he launched India's first organic fisheries cluster in Soreng district of Sikkim, which aims to boost farmers' incomes and promote sustainability in aquaculture.

      - After discussions with several SCBs, the department selected SBI and UBI for the first phase of partnerships, with immediate effect, and will issue a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure smooth implementation and maximum benefits for employees.

Main Point :-   (i) The Treasury Officer at each district headquarters will serve as the Nodal Officer, coordinating with banks to resolve issues, ensure smooth implementation of salary benefits, and assist employees with insurance claims, while each participating bank will appoint a Nodal Officer, with contact details provided in the SOP issued by the Finance Department of Assam.

      (ii) The insurance provides comprehensive coverage, including Term Life Insurance with a minimum of Rs. 10 lakh for natural death (illness or accidents), Accidental Death Insurance with a minimum of Rs. 1 crore, and Air Accident Insurance with Rs. 2 crore coverage for deaths caused by air crashes.

(iii) It also offers significant protection against disabilities, including Permanent Total Disability Insurance with up to Rs. 1 crore and Permanent Partial Disability Insurance with up to Rs. 80 lakh coverage.

      - The report calls for tailored, region-specific adaptation strategies.

Main Point :-   (i) Emphasis on collective efforts and innovative frameworks to address climate challenges.

Main Point :-   (i) Implementation will occur in Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

      (ii) Low-cost maker spaces will nurture curiosity, creativity, and innovation.

Main Point :-   (i) Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, popularly known as MC Mary Kom, is an Olympic Boxer and former Rajya Sabha member. She won a Bronze Medal in the 2012 London Olympics.

      (ii) She is the only female to have won the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times and the only boxer, regardless of gender, to secure eight World Championship medals (6 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze).

(iii) Her achievements, including her six world titles and her triumphs in Olympic and international competitions, have made her a symbol of perseverance and excellence in sports.

Main Points:-   (i) The award will be presented to Reddy in January 2025 during a ceremony at Jyoti Protap Bidyalay in Teok, Jorhat.

      (ii) The Jadav Payeng International Award includes a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a citation, and various other mementos.

(iii) The award is named after Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng, known as the "Forest Man of India" for his continuous efforts in creating a 550-hectare forest in Assam's Jorhat district.

      - This development follows an agreement made during King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan's visit to India in November 2023, where both nations decided to designate Darranga (Assam) and Samdrup-Jongkhar (Bhutan) as official ICPs for third-country nationals.

Main Points:-   (i) The ICP was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister (PM) of Bhutan H.E. Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay.

      (ii) Minister of State (MoS) Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); MoS, Pabitra Margherita, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA); Dasho Pema Chewang, the Leader of the Opposition of Bhutan, and other elected representatives and senior officials from both countries were present during the event.

(iii) ICP Darranga, covering 14.5 acres, enhances trade and cross-border transit with modern infrastructure, including an office complex, parking, loading zones, a weighbridge, a warehouse, and residential quarters for officials.

Main Points:-   The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger after receiving clearances from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the Registrar of Companies (RoC), and the Regional Director (RD), along with No Objection Certificates (NOC) from RBI and the Income Tax Department (ITD).