KARNATAKA ISSUES

• The two-language policy proposed by the Karnataka State Education Policy (SEP) Commission in its final report submitted to the government recently will be applicable to all government, aided and private Kannada and English medium schools in the State.
• In a collaboration with BIAL, Uber has launched India’s first dedicated Uber Black and Uber Comfort pick-up zones at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, these zones aim to elevate the premium travel experience. The new, well-equipped areas include charging stations, water dispensers, and a staffed helpdesk to ensure a seamless and comfortable transition for passengers, supported by highly-rated drivers and quality vehicles.

SCIENCE AND TECH

• IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) and the National Cancer Grid (NCG) have launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program to promote AI innovations in cancer care. Offering pilot grants up to ₹50 lakh and scale-up funding of ₹1 crore, the program targets AI-enabled screening, diagnostics, decision support, patient tools, and healthcare efficiency. Open to startups, health-tech firms, institutions, and hospitals, up to 10 projects will be chosen, with applications closing on September 2, 2025.
• A landmark study in Science Translational Medicine examined 2,996 Filipino children during a major dengue outbreak to uncover immune markers of broad protection. Researchers found that Envelope Dimer Epitope (EDE)-like antibodies, prevalent in secondary immunity, strongly neutralised all four dengue virus serotypes and reduced risks of symptomatic disease, severe cases, and hospitalisation. Both vaccination and natural infection boosted these antibodies, making them a key driver of cross-serotype protection and a potential marker for future universal dengue vaccine design.
• Researchers from three U.S. universities have shown that peacock tail feathers, when treated with rhodamine 6G dye, can act as natural laser cavities. The dye penetrated microscopic keratin structures through repeated wet-dry cycles, and when excited by green laser pulses, the feathers emitted intense, narrow beams at 574 nm and 583 nm—key signs of laser action. This finding, published in Scientific Reports, highlights biological nanostructures’ potential in bio-inspired photonics, optical sensing, and revealing hidden patterns without conventional microscopy.
• The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, will soon host southern India’s first in-house Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory for animal disease research. The upgraded facility will enable rapid diagnosis, post-mortem analysis, and zoonotic disease studies without relying on external labs. Equipped with advanced biosafety systems, it will speed up diagnostics, strengthen biosecurity, and enhance disease prevention. Collaborating with veterinary institutes, the lab supports India’s “One Health” approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health for early intervention and outbreak control.

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

• Since 2022, the UN has been negotiating a binding plastics treaty through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), but rifts persist between two blocs. The High Ambition Coalition (HAC), led by Norway and Rwanda, seeks production cuts, while the Like-Minded Countries (LMC), including India, prefer waste management over caps. India aligns with LMC, citing economic needs and trade concerns. Global production has shifted to Asia, with petrochemical industries facing reduced demand and profit margins, adding pressure to negotiations.

MISCELLANEOUS

• On August 7, 2025, Indian Railways operated ‘Rudrastra’, the country’s longest freight train at 4.5 km, formed by coupling six empty BOXN rakes with 354 wagons and seven locomotives. It ran from Ganjkhwaja (UP) to Garhwa Road (Jharkhand), covering 200 km in 5 hours at 40 km/h, partly via the Dedicated Freight Corridor. The train boosts efficiency, reduces manpower and costs, frees track capacity, and marks a step toward modernising India’s freight operations.