KARNATAKA

• In a landmark achievement for transfusion medicine, a new blood group named CRIB (Cromer India Bengaluru) was discovered at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre. Identified in a South Indian woman undergoing cardiac surgery, the rare group was confirmed after panreactive test results and 10 months of molecular analysis by the IBGRL, UK. Officially recognized by ISBT in June 2025, CRIB highlights the urgency of rare blood registries and personalized transfusion planning.
• Bengaluru Police have significantly curbed property-related crimes by integrating surveillance tech, data analytics, and proactive interventions. Cases dropped by over 10% from 2023 to 2024, with just 3,113 cases reported till May 2025. Key crimes like chain snatching, vehicle and house thefts, and murders for gain showed sharp declines. Measures include geotagging 5.75 lakh CCTV cameras, mapping crime hotspots, and deploying smart policing tools like FOP, MCCTNS, and behavioral tracking of repeat offenders.
• In a strategic shift toward sustainable women’s empowerment, the Karnataka government will form 500 Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) for beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme by October 2, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Anganwadi system. These groups, modeled after Stree Shakti Groups, will foster collective savings, credit access, and micro-enterprise development. With ₹42,528 crore disbursed to 1.22 crore women, this move aims to reduce dependency and improve rural women’s financial resilience.

POLITY

• On July 31, 2025, the Lok Sabha extended President’s Rule in Manipur for six more months under Article 356, citing constitutional breakdown. Backed by Articles 355 and 365, the move imposes central governance through the Governor, suspending the state legislature while retaining judicial autonomy. Parliament must approve such extensions every six months, with a three-year limit. Prolongation beyond one year requires a National Emergency or an Election Commission report stating elections are unfeasible.

SCHEME

• The Setubandha Vidwan Yojana, launched by the Ministry of Education and implemented through the IKS division of Central Sanskrit University, aims to integrate scholars from traditional gurukul backgrounds into mainstream research spaces like IITs. Open to those with at least five years of rigorous gurukul training and no formal degree, the scheme offers research fellowships and supports studies across 18 disciplines. It aligns with NEP goals, promoting inclusivity, cultural integration, and knowledge diversity in higher education.

ENVIRONMENT

• Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has risen to 3rd globally in tiger density with 18.65 tigers per 100 sq km, trailing only Bandipur and Corbett. Its tiger population jumped from 104 in 2022 to 148 in 2024, aided by new sampling in Biswanath Wildlife Division. Over a 103-day survey using 293 camera trap locations, 4,011 tiger images were captured. Conservation gains were driven by habitat expansion, high-tech tools like drones and M-STrIPES, and the contribution of 113 ‘Van Durgas’.

SCIENCE

• For the first time, India’s nuclear program has integrated a private player—TEMA India—for upgrading depleted heavy water (D₂O), a crucial input for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). With a new facility in Palghar under BARC’s technology transfer, TEMA will accelerate the process by 1–2 years, offering a “single-point solution.” The initiative supports India’s ambitious nuclear expansion, including future deployments to Rawatbhata, Gorakhpur, and Kaiga, and aligns with the ₹20,000-crore mission to develop 100 GW capacity by 2047.
• Launched in July 2025 from Sriharikota, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite marks a groundbreaking Indo-US collaboration in space technology. As the first satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, it employs dual SARs—L-band and S-band—for unmatched, all-weather Earth imaging. With a daily data output of 80 TB, it supports climate, disaster, and agricultural monitoring. NISAR signifies strategic geopolitical cooperation and scientific leadership in addressing global environmental challenges.

INTERNATIONAL

• India has completed the ₹254 crore Confluence-Haa all-weather road in Bhutan’s strategic Haa Valley—just 21 km from the sensitive Doklam tri-junction, enhancing military logistics and regional connectivity. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Dantak, the road meets national highway standards and includes five new bridges. The project strengthens India’s defence diplomacy, counters China’s influence, and deepens India-Bhutan strategic cooperation through infrastructure engagement and soft power.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The ‘State of Food and Nutrition in the World’ (SOFI) 2025 report reveals that 720 million people (8.2% of the global population) faced chronic hunger in 2024—a slight decrease from previous years but still deeply concerning. Food insecurity affected 2.3 billion globally, with Asia and Africa most impacted. Despite regional progress, hunger remains above pre-pandemic levels, and by 2030, 512 million people are projected to remain undernourished, predominantly in Africa.