13th October 2026

Explanation - It is a UN Global Initiative. It is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in close collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP). This provided a platform for advancing dialogue on the responsible use of AI in agriculture and food systems by promoting trustworthy and interoperable farmer-centric AI solutions. It strengthens international cooperation on governance and standards and identifying opportunities to translate innovation into practical applications.

Explanation - It is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. It is the oldest among all the 15 specialised agencies of UN. Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, it allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide. ITU is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group and has 12 regional and area offices in the world. ITU has remained an intergovernmental public-private partnership organisation since its inception. Its membership includes 193 Member States and around 800 public and private sector companies and academic institutions as well as international and regional telecommunication entities. Recently, India got elected as a member of ITU Council for another 4-year term - from 2019 to 2022. India has remained a regular member of ITU Council since 1952. India has been a member of ITU since 1869.

Explanation - It is a ranking of countries as per their success and capacity in innovation. It was first launched in 2007, and has become the leading global benchmark for measuring and comparing innovation performance. It is published yearly by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It is recognised by the UN General Assembly as an authoritative reference for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies. It tracks global innovation trends through investment patterns, technological progress, adoption rates, and socioeconomic impacts. Key Highlights of Global Innovation Index 2026 - The 19th edition of the GII ranks the innovation performance of 139 economies, maps the world’s top 100 innovation clusters, and tracks the main global innovation trends. For the 16th consecutive year, Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2026 followed by Sweden and the United States. The Republic of Korea and Singapore consolidate 4th and 5th place respectively, China remains 10th, Japan holds 12th and Hong Kong, China climbs to 14th. India ranks 38th among the 139 economies featured in the GII 2026. India ranks 1st among the 36 Lower middle-income group economies and among the 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia.

Explanation - Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency (Aatmanirbharta) in pulses. Time Period: The Mission will be implemented over a six-year period, from 2025-26 to 2030-31. It aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by significantly enhancing domestic production, reducing import dependence, and sustainably improving farmers’ incomes. The Mission plans to expand the area under pulses cultivation by an additional 35 lakh hectares, targeting rice fallows and other suitable lands, while promoting intercropping and crop diversification. Key Features of Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — Comprehensive strategy: The mission covers research, seed systems, area expansion, procurement, and price stability. Focus on quality seeds: A key focus will be the development and dissemination of high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient pulses varieties, supported by a robust seed system. Seed Production: To ensure availability of premium quality seeds, states will prepare five-year rolling seed production plans. The breeder seed production will be supervised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Capacity building: Structured training programmes for farmers and seed growers to promote sustainable techniques and modern technologies. Post-harvest infrastructure: To strengthen markets and value chains, the Mission will help develop processing units, thereby reducing crop losses, improving value addition. Cluster-Based Approach: Tailoring interventions to the specific needs of each cluster to enhance productivity, and promote geographic diversification of pulse production. Procurement: Assured maximum procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor under Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-AASHA. NAFED and NCCF will undertake 100% procurement in participating states for the next four years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements.

Explanation - Quantum computing indeed uses qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to the principle of superposition. Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon where entangled particles remain connected, and the state of one can instantly affect the state of the other, no matter how far apart they are. Quantum cryptography, particularly Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), utilises quantum mechanics principles to secure communication channels and can detect any eavesdropping on the transmission.