22nd June 2026

Explanation – An LSA is a foundational military cooperation agreement between countries for administrative purposes.

It enables:

• Reciprocal use of each other's bases and ports for supplies, repair, and fuel.
• Support during joint exercises, training, port calls, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• LSAs simplify essential administrative procedures and reduce bureaucratic friction as defence cooperation between nations deepens.
• They are purely logistical, not military alliance instruments.

The LEMOA Precedent (US-India, 2016): India's first such agreement was the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US, signed in 2016. As clarified by the government in Parliament: "It does not provide for the establishment of any bases or basing arrangements."

Services covered under LSAs typically include: Food, water, billeting, transportation, fuel/lubricants, clothing, communication services, medical services, storage, training, spare parts, repair and maintenance, calibration, and port services.

India's Existing Logistics Agreements:

India currently has similar LSAs with nine countries —

• US, UK, France, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Russia — Standalone LSA
• Oman — Covered under broader defence cooperation agreement

All these agreements follow the same basic template and purpose — they are not unique to Russia.

Explanation – Drunix is an enterprise-grade distributed ledger technology designed to help organisations build and scale tokenisation platforms, digital asset ecosystems, and multi-organisation networks.

• Drunix is a custom-built private blockchain framework designed to deliver high scalability and optimised performance.
• It enables blockchain deployment at scale and is engineered for enterprise and public infrastructure adoption.
• It is a high-performance distributed ledger platform built as an enhanced fork of Hyperledger Fabric.
• Hyperledger Fabric is an open-source enterprise blockchain framework developed under the umbrella of the Linux Foundation.

Explanation – Bharat Climate Observation Network is a national observational initiative conceptualised and implemented by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India.

Objective: To develop a long-term, high-precision climate monitoring framework across the country.

Functions:

• Monitor Meteorological Parameters — BCON will monitor meteorological parameters, climate-active trace gases (greenhouse gases and short-lived climate forcers), atmospheric chemistry and soil moisture observations.
• National Database — BCON will develop a robust national database that supports the detection of long-term trends, advances climate change research, and strengthens India's capacity for climate assessment and evidence-based policy development.

Significance of BCON Data:

• The high accuracy datasets produced through BCON will also provide the critical validation and benchmarking required for Earth System Models, including India's first ESM — the IITM ESM.
• It enables more accurate simulations of the Indian climate change and enhancing future climate projections.

Explanation – It provides direct cash incentives to eligible employees and employers to boost formal job creation.

Aim: The scheme aims to support creation of over 3.5 crore jobs in two years.

Key Features of the Scheme:

• Part A – Support to First-Time Employees — Targeting first-time employees registered with EPFO, this Part will offer one-month EPF wage up to ₹15,000 in two installments. Employees with salaries up to ₹1 lakh will be eligible for the incentives.
  • The 1st instalment will be payable after 6 months of service.
  • The 2nd instalment will be payable after 12 months of service and completion of a financial literacy programme by the employee.
  • To encourage the habit of saving, a portion of the incentive will be kept in a deposit account for a fixed period and can be withdrawn by the employee at a later date.
• Part B – Incentives for Employers — This part will encourage generation of additional employment in all sectors, with a special focus on the manufacturing sector.
  • The employers will get incentives in respect of new employees with salaries up to ₹1 lakh.
  • The Government will incentivise employers, up to ₹3,000 per month, for two years, for each additional employment sustained for at least six months.
  • For the manufacturing sector, incentives will be extended to the 3rd and 4th years as well.

Incentive Payment Mechanism:

• All payments to First Time Employees under Part A will be made through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode using Aadhar Bridge Payment System (ABPS).
• Payments to Employers under Part B will be made directly into their PAN-linked Accounts.
• An important outcome of the Scheme will also be formalisation of the country's workforce by extending social security coverage for crores of young men and women.

Explanation – Sickle cell disease is a group of disorders that affects haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have a typical haemoglobin molecules called haemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent shape.

• Signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood.
• Characteristic features of this disorder include a low number of red blood cells (anaemia), repeated infections, and periodic episodes of pain.
• The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms, while others are frequently hospitalised for more serious complications.
• The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease are caused by the sickling of red blood cells.
• When red blood cells sickle, they break down prematurely, which can lead to anaemia.
• Anaemia can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children.
• The rapid breakdown of red blood cells may also cause yellowing of the eyes and skin, which are signs of jaundice.