CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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  • India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2024, marks a major leap toward developing an indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet. Under this model, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will compete with private firms to manufacture the jet.
  • The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under DRDO, is leading the effort. Designed with advanced capabilities such as supercruise, stealth features, sensor fusion, and AI-enabled avionics, the AMCA aims to rival elite global platforms like the US F-22/F-35, Russia’s Su-57, and China’s J-20.
  • A prototype is expected by 2028–29, with induction slated for 2034. The twin-engine AMCA Mk1 will use GE-F414 engines, while Mk2 will feature indigenous powerplants.
  • Strategically, the AMCA will modernize the IAF’s shrinking fleet and counter regional threats from China and Pakistan.
  • The project also boosts India’s defence autonomy, aligning with the Make in India vision for technological self-reliance.

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  • After unveiling India’s first gene-edited rice variety, scientists have now created the nation’s first gene-edited sheep using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
  • This Nobel Prize-winning tool operates like molecular scissors, enabling precise DNA modifications. Researchers edited the myostatin gene in a lamb, enhancing muscle growth by 30%—a trait seen in European breeds like Texel but absent in Indian varieties.
  • Importantly, no foreign DNA was introduced, distinguishing this method from traditional transgenics and improving its chances of regulatory and consumer acceptance. Earlier, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) also developed a gene-edited buffalo embryo.
  • While promising, gene editing in animals raises ethical issues. Concerns include unintended genetic changes, the creation of “designer” traits, and potential harm to animal welfare. Broader risks such as ecological disruption and socio-economic inequality have prompted scrutiny.
  • Organizations like UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee are actively examining these challenges to balance scientific progress with ethical responsibility.

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  • The Centre has amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), restricting NGOs involved in publication activities that receive foreign funds. Such NGOs are now barred from publishing newsletters and must obtain a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India confirming they do not circulate news content.
  • About FCRA:
    • Administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, FCRA registration is mandatory for Indian organizations to legally accept foreign contributions. The law governs individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, associations, and companies registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. However, foreign funds from Non-Resident Indians, transferred from personal savings through regular banking channels, are exempt from this regulation.