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- Why in News?
- The Union Minister of Jal Shakti has inaugurated C-FLOOD, a new integrated flood forecasting platform designed to support disaster management efforts.
- Key Provisions:-
- This web-based system delivers village-level flood inundation forecasts two days in advance, using advanced 2-D hydrodynamic modelling. C-FLOOD brings together flood data from various national and regional agencies, offering unified predictions and real-time hazard mapping.
- Approximately 40 million hectares—12% of India's land area—are flood-prone. C-FLOOD addresses this challenge by offering timely flood maps and water level forecasts to aid authorities in preparedness and response.
- C-FLOOD was jointly developed by C-DAC Pune, the Central Water Commission, the Department of Water Resources, and the National Remote Sensing Centre. It is executed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), a joint initiative by MeitY and DST launched in 2015.
- Currently covering the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi river basins, the system will soon expand nationwide and integrate with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response Portal (NDEM).
- Why in News?
- The Quad nations—India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—have unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration on critical mineral supply chains, electronic waste recovery, and mineral reprocessing. This effort focuses on securing reliable and diversified sources of critical minerals vital for economic and national security.
- Key Provisions:-
- The production and processing of many critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are heavily concentrated in a few countries, posing risks from geopolitical disruptions. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo provides around 70% of global cobalt, while China dominates global refining—handling over 60% of lithium and nickel. In 2024, China further tightened controls by halting exports of gallium and germanium to the U.S.
- To counter such vulnerabilities, India has launched several initiatives, including the Mines and Minerals Amendment Act (2023), the National Critical Mineral Mission, and international partnerships like the U.S.-led Minerals Security Partnership and agreements with countries like Argentina.
- Why in News?
- The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently conducted a major operation targeting the illegal trade of pharmaceutical drugs. The crackdown led to the dismantling of a transnational drug trafficking network involved in smuggling controlled medicines across four continents.
- Key Provisions:-
- This sophisticated syndicate leveraged encrypted communication channels, drop shipping methods, and cryptocurrency to evade detection and move illicit substances globally. The operation exposed how modern drug trafficking increasingly relies on digital tools and decentralized financial systems to facilitate cross-border illegal trade.
- By uncovering this network, the NCB highlighted the growing intersection of digital platforms, virtual currencies, and global logistics in enabling the illicit pharmaceutical market. The bust marks a significant step in disrupting international drug channels and reinforces the need for enhanced digital surveillance and international cooperation to combat emerging forms of organized crime in the digital age.