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- Why in News?
- The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed a major milestone, recording over 8 crore total gross enrolments. This reflects growing awareness and participation in the government’s flagship pension scheme aimed at providing financial security to India’s unorganised workforce.
- Key Provisions:-
Launched under the Ministry of Finance and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), APY targets individuals aged 18 to 40 who hold a bank account and are not income taxpayers. The scheme addresses two critical concerns—longevity risk and lack of retirement income—by offering a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, starting at age 60. The lifelong pension benefit under APY provides stability to workers outside the formal employment sector, ensuring a more secure post-retirement life. The 8 crore enrolment figure underscores the scheme’s success in reaching a wide section of the population and promoting financial inclusion through social security.
- Why in News?
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed flight trials of the latest version of its Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile, known as ULPGM-V3.
- Key Provisions:-
- This state-of-the-art missile is equipped with a high-definition dual-channel seeker, enabling it to accurately engage a diverse range of targets. Designed for flexibility, the ULPGM-V3 can operate effectively in both plain and high-altitude terrains, enhancing its strategic utility. One of its standout features is its all-weather, day-and-night operational capability, coupled with a two-way data link that allows real-time updates to targets or aim-points after launch. Developed entirely by DRDO, this missile represents a significant step forward in India's indigenous defence technology, particularly in precision strike capabilities. The successful trials mark a major achievement for the Indian defence sector, reinforcing the country’s focus on self-reliance and advanced combat readiness in modern warfare scenarios.
- Why in News?
- Scientists have linked the extreme marine heatwaves of 2023 to human-induced climate change, warning that these events could indicate the crossing of a potential climate tipping point. Marine heatwaves—sustained periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures—have become more intense and widespread, disrupting ecosystems and weather systems across the globe.
- Key Provisions:-
- According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a climate tipping point refers to a critical threshold in the Earth’s system, beyond which a small change can cause large, often irreversible shifts. For example, continued global warming might turn lush rainforests into dry savannahs. The IPCC highlights several such vulnerable systems, including the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, the Amazon rainforest, and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The 2023 heatwave events raise concerns that the climate system may be approaching or even surpassing such thresholds. If confirmed, this could have far-reaching consequences for global climate stability and environmental resilience.