Quantum Teaching Labs

Context: Recently, the government approved 23 academic institutions across India to establish quantum teaching facilities/laboratories under the National Quantum Mission and is considering 100 more to enhance research and training in quantum technologies.

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• A funding of ₹1 crore will be disbursed to each selected institutionas support to design a course in quantum technology, which can be taught at the B.Tech level, faculty development, etc.
• The initiative is launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in association with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
• It is categorically noted that these will not be research labs, but teaching labs, particularly for undergraduates.  

About Quantum Teaching Labs

• These are specialised facilities at academic institutions equipped to train students and researchers in quantum technologies.
• Objective: To build a "Quantum-Ready" workforce by offering minor courses at the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) level, upskilling faculty, and facilitating hands-on experimentation.
• These labs provide access to quantum computing equipment, simulation tools and coursework covering quantum mechanics, quantum communication and quantum sensing.

Changing Dynamics of Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region

Context: Recently, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released a report titled ‘Changing Dynamics of Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region from 1990 to 2020’, shedding light on the changing dynamics in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region.

Key Findings of the Report

• According to the analysis, the Hindukush Himalaya (HKH) lost 12% of its overall area and 9% of its total ice reserve (in terms of ice concentration) from 1990 to 2020.
• The rate of loss accelerated markedly after 2010, particularly in the eastern and central HKH, where smaller glaciers have been most affected.
• The Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins have witnessed significant glacier loss over the past three decades—about 21% and 16%, respectively.
• Conditions are even more severe in rivers east of the HKH region, with glacier area declining by nearly 22% in the Yellow, 23% in the Yangtze, and 33% in the Salween river basins over the same period.
• Report warns that:
  • Changes directly lead to increasing uncertainty in water availability and greater exposure to hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), avalanches, landslides, and debris flows.
  • They also pose rising risks to downstream communities and infrastructure, highlighting the close link between glacier health and the region’s food, water, energy, and livelihood security.

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister paid rich tributes to the legendary socialist leader and thinker, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, on the occasion of his birth anniversary on 23^rd March 2026.

About Dr Ram Manohar Lohia

• Born on March 23, 1910, in Akbarpur (UP), he was an Indian politician and activist who was a prominent figure in socialist politics and the Indian independence movement.
• Much of his career was devoted to combating injustice through the development of a distinctly Indian version of socialism.
• He died on October 12, 1967, in New Delhi.

Life Journey

• He was born into a Marwari Bania (merchant) family. At the age of 2, he lost his mother and was raised mainly by his father and grandparents.
• He was influenced by his father’s commitment to Indian nationalism during childhood, which led him to take part in the freedom struggle.
• He studied at Banaras Hindu University, later earning a bachelor’s degree in 1929 from the University of Calcutta.
• He went on to complete a doctorate in 1932 from the University of Berlin, where he studied economics and politics.
• During higher education, he explored Marx, Engels, and European socialist thinkers and got exposure to anti-imperialist and socialist movements, shaping his worldview.
• He wrote books such as ‘Wheel of History’, ‘Marx, Gandhi and Socialism’, ‘Guilty Men of India’s Partition’, etc.

Contribution to the National Movement

• In 1934, Lohia became actively involved in the Congress Socialist Party (CSP), a left-wing group within the Indian National Congress. He served on the CSP executive committee and edited its weekly journal.
• He strongly opposed India’s participation alongside Great Britain in World War II, resulting in his arrest for anti-British remarks in 1939 and again in 1940, with the latter leading to an 18-month imprisonment.
• He, along with other CSP leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, mobilised underground resistance during the Quit India Movement in 1942. For these activities, he was imprisoned again from 1944 to 1946.

Role after Independence

• During and after India’s transition to independence in 1947, Lohia continued to play an active role in its politics.
• Together with other members of the CSP, he left the Congress in 1948 due to differences with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru over several issues.
• He became a member of the Praja Socialist Party upon its formation in 1952 and served as general secretary for a brief period, but internecine conflicts led to his resignation in 1955.
• In December 1955, Lohia founded the Socialist Party of India, was elected its chairman, and became the editor of its journal “Mankind”.
• As a mesmerising orator and an impassioned, insightful writer, he advocated for various socio-political reforms, including the abolition of the caste system, the adoption of Hindi as India's national language, and more robust safeguards for civil liberties.
• Lohia articulated the idea of “Sapta Kranti” (Seven Revolutions)—in economic, political, social, religious, cultural, educational, and sexual spheres—to achieve a holistic transformation of Indian society towards equality and liberty.

National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026

Context: Recently, the two-day National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026 was held at the SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.

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• On the sidelines of the Summit, an exhibition was also inaugurated to showcase impactful initiatives and success stories from various States.
• It highlighted the transformative role of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in mining-affected regions.

About the Summit

• It was organised by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• The summit aimed to strengthen inter-governmental coordination and identify policy reforms for effective, outcome-oriented use of DMF funds in mining-affected districts, especially in Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) Areas.
• Theme: “Effective Utilisation of District Mineral Foundation Funds for Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) Areas”.
• Thematic areas: Governance, transparency, convergence with development schemes, and impact assessment of DMF-funded projects.

Government Unveils Three New Initiatives to Promote ‘Orange Economy’

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched three major initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s media, broadcasting and digital sector and promoting the creative economy.

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• The objective of these launches is to promote the 'Orange Economy,’ strengthen public broadcasting, and build an AI-skilled workforce in the media and entertainment sector.
• These initiatives are aimed at building a strong ecosystem for creators while ensuring wider access to quality broadcasting.

Launched Initiatives

National AI Skilling Initiative:

• Launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with Google and YouTube, to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors.
• Objective: To strengthen AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and media technology.
• Implementing Agency: Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)
• It will be conducted in two phases:
  • Phase I (March–June 2026): Focus on foundational AI learning through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud Generative AI paths, covering courses like AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, and Introduction to Generative AI.
  • Phase II (July–December 2026): Focus on advanced, project-based specialisation for the creative industry, covering storytelling, YouTube best practices, and AI tools like Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo, and Vertex AI, with training held in major cities nationwide.
  • The initiative will support creators, media professionals, students and developers in building future-ready skills and contribute to India’s emergence as a global hub for digital content and innovation.

MyWaves Platform:

• It is a new feature within the WAVES OTT platform that will enable citizens to create, upload and share content.
• It is designed as a structured platform for user-generated content (UGC) that will also support participation in national initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge.
• The platform shifts from passive viewing to active participation, enabling creation alongside consumption, supporting formats like short, vertical, and episodic content, with a multilingual interface across Indian languages.

Advanced Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) & In-built Satellite Tuner in Television Sets:

• It will enable viewers to watch DD Free Dish channels directly on their television sets without the need for a separate set-top box, thereby reducing additional costs, wiring, and the hassle of multiple remotes.
• The advanced programme guide enables easy browsing of channels and schedules in one place through a simple interface, improving viewing convenience for households nationwide.
• In essence, Prasar Bharati will continue to play a pivotal role in enhancing public broadcasting, while IICT will advance AI skills programs for the creative sector, and WAVES OTT will provide a platform for citizen participation and content creation—including the 'Create in India' Challenge.