‘Bharat VISTAAR’ scheme

Context: Recently, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development launched phase I of the ‘Bharat VISTAAR’ scheme in Jaipur, Rajasthan, as part of India’s push for AI-driven agricultural transformation.

About the Bharat VISTAAR

• Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is an AI-powered digital public infrastructure (DPI) designed as a single digital gateway for farmers.

• It integrates data from sources such as AgriStack, ICAR advisories, IMD weather data, mandi prices (Agmarknet), and various government schemes to provide unified agricultural services.

• Objective:

o The scheme aims to provide farmers with real-time agriculture-related information and advisory services through technology. 

• Key Features:

o Voice-first AI platform: Farmers can dial 155261 to ask queries, receive instant advisory, and check mandi prices, even using feature phones.

o Multilingual access: Initially available in Hindi and English, with plans to expand to 11 languages.

o Farmer Identity Card: A digital Farmer ID will store farmer profiles, scheme eligibility, and benefit tracking, initially linked with schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Soil Health Card.

o Integrated services: Provides weather forecasts, pest alerts, crop advisory, soil and fertiliser guidance, scheme details, and complaint tracking.

o Multiple access modes: Available via helpline, chatbot, web interface, and upcoming mobile apps.

Project Vault

Context: The United States has launched Project Vault, a strategic initiative to create a domestic reserve of critical minerals aimed at safeguarding industries from geopolitical supply disruptions and economic coercion.

About Project Vault

• A public-private partnership designed as an independently governed and operated entity rather than a fully government-controlled reserve.

• Supported by up to $10 billion in financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), along with additional private investment (~$2 billion).

• The project aims to stockpile 60 critical minerals identified in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 2025 Critical Mineral List.

• EXIM will provide long-term loans to procure and store minerals domestically.

• The minerals will be procured and stored on behalf of participating companies based on upfront commitments.

• Withdrawal and replenishment will occur under predefined market disruption conditions, with participants paying storage premiums.

• Inspired by the model of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (1975) as a buffer against supply shocks.

• The move follows growing concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities, especially due to China’s dominance in mining, processing, and rare earth magnet exports.

Significance of Project Vault

• The initiative treats critical minerals as strategic assets central to national power and economic security.

• The project reduces dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains vulnerable to coercion and disruption.

• The reserve provides an insurance mechanism for domestic manufacturers against volatile spot market prices.

• Strengthens resilience of U.S. industrial ecosystems and complements domestic mining and processing initiatives.

• May support alternative global supply chains by creating predictable demand beyond dominant suppliers.

‘Bee Corridors’ Along the National Highways

Context: Recently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop Pollinator or Bee Corridors along National Highways as part of sustainable infrastructure development.

Key Objectives

• To ensure year-round availability of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

• To reduce growing ecological stress on honeybees and wild pollinators.

• To address declining pollination services affecting agricultural, horticultural and ecological balance.

• To shift from ornamental roadside plantations to biodiversity-rich ecological plantations.

Ecological Design

• The corridor will include a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses.

• Wild elements such as flowering weeds, dead wood, and hollow trunks will be retained.

• Plant species will ensure staggered flowering across seasons for a near-continuous blooming cycle.

• The initiative prioritises native and nectar-rich plant species.

Major Plant Species

• Native and nectar-rich species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris will be planted along National Highways.

Implementation Strategy

• Corridors will be developed along National Highway stretches and vacant NHAI land parcels based on agro-climatic suitability.

• Plantation clusters will be created at intervals of 500 meters to 1 km.

• The spacing aligns with the average foraging range of honeybees and wild bees.

• NHAI field offices will identify suitable locations across the country.

Targets

• At least three pollinator corridors will be developed during 2026-27.

• Around 40 lakh trees will be planted along National Highways.

• Nearly 60% of plantations will be under the ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative.

• The initiative is expected to enhance habitat connectivity, improve pollination efficiency, and contribute to long-term ecological stability.

EXERCISE MILAN 2026

Context: The Indian Navy is conducting the 13th edition of MILAN under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command t Visakhapatnam (Bay of Bengal) to strengthen maritime cooperation and enhance interoperability among friendly navies in the Indo-Pacific.

More on the News

• MILAN 2026 is one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, bringing together navies from across the globe

• The invitations have been extended to over 135, with around 70 nations confirming participation.

• The exercise will include both Harbour and Sea Phases, covering:

o Anti-submarine warfare

o Air defence operations

o Maritime domain awareness

o Search and rescue missions

o Cooperative security and HADR operations

• The theme of MILAN 26 is Camaraderie, Cooperation, Collaboration.

• The exercise reflects India’s commitment to maritime security, rules-based seas, regional stability and cooperative engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

• The exercise is being held alongside two major events in Visakhapatnam:

o International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and 

o the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) Conclave of Chiefs.

• MILAN 2026 aligns with the Prime Minister’s Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) vision, reinforcing India’s role as:

o Preferred security partner

o Bridge between Global South and major powers

o Stakeholder in global maritime commons.

Historical Background

• The MILAN exercise began in 1995 at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with participation from Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

• It is a biennial multilateral naval exercise of the Indian Navy.

• Participation has steadily expanded:

o 2014: 17 nations

o 2022: 42 countries

o 2026: ~70 confirmed participants (largest edition so far).

India’s First Private Sector Helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL)

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India and the President of France virtually inaugurated the Tata Advanced Systems Final Assembly Line for the Airbus H125 helicopter.

More on the News

• The facility is located at Vemagal in Kolar district of Karnataka and is India’s first private sector helicopter Final Assembly Line.

• In aerospace manufacturing, a Final Assembly Line (FAL) is the concluding stage where all major pre-fabricated sections of an aircraft are integrated into a fully functional unit.

• The facility has been established by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus.

• It marks a major step in India–France defence-industrial cooperation and supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in aerospace.

Key highlights of the Development

• The facility will initially manufacture the civil variant of the Airbus H125 helicopter in India.

• It may also produce the military variant H125M in the future with high levels of localisation.

• The first Made in India H125 helicopter is expected to be delivered in early 2027.

• The helicopters produced here will serve domestic demand and export markets in South Asia.

• The project marks the first time the Indian private sector will undertake manufacturing, integration, testing and maintenance of a sophisticated rotary wing platform.

• The Karnataka government has allotted about 17 acres of land for the project.

• Around 500 helicopters may be produced over the next twenty years.

• The programme is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment and strengthen India’s aerospace ecosystem.

• This is the second major Tata–Airbus collaboration, after the C295 transport aircraft assembly line.