Prelims Focus 11th October 2025

11/10/2025

136 3 minutes read

Saksham

In News: SAKSHAM has been procured in the Indian Army (Situational Awareness of Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management).

It is a Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Counter-Unmanned Aerial System, which is indigenously developed to enhance operational readiness in response to drone threats that are emerging.
It is a Command and Control (C2) platform that is modular and incorporates real-time sensor data, AI-driven analytics, and counter-drone capabilities to provide security to the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS).
TBS is one of the zones in the airspace that goes as high as 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above the ground level.
It was designed with the help of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA)

In News: The lower house of parliament in Russia passed a bill to withdraw Russia from the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) with the United States.

The agreement was signed in 2000 and became effective in 2011, requiring both countries to rid themselves of 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium apiece – enough to manufacture an approximate of 17,000 nuclear warheads.
The aim was to transfer weapons-grade plutonium to safer products, e.g. mixed oxide (MOX) fuel or irradiation in fast-neutron reactors to generate electricity.
In 2016, Russia already suspended the implementation, arguing that the U.S. did not follow the agreement.

DRAVYA portal

In News: Recently, during the 10th Ayurveda Day celebrations in Goa, the Ministry of Ayush launched the DRAVYA portal.

The DRAVYA Portal (Digitized Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of AYUSH Substances) is a comprehensive, AI-ready digital repository launched by the Ministry of AYUSH in India.
It is developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and serves as the largest collection of data on Ayurvedic ingredients and products.
The portal catalogs detailed information on Ayurvedic medicinal substances from classical texts, contemporary scientific literature, and field studies, aiming to provide authentic, research-backed, and easily accessible information.In its first phase, DRAVYA focuses on cataloguing 100 key medicinal substances.
It integrates data on botany, chemistry, pharmacology, safety, and Ayurvedic pharmacotherapeutics.
The portal also features QR code integration for standardized information display in medicinal plant gardens and drug repositories nationwide. It supports multiple languages and advanced search filters, enabling detailed and precise queries related to Ayurvedic ingredients and products.
It is designed to interlink with the Ayush Grid and other Ministry initiatives for a unified approach to medicinal substances and drug policy.
The initiative represents a significant step in the digital transformation and evidence-based integration of traditional medicine, facilitating research, education, policy formulation, and global collaboration in the AYUSH sector.

PM-KUSUM

In News: India plans to showcase the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan) and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana programs through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) platform to several African and island nations.

These programs aim to promote solar energy in agriculture, empowering farmers with solar-powered pumps, decentralized solar power plants, and rooftop solar installations to improve irrigation and energy access in regions with low electrification coverage.

PM-KUSUM Program

The PM-KUSUM scheme launched in 2019 aims to add 34,800 MW of decentralized solar capacity by March 2026, with a budget allocation of approximately ₹34,422 crore. It has three main components:

Component A: Setting up 10,000 MW decentralized ground/stilt-mounted grid-connected solar or renewable energy power plants.
Component B: Installation of around 14 lakh standalone solar agricultural pumps for farmers in off-grid areas.
Component C: Solarization of 35 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps enabling farmers to use solar power for irrigation and sell surplus electricity.

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

This scheme, focusing on rooftop solar installations, provides free or subsidized electricity through solar power to households, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
It has already benefited over 20 lakh households by enabling them to generate renewable energy on their rooftops, which helps lower electricity costs and supports energy self-reliance.