Prelims Focus 26th September 2026

Alternatives to the SWIFT Payment System

In News: Global South nations are seeking to find alternatives to the dollar-dominated, SWIFT-based payment system, especially as it has come under pressure due to war and U.S. financial sanctions.

• mBridge: It is a consortium led by the Bank of Thailand, together with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and the Saudi Central Bank.
• Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS): It is backed by the People’s Bank of China. China introduced the CIPS clearing and settlement services system in 2015 to promote the internationalisation of yuan.
• The Russia-developed System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS):  It was created in 2014 to circumvent Western sanctions. Russian banks are not been connected to SWIFT since 2022, and this is where SPFS comes in handy.
• In 2023, Iran’s Central Bank of Iran (CBIR) announced that SEPAMA is its local interbank telecom system, with as many as 52 branches of Iranian banks and four unnamed foreign banks connected with 106 banks via SPFS.
• India’s Progress: India and Russia have set up a working framework for payments in rupees and rubles, with the two currencies currently comprising 96% of trade between the two countries. This system is backed by 22 Russian companies, including Sberbank, and 17 Indian banks, which provide another way to make bilateral payments.

Eucalyptus Monoculture Plantation

In News: The environmental, social and economic consequences of Aperam BioEnergia’s large-scale eucalyptus plantation in the Jequitinhonha Valley of Brazil have been pointed out in a report by the Global Forest Coalition (GFC). 

• This large genus, with over 660 species, includes shrubs and tall trees of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) found in Australia (including Tasmania) and neighbouring islands.
• The eucalypts are called gum trees or stringybark trees in Australia. 
• Numerous species are being grown on a large scale all over the temperate world as shade trees or in forestry plantations.
• From an economic point of view, eucalyptus trees are one of the most important groups in the order Myrtales.

Project Suncatcher

In News: Google has unveiled its Project Suncatcher, which it hopes will test whether AI computing infrastructure can be used in space and is launching its first orbital test of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs).

• Project Suncatcher investigates the idea of creating space-based AI computing infrastructure by mounting specialized AI processors on satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The first test mission will involve a prototype satellite co-developed by Google and Planet to see how well Google’s TPUs can function in space’s physical and environmental conditions.
• The prototype is scheduled to be launched first on the Transporter-18 mission by SpaceX.
• Google’s long-term plan is to have several AI-powered satellites creating a constellation of computing. The satellites are to be connected using high-bandwidth, free-space optical communication.

Mizoram Woman Farmer to Receive FAO Award

In News: Z T Lalrithangi from Mizoram has been included in the list of “100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development” of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

• She has been nominated by over 600 women from 131 countries and is one of 100 women to be recognised, including one of the two women from India.
• The recognition is part of the International Year of Women Farmers 2026. 
• She was chosen by the FAO for her commitment to strawberry production and her long-term involvement in agriculture and rural development.

Marfan syndrome

In News: Researchers at Cornell University have published the first molecular characterization of Marfan syndrome in domestic cats, discovered in a pair of feline littermate brothers named Gary and Shaggy. 

About Marfan syndrome

• Marfan syndrome is an inherited genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, which provides strength, structure, and flexibility to bones, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs.
• Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, the condition impacts multiple organ systems. It affects roughly 1 in 5,000 people globally and is caused by a mutation in the FBN1 gene, which instructs the body on how to make the protein fibrillin-1.

Major Symptoms & Features

The severity of symptoms varies widely, even among members of the same family:

• Skeletal System: Individuals are typically tall and thin, with disproportionately long arms, legs, fingers, and toes (arachnodactyly). They often experience extremely flexible joints, a curved spine (scoliosis), or a chest bone that either protrudes or sinks inward.
• Cardiovascular System: This is the most critical area affected. The mutation weakens the aorta (the main artery carrying blood from the heart), which can lead to an aneurysm (bulging) or aortic dissection (tearing), a life-threatening medical emergency. It can also cause heart valve problems.
• Eyes: Many individuals suffer from severe nearsightedness, early-onset cataracts, glaucoma, or lens dislocation (where the lens of the eye shifts out of its normal position).

Rangeet River 

In News: The Chirbirey River Fest is happening from September 25 to 27, 2026, on the banks of the Rangeet River near Jorethang town. Organised by the Sikkim Anglers’ Association (SAA) in collaboration with the Government of Sikkim’s Fisheries Department, the event marks the silver jubilee of the association’s river stewardship. 

About Rangeet River 

The Rangeet River (also spelled Rangit) is a major perennial river in northeast India and the largest tributary of the Teesta River. Known for its turbulent, glacier-fed waters, it is a vital ecological lifeline for Sikkim and a premier destination for whitewater rafting and angling.

Geography and Course

The river follows a dramatic path through the Eastern Himalayas before merging into the region’s main river system:

1. Origin: It originates from the melting snow and glaciers of the Rathong Glacier in the high-altitude mountains of West Sikkim.
2. The Flow: It rushes southward through deep mountain valleys, flowing past key Sikkim towns including Legship, Pelling, and Jorethang.
3. The Border: In its lower stretches, the river forms a natural geographic boundary between the state of Sikkim and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
4. The Confluence (Tribeni): The Rangeet meets the Teesta River at a famous confluence known as Tribeni (near Melli). The meeting point is distinct because the deep green, clear waters of the Rangeet contrast sharply with the muddy, mountain-silt teal of the Teesta.

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