Prelims Focus 8th July 2026

Indiahandmade: Empowering India’s Craft Economy

In News: Indiahandmade, a digital marketplace developed by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Textiles, is gaining attention for connecting over 64.66 lakh rural artisans and weavers directly with consumers, promoting fair trade and digital inclusion.

About:

• Indiahandmade is a zero-commission e-commerce platform that eliminates intermediaries, enabling artisans to retain the full value of their products. 
• It supports digital empowerment by allowing even non-GST registered artisans to sell within their home states using an Enrolment ID. 
• The platform promotes India’s rich cultural heritage by showcasing GI-tagged products and items under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. 
• Buyers can access a wide range of authentic handcrafted products, including Banarasi silk, Chanderi silk, Pashmina shawls, Ikat, Dokra crafts, and Aipan art.
• The initiative strengthens rural livelihoods, preserves traditional crafts, and advances the vision of an inclusive digital economy.

Global Passport Index 2026

In News: India ranks 125th out of 197 countries in the Global Passport Index 2026, dropping one position from 124th in 2025.  

Key Details 

• The Paradox: India’s overall composite score improved to a five-year high of 45.1, yet its rank declined. This indicates that other nations enhanced their passport mobility and policy frameworks at a much faster pace.
• Three-Pillar Evaluation: Unlike traditional indices that only look at visa-free travel, this index evaluates three major dimensions:
  • Enhanced Mobility (50% weight): Measures visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa access.
  • Investment Opportunity (25% weight): Analyzes macroeconomic stability, business climate, and financial freedom.
  • Quality of Life (25% weight): Assesses personal freedom, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and cost of living.
• Global Leaders: Denmark, Finland, and Germany lead the global rankings, offering their citizens unmatched global mobility and exceptional domestic quality of life.

SpudCell: Synthetic Cell created in a Lab

In News: Scientists in the United States have made a huge step forward in the field of synthetic biology by creating a lab-grown synthetic cell from entirely non-living chemical components that can grow and reproduce its own DNA, split in two and eventually undergo evolutionary selection. 

• This artificial cell was built from Non-Living Chemicals: In conventional genetic engineering, the process of changing the genetic makeup of living organisms, non-living chemicals were used to create this cell, beginning with a simple artificial fat bubble (liposome) as the cell membrane. 
• Artificial Protein Factory: The synthetic cell contains a chemical cocktail that is specially devised in the laboratory (PURE system) and can successfully convert a very small, synthetic DNA genome (90,000 base pairs) into functional proteins. 
• Nutrient Absorption (Feeding): The cell contains instructions (DNA) that cause it to make a molecular “hook” (alpha-hemolysin protein) on its surface that enables it to pick up and merge with smaller nutrient bubbles to ingest lipids and materials necessary for growth. 
• DNA Replication: A copying enzyme exacts a precise copy of the entire DNA of the cell as the cell increases in size. 
• Scientists devised a way for the cell to divide into two daughter cells by subjecting it to simple physical pressure and mechanical stress from proteins compacting on its outer surface – rather than from a complex internal structural network (cytoskeleton) as do natural cells. 

Next Phase of UDAN – Viksit UDAN

In News: The Prime Minister has recently initiated the next phase of UDAN, called ‘Viksit UDAN’, in Rajasthan to boost air connectivity in the region, build world-class aviation infrastructure and enabling aviation-led growth as envisioned by Viksit Bharat 2047. 

• About: The modified phase of Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN launched in October 2016 to make air travel affordable, accessible and inclusive for common citizens, is Viksit UDAN. 
• Implementation period of the scheme: The scheme would be implemented over a period of 10 years from Financial Year 2026-27 to Financial Year 2035-36 with budgetary support of ₹28,840 crore. 
• Objective: It seeks to enhance last-mile air connectivity in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, remote areas, hilly terrain, islands and aspirational districts and bring the benefits of aviation beyond large cities. 
• Out of which 100 airports will be developed from the existing unserved airstrips under Modified UDAN with an investment of ₹12,159 crore in eight years to boost regional aviation facilities. 
• Operation and Maintenance Support: The scheme provides Operation and Maintenance support of ₹2,577 crore for around 441 aerodromes. The support will be given for three years, with a maximum of ₹3.06 crore annually per airport and ₹0.90 crore annually per heliport/water aerodrome. 
• Modern Helipads: It recommends establishment of 200 modern helipads in hilly areas, remote areas, island and aspirational areas with estimated investment of ₹3,661 crore to increase access to healthcare, disaster management and public services. 
• Viability Gap Funding: A total of ₹10,043 crore has been proposed as Viability Gap Funding for the airline operators for 10 years. Airlines will benefit from five years of support with a gradually reducing payment from year three onwards and route exclusivity will be capped at three years. 
• Implementation: UDAN airports will be built in Challenge Mode to ensure timely completion, quality, innovation and sustainability. The scheme also aims to enhance indigenous aviation capability by procuring Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Dhruv helicopters for regional operations and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Dornier aircraft for the same. 
• The impact of Viksit UDAN is anticipated to be tremendous on air travel, tourism, trade, investment, emergency services and employment and regional economic development.

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