UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

The three-day Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), setting out a shared agenda for transforming dryland agriculture through collaboration, knowledge exchange, innovation and collective action across the Global South. It was endorsed at the closing plenary by participating governments, institutions, partners and delegates of the Dryland Congress 2026. Held under the theme “Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South–South Cooperation,” the Congress concluded with a renewed commitment to translate scientific knowledge into action, scale proven innovations and strengthen partnerships for resilient and sustainable dryland agriculture across the Global South. Drylands are defined using an Aridity Index (AI), which is calculated by dividing mean precipitation by potential evapotranspiration. Drylands have an AI of 0.65 or lower, meaning that potential evapotranspiration is at least 50% greater than actual mean precipitation...

India and MERCOSUR signed the First Additional Protocol to the India–MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to facilitate acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin, marking an important step towards facilitating paperless trade and modernising customs procedures between India and the MERCOSUR countries. The India-MERCOSUR PTA was signed on 25 January 2004 and entered into force on 1 June 2009. The Agreement provides preferential tariff concessions on 450 tariff lines by India and 452 tariff lines by the MERCOSUR side. The First Additional Protocol amends Article 16 of Annex III (Rules of Origin) of the PTA by providing that Certificates of Origin issued in electronic format shall have the same legal validity and identical value as Certificates of Origin issued in paper format. Such electronic Certificates of Origin will be required to be issued and electronically signed in accordance with the respective domestic legislation of the Parties, by duly authorised entities and off...

On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 will be conferred upon veteran actor Shri Anant Nag in recognition of his outstanding and invaluable contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.   About Shri Anant Nag Shri Anant Nag (born 4 September 1948, Karnataka) is a veteran Indian actor renowned for his versatility and contribution to Indian cinema spanning over 5 decades. He made his acting debut in the Kannada feature film Sankalp and his Hindi debut in Ankur, going on to portray diverse characters in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Marathi cinema, including notable works such as Malgudi Days. About Dadasaheb Phalke Award Instituted in 1969 when presented to Devika Rani, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced by the Government of India to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke's contribution to Indian cinema who...

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Labour & Employment to enhance the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. The decision is expected to bring more than 51 lakh additional employees within the ambit of mandatory EPFO coverage, significantly widening social security protection for workers. The EPFO wage ceiling remained unchanged throughout the decade from 2004 to 2014, before being substantially enhanced to Rs.15,000 in September 2014.  At present, a fresh employee joining employment at a wage above Rs.15,000 per month is not automatically covered under the EPF framework and may remain outside mandatory provident fund, pension and associated insurance protection. Raising the ceiling to Rs.25,000 will bring a substantial segment of employees in the Rs.15,000– Rs.25,000 wage band within the statutory social secu...