Short News

Short News

Super Typhoon Bavi

Context (LM): Super Typhoon Bavi impacted Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, and parts of China in the western North Pacific.

• Bavi became the third tropical cyclone in 2026 to attain Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS).
• Category 5 denotes maximum sustained winds of 252 km/h (157 mph) or higher, capable of causing catastrophic destruction.
• SSHWS classifies hurricanes into five categories (1–5) based on maximum sustained wind speed to assess potential damage.
• Typhoon and hurricane are regional names for a tropical cyclone; a super typhoon has sustained winds of at least 240 km/h.

World Intangible Investment Report 2026

Context (AIR): The World Intangible Investment Report 2026 was jointly released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Luiss Business School.

• Intangible assets are non-physical resources, including software, data, R&D, brands, design, and Intellectual Property (IP), creating long-term economic value.
• Global intangible investment exceeded USD 10 trillion in 2025, expanding over three times faster than tangible investment.
• Software and databases led global intangible investment, followed by R&D, branding, design, and organizational capital; the U.S. remained the largest investor.
• India recorded the fastest growth among the 15 largest economies, reaching USD 78.2 billion (2023), reflecting a shift towards a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy.

Global Passport Index 2026

Context (BS): The Global Passport Index 2026, published by Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), evaluated passports of 197 countries.

• The index ranks passports using Enhanced Mobility (50%), Investment (25%), and Quality of Living (25%) across 14 indicators.
• Sweden secured the top position, followed by Switzerland and Finland; nine of the top 10 passports belong to Europe.
• India ranked 125th, slipping one place from 124th in the previous edition.
• Indian passport holders currently receive visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 26 destinations worldwide.

Sabang Port

Context (BS): India and Indonesia agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 2026 visit to Jakarta.

• Sabang Port, a natural deep-water port on Weh Island (Aceh), lies near the Strait of Malacca, about 160 km from Great Nicobar Island.
• It strengthens India’s “Necklace of Diamonds” maritime strategy, balancing China’s “String of Pearls” presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Together with the Great Nicobar Project, the port enhances surveillance and strategic control over the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca.
• The 900-km Strait of Malacca handles nearly 25% of global seaborne trade and around 80% of China’s crude oil imports.

Uttarakhand Declared “Fully Literate” State

Context (LM): Uttarakhand became India’s sixth fully literate state under the ULLAS initiative after achieving over 98% literacy.

• A state/UT is declared fully literate when 95% or more of people aged 15 years and above are literate.
• ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (2022–27) for adult education under the Ministry of Education.
• The programme supports NEP 2020 and promotes foundational literacy, life skills, vocational education, and continuous learning.
• Mizoram was the first fully literate state (2025), while Ladakh (2024) became the first Union Territory to achieve full functional literacy.

Study of Shared Epic Heritage

Context (CME): India and Kyrgyzstan established the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata” in Bishkek to strengthen cultural cooperation.

• The centre will promote comparative research on the Mahabharata and Manas Epic, highlighting shared literary, historical, and philosophical traditions.
• It was jointly established by the Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi, and the Manas National Academy, with partnerships involving seven Kyrgyz universities.
• The initiative also marked the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas, expanding literary and academic exchange.
• The collaboration strengthens India–Central Asia relations through soft power, cultural diplomacy, research partnerships, and people-to-people ties.