SNIPPETS : 26 DECEMBER 2025

ECONOMY

• India’s exports projected at ~$850 billion in FY 2025–26 + still below $1 trillion target + despite active FTA engagements (~18 FTAs) + services may cross $400 bn while merchandise remains flat + trade pressures from weak global demand + rising protectionism + US tariffs + EU CBAM 2026 + limited gains from FTAs without competitiveness, technology, diversification + need stronger push for manufacturing productivity + supply-chain resilience + infrastructure & logistics efficiency

ENVIRONMENT

• Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris launches AI-enabled Command & Control Centre in Gudalur Division + hotspot for human–elephant conflict + uses 46 AI cameras (infrared + thermal) based on 10 years movement data + gives real-time alerts, speaker warnings, SMS notifications + linked to railway safety network + earlier pilot led to zero elephant deaths & 6,000 safe crossings + aims to reduce casualties, protect crops & property, strengthen coexistence + needs scaling, maintenance funding, community participation, national corridor policy

SCIENCE AND TECH

• ISRO successfully conducts on-ground & in-air parachute tests for Gaganyaan + mission aims to send Indian astronauts to LEO by 2027 and build indigenous human spaceflight capability + recent tests focused on drogue parachutes under extreme 600 km/h conditions at TBRL Chandigarh + ensured controlled reefed opening, stability, safety, and soft sea splashdown + part of 10-parachute recovery system + places India with USA–Russia–China league + strengthens reliability, astronaut protection, & strategic space capability
• ISRO’s LVM3-M6 successfully launches BlueBird Block-2 (~6,100 kg) from Sriharikota + heaviest commercial satellite launched from India + placed in 518 km LEO in 15 minutes + enables direct 4G/5G connectivity, voice–text–internet streaming, internet everywhere vision + mission executed by NSIL with AST SpaceMobile (USA) + boosts India’s commercial launch market standing + shows mega payload capability, strengthens LEO communication infrastructure + reinforces Aatmanirbhar Bharat, heavy-lift leadership, supports Gaganyaan readiness
• PNAS study shows high-altitude mosquitoes (West Africa) can carry infectious pathogens + evidence from helium-balloon sampling (120–290 m) + DNA & PCR testing found Plasmodium (8%) + flaviviruses (3.5%) + filarial worms (1.6%) + proves wind-assisted migration across tens–hundreds of km + risk of long-range disease spread without human movement + Dengue, West Nile detected + reveals sylvatic transmission threat + demands monitoring aerial corridors + wind-based forecasting + stronger downwind surveillance & rapid public-health response