• Participation: 108 representatives from 44 central ministries/departments, state governments, and law enforcement agencies participated in the meeting in hybrid mode.
• Vision Document (2026-2029) Released: The Home Minister released a 'Vision Document' for drug control covering the next three years. It outlines a three-pronged strategy focusing on demand reduction, supply reduction, and rehabilitation.
• Tackling Emerging Challenges: The vision document outlines modern strategies to combat synthetic drugs and darknet-based trafficking.
• Release of NCB Annual Report-2025: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Annual Report for 2025 was released during the meeting.
• Inauguration of New Regional Offices: Newly constructed NCB regional offices in Jammu and Guwahati were digitally inaugurated.

Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD):

• Formation: By the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2016.
• Restructuring (2019): Reorganized into a four-tier system under the leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah to enhance its effectiveness.
• Apex-Level Committee: Chaired by the Union Home Secretary/Home Minister.
• Executive-Level Committee: Chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs.
• State-Level Committee: Chaired by the Chief Secretaries of the states.
• District-Level Committee: Chaired by the District Magistrates.

• Announcement of Clean Plant Center establishment:
• Location: ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow
• Objective: To boost the horticulture sector in the state

Other key points from the meeting:

• The Agriculture Minister approved extending the government procurement period for gram (chickpea), lentil, and mustard.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin): The list of 6,18,482 eligible beneficiaries for the next phase was handed over to the state government.
• VB-GRAM Scheme: Emphasis was placed on the effective implementation of the 'Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)' (Viksit Bharat G-RAM-G) scheme, set to launch on July 1.
• Climate Resilience: The meeting discussed the potential impact of El Niño on the state's agriculture; a consensus was reached to formulate a special action plan focusing on water conservation and contingency crop management.

Uttar Pradesh:

• Foundation Day: January 24, 1950
• Lok Sabha seats: 80; Rajya Sabha seats: 31
• State Sport: Hockey
• State Animal: Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
• Easternmost district: Ballia
• Westernmost district: Shamli
• Northernmost district: Saharanpur
• Southernmost district: Sonbhadra
• Largest district (by area): Lakhimpur Kheri
• Smallest district (by area): Hapur
• Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor:
• Establishment: 2018 (during the Uttar Pradesh Investors' Summit)
• Six key nodes of the industrial and defence corridor: Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, and Lucknow.

• Portal Name: Air Suvidha 2.0
• Launched by: Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) jointly
• Collaborating Agency: Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Objective: To conduct contactless health screening and monitoring of international travelers arriving from Ebola-affected countries (such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda)
• Key Rule: Travelers are mandatorily required to fill out an online 'Health Self-Declaration Form' (SDF) 24 hours prior to arrival in India, detailing their travel history for the preceding 21 days.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD):

• What is it?: A severe, fatal disease affecting humans and non-human primates (such as monkeys and gorillas).
• Transmission: The virus spreads to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals (such as fruit bats). It also spreads between humans through the blood, saliva, or other secretions of an infected person.
• Naming: The outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River in the Congo; the virus was named 'Ebola' after this river.

• Chief Guest: PM Modi will attend the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) celebrations of Seychelles' National Day as the Chief Guest, upon the special invitation of Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie.
• Military Participation: Showcasing the strong defense ties between India and Seychelles, a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces and two Indian Navy warships will participate in the National Day parade.
• Parliamentary Address: PM Modi will address the National Assembly of Seychelles and interact with the Indian diaspora residing there.

Seychelles:

• It is a stunning island nation comprising 115 islands located in the Indian Ocean.
• It falls under the African continent and is the smallest country in Africa in terms of both area and population.
• Capital: Victoria (located on Mahé Island; it is one of the smallest capitals in the world).
• Currency: Seychellois Rupee (SCR).
• Official Languages: Seychellois Creole (a French-based creole language), English, and French.
• Location: It is situated in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and approximately 1,500 kilometers east of the African mainland (Kenya).
• Coco de Mer: This unique coconut is found only on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in Seychelles; it produces the world's largest and heaviest seed (weighing approximately 15 to 30 kilograms).
• Giant Tortoises: Seychelles' 'Aldabra Atoll' is home to the world's largest tortoises.

• Pax Silica Initiative: A major US-led global coalition and strategic initiative.
• Main Objective: To build a secure, reliable, and resilient global supply chain for Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and critical minerals.
• Meaning and Name: The name "Pax Silica" signifies a rule-based technological order ('Pax') centered on silicon-based computing ('Silica').
• Organizer: This strategic initiative is led and organized by the US Department of State.
• India's Participation: India joined this initiative during the 'AI Impact Summit' held in New Delhi in February 2026.
• First Summit Held: 2025.
• Total Countries: Currently, 35 countries worldwide, including India, have become part of this coalition.
• Chair of the Second Summit: Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.
• Joint Declaration on AI Opportunities: At the second summit, 35 countries—including India, Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Kazakhstan, Panama, and the European Union—signed the 'Joint Declaration on AI Opportunities'.
• India's Representation: S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation at the summit.

• Tenure: His tenure will be for two years, effective from July 1, 2026.
• Profile: He is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre (currently Telangana) and is also a medical doctor (MD) by profession.
• Successor: He will succeed the current IB Director, Tapan Kumar Deka.
• Previous Experience: Mahesh Dixit possesses extensive experience in internal security. He played a pivotal role in maintaining security and stability in Jammu & Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 while serving as the head of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) there. Additionally, he has worked on issues related to Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and insurgency in the North-East.

Intelligence Bureau (IB):

• Establishment: 1887; one of the oldest intelligence agencies in the world (it was established during the British era on December 23, 1887, as the 'Central Special Branch,' and was later renamed the Intelligence Bureau).
• Administrative Control: It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Scope of Work: Until 1968, the IB gathered both internal and external (international) intelligence. However, following the formation of R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) in 1968, the IB was specifically entrusted with the responsibility of internal intelligence and national security. Constitutional Status: The IB is a non-statutory body.
• Tenure and Service Extension Rules (FR 56): Following the Supreme Court's guidelines in the *Prakash Singh* case (2006), a minimum fixed tenure of two years has been made mandatory for the heads of the IB and CBI, regardless of whether they reach the age of retirement during this period. The government may also extend this service in the national interest under 'Fundamental Rule 56(d)'.
• Selection Process: The IB Director is appointed by the 'Appointments Committee of the Cabinet' (ACC), which is headed by the Prime Minister and includes the Union Home Minister as a member. Selection is based on seniority, track record, and operational experience in the field of internal security.

• Name of the Operation: 'Operation Hawk Eye' / 'Project Hawk Eye'
• Initiated by: Jammu & Kashmir Police (specifically, Anantnag District Police)
• Objective: To make the Amarnath Yatra 2026 completely safe, fear-free, and impregnable.
• Nature: It is a technology-driven security operation that integrates modern AI and surveillance techniques alongside traditional security measures.
• Facial Recognition System (FRS): AI-based facial recognition cameras have been installed at key routes and checkpoints; these issue alerts immediately upon detecting suspicious individuals.
• Drone Grid: Five advanced drone units have been deployed for aerial surveillance of the entire Yatra route.
• CCTV Network: 416 high-resolution cameras have been installed along sensitive stretches of the Yatra route.
• Sniper Teams: 22 specialized sniper teams have been deployed to tackle emergency situations and terrorist threats.
• High-Ground Posts: 28 observation posts have been established at elevated locations.
• Geographical Location: The Amarnath Cave is situated in Jammu & Kashmir at an altitude of approximately 3,888 meters (12,756 feet).
• Main Routes: The pilgrimage is undertaken via two routes: Pahalgam (the traditional route) and Baltal (a shorter but narrower route).

• Name of the rating agency: S&P Global Ratings
• Financial Year: FY27 (the year 2026-27, i.e., the year ending in March 2027).
• Revised GDP growth rate projection: 6.6% (the previous estimate was higher but has now been reduced to 6.6%).
• Parity: This 6.6% projection by S&P Global matches the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) projection of 6.6% exactly.
• Comparison: India's GDP growth rate was 7.7% in the previous financial year (FY26).

S&P Global Ratings:

• What is it?: It is one of the world's 'Big Three' credit rating agencies (the other two being Moody's and Fitch Ratings).
• Headquarters: New York, United States (USA)
• Established: 1860 (by Henry Varnum Poor)

• Nodal Agency: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• Declaration: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to observe this day on June 26 each year by passing a resolution in December 1987.
• Why June 26?: This date was chosen to commemorate the destruction of the opium trade in Guangdong by Chinese official Lin Zexu, just prior to the First Opium War.

NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau - India):

• Establishment: 1986
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Prevention of drug trafficking and law enforcement in India.

UNODC :

• Establishment: 1997
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• Control of drugs and international crime at a global level.

• Book Title: "Sanskriti Ratna Bhandar: Bhawaiyar Itibritto" (English translation: Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey)
• Authors: Lok Sabha MP Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Sangeeta Roy
• Released by: Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan (Venue: Vice President's Residence, New Delhi)
• Main Theme: The book primarily focuses on the 'Bhawaiya' folk music tradition, the cultural heritage of the 'Koch Rajbongshi' community, and its historical evolution.

Bhawaiya:

• Bhawaiya is a traditional folk music style from North Bengal, Assam, and surrounding regions.
• This musical tradition is deeply embedded in the social, cultural, and agricultural landscape of the region and serves as a significant expression of its collective heritage.

• Scientific Classification: This moth belongs to the subfamily Arctiinae within the family Erebidae.
• Meaning of the Name: The new genus name, *Antaram*, is a Sanskrit word. It means 'difference' or 'distinction'.
• Unique Characteristics: Its wings feature distinct wavy stripes. The structure of its wings and genitalia distinguishes it from other species.
• Ecological Significance: Tiger moths aid in the pollination of night-blooming plants. They also serve as indicators of environmental changes.
• Research Publication: Full details of this discovery have been published in the prestigious Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. The research team comprised scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Natural History Museum, London.