1. National Industrial Corridor Development Programme: Building Integrated Industrial Ecosystems

Industrial corridors are planned economic zones that connect production centres, metropolitan regions and logistics networks through high-capacity transport infrastructure. The model goes beyond isolated industrial estates by combining manufacturing, logistics, housing, utilities, commercial spaces and social infrastructure within integrated nodes.

Major corridors include the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor, East Coast Industrial Corridor and Bengaluru–Mumbai Industrial Corridor.

2. Next-Gen GST: Rate Rationalisation and India's Next Phase of Formalisation

Next-Gen GST represents a structural recalibration of the indirect tax framework, focusing on rate rationalisation, lower compliance friction, correction of inverted duties and improved working-capital conditions.

The reform discussion also highlights higher formalisation, improved GST collections, increased registrations and stronger return-filing discipline.

3. Animal Diplomacy: Wildlife as an Instrument of Soft Power

Animal diplomacy refers to the use of animals as gifts, loans or symbolic national representatives to build goodwill, strengthen diplomatic ties and project cultural soft power.

Modern practice has increasingly shifted from permanent gifting toward conservation-linked loans and scientific cooperation, especially for endangered species.

4. Inter-Parliamentary Union: Parliamentary Diplomacy Beyond Governments

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global organisation of national parliaments that promotes parliamentary diplomacy, democratic cooperation and legislative institution-building.

• Established in 1889
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Promotes democratic governance and parliamentary cooperation
• Works on human rights, gender representation, youth participation and international peace

5. Five Centres of Excellence for Newly Recognised Classical Languages

Five Centres of Excellence have been approved for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit, with emphasis on research, preservation, documentation and digitisation.

Important dimensions include manuscript preservation, digital archiving, epigraphy, archaeology, numismatics and indigenous knowledge systems.

6. India's First Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution Link

India demonstrated its first free-space Quantum Key Distribution link over a distance of 5.56 km. The system was demonstrated through collaboration involving QNu Labs, BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar.

Unlike fibre-based systems, free-space QKD transmits quantum keys through open-air optical channels. It uses the properties of quantum mechanics to detect interception attempts.

7. Ramappa Temple: Heritage Conservation Meets Development Pressure

Ramappa Temple, also known as the Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple, is a 13th-century Shiva temple in Telangana and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Located at Palampet in Mulugu district, Telangana
• Built during the Kakatiya period
• Known for sandbox foundation technology
• Uses lightweight porous bricks in the superstructure
• Famous for intricate sculptures and Kakatiya architectural excellence

The present concern relates to possible impacts of nearby opencast mining on groundwater, vibrations, masonry stability and the surrounding heritage landscape.

8. 3D-Printed Rural Houses under PMAY-G

Andhra Pradesh is set to pilot a national-level project using 3D Concrete Printing for rural housing under PMAY-G.

3D Concrete Printing uses automated additive manufacturing, where specially designed cementitious material is deposited layer by layer through robotic equipment based on a digital building model.

• Faster construction
• Reduced formwork
• Lower material waste
• Design flexibility
• Potential for standardised, scalable housing

9. Desert National Park and Great Indian Bustard Conservation

Desert National Park in western Rajasthan is one of India's largest national parks and a major conservation landscape for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.

• Located across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts
• Part of the Thar Desert ecosystem
• Important habitat for the Great Indian Bustard
• Contains desert grasslands, dunes, rocky areas and arid thorn vegetation