Prayas Neuro Rehabilitation Centre

Context:

The Ministry of Ayush launched “Prayas”, a first-of-its-kind Integrated Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre at AIIA Goa, marking a milestone in blending Ayurveda, Yoga, and modern therapies for paediatric neuro care.

About Prayas Neuro Rehabilitation Centre:

What is Prayas?

Integrated Centre: It is a novel, multi-disciplinary Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre established to offer holistic, patient-centric care.

Unique Combination: It is among the first centres in India to unify Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Yoga, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and modern Paediatrics under a single umbrella.

Host Institution: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa.

Launched By: The Ministry of Ayush.

Aim and Function:

Primarily focuses on providing comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation to children (paediatric care) with neurological and developmental conditions.

Aims to create evidence-based solutions by combining the best of traditional knowledge and modern rehabilitation sciences.

Functions:

Deliver integrative patient-centred care for paediatric neurological challenges.

Combine traditional wisdom (Ayurveda, Yoga) with modern rehabilitation sciences.

Serve as a research and training hub for Ayush-based innovations in neuro care.

Act as a model of holistic healthcare aligned with India’s National Health Policy.

Provide comprehensive family support through multidisciplinary therapies.

Two New Ramsar Sites in Bihar

Context:

India added two new Ramsar sites in Bihar—Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel— raising the national tally to 93 wetlands of international importance, consolidating India’s top position in Asia.

About Two New Ramsar Sites in Bihar:

Gokul Jalashay (Buxar, 448 ha):

An oxbow lake on the southern edge of the Ganga.

Acts as a flood buffer for nearby villages.

Home to 50+ bird species.

Supports fishing, farming, irrigation; villagers conduct community-led cleaning rituals annually.

Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran, 319 ha):

An oxbow lake surrounding a village.

280+ plant species, including Alysicarpus roxburghianus (endemic herb).

Important wintering ground for ~35 migratory birds, incl. vulnerable Common Pochard.

About Ramsar Sites:

What it is?

Wetland sites of international importance under the Ramsar Convention (1971), promoting conservation and sustainable use.

Origin: Signed in Ramsar, Iran (1971); came into force in 1975 under UNESCO.

Aim: Protect wetlands as critical ecosystems for biodiversity, water security, flood control, and livelihoods.

Key Features:

Provides framework for national action + international cooperation.

Identifies wetlands vital for rare ecosystems, migratory birds, endangered species, fisheries, and hydrological balance.

India and Ramsar Sites:

Current total (Sept 2025): 93 wetlands across 13.6 lakh hectares.

Growth: 26 (2012) 93 (2025), with 51 sites added since 2020.

Global Standing:

India: 3rd in the world (after UK – 176, Mexico – 144).

Asia: 1st in number of Ramsar sites.

Bihar: Now has 5 Ramsar sites (with the new additions).

Siphon-Powered Desalination

Context:

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers have developed a siphon-powered desalination system that converts seawater into clean drinking water faster and cheaper.

About Siphon-Powered Desalination:

What it is?

A thermal desalination system that uses the principle of siphonage to continuously draw, evaporate, and condense seawater into potable water.

Developed by: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru

How it works?

Composite siphon: Fabric wick + grooved metal surface draws seawater.

Gravity flow: Flushes away salt before crystallization.

Thin film evaporation: Water spreads on heated metal, evaporates.

Ultra-narrow air gap: Just 2 mm away, vapor condenses on cooler surface.

Multistage stacking: Recycles heat through multiple evaporator–condenser pairs for higher efficiency.

Key Features:

Efficiency: Produces >6 liters of potable water/m²/hour under sunlight (several times higher than solar stills).

Materials: Low-cost — aluminum and fabric.

Energy use: Runs on solar or waste heat; fully off-grid compatible.

Durability: Handles extremely salty water (up to 20% salt) without clogging.

Scalable & Sustainable: Suitable for villages, disaster zones, island nations, and coastal areas.

Significance:

Water Security: Helps address drinking water scarcity in water-stressed and off-grid regions.

Innovation Leap: Overcomes long-standing issues of salt buildup and scaling limits in solar desalination.

Sustainable Development: Low-cost, eco-friendly solution aligned with SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

World Food India (WFI) 2025

Context:

The 4th edition of World Food India (WFI) 2025 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India on 25th September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

About World Food India (WFI) 2025:

What it is?

A flagship international event hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

Serves as a global platform for food innovation, investment, technology, and sustainability in India’s food ecosystem.

Origin & History:

Conceptualised by MoFPI to showcase India as a food processing hub.

First edition in 2017, followed by 2nd in 2023, 3rd in 2024, and now the 4th in 2025.

Structured to strengthen India’s positioning as the “Food Basket of the World.”

Aim:

Promote foreign and domestic investment in India’s food processing sector.

Strengthen farm-to-fork linkages and value addition.

Encourage sustainable and future-ready food systems.

Showcase India’s diverse food culture to the global community.

Features of WFI 2025:

Parallel Events:

3rd Global Food Regulators Summit (FSSAI).

24th India International Seafood Show (SEAI).

Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (APEDA).

Core Pillars:

Sustainability & Net Zero Food Processing.

India as a Global Food Hub.

Frontiers in Processing & Packaging Technologies.

Food for Nutrition, Health & Wellness.

Livestock & Marine Products driving rural economy.

Significance:

Economic: Strengthens investments in R&D, cold chains, startups, logistics, and retail.

Global positioning: Positions India as a global food hub and innovation leader.

Strategic: Promotes sustainable food systems in line with SDGs.