PRELIMS
Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) 1.0
Why in News: DRDO launched the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) Version 1.0 in October 2025 to boost interoperability in defence communication across the three Services.
Developed by: DRDO, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), and Tri-Services; formally released at a national workshop in DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.
What is IRSA:
- A national software standard for Software Defined Radios (SDR).
- Defines standard interfaces, APIs, execution environments, and waveform portability mechanisms.
- Ensures interoperability, certification, and conformance among SDR systems.
Significance:
- Promotes self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in defence communication technology.
- Enables seamless communication across Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Reduces dependence on foreign SDR architectures.
Development Timeline:
- Concept initiated in 2021; development began in 2022; IRSA 1.0 approved in 2025 by a High-Level Advisory Committee.
- Involved DPSUs, private industry, and academia for ecosystem creation.
Future Vision:
- Designed as a living standard adaptable to emerging technologies.
- Aims to make India a global benchmark for SDR architecture and enable export of IRSA-compliant systems to friendly nations.
Workshop Outcome:
- Encouraged Tri-Service–Industry–Academia collaboration for pilot projects and capacity building in indigenous defence communication.
Foreign Currency Settlement System (FCSS)
Why in News: The Union Finance Minister launched the Foreign Currency Settlement System (FCSS) at GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in October 2025, enabling real-time settlement of foreign currency transactions within India.
Purpose:
- Allows Indian banks in GIFT City to settle foreign currency trades locally instead of routing through foreign correspondent banks.
- Reduces settlement time from 36–48 hours to a few seconds.
How It Works:
- Operates under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
- Uses a local settlement bank where member banks hold accounts for direct inter-bank settlements.
- Standard Chartered Bank acts as the partner bank for U.S. Dollar settlements.
- CCIL IFSC Ltd (subsidiary of Clearing Corporation of India) operates the system; Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS) provides the software.
Significance:
- Enhances liquidity, efficiency, and risk management in international finance.
- Places GIFT City among elite global financial hubs with local foreign-currency settlement infrastructure.
- Supports ‘Viksit Bharat’ and financial self-reliance goals.
About GIFT City:
- India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, spread over 886 acres.
- Regulated by IFSCA since 2020.
- Hosts ~1,000 entities, including India INX, NSE International Exchange, and units for aircraft and ship leasing.
- Aims to repatriate offshore financial activity and position India as a global finance hub.
Woodpeckers
Why in News: Researchers have recently studied how woodpeckers protect their skulls despite repeatedly pecking wood at high speed and force.
Family: Picidae – derived from the Latin word Picus, meaning woodpecker.
Habitat: Mostly found in forests and woodlands; a few inhabit treeless areas such as rocky hillsides and deserts.
Distribution:
- Over 200 species worldwide.
- Found everywhere except Australia, New Guinea, and the polar regions.
- Most abundant in South America and Southeast Asia.
- Examples of Species: Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sapsuckers, etc.
Key Characteristics:
1. Chisel-like bill for drilling into wood.
2. Zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two backward) for climbing.
3. Stiff tail feathers for support while pecking.
4. Can peck up to 20 times per second.
Long Tongue:
- Tongue length ≈ one-third of body length.
- Covered with barbs to catch insects.
- Wraps around the skull, providing shock absorption and protecting the brain.
Skull Adaptations:
- Soft bones at the front and back distribute impact forces.
- The combined mechanism cushions the skull during pecking.
Drumming Behavior:
- Used for communication and territory marking by tapping on wood surfaces.
- Nesting: Most species carve nesting cavities in dead wood, bamboos, cacti, or rotting trees.
Conservation Status:
- Varies by species; many are threatened by deforestation and logging.
Pasni Port, Pakistan
Why in News: Pakistan has reportedly offered the Pasni Port on the Arabian Sea to the United States as a terminal for shipping critical minerals, aiming to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
About Pasni Port:
- A small deep-water harbour located in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, equipped with a fish harbour, cargo jetty, and a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) base.
- Situated about 113 km from Gwadar Port, 161 km from the Pakistan–Iran border, and 300 km from Iran’s Chabahar Port (being developed by India).
Strategic Significance:
- Could be linked via railway to mineral-rich areas like Reko Diq, facilitating exports of critical minerals to the U.S.
- Enhances Pakistan’s geostrategic leverage in the region, located close to major trade and energy routes.
- Lies near the China-developed Gwadar Port, indicating potential geo-economic competition in the Arabian Sea region.
Geopolitical Context:
- The move comes amid intensifying U.S.–China rivalry in South Asia.
- Pasni’s offer may serve as Pakistan’s attempt to balance relations between the U.S. and China.
RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021
Why in News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought State Co-operative Banks and Central Co-operative Banks under the ambit of the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021, effective from November 2025.
About RB-IOS:
- A free, single-window grievance redressal system for customer complaints against RBI-regulated entities under the Alternate Grievance Redressal (AGR) Framework.
- Operates on the principle of “One Nation – One Ombudsman.”
Merged three previous schemes —
1. Banking Ombudsman Scheme,
2. NBFC Ombudsman Scheme, and
3. Digital Transactions Ombudsman Scheme — into a unified framework.
Objective:
- Simplify complaint filing and standardise redressal procedures.
- Ensure faster, fair, and transparent resolution of grievances against financial entities regulated by RBI.
Coverage:
- Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Scheduled & Non-Scheduled Urban Co-operative Banks,
- NBFCs (with assets ≥ ₹100 crore), and Credit Information Companies (CICs).
- From November 2025, it also covers State and Central Co-operative Banks.
AGR Framework:
- A comprehensive Alternate Grievance Redressal mechanism formulated by RBI to strengthen both internal and external dispute resolution systems in the financial sector.
