PIB Snippets
4 Topics
UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — September 25, 2026
From Sowa Rigpa’s push for standardisation to indigenous OptoSAR satellite tech and India-France naval drills — today’s four PIB releases with the highest prelims/mains value.
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Sowa Rigpa: The Traditional Himalayan Medicine System
News Context
- Ministry of Ayush called for greater focus on education, research, healthcare, documentation and standardisation of Sowa Rigpa to strengthen national/global recognition.
- Call made at a National Workshop on Sowa Rigpa organised by the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh, during National Ayurveda Day celebrations.
Key Facts for Prelims (GS-I Art & Culture / GS-II Health)
- Sowa Rigpa = “science of healing,” a traditional medicine system practised widely in Himalayan/Trans-Himalayan regions (Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh).
- Often called Tibetan medicine; draws on ancient Indian, Tibetan, Chinese medical traditions.
- Officially recognised by the Government of India under the Ministry of Ayush, alongside Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy (collectively AYUSH).
- National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh — apex institution for education, research, promotion.
- Central Council of Tibetan Medicine (CCTM), headquartered in Dharamsala — regulation/development of Sowa Rigpa practitioners.
Source: PIB
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Exercise VARUNA: India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise
News Context
- INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 September 2026 to participate in the 24th edition of Exercise VARUNA, the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and French Navy.
Key Facts for Prelims
- 2026 edition = 24th edition, reflecting a long-standing continuous naval partnership.
- Includes professional engagements in harbour and at sea: cross-deck visits, operational interactions, sporting engagements.
- Objectives: enhance interoperability, share best practices, foster mutual understanding.
- Conducted at Toulon, France; INS Trishul represented the Indian Navy.
- Significance: underscores a strong maritime partnership and expanding strategic ties between India and France.
Source: PIB
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TDB-GalaxEye Agreement: OptoSAR Satellite Technology
News Context
- Technology Development Board (TDB) under DST provided ₹63.84 crore to GalaxEye Space Solutions under the RDI Fund to develop indigenous OptoSAR technology — a next-gen multisensor satellite system for high-resolution Earth observation.
Key Facts for Prelims
- TDB functions under the Department of Science & Technology (DST); mandate: accelerate private-sector R&D in strategic/emerging technologies.
- Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund is the mechanism; support given via Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCD).
- Advances tech from TRL-6 to TRL-9 (advanced development → deployment-ready).
- OptoSAR combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) + Electro-Optical (EO) imaging in a single system.
- Optical/EO gives highly detailed visuals but is limited by cloud cover/poor lighting; SAR operates irrespective of daylight and images through cloud cover — weather-independent.
Project Cost
Total approved cost of ₹247.69 crore for the multisensor satellite system.
Resolution
Finer than 0.5 metres — high-resolution Earth observation capability.
TRL Advancement
Moves the technology from TRL-6 (advanced development) to TRL-9 (deployment-ready).
Applications
Wide-area/long-range surveillance, human/vehicle detection, target classification.
Significance: an indigenous capability push in strategic/emerging space tech, strengthening all-weather Earth observation for defence, disaster management, and surveillance.
Source: PIB
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India-Netherlands Water Cooperation: Kalpasar Project MoUs
News Context
- At the 9th India International Water Week 2026, New Delhi, India and the Netherlands signed two MoUs to strengthen technical cooperation and capacity building for the Kalpasar Project, Gujarat.
- Involves the Central Water Commission, Gujarat’s Kalpasar Department, Deltares, and TU Delft.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Kalpasar Project (Gujarat): creation of a freshwater reservoir using runoff from the Sabarmati, Mahi, Dhadhar rivers, supplemented by Narmada water.
- Dutch reference point: draws lessons from the Afsluitdijk, a major Dutch water-management/coastal infrastructure project.
- The two Tripartite MoUs cover sharing Dutch expertise/engineering practices for planning, design, implementation.
Key Areas
Flood protection, coastal infrastructure, hydraulic modelling, sluice & pumping systems, dyke technology.
Deltares Cooperation
Technical review, hydraulic/hydrological modelling, coastal/structural engineering, climate resilience, capacity building, knowledge transfer, digital applications — with special emphasis on ecology and fish migration.
Significance: strengthens the India-Netherlands strategic partnership in the water sector; Kalpasar, once complete, is a major freshwater source for Gujarat, showcasing the value of international technical collaboration.
Source: PIB
