Gulf of Oman | ASPIRE Scheme | Trade Deficit | Jumping Genes | AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters | Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025

Gulf of Oman

International Relation

In News

• Iran seizes foreign oil tanker carrying 6 million litres of smuggled Diesel in the Gulf of Oman.

Gulf of Oman

• The Gulf of Oman is the north-western arm of the Arabian Sea.
• Connectivity – It forms a vital maritime corridor connecting the Indian Ocean with the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Through the Strait of Hormuz, it provides access to the Persian Gulf, making it vital for global oil and LNG trade.
• Source: TH

ASPIRE Scheme

Government Schemes

In News

• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing the ASPIRE scheme to promote entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities in rural areas.

ASPIRE scheme

• Launch: In 2015 by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Aim: To create an enabling ecosystem for job creation through skill development, incubation and support to micro-enterprises.

Key Components:

• Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs): Support agro-based ventures with grants up to ₹75 lakh (private) or ₹1 crore (government institutions) for training in food processing, handicrafts, and rural trades.​
• Technology Business Incubators (TBIs): Focus on tech-driven rural innovation with similar funding.
• Fund of Funds: Managed by SIDBI with ₹200 crore corpus to back startups in agro-rural sectors.

Trade Deficit

Economy

Context

• India’s trade deficit dropped by more than 61% in November 2025 to $6.6 billion, due to strong growth in merchandise exports and a fall in merchandise imports.

Trade Deficit

• Definition: A trade deficit occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports during a given period, leading to a negative Balance of Trade (BoT).
• Balance of Trade (BoT) = Total Exports − Total Imports

Types of Trade Deficit:

• Merchandise (Goods) Trade Deficit: Difference between exports and imports of physical goods.
• Services Trade Deficit / Surplus: Difference between services exports (IT, tourism, finance) and services imports. India typically runs a services surplus.
• Bilateral Trade Deficit: Trade deficit with a specific country (e.g., India–China trade deficit)
• Indicator of net external demand: Shows whether a country is a net importer or exporter in global trade.

Jumping Genes

Science & Technology

In News

• Polar bears in Southern Greenland show rapid genetic changes linked to jumping genes that may help them survive warming Arctic conditions.

Jumping Genes

• Jumping genes, scientifically called Transposable Elements (TEs), are DNA sequences that can move (transpose) from one location to another within the genome.
• They were discovered by Barbara McClintock in maize (corn), for which she received the Nobel Prize (1983).
• In humans, they constitute 45% of the genome.

AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters

Defence

Context

• The Indian Army received the final batch of three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters

• The Apaches were contracted in 2020 under a $600 million deal with the United States.
• The AH-64E Apache is regarded as the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
• It is equipped with cutting-edge avionics, sensors and weapon systems, and capable of operating in all weather and terrain conditions.

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025

Polity & Governance

Context

• The Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare introduced the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha.

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025

• It will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
• The move will mark a shift from a “demand-driven framework” to a “supply-driven scheme”.

Key Statutory Provisions

• Enhanced Livelihood Guarantee: It will enhance the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 from 100 days per rural household in every financial year, for adults who volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme: The scheme will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with shared responsibilities between the Centre and States.
• The fund sharing pattern will be 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States/UT and 60:40 for all other States.
• Normative Allocation to States based: States will ensure transparent and need-based intra-State distribution of funds across Districts and Gram Panchayats, taking into account the category of the Panchayats and local developmental needs.
• Wage rate specification: Wage rates for unskilled manual work will be specified by the Central Government; until separate rates are notified, existing MGNREGA wage rates will apply.
• Securing peak agricultural seasons: States will be empowered to notify in advance, a period aggregating to 60 days in a financial year covering peak sowing and harvesting during which works under the Bill will not be undertaken, facilitating sufficient farm labour at critical times.
• Unemployment allowance: If eligible applicants are not provided work within the stipulated period, State Governments will be obliged to pay unemployment allowance.
• State schemes within six months: Every State Government must notify its Scheme to operationalise the guarantee within six months of the Bill’s commencement.
• VGPP based planning: Planning will be undertaken through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, prepared by Gram Panchayats and integrated with national spatial planning systems.
• Institutional Oversight: The Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council and the State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Councils shall be constituted for review, monitoring and effective implementation of the provisions of the legislation in their respective areas.