SWAMIH | National Chambal Sanctuary | International Solar Alliance | KC-135 Stratotanker | Global Pandemic Agreement

SWAMIH

Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives

Context

• The Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing Investment Fund (SWAMIH) has emerged as a key policy initiative for India’s Housing Sector.

Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing Investment Fund (SWAMIH)

• Launched in 2019,
• It provides last-mile financing to housing projects affected by financial constraints.
• The fund is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and is managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company.
• Impact and Outcomes: Over 58,596 homes completed so far under SWAMIH, with more than 1 lakh homes expected, benefiting over 2.38 lakh people.

National Chambal Sanctuary

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• Recently, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance to protect the National Chambal Sanctuary from rampant illegal sand mining that threatens the habitat of Gharial.

National Chambal Sanctuary

• Location- It is situated in a large arc of the Chambal River, covering nearly 1800 km across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• It is the first and only tri-state riverine protected area in India.
• It is a major habitat of the critically endangered Gharial.
• Species – Besides Gharials, the sanctuary hosts a rich biodiversity of Marsh Crocodile Muggers, several species of freshwater turtles, including the endangered Red Crowned Roof Turtle, Smoothcoated Otters, Gangetic River Dolphins, Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, Sarus Crane and Black-necked Storks.

Additional Information – Gharials

Characteristics:

• They show Sexual Dimorphism means males and females differ significantly in size and appearance.
• Unlike crocodiles, gharials feed exclusively on warm-blooded species and are not man-eaters.

Habitat Distribution:

• Gharials are strictly riverine species, requiring deep, clear, fast-flowing waters with steep, sandy riverbanks.
• Mainly found in Chambal River, Girwa River, Ken River, Yamuna River, Brahmaputra River, Ghaghara River, Bhagirathi-Hooghly River.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• It is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Conservation programmes

• Project Crocodile (1975): Initiative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and focused on captive breeding.

International Solar Alliance

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

News

• Recently, the Government highlighted the growing global momentum behind solar energy and ISA’s role in advancing the clean energy transition.

International Solar Alliance

• Started – The ISA, is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris.
• Solar powered countries – It is an initiative with 124 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
• Objective – To collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.
• Headquarter – National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus, Gurugram.
• Members: As of March 2026, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has expanded to include 125 member and signatory countries. Of these, approximately 107 countries have officially ratified the ISA Framework Agreement to become full members.

KC-135 Stratotanker

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• A KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during an ongoing military mission Operation Epic Fury (code name mission against Iran).

KC-135 Stratotanker

• The KC-135 Stratotanker was built by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s.
• It has been a backbone to the US military’s air refuelling fleet, and critical in allowing aircraft to carry out missions without having to land.
• They were used extensively in the first Gulf War to extend the range of fighter jets and bombers.
• It has a speed of 530 miles per hour at 30,000 feet (9,144 meters).

Global Pandemic Agreement

Syllabus: GS2/Health

News

• India is pushing for a fair benefit-sharing framework for developing countries in the upcoming pandemic agreement negotiations in Geneva.

Global Pandemic Agreement

• It was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2025.
• It seeks to establish a legally binding international framework to address global gaps and inequalities in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and respons
• Its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system is being negotiated to regulate how biological samples and genetic data are shared internationally.
• It is expected to be adopted by May 2026, will then be open for countries to sign and ratify, and will enter into force 30 days after 60 ratifications.