News in Shorts

International Museum Day

International Museum Day is celebrated on 18^th May every year.

World’s First Personalized Gene Editing Therapy 

Scientists in the USA have successfully applied the world’s first personalized CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy to cure a baby suffering from a rare genetic disorder called CPS1 deficiency, which causes toxic ammonia buildup due to liver malfunction.
Gene editing therapy modifies an organism’s DNA to correct genetic defects or introduce new genetic material.
It is classified into somatic gene editing (targets non-reproductive cells like skin or liver, affecting only the treated individual) and germline gene editing (targets reproductive cells or early embryos, causing heritable changes passed to future generations).
The key gene-editing tools used include CRISPR-Cas9, Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), and TALENs, which precisely cut DNA at targeted locations to enable genetic corrections.

First Overseas Campus of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will establish its first overseas campus in Dubai, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of higher education and creation of global learning hubs.
NEP 2020 encourages Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to set up campuses abroad (e.g., IIT Madras in Tanzania) and foreign HEIs to open campuses in India (e.g., Deakin University in Gujarat’s GIFT City).
Internationalisation of HEIs benefits India by enhancing education quality and research through global collaboration, saving foreign exchange with Indian students studying abroad, improving employability via cross-cultural skills, and boosting India's soft power through cultural diplomacy.

India Restores 16^th Century Stepwell

The Archaeological Survey of India, in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund India, has restored the historic Rajon ki Baoli stepwell in Delhi.
Rajon ki Baoli is a four-tiered stepwell built during the Lodi period, located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, serving as a water storage structure for drinking and cooking.
This Indo-Islamic architectural monument was constructed in 1506 AD by Daulat Khan, an Amir in the court of Sikander Lodhi.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

India will inform the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) about new evidence on terror bases in Pakistan destroyed during Operation Sindoor.
This move follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, highlighting Pakistan’s terror infrastructure.
The update aims to support FATF’s evaluation of Pakistan’s compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures.