In News:

Recently, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the launch of a FASTag-based Annual Pass, offering a simplified and cost-effective tolling solution for private vehicle users on National Highways. The initiative is set to be rolled out from August 15, 2025, and aims to improve traffic flow, reduce toll disputes, and enhance ease of travel.

What is the FASTag Annual Pass?

• Cost: ?3,000
• Validity: 1 year from activation or 200 highway trips (whichever comes earlier)
• Eligibility: Only for non-commercial private vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans)
• Coverage: Valid across all National Highways in India

Key Objectives

• Hassle-free highway travel by eliminating repeated toll payments
• Reduce congestion and waiting time at toll plazas
• Simplify toll management with a one-time, prepaid model
• Address concerns regarding toll plazas located in close proximity (within 60 km)

How It Works

• Integrated with the existing FASTag system (uses RFID technology)
• Annual pass will be linked to the user's FASTag account
• Activation and renewal through:
  • Rajmarg Yatra App
  • NHAI website
  • Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) website

Part of a Broader Reform in Tolling

The Annual Pass complements ongoing toll reforms:

• Introduction of ANPR-FASTag hybrid tolling system:
  • Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras
  • RFID-based FASTag readers
• Enables barrier-less tolling, where vehicles are charged without stopping
• Non-compliance may result in:
  • e-notices
  • Penalties, including FASTag suspension or VAHAN database sanctions

In News:

On World Crocodile Day (June 17, 2025), Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh marked the 50th anniversary of India’s pioneering Gharial Conservation Programme, commemorating five decades of sustained efforts to protect the endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) along the Chambal River.

About the Gharial Conservation Programme

• Launched in: 1975
• Initiated by: Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh and Society for Conservation of Nature (SCON)
• Supported by: UNDP, FAO, and Government of India
• Location: Primarily focused on Chambal River in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh
• Breeding Facility: Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre, Lucknow

Why Gharial Conservation Matters

• Species: Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) — endemic, freshwater crocodilian
• Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
• Habitat: Prefers deep, fast-flowing rivers with sandy banks and minimal human interference
• Threats: Habitat destruction, sand mining, illegal fishing, entanglement in nets, and declining fish stocks

Programme Objectives

• Protect wild gharial populations in natural river habitats.
• Enhance population through captive breeding and release.
• Study habitat biology and gharial behaviour to inform scientific conservation.
• Promote coexistence between gharials and local fishing communities.
• Create awareness and engage local populations in conservation.

Key Features of the Programme

• Egg Collection: Gharial eggs are safely collected from natural nests on riverbanks.
• Artificial Incubation: Maintained under controlled temperature and humidity to improve hatching success.
• Captive Rearing: Hatchlings are reared for 3–5 years at Kukrail Centre until they are strong enough for survival in the wild.
• Release Strategy: Tagged juveniles are released in protected stretches of the Chambal River.
• Community Involvement: Local fishermen and villagers are involved in conservation-linked livelihoods to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Impact and Legacy (1975–2025)

• One of India’s earliest species-specific conservation programmes.
• Created a successful model of “rear-and-release” conservation.
• Helped stabilize the gharial population in Chambal, now one of the last strongholds for the species.
• Promoted community-based conservation and scientific habitat management.

In News:

• In June 2025, 20 Indian school students were officially flagged off by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), to participate in the prestigious Sakura Science High School Programme 2025 in Japan.
• The initiative reflects India's growing focus on international educational exposure, scientific collaboration, and experiential learning, in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

About the Sakura Science Programme

• Launched by: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in 2014.
• Objective: To promote science, technology, and innovation through Asia-wide youth exchanges.
• India’s Participation: Since 2016; over 619 students and 91 supervisors have participated till 2025.
• Participants (2025 batch):
  • 20 students (7 boys, 13 girls) from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
  • Accompanied by 2 supervisors.
  • Programme duration: 15–21 June 2025.
  • Participating countries (2025): India, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ukraine.

Key Features of the Programme

• Hands-on Learning: Visits to advanced scientific labs, tech demonstration centres, and universities in Japan.
• Cultural Exposure: Insight into Japanese traditions, societal values, and innovation ecosystem.
• International Peer Exchange: Interaction with students from other Asian nations to foster global scientific thinking.

Relevance to NEP 2020

The NEP 2020 advocates experiential, holistic, and integrated learning. It highlights:

• The need for educational excursions to places of scientific, cultural, and technological relevance.
• Promoting international collaborations that broaden the intellectual horizons of learners.
• Encouraging innovation through interdisciplinary exposure and real-world learning.

The Sakura Programme complements NEP 2020’s goals by offering Indian students a unique platform to explore global advancements in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

Strategic Importance

• Science Diplomacy: Strengthens Indo-Japanese relations in education and technology.
• Youth Empowerment: Builds future-ready, globally aware scientific talent.
• Inclusivity: Focuses on students from remote and underserved regions, aligning with India’s equity-focused educational reforms.

In News:

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released the “Global Drought Outlook 2025”, presenting a stark warning about the increasing frequency, severity, and impact of droughts worldwide.
• The report, titled “Global Drought Outlook: Trends, Impacts and Policies to Adapt to a Drier World”, offers a comprehensive assessment of drought patterns, consequences, and adaptation strategies, making it crucial for policymakers and global environmental governance.

Understanding Drought:

Drought is defined as a hydrological imbalance, characterised by prolonged periods of “drier-than-normal” conditions that deplete soil moisture, surface water, and groundwater. The report identifies three main types:

• Meteorological Drought: Caused by significantly below-average rainfall over an extended period.
• Agricultural Drought: Occurs when soil moisture becomes insufficient for crops and vegetation.
• Hydrological Drought: Involves declining water levels in rivers, lakes, and aquifers, affecting supply for human and ecological needs.

Global Trends and Projections

• Drought-Affected Land: The share of global land experiencing drought has doubled since 1900, driven by climate change and unsustainable land use.
• Current Impact (2023): Nearly 48% of the world’s land experienced at least one month of extreme drought.
• Regional Hotspots: Western USA, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia are increasingly vulnerable.
• Groundwater Stress: Around 62% of monitored aquifers show declining trends.
• Future Risk: At +4°C global warming, droughts could become 7 times more frequent and severe by 2100, posing systemic global threats to food, water, and economic security.

Multidimensional Impacts of Drought

Ecological:

• 37% of global soils have dried significantly since 1980.
• River and groundwater depletion are threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Economic:

• Drought-related losses are increasing by 3–7.5% annually.
• Modern droughts are twice as costly as in 2000; costs may rise 35% by 2035.
• Agriculture is most affected: crop yields drop up to 22% in drought years.
• Drought causes a 40% drop in river-based trade and a 25% decline in hydropower output.

Social:

• Droughts account for 34% of disaster-related deaths, though only 6% of disasters are droughts.
• It is a major driver of food insecurity, internal displacement, and climate migration, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Political instability and conflict often correlate with drought-induced resource scarcity.

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

The OECD emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach to manage drought risks:

• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM):
  • Balancing water use and renewal.
  • Promoting efficient and equitable water allocation.
• Nature-based Solutions (NbS):
  • Urban de-sealing to enhance groundwater recharge.
  • Landscape restoration to improve water retention and ecosystem resilience.
• Sustainable Agriculture:
  • Adoption of drought-resistant crops and micro-irrigation systems.
  • Can reduce water use by up to 76%.
• Urban Planning: Permeable infrastructure restores aquifers (e.g., US examples show 780 million m³/year recovery).
• Early Warning Systems: Enhanced drought monitoring, forecasting, and risk mapping.
• Policy Integration: Embedding climate resilience into national water and land-use policies.
• Cross-Sector Coordination: Engaging sectors like agriculture, energy, transport, construction, and health.
• Economic Benefits: Every $1 invested in drought resilience yields $2–$10 in benefits.

In News:

The Ministry of Education released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for the years 2022–23 and 2023–24, offering a comprehensive assessment of school education across States and Union Territories (UTs). This index, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4), serves as a critical evidence-based framework for benchmarking educational performance in India.

About PGI 2.0

• Launched: 2017 (PGI 2.0 is the revised version)
• Published by: Ministry of Education, Government of India
• Purpose: Measures performance in school education using a data-driven approach
• Total Indicators: 73 across 6 domains
• Scoring: Out of 1000 points; graded into 10 performance bands:
  • Daksh (951–1000) – Top
  • Akanshi-3 (401–460) – Lowest

Domains Assessed

1. Learning Outcomes and Quality
2. Access to Education
3. Infrastructure and Facilities
4. Equity
5. Governance Processes
6. Teacher Education and Training

Key Highlights of PGI 2.0 (2022–24)

• Top Performer: Chandigarh with a score of 703, placed in the fifth band – Prachesta-1.
• Lowest Performer: Meghalaya, with 417 points, in the tenth and lowest band – Akanshi-3.
• No State/UT reached the top four bands (Daksh, Utkarsh, Ati Uttam, Uttam), indicating a national gap in quality education.

State-Wise Band Distribution

• Band 5 (Prachesta-1: 701–760): Chandigarh
• Band 7 (581–640): Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Odisha, Kerala, Haryana, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu
• Band 8 (521–580): 14 States/UTs
• Band 9 (461–520): 10 States/UTs
• Band 10 (Akanshi-3: 401–460): Meghalaya (only State in this band)

Performance by Domains

• Learning Outcomes: No State achieved the top four bands. Chandigarh, Punjab, and Puducherry performed relatively better (Prachesta-2).
• Access to Education: Odisha alone achieved the highest band (Daksh), while Bihar and Jharkhand showed notable progress.
• Infrastructure: Only Chandigarh featured in the third band (Ati Uttam), with Delhi and Dadra & Nagar Haveli in the next.
• Equity: All States placed in the top three bands, indicating relatively balanced access among social groups.
• Governance & Monitoring: Chandigarh excelled through digital governance and transparent fund utilization.

Significance for Policy and NEP 2020

• PGI 2.0 is pivotal in monitoring NEP 2020 implementation, especially for early-grade learning, infrastructure enhancement, equity, and governance.
• It identifies strengths and challenges, enabling targeted policy interventions.
• Despite infrastructure and access gains, quality of learning remains the most critical challenge.