In News:

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Mission MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment) in Leh, Ladakh. This pioneering study, conducted in collaboration with the IAF-Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), marks a critical step in India’s Gaganyaan program by testing the behavioral and physiological limits of astronauts in a terrestrial space-analog environment.

The Terrestrial Analog: Why Ladakh?

Space exploration is as much a psychological challenge as it is a technological one. To prepare for the vacuum of space, scientists utilize terrestrial analogues—locations on Earth that mimic space-like stressors.

• Environmental Parity: Situated at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, Leh offers conditions of hypoxia (low oxygen), extreme cold, and geographical isolation.
• Operational Stress: These rugged conditions serve as a natural proxy for the high-stress, low-resource environment of a spacecraft, allowing researchers to study human endurance without leaving Earth's atmosphere.

Core Objectives and Design

Mission MITRA is a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary study focused on the "Human Factor" of spaceflight. It involves India's four designated Gaganyatris (astronauts) and a supporting team of scientists, engineers, medical doctors, and psychologists.

• Behavioral Dynamics: The mission maps interoperable traits—the ability of crew members to coordinate, resolve conflicts, and support one another under pressure.
• Team Interoperability: A key focus is the synergy between the Crew and Ground Control Teams, assessing how information is exchanged and how decision-making holds up under operational stress.
• Physiological Monitoring: Scientists track how the body adapts to freezing temperatures and thin air, providing data that will refine medical protocols for actual spaceflight.

Strategic Significance for India’s Space Ambitions

As India prepares for its first human spaceflight and eyes future long-duration missions to a space station or the Moon, the data from Mission MITRA is invaluable.

• Crew Safety: Understanding psychological resilience helps in designing better support systems to prevent "burnout" or cognitive decline during isolation.
• Training Refinement: Insights from this study will help the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) tailor training modules that move beyond physical fitness to include specialized interpersonal and leadership training.
• National Capability: Collaborative efforts with Indian startups like Protoplanet Pvt. Ltd. for facility management signify the growing participation of the private sector in India’s strategic space missions.

In News:

The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) until December 2028, marking a transition from merely building water infrastructure to ensuring sustained and reliable service delivery in rural areas. The decision aims to consolidate earlier achievements and strengthen long-term drinking water supply systems across villages in India.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship programme of the Government of India that seeks to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC).

• Launch Date: 15 August 2019
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Core Objective: Achieve “Har Ghar Jal” by ensuring 55 litres of potable water per person per day to every rural household through tap connections.

The mission addresses long-standing challenges related to water scarcity, unsafe drinking water, and the burden of water collection, particularly faced by women and children in rural India.

Shift in Focus: Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0

With the extension until 2028, the mission is entering a new phase often described as JJM 2.0, where the emphasis moves beyond infrastructure creation to sustainable water service delivery.

Key aspects include:

• Utility-Based Service Delivery: The programme will focus on continuous and reliable water supply systems, supported by structural reforms and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with State governments to improve management and accountability.
• Digital Monitoring – Sujalam Bharat Framework: Under the Sujalam Bharat Digital Framework, each village will receive a unique “Sujal Gaon ID”. This system digitally maps the entire water supply chain—from source to household tap— enabling improved monitoring, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Water Quality Monitoring: The mission prioritises regular water quality testing through:
  • Field Test Kits at the village level
  • Accredited water testing laboratories

This helps detect contaminants and ensures that drinking water meets safety standards.

• Greywater Management: To ensure sustainability, the programme incorporates greywater management, involving:
  • Construction of soak pits
  • Use of wastewater in kitchen gardens and local irrigation

This reduces water wastage and promotes sustainable water use.

Convergence with Other Schemes

The mission promotes integration with several government initiatives, including:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
• Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
• Grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission

Such convergence helps strengthen water conservation, recharge structures, and source sustainability.

In News:

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently lost communication with the Coronagraph spacecraft, one of the two satellites of the Proba?3 Mission, following an anomaly that triggered a power failure and pushed the spacecraft into a protective “survival mode.” The incident occurred after the spacecraft experienced an unexpected drop in solar power, temporarily halting operations and causing the loss of telemetry signals. Engineers are attempting to re-establish contact and recover the satellite.

About the Proba-3 Mission

• Proba-3 is an advanced solar-observation mission launched in December 2024 by ESA aboard PSLV?C59 developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
• It is considered the world’s first precision formation-flying mission, designed to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, with unprecedented clarity.

Objective

The primary objective of the mission is to create an artificial solar eclipse in space. By blocking the Sun’s bright disk, scientists can directly observe the faint corona for extended durations—something that is otherwise possible only for a few minutes during natural total solar eclipses.

Key Features of the Mission

1. Twin-Spacecraft Configuration: The mission consists of two independent satellites working in coordination:

• Occulter spacecraft – carries a disk that blocks sunlight.
• Coronagraph spacecraft – carries the telescope and camera to observe the corona.

2. Precision Formation Flying: The two satellites maintain a distance of about 150 metres with millimetre-level accuracy, effectively functioning as a single large virtual instrument in space.

3. Artificial Eclipse Mechanism: The Occulter blocks the Sun’s bright disk and casts a precise shadow onto the Coronagraph’s optical instrument, replicating the conditions of a total solar eclipse in space.

4. Autonomous Coordination: The satellites rely on laser sensors, cameras, and cold-gas thrusters to autonomously adjust their relative positions without continuous ground control intervention.

5. Continuous Solar Observations: Before the anomaly occurred, the mission had successfully completed over 60 orbital cycles, producing hours of uninterrupted solar observations—far longer than ground-based eclipse observations.

In News:

Recently, Denmark was certified by the World Health Organization as the first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of both HIV and Syphilis. This achievement represents a major public health success and demonstrates the effectiveness of strong maternal healthcare systems, universal testing, and timely treatment interventions.

What is Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT)?

Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT), also known as vertical transmission, refers to the spread of certain infections from a pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Without timely intervention, infections such as HIV and syphilis can lead to serious consequences including:

• Infant HIV infection
• Congenital syphilis
• Stillbirths and neonatal deaths
• Severe lifelong health complications

Therefore, preventing MTCT is a major priority in global maternal and child health programmes.

WHO Criteria for Elimination of MTCT

The WHO defines elimination of mother-to-child transmission through strict epidemiological and health system indicators. A country must achieve:

• Transmission rates below 50 cases per 100,000 live births, and
• More than 95% coverage of testing and treatment among pregnant women

These benchmarks ensure that both detection and treatment systems are robust enough to prevent transmission to newborns.

Global Context of EMTCT

Denmark joins a growing group of countries validated by the WHO for eliminating MTCT or making significant progress toward this goal. More than 20 countries and territories worldwide have achieved or are nearing this milestone.

Examples include:

• Caribbean nations such as Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda
• South American countries such as Brazil
• African countries such as Botswana
• Asian nations including Malaysia and Maldives

These achievements demonstrate that elimination is possible across different health systems when strong policies and universal maternal healthcare are implemented.

WHO’s Triple Elimination Strategy

To address maternal transmission of infectious diseases, WHO promotes a Triple Elimination Strategy targeting: HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B

The strategy is built on four key pillars:

• Universal access to antenatal care
• Integrated testing for maternal infections
• Effective treatment and prevention protocols
• Strong health systems supported by community engagement and human-rights protections

This integrated approach helps ensure that maternal health services detect infections early and prevent transmission to infants.

Understanding the Diseases

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

• HIV attacks the body’s immune system, particularly CD4 cells, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections.
• If untreated, HIV can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), making individuals vulnerable to life-threatening infections and cancers.

Syphilis

• Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. The disease progresses through stages that may include painless sores, skin rashes, and severe complications affecting the heart, brain, and nervous system if left untreated. Congenital syphilis can cause severe health problems in newborns.

Significance of Denmark’s Achievement

Denmark’s certification highlights several important aspects of effective public health policy:

• Strong maternal healthcare and antenatal screening systems
• Universal testing and treatment for pregnant women
• Integration of infectious disease control with maternal health services
• Sustained public health surveillance and policy commitment

This milestone also reinforces the feasibility of eliminating vertical transmission of infectious diseases through coordinated healthcare strategies.

In News:

The 23rd Foundation Day of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was celebrated in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram released the NCST Handbook detailing the Commission’s mandate and functioning.
• The event highlighted:
  • NCST’s constitutional responsibilities
  • Policy recommendations
  • Grievance redressal initiatives
  • Field visits to Scheduled Areas
• The Commission reiterated focus areas such as education, forest rights, land issues, infrastructure, and livelihood generation for tribal communities.

About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

Constitutional Status

• Established under Article 338-A of the Constitution.
• Created by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which bifurcated the earlier National Commission for SCs and STs.
• Aims to provide focused attention to the distinct problems of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Composition

• Chairperson
• Vice-Chairperson
• Three other Members (at least one woman)
• Appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

Tenure & Status

• Tenure: 3 years.
• Not eligible for more than two terms.
• Chairperson: Rank of Union Cabinet Minister.
• Vice-Chairperson: Rank of Minister of State.
• Members: Rank of Secretary to Government of India.

Core Functions

• Investigate and monitor safeguards for STs under the Constitution and laws.
• Inquire into complaints regarding deprivation of tribal rights.
• Participate in socio-economic development planning.
• Evaluate development progress of STs.
• Submit annual/periodic reports to the President.
• Recommend measures to Union and State Governments.

Additional Functions (Specified in 2005)

• Ownership rights over Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
• Safeguarding rights over mineral and water resources.
• Preventing land alienation of tribals.
• Monitoring implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996.
• Relief and rehabilitation of displaced tribals.
• Addressing shifting cultivation issues.

Powers of NCST

• Powers of a civil court during investigations:
  • Summon persons
  • Require production of documents
  • Receive affidavits
  • Requisition public records
• Can regulate its own procedure.
• Mandatory consultation: Central and State Governments must consult NCST on major policy matters affecting STs.

Reporting Mechanism

• Submits reports to the President.
• Reports laid before Parliament with Action Taken Memorandum.
• State-specific reports forwarded to Governor for placement before State Legislature.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Scheduled Tribes (STs)

Identification of STs

• Article 366(25): defines Scheduled Tribes (STs) as tribes or tribal communities, or parts thereof, that are deemed under Article 342 to be STs for the purposes of the Constitution.
• Article 342(1) empowers the President to specify tribes as STs in consultation with the Governor for states.

Administrative Provisions

• Fifth Schedule: Applies to Scheduled Areas in states other than Sixth Schedule states.
• Sixth Schedule: Provides Autonomous District Councils in: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram

Key Legislations for ST Protection

• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• PESA Act, 1996
• Forest Rights Act, 2006

In News:

The Union Government has introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RaM G) in the Lok Sabha to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.

It marks a structural shift in India’s rural wage employment framework in line with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

What is VB-G RaM G?

It is a proposed statutory rural wage employment guarantee law that:

• Assures 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year (earlier 100 days under MGNREGA)
• Focuses on durable, productivity-enhancing rural assets
• Integrates employment generation with infrastructure creation, livelihoods, and climate resilience

Core Objectives

1. Move from distress-relief employment to development-linked employment
2. Ensure convergence of rural schemes
3. Create durable and climate-resilient assets
4. Improve transparency, digital monitoring, and accountability

Key Features of the Bill

1. Enhanced Employment Guarantee

• Increased from 100 to 125 days
• About 25% higher income potential for rural households

2. Four Priority Work Categories

Works are restricted to:

• Water security (water harvesting, irrigation, conservation)
• Core rural infrastructure (roads, connectivity)
• Livelihood infrastructure (storage, markets, productive assets)
• Climate-resilience works (flood control, drought mitigation, soil conservation)

All works will be mapped into a proposed Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

3. Shift to Normative Funding

• Moves from demand-driven (MGNREGA model) to budget-based normative allocation
• Funds distributed to States using objective parameters
• Unemployment allowance still payable if work is not provided

4. Funding Pattern (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)

• 60:40 – Centre : States (most States)
• 90:10 – North-Eastern & Himalayan States
• 100% Central funding – UTs without legislature

5. Digital Governance & Transparency

Mandatory provisions include:

• Biometric attendance
• Aadhaar-linked wage payments
• Geo-tagging of assets
• AI-based fraud detection
• Real-time MIS dashboards
• Weekly public disclosure meetings at Gram Panchayat level
• Strengthened social audits

6. Agricultural Season Safeguard

• States can declare up to 60 days (aggregate) when works will pause during peak sowing/harvesting
• Aims to:
  • Ensure farm labour availability
  • Prevent wage inflation in agriculture

7. Decentralised Planning

• Works planned through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs)
• Spatial planning integration with PM Gati Shakti
• Plans aggregated from Gram Panchayat → Block → District → State

8. Institutional Mechanism

• Central & State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Councils
• States must notify their operational scheme within 6 months of enactment

Why Replace MGNREGA? (Government’s Rationale)

• Rural poverty decline: From 25.7% (2011-12) to ~5% (2023-24)
• Need to shift from relief works to productive infrastructure
• Asset quality issues under MGNREGA
• Reported misappropriation (~?193 crore in 2024-25)
• Only a small % of households completed 100 days post-pandemic
• Rising need for climate-resilient rural infrastructure

Major Differences from MGNREGA

In News:

The 16th Finance Commission (FC), constituted in 2023 under the chairmanship of Arvind Panagariya, has had its recommendations accepted by the Union Government for implementation during the award period 2026–27 to 2030–31. Its report focuses on balancing fiscal federalism, macroeconomic stability, and performance-driven governance amid rising expenditure pressures and climate-related risks.

What is the Finance Commission?

The Finance Commission is a constitutional body under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.

Key Features

• Constituted by: President of India every five years (or earlier)
• Composition: Chairman + four members
• Nature of Recommendations: Advisory, but generally accepted
• Report Submission: Under Article 281, tabled in Parliament with an Action Taken Memorandum

Core Functions

1. Vertical Devolution – Sharing of net tax proceeds between Centre and States
2. Horizontal Devolution – Distribution among States
3. Grants-in-Aid – Principles for Article 275 grants
4. Local Body Funding – Measures to augment State Consolidated Funds for Panchayats and Municipalities

Note: Cesses and surcharges are excluded from the divisible pool.

Key Recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission

Vertical Devolution

• States’ share of the divisible tax pool retained at 41%, same as the 15th FC.
• However, the Commission flagged a shrinking effective pool due to rising cesses and surcharges, which are not shared.
• It proposed a future “grand bargain” to rationalise these levies and widen the divisible pool.

Horizontal Devolution

Changes in criteria aim to reflect evolving economic realities:

• Greater weight to states’ contribution to GDP/output
• Reduced weight for income distance and geographical area

This may relatively benefit better-performing and economically dynamic states, including some southern states.

Disaster Management Funding

Recognising rising climate risks:

• Heatwaves and lightning recommended as nationally notified disasters
• Total allocation: ?2,04,401 crore (2026–31)
  • 80% to State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
  • 20% to State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF)

This marks stronger integration of climate adaptation into fiscal federalism.

Grants to Local Bodies

• Total allocation: ?7,91,493 crore for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
• Split:
  • 80% Basic Grants
  • 20% Performance-Linked Grants

Urbanisation Premium

• A special ?10,000 crore incentive fund to encourage the merger of peri-urban areas into larger ULBs for better planning and service delivery.

Fiscal Consolidation Roadmap

To ensure macroeconomic stability:

States are encouraged to improve own tax mobilisation and fiscal discipline.

End of Revenue Deficit Grants

Unlike earlier Commissions, the 16th FC discontinues Post-Devolution Revenue Deficit Grants, nudging states toward:

• Greater fiscal responsibility
• Better tax administration
• Reduced dependency on central transfers

Significance of the 16th Finance Commission

• Reinforces Fiscal Federalism: Maintains states’ share while highlighting structural issues like shrinking divisible pools.
• Promotes Performance-Based Federalism: Greater weight to output and performance incentivises economic efficiency.
• Mainstreams Climate Risks: Inclusion of heatwaves and lightning signals evolving understanding of disaster vulnerability.
• Strengthens Local Governance: Substantial grants and performance criteria enhance decentralisation.
• Focus on Fiscal Discipline: Clear deficit targets align with long-term macroeconomic stability.

Challenges Ahead

• Rising cesses reducing the effective tax pool
• Balancing equity (poorer states) vs efficiency (high-growth states)
• Ensuring states adhere to fiscal deficit limits
• Managing climate-related fiscal shocks

The 16th Finance Commission attempts to recalibrate India’s fiscal federal framework by combining continuity in tax devolution, incentives for performance, climate-responsive funding, and stricter fiscal discipline. Its recommendations reflect a shift toward output-linked and responsibility-driven federalism, crucial for sustaining India’s growth trajectory while preserving macroeconomic stability.

In News:

The Government of India is implementing the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) through two components -NMEO–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) and NMEO–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), to reduce India’s heavy dependence on edible oil imports. In 2023–24, imports met about 56% of domestic edible oil demand.

NMEO – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• About:Launched in 2021 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, NMEO-OP aims to expand oil palm cultivation and increase domestic Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production.
• Financial Outlay: ?11,040 crore
• Key Features
  • Viability Price (VP): Price assurance mechanism to protect farmers from fluctuations in global CPO prices
  • Higher Subsidies: Assistance for planting material increased significantly (up to ?29,000/ha) along with maintenance support
  • Rejuvenation Aid: ?250 per plant for replacing old palms
  • Regional Focus: Special emphasis on North-East India and traditional states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Targets
  • Area Expansion: 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm by 2025–26
• Production:
  • 11.2 lakh tonnes CPO by 2025–26
  • 28 lakh tonnes CPO by 2029–30
• Consumption Benchmark: Maintain edible oil consumption at 19 kg/person/year till 2025–26
• Progress
  • 2.5 lakh hectares added under NMEO-OP (as of Nov 2025)
  • Total oil palm area reached 6.2 lakh hectares
  • CPO production rose from 1.91 lakh tonnes (2014–15) to 3.8 lakh tonnes (2024–25)

NMEO – Oilseeds (NMEO-OS)

• About:Approved in 2024 for the period 2024–25 to 2030–31, NMEO-OS focuses on achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils by boosting production of major oilseed crops.
• Coverage: Targets 9 major oilseed crops including:Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, Sesame, Safflower, Niger, Castor, and Linseed
  • Also promotes oils from secondary sources such as cottonseed, rice bran, coconut, and tree-borne oilseeds (neem, jatropha, karanja, mahua, simarouba).

Key Objectives

• Bridge yield gaps via improved seeds and technologies
• Expand area using fallow lands and intercropping
• Strengthen seed systems and market access
• Promote value addition and higher farmer returns

Targets

• Increase oilseed area from 29 million ha (2022–23) to 33 million ha (2030–31)
• Raise oilseed production from 39 million tonnes to 69.7 million tonnes
• Add 40 lakh hectares through crop diversification and fallow land use

Combined Impact of NMEO

Together, NMEO-OP and NMEO-OS aim to produce 25.45 million tonnes of edible oil by 2030–31, meeting about 72% of India’s domestic demand.

Implementation Support

• Self-Help Groups and Krishi Sakhis act as Community Agriculture Service Providers (CASPs)
• Use of Krishi Mapper digital platform for real-time monitoring

Oilseeds in India — Key Facts

• Oilseeds are India’s second most important crop group after food grains
• Cover 14.3% of gross cropped area
• Provide 12–13% of dietary energy
• Major producing states: Rajasthan (mustard), Madhya Pradesh (soybean), Gujarat, Maharashtra
• Oil palm concentrated in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, expanding in North-East states

Economic Importance

• Key source of dietary fats and vitamins (A, D, E, K)
• Important cash crops for farmer income
• Contribute ~8% of agricultural exports
• Domestic edible oil production: 12.18 million tonnes (2023–24) vs high demand

Reasons for Import Dependence

• Decline in self-sufficiency after import duty reductions post-WTO reforms
• 76% oilseed area is rainfed, making production climate-vulnerable
• Rising consumption: Rural intake up 83.68%, urban up 48.74% (2004–05 to 2022–23)

In News:

The Government of India has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to strengthen India’s export ecosystem, with special emphasis on MSMEs, labour-intensive sectors, and low-export-intensity regions.

What is the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)?

The Export Promotion Mission is a unified, digitally driven framework announced in Union Budget 2025–26. It consolidates multiple export-support schemes into one coordinated system to improve efficiency and outcomes.

• Total Outlay: ?25,060 crore
• Duration: FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31
• Implementing Agency:Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
• Anchored through coordination among the Department of Commerce, MSME Ministry, Finance Ministry, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, financial institutions, industry bodies, and State governments

Two Integrated Sub-Schemes

1. NiryatProtsahan (Financial Support)

Focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance:

• Interest subvention on export credit
• Export factoring and deep-tier financing
• Exporter credit cards for e-commerce
• Collateral support and credit enhancement for MSMEs

2. Niryat Disha (Non-Financial Support)

Enhances export readiness and competitiveness:

• Quality testing, certification, compliance assistance
• Branding, packaging, trade fairs, buyer–seller meets
• Warehousing and logistics support
• Inland transport reimbursement for exporters from remote districts
• District-level export capacity building

Digital Governance

• DGFT operates a paperless digital platform for application, approval, and fund disbursal
• Linked with customs and trade systems for faster processing
• Outcome-based monitoring ensures adaptability to global trade shifts

Sectoral & Regional Focus

EPM prioritizes sectors facing global tariff pressures:

• Textiles
• Leather
• Gems &Jewellery
• Engineering goods
• Marine products

It also targets:

• MSMEs and first-time exporters
• Labour-intensive value chains
• Interior and low-export districts to widen India’s export base

Complementary Financial Support

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE)

• Provides 100% government-backed credit guarantee
• Enables additional working capital for exporters, especially MSMEs
• Implemented via National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company

RBI Trade Relief Measures (2025)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced steps to ease liquidity stress:

• Moratorium on certain loan repayments
• Extension of export credit tenure up to 450 days
• Relaxation in working-capital norms
• Regulatory forbearance in asset classification
• FEMA relaxation extending export realisation period to 15 months

Expected Outcomes

• Improved access to affordable export finance
• Better quality compliance and global certification
• Stronger international branding of Indian goods
• Growth in exports from non-traditional districts
• Employment generation in manufacturing and logistics

These outcomes support export-led growth, align with Atmanirbhar Bharat, and contribute to the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision.

Status of India’s Exports

• Total exports reached USD 778.21 billion in 2023–24
• Growth of 67% since 2013–14
• Services exports contribute ~44% of total exports
• Major markets include: USA, UAE, Netherlands, China, Singapore, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Germany, Italy
• Export basket shifting from low-value goods to electronics, engineering goods, and advanced manufacturing

Other Major Export Promotion Initiatives

India has also launched multiple initiatives to improve export competitiveness:

• PM Gati Shakti for integrated logistics planning
• National Logistics Policy to reduce logistics cost
• RoDTEP&RoSCTL for tax and duty remission
• PLI Schemes to scale up manufacturing
• TIES Scheme for export infrastructure
• Free Trade Agreements for market access
• Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative
• MSME Lean & ZED schemes for quality improvement

In News:

The Union Government is set to table the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2025 in Parliament, nearly five years after the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) recommended a single, integrated regulator for higher education.

What is the HECI Bill, 2025?

• Nature: A draft legislation to establish a single regulatory authority for higher education in India.
• Coverage: All higher education except medical and legal education.
• Core Change: Replaces the existing multi-regulator system led by University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

Objectives of the Bill

• Streamline and simplify higher education regulation.
• Remove fragmentation, overlap, and conflicts of interest.
• Implement NEP 2020’s vision of a transparent, outcome-based, and less intrusive regulatory architecture.
• Promote institutional autonomy and academic freedom.

Key Features of the HECI Framework

1. Single Regulator Model

• HECI will subsume the regulatory roles of UGC, AICTE, and NCTE.
• Medical and legal education will continue to be regulated separately.

2. Four-Vertical Structure (as envisaged in NEP 2020)

• National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC): Regulation and compliance for institutions (excluding medical & legal).
• National Accreditation Council (NAC): Accreditation and quality benchmarking.
• General Education Council (GEC): Academic standards, learning outcomes, and curricular frameworks.
• Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC): Funding-related functions (with major financial control likely retained by the Ministry).

3. Functional Separation

• Clear separation of:
  • Regulation
  • Accreditation
  • Funding
  • Academic standard-setting
• Intended to avoid concentration of power and conflicts of interest.

4. Independent, Expert-Driven Governance

• Each vertical to function as an autonomous professional body.
• HECI to act as a light, coordinating commission rather than a heavy regulator.

5. Reduced Regulatory Burden

• Addresses criticism of the current regime being bureaucratic and compliance-heavy.
• Aims to cut duplication, delays, and inconsistent rules across regulators.

6. Institutional Autonomy

• Encourages higher education institutions to become self-governing and academically independent.
• Accreditation outcomes linked with graded autonomy.

Significance of the HECI Bill, 2025

• Major Governance Reform: Ends decades of fragmented higher education regulation.
• Quality Enhancement: Focus on outcomes, accreditation, and professional standards.
• Ease of Doing Academia: Reduces regulatory overlap and administrative friction.
• NEP 2020 Implementation: Converts policy vision into a statutory framework.

In News:

Blue Origin successfully launched NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission to Mars aboard the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket from Cape Canaveral.
The launch marks a major milestone for both interplanetary science and commercial reusable rocket technology.

About ESCAPADE Mission

ESCAPADE is NASA’s first coordinated dual-spacecraft orbital science mission to Mars.

Key Components

• Twin spacecraft named Blue and Gold.
• Designed for simultaneous observations from different regions of Martian space.
• Developed under NASA’s SIMPLEx (Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration) program.
• Utilises a “launch and loiter” flight strategy:
  • Spacecraft first travel toward the Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2).
  • They remain at L2 until the optimal Mars-transfer window opens.
  • Cruise toward Mars in late 2026, with arrival expected by 2027.

Mission Objectives

• Study the interaction between the solar wind and the Martian magnetosphere.
• Investigate how space weather affects Mars’ atmospheric dynamics.
• Understand the process of atmospheric escape, a key factor behind:
  • Mars losing its thick ancient atmosphere
  • Decline in surface habitability
• Generate real-time data on:
  • Magnetic field variations
  • Plasma environment
  • Solar wind–atmosphere coupling

These insights support future human exploration and long-term Mars climate modelling.

Scientific Rationale

• The solar wind continually erodes Mars’ upper atmosphere.
• By observing from dual vantage points, ESCAPADE will map:
  • Plasma flow patterns
  • Energy transfer from solar particles
  • Changes in the induced magnetosphere over time
• Understanding these processes helps reconstruct the planet’s evolution and potential for past habitability.

Launch Details and Timeline

• Launched using Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
• Mission timeline:
  • Up to one year in Earth orbit (loiter phase)
  • Mars transit: 2026–2027
  • Science operations: 2027–2029

Significance of Blue Origin’s Role

• Advancement in Heavy-Lift Commercial Launches
  • This was the second flight of the 321-foot New Glenn rocket.
  • Demonstrates Blue Origin’s readiness for planetary missions.
• Breakthrough in Reusability
  • Rocket’s first stage successfully landed on the recovery ship “Jacklyn” in the Atlantic.
  • Places Blue Origin alongside SpaceX in recovering large boosters.
  • Enhances competitiveness in:
    • NASA contracts
    • Deep-space mission launches
    • Commercial satellite markets
• Expansion of Infrastructure
  • Over $1 billion invested in Florida launch facilities.
  • Signals Blue Origin’s long-term commitment to reusable, cost-efficient spaceflight.

In News:

The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a flagship export-boosting initiative approved by the Union Cabinet and announced in the Union Budget 2025–26. It aims to strengthen India’s export ecosystem by improving competitiveness, especially for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors, amid evolving global trade challenges.

What is the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)?

• EPM is a comprehensive, outcome-oriented and digitally driven framework for export promotion.
• It represents a strategic shift from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, adaptive mission-mode approach.
• Time period & outlay: ?25,060 crore from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.

Objectives

• Enhance export competitiveness of Indian products.
• Improve access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs.
• Reduce compliance and logistics bottlenecks.
• Expand market access and branding for Indian exporters.
• Boost exports from non-traditional districts and regions.
• Support employment generation in manufacturing, logistics, and allied sectors.

Institutional Framework

• Anchored in a collaborative mechanism involving:
  • Department of Commerce
  • Ministry of MSME
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Financial institutions, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, industry bodies, and State governments
• Implementing agency:Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• All processesfrom application to fund disbursalwill be managed through a dedicated digital platform integrated with existing trade systems.

Key Features

• Consolidation of schemes: Integrates existing export support measures such as:
  • Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES)
  • Market Access Initiative (MAI)
• Outcome-based design: Focus on measurable export performance and responsiveness to global trade disruptions.
• Priority sector support: Special emphasis on sectors affected by recent global tariff escalations, including:Textiles, Leather, Gems &Jewellery, Engineering goods, and Marine products.

Sub-schemes under EPM

1. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN (Financial Support)

• Aims to improve access to affordable trade finance, especially for MSMEs.
• Key instruments include:
  • Interest subvention
  • Export factoring
  • Collateral and credit guarantees
  • Credit cards for e-commerce exporters
  • Credit enhancement for market diversification

2. NIRYAT DISHA (Non-financial Enablers)

• Focuses on improving market readiness and competitiveness.
• Support areas include:
  • Export quality and compliance assistance
  • International branding and packaging
  • Participation in trade fairs
  • Export warehousing and logistics support
  • Inland transport reimbursements
  • Trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives

Significance

• Addresses structural constraints such as costly finance, high compliance costs, fragmented market access, and logistical disadvantages.
• Encourages inclusive export growth, particularly from MSMEs and interior regions.
• Aligns with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by making exports more technology-enabled, resilient, and globally competitive.

In News:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in its Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2025 – “Off Target”, has warned that despite updated climate pledges by countries, the world remains dangerously off course to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals. Current trajectories indicate that global warming will reach 2.3–2.5°C this century, far exceeding the ambition of limiting warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.

About the Emissions Gap Report

The Emissions Gap Report is an annual flagship publication of UNEP, co-produced with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC). It assesses the gap between where global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are heading under current pledges and where they should be to meet Paris Agreement targets. The report is released every year ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP).

Key Findings of Emissions Gap Report 2025

• Marginal Progress in Climate Pledges
  • Even if all countries fully implement their latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), global temperature rise is projected at 2.3–2.5°C.
  • This is only a modest improvement from last year’s estimate of 2.6–2.8°C, and UNEP notes that much of this improvement is due to accounting and methodological changes, not real emission reductions.
• Rising Global Emissions
  • Global GHG emissions rose by 2.3% in 2024, reaching a record 57.7 gigatonnes of CO? equivalent.
  • This growth rate is over four times the annual average of the 2010s, signalling a reversal of earlier decarbonisation trends.
• Low Participation and Weak Ambition
  • As of September 30, 2025, only 60 Parties, representing 63% of global emissions, had submitted or announced new 2035 NDCs.
  • Even full implementation of existing NDCs would reduce global emissions by only 15% by 2035 (from 2019 levels), whereas a 55% reduction is required to stay on the 1.5°C pathway.
• Implementation Gap
  • Most countries are not on track to meet even their 2030 targets, revealing a “huge implementation gap” between commitments and action.
• Overshoot of 1.5°C is Now Likely
  • UNEP warns that global temperatures are very likely to exceed 1.5°C within the next decade.
  • The policy focus has shifted from prevention to ensuring that this overshoot is temporary and limited, as every fraction of warming avoided reduces climate damages, health risks, and dependence on uncertain carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

Role of the G20

The G20, responsible for about 77% of global emissions (excluding the African Union), holds the key to closing the emissions gap. Despite some members submitting new NDCs, the group as a whole remains off track for its 2030 goals, undermining global mitigation efforts.

Geopolitical and Structural Challenges

UNEP highlights that geopolitical uncertainties, including the proposed withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement in 2026, could offset climate gains. According to the report, this alone could negate around 0.1°C of the projected improvement.

Opportunities and Way Forward

Despite the bleak outlook, UNEP notes that the world is technically well-positioned to accelerate climate action due to:

• Rapidly declining costs of renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind.
• Proven solutions that can deliver economic growth, jobs, energy security, and health benefits alongside emission reductions.

UNEP’s Key Recommendations

To close the emissions gap, UNEP calls for:

• Removal of policy, governance, institutional, and technical barriers.
• A massive scale-up of climate finance and technology transfer to developing countries.
• Redesign of the international financial architecture to unlock affordable and predictable climate finance.

In News:

• India, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, continues to face a structural gap between domestic production and rising demand. Lower productivity levels, yield gaps, and increasing import dependence have highlighted the need for a targeted national strategy.
• To address these concerns, the Government of India has launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–31)—a six-year initiative aimed at transforming India into a self-reliant pulses-producing nation through scientific, institutional, and market reforms.

Overview of the Mission

Formally launched by the Prime Minister on 11 October 2025, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses was first announced in the Union Budget 2024–25. The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, with collaborative support from NAFED, NCCF, and state governments.

Mission Duration and Financial Outlay

• Implementation period: 2025–26 to 2030–31
• Total outlay: ?11,440 crore
• Targets:
  • Raise production by 45%—from 242 lakh MT (2023–24) to 350 lakh MT (2030–31)
  • Expand cultivated area by 13%—from 275 lakh ha to 310 lakh ha
  • Improve average yield by 28%—from 881 kg/ha to 1,130 kg/ha

Rationale: Current Status and Challenges

India cultivates a wide variety of pulses across agro-climatic zones. Major pulse-growing states include:

• Area (2023–24): Rajasthan (54.67 lakh ha), Madhya Pradesh (51 lakh ha), Maharashtra (44 lakh ha), Uttar Pradesh (30 lakh ha)
• Production (2023–24): Madhya Pradesh (59.74 lakh MT), Maharashtra (40 lakh MT), Rajasthan (33 lakh MT), Uttar Pradesh (31 lakh MT)

Gram dominates both area and output, followed by moong, tur (arhar), urad, and masoor. Over 60% of pulses production occurs during the rabi season.

Despite being the largest pulses producer, India remains dependent on imports from Myanmar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Canada, Australia, among others. Demand is projected to reach 268 lakh MT by 2030 and 293 lakh MT by 2047 (NITI Aayog), far exceeding current production levels. Productivity remains significantly lower than global benchmarks—Canada (2200 kg/ha) and China (1815 kg/ha).

Why Focus on Tur, Urad, and Masoor?

These three pulses account for 34% of total pulses area and contribute significantly to national output. They also exhibit high yield gaps and are crucial for nutritional security. The Mission plans:

• 9 lakh ha expansion in tur—across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and non-traditional areas like the Northeast.
• Utilisation of rice fallows for expanding urad in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Promotion of masoor in rice fallow areas of West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh.

Key Components and Features of the Mission

1. Development of Climate-Resilient Seeds: Focus on high-yielding, drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and protein-enriched varieties.

2. Higher Productivity through Technological Adoption

• Enhanced support of ?10,000/ha for Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) of improved technologies (higher than ?9,000 under NFSM).
• Strengthening post-harvest storage, grading, and processing infrastructure.

3. 100% Assured Procurement

A major innovation in the mission framework:

• NAFED and NCCF will undertake 100% procurement of tur, urad and masoor for four years under PM-AASHA’s Price Support Scheme (PSS).
• Aadhaar-enabled biometric/facial authentication will ensure transparency and eliminate leakages.

4. Cluster-Based Approach

Each cluster will include minimum 10 ha (2 ha in hilly/Northeast region). Cluster selection based on:

• Four-fold district classification: HA-HY, HA-LY, LA-HY, LA-LY
• Rice fallow, rainfed, and watershed areas
• Aspirational districts, border/LWE districts
• Regions under PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, Adarsh Gram Yojana, and Northeast/Himalayan areas

5. Value-Chain Strengthening: Interventions span input supply, extension, mechanisation, processing, market linkages and digital traceability.

Comparative Advantage over Previous Schemes

The Mission subsumes the pulses component of National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) but provides:

• Higher financial support
• Wider geographical coverage
• Expanded interventions (seed hubs, storage, procurement)
• Stronger digital governance
• Guaranteed procurement for three major pulses

National Significance

• Food and Nutritional Security: Pulses are key protein sources in Indian diets.
• Import Substitution: Reduces dependency on global markets and price volatility.
• Farmer Income Stability: Guaranteed procurement and improved yields boost profitability.
• Climate Resilience: Promotes drought-friendly crops, diversifies cropping patterns, and utilises rice fallows.
• Balanced Regional Development: Targets backward, rainfed, aspirational and border districts.

In News:

The Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), launched in October 2021, represents one of India’s most ambitious national health-system strengthening initiatives. Conceived in the aftermath of COVID-19, the Mission aims to build a resilient, modern, and self-reliant public health infrastructure capable of responding effectively to future pandemics and health emergencies.

Mission Structure and Financial Outlay

• PM-ABHIM is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with select Central Sector components, with a total allocation of ?64,180 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• This multi-layered programme focuses on fortifying health infrastructure from the village level to the district level, while simultaneously creating a national network for disease surveillance and laboratory capacity.

Key Components of PM-ABHIM

1. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Strengthening

The Mission envisions comprehensive infrastructure development through:

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) replacing and upgrading Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres.
• Urban Health and Wellness Centres established in slum and underserved urban areas.
• Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) to enhance diagnostic, surveillance, and public health management capacity at the block level.

These interventions aim to fill service delivery gaps and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare, especially in rural and vulnerable regions.

2. District-Level Critical Health Infrastructure

• Establishment of Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCHBs) in every district to provide advanced and emergency care.
• Creation and upgradation of Integrated District Public Health Labs (IDPHLs) for comprehensive testing and epidemiological support.

These facilities are intended to strengthen district-level readiness for public health emergencies and mass-casualty situations.

3. Strengthened Disease Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness

A significant feature of PM-ABHIM is the creation of an IT-enabled, real-time disease surveillance system. This network links:

• Block-level labs
• District surveillance units
• Regional surveillance centres
• National institutions

The government has highlighted that PM-ABHIM has substantially enhanced India’s health surveillance capabilities, enabling faster detection, notification, and response during outbreaks. The integration of digital tools allows seamless data sharing and analytics—essential for early warning and rapid containment strategies.

4. Research, Innovation, and One Health Approach

The Mission supports:

• Advanced research on COVID-19, emerging infectious diseases, and health emergencies.
• Laboratories and platforms promoting scientific innovation.
• Adoption of the One Health approach, recognising the linkages between human, animal, and environmental health to prevent zoonotic diseases.

Policy Significance

PM-ABHIM marks a paradigm shift from reactive health crisis management to proactive preparedness. Its multi-tiered infrastructure plan, focus on training, surveillance networks, and integration of modern technologies positions India to handle:

• Emerging infectious diseases
• Climate-linked health threats
• Biosecurity risks
• Mass public health emergencies

The Mission also contributes to the broader goals of Ayushman Bharat, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by bridging regional disparities and strengthening healthcare accessibility.

In News:

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)–Medical Technology (MedTech).This landmark initiative seeks to accelerate innovation in India’s medical technology ecosystem, reduce dependence on costly imports, and ensure affordable, high-quality healthcare technologies for all.

About the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Launched by: ANRF, in partnership with ICMR and Gates Foundation
• Mission Duration: 5 years
• Deadline for Concept Note Submission: 7 November 2025
• Implemented through: ANRF online portal – www.anrfonline.in

The mission represents a strategic push under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision to strengthen India’s domestic MedTech sector, which is currently import-heavy and fragmented.

Objectives of the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Public Health Impact:
  • Promote technologies addressing priority disease areas such as tuberculosis, cancer, neonatal and maternal care, and primary healthcare.
  • Expand access to safe, high-quality medical care across India.
• Affordability and Accessibility:
  • Support innovative solutions that reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Promote equitable access to advanced medical devices, especially in rural and underserved regions.
• Self-Reliance and Competitiveness:
  • Catalyze indigenous research, manufacturing, and commercialization in MedTech.
  • Foster industry–academia collaboration and boost India’s global competitiveness in medical innovation.

Scope of the Mission

The MAHA MedTech Mission will support a wide range of medical technologies and innovations, including:

• Medical devices and equipment
• In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and subcomponents
• Implants and surgical instruments
• Assistive and wearable devices
• Consumables and disposables
• AI/ML-driven software-based medical platforms
• Robotics, imaging, and minimally invasive technologies
• Point-of-care and molecular diagnostics

These innovations will target priority national health areas, promoting early disease detection, efficient treatment delivery, and improved healthcare infrastructure.

Funding Mechanism

• Milestone-linked funding:
  • ?5–25 crore per project
  • Up to ?50 crore for exceptional projects with transformative potential.
• Eligible Applicants:
  • Academic and R&D institutions
  • Hospitals and clinical research centers
  • Startups and MSMEs
  • Established MedTech industries
  • Interdisciplinary collaborations between public and private entities

The funding structure encourages translational research, product prototyping, clinical validation, and commercialization of indigenous medical technologies.

Enabling Support Framework

The Mission also provides institutional and regulatory facilitation through several national support programs:

• Patent Mitra:Facilitates intellectual property protection, patent filing, and technology transfer.
• MedTech Mitra:Provides regulatory guidance, helps in obtaining clinical and market approvals, and supports compliance with national and international standards.
• Clinical Trial Network:Offers access to a national network of hospitals and research centers for clinical validation and evidence generation.
• Mentorship and Industry Linkages:Access to industry mentors, market experts, and commercialization partners to support end-to-end product development.

In News:

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, scheduled for launch in the mid-2030s. It represents the first-ever space-based observatory designed to detect gravitational waves, offering an unprecedented opportunity to study some of the most energetic and mysterious phenomena in the universe.

Mission Objective

LISA aims to:

• Directly detect and study gravitational waves—minute ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events such as black hole mergers, neutron star collisions, and possibly phenomena from the early universe.
• Explore the fundamental nature of gravity and black holes, providing insights into Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
• Investigate cosmic evolution by probing how galaxies and black holes have grown and interacted over time.
• Contribute to understanding the universe’s expansion rate, complementing other cosmological observations.

Design and Configuration

• The LISA system will consist of three identical spacecraft, positioned in an equilateral triangular formation.
• Each side of this triangle will span approximately 2.5 million kilometres, and the formation will trail Earth in its orbit around the Sun at a distance of about 50 million kilometres.
• This configuration will enable ultra-precise measurements of tiny variations in distance between the spacecraft caused by passing gravitational waves.

Scientific Principle

• Each spacecraft will contain two free-floating test masses (gold-platinum cubes) that serve as nearly perfect reference points in space.
• Laser beams exchanged between the spacecraft will measure the relative distance between these cubes with extraordinary accuracy using laser interferometry.
• As gravitational waves pass through, they will slightly alter the distances between the spacecraft—by as little as a fraction of the width of an atom—allowing LISA to record and analyse these distortions.

Technological Significance

• LISA extends the capabilities of ground-based detectors like LIGO and VIRGO, which can only detect higher-frequency gravitational waves.
• By operating in space, LISA can sense low-frequency gravitational waves generated by supermassive black hole binaries and other massive cosmic systems, which are beyond the reach of terrestrial observatories.
• The mission will also test cutting-edge technologies in laser stability, drag-free navigation, and precision metrology.

Scientific Impact

• Enhance understanding of black hole dynamics, galaxy formation, and cosmic structure evolution.
• Provide new data on extreme astrophysical events and test the limits of General Relativity.
• Contribute to multi-messenger astronomy, linking gravitational wave observations with electromagnetic and particle signals from the same sources.
• Offer valuable inputs for cosmology, including studies of dark matter, dark energy, and the early universe.

In News:

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), stands as one of the world’s largest poverty alleviation and women-centric livelihood programmes. It has successfully mobilized millions of rural households into community institutions and significantly advanced the agenda of women’s empowerment, financial inclusion, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Genesis and Evolution

• Launch: Initially introduced in 2010 as the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY).
• Renaming: In 2016, it was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to honour the philosophy of Antyodaya—uplifting the poorest of the poor.
• Funding Pattern: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, jointly funded by the Central and State Governments.
• Objective: To reduce rural poverty by enabling poor households to access self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, ensuring diversified and sustainable livelihoods.

Core Objectives

The mission seeks to empower rural communities by investing in four key pillars:

• Social Mobilisation& Institution Building: Organizing rural poor, especially women, into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and federations for mutual support and long-term empowerment.
• Financial Inclusion: Ensuring access to formal credit and financial services through community-based intermediaries like Bank Sakhis and Banking Correspondent Sakhis.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting both farm and non-farm livelihoods including agriculture, livestock, handicrafts, and microenterprises.
• Social Development & Convergence: Addressing gender, nutrition, health, sanitation, and social justice through convergence with other government programmes.

Women-Centric Model

Women are at the heart of DAY-NRLM. The mission focuses on collectivizing women into SHGs, enhancing their entrepreneurial capacity, and connecting them to markets, technology, and credit networks.

• Scale: As of June 2025, the mission has mobilized 10.05 crore rural households into 90.9 lakh SHGs across 28 States and 6 UTs.
• Financial Empowerment: Over ?11 lakh crore has been disbursed to SHGs through formal banking systems, backed by collateral-free loans and interest subvention, with a 98% repayment rate — a testament to the model’s sustainability.
• Community Cadres: SHG women are trained as Community Resource Persons (CRPs) such as
  • Krishi Sakhis – agricultural extension support,
  • PashuSakhis – animal health and livestock management,
  • Bank Sakhis – financial inclusion facilitators,
  • BimaSakhis – insurance and welfare access agents.
• Over 3.5 lakh Krishi and PashuSakhis and 47,952 Bank Sakhis have been deployed to deliver last-mile services.

Entrepreneurship and Microenterprise Development

To promote local entrepreneurship, the Mission runs the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), supporting 3.74 lakh rural enterprises across 282 blocks.

These enterprises cover diverse sectors like handicrafts, food processing, agro-based units, and rural services — encouraging self-reliance and community-led growth.

A remarkable example is of Heinidamanki Kanai from Meghalaya, who turned her SHG training into a successful handmade soap business with bank support under NRLM — a model of grassroots entrepreneurship.

Skill Development and Employment Initiatives

DAY-NRLM implements two major Centrally Sponsored Schemes to boost rural employability and entrepreneurship:

• DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
  • Provides placement-linked skill training for rural youth aged 15–35 years.
  • 17.50 lakh trained and 11.48 lakh placed as of June 2025.
  • Top-performing states: Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)
  • Bank-sponsored centres for youth aged 18–50 years, providing entrepreneurship training and promoting both self- and wage-employment.
  • 56.69 lakh candidates trained,40.99 lakh settled in gainful employment.
  • Leading states: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Achievements and Outcomes

High-Performing States:

• Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (SHG formation and financial inclusion).
• Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (agro-ecological initiatives under MahilaKisanprogrammes).
• Assam, Kerala, and West Bengal (microenterprise promotion under SVEP).

Capacity Building and Marketing Initiatives

To strengthen entrepreneurship and market readiness:

• SARAS Aajeevika Melas (National & State-level fairs) are organized annually to showcase SHG products and build marketing skills.
• The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) conducts Training of Trainers (ToT)programmes on marketing, having trained over 44 batches in the past three years.
• These initiatives bridge rural producers with urban consumers and e-commerce platforms, enhancing rural incomes.

Impact on Rural Transformation

• Economic Empowerment: Enhanced access to credit and markets has diversified income sources for millions of women.
• Social Transformation: SHG networks now play a role in local governance, social awareness, and addressing gender issues such as domestic violence, health, and education.
• Financial Inclusion: The presence of SHG-led financial intermediaries ensures doorstep access to savings, credit, and insurance.
• Sustainable Livelihoods:Agro-ecological practices, livestock management, and non-farm enterprises are reducing ecological stress and enhancing resilience.

Challenges Ahead

• Uneven implementation across states and regions.
• Need for stronger digital monitoring and credit tracking.
• Enhancing market linkages for SHG products.
• Integrating livelihood programmes with emerging green and climate-resilient models.

Conclusion

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) exemplifies inclusive, women-led rural development. By mobilizing millions of women into strong community institutions, linking them with finance and skills, and promoting sustainable livelihoods, it has transformed the socio-economic fabric of rural India.

As a global model of community-driven development, the Mission continues to advance India’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” by empowering its most vulnerable citizens to become entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers in their own right.

In News:

In a landmark development in global public health, the Maldives has become the first country in the world to be validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B. This achievement represents a major milestone in protecting newborns from lifelong infections and advancing maternal-child health security.

Significance of the Achievement

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B remains a pressing concern worldwide, particularly in developing regions. In the WHO South-East Asia Region alone, thousands of infants are still born with congenital infections annually. Against this backdrop, Maldives’ accomplishment sets a benchmark for public health governance and disease elimination.

Key Drivers Behind Maldives’ Success

The achievement results from a comprehensive, integrated and equity-based healthcare strategy, backed by political commitment and strong health investments.

1. Universal Maternal Care and Screening

• Over 95% of pregnant women in Maldives receive antenatal care.
• Nearly all are screened for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B.
• Universal access extends to migrants and remote island populations.

2. Robust ImmunisationProgramme

• Above 95% hepatitis-B birth-dose coverage within 24 hours of birth.
• Full childhood immunisation coverage consistently maintained.

3. Demonstrated Zero Transmission

• No infant HIV or syphilis cases reported since 2022.
• National survey (2023) confirmed zero hepatitis-B among school-entry children.

4. Strong Public Health Infrastructure

• Universal health coverage system offering free antenatal and diagnostic services.
• Government spends over 10% of GDP on health, among the highest in the region.
• Effective partnerships across public, private, and civil society sectors, supported by WHO technical assistance.

Strategic Measures Adopted

• Integrated maternal-child health services
• Early testing and treatment protocols
• Strong laboratory systems and surveillance
• Community outreach and migrant health inclusion
• High-quality vaccination logistics

Future Roadmap

To sustain the elimination status and deepen maternal-newborn care outcomes, Maldives plans to:

• Expand digital public-health systems
• Strengthen laboratory and monitoring quality
• Enhance services for key and migrant populations
• Increase private-sector collaboration

WHO will continue supporting Maldives to maintain momentum toward broader maternal, child, and adolescent health goals.

Maldives at a Glance

• Location: North-central Indian Ocean; southwest of India and Sri Lanka
• Capital:Malé
• Population: ~5.6 lakh (2025)
• Geography: ~1,200 coral islands across 26 atolls; ~200 inhabited
• Feature: Lowest-lying nation globally (maximum elevation ~1.8m)
• Climate: Tropical; Southwest monsoon (May–Aug), Northeast monsoon (Dec–Mar)

In News:

India’s private space sector is set to achieve a major milestone with GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based space-tech start-up, preparing to launch the world's first multi-sensor Earth observation (EO) satellite, Mission Drishti, in early 2026. The mission marks a significant step toward creating an advanced satellite constellation for real-time, high-precision geospatial intelligence.

About Mission Drishti

• World’s first multi-sensor EO satellite combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical imaging on a single platform.
• Built by GalaxEye — one of India’s leading private space-tech start-ups.
• India’s largest privately-built satellite and the highest-resolution satellite (1.5 m) developed in the country.
• Mass: ~160 kg.
• Underwent successful structural tests at ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre, proving its ability to withstand harsh space conditions.
• Mission Drishti is the first step in deploying a constellation of 8–12 satellites by 2029 (company target: 8–10 in next four years).

Key Features & Technological Significance

• Dual Payload Technology: SAR + optical sensors enable:
  • Imaging in all weather conditions
  • Day and night coverage
  • High-precision, multi-layered data
• High-resolution EO imagery optimized across spatial, spectral, and temporal dimensions.
• Enables actionable multisource imaging intelligence—a capability currently unexplored globally.

According to the company, Mission Drishti opens a new era in satellite imaging by fusing multiple sensing technologies to provide real-time situational awareness.

Applications

Mission Drishti aims to strengthen high-end geospatial capabilities across national and commercial sectors:

The mission aligns with rising global demand for accurate Earth observation data, especially amid geopolitical tensions and climate-driven emergencies.

Significance for India’s Space Ecosystem

• Enhances India’s capabilities in commercial EO intelligence, traditionally dominated by the US & Europe.
• Strengthens private-sector participation under India’s space reforms and IN-SPACe framework.
• Potential to integrate AI and advanced imaging analytics, improving decision-making in governance and industry.
• Boosts India’s aspiration to become a global space-technology provider.

In News:

• India has launched an ambitious Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–26 to 2030–31),signalling a major push toward self-sufficiency in pulses and farmer-centric agricultural transformation.
• Announced during a special programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the Mission carries an outlay of ?11,440 crore and aims to meet India’s pulses requirement entirely through domestic production by December 2027.
• Pulses hold strategic importance for India as they ensure nutritional security, enrich soil through nitrogen fixation, support rural livelihoods, and reduce import bills. Despite being the world’s largest producer and consumer, India's demand-supply gap has led to significant imports—47.38 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. The Mission seeks to eliminate this dependence and strengthen farmer income security.

Key Targets (by 2030–31)

• Total production:350 lakh tonnes
• Cultivation area:310 lakh hectares (including 35 lakh ha rice fallows)
• Yield target:1,130 kg/ha
• Beneficiaries: Nearly 2 crore farmers
• Import elimination by Dec 2027

Core Components of the Mission

Seed & Technology Push

• 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds
• 88 lakh free seed kits
• Deployment of high-yielding, pest-resistant, climate-resilient varieties
• Launch of SATHI Portal (Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory) for seed lifecycle transparency

Assured MSP & Farmer Security

• 100% procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor for four years
• Procurement support via NAFED & NCCF
• Linked to PM-AASHA for guaranteed price support and reduced market risk

Cluster-Based Integrated Approach

• "One Block – One Seed Village" model
• FPO-driven clusters to streamline seed production & marketing
• Mechanization, soil health management, and balanced fertilization
• Agronomy support from ICAR, KVKs & state agriculture departments

Value Chain Strengthening

• 1,000 processing & packaging unitsincentive: up to ?25 lakh per unit
• Focus on storage, processing, branding, and market linkages

Social and Nutrition Focus

• Inclusion of pulses in PDS, ICDS, Mid-Day Meal schemes
• Strengthening food-based welfare with protein security

NITI Aayog Recommendations Integrated

• Expansion into rice fallows
• Cluster-based cultivation & seed hubs
• “One Block–One Seed Village”
• Data-driven monitoring through SATHI
• Public procurement strengthening at grassroots
• Climate-resilient, short-duration pest-resistant varieties