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Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 19 September 2025

Content Poshan Maah Drone Economy Takes Flight Poshan Maah Why in News? The Government of India launched the 8th Poshan Maah (17 Sept–30 Sept 2025) along with the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan (SNSPA). Focus areas include obesity awareness, early childhood care & education (Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi), infant & young child feeding (IYCF), and men’s involvement in nutrition. Relevance GS2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes): Poshan Abhiyaan, PM POSHAN, ICDS, WCD Ministry. GS2 (Health & Social Justice): Malnutrition, anaemia, obesity. GS3 (Environment): EK Ped Maa Ke Naam, Poshan Vatikas.   Basics What is Poshan Abhiyaan? Launched: March 8, 2018, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Full form: Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN). Objective: Convergence-based mission targeting malnutrition in children (0–6 yrs), adolescent girls, pregnant & lactating women. Strategy: Jan Andolan (people’s movement) + technology-driven monitoring. Tools: Poshan Tracker App (since 2021), Anganwadi-led service delivery, awareness campaigns. What is Poshan Maah? Observed: September (annually). Purpose: Mass awareness + community mobilization on nutrition. Coincides with PM Modi’s birthday month, reflecting political symbolism and personal commitment. Complementary events: Poshan Pakhwada (March/April). 2025 Update (8th Poshan Maah) Launched: September 17, 2025, along with Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan (SNSPA). Coverage: 14,02,248 Anganwadi Centres, 9.14 crore beneficiaries registered on Poshan Tracker. Financial Outlay: ₹1,30,794.90 crore (2021-26) for PM POSHAN Scheme. Achievements & Data Insights NFHS-5 (2019–21): Stunting (U-5): ↓ from 38.4% → 35.5%. Underweight: ↓ from 35.8% → 32.1%. Wasting: ↓ from 21.0% → 19.3%. Iron & Folic Acid Supplementation (Q2 FY 2024-25): 15.4 crore children/adolescents covered. Institutional Coverage: Over 13 lakh Anganwadi Centres functioning, integrated with ICDS, NHM, SBM. Community engagement: Events like Poshan Vatika, nutrition literacy rallies, annaprashan ceremonies. Objectives of POSHAN Abhiyaan Reduce stunting, undernutrition, and low birth weight (0–6 yrs). Reduce anaemia in children (6–59 months), adolescent girls, and women (15–49 yrs). Focus on first 1000 days (conception to 2 yrs) to break intergenerational malnutrition. Integrate nutrition + health + WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) + early education. Promote exclusive breastfeeding, dietary diversity, complementary feeding. Themes of 8th Poshan Maah (2025) Obesity Awareness: Reduce sugar & oil consumption. PM’s call: “Use 10% less oil in cooking.” Context: Rising obesity epidemic (1 in 3 projected to be obese in future). Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) / Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi: Linked to NEP 2020. Anganwadi Centres → preschool hubs integrating nutrition + learning. EK Ped Maa Ke Naam: Tree plantation drive linking environmental sustainability with nutrition. Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF): Promotion of breastfeeding & optimal feeding practices in 0–2 yrs. Men’s Involvement in Nutrition: Encourage male caregiving roles → breaking stereotype of nutrition as only women’s duty. Technology: Poshan Tracker App Launched: March 1, 2021, Ministry of Women & Child Development. Functions: Real-time monitoring of growth (stunting, wasting, underweight). Beneficiary-focused data for pregnant women, children, lactating mothers. Performance tracking of Anganwadi workers. Scale: 14 lakh Anganwadis + 9.14 crore beneficiaries registered. Role: Strengthens e-governance in nutrition delivery. PM POSHAN Scheme Successor of Mid-Day Meal Scheme (under NFSA, 2013). Coverage: Classes I–VIII, Government & aided schools. Beneficiaries: 11.80 crore children, across 11.20 lakh schools. Financials: ₹1.3 lakh crore outlay (2021–26). 9.5% hike in material cost (2025) → additional ₹954 crore burden. Provisions: Food grains @ NFSA rates (100g/child/day for primary, 150g for upper primary). Cooking cost (₹4.97 primary, ₹7.45 upper primary per child/day). Coverage extended to Balvatika (pre-primary). Summer meals in drought/disaster zones. Innovative Awareness Tools Children Nutrition Park (Ekta Nagar, Gujarat): Edutainment model → Nutri Train, interactive stations, nutrition-themed games. Focus: Linking play, fun, and healthy habits. Poshan Pakhwada (April 2025): Focused on first 1000 days, maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, and indigenous diets. Significance & Relevance Public Health: Tackles India’s “triple burden of malnutrition” – undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity. Women Empowerment: Nutrition linked to Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar → healthier women = empowered families. Economic Impact: Improved nutrition = better learning outcomes, higher productivity, reduced health burden. Global Alignment: Supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) & SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being). Governance Innovation: Combines community mobilization + digital monitoring + inter-ministerial convergence. Challenges Persisting regional disparities (e.g., high stunting in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP). Implementation gaps in Anganwadi services (infrastructure, training, workloads). Gender & social factors: Early marriage, poverty, intra-household food distribution bias. Obesity transition: While tackling undernutrition, India faces rising lifestyle-related obesity. Data quality: Poshan Tracker needs robust validation; NFHS periodicity limits timely tracking. Way Forward Strengthen Anganwadi infrastructure (Saksham Anganwadi model). Scale-up Poshan Vatikas & kitchen gardens for local nutrition security. Focus on tribal & high-burden districts with tailored interventions. Deepen male participation in nutrition & caregiving. Regular mid-course evaluations using real-time Poshan Tracker data. Link nutrition with climate resilience (millets, local crops). Drone Economy Takes Flight Why in News? 56th GST Council Meeting (3rd Sept 2025): GST on drones (with/without cameras) cut from 18% / 28% → uniform 5%. Objective: Encourage domestic drone manufacturing, reduce classification disputes, boost adoption across agriculture, defence, logistics, mining, and disaster management. Significance: Key push towards Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s Drone Hub 2030 vision. Relevance GS2 (Governance): Policy reforms, DigitalSky platform, Drone Rules 2021. GS3 (Economy, Tech, Defence): GST reform, Make in India, PLI scheme, defence modernisation. GS1 (Society): Women empowerment via Namo Drone Didi. From Basics What are drones? Drones = Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) controlled remotely or autonomously. Used in surveillance, agriculture, mapping, logistics, defence, disaster relief. Drone Policy Ecosystem in India: Drone Rules, 2021: Liberalised norms, eased permissions. DigitalSky Platform: Single-window online approvals for flying, registration, tracking. PLI Scheme (2021): ₹120 crore outlay for drones/components (boost indigenous manufacturing). Drone Shakti (Budget 2022-23): Promotes Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS) startups. Skill Development: DGCA-approved training institutes for drone pilots/operators. Awareness: Events like Bharat Drone Mahotsav showcase innovations. Flagship Government Schemes Using Drones: Namo Drone Didi (2023): Women SHGs trained to provide agri-drone services. SVAMITVA Scheme: Drone-based land mapping in rural India. Defence Uses: Terrier Cyber Quest 2025, Army and DRDO initiatives for ISR & combat drones. Overview GST Reform: Uniform 5% Before: 18% (normal drones) / 28% (camera-fitted drones). Now: 5% for all drones – eliminates classification disputes. Policy Certainty: Reduces litigation, creates a predictable tax regime. Affordability: Makes drones cheaper → accelerates adoption. Sectoral Impact Agriculture Precision farming, crop monitoring, pesticide/fertilizer spraying. Reduces input costs, boosts productivity. Namo Drone Didi → gender empowerment + agri-tech penetration. Petroleum & Mining Inspection of pipelines, rigs, mining sites. Enhances safety + efficiency, reduces human risk. Infrastructure & Urban Planning Land surveying, GIS mapping, smart city projects. Faster, accurate project execution. Logistics & E-commerce Last-mile delivery (medicine, essential goods). Potential to revolutionize rural connectivity. Defence & Security Border surveillance, intelligence gathering, counter-terror ops. Strategic edge in modern warfare. Disaster Management Search & rescue, flood mapping, relief supply drops. Crucial for climate-related emergencies. Economic & Employment Impact Domestic Drone Market Growth: GST cut boosts affordability → larger customer base. Job Creation: Manufacturing/Assembly (hardware components, electronics). Software/Data Analytics (AI, image processing, GIS). Field Operations/Maintenance (pilots, technicians). Startup Ecosystem: Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) and agri-tech startups to benefit. Strategic Significance Global Drone Hub by 2030: Policy shift aligns with India’s ambition to rival US/China in drone economy. Make in India push: Reduced GST complements PLI scheme for domestic manufacturing. Defence Preparedness: Enhances indigenous ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities. Social Empowerment: Drones for SHGs and rural entrepreneurs bridge digital & gender divides. Challenges Ahead Regulatory Issues: Ensuring safe airspace integration with civil aviation. Cybersecurity Risks: Potential misuse for espionage/terror. Skilling Gap: Need for trained drone pilots, technicians, data analysts. Infrastructure: Charging, repair, and maintenance hubs lacking in rural areas. Market Penetration: High initial costs despite tax cut may deter small farmers/SHGs. Way Forward Strengthen Drone Testing & Certification ecosystem (National Test House role). Scale-up Drone Didi program nationwide. Promote Drone-as-a-Service to lower upfront costs for farmers/MSMEs. Integrate drones with AI, IoT, and GIS for smart applications. Develop drone corridors & dedicated airspace management systems. Incentivize export-oriented manufacturing to tap global markets.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 19 September 2025

Content Equalising primary food consumption in India India needs more focus to reach SDG 3, a crucial goal Holistic approach Equalising primary food consumption in India Why in News? NSS Household Consumption Survey (2024) released after more than a decade enabled new poverty estimates. World Bank (April 2025) report (“Poverty and Equity Brief: India”) found extreme poverty fell from 16.2% in 2011–12 to 2.3% in 2022–23. Contrarian estimates by economists Pulapre Balakrishnan & Aman Raj (2025) argue food deprivation remains high when measured via a “thali consumption metric”. Relevance GS2 (Governance): Food Security, PDS reforms, NFSA 2013. GS3 (Economy & Agriculture): Poverty measurement, subsidy efficiency, nutritional security. GS3 (Social Justice): Hidden hunger, inequality in consumption, welfare targeting. Practice Question Q. “India’s poverty estimates show sharp decline, but nutritional deprivation persists.” Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the Public Distribution System in addressing hidden hunger.(250 Words) Basics Poverty Measurement Approaches Conventional (India’s historic method): calorie-based minimum income thresholds. World Bank global metric: $2.15/day (PPP) for extreme poverty. Alternative (Thali Index): number of thalis affordable daily → reflects balanced diet, nourishment, and actual food expenditure. Public Distribution System (PDS) Provides subsidised cereals (mainly rice & wheat) + free food in many states. Goal: Ensure food security under NFSA, 2013. Criticism: Inefficient targeting and misallocation of subsidies, often benefiting the non-poor. Overview Key Insights from Thali-Based Poverty Metric Cost of one thali: ₹30 (Crisil estimate, 2023). Standard: 2 thalis/day/person = minimum acceptable food consumption. Findings from HCES 2024: 50% rural and 20% urban population cannot afford 2 thalis/day. After including PDS subsidies: deprivation reduces to 40% rural and 10% urban → still significant, esp. rural. Explanation: Households spend on rent, health, education, etc. → food becomes residual expenditure, unlike assumption in official poverty lines. PDS Effectiveness and Inefficiency Rural India: Even richer fractiles (90–95%) receive almost the same subsidy as the poorest (0–5%). PDS not progressive → mis-targeted. Urban India: Subsidies more progressive but 80% still benefit, even if food-secure. Cereal consumption equalised across classes, showing PDS success in staples but limits in addressing nutrition gaps. Policy Proposal by Authors Restructure PDS Subsidies Cut cereal entitlements for the upper fractiles. Rationalise allocations to match actual need → reduce fiscal burden & FCI stocking costs. Expand Subsidy to Pulses Pulses are costly & main protein source for poor. Current pulse intake of poorest (0–5%) = half that of richest (95–100%). Expanding PDS to pulses can equalise primary nutrition across population. Compact, Need-Based PDS Focus subsidies only on those below 2 thali/day standard. Free up resources for health, education, infrastructure. Broader Implications For Governance & Policy Reveals disconnect between official poverty estimates and actual nutritional deprivation. Challenges India’s “poverty-free” narrative, showing hidden hunger. For Public Finance Current subsidies spread thin across 80 crore beneficiaries. Rationalisation could reduce food subsidy bill (~₹2 lakh crore annually) and improve fiscal space. For Nutrition & SDGs India’s “triple burden” (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, obesity) demands a shift from calorie-security to nutrition-security. Pulse-centric PDS aligns with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and improves protein adequacy. For Equity & Justice Current design subsidises even the non-poor → regressive. A progressive, nutrition-focused PDS would equalise core food intake, reducing hidden inequality. Way Forward Move from cereal-dominated PDS → diversified nutrition basket (pulses, millets, oil). Improve targeting using real-time household consumption data. Integrate with Poshan Abhiyaan & ICDS to link PDS with maternal-child nutrition. Regularly publish HCES surveys for timely recalibration of subsidies. Consider direct benefit transfers (DBTs) for better efficiency in urban areas, while maintaining physical PDS in rural/tribal belts. India needs more focus to reach SDG 3, a crucial goal Why in News? India’s SDG Index Rank 2025: India ranked 99 out of 167 countries, its best-ever position, improving from 109 in 2024. Progress in basic services & infrastructure, but lagging in health and nutrition (SDG 3), especially in rural/tribal areas. Editorial focuses on SDG 3 (Health & Well-being) and strategies needed for India to get back on track. Relevance GS2 (Governance & Social Justice): Health policy, Ayushman Bharat, primary healthcare reforms. GS3 (Economy): OOPE, health financing, insurance coverage. GS2/GS3 (International): India’s role in achieving global SDGs by 2030. Practice Question : Q. Despite significant progress in health infrastructure, India lags in SDG 3 targets. Discuss the structural barriers and suggest a three-pronged approach to achieve “health for all” by 2030.(250 Words) Basics Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Adopted by UN in 2015, 17 goals, 169 targets, deadline 2030. India’s monitoring: NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Goal: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Key targets for India: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Under-five mortality rate: ≤25 per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy: 73.6 years. Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE): reduce to 7.83% of household consumption. Universal immunisation: 100%. Overview India’s Performance Gaps in SDG 3 Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 (target 70). Under-5 Mortality: 32 per 1,000 live births (target 25). Life Expectancy: 70 years (below 73.6 target). OOPE: 13% of consumption (target 7.8%). Immunisation: 93% (short of 100%). Causes of Gaps Economic barriers – affordability, OOPE burden. Infrastructure gaps – weak primary health care in rural/tribal regions. Non-economic factors – malnutrition, poor sanitation, lifestyle diseases. Cultural barriers & stigma – mental health, reproductive health, taboos. Proposed Three-Pronged Approach Universal Health Insurance Ensures equity in access & reduces catastrophic expenditure. Supported by World Bank studies on positive global outcomes. Strengthening Primary Health Care Functional PHCs with coordination across primary, secondary, tertiary levels. WHO (2022) highlights role of strong primary systems in early detection & lower costs. Digital tools (telemedicine, e-health records) can bridge rural gaps. Example: Lancet Digital Health Commission → digital platforms improved maternal care, vaccination in LMICs. School-based Health Education (Prevention) Focus on nutrition, hygiene, reproductive health, mental health, road safety. Habits formed in childhood sustain into adulthood. Global precedents: Finland (1970s): health curriculum lowered cardiovascular mortality. Japan: compulsory health education → improved hygiene, longer life expectancy. Long-term impact: Lower MMR, under-5 mortality; higher life expectancy & immunisation. Broader Implications Governance & Policy: Need for integrated strategy → universal health coverage + school curricula + preventive care. Public Health: Tackling India’s “double burden” → unfinished agenda of maternal/child health + rising NCDs/obesity. Economy: Reduced OOPE frees household budgets, boosts productivity. Global Alignment: India’s progress critical to achieving global SDGs (only 17% on track globally). Viksit Bharat 2047: Long-term vision requires embedding health education + robust systems, beyond 2030 deadlines. Way Forward Expand AB-PMJAY to ensure universal health coverage. Invest in Saksham Anganwadis + Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres. Integrate Digital India with Health Stack for e-records, telemedicine. Make school health education compulsory (nutrition, mental health, reproductive health). Promote community health literacy & engage parents in health curricula. Shift focus from curative → preventive health for cost-effective outcomes. Holistic approach Why in News? Supreme Court suggestion: prosecuting farmers for stubble burning to curb winter air pollution. Context: October–November smog in Delhi-NCR, caused by stubble burning + vehicular emissions + industrial pollution + meteorological trapping. Challenge: Existing mechanisms like the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) remain ineffective due to political pressures, weak enforcement, and flawed incentives. Relevance GS3 (Environment): Air pollution, sustainable agriculture, climate impacts. GS2 (Governance): Federalism, CAQM’s role, judicial vs executive balance. GS3 (Economy): Cost of pollution on GDP, farm economics. GS3 (Science & Tech): Bio-decomposers, mechanisation, agri-tech innovations. Practice Question : Q. Stubble burning is less a farmer’s choice and more a symptom of structural agricultural economics. Evaluate the effectiveness of current institutional mechanisms and suggest a multi-pronged strategy for long-term resolution.(250 Words) Basics What is Stubble Burning? Practice of burning leftover paddy straw after harvest to clear fields quickly for rabi sowing (wheat). Common in Punjab, Haryana, Western UP. Why Farmers Burn Stubble? Short sowing window (due to delayed paddy harvest). High cost of alternatives (machinery, manual removal). Debt burden and economic compulsions. Lack of market for crop residue. Impacts of Stubble Burning Contributes 20–30% of Delhi-NCR winter PM2.5 levels. Severe health costs (respiratory diseases, reduced productivity). Soil degradation → loss of nutrients & soil microbes. Climate impact: releases CO₂, CH₄, N₂O (greenhouse gases). Overview Institutional Mechanism: CAQM Established in 2020 as a statutory body for air quality management across NCR and adjoining states. Powers: coordinate inter-state actions, issue binding directions. Weaknesses: Political interference (example: postponement of “end-of-life vehicle” ban). Opaque reporting (Punjab’s under-reporting of farm fires). Inaction on enforcement & farmer incentives. Current Problem Judiciary floating “jail farmers” proposal → reflects failure of executive/CAQM to offer structural solutions. Blaming farmers alone ignores systemic agricultural economics. Multi-pronged Strategy Needed 1. Economic Incentives Direct subsidy for stubble management machinery (Happy Seeder, Super Straw Management System). MSP diversification: Encourage less water-intensive crops → millets, pulses. Crop residue monetisation: promote biomass power plants, ethanol production, cardboard industry. 2. Legal & Regulatory Measures Strict enforcement against industrial and vehicular polluters (parallel contributors). Transparent satellite-based monitoring of farm fires with accountability on states. Penalties on state governments for non-compliance, not just farmers. 3. Technological & Ecological Solutions Pusa bio-decomposer (IARI innovation) to decompose stubble in-situ. Mechanisation support through FPOs and custom hiring centres. Agroforestry & crop diversification to reduce residue burden. 4. Governance Reforms Empower CAQM with real independence from political pressure. Time-bound transparent reporting of stubble fires. Participatory approach: farmers’ unions, state governments, local panchayats included in decision-making. Broader Implications Health & Economy: India loses ~1.36% of GDP annually due to air pollution (World Bank, 2022). Agriculture & Climate Nexus: Water-guzzling paddy + stubble burning → both environmental & climate challenges. Federalism: Pollution is transboundary; requires cooperative federalism. Judiciary-Executive balance: Over-reliance on judicial nudges shows weak policy enforcement. Way Forward Shift approach from “punitive action on farmers” → “structural reforms & incentives”. Reorient subsidies & MSP to encourage sustainable cropping. Scale-up bio-decomposer + biomass economy. Strengthen CAQM’s independence with parliamentary oversight. Integrate air pollution control into climate change and public health policies.

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 19 September 2025

Content Sonagachi & DMSC: 30 Years of Sex Workers’ Rights Movement in India Should India Overlook Boundary Issues While Normalising Ties with China? Why Did India Condemn the Doha Strike? Online Gaming Ban & Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 Saudi–Pakistan Defence Pact Sonagachi & DMSC: 30 Years of Sex Workers’ Rights Movement in India Why in News? Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), a pioneering sex workers’ rights collective from Kolkata’s Sonagachi, celebrated 30 years of existence on July 15, 2024. The organisation has been central in advancing sex workers’ rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, and social recognition. The event highlighted debates on decriminalisation, workers’ rights, and social stigma in India. Relevance GS I (Society): Social empowerment, stigma, women’s movements. GS II (Polity & Governance): Rights of marginalised, SC judgments, labour rights. GS III (Social Justice & Health): HIV/AIDS control, trafficking, SDG 3 (health), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work). Essay/Case Study material: Women empowerment, dignity of labour, “Rights vs Morality” debates. Basics Sonagachi: Asia’s largest red-light district, located in North Kolkata. Houses around 12,000 sex workers, with another 28,000 associated through DMSC across West Bengal. Historically stigmatized yet culturally significant (soil from Sonagachi used in Durga idol-making). Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC): Founded in 1992, initially as an HIV/AIDS prevention initiative led by Dr. Samajit Jana under WHO survey. Evolved into a sex workers’ collective, demanding labour rights, social protection, and decriminalisation. Works with cisgender women, transgender people, and male sex workers. Key initiatives: Condom distribution & HIV prevention campaigns. USHA Multipurpose Cooperative Society (1995) – Asia’s first sex workers’ financial cooperative. Community-based monitoring against trafficking, with over 2,000 rescues/rehabilitations. Legal interventions (e.g., winning right to celebrate Durga Puja in 2013 despite resistance). Overview Legal & Policy Context Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA): Does not criminalise sex work per se, but penalises brothel-keeping, soliciting, and living off earnings of sex work → indirectly criminalises livelihood. Supreme Court (2022): Directed police not to harass consenting sex workers; recognised right to dignity under Article 21. Debate: Rights groups argue for full decriminalisation (New Zealand model), not partial legalisation (Netherlands model). Socio-economic Dimensions Drivers into sex work: Poverty, dowry pressures, lack of employment, migration. Economic empowerment: Many support families, children’s education, marriages, healthcare. Financial inclusion: DMSC’s cooperative provides access to savings and loans, reducing dependence on moneylenders. Human Rights Concerns Stigma & discrimination: Denied entry into temples, pandals. Face housing discrimination, violence, exclusion from welfare schemes. Violence & health risks: Exposure to abusive clients, extortion, trafficking. Yet HIV prevention success in Sonagachi is globally cited (UNAIDS case study). DMSC’s Rights-based Approach Slogan: “Only rights can stop the wrong”. Pushes for: Recognition of sex work as labour under Indian labour laws. Access to welfare schemes (ration cards, Aadhaar, pensions, insurance). Protection from workplace harassment like any other worker. Global Perspective Decriminalisation models: New Zealand (2003 Prostitution Reform Act): Full decriminalisation, rights & health safeguards. Nordic model: Criminalises buyers, not sellers → criticised for pushing trade underground. India’s policy remains ambivalent – progressive judicial recognition vs. regressive statutory framework. Key Takeaways Sonagachi exemplifies the intersection of poverty, stigma, and resilience. DMSC’s 30-year journey shows how community-led organisations can achieve health security, financial empowerment, and social recognition. The larger debate is whether India should move towards full decriminalisation of sex work, aligning with constitutional values of dignity (Art. 21), equality (Art. 14), and freedom of livelihood (Art. 19(1)(g)). Value Additions: Data & Reports Global: UNAIDS (2012): Sonagachi model reduced HIV prevalence among sex workers from ~11% in early 1990s to below 5% by mid-2000s. ILO (2018): Estimated 42 million sex workers globally, of which 80% are women. India: NACO (2021): HIV prevalence among female sex workers in India = 1.56%, significantly below global average. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB 2022): ~6,500 cases registered under ITPA annually – showing continued criminalisation in practice. ILO study (2015): 87% sex workers in India entered due to lack of alternative livelihood. Committees & Commissions Justice Verma Committee (2013): Recommended decriminalisation of sex workers to protect them from exploitation. Supreme Court Panel on Sex Workers (2011–2022): Recognised sex workers’ rights to dignity, directed States to provide Aadhaar, ration cards, voter IDs. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): Advocated for treating sex work as work, not as criminal activity. Should India overlook boundary issues while normalising ties with China? Why in News? PM Narendra Modi visited China earlier this month to attend the SCO Summit in Tianjin. On the sidelines, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders agreed to: Restart bilateral trade and air connectivity. Maintain peace and tranquility at the border. Emphasise that India and China are “development partners, not rivals”. Context: Comes 5 years after Galwan clashes (2020). Just months after Operation Sindoor against Pakistan (with Chinese support to Pakistan’s military). Relevance: GS II (IR): India–China relations, border dispute (Aksai Chin, Arunachal Pradesh), diplomacy in multilateral forums (SCO, BRICS). GS III (Security): Border management, PLA infrastructure, India’s counter (LAC roads, tunnels). Basics of India–China Relations Historical Background 1962 War → Border dispute remains unresolved. 1988 Rajiv Gandhi Visit → Both agreed to normalise ties despite boundary issue. 1993, 1996 Agreements → Confidence-building measures along LAC. 2005 → Strategic and Cooperative Partnership. 2020 Galwan Clash → Worst violence in 45 years; derailed confidence-building. Core Issues Boundary Dispute: Over 3,488 km LAC; sectors (Western – Aksai Chin; Middle – Barahoti; Eastern – Arunachal Pradesh). China–Pakistan Nexus: CPEC, arms supplies, recent Saudi–Pak pact (with Chinese backing). Trade Imbalance: India imports heavily from China (electronics, machinery, critical minerals). Military Infrastructure: Rapid PLA buildup in Tibet/ Xinjiang; India matching with LAC infrastructure upgrades. Overview Possibility of Normalisation without Border Resolution Pro: Precedent (1988–1990s) showed that ties in trade, culture, and people-to-people contact can progress while boundary remains unsettled. Peace and tranquility along LAC is the minimum condition. Con : 2020 Galwan revealed fragility of this arrangement. China reluctant to resolve border; uses ambiguity as leverage. China’s Strategic Perceptions of India Views India as secondary power, “just another South Asian country”. Alarmed by: India’s demographic dividend vs. China’s population decline. India’s economic growth and manufacturing ambitions (esp. during China–US trade war). Article 370 dilution (2019) seen as provocative by Beijing. Policy Shift: Restrict Chinese investments in India, impose export controls to hinder India’s rise. Chinese Strategy in South Asia Expanding beyond bilateral ties → creating trilateral/multilateral frameworks excluding India. Ex: China–Pakistan–Afghanistan, China–Pakistan–Bangladesh. Aim: Strategic encirclement of India (part of “String of Pearls” & BRI). India’s Countermoves Border Patrol Agreement 2024: Restoration of patrolling rights (Demchok, Depsang) seen as diplomatic win. Infrastructure Push: Roads, tunnels, advanced deployment along LAC. Strategic Diversification: QUAD with US, Japan, Australia. Strengthening ties with ASEAN, EU, Gulf, Africa. Balancing act: Engage China at SCO/BRICS but hedge with West. Future Scenarios Best-case: Stable ties with controlled rivalry; border management agreements hold. Middle-case: Economic engagement continues, but periodic border standoffs persist. Worst-case (Galwan-2): Another violent clash → complete breakdown, risk of escalation, push India deeper into US camp. Key Takeaways India–China ties improving post-Modi’s China visit, with trade and border disengagement resuming. Boundary issue remains unresolved; Galwan exposed limits of “set aside disputes” formula. China sees India as a potential rival, not an equal, while India worries about encirclement via South Asia. Balancing strategy: India engages China diplomatically, strengthens border defences, and diversifies strategic partnerships. Future trajectory depends on whether border tranquility holds or another crisis emerges. Why did India condemn Doha strike? Why in News? On 16 September 2025, India condemned Israel’s bombing in Doha (Qatar) that targeted Hamas leaders, calling it a “violation of sovereignty” and a threat to “regional and global peace, stability, and security”. Statement was delivered by India’s Ambassador to the UN Mission in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council. This unusually strong reaction raised questions on whether India’s West Asia policy is shifting, especially given its silence on Gaza and muted positions in past Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, etc. Relevance: GS II (IR): India’s West Asia policy, balancing Israel–Arab ties, UN stance on sovereignty/territorial integrity. GS III (Energy Security): Qatar as LNG supplier, implications for India’s energy imports. Basics The Incident (Sept 9, 2025): Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) bombed a house in Doha where Hamas leaders were meeting on a US ceasefire proposal. Casualties: 5 killed. Israel justified the strike by accusing Qatar of “harbouring and funding” Hamas operatives. India’s Position: Expressed “deep concern” over attacks in Doha. Condemned violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, invoked UN Charter and international law. Called for respect of territorial integrity and avoidance of escalation. Contrast: In previous Israeli strikes (Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen), India’s reaction was muted or ambivalent. Overview Why India Criticised the Doha Strike? Qatar’s importance: Major supplier of LNG to India (long-term contracts crucial for energy security). Hosts a large Indian diaspora (8 lakh+ workers, key source of remittances). Strong personal ties between PM Modi and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Regional Stability: Qatar central in Gulf politics, hosts US military bases, and mediates in Middle East crises. Saudi–Pakistan Pact Factor (Sept 17, 2025): India wanted to reassure Gulf partners of solidarity, amidst growing Pakistan–Saudi military closeness. Shift from Past Reactions Iran (2024–25): India oscillated — cautious concern after Israeli/US strikes on nuclear facilities, later flip-flopping in SCO statements. Lebanon (2024): Indian Army Chief even praised Israeli operations against Hezbollah. Syria & Yemen: Largely muted or generic appeals for dialogue. Qatar (2025): First time India invoked sovereignty and territorial integrity in such strong terms against Israeli actions. Strategic Drivers Behind India’s Position Transactional Diplomacy: India calibrates reactions based on bilateral stakes (energy, diaspora, investments). Energy Security: Qatar among top LNG suppliers → vital for India’s energy transition and import stability. Diaspora Factor: Gulf countries house millions of Indians → New Delhi sensitive to local perceptions. Balancing Israel & Arabs: While Israel is a key defence partner, India cannot alienate Gulf states (energy + diaspora + remittances + trade). Geopolitical Signal: Israel’s strike on Qatar alarmed Gulf monarchies → India aligned with their concerns. Undermines US credibility as Gulf security guarantor, opening a strategic vacuum that India must navigate. Regional Implications For Gulf Countries: Fear of being next targets → push for a joint defence mechanism (Arab League + OIC + GCC emergency meetings). For Israel: Shows prioritisation of military operations over regional normalisation efforts (Abraham Accords at risk). For US: Weakening credibility as regional stabiliser → GCC exploring self-reliance or alternative security partners. For India: Must reassess its West Asia policy balance between strategic partnership with Israel and deep interdependence with Gulf states. Implications for India’s West Asia Policy Challenges: Silence on Gaza (65,000+ killed, 20,000+ children) is straining ties with Arab states. Need to avoid perception of bias towards Israel. Opportunities: Reinforce trust with Gulf partners (Qatar, Saudi, UAE). Use crisis to push strategic dialogue on energy + security with GCC. Strengthen image as a neutral actor supporting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace. Key Takeaways India condemned Israel’s Doha bombing as a “violation of sovereignty”. Unlike muted past responses, this strong stance reflects Qatar’s importance for energy, diaspora, and bilateral ties, not a generic shift in principle. Israel’s attack on Qatar signals deeper geopolitical turbulence in West Asia, reducing US credibility as a security guarantor. India must carefully balance ties with Israel and Arab states, especially amid the new Saudi–Pakistan defence pact and regional instability. Online Gaming Ban & Data Protection Rules Why in News? Online Gaming Ban: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 to come into effect from October 1, 2025. Scope: Outlaws all forms of real-money online games (e.g., Dream11, Mobile Premier League, Pokerbaazi). Promotes e-sports as distinct from gambling. Penalties: Platforms/social media influencers promoting such games → jail up to 2 years + ₹50 lakh fine. Data Protection Rules: To be notified by September 28, 2025 for operationalisation of Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Relevance: GS II (Polity & Governance): Central vs State powers (gambling in State List vs Centre’s regulation), data protection regime. GS III (Economy): Impact on startups, FDI, employment in gaming industry. GS III (Cyber Security): User data protection, regulation of online platforms, addiction and cyber fraud risks.   Basics Online Gaming in India Types: Real-money games (stake-based, e.g., fantasy sports, poker). Casual games (non-stake-based). E-sports (competitive, skill-based digital sports). Regulatory Challenge: Distinguishing games of skill vs games of chance (lottery/gambling). Concerns: Addiction, financial losses, money laundering, tax evasion, minors’ exploitation. Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 Passed in August 2023, but rules pending → delayed implementation. Key provisions: Informed consent for data collection. Restrictions on cross-border data transfers. Penalties for data breaches (up to ₹250 crore). Crucial for regulating digital ecosystems including gaming platforms. Overview A. Legal & Policy Dimensions First comprehensive central law to regulate online gaming → removes ambiguity between state bans and central oversight. Aligns with Supreme Court stance that online gaming cannot operate in a regulatory vacuum. Balances ban on betting/gambling while encouraging e-sports. B. Economic Impact Online gaming sector valued at $3 billion+ (2023), with high growth potential. Ban may hit startups, employment, and FDI inflows in the fantasy gaming industry. Tax evasion loopholes via offshore servers → plugging through stricter oversight. C. Social Impact Reduces risks of gaming addiction, suicides due to debt, and illegal betting. Protects minors from predatory practices (loot boxes, hidden payments). Promotes healthier competitive gaming ecosystem (e-sports recognition). D. Governance & Data Protection Link Data protection rules essential for enforcement: Prevents misuse of user data by gaming apps. Ensures accountability of foreign platforms operating in India. Lack of DPDP Act implementation so far created regulatory vacuum, now being closed. E. Challenges Ahead Enforcement: Offshore betting apps may bypass Indian jurisdiction. Federalism: Gambling is a State List subject, central law may face challenges. Innovation vs Regulation: Risk of stifling gaming startups & tech sector. Data Protection Gap: Effective only if robust grievance redressal + compliance monitoring exists. Way Forward Create separate regulator for online gaming (like TRAI for telecom). Clear classification of games of skill vs games of chance. Promote Make in India e-sports industry while curbing gambling. Ensure strong enforcement via MeitY, RBI (for payments), and CERT-In (for cyberfraud). Strengthen data protection ecosystem → rules, audits, penalties. Saudi–Pakistan Defence Pact Why in News? On 18 September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact, formalising a long-standing security partnership. Key clause: “Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” India responded that it is aware of the development and will study implications for national security, regional and global stability. Relevance: GS II (IR): India’s neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood policy; Gulf–South Asia security ties. GS III (Security): Defence diplomacy, India’s counter-strategy to China–Pakistan–Saudi axis. GS III (Economy/Energy): Energy security (Saudi oil imports), diaspora (2.7M Indians in Saudi Arabia). Basics of the Defence Pact Nature: Mutual defence & security agreement. Coverage: Joint deterrence against aggression; enhances military training, arms cooperation, intelligence sharing. Roots: Ties since the 1960s → Pakistani troops stationed in Saudi Arabia during crises (e.g., Yemen war, Grand Mosque seizure 1979). Symbolism: First time a formal written defence pact has been signed between the two nations. Overview Saudi–Pakistan Strategic Angle Military: Pakistan provides training, manpower (e.g., pilots, trainers, advisors). Financial: Saudi aid kept Pakistan’s economy and nuclear programme afloat (e.g., post-1971 defeat, $300M in 1974, continuous oil credit lines). Geopolitics: Pact reflects convergence against regional threats (Iran, Israel, instability in Yemen). Symbolism: Elevates Saudi Arabia as a regional security provider and Pakistan as a trusted defence ally. Implications for India Security: Pakistan may leverage Saudi support diplomatically in Kashmir/at OIC. Pact could embolden Pakistan’s military stance against India. Energy & Economy: Saudi Arabia is India’s 2nd-largest oil supplier (FY 2023–24: $42.9B imports). 2.7M Indians work in Saudi Arabia (remittances + diaspora leverage). Diplomacy: Saudi–India relations improving since 2006 Riyadh Declaration → 2010 Strategic Partnership. High-level visits by Modi (2016, 2019, 2024) deepened defence & counterterrorism ties. MEA has taken a cautious stance, reiterating commitment to “comprehensive national security.” Regional & Global Dimensions Middle East Power Shifts: Pact comes amid OIC summit (Sept 15, 2025) condemning Israel’s actions. US Angle: Past US cables (WikiLeaks 2007) flagged Saudi interest in joint nuclear/missile projects with Pakistan. China Angle: Both countries already part of China-led forums (e.g., SCO). This pact complements the China–Pakistan nexus, potentially complicating India’s strategic environment. Balancing Act: Saudi needs India for economy/energy security and Pakistan for military/security backup. India’s Policy Challenges Balancing energy & diaspora ties with Saudi Arabia while managing security risks from Pak–Saudi axis. Leveraging strategic partnerships with Gulf states (UAE, Oman, Qatar) to counterbalance. Using defence diplomacy (joint drills, counter-terrorism cooperation) to keep Riyadh engaged. Way Forward for India Strategic Caution: Continue engagement with Riyadh without overreacting to pact. Energy Diplomacy: Secure long-term oil & green hydrogen contracts with Saudi. Diaspora Leverage: Use Indian workforce as a stabilising factor in bilateral ties. Defence Outreach: Expand India–Saudi joint defence training, naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean. Multilateral Platforms: Push stronger India–Gulf cooperation via I2U2, G20, SCO, etc.

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 18 September 2025

Content UPI: India’s Digital Revolution Goes Global PMAY-Urban 2.0 UPI: India’s Digital Revolution Goes Global Context Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as India’s biggest digital success story. UPI has reshaped India’s financial ecosystem and is now being adopted globally. Why it matters: Makes India a global model for digital financial inclusion. Recognized by IMF (2025) as the largest real-time payment system in the world. Shows how public digital infrastructure can drive inclusion and innovation. Key Achievements & Figures Launch: UPI introduced in 2016 by NPCI. Scale (as of Aug 2025): 20+ billion transactions monthly. Value: ₹24.85 lakh crore in a single month. Accounts for 85% of India’s digital transactions. Inclusivity: 89% of Indian adults have bank accounts (Jan Dhan + Aadhaar). UPI connects small vendors, domestic workers, and farmers directly to digital banking. High-value transactions: From 15 Sept 2025, ₹10 lakh/day P2M limit for select merchant categories. Global status: UPI > credit + debit card usage combined in India. Recognized by IMF as world’s largest retail fast payment system. Global Footprint Singapore: Linked with PayNow for instant cross-border transfers. UAE & Mauritius: Indian travellers can pay with UPI in rupees. France: UPI accepted at the Eiffel Tower. Nepal & Bhutan: UPI integrated for payments and transfers. Talks underway: Asia, Africa, Europe – expanding acceptance. Impact: From reliance on Western card networks → to Indian-built open digital rails. Structural Foundation – Digital Public Infrastructure UPI success rests on the “Trinity” model: Jan Dhan Yojana → financial inclusion (hundreds of millions of accounts). Aadhaar → unique biometric identity for all. Low-cost mobile data → cheap internet for masses. Together, they created the base for UPI’s rapid adoption. Design innovation: Interoperability: Works across all banks/apps (not closed like wallets). Incentive structure: Competition among banks, fintechs, big tech → better services, faster innovation. IMF Recognition (2025) Fintech Note (June 2025): Recognized UPI for interoperability. Finance & Development (Sept 2025): Featured article “India’s Frictionless Payments”. Called UPI a lesson for the world. Highlighted shift from cash → digital trust. Showed UPI as a model for inclusive, low-cost, open payment rails. Socio-Economic Impact Vendors: Street-side sellers now get instant payment confirmation. Women entrepreneurs: Digital access widens financial independence. Farmers: Receive direct payments, reducing reliance on middlemen. Government: Gains trust in formal banking, expands tax base, and reduces leakage in DBTs. Overview Polity & Governance: Strengthens Digital India Mission. Acts as a public good showcasing successful state-market collaboration. Economy: Facilitates cashless economy. Reduces transaction costs and expands market participation. Social Justice: Promotes financial inclusion of marginalized groups. Technology & Innovation: Open architecture encourages start-ups and fintech growth. International Relations: Expanding UPI abroad strengthens India’s soft power and digital diplomacy. Did You Know? UPI processes more payments than debit + credit cards combined in India. 20+ billion monthly transactions = world’s largest retail real-time payment system. ₹10 lakh/day merchant transaction limit (2025 reform). Adopted in Singapore, UAE, Mauritius, France, Nepal, Bhutan – expanding to Asia, Africa, Europe. 85% share in India’s digital transactions. Conclusion UPI is not just a payments tool → it is: India’s symbol of digital innovation. A model for inclusive financial systems worldwide. A diplomatic asset, exporting India’s digital rails abroad. From local chaiwala to the Eiffel Tower, UPI is India’s story of trust digitized, inclusion scaled, and innovation globalized. PMAY-Urban 2.0 Context Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) launched in 2015 → mission of “Housing for All”. PMAY-Urban 2.0: Relaunched in Sept 2024, focusing on inclusivity, speed, and saturation in urban housing delivery. Current Development (2025): Angikaar 2025 campaign (Sept–Oct 2025) launched to fast-track application verification, construction, and delivery. 17 Sept 2025 celebrated as PMAY-U Awas Diwas (1-year of PMAY-U 2.0). Key Facts & Figures Overall PMAY Achievement (2015–2025): 1.2 crore homes sanctioned. 94 lakh homes handed over. PMAY-U 2.0 (since Sept 2024): 8.56 lakh houses sanctioned (additional 1.47 lakh in Aug 2025 CSMC meeting). 20 lakh houses under completion pipeline. ₹2.5 lakh financial assistance available per household (EWS/LIG/MIG). Inclusivity Focus: 75,417 houses sanctioned in the name of women (including single women & widows). 1,166 houses approved for senior citizens (Uttar Pradesh example). Community-wise sanction: 32,551 for SCs. 5,025 for STs. 58,375 for OBCs. Angikaar 2025 – Campaign Highlights Duration: 4 Sept – 31 Oct 2025. Coverage: 5,000+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Objectives: Complete pending 20 lakh houses. Reach Special Focus Groups: safai karamcharis, street vendors (PM SVANidhi), artisans (PM Vishwakarma), Anganwadi & construction workers, slum dwellers. Connect homes with PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (solar power). Facilitate Grih Pravesh ceremonies for new houses. Loan facilitation for 8.5 lakh sanctioned homes. Extensive door-to-door verification, geo-tagging, document checks for eligibility. Community Events: PM Awas Mela – Shehri (Sept–Oct 2025). Services: Help desks, loan melas, health camps, solar scheme camps, awareness drives. Activities: beneficiary stories, women achiever awards, student performances, cultural events. Structure of PMAY-U 2.0 Four Verticals: Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) – self-construction with subsidy. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) – PPP projects. Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) – for migrants & urban poor. Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS) – CLSS (Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme). Recent approvals mainly under BLC & AHP. Socio-Economic Impact Urban Poor Empowerment: Enables slum dwellers, daily wage earners, vendors, and women to access secure housing. Women Empowerment: Priority sanction in women’s names ensures property rights, security, and dignity. Elderly & Vulnerable Groups: Dedicated quotas for senior citizens, SC/ST/OBC, and minorities. Integration with Other Schemes: Energy: Solar power under PM Surya Ghar. Welfare: PM Ujjwala, Ayushman Bharat, PM SVANidhi. Livelihood: PM Vishwakarma, artisan support. Overview Polity & Governance: Strengthens urban local governance (ULBs central in implementation). Promotes cooperative federalism (states, ULBs, and Centre coordination). Economy: Boosts construction sector, creates jobs in allied industries. Loan facilitation deepens credit penetration. Social Justice: Prioritizes marginalized groups → SC, ST, OBC, women, widows, transgenders. Promotes inclusive urbanization. Technology: Use of geo-tagging, online portals, Aadhaar-linked eligibility checks → reduces duplication and leakages. Environment: Integration with solar schemes promotes sustainable housing. Culture/Community: Events like Awas Mela – Shehri foster ownership, pride, and participation at community level. Did You Know? PMAY since 2015: 1.2 crore sanctioned, 94 lakh handed over. PMAY-U 2.0 (2024–25): 8.56 lakh houses sanctioned. Financial aid per family: up to ₹2.5 lakh. 20 lakh homes currently under construction pipeline. Special sanction: 75,417 (women), 32,551 (SC), 5,025 (ST), 58,375 (OBC), 1,166 (senior citizens in UP). Coverage: 5,000+ ULBs under Angikaar 2025. Conclusion PMAY-U 2.0 + Angikaar 2025 = twin approach of infrastructure + inclusion. Shifts focus from “how many homes sanctioned” → “when will mine be ready” (last-mile delivery). More than housing → ensures dignity, safety, empowerment, and inclusion. With convergence of welfare schemes and technology-driven accountability, India is moving closer to the constitutional ideal of equitable, dignified urban living.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 18 September 2025

Content A judicial nudge following stuck legislative business Letter and spirit Welfare at the mercy of the machine A judicial nudge following stuck legislative business Basics Context: SC heard Presidential Reference on Governor’s powers under Article 200 regarding assent to state Bills. Trigger: SC (Justice Pardiwala bench) fixed a 3-month timeline for Governors and the President to act on Bills. Issue: Debate whether judiciary can set time limits when the Constitution itself does not. Relevant Articles: Art. 200 → Governor’s options on Bills (assent, withhold, return, reserve). Art. 201 → President’s power on reserved Bills. Art. 163 → Governor bound by aid & advice of CoM (except specified discretion). Art. 355 → Union’s duty to ensure governance in accordance with the Constitution. Key Cases: Shamsher Singh (1974) → Governor bound by aid & advice, limited discretion. Nabam Rebia (2016) → Reinforced limits on Governor’s powers. Punjab Governor case (2023) → Governor cannot delay assent indefinitely. Tamil Nadu Governor case (2025) → No discretionary withholding of assent. Relevance : GS2 (Polity & Governance): Federalism, separation of powers, role of Governor, judicial review. Practice Questions : “The deliberate omission of ‘discretion’ from Article 200 signifies the supremacy of elected governments.” Discuss.(250 Words) Author’s Core Argument Governors are ceremonial heads, must act on ministerial advice. Constitution-makers deliberately omitted “discretion” (present in 1935 Act) → Governors have no independent power under Art. 200. Court’s timeline is justified because Governors misused silence by sitting on Bills for years. Fixing a time limit upholds federalism and prevents legislative paralysis. Judicial innovation is not “amending the Constitution” but clarifying ambiguities (as seen with Art. 21 expansion). Union under Art. 355 could direct Governors, but since it hasn’t, SC’s intervention became necessary. Counter Arguments Judicial Overreach: Constitution doesn’t prescribe time → SC is effectively legislating. Executive Concerns: President and Governors are high constitutional authorities, cannot be bound by judicially invented timelines. Federal Balance: Could undermine centre–state relations by constraining the Governor’s role. Rare Discretion Cases: Sarkaria Commission allowed discretionary withholding when a Bill is “patently unconstitutional”. SC’s blanket bar may limit safeguards. Overview Polity/Constitutional: Strengthens federalism and prevents “pocket veto” by Governors. Reaffirms parliamentary system supremacy → elected CoM runs state, not unelected Governor. Political: Prevents Governors (often politically appointed) from obstructing opposition-ruled states. May reduce Centre-State confrontations (Punjab, TN, Kerala cases). Governance: Timely assent ensures smoother legislative process. Enhances accountability of constitutional offices. Judicial: Reflects trend of judicial creativity to resolve constitutional silences. Could trigger executive-judiciary friction. Comparative Perspective: UK Monarch → No discretion; always acts on ministerial advice. India borrowed same principle by dropping “in his discretion” from 1935 Act. Way Forward Codify a reasonable timeline (e.g., 3–6 months) in Constitution or parliamentary law. Clarify limited discretionary scope (only for unconstitutional Bills). Use Art. 355 to direct Governors if they stall governance. Promote convention-based restraint instead of judicial compulsion. Strengthen legislative-judiciary dialogue for smooth federal functioning. Letter and spirit Basics Context: SC judgment (15 Sept 2025) on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which amended the Waqf Act, 1995 governing Muslim religious endowments. Issue: Balancing religious autonomy vs. state regulation of vast waqf properties. Judgment outcome: Court stayed some provisions → preserved autonomy concerns. Court upheld others → validated state regulation powers. Key stakeholders: Govt view → Amendments needed to curb misuse, corruption. Critics (Opposition, community groups) → Arbitrary interference in Muslim affairs. Relevance GS2 → Polity (Art. 25–30, minority rights, state regulation), governance, federalism. GS4 → Ethical dimension: balancing faith autonomy vs. accountability. Practice Questions : “Regulation of religious endowments must be uniform and non-discriminatory.” Discuss in the context of the Waqf Act amendments.(250 Words) Author’s Core Argument SC struck a balance: neither struck down entire Act nor upheld it fully. Valid provisions: Removal of waqf-by-user recognition (with protection for pre-April 8, 2025 registrations). Restrictions on waqf claims over protected monuments and tribal lands. Stayed provisions: Only Muslims practising for 5 years can create waqf. District Collectors as adjudicators of waqf disputes. Overrepresentation of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards/Councils (capped). Broader point: Religious autonomy cannot justify misuse, but state regulation must be applied fairly across communities. Laws must be passed with wider consensus, else they risk delegitimising democracy. Counter Arguments Judicial restraint concern: By not ruling decisively, SC left ambiguities that may prolong disputes. Autonomy worry: Even capped non-Muslim membership and Collector’s role may still be seen as undermining community self-governance. Selective regulation: If state targets Muslim religious endowments while leaving others untouched, it raises equal protection (Art. 14) concerns. Legislative process: Building “complete consensus” is aspirational but often impractical in India’s adversarial politics. Overview Polity/Constitutional: Article 26 → Freedom to manage religious institutions. State regulation allowed for public order, morality, health. Presumption of constitutionality upheld. Social Justice: Prevents mismanagement of community assets. Addresses intra-community accountability. Federalism: Collector’s adjudicatory role shifts control from community boards to state bureaucracy. Governance: Brings waqf properties into greater transparency and state oversight. Political: Risks deepening communal mistrust if perceived as discriminatory regulation. Opposition may use as evidence of state overreach. Comparative Perspective: Other religious endowments (e.g., Hindu temples under state boards, Christian trusts) also regulated → issue is consistency, not uniqueness. Way Forward Ensure uniform principles of regulation for all religious endowments → equality before law. Establish independent tribunals (instead of District Collectors) for waqf disputes. Increase community participation while ensuring transparency. Build parliamentary consensus through dialogue with Opposition & affected communities. Regular audit and accountability mechanisms without curbing autonomy. Welfare at the mercy of the machine Basics Context: Govt mandated Facial Recognition Software (FRS) integration in Anganwadis via Poshan Tracker app (July 2025). Background: Anganwadis (est. 1975 under ICDS) → tackle child malnutrition, preschool education, maternal care. 14.02 lakh centres; each with 1 Anganwadi worker (AWW) + 1 helper. Legal mandate under NFSA, 2013 → Take Home Rations (THR) for children under 3 and pregnant/lactating women. Government’s stated aim: Prevent fake beneficiaries. Prevent diversion/theft by AWWs. Relevance GS2: Governance, rights-based welfare, NFSA, child nutrition, cooperative federalism (Centre schemes vs. State delivery). GS3: Tech in welfare, leakage vs. exclusion trade-off. GS4: Ethics of surveillance, dignity, natural justice. Practice Questions “In digital governance, the challenge is not technology, but the ethics of its application.” Discuss with reference to welfare delivery in India.(250 Words) Author’s Core Argument Vonnegut metaphor: Welfare delivery turning into an “engineer’s paradise” where frontline workers and poor are at mercy of tech tools. Problems with FRS: OTP/e-KYC hurdles (phones not available, numbers outdated). Frequent app errors, poor connectivity, low phone capacity. AWWs know beneficiaries personally but cannot override app failures. Presumes guilt (“fake” women/children) rather than innocence. Mismatch of priorities: Main THR issues = poor quality, irregular supply, low budget (₹8/day since 2018), corruption, centralisation. FRS solves a non-problem (fake beneficiaries). Dehumanisation risk: Women and children treated as potential criminals. Lack of consultation: AWWs excluded from design/decision-making. Better alternative: Community monitoring and decentralisation via SHGs/mahila mandals. Counter Arguments Govt defence: Digital verification ensures transparency, accountability, leakage prevention. FRS integration aligns with Digital India & JAM trinity. Past welfare leakages (e.g., PDS ghost beneficiaries) justify pre-emptive controls. Tech optimism: App-based systems build data for nutrition monitoring, enabling better policymaking. Future improvements in FRS may reduce errors. Implementation gap vs. design flaw: Problems may reflect execution weaknesses (training, connectivity, device upgrades), not tech itself. Overview Polity & Rights: NFSA, 2013 → legal right to food; tech cannot obstruct this. Principles of natural justice violated (innocent until proven guilty). Right to dignity (Art. 21) undermined. Governance: Over-centralisation through apps vs. decentralisation ordered by SC (2004). Weakens frontline discretion and trust-based community relations. Technology: FRS = invasive, error-prone, high-cost. International precedent: San Francisco banned FRS due to privacy/accuracy concerns. Social Justice: Vulnerable women/children bear brunt of tech failures. Anganwadi workers face hostility without authority. Economy/Policy: ₹8/day ration budget since 2018 = grossly inadequate. Focus should be on funding, supply-chain reform, local production, not surveillance tools. Ethics: Welfare as rights vs. welfare as conditional benefits. Risks dehumanisation, dignity erosion. Way Forward Re-prioritise core THR issues: quality, funding revision, decentralisation, supply regularity. Transparency: Publish data if large-scale fraud exists; justify FRS publicly. Participatory governance: Consult AWWs, SHGs, communities before rollout. Tech redesign: Use simpler verification (QR cards, community attestations). Enable offline access for poor-connectivity areas. Rights-first approach: Guarantee entitlements irrespective of app performance → “No denial due to tech failure.” Legal safeguard: Build accountability for exclusion errors in welfare digitisation.

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 18 September 2025

Content The hard truth about out-of-pocket health expenditure How does SC’s order affect Waqf law? EU–India partnership set for upgrade Sarnath Heritage Plaque Revision and UNESCO Nomination World Ozone Day: Earth’s protective layer on track to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, says WMO The hard truth about out-of-pocket health expenditure Context Definition: OOPE refers to direct payments made by households at the point of receiving healthcare services, excluding any insurance or government reimbursements. Issue: India’s out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) is the main mode of health financing → pushing families into poverty. NHA (National Health Accounts) reports show a decline in OOPE share (from 64% in 2013-14 → 39% in 2021-22). Criticism: The decline may be statistical, not real, due to survey limitations, under-reporting, and extrapolation. Why in news: Scholars compared NHA with CMIE, CES 2022-23, LASI, NIA data → found contradictions. Relevance GS2: Health as a social justice issue, rights-based approach, federalism (Centre-State role in health). GS3: Human capital, poverty alleviation, economic burden of healthcare, inflation. GS1: Social inequalities in healthcare access. Key Facts & Data NHA estimates: OOPE = 64% (2013-14) → 49% (2017-18) → 39% (2021-22). CES 2022-23: OOPE share in household consumption rose: Rural: 5.5% → 5.9% Urban: 6.9% → 7.1% LASI data: Higher hospitalisation by elderly than NSS suggests. CMIE-CPHS: Showed a V-shaped OOPE trend during COVID (steep rise + fall), absent in NHA. NIA estimates: Household spending on health in GDP shows steady increase, contradicting NHA’s decline. Implications (a) Polity & Governance Raises questions on data reliability for policymaking. Misleading statistics may allow governments to claim false progress in reducing healthcare burden. (b) Economy Health-care inflation: Higher household budget share going to health. Increased borrowing/sale of assets for treatment → poverty trap. (c) Society OOPE → catastrophic health expenditure. Women and children bear disproportionate burden (extra work, dropping out of school, reduced nutrition). Inequity: Poor often forgo care due to inability to pay. (d) Pandemic Lessons NHA failed to capture COVID-19 distress → highlights gaps in real-time monitoring. Critical Analysis Core Message of Article: The decline in OOPE shown by NHA is likely misleading, driven by flawed reliance on a single NSS round. Counter-arguments: Government schemes like PM-JAY, free drugs initiatives, Health & Wellness Centres may have actually reduced OOPE. But benefits may be uneven (urban vs rural, public vs private sector). Ethical & Political Dilemmas: Using selective statistics for political narratives undermines trust. Need balance between showcasing progress and acknowledging gaps. Conclusion OOPE in India remains high and inequitable despite reported statistical declines, perpetuating poverty and health inequality. Strengthening public health schemes and improving real-time data collection are essential to protect vulnerable populations. How does SC’s order affect Waqf law? Basics Waqf: Permanent dedication of property by a Muslim for religious/charitable use under Islamic law. Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025: Amended Waqf Act, 1995. Claimed aim: transparency & accountability. Petitioners’ claim: Violates Articles 26 & 30 (minority rights to manage religious affairs & institutions). SC (15 Sept 2025): Did not strike down Act entirely, but stayed contentious provisions pending final hearing. Relevance GS2 (Governance & Polity): Minority rights (Articles 25, 26, 30), federalism (Centre-State powers in religious institutions), judicial oversight, secularism, separation of powers. GS1 (Social Issues): Religious autonomy, community self-governance, social harmony, minority alienation risk, impact on conversions and freedom of conscience. SC’s Interim Directions Stayed provisions: District Collectors’ unilateral power to decide ownership of waqf property. Five-year practising Islam requirement for creating waqf. Excessive non-Muslim representation on Waqf Boards & Council. Allowed provisions: Abolition of waqf by user doctrine. Mandatory central registration of waqf property. Application of Limitation Act, 1963 to waqf land claims. Broader Implications for Minority Rights (a) Positive Safeguards (Judicial Protection) Protects community autonomy from executive overreach. Reinforces separation of powers → property disputes remain with judiciary/tribunals, not district officials. Places limits on State interference in religious institutions under Article 26. (b) Areas of Concern (Potential Restrictions) Five-year Islam practice clause (though suspended temporarily) could: Create state policing of faith & religiosity. Restrict new converts’ rights → affecting freedom of conscience (Article 25). Limiting “waqf by user” weakens community’s traditional practices, reducing scope of minority-controlled endowments. Allowing non-Muslim representation, though capped, raises tension with Article 30 rights (exclusive minority management). (c) Larger Constitutional Themes Minority rights vs State regulation: Balancing autonomy with transparency. Federalism & secularism: Executive dominance in religious endowments risks tilting towards majoritarian oversight. Judicial minimalism: SC chose interim balance, not final confrontation. Overview Polity & Governance: Shows how State control of minority institutions can erode trust in secularism. Opens debate on whether uniform accountability norms should apply to all religious endowments (temples, gurudwaras, mutts). Minority Rights : Direct link to Articles 25, 26, 30. Precedents: Azeez Basha vs Union of India (1968) (AMU not a minority institution), TMA Pai (2002) (scope of minority rights). Social Harmony: Any perception of excessive State interference can fuel minority alienation. May also create a template for State intervention in other religious endowments. Legal-Philosophical: Tests the line between secular regulation (accountability, transparency) and religious autonomy (self-governance). Way Forward Need for parity in regulation of all religious trusts/endowments (not just waqf). Frame clear, secular procedures for property verification — not dependent on subjective religiosity tests. Balance transparency & accountability with constitutional guarantees of minority self-management. Final SC judgment will be a landmark precedent for defining minority rights under Articles 26 & 30. EU-India partnership set for upgrade Context Event: The European Commission and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas unveiled “A New Strategic EU–India Agenda” in Brussels. Trigger: EU seeks to deepen ties with India (trade, technology, defence, climate), while expressing concerns over India’s military exercises with Russia and oil imports from Moscow. Background: India–EU relations involve: Ongoing FTA negotiations (14th round in October 2025). Shared interest in rules-based international order. Challenges: Russia–Ukraine war, India’s tariffs, regulatory barriers, India’s China policy. Relevance GS2 (IR/Polity): India–EU partnership, multilateralism, strategic autonomy. GS3 (Economy): FTA negotiations, non-tariff barriers, trade diversification. GS1 (Society): Social impact of liberalized trade on farmers & SMEs. Key Facts & Data Strategic Agenda Scope: Trade, tech, security, defence, climate. EU Position: India = “crucial partner” but oil imports & Russia military exercises remain issues. FTA Negotiations: 14th round scheduled (Oct 6–10, 2025); aim → conclude by early 2026. Trade Growth: India–EU trade ↑ 90% in the last decade. Barriers Highlighted: Indian agricultural tariffs, non-tariff barriers like Qualitative Control Orders (QCOs). EU Strategy Phrase: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” Geopolitical Context: EU balancing ties with India to prevent its tilt towards Russia/China. Bilateral Trade Overview Trade Volume: In 2024, trade in goods between the EU and India reached €120 billion, accounting for 11.5% of India’s total trade. The EU is India’s second-largest trading partner, while India ranks as the EU’s 9th largest trading partner. Trade Growth: Over the past decade, EU–India trade in goods has increased by nearly 90%. Trade Balance: In 2024, the EU recorded a trade surplus of €147 billion in goods, with India being a significant contributor to this surplus. Significance / Implications a.Polity & Governance EU recognition of India as a global partner strengthens India’s multilateral standing. Potential agreement on classified information → deeper defence cooperation. Could elevate India–EU ties to a level comparable with India–US and India–Japan partnerships. b.Economy FTA could expand India’s export access to EU (largest trading bloc globally). Addressing tariff/non-tariff barriers → key for market entry of Indian goods. India’s reputation as a “tough negotiator” may prolong timelines but also ensures strategic bargaining power. c.Society Enhanced climate and tech cooperation → scope for joint work on clean energy, AI, digital governance. Trade liberalization → implications for Indian farmers & domestic industries (sensitive tariff sectors). d.Geopolitics / Security EU wary of India’s Russia ties → oil imports, military exercises (Zapad-2025). EU wants India as a rules-based order partner in Indo-Pacific & Ukraine crisis context. EU sees engagement with India as a way to prevent strategic void filled by China/Russia. Critical Analysis Core Message: EU is pushing for a comprehensive partnership with India but is cautious about India’s Russia links. Counter-Arguments / Missing Dimensions: EU itself remains dependent on external energy & trade with authoritarian regimes (double standards argument). India’s Russia oil imports are framed as economic necessity, not geopolitical alignment. EU has not addressed Indian concerns over visa barriers, services trade, and agricultural subsidies. Ethical/Political Dilemmas: Balancing “strategic autonomy” vs. “rules-based order alignment” → India resists being pressured into Western geopolitical positions. Conclusion India’s strategic partnership with the EU is set to deepen in trade, technology, defence, and climate cooperation. Successful engagement requires balancing strategic autonomy with EU concerns on Russia ties and aligning economic and geopolitical interests. Sarnath Heritage Plaque Revision and UNESCO Nomination Context What happened? The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will install a new plaque at Sarnath crediting Raja Jagat Singh (a local ruler) instead of the British for preserving the holy Buddhist site. Why in news? This is part of India’s proposal to list Sarnath on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list (2025–26 cycle). Background: Sarnath, ~10 km from Varanasi, is where Buddha gave his first sermon in 528 BCE. Ashoka built stupas/monasteries here. Later sacked (12th century). Rediscovered during colonial excavations (18th–19th century). Relevance GS1: Indian culture – Buddhist heritage, architecture, historical sites. GS3: Tourism economy, sustainable heritage management. Key Facts & Data ASI change: Corrected attribution → Raja Jagat Singh, not British archaeologists. Ashoka (268–232 BCE): Built pillars/stupas; Lion Capital at Sarnath became India’s National Emblem. Destruction: 12th century sack; major decline after invasions (cited: Qutb-ud-din Aibek’s forces). Rediscovery: 1799 Jonathan Duncan; 1836 Cunningham excavations; 1904–05 F.O. Oertel systematic excavation. Findings: 476 architectural and sculptural relics + 41 inscriptions in one season (Oertel). UNESCO Nomination: Tentative list, 27-year wait for inscription. Raja Jagat Singh Identity: Raja Jagat Singh, also called Babu Jagat Singh, was a prominent 18th-century figure in Banaras (Varanasi), holding administrative control (tahud) over parganas including Shivpur, which encompassed Sarnath. Historical Role: In 1793–94, he initiated excavations at the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, primarily to obtain building materials for a market in Banaras named after him. Discoveries: During the excavations, he uncovered a relic casket containing bones, pearls, and gold leaves, which were later discarded into the Ganges. Legacy: The stupa became locally known as the “Jagat Singh Stupa” due to his involvement. Misrepresentation: Over time, colonial and later narratives misrepresented him as a vandal, overshadowing his role in preserving and highlighting Sarnath’s archaeological significance. Modern Recognition: Recent research and efforts by the Jagat Singh Raj Pariwar Shodh Samiti clarified his contributions. The ASI installed a corrected plaque at the Dhamek Stupa crediting him, aligning with India’s 2025–26 UNESCO World Heritage nomination for Sarnath. Significance: His actions helped bring Sarnath’s Buddhist heritage to broader attention, supporting heritage preservation and cultural diplomacy. Sarnath Heritage Site Historical Significance: Site of Buddha’s first sermon (528 BCE) → Birthplace of the “Dharmachakra” (Wheel of Dharma) → foundational to Buddhist philosophy. Ashokan Contributions: Ashoka (268–232 BCE) built stupas, monasteries, and the iconic Ashokan Pillar → Lion Capital later became India’s National Emblem. Medieval Decline: Sacked in the 12th century by Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s forces → led to centuries of neglect and decline. Colonial Rediscovery: Excavations by Jonathan Duncan (1799), Alexander Cunningham (1836), F.O. Oertel (1904–05) → recovered 476 architectural/sculptural relics + 41 inscriptions in one season. Archaeological Value: Contains stupas, monasteries, inscriptions, pillars, and relic caskets → provides insights into Mauryan, Gupta, and later periods. Cultural & Religious Importance: A major Buddhist pilgrimage site → promotes global Buddhist tourism and interfaith cultural understanding. UNESCO Nomination: Listed in India’s tentative list (2025–26) → potential World Heritage Site → global recognition, tourism boost, and conservation impetus. Significance / Implications Polity & Governance: National heritage recognition → assertion of indigenous credit (Raja Jagat Singh) instead of colonial narrative. Strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy via UNESCO. Economy: Tourism boost if UNESCO tag granted; global recognition of Buddhist circuit. Society: Strengthens Buddhist identity and heritage preservation. Corrects colonial historiography; promotes local ownership of history. Global/IR: Soft power through Buddhist heritage diplomacy (esp. with SE Asia, East Asia). Critical Analysis Core Message: Highlights transition from colonial credit to indigenous recognition; emphasis on historical continuity and rediscovery. Counter-Arguments / Missing Dimensions: No discussion on present challenges of conservation (pollution, urban encroachment, mass tourism). Ignores role of Buddhist communities in contemporary preservation. Lacks detail on UNESCO evaluation criteria (authenticity, integrity, management). Ethical/Political Dilemma: Rewriting plaques to correct colonial legacy vs. risking political overtones in historical crediting. Conclusion Recognizing Raja Jagat Singh instead of colonial archaeologists asserts indigenous ownership and strengthens cultural diplomacy. UNESCO listing can boost tourism, preserve heritage, and promote sustainable management with community involvement. World Ozone Day: Earth’s protective layer on track to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, says WMO Context What happened: WMO released its Ozone Bulletin (Sept 16, 2025) stating that Earth’s ozone layer is on track to return to 1980 levels by mid-century. Why in news: Ozone hole over Antarctica in 2024 was smaller than in recent years, with delayed onset and faster recovery. Background: Vienna Convention (1985) → Framework for cooperation. Montreal Protocol (1987) → Landmark treaty phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Kigali Amendment (2016) → Phasing down HFCs, with climate co-benefits. Relevance GS2: Global governance, environmental treaties, multilateral institutions. GS3: Environment, ozone depletion, climate change mitigation, technology innovation. Key Facts & Data ODS phase-out: Montreal Protocol eliminated 99% of controlled ODS. Projected Recovery Timelines: Antarctica → 2066 Arctic → 2045 Rest of the world → 2040 Ozone hole 2024: Max mass deficit: 46.1 million tonnes (Sept 29, 2024). Smaller than 2020–23 holes, below 1990–2020 average. Health & Environment Benefits: Prevents skin cancer, cataracts, ecosystem damage. Kigali Amendment: Ratified by 164 parties, expected to prevent 0.5°C warming by 2100. Significance / Implications (a) Polity & Governance Case study in effective multilateralism → science-based policy, global cooperation, compliance mechanisms. Demonstrates how binding treaties + financial/technological support deliver results. (b) Economy Transition away from ODS spurred green innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam, aerosols. HFC phase-down under Kigali → integrates climate mitigation with industry regulation. (c) Society & Health Reduced risks of skin cancer & cataracts. Protects agriculture and marine ecosystems from UV damage. (d) Environment & Climate Ozone recovery = resilience of Earth systems when stressors are reduced. Kigali adds climate co-benefit, showing overlap between ozone diplomacy and climate diplomacy. Critical Analysis Article’s core tone: Positive, celebratory of multilateral success. Counter-arguments / Missing Dimensions: Monitoring gaps: Need vigilance against illegal ODS production (e.g., CFC-11 emissions detected in 2018). Replacement chemicals: HFCs are non-ODS but strong GHGs, requiring parallel climate strategies. Equity concerns: Developing nations need technology transfer & finance for sustainable transitions. Ethical dimension: Global cooperation worked here → raises the question why climate change talks lag compared to ozone diplomacy. Conclusion Multilateral treaties like the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment demonstrate effective science-driven global governance and environmental recovery. Lessons from ozone recovery highlight the importance of technology transfer, monitoring, and equitable global cooperation for broader climate challenges. Ozone Layer: Value Additions Function: Protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV-B radiation, reducing skin cancer, cataracts, and DNA damage. Montreal Protocol (1987): Landmark treaty that phased out ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, halons); considered a global environmental success story. Vienna Convention (1985): Framework for international cooperation on ozone protection. Kigali Amendment (2016): Phasing down HFCs (not ODS but potent greenhouse gases) → climate co-benefits, reduces global warming by ~0.5°C by 2100. Recovery Projections: Antarctica → 2066 Arctic → 2045 Rest of the world → 2040 Health & Environment Benefits: Lower UV exposure protects human health, agriculture, marine ecosystems, and biodiversity. Multilateral Diplomacy: Demonstrates effective science-based global governance; model for climate cooperation. Technology & Economy: Stimulated green innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning, and industrial processes. Monitoring & Challenges: Vigilance required against illegal ODS production; replacement chemicals (HFCs) need climate-conscious management. Equity & Ethics: Developing countries need technology transfer and finance for sustainable compliance; showcases global cooperation effectiveness.

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 17 September 2025

Content PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Honouring Heritage, Powering Progress     Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Honouring Heritage, Powering Progress     Basics Definition: PM Vishwakarma Scheme (launched 17 Sept 2023, on Vishwakarma Jayanti) aims to uplift traditional artisans and craftsmen engaged in 18 family-based trades. Financial Outlay: ₹13,000 crore (FY 2023–24 to FY 2027–28). Implementing Ministries: Ministry of MSME (nodal) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance Institutional Mechanism: 497 District Project Management Units (DPMUs) covering 618 districts. Target Group: Artisans working with hands/tools in unorganised sector (carpenter, blacksmith, potter, cobbler, tailor, barber, mason, etc.). Relevance : GS II: Inclusive development (SC/ST/OBC, women, PwDs), governance via DPMUs, social mobility of traditional occupations. GS III: MSME formalisation, skill development, credit inclusion, exports & ODOP, Atmanirbhar Bharat push. GS I: Preservation of cultural heritage, guru-shishya parampara. Why in News ? As of August 31, 2025: 30 lakh artisans registered (achieving 5-year target in just 2 years). 26 lakh skill verifications completed, 86% completed basic training. 23 lakh+ toolkit e-vouchers issued worth ₹15,000 each. 4.7 lakh loans sanctioned worth ₹41,188 crore. Raajmistri (Mason) is the most registered trade. Key Features & Benefits Recognition: PM Vishwakarma Certificate + ID card. Skill Development: Stipend: ₹500/day during training. Toolkit manuals for standardisation. Toolkit Incentive: ₹15,000 e-voucher for modern tools. Credit Support (Enterprise Development Loan): 1st tranche: ₹1 lakh (18 months repayment). 2nd tranche: ₹2 lakh (30 months repayment). Interest: 5% (Govt. subvention 8%). Digital Incentive: Re.1 per transaction (up to 100/month). Marketing Support: Branding, fairs, exhibitions, e-commerce onboarding (GeM), quality certification. Inclusion: Women, SC/ST/OBC, PwDs, Transgenders, NER, Islands, Hilly areas. Achievements Registered artisans: 30 lakhs (vs. target 30 lakhs in 5 years → achieved in 2 years). Toolkit e-vouchers: 23 lakh+ issued → worth over ₹3,450 crore in tool support. Loans sanctioned: 4.7 lakh beneficiaries → ₹41,188 crore sanctioned. Training coverage: 26 lakh skill verifications → 86% trained. Top States: Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh. Top Trades: Mason, Tailor, Garland maker, Carpenter, Cobbler. Significance Economic: Formalises unorganised artisans into MSME ecosystem; reduces dependence on local moneylenders charging 15–20% interest. Social: Restores dignity of traditional crafts; empowers marginalised communities and women. Cultural: Preserves India’s guru-shishya heritage, handicrafts, and indigenous knowledge. Digital India push: Encourages UPI, QR code adoption among rural artisans. Employment: Creates sustainable self-employment; artisans moving from daily wage uncertainty to entrepreneurship. Multi-Dimensional Overview (a) Economic Angle Boosts micro-enterprises → part of Atmanirbhar Bharat & Vocal for Local strategy. ₹41,188 crore credit infusion supports rural consumption and local economies. Reduces rural-urban migration by creating local livelihood opportunities. (b) Social & Inclusion Focus on women artisans . Priority to SC/ST/OBC, transgenders, PwDs. Social mobility: e.g., barbers, cobblers, washermen now recognised as entrepreneurs. (c) Skill & Technology Introduction of modern machinery, digital payments, and e-commerce onboarding. Toolkit standardisation → productivity and quality improvement. (d) Cultural & Heritage Preserves 18 traditional trades threatened by mechanisation. Crafts linked to Make in India and GI-tagged products can gain international visibility. (e) Governance & Federalism DPMUs in 497 districts ensure last-mile delivery and monitoring. CSCs used for Aadhaar-linked registration → ensures transparency and avoids duplication. Challenges & Way Forward Scalability: Sustainability beyond financial aid; artisans must compete in globalised markets. Awareness: Ensuring coverage in remote tribal, island, and border regions. Market Linkages: Avoid middlemen exploitation; need for strong e-commerce integration. Technology Adoption: Bridging digital literacy gap among older artisans. Monitoring: Risk of ghost beneficiaries and misuse of loans → strong auditing required. Global Branding: Need to connect artisans to One District One Product (ODOP), global supply chains, GI certification. Value Addiition According to 2011 Census, ~7 crore artisans in India (unorganised sector). Handicrafts sector exports (2023–24): ~$4.1 billion. MSMEs contribute ~30% to India’s GDP, ~48% to exports, and employ ~11 crore people → PM Vishwakarma strengthens this base. Similar international examples: Japan: “Meister” system recognises traditional craftsmanship. Germany: Vocational apprenticeships under dual system. Conclusion PM Vishwakarma is not just a welfare scheme but a structural reform for artisan empowerment. By linking recognition + skill + credit + markets, it converts artisans into micro-entrepreneurs. Success will depend on integration with MSME clusters, ODOP, digital commerce, and GI exports. It represents India’s attempt to balance heritage preservation with economic modernisation. Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan Basics Definition: SNSPA is a national health initiative launched in September 2025 by MoHFW & MoWCD to improve women’s health, maternal-child care, and family well-being. Scale: Over 1 lakh health camps across Ayushman Arogya Mandirs & CHCs – India’s largest women-centric health outreach. Focus Areas: Screening (anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, TB, SCD, cancers), maternal care, immunisation, nutrition awareness, behavioural change, digital monitoring. Duration: Runs till 2 October 2025 (Gandhi Jayanti) as a high-impact campaign. Platforms Used: Anganwadis, Nikshay Mitras, SASHAKT portal for real-time monitoring. Relevance : GS II: Women’s health empowerment, Poshan 2.0 & Mission Shakti linkages, SDG 3 & 5, digital health governance. GS III: Reduces OOPE, boosts productivity, integrates ABHA/PM-JAY. GS I: Addresses anaemia, MMR, child mortality, tribal health equity. Why in News? Launched on PM Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday (17 Sept 2025) as a Jan Bhagidari Abhiyaan. First-of-its-kind integration of women’s health, family empowerment, and community participation at this scale. Significance Health Crisis Context: India has one of the highest burdens of anaemia among women (57% of women aged 15–49, NFHS-5). Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 per 1,00,000 live births (SRS 2020–22) — still above SDG target of <70. Child Mortality: Under-5 mortality at 32 per 1,000 live births (SRS 2022). Policy Integration: Builds on Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti, Mission Indradhanush, SUMAN, and global SDG goals. Links women empowerment, health, nutrition, governance, SDGs, and behavioural change into one holistic scheme. Multi-Dimensional Overview A. Health & Nutrition Dimension Comprehensive screenings: Anaemia (iron deficiency + SCD in tribal belts), breast & cervical cancer, diabetes, hypertension, TB. Nutritional support: Integrated with Poshan 2.0 and Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan. Antenatal Care (ANC): Distribution of Mother and Child Protection cards; counselling to reduce maternal deaths. Immunisation: Complementary to Mission Indradhanush (5.46 crore children & 1.32 crore pregnant women vaccinated till Dec 2024). B. Governance & Technology SASHAKT portal: Real-time monitoring, accountability, grievance redressal. Healthcare worker self-verification ensures compliance by doctors, CHOs, ASHAs. Digital enrolment under PM-JAY, ABHA, Ayushman Vaya Vandana. C. Social Dimension Community-driven model via Nikshay Mitras, volunteers, Indian Red Cross. Focus on behaviour change: menstrual hygiene, nutrition, sanitation. Outreach through Doordarshan, AIR, social media → strengthens health literacy. D. Women Empowerment Dimension Places women’s health at the centre of family well-being. Links health to empowerment under Mission Shakti. PMMVY + JSY + JSSK integration ensures financial & institutional support. E. Economic Dimension Preventive healthcare reduces out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) — still 47.1% of total health spending in India (NHA 2019–20). Women’s improved health boosts productivity → contributes to $5 trillion economy & Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. F. Inclusivity & Equity Tribal focus: counselling for Sickle Cell Disease, TB detection, targeted screenings. Special reach to rural, tribal & underserved regions through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Gender equity: PMMVY provides ₹6,000 incentive for girl child (2nd birth). Impact & Expected Outcomes Short-Term (2025): Screen millions of women for anaemia, cancer, hypertension. Boost immunisation & antenatal check-ups during Poshan Maah. Medium-Term (2027): Reduction in MMR (from 97 → closer to SDG <70). Lower anaemia prevalence among women and children. Higher institutional deliveries via JSY & SUMAN. Long-Term (2047): Stronger health-seeking behaviour. Empowered women → healthier families → healthier India. Value Additions Anaemia: 57% of women, 67% of children (NFHS-5, 2019–21). Maternal Mortality: 97 per 1,00,000 (SRS 2020–22), down from 130 in 2014–16. OOPE: 47.1% of total health expenditure (NHA 2019–20) vs global avg <20%. Institutional Deliveries: 89% in NFHS-5 vs 79% in NFHS-4. Health Workforce: India has ~1.1 doctors & 1.7 nurses per 1,000 population — below WHO norm of 1:1000 doctors. Conclusion SNSPA is not just a health campaign, but a social reform drive linking health, empowerment, behaviour change, and governance. It strengthens the continuum from pregnancy → delivery → child care → women’s wellness. Represents a Jan Andolan model, similar to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan → likely to become a flagship for women’s health like SBM was for sanitation.

Daily Editorials Analysis

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 17 September 2025

Content GST 2.0 — short-term pain, possible long-term gain Judicial experimentalism’ versus the right to justice GST 2.0 — short-term pain, possible long-term gain Basics GST (2017): Unified, destination-based indirect tax aimed at eliminating cascading, ensuring credit for input taxes, and creating a common market. Problems in original GST design: Multiple rates (0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) with compensation cess. Inverted duty structures → refunds/ITC delays. High compliance cost → particularly burdensome for MSMEs. Relevance GS-III (Economy): Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment. Government Budgeting; Taxation reforms. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Federalism and GST Council dynamics. Practice Question : “The 2025 GST reforms aim to simplify the indirect tax system but create new fiscal challenges for both Centre and States.” Critically examine in light of India’s growth and federalism needs. (250 words) The 2025 GST Reform Effective from Sept 22, 2025. Revised rate structure: Retained: 0%, 5%, 18%. Removed: 12% & 28%. Introduced: 40% (sin & luxury goods, merging cess). Special sub-5% rates retained for essentials. Coverage: 546 goods → 80% rate cuts, 20% hikes. Beneficiaries: Textiles, electronics, automobiles, food, health, fertilizers, agri-machinery, renewable energy. Arguments in Favour Simplicity & Transparency: Reducing slabs → more predictable, easier compliance. Consumer Welfare: Lower tax burden → lower prices → higher disposable incomes. Employment Boost: Labour-intensive sectors (textiles, autos, food) benefit, supporting job creation. Agriculture Support: Lower input costs (fertilizers, machinery) → higher farm incomes. Demand Stimulation: Rate cuts on essentials raise real purchasing power → can drive growth in higher-taxed luxury goods later. Industrial Competitiveness: Lower effective tax rates → boosts domestic manufacturing & export competitiveness. Counter-Arguments Revenue Shock: MoF estimate: ₹48,000 crore annual loss (others higher). At a time of already slowing nominal GDP growth (8.8% vs 10.1% projected). Fiscal Deficit Stress: With PIT reforms already costing ₹1 lakh crore, GST losses worsen deficit risks for both Centre & States. Exemptions & Cascading: More exemptions = denial of ITC → embedded taxes, reduced transparency. State Finances: States reliant on GST compensation will face greater fiscal pressure → borrowing or spending cuts. Inequity: Richer households benefit more from tax cuts on consumer durables, automobiles, and electronics than poorer households. Revenue Neutrality Question: Past experience shows demand elasticity insufficient to offset rate cuts → long-term buoyancy uncertain. Counter to Counter-Arguments Revenue Shock Temporary: Tax buoyancy may return once demand expands and compliance improves (Laffer curve effect). Fiscal Management: RBI’s higher dividends and expenditure prioritisation can cushion short-term revenue stress. Consumer Equity: Major cuts are in essentials (5% slab → food, healthcare), ensuring benefits for lower-income groups too. Economic Multiplier: Stimulus to job-rich sectors → wider income effects → stronger indirect tax base over time. Global Best Practice: Most successful GST/VAT systems (e.g., EU, Australia) operate with fewer slabs → India aligning gradually. Macro-Fiscal Implications Short-Term: Revenue fall, fiscal stress, potential borrowing hikes. Medium-Term: Demand-led recovery → buoyancy in higher-rate goods (18%, 40%). Long-Term: If compliance improves and cascading is minimised, GST revenues stabilise. Sustained growth will still depend on investment and productivity, not just rate cuts. Conclusion The 2025 GST reform marks a decisive move towards simplification, with fewer slabs and lower rates aimed at boosting consumption, employment, and competitiveness. While short-term revenue losses and fiscal stress are unavoidable, the reform has the potential to stimulate demand and expand the tax base over time. However, unresolved issues — cascading due to exemptions, state revenue stress, and compliance bottlenecks — limit the efficiency of the reform. For sustainable benefits, the reform must be accompanied by: Tighter expenditure management to offset revenue losses. Enhanced compliance and ITC efficiency to reduce leakages. Centre-State coordination to manage fiscal pressures. Ultimately, GST cannot be a one-time growth stimulus; long-term growth will depend on investment, productivity, and structural reforms, with GST simplification serving as an enabler rather than a substitute. Value Additions Data & Trends GST Collections (Aug 2025): ₹1.69 lakh crore (YoY growth ~10%). GST’s Share in Total Tax Revenues: ~30% of gross tax revenues (Union Budget 2025–26). Tax Buoyancy: Declined from 1.5 (FY 2021–22) to ~1.1 (FY 2024–25). GST Compliance Cost: World Bank’s “Ease of Paying Taxes” index (2020) placed India at 115/190, with GST cited for complexity. Comparative Perspective International Best Practices: New Zealand: Single rate GST (15%) → lowest compliance costs globally. Singapore: Two rates (standard 9% + zero) → efficient, broad-based. India: Still multiple slabs (0%, 5%, 18%, 40%) → higher classification disputes. Expert Committees & Reports Arvind Subramanian Committee (2015): Recommended a standard rate ~18% to balance revenue needs and efficiency. 15th Finance Commission Report (2021): Warned against excessive exemptions & urged GST simplification. RBI Annual Report 2024–25: Highlighted GST rate rationalisation as key to reducing inflation volatility. Constitutional/Legal Angle 101st Constitutional Amendment (2016): Created GST framework. Article 279A: GST Council as a cooperative federal body. Recent Debate: Tensions over Centre-State compensation cess and fiscal autonomy. Economic Implications Revenue Foregone (2025 reform): Estimated ₹48,000 crore annually (MoF). Elasticity Argument: Lower rates → immediate revenue dip, but higher demand may expand tax base over time. Employment Angle: Beneficiary sectors (textiles, electronics, automobiles, food) are labour-intensive. ‘Judicial experimentalism’ versus the right to justice Basics Context: Supreme Court (July 2025, Shivangi Bansal vs Sahib Bansal) endorsed Allahabad HC guidelines (2022, Mukesh Bansal vs State of U.P.) introducing a two-month cooling period before coercive action in cases under Section 498A IPC (now Section 85 of BNS). Provision background: Section 498A was enacted to protect women from cruelty in marriage. However, misuse claims led to safeguards (CrPC 2008 amendment, Arnesh Kumar 2014, Satender Kumar Antil 2022). Why it matters: Balances two competing concerns—protecting women from domestic cruelty vs. preventing harassment of men/families through false cases. Raises questions on victim’s timely access to justice and judicial overreach. Relevance GS-II (Polity & Governance): Structure, organization, and functioning of judiciary and law enforcement. Separation of powers, judicial activism vs. judicial restraint. Mechanisms for protection and enforcement of fundamental rights. GS-I (Society): Role of women and issues related to women’s safety and empowerment. Practice Question : “Judicial experimentalism to curb misuse of criminal law provisions must not undermine a victim’s right to timely access to justice.” Discuss with reference to Section 498A of the IPC (now Section 85 of BNS). (250 words) Author’s Core Argument The Supreme Court’s endorsement of the cooling period and referral to Family Welfare Committees (FWCs) undermines: Victim’s right to prompt access to justice. Functional autonomy of police and magistrates. Safeguards against misuse already exist (preliminary inquiry, arrest restrictions). NCRB data shows arrests under 498A declined after reforms, indicating balance without need for new curbs. The idea of FWCs/cooling period is extra-legal, similar to Rajesh Sharma (2017) directions which were struck down in Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar (2018) as regressive. Supreme Court should revisit this ruling as it exceeds legislative intent and harms victims. Counter Arguments Misuse remains a real concern: Though arrests declined, false complaints can still damage reputation and family life. Cooling-off periods exist in other contexts (divorce, mediation) to encourage reconciliation and reduce litigation burden. FWCs could play a mediation role, easing pressure on courts/police and encouraging settlement in non-severe cases. Judicial innovation is not new—courts have often issued guidelines when legislative gaps exist (e.g., Vishaka guidelines on sexual harassment). Data trend: Rising number of registered cases (2015–2022) shows issue remains complex—balancing liberty and justice is necessary. Multi-Dimensional Overview Polity/Legal Raises question of judicial overreach vs. judicial creativity. Undermines criminal justice hierarchy: police/magistrates sidelined by FWCs. Possible conflict with Article 21 (right to speedy justice) for victims. Governance/Administrative FWCs lack clear statutory authority, funding, or training. Could create parallel structures leading to confusion and delays. May weaken trust in police and judiciary. Economy Domestic disputes turning into prolonged litigation impose economic costs on families and judicial system. FWCs, if poorly designed, add administrative expenditure without effectiveness. Society Section 498A remains vital for women’s safety in patriarchal society. Risk of victim-blaming narratives gaining strength under misuse discourse. Cooling period may intensify suffering of women in abusive households. Environment/Science & Tech Not directly relevant here. International UN conventions (CEDAW) emphasize timely access to justice for women. Cooling period may be viewed as non-compliance with global gender justice norms. Challenges Balancing genuine complaints vs. false cases. Absence of statutory basis for FWCs. Potential delay in justice delivery. Resistance from women’s rights groups vs. men’s rights advocates. Need for proper training of police/judiciary in handling sensitive cases. Risk of conflicting judicial precedents (Rajesh Sharma 2017 vs Social Action Forum 2018). Way Forward Strengthen existing safeguards (Arnesh Kumar, Satender Kumar Antil) instead of creating parallel systems. Police sensitization and use of gender desks (as suggested by Bureau of Police Research & Development). Mediation cells may function, but only post-registration of FIR and under court supervision. Adopt best practices from other jurisdictions (UK’s domestic violence protection orders, US restraining orders ensuring immediate protection). Legislative clarity: If committees like FWCs are needed, Parliament—not courts—should provide framework. Align reforms with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Access to Justice). Conclusion The SC ruling seeks to check misuse of Section 498A but risks undermining women’s timely access to justice and the autonomy of criminal justice institutions. A balanced approach—strengthening safeguards without creating extra-legal barriers—is the way forward. Value additions Constitutional & Legal Anchors Article 14 & 15(3): Special provisions for women. Article 21: Right to life includes right to speedy justice. Article 39A (DPSP): Equal access to justice. Supreme Court precedents: Lalita Kumari (2013) – mandatory FIR registration, but preliminary inquiry allowed in matrimonial disputes. Arnesh Kumar (2014) – safeguards against arbitrary arrests. Rajesh Sharma (2017) – Family Welfare Committees (later struck down). Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar (2018) – restored victim’s right to prompt justice. Data Points NCRB data: Registered cases under 498A: rose from 1.13 lakh (2015) → 1.40 lakh (2022). Arrests declined from 1.87 lakh (2015) → 1.45 lakh (2022). Conviction rate: Around 15% under 498A cases (NCRB 2022), showing challenges in evidence collection. Backlog: Family disputes constitute ~6–7% of pending cases in lower judiciary (NJDG 2023). Committees & Reports Law Commission (243rd Report, 2012): Recommended safeguards against arbitrary arrests, not dilution of 498A. Malimath Committee (2003): Suggested making 498A a bailable and compoundable offence, but widely criticized. Justice Verma Committee (2013): Opposed dilution of women-protective laws. International Standards CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women): India is a signatory; requires effective and timely legal remedies for women facing violence. UN Declaration on Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993): Urges States to ensure speedy justice and survivor-centric procedures. Best practices: UK: Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPOs) give immediate protection. US: Temporary restraining orders issued swiftly, often within 24–48 hours.

Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs 17 September 2025

Content Top court asks who will decide that a religious conversion is ‘deceitful’ Making health care safe for every Indian Unseen labour, exploitation: the hidden human cost of Artificial Intelligence India Targets Record 119 MT Wheat Output in 2025-26 Heavy Rains in the Himalayas: Interplay of Topography, Climate Change, and Rising Disaster Risks Top court asks who will decide that a religious conversion is ‘deceitful’ Basics Issue: A petition before the Supreme Court seeks a ban on “deceitful” religious conversions and questions the constitutionality of State-level anti-conversion laws. Constitutional Context: Article 25: Provides freedom of conscience and right to profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, and health. Supreme Court in Rev. Stanislaus vs State of MP (1977) upheld States’ power to regulate conversion by force, fraud, or inducement. State Laws: Around 10 States (UP, MP, Gujarat, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Haryana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan) have enacted Freedom of Religion Acts, often termed “anti-conversion laws.” Recent Hearing (Sept 2025): Chief Justice B.R. Gavai asked who determines if a conversion is “deceitful.” Petitioners argue laws are restrictive; respondents defend their necessity. Court will reconsider the matter after six weeks. Relevance: GS-II (Polity & Governance): Fundamental Rights (Article 25 – freedom of religion; Articles 14, 19, 21 – equality, liberty, life). Judicial review of State legislation (SC role in constitutional validity). Federalism: Centre vs State competence in religious matters. GS-I (Society): Inter-faith relations, social harmony, religious practices. GS-II (Governance): Criminal justice reforms (burden of proof, third-party complaints). Overview Constitutional and Legal Dimensions Right to Freedom of Conscience: Protected under Article 25; scope of “propagation” does not necessarily extend to conversion. State Regulation: Laws seek to prevent conversions through coercion, fraud, or inducement. Judicial Role: SC has clarified its role is to test constitutionality, not legislate. Burden of Proof: Some State laws place it on the individual converting, raising constitutional questions. Federalism Religion-related matters fall under the Concurrent List. States have legislated individually, sometimes using other States’ laws as models. Debate exists over whether a uniform central framework or diverse State laws are more appropriate. Individual Rights and Society Marriage and Conversion: Many laws scrutinize inter-faith marriages linked to conversion. Right to Choice: Questions arise over balancing personal autonomy with State interest in regulating conversions. Chilling Effect: Concerns raised that ordinary religious practices could be subjected to suspicion. Criminal Justice and Governance Punishment Provisions: Some Acts provide for stringent penalties, including extended imprisonment. Third-Party Complaints: Provisions allowing unrelated individuals to initiate proceedings create scope for wide application. Implementation: Conviction rates remain limited; many cases end in prolonged litigation. Political and Social Dimensions Legislative Intent: Governments argue laws are preventive in nature, safeguarding vulnerable groups from coercion. Social Context: Critics argue laws may impact interfaith relationships and minority communities. Polarization Risk: Debate around conversions often intersects with political and electoral narratives. Judicial Outlook Pending Issues: SC will examine if provisions violate Articles 14, 19, 21, and 25. Possible Judicial Outcomes: Striking down specific provisions (burden of proof, third-party locus). Upholding core objectives of preventing forcible conversion. Issuing guidelines for uniform application. Making health care safe for every Indian Basics Event: World Patient Safety Day observed annually on September 17, declared by WHO in 2019. Theme 2025: Focus on safe care for every newborn and every child (WHO campaign). Global Context: WHO estimates: 1 in 10 patients harmed during hospitalization. 4 in 10 patients harmed in primary/ambulatory care, with 80% of harm preventable (WHO, 2023 fact sheet). Indian Context: Disease burden shifting to chronic conditions (cancer, diabetes, CVD, mental health). Complexity in acute care (multi-speciality coordination) increases risk of patient harm. Relevance: GS-II (Governance, Social Justice): Right to Health (Directive Principles, judicial debates). Public health institutions, policies, and regulation. Role of civil society and CSR in health awareness. GS-III (Science & Technology): Use of AI, EHRs, digital tools in patient safety. GS-II (International): WHO’s role, India’s commitments in global health governance. Dimensions of Patient Harm Clinical Causes: Hospital-acquired infections, unsafe injections, transfusion errors. Adverse drug reactions, inappropriate medication combinations. Delayed diagnoses, preventable surgical errors, patient falls. Systemic Causes: Overburdened staff (low doctor-patient ratio, long shifts, attrition). Weak quality monitoring and low NABH accreditation (<5% of hospitals). Limited patient awareness, passive role in care decisions. India’s Initiatives Policy & Frameworks: National Patient Safety Implementation Framework (2018–25) – roadmap for embedding safety in clinical programs, event reporting, capacity-building. NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) – standards on infection control, patient rights, medication safety. Institutions & Networks: Society of Pharmacovigilance, India – ADR (adverse drug reaction) monitoring. Patients for Patient Safety Foundation (PFPSF) – awareness to 14 lakh households weekly, supporting 1,100 hospitals and 52,000 professionals. Patient Safety & Access Initiative – focuses on medical devices regulation. Civil Society & Technology: CSR-funded campaigns, workplace health programs, safety tech (e-prescriptions, interaction alerts). WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan promotes Patient Advisory Councils (PACs) – patient representation in hospital governance. Gaps & Challenges Accreditation: Out of 70,000+ hospitals in India (NHP 2023), fewer than 5% NABH-accredited. Awareness: Low patient literacy; hesitancy in questioning doctors. Implementation Gap: Policy exists but enforcement and monitoring remain weak. Resource Constraints: Public hospitals face overload; private sector highly fragmented. Overview Polity/Governance: Patient safety ties into Right to Health debates; requires stronger regulation and accountability. Social: Safety lapses disproportionately affect vulnerable groups – poor, elderly, children, women in maternity care. Economic: Unsafe care increases out-of-pocket expenditure; WHO estimates adverse events cost trillions globally. Technology: AI-driven prescription checks, EHRs, digital ADR reporting can reduce risks. International: WHO benchmarks provide templates; India’s progress modest compared to high-income countries with strong PACs and reporting culture. Way Forward Renew Patient Safety Framework (post-2025) with measurable targets. Strengthen NABH/NQAS accreditation coverage, link to insurance empanelment. Institutionalize Patient Advisory Councils in Indian hospitals. Integrate patient safety modules in MBBS, nursing curricula. Create national patient safety registry for transparent reporting of adverse events. Expand public participation: digital health literacy campaigns, family-based safety checklists. Unseen labour, exploitation: the hidden human cost of Artificial Intelligence Basics – Context of the News Automated Economy: Refers to increasing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) systems to perform tasks once handled by humans. Core Issue: While AI is seen as “self-learning” and autonomous, it is fundamentally dependent on invisible human labour—especially data annotators, moderators, and gig workers. Why It Matters: Challenges the myth of AI being “self-sufficient.” Raises ethical concerns on exploitation of low-paid workers in the Global South. Brings labour rights and digital economy regulations into the AI governance debate. Relevance: GS-III (Economy, Science & Technology): Future of work, gig economy, labour market disruptions. AI, ML, and automation ethics. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Labour rights, regulation of digital platforms, global supply chains. GS-I (Society): Social impact of digital labour exploitation in developing countries. Human Involvement in AI Development Data Annotation: Essential for training AI models—labelling text, images, video, and audio. Example: LLMs (ChatGPT, Gemini) learn meaning from labelled datasets. Self-driving cars need human-labelled data to distinguish pedestrians vs. traffic signs. Training Process of LLMs: Self-supervised learning → machine consumes raw internet data. Supervised learning → annotators refine the dataset. Reinforcement learning → humans provide feedback on AI responses. Specialised vs. Non-specialised Tasks: Some require domain expertise (e.g., medical scans, legal texts). Many companies hire non-experts to cut costs → leads to errors in outputs. Invisible Labour in “Automated” Features: Content moderation on social media → done by humans reviewing graphic/violent material. Voice and video AI → trained on performances by actors, including children. Ghost Work – Definition Ghost work refers to the invisible human labour that powers supposedly “automated” digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and online platforms. It includes microtasks like data annotation, content moderation, labeling images/videos/text, training AI models, or cleaning datasets, often outsourced to low-paid workers in developing countries. The term highlights how these workers remain uncredited, underpaid, and hidden behind the façade of automation, even though their labour is indispensable to AI systems. Nature of Exploitation Geography of Ghost Work: Primarily outsourced to Kenya, India, Pakistan, Philippines, China. Wages and Conditions: Reported pay: <$2/hour for 8+ hours. Exposure to disturbing content → PTSD, depression, anxiety. Tight deadlines, surveillance, microtask-based pay. Labour Rights Violations: Companies circumvent local labour laws by outsourcing through intermediaries. Lack of transparency: workers often don’t know which Big Tech firm they are serving. Union busting and dismissal of workers raising concerns. Larger Structural Concerns AI’s “Dependence Myth”: Automation narrative hides human labour inputs. Global Inequality: Wealth and value captured in Silicon Valley, while labour exploitation occurs in the Global South. Informalisation of Digital Labour: Microtasking, subcontracting, gig-work fragmentation → workers have no bargaining power. Ethical & Social Costs: Mental health deterioration of moderators. Risk of bias/errors in AI outputs due to underqualified annotators. Potential exploitation of children in data collection. Policy and Regulatory Implications Transparency in AI Supply Chains: Companies must disclose labour networks behind AI models. Fair Wages and Labour Rights: Align digital work with ILO standards (decent work, safe conditions, collective bargaining). Global Governance of AI Labour: UN/ILO frameworks for digital gig work. Regulation of cross-border outsourcing and labour practices. National-Level Actions: Countries like India/Kenya/Philippines need to update labour laws for gig/digital workers. Formalisation of data annotation industry with minimum wage guarantees. AI Governance Debate Expansion: Current focus is on AI ethics, privacy, bias → must include labour justice. Overview Polity: Raises questions of labour rights, regulation of Big Tech, role of unions. Economy: Exploitation lowers wages globally, undermines sustainable digital economy. Society: Hidden suffering of moderators and annotators shapes the “clean” digital experience of billions. Ethics: Transparency vs. corporate secrecy in AI supply chains. International Relations: North-South divide in AI’s economic benefits vs. labour burdens. Way Forward Recognise “ghost workers” as integral to AI development. Establish global labour standards for AI-linked work. Strengthen worker protections: fair pay, mental health support, right to unionise. Push for AI supply chain audits just like environmental/ESG audits. Shift narrative from “AI is replacing humans” to “AI is built on human labour”. India Targets Record 119 MT Wheat Output in 2025-26 Basics – Context of the News Background: India achieved an all-time high wheat production of 117.51 million tonnes in Rabi 2024–25. For Rabi 2025–26, the Union Agriculture Ministry has set a higher target: 119 million tonnes. Significance of Wheat: Wheat is India’s second-largest foodgrain crop after rice. It is the main Rabi crop, covering over 30 million hectares. Vital for food security under NFSA and PMGKAY (subsidised grains to ~81 crore people). Overall Foodgrain Target: Govt has set 171.14 million tonnes for Rabi 2025–26. Wheat is the dominant share, followed by pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds. Relevance: GS-III (Economy, Agriculture): Food security, agricultural productivity, MSP and procurement. Crop diversification (pulses, oilseeds, millets). Climate-smart agriculture and input management. GS-II (Governance): Role of policies, schemes (e.g., Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan). GS-I (Geography): Cropping patterns, agro-climatic zones. Production Targets for 2025–26 (in mn tonnes) Wheat → 119 Maize → 14.5 Total Coarse Cereals → 16.55 Total Shri Anna (millets) → 3.17 Gram → 11.8 Total Pulses → 16.57 Total Foodgrains → 171.14 Groundnut → 0.74 Rapeseed & Mustard → 13.9 Key Drivers & Challenges Favourable Factors: Higher seed availability: 25 million metric tonnes of seeds already stockpiled (vs requirement of ~22.9 MT). Expected good rainfall in several parts of India → improves soil moisture. Government push for balanced fertiliser supply (coordination with Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers). Launch of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from Oct 3 → massive outreach to farmers for awareness, technology adoption. Challenges/Risks: Climate variability: untimely rains, heat waves during March (grain filling stage). Rising input costs (fertilisers, diesel). Regional disparities in productivity (Punjab/Haryana high, eastern India lagging). Storage and MSP procurement bottlenecks in bumper production years. Broader Agricultural Strategy Reflected Shift Beyond Wheat & Rice: Push for pulses and oilseeds (reduce import dependence: ~60% edible oil imported, ~20% pulses imported). Special focus on millets (Shri Anna) → nutrition security + climate resilience. Per-Hectare Productivity: Chouhan highlighted need for yield enhancement, not just acreage expansion. Crop-wise reviews, large-scale farmer meetings, and technology dissemination planned. Food Security + Export Angle: High output sustains NFSA and buffer stocks. Surpluses may open export opportunities, though govt often restricts wheat exports for domestic price stability. Economic & Policy Implications For Farmers: Assured procurement of wheat at MSP (₹2275/quintal in 2025–26). Possible rise in incomes if productivity improves without proportional input cost rise. For Economy: Higher wheat output → helps curb food inflation. Reduces import dependence (especially in pulses & oils if strategy succeeds). For Government: Balancing act between procurement, storage, and subsidy costs. Must ensure timely fertiliser/seed availability and irrigation support. Overview Polity/Governance: Strengthens govt’s food security narrative; supports welfare schemes. Economy: Contributes to agricultural GDP, inflation management, rural employment. Environment: Risk of over-dependence on wheat-paddy cycle (soil degradation, groundwater depletion). Need crop diversification. Technology: Precision farming, new HYVs, climate-resilient varieties critical for sustaining growth. International Relations: India could influence global wheat markets if production exceeds domestic demand. Way Forward Focus on climate-smart agriculture (heat/drought-resistant wheat varieties). Incentivise crop diversification into pulses/oilseeds to reduce import bills. Invest in post-harvest infrastructure (storage, cold chains, logistics). Encourage farm mechanisation and digital extension services. Link wheat strategy to broader goals of Doubling Farmers’ Income & Viksit Bharat 2047. Heavy Rains in the Himalayas: Interplay of Topography, Climate Change, and Rising Disaster Risks Basics – Context of the News Event: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and other Himalayan states have witnessed extreme rainfall, landslides, and flash floods in recent weeks. Impact: At least 15 deaths in the last few days. Multiple landslides, blocked roads, swollen rivers, and destruction of property. Pattern: Monsoon activity intensified in northwestern India. Region received 34% surplus rainfall in August 2025. Some districts received rainfall equivalent to an entire year’s quota in just 24–48 hours. Relevance: GS-I (Geography): Monsoon variability, orographic rainfall, Himalayan topography. Disaster-prone areas (cloudbursts, landslides, flash floods). GS-III (Environment, Disaster Management): Climate change impacts, glacial melt, NDMA role. Vulnerability mapping and risk reduction strategies. Why do hilly regions receive more rainfall? Topography effect: Hills force moisture-laden winds to rise, cooling them and causing rainfall (orographic effect). Sequential rain-bearing systems: Low-pressure systems from the Bay of Bengal travel northwards, increasing rainfall in the Himalayas. Seasonal behaviour: Northwest India often gets late-season (August–September) monsoon surges. Data Highlights (Rainfall Departures) All-India Rainfall Departure (Aug 14–Sep 10): consistently above normal. Northwest India Rainfall: Aug 21–27: +132% Aug 28–Sep 3: +182% Sep 4–10: +57% Cumulative Rainfall (till Sep 15, mm): Uttarakhand: 1192 mm (+134%) Himachal Pradesh: 702 mm (+22%) J&K: 611 mm (+57%) Ladakh: 280 mm (+33%) Punjab/Haryana/Rajasthan: above/below normal but not as extreme as hill states. Why are hilly regions more vulnerable? Steep slopes + fragile geology → high risk of landslides. Rivers/streams descend rapidly → cause flash floods. Narrow valleys funnel water and debris → more damage. Infrastructure exposure: roads, bridges, houses often located close to rivers and slopes. Examples: Udhampur (J&K) 630 mm rain in 24 hours; Leh–Ladakh 59 mm in 48 hours (highest since records began). Role of Climate Change Warming atmosphere → holds more moisture, increases intensity of downpours. Changing monsoon patterns → longer dry spells + short bursts of extreme rainfall. Rising global temperatures → accelerates melting of Himalayan glaciers and snow, adding to flash floods. Extreme weather events becoming more frequent: Sudden cloudbursts. Intensification of western disturbances. Increased variability in rainfall distribution. Disaster Linkages Not all heavy rains = disasters, but in Himalayas: Weak slopes + construction + deforestation magnify risks. Cloudbursts + extreme rainfall → landslides + flash floods. Example: Mandi, Kullu, Dharali, Tharali saw severe damage to homes, bridges, and crops. Human factor: Unregulated construction, road widening, and riverbank encroachments worsen vulnerability. Overview Polity/Governance: State disaster preparedness, early warning systems, NDMA policies. Economy: Damage to roads, hydropower projects, tourism industry, agriculture. Society: Loss of lives, displacement, trauma in vulnerable hill communities. Environment: Deforestation, slope destabilisation, glacial retreat exacerbate risks. Technology: Need for better forecasting, Doppler radars, satellite monitoring. Way Forward Strengthen early warning systems + last-mile connectivity in Himalayan states. Enforce scientific land use planning (ban construction in eco-sensitive zones). Promote climate-resilient infrastructure: slope stabilisation, drainage systems, safe housing. Invest in watershed management (afforestation, river restoration). Integrate climate change adaptation into state disaster management plans. Regional cooperation for Himalayan ecosystem sustainability (since many rivers are transboundary).

Daily PIB Summaries

PIB Summaries 15 September 2025

Content Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana National Engineers’ Day 2025 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Why is in News + Basics News: As of August 2025, PMGSY has sanctioned 1,91,282 rural roads (8.38 lakh km) and 12,146 bridges, out of which 1,83,215 roads (7.83 lakh km) and 9,891 bridges have been completed. Basics: Launched in 2000, PMGSY aims to provide all-weather rural connectivity to unconnected habitations. Context: Improved access to healthcare, education, markets, and jobs—contributing to rural poverty reduction. Fact: Over 1.66 lakh km roads using green technologies have been sanctioned, making PMGSY a leader in sustainable rural infrastructure. Relevance : GS-II (Governance, Welfare Schemes): Centrally Sponsored Scheme, rural development, equity in backward/tribal/LWE areas, monitoring mechanisms. GS-III (Infrastructure, Economy, Environment): Rural connectivity, farm-to-market linkages, job creation, green technology in road construction, climate resilience. Dimensions Polity/Legal Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Ministry of Rural Development. Fulfils Directive Principles (Art. 38, 39) by promoting social and economic justice. Links with Fifth Schedule areas, Tribal Sub-Plan, Aspirational Districts, ensuring equity. Governance/Administrative Monitored through OMMAS, e-MARG, GPS tracking, Quality Monitors (3-tier system). Convergence with PM-AJAY, PM-JANMAN, DA-JGUA for SC/ST and PVTG-focused development. Performance-based maintenance contracts ensure accountability. Economy Reduces rural isolation → boosts farm-to-market connectivity. Encourages non-farm employment (construction jobs, rural transport services). Estimated to contribute ~1–2% to rural GDP growth (World Bank evaluation, 2019). Society Enhances women’s mobility, school attendance, health access. Case example: Barbaspur, MP—bridge under PMGSY-I transformed access for SC/ST communities. Strengthens social inclusion in backward and conflict-affected districts. Environment/Science & Tech Use of waste plastic, fly ash, bio-bitumen, cold mix in road building. Promotes climate-resilient construction and reduces carbon footprint. Over 1.24 lakh km of eco-friendly roads built till July 2025. International Comparable to China’s rural roads programme under “Building a New Socialist Countryside”. Supports India’s progress on SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 9 (Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Challenges Maintenance deficit: Many roads deteriorate due to weak local capacity and funds. Regional imbalance: Difficult terrain in NE, tribal belts, LWE areas delays execution. Contractor quality issues despite monitoring mechanisms. Environmental concerns in ecologically sensitive zones. Over-reliance on Census 2011 data → possible exclusion of new habitations. Way Forward Strengthen maintenance funding: NITI Aayog & World Bank suggest ring-fenced funds. Decentralised monitoring: Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions with digital tools. Capacity building: Train local workers (like Mandla example) for sustainable maintenance. Green technologies: Expand Full Depth Reclamation, bio-engineering in fragile regions. Data update: Integrate SECC 2024 and GIS mapping for identifying uncovered habitations. Convergence: Link PMGSY roads with PM Gati Shakti & BharatNet for holistic connectivity. Conclusion PMGSY is more than a road-building scheme—it is a rural transformation engine linking people to opportunities. With stronger focus on maintenance, inclusivity, and climate resilience, it can serve as a cornerstone of India’s journey towards equitable and sustainable rural development. National Engineers’ Day 2025 Why is in News + Basics News: India celebrated National Engineers’ Day 2025 on 15 September, marking the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary engineer. Basics: Observed annually to honor engineers’ contributions to nation-building. Context: India is in its Techade—a decade of transformative technological growth aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047. Fact: India accounts for 20% of the world’s chip design engineers and ranks 1st globally in AI skill penetration (Stanford AI Index 2024). Relevance : GS-I (Modern Indian Personalities): Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s legacy, nation-building through engineering. GS-II (Polity & Governance): Role in Digital India, Gati Shakti, Green Hydrogen; reforms in technical education (NEP 2020, ANRF Act 2023). GS-III (Economy): Semiconductor, AI, defence, space, renewable energy sectors; startups, R&D financing. Dimensions Polity/Legal Engineers are central to implementing national missions like Digital India, Green Hydrogen Mission, and PM Gati Shakti. NEP 2020 & ANRF Act 2023 reorient technical education and R&D towards multidisciplinary innovation. Governance/Administrative Flagship initiatives: Atal Innovation Mission, Startup India, Skill India Digital Hub, MERITE scheme, INSPIRE. Regulatory bodies like AICTE and institutions like IITs/NITs anchor research, innovation, and skilling. Economy Engineers drive semiconductor, AI, renewable energy, defence, and space sectors. Startup India: DPIIT-recognized startups grew from ~500 (2016) to 1.59 lakh (2025). ANRF’s ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme boosts industry–academia collaboration and private R&D financing. Society Contributions in education, health tech, fintech, and agri-tech expand access to services. Enhanced mobility and digital platforms (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) enable financial inclusion. Engineers inspire youth through Visvesvaraya’s legacy of problem-solving and social impact. Environment/Science & Tech Engineers lead renewable energy adoption (India: 3rd in solar, 4th in wind globally). Green hydrogen, floating solar, agrivoltaics → climate-resilient solutions. R&D in quantum computing (target: 1000 physical qubits by 2031) and AI-driven space exploration. International India rising in Global Innovation Index rankings. Provides engineering workforce and digital solutions to global markets. Collaborations in semiconductors, AI, and clean energy enhance India’s global tech leadership. Challenges Quality-skills gap: Mismatch between graduates and industry needs. R&D underfunding: India spends ~0.7% of GDP on R&D vs. 2–3% in advanced economies. Brain drain: High-skilled engineers migrate abroad. Infrastructure gaps in Tier-2/3 technical institutions. Ethical concerns: AI, data privacy, and dual-use defence technologies. Way Forward Skill Development: Expand MERITE, Skill India Digital Hub, and industry-aligned curricula (NITI Aayog’s 2023 tech workforce roadmap). Research Ecosystem: Strengthen ANRF, promote PPPs, and increase R&D to 2% of GDP (as suggested in Science, Tech & Innovation Policy draft 2021). Inclusive Engineering: Encourage women and marginalized groups’ participation in STEM (align with SDG 5 & 10). Green & Deep Tech: Expand focus on renewables, AI, quantum, biotech for sustainable growth. Global Collaboration: Leverage partnerships like India-US Initiative on Critical & Emerging Technologies (iCET) for tech leadership. Conclusion National Engineers’ Day 2025 highlights that engineers are not only builders of infrastructure but also architects of India’s digital and green future. With stronger focus on skills, R&D, and inclusive innovation, India can harness engineering excellence to achieve Viksit Bharat 2047.

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