JULY 22,2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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Empowering Indian Philanthropy Social sector leaders called for building an “Atmanirbhar Philanthropy Ecosystem”, highlighting that domestic philanthropy has overtaken foreign funding as the main driver of social development. Building an Atmanirbhar Philanthropy Ecosystem What it is? » Philanthropy is the practice of voluntarily donating private resources—including financial capital, time, expertise, and governance—to advance the public good and address systemic social challenges. » Building an “Atmanirbhar” (self-reliant) philanthropy ecosystem means transitioning India away from historical reliance on international developmental aid toward a self-sustaining framework financed, led, and owned by domestic entrepreneurs, corporate entities, and ordinary citizens. Key Features and Ethical Principles Behind Philanthropy: » Stewardship of Wealth: Viewing private capital accumulation not as personal property, but as a public trust to be used for the welfare of society. » National Ownership and Accountability: Ensuring that domestic citizens fund local social challenges, bringing direct governance, volunteerism, and local context to non-profit efforts. » Transparency and Governance: Operating with high standards of compliance and institutional trust, ensuring that non-profits earn public and investor confidence. » Democratization of Giving: Expanding participation beyond high-net-worth individuals so that everyday retail givers can contribute through modern digital rails. » Catalytic and Long-Term Capital: Providing patient, risk-tolerant funding for social innovation, research, and institutional capacity building that outlasts short-term market cycles. The Rise of Domestic Giving: » Dominance of Domestic Private Capital: Domestic private giving now exceeds ₹1.18 lakh crore annually, making it more than five times larger than annual foreign philanthropic contributions. » Accelerated Family Philanthropy: Family philanthropy is growing at double-digit rates, driven by a new generation of wealth creators who integrate social giving into core business stewardship. » CSR as a Major Capital Pillar: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has matured into a structural source of developmental funding, channeling over ₹40,000 crore per year into education, healthcare, and rural livelihoods. » Mass Digital Payment Infrastructure: The rapid spread of over 220 million demat accounts, systematic investment plans (SIPs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) networks provides the infrastructure for retail public giving. » FCRA Realities vs. Perceptions: While active Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registrations stand at around 14,500 out of six lakh voluntary organizations on NITI Aayog’s NGO Darpan, total foreign contributions doubled from ₹10,000 crore to ₹22,000 crore over the decade. Key Challenges Associated with the Sector: » Friction in Regulatory Compliance: Administrative delays in FCRA renewals, long processing times, or cancellations have disrupted legitimate development work in rural healthcare and education. » Uneven Governance and Institutional Readiness: Many voluntary organizations lack modern documentation systems, financial accounting capabilities, or compliance management, leading to regulatory scrutiny. » HNWI Giving Lagging Behind Wealth Growth: Giving among India’s fast-growing High-Net-Worth Individual (HNWI) community has lagged behind their rate of wealth accumulation. » Restricted Tax Incentives Under Section 80G: Tax deductions under Section 80G are generally restricted to 50% of donations and capped at 10% of adjusted gross total income, failing to send a strong policy signal for philanthropic giving. » Illiquid Asset Donation Barriers: First-generation entrepreneurs hold most of their wealth in company equity rather than cash, but regulatory frameworks for donating appreciated listed shares to charities remain underdeveloped. Way Forward: » Reforming FCRA Administration Toward Risk-Based Supervision: Implement administrative improvements under FCRA 2.0—such as deficiency notices, fixed correction windows, and an independent appellate body—to punish fraud without penalizing minor administrative slips. » Modernizing Tax Incentives Under Section 80G: Raise 80G tax deductions from 50% to 100% and elevate the overall income ceiling to 25% to align tax policy with national development goals. » Enabling Share-Donation Frameworks for Entrepreneurs: Establish clear legal channels allowing founders to donate appreciated listed shares to charities with a 1-to-3-year structured sales window. » Leveraging the Social Stock Exchange (SSE): Operationalize the SSE as a trusted national platform to connect credible non-profits with retail donors through standardized impact reporting. » Promoting Retail Micro-Donations via Digital Payments: Leverage UPI and recurring digital payment platforms to encourage millions of households to contribute small monthly amounts (₹100–₹1,000) to verified social causes. Conclusion: India’s philanthropic landscape has reached an important turning point, with domestic private capital stepping up as the main driver of social development. While foreign funding will continue to support research and innovation, building a self-reliant philanthropy ecosystem ensures that long-term social progress is led and sustained by Indian resources. Ultimately, simplifying regulations and encouraging domestic giving will turn financial wealth into public ownership and strengthen the national social contract. |
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Ethical Growth Index NSE Indices Limited, in collaboration with the Ahimsa Foundation, launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index. » It tracks 326 companies from the Nifty 500 that follow Ahimsa (non-violence towards animals) The Nifty500 Ahimsa Index What It Is? » The Nifty500 Ahimsa Index is India’s first specialized, rules-based equity index designed specifically to screen and track companies free from animal cruelty. It offers ethical investors a structured way to direct capital away from industries that cause harm to animals. Launched By: Created by NSE Indices Limited in strategic partnership with the Ahimsagain Foundation, utilizing the foundation’s proprietary Ahimsa Investment Movement (AIM) screening framework. Aim: To provide retail and institutional investors with a transparent benchmark that aligns financial portfolios with compassion and ethical values, while serving as an underlying asset base for passive investment products like Mutual Funds, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), and index funds. Key Features of the Index: » The AIM Banding Framework: Evaluates the products, services, and operational models of Nifty 500 companies, categorizing them into Green (fully aligned), Orange (partially aligned), and Red (non-compliant) bands. Only Green-band companies qualify for inclusion. » Selective Sector Inclusions: Heavily features top-performing Information Technology (IT) service providers, software exporters, automobile manufacturers, capital goods firms, and telecommunications leaders. » Strict Sector Exclusions: Excludes companies involved in meat, dairy, poultry, leather, cosmetics, fashion using wool/leather, and pharmaceutical firms engaging in animal testing. » Exclusion of Financial Services & Reliance Group: Notably excludes all commercial banks and major Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) due to their financing of non-compliant sectors, as well as almost all Reliance Group entities. » Free-Float Market Capitalization Weighting: Base-dated to April 1, 2016 (with a base value of 1,000), weighted by free-float market capitalization, and reconstituted on a semi-annual basis. Significance: » Expands Ethical Investing: Goes beyond traditional ESG by adding animal welfare and non-violence as investment screening criteria. » Promotes Values-Based Investing: Encourages ethical investment products and supports growing demand from socially conscious investors. |
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Future of Indian Banknotes The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) currency printing subsidiary—Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited—invited global Expressions of Interest (EoI) for supplying opacified polymer substrate sheets with embedded security features. Polymer Banknotes in India What it is? » Polymer or plastic banknotes are currency notes manufactured using specialized biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) rather than traditional cotton-rag paper. Over 60 countries worldwide—led by Australia, which pioneered a complete series three decades ago—use polymer currency in some form. » Designed primarily to modernize cash management, polymer notes offer enhanced physical durability, superior resistance to dirt and moisture, advanced anti-counterfeiting features, and longer circulation lifespans. Key Data and Statistics on India’s Currency System: » Durability Advantage: Polymer banknotes last 2.5 to 4 times longer in active circulation than traditional cotton-paper notes. » Manufacturing Cost Differential: Polymer notes cost 30% to 60% more to produce initially compared to paper banknotes, which can account for 20–24% of the face value for low-denomination notes. » Digital Expansion vs. Cash Growth: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processes over 24,000 crore transactions annually (accounting for 85% of retail digital payments), yet the Currency-to-GDP ratio remains above 11%. » Polymer Import Exposure: India relies on foreign imports for roughly 20% (one-fifth) of its domestic polypropylene consumption. Advantages of Polymer Banknotes: » Significantly Extended Lifespan: Because they do not absorb moisture, sweat, or oils, polymer notes resist tearing and remain clean far longer, especially in low-denomination high-frequency notes like ₹10 and ₹20. » Reduced Long-Term Replacement Costs: Decreasing the frequency of note replacements lowers long-term manufacturing, transportation, and destruction costs for central authorities. » Enhanced Anti-Counterfeiting Security: Polymer substrates allow complex security features like see-through windows, color-shifting inks, and intricate metallic overlays that are difficult to replicate. » Lower Overall Environmental Footprint over Time: A study by TERI found that fewer total manufacturing cycles and reduced transport trips give polymer notes a smaller lifetime carbon footprint than paper notes, despite higher initial production impacts. Key Challenges and Concerns Associated with Plastic Currency: » High Initial Production Costs: Polymer notes require expensive, specialized substrates and anti-counterfeiting technology, raising costs significantly—especially for lower denominations where printing cost can rival face value. » Petrochemical and Crude Price Vulnerability: Being derived from polypropylene, polymer note production costs are directly exposed to global crude oil price swings and West Asian supply disruptions. » Infrastructure Recalibration Expenses: Rolling out polymer currency requires expensive modifications to ATMs, sorting hardware, and vending mechanisms across commercial banks and logistics firms. » The Currency Demand Paradox: Investing heavily in physical cash infrastructure comes at a time when digital transactions via UPI and the Central Bank Digital Currency (e-Rupee) are rapidly reducing relative cash dependency. Way Forward: » Conducting Targeted Phased Pilots on Low Denominations: Limit initial polymer rollouts strictly to ₹10 and ₹20 notes in regions with diverse climatic conditions to verify actual lifecycle cost-savings. » Expanding Domestic Polypropylene Refining Capacity: Accelerate domestic polypropylene production through key public and private refiners to reduce reliance on imported substrates. » Establishing Closed-Loop Recycling Infrastructure: Build specialized recycling systems to melt down retired polymer notes into industrial plastic products, minimizing environmental waste. » Balancing Physical Currency and Digital Payments: Align cash production with the expansion of the digital rupee and UPI to ensure cost-effective currency management. Conclusion: The RBI’s renewed push for polymer currency represents a pragmatic step toward building a cleaner, more durable cash ecosystem for an economy with over ₹41 lakh crore in circulation. While high initial production costs and petrochemical import dependencies pose real challenges, the substantial lifecycle savings on low-denomination notes make a strong economic case. Ultimately, balancing physical polymer currency with rapid digital adoption will ensure India maintains an efficient, secure, and future-ready monetary framework. |
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Hyper Glide Express Scientific and industrial interest in magnetic levitation (maglev) technology has re-emerged in global transportation news as countries seek friction-free, ultra-high-speed rail solutions. Maglev Trains What It Is? » Maglev (a portmanteau of magnetic levitation) is an advanced high-speed rail transportation system. Instead of relying on traditional mechanical wheels, axles, and steel tracks, maglev trains use powerful, computer-controlled magnetic fields to suspend the train body above a specialized guideway and propel it forward. How It Works? » Levitation (Lifting the Train):Because the electromagnetic force is approximately 1039 times stronger than Earth’s gravity, magnetic fields easily lift heavy train cars (weighing 150 to 500 tonnes) off the ground.
» Propulsion (Moving Forward):The track walls are lined with linear electric motor coils carrying an alternating current (AC). This AC continually flips the magnetic poles along the track. The train’s magnets are attracted to opposite poles ahead and repelled by identical poles behind, pulling and pushing the vehicle forward. Increasing the frequency of the AC increases the train’s speed. » Lateral Guidance & Braking: Side-mounted magnets counteract lateral drift, keeping the train centered along the guideway. To stop, the AC direction is reversed (regenerative braking). Emergency systems use friction pads or deploy auxiliary mechanical wheels. Key Features of Maglev Systems: » Zero Rolling Friction: Eliminating physical wheel-on-rail contact removes mechanical friction, allowing for near-silent operation and lower structural wear-and-tear. » Extreme Operational Speeds: Easily exceeds 400 km/hr in commercial service (e.g., Shanghai’s 431 km/hr service) and holds experimental rail world records up to 603 km/hr (Japan’s SCMAGLEV). » Weather-Resistant Reliability: Because the vehicle hovers, operations remain unaffected by surface hazards such as heavy rain, snow, or ice. » Virtually Impossible Derailment: The train structure physically wraps around the guideway, making derailments nearly impossible even during severe seismic events. » High Infrastructure Costs: Requires dedicated, precision-engineered guideways with embedded electromagnets. They cannot run on existing standard-gauge railway tracks. Applications Beyond High-Speed Trains: » Precision Factory Automation: Used in cleanroom environments, semiconductor chip manufacturing, and medical packaging to move components rapidly without dust-generating mechanical friction. » Industrial Turbines & Bearings: High-speed compressors and energy flywheel systems use active magnetic bearings (AMBs) to suspend rotating shafts, removing mechanical friction and eliminating the need for oil lubricants. » EMALS Aircraft Launch Systems: Modern military aircraft carriers (such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System or EMALS) use linear induction motors derived from maglev propulsion to launch heavy fighter jets off short runways. » Scientific Research: High-field magnets generate diamagnetic levitation to suspend liquids, biological cell cultures, and microgravity experiments on Earth without physical contact. |
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India’s Dengue Shield The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted official marketing authorization for Qdenga®, approving India’s first-ever dengue vaccine. India''s First Approved Dengue Vaccine (Qdenga®) What It Is? » Qdenga® is a live, attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine engineered using recombinant DNA technology. It uses a dengue virus type-2 backbone into which genes encoding surface proteins from the other three dengue serotypes are inserted. This structure provides balanced protection against all four dengue virus strains (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4). Developed and Imported By: » Manufacturer: Developed and manufactured by Takeda GmbH, Germany. » Indian Importer: Imported and distributed locally by M/s Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd. Key Features of Qdenga®: » Target Age Group: Indicated for the prevention of dengue disease in individuals between 4 and 60 years of age. » Two-Dose Immunization Schedule: Administered as a 0.5ml subcutaneous injection in a two-dose regimen given three months apart (at month 0 and month 3). » Global Regulatory Credentials: Possesses World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification and approval in over 42 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Indonesia, and Thailand, backed by over 24 million doses distributed globally. » Proven Indian Phase III Validation: Regulatory approval followed a successful pivotal Phase III trial in India, confirming high immunogenicity and safety across diverse Indian populations. The CDSCO: What It Is? » The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is the national regulatory authority of India for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics. It operates under the Directorate General of Health Services within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Established In: Headquartered in New Delhi, the CDSCO derives its statutory authority from the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 and the Drugs Rules of 1945. Key Functions: » Approval of New Drugs and Vaccines: Scientific evaluation and market licensing of new drugs, biologicals, and vaccines before commercial release in India. » Control Over Drug Imports: Grants licenses to import active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), finished formulations, and high-risk medical devices, ensuring compliance with Indian quality standards. » Clinical Trial Governance: Regulates, approves, and monitors all phases of clinical trials conducted across India to protect participant safety. » Standardization and Quality Surveillance: Coordinates with State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) to enforce uniform drug quality under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, taking action against sub-standard or spurius medications. |
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Karlapat Mineral Reserve India’s top industrial giants—including Adani, Reliance Industries, Hindalco, Vedanta, Powercem, and Coal India—are competing to acquire the Karlapat bauxite block in Odisha. The Karlapat Bauxite Block What It Is? » The Karlapat-Pollingpadar block is one of India’s largest unallotted, greenfield (previously unmined) bauxite deposits. Bauxite serves as the primary commercial ore required to produce alumina, which is then smelted into aluminium metal. Location: » District: Kalahandi district, Odisha. » Geographic Belt: Situated within the mineral-dense Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, known for hosting the East Coast Bauxite deposits. » Environmental Context: Located adjacent to the Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, an ecologically sensitive zone and elephant corridor. Geological Formation: » Parent Rock weathering: The deposit formed through the in-situ chemical weathering (lateritization) of pre-existing Precambrian rocks—specifically khondalites (garnet-sillimanite-graphite gneisses) and charnockites. » Plateau Capping: The ore occurs as a gently undulating lateritic blanket capping high-altitude plateaus at elevations between 900 to 1,400 meters above mean sea level. Mineral Potential and Ore Quality: » Resource Scale: Holds an estimated total resource of 207 to 220 million tonnes (including 153 million tonnes of proved reserves and 54 million tonnes of possible reserves). » Alumina Grade (Al2O3): Features an alumina content of approximately 45.2% to 47%, consisting predominantly of gibbsite. » Low Reactive Silica (SiO2): Contains low reactive silica levels, which significantly reduces caustic soda consumption and energy costs during processing. Key Features: » Substantial Ore Thickness: The deposit spans a plateau area of about 9.6 square kilometers (spanning over 3,100 hectares) with an average ore bed thickness of nearly 12 to 15 meters. » Bayer Process Efficiency: Due to its gibbsitic mineralogy, the ore allows low-temperature and low-pressure alumina extraction via the Bayer process. » Uncommitted Greenfield Status: Unlike other major regional deposits (such as Panchpatmali or Baphilimali) that are already tied to specific industrial plants, Karlapat remains one of the last major unassigned reserves capable of anchor-funding a new world-scale refinery. » Boundary Rationalization: The block’s re-auction follows legal delays and boundary adjustments around the adjacent wildlife sanctuary. Significance: » Supports Aluminium Expansion: Secures long-term bauxite supply for major aluminium expansion projects, strengthening domestic production. » Strengthens Odisha’s Resource Hub: Reinforces Odisha’s position as India’s leading bauxite and aluminium hub, supporting EVs, infrastructure, aerospace, and manufacturing. |
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Nation’s Economic Core Index The Union Government released an updated series of the Index of Core Industries (ICI), introducing a revised base year of 2022–23 (replacing 2011–12). The Updated Index of Core Industries (ICI) What It Is? » The Index of Core Industries (ICI) is a monthly production volume index that measures the combined performance of key infrastructure-supportive core sectors in India. It acts as a high-frequency lead indicator for the broader Index of Industrial Production (IIP), in which these core sectors hold a significant combined weightage. Published By: The index is compiled and published monthly by the Office of Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Aim: The revision aims to align the core sector gauge with structural shifts, modern consumption patterns, and updated macroeconomic metrics—including national accounts (GDP/GVA), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the IIP—offering a more accurate view of contemporary industrial activity. Key Changes in the Updated Series: » Base Year Update: Updated to 2022–23=100 from the outdated 2011–12 base year, better reflecting present-day manufacturing and industrial dynamics. » Expansion to Nine Sectors: Expanded from 8 to 9 core industries through the addition of Iron Ore. Iron ore was added due to its critical role as an industrial input, receiving a weight of 4.905%. » Gross Steel Production Accounting: Replaced the previous net production metric for steel with gross production data, establishing procedural consistency with the IIP framework. » Elimination of Double-Counting in Coal: Narrowed the coal index to track raw coal exclusively, excluding coal middlings and washed coal since both are derived from raw coal. » Significant Weight Redistribution: Rebalanced sector weights using pro-rata distributions derived from the 2022–23 IIP series:
Significance: » Updating the base year to 2022–23 improves the accuracy of industrial output and economic assessment. » Aligns the ICI with IIP, GDP, WPI, and Producer Price Indices, supporting better economic and policy decisions. |
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PARIVARTAN: Pathway to Change Delhi cabinet approved implementation of Central scheme PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions). PARIVARTAN Scheme » Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). » Objective: It seeks to phase out ageing, polluting trucks and buses and replace them with vehicles meeting BS-VI emission standards or electric vehicles (EVs). » Benefits: Owners replacing BS-IV or older goods vehicles and purchasing new BS-VI compliant or electric goods vehicles will receive 100% motor vehicle tax exemption for 10 years, full waiver of registration fees, five percent interest subsidy, eight percent discount from OEM etc. |
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Qdenga Dengue Vaccine Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved India’s first dengue vaccine, Qdenga. » Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Qdenga » It is a live, attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine developed using recombinant DNA technology by Takeda GmbH, Germany.
» Manufactured in Vero cells using a DENV-2 backbone containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). » Received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification. |
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Samriddhi Yojana The Delhi Cabinet approved the implementation of the Centre’s ‘Parivartan’ scheme to replace old commercial vehicles with BS-VI-compliant and electric vehicles (EVs). The Parivartan Scheme What It Is? » Parivartan (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivisation of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emission) is a Central Government scheme that promotes the replacement of old, polluting commercial vehicles with BS-VI-compliant or electric vehicles (EVs) through financial incentives. Aim: To phase out ageing commercial vehicles, reduce transport-related air pollution, accelerate clean mobility, and modernize India’s commercial transport fleet. Key Features: » Financial Incentives: Provides motor vehicle tax exemptions, registration fee waivers, interest subsidies, OEM discounts, and fuel voucher benefits for eligible vehicle replacements. » Coverage of Commercial Vehicles: Covers Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs), Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), and buses meeting eligibility criteria. » Promotion of Clean Mobility: Mandates electric LGVs and BS-VI CNG or electric buses for replacement under the scheme in Delhi. » Scrappage & Tax Relief: Offers relief from pending road tax and fitness penalties for eligible scrapped vehicles, with flexibility to sell BS-IV vehicles in eligible non-NCAP cities outside NCR. Significance: » Accelerates replacement of ageing commercial vehicles with cleaner alternatives, improving urban air quality. » Promotes cleaner transport, strengthens the Delhi EV Policy 2026, and advances sustainable urban mobility. |
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Seamless Savings Initiative The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announced its upcoming EPFO 3.0 reform phase, moving beyond the claims-focused EPFO 2.0 framework. The EPFO 3.0 Reforms What It Is? » EPFO 3.0 represents the next generation of social security and retirement fund administration in India. It transitions the EPFO from a traditional formal-sector provident fund manager into a universal, multi-source social security platform capable of managing pension drawdowns, unorganized sector contributions, and gig-economy integrations. Aim: The central objective of EPFO 3.0 is to eliminate pension exclusion by bringing unorganized sector workers, construction workers (BOCW), and gig/platform workers into a structured social security framework, while offering flexible, inflation-linked retirement solutions for all Indian workers. Key Features of EPFO 3.0: » Core Banking Solution (CBS) Tech Integration: Implements an RBI-regulated Core Banking Solution software as its core engine. This replaces fragmented databases with a real-time, centralized transaction system built to seamlessly handle micro-transactions for over 60 crore workers. » Target Retirement Sum (TRS) Framework: Replaces rigid retirement payouts with a defined contribution system. Members set a personalized Target Retirement Sum (TRS) based on their desired pension goal and retirement age, tracking their real-time progress via personalized dashboards. » Dual Retirement Conversion Options: Upon reaching retirement, accumulated funds can be converted into either a traditional annuity or a flexible Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), allowing retirees to adjust monthly payouts according to their changing financial needs. » Gig and Platform Worker Coverage: Operationalizes the Code on Social Security by integrating gig workers into the EPFO network, capturing 1–2% aggregator turnover contributions through automated split-payment systems. » One-to-Many UAN Mapping: Enables a single Universal Account Number (UAN) to link concurrently with multiple employers, aggregators, and digital platforms, maintaining an organized record of all contributions without creating duplicate accounts. » Multi-Source & Third-Party Contributions: Allows provident fund balances to be built through diverse sources, accepting co-contributions from workers, employers, government subsidies, CSR funds, donor organizations, and consumer tips integrated into food or delivery apps. Significance: » Expands Social Security: Extends retirement and social security coverage to informal, construction, and gig workers through flexible contributions. » Modernizes Retirement Planning: Introduces flexible withdrawals and digital pension planning tools, enabling better long-term financial security. |
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Strengthening Environmental Assessment Standards The changes have been notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to resolve project appraisal delays at the state-level. Key Features of the Notified Amendments » Establishment of Standing Bodies (for each state and Union territory):
» Extended Tenure: The tenure for EAC and SEAC members has been extended from 3 to 4 years. (Maximum 2 terms).
» Removal of Central Safeguard: Replaces the former default mechanism (inactive state cases elevated to the Central EAC) with local appraisal by non-expert bureaucratic standing bodies Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Framework in India » Meaning: EIA is a systematic process to identify, predict, evaluate, and mitigate the environmental and social impacts of proposed developmental projects. » Legislative Framework: EIA Notification, 2006, under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Categorisation of Projects: » Category A: Large-scale projects (e.g., major dams) require clearance from the Central Government based on recommendations from an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). » Category B: Moderately polluting or smaller-scale projects are reviewed at the state level by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).
» EIA Steps: Screening, Scoping, Public Consultation, Decision Making and Monitoring. \ |
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Transforming Begging into Livelihoods SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment aims to realise the vision of a "Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat" (Begging-Free India). The Scheme » Type: Central Sector Scheme. » Objective: Comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging through a dignity-based and livelihood-oriented approach. » Extent: Operational in 216 cities, with a target to cover 295 cities and rehabilitate 35,000 persons by FY 2030–31. » Two Sub-Schemes:
Key Features: » Comprehensive Rehabilitation: Identification, rescue, shelter, healthcare, counselling and rehabilitation. » Livelihood Support: Skill development, education and sustainable employment opportunities. » Social Reintegration: Mainstreaming beneficiaries with dignity and self-reliance. » Convergence-Based Implementation: Coordination between the Central Government, States/UTs, District Administrations etc. while converging with schemes such as DAY-NULM, NRLM, Mission Vatsalya. » Digital Monitoring & Transparency: Uses the SMILE-Beggary National Portal for registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and beneficiaries. Way Ahead » Address Root Causes: Tackle poverty, homelessness, mental illness, addiction and trafficking. » Legal deterrence: Ban on begging as well as giving alms in public places, with enforcement against violations. » Enhance Public Awareness & Monitoring: Promote community participation, discourage organized begging though monitoring. » Best Practices (Indore): India''s first "Beggar-Free City" after a year-long rehabilitation campaign. |
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Wildlife Corridor of Segur Plateau Supreme Court uphold removal of all commercial activity in the Segur plateau (Western Ghats area), which was declared as an Elephant corridor. Segur Plateau » It connects the Western and the Eastern Ghats and sustains elephant populations and their genetic diversity.
» The plateau is a part of Mudumulai Tiger Reserve and a key component of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO World Network site). |
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