Urban Mobility India Conference 2025

• The 18^th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 was inaugurated in Gurugram by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Power.

Key Initiatives & Announcements

• Metro Expansion: India now has ~1,100 km of operational metro network, the 3^rd-largest globally; it aims to become the 2^nd-largest soon.
• Electric Mobility: Under PM e-Bus Sewa, 10,000 e-buses to be deployed in smaller cities; 100 e-buses earmarked for Gurugram.
• DMRC’s international subsidiary, Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL), will now act as the nodal agency for consultancy, construction, and MRTS projects in India and overseas.
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) are highlighted as game-changers for seamless travel.

Awards for Excellence in Urban Transport (2025)

Neodymium

India to scale up its Neodymium production to 500 tonnes by the end of FY27, to boost self-reliance in rare earth elements. 

Neodymium

• Category: Lanthanide Metal.
• It is a key component in the global rare-earth magnet industry, vital for electric vehicles, clean energy technologies, and defence systems.
• Appearance: Lustrous, silvery-yellow metal that tarnishes quickly in air.
• Key Applications: Makes Very strong permanent magnets in an alloy with iron and boron, make lasers, use in eye and cosmetic surgery, treatment of skin cancers, etc. 
• Source: Monazite and Bastnaesite (like most Lanthanide elements). 

Government to establish UCBs in all cities with populations over 2 lakh within five years

The Union Minister of Cooperation committed it, while addressing the international conference on the urban cooperative credit sector-Co-Op Kumbh 2025 in New Delhi. 

• The government also launched Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan applications that will enable even the smallest UCBs to offer digital payment and loan facilities.

Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)

• They are a subset of cooperative banks in India that operate primarily in urban and semi-urban areas.
• History: Cooperative Credit Societies Act of 1904 and its 1912 amendment laid the legal foundation.
• They are registered as cooperative societies under the respective State Cooperative Societies Acts (for single-state operations) or the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (for operations across multiple states).
• Control and Regulation: UCBs function under a dual regulatory framework:
• Banking Regulation Act, 1949:  They were brought under the purview of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 through an Amendment in 1966.
• The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 has given RBI more control over UCBs, allowing it to intervene in their management and governance.
• Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS): The respective state governments or the central government control administrative functions through the RCS.

Climate investment fund (CIF)

Recently, Spain and Germany committed $100 million for the CIF’s Accelerating Resilience Investments and innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) during COP 30 of UNFCCC in Brazil 

• ARISE, aims to help developing countries “turn climate risk into opportunity” and to strengthen the “adaptive capacity” of economies

 CIF

• Established: In 2008 by world and regional multilateral development banks.
• About:  It is a multilateral climate fund that enables climate action in over 70 low- and middle-income countries
• key feature: Providing funding that allows developing nations to incorporate low-carbon programmes into their national development plans. 
• Currently, the CIF has 2 main funds: Clean Technology Fund and Strategic Climate Fund. 

30 Years of Legal Services Authorities Act

• CJI B.R. Gavai at the National Conference on Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms, marking NALSA’s 30^th year, emphasised that legal aid is not charity but a moral duty.

Key Highlights from CJI’s Message

• Constitutional Duty: CJI Gavai highlighted that legal aid ensures the constitutional promise of justice (Article 39A) is realised, calling it an administrative and ethical responsibility rather.
• Institutional Continuity: Suggested forming advisory committees with current and future executive chairpersons of NALSA and State Legal Services Authorities to ensure long-term, vision-based planning.
• Institutional Strengthening: Advocated for collaboration between the judiciary, executive, and civil society, and the use of technology with human sensitivity for wider outreach.
• Respect for Legal Aid Workers: Called for treating volunteers, paralegal workers, and legal aid counsels with dignity, recognising their role as the movement’s backbone.

World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO)

Recently at APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) meet in South Korea, China pushed for a global body, WAICO, to govern Artificial Intelligence (AI) norms. 

WAICO

• Aim: Shaping global standards for world cooperation. 
• It incorporates principles from China''s 2023 Global AI Governance Initiative, emphasizing human-centric design, data sovereignty and algorithmic transparency.
• Announced during 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. 
• Key Purpose: Reimagining the international architecture of AI governance, position China as an alternative to USA, exert China’s soft Power, etc.

Assam’s Polygamy Prohibition Bill, 2025

• The Assam Cabinet approved the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, which seeks to criminalise polygamy across the State, with possible exemptions for Sixth Schedule tribal areas.

Legal Provisions of Polygamy Under Various Religions

• Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs: Prohibited under Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a second marriage during the lifetime of a spouse is void (Section 11) and punishable under Section 494 IPC.
• Christians: Banned under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872; offenders can be prosecuted.
• Parsis: Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, which allows only monogamous marriages.
• Muslims: Permitted up to four wives under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, subject to equal treatment and justice.

Prevalence of Polygamy in India

• NFHS-5 (2019–21): National prevalence of polygamy stands at 1.4%, down from 1.9% in NFHS-4 (2015–16), showing a steady decline across communities.
• By Religion: Muslims (1.9%), Hindus (1.3%), Christians (1.0%), Tribal groups (2.4%), indicating cultural and economic factors as key drivers.
• Regional Trends: Higher prevalence in northeastern states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam, due to customary tribal laws and matrilineal traditions.

Need for Polygamy Prohibition

• Gender Equality: Upholds Articles 14 and 15, ensuring non-discrimination against women.
• Constitutional Morality: Aligns with Article 44 and promotes secular legal uniformity in marriage laws.
• Judicial Precedent: Javed v. State of Haryana (2003) held that polygamy is not an essential religious practice and can be restricted in the public interest.
• Women’s Empowerment: Protects women from economic insecurity, mental distress, and social marginalisation arising from polygamous unions.
• Global Practices: Many Islamic countries like Turkey, Tunisia, and Indonesia have regulated or banned polygamy in line with women’s rights frameworks.

Challenges Faced in the Prohibition of Polygamy

• Customary Laws: The Sixth Schedule operate under autonomous frameworks, limiting state jurisdiction.
• Religious Sensitivity: Risk of political and communal backlash over perceived interference. E.g. protests during debates on the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand (2024).
• Implementation Gap: Enforcement of prohibitions and conviction rates under Section 494 IPC remain very low (<10%) due to weak reporting and social stigma. (NCRB)
• Socio-Economic Dependence: Victims often lack financial independence, making withdrawal from relationships difficult. E.g. over 60% of victims rely economically on the husband’s family. (NCW 2022)

Way Forward

• Legal Uniformity: The Law Commission Report No. 279 (2018) recommended phased UCC reforms with public consultation for social acceptance.
• Victim Support Mechanisms: Operationalise financial, psychological, and legal aid schemes to empower affected women. E.g. NCW’s One Stop Centre Scheme, ensuring holistic victim assistance.
• Customary Law Dialogue: Engage with Sixth Schedule councils to integrate women’s rights into tribal legal system. E.g. Nagaland Women’s Reservation initiative showed balancing tradition with equality.
• Data and Monitoring: Establish a state registry of marital status and second marriages. E.g. Indonesia’s marriage registration system, which curbed polygamy by linking marriage to national ID databases.
• Judicial and Administrative Coordination: Strengthen family courts, legal aid centres, and women’s commissions for quick redressal and deterrence. E.g. Fast-Track Special Courts (2019) model.

Quality Control Orders (QCOs)

India may relax certain QCO requirements to reduce compliance burden on industries and facilitate smoother manufacturing and exports.

QCOs

• Legal Framework: Published by Central Government after consulting BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) under BIS Act, 2016. 
• Mandatory Nature: While BIS certification is basically voluntary. 
• A number of products owing to public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, national security, etc., are subjected to mandatory use of Standard Mark under a Licence or Certificate of Conformity (CoC) from BIS through issuance of QCOs.

Mitra Shakti Exercise

11th edition of India–Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti 2025 began at Belagavi, Karnataka

• It is a bilateral annual joint military exercise between the Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army.
• Alternatively, hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

India Deepens Trade Ties with Latin America

• India has concluded the 9^th Round of India–Peru Trade Agreement in Lima and the 3rd Round of India–Chile CEPA negotiations in Santiago, aiming to enhance market access.

 India’s Trade Engagement with Latin America

• Trade Growth: Bilateral trade reached USD 50 billion in FY 2024, led by India’s exports of pharma, textiles, and machinery and imports of minerals and oil.
• India–Peru Trade Pact: The 9th round (Nov 2025, Lima) advanced talks on goods, services, and critical minerals; the next round will be held in New Delhi (Jan 2026).
• India–Chile CEPA: The 3rd round (Oct 2025, Santiago) focused on investment, IPR, and supply-chain resilience, strengthening economic integration.
• Investment Expansion: Indian companies have expanded into mining, energy, automobiles, and agro-industries, while Latin firms explore India’s pharma and IT markets.
• Policy Direction: India seeks to finalise CEPA and FTA frameworks by 2026 to achieve tariff parity with major economies and deepen South–South economic cooperation.

BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network Conference

• The first biennial BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) conference took place in Kochi.
• The conference reviewed the progress of the BIMReN initiative and explored new marine research collaborations across the Bay of Bengal region.

BIMReN

• The BIMReN is a collaborative platform launched by India to promote joint research and sustainable development of the blue economy among BIMSTEC nations.
• Launch: First announced during the 2022 Colombo BIMSTEC Summit, it was officially launched in 2024.
• Implementation: It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).
• Collaborations: BIMReN promotes institutional partnerships through collaborative research grants and split-site PhD fellowships between Indian and BIMSTEC research institutions.
• Significance: The initiative strengthens India’s “Neighbourhood First”, “Act East”, and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) policies.

India Joins Tropical Forest Forever Facility

• India announced its decision to join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as an ‘Observer’ at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

 Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF)

• The TFFF is a global finance mechanism launched by Brazil at COP30 to ensure predictable, long-term funding for tropical forest conservation.
• Objective: It provides performance-based financial support to Tropical Forest Countries (TFCs) for conserving and restoring tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest (TSMBF).
• Member Countries: Founding members include Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
• Potential Scope: The TFFF covers about 1.2 billion hectares of eligible forests across more than 70 developing countries.
• Alignment: The TFFF complements the objectives of the UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD but operates independently of their financial frameworks.
• Fundraising: The facility aims to mobilise $25 billion from member countries and attract up to $100 billion from private investors.
• Mechanism: Money is pooled into the Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF) and invested in clean, fixed-income assets. The investment returns are used to finance annual conservation payments.

• Structure: The TFFF operates as an umbrella facility with two complementary parts coordinated by a Secretariat:
1. Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF): Mobilises and manages resources for forest finance.
2. Tropical Forest Forever Facility: Oversees reward rules, eligibility, monitoring, and disbursement

• Institutional Host: The World Bank (WB) acts as the interim trustee and host of the TFFF Secretariat.

• Payment Structure: Countries receive $4 per hectare annually for maintaining forest cover. Deductions are made for deforestation and forest fires.
• Indigenous Support: At least 20% of total funds are earmarked for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) engaged in forest protection.
• Verification: A satellite-based monitoring system tracks canopy cover, deforestation and degradation.

Greater Flamingo Sanctuary (GFS)

A 50-MW wind farm proposed by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) can affect Greater Flamingo Sanctuary.

• The Greater Flamingo''s range spans Africa, western Asia, and southern Europe.
• it is usually found in shallow, saline, alkaline wetlands during the breeding season

GFS

• Establishment: By Tamil Nadu Government at Dhanushkodi.
• Aim: To protect vital migratory bird habitats along the Central Asian Flyway (A major migratory bird route connecting Eurasia with the Indian subcontinent). 
• Location: Within the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.

Agendas for the COP30 Summit

• The 30^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is taking place in Belém, Brazil, under Brazil’s presidency. It marks the first COP to be hosted in the Amazon region.

• Theme: Known as the ‘COP of Truth’ or the ‘Implementation COP,’ it seeks to move beyond symbolic commitments towards real, measurable climate action across six thematic areas (“Axes”).
• Six Axes: (1) Energy, industry, and transport transitions; (2) Stewardship of forests, oceans, and biodiversity; (3) Transformation of food systems; (4) Resilience in cities, infrastructure, and water; (5) Human and social development; and (6) Cross-cutting issues/Enablers.

Key Agendas of the COP30 Summit

Implementation and Commitments

• ‘Implementation COP’: Aims to transform past climate pledges into concrete, time-bound national plans with defined targets and transparent monitoring.
• NDCs 3.0: Finalize updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035 with clear emission goals and stronger reporting mechanisms.
• Finance Framework: Adopt the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to replace the $100 billion pledge with a $300 billion annual climate finance framework.

Adaptation and Resilience

• Global Adaptation: Implement the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience within the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to expand adaptation efforts and reduce vulnerability.
• Finance Roadmap: Advance the joint ‘Baku-to-Belém Finance Roadmap’ to mobilize $1.3 trillion every year for mitigation and adaptation initiatives.
• Forest Facility: Expand the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) to support tropical forest conservation and long-term carbon storage using blended finance.

Equity and Cooperation

• Pollutant Reduction: Accelerate the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator to reduce methane, HFCs, and black carbon in 30 developing countries by 2030.
• Trade Fairness: Reform Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) to prevent ‘carbon leakage’ and ensure fair trade terms for developing nations.
• Just Transition: Advance the Belem Action Mechanism for a Global Just Transition (BAM) to promote an equitable, rights-based energy transition under the UNFCCC.
• Global Partnership: Strengthen cooperation on technology transfer, climate innovation, and capacity building between the Global North and the Global South for effective climate action.
• Ethical Stocktake: Institutionalise the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) to integrate moral, ethical, and cultural perspectives into global climate policy
• Data will help design better irrigation schedules, support climate-resilient cropping decisions.

Niyamgiri Hills Case

• The Niyamgiri Hills case 2013, India’s first environmental referendum, saw the Dongria Kondh tribe (PVTG) in Odisha reject Vedanta’s bauxite mining project.

Significance of Niyamgiri Hills case (2013)

• Legal Integration: Linked PESA 1996 (Sec 4d) and FRA 2006 (Sec 6) empowered Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas to safeguard tribal traditions.
• Judicial Recognition of FPIC: The Supreme Court (2013) upheld tribal cultural rights and empowered Gram Sabhas to decide on mining establishing Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in India.
• Tribal Rights Jurisprudence: Reinforced Article 21 (Right to Life) + Article 25 (Freedom of Religion) protecting cultural identity.
• Ecological Importance: Niyamgiri Hills is the source of Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers, critical for 8,000 Dongria Kondhs and rich in biodiversity.

CCTV Cameras in Passenger Trains

• Indian Railways has started installing cameras in locomotive cabs and coaches on passenger trains under the South East Central Railway zone (HQ: Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)

• Nationwide Rollout: It is part of a larger pan-India plan to install cameras in 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives to strengthen security and monitoring.
• Purpose: To improve passenger safety, deter crimes, support post-crash investigations, and ensure crew accountability.
• Locomotive Cameras: Each locomotive will have six cameras for front, rear, and cab views, along with two microphones for audio recording.
• Coach Cameras: Four dome cameras will be installed near coach doors to monitor movements.
• Technology: The cameras are high-resolution, STQC-certified, and can record in low light and high-speed conditions.

Draft Cell Atlas of the Developing Brain

• An international group of scientists has finished the first draft of a detailed cell atlas that maps the development of the human and mammalian brain.

Research

• The research project aims to chart the development and maturity of various brain cell types from the earliest embryonic stages to full adulthood.
• It is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN), an international collaboration to develop a comprehensive brain map.
• Mapping Process: The research primarily focused on human and mouse brain cells. It examined their development, differentiation, and maturation, as well as tracked changes in gene activity.
• Key Findings: Over 5,000 brain cell types were identified in mice, and humans were found to have slower cortical cell development due to a longer growth period from fetus to adolescence.
• Significance: The atlas shows how different brain cells affect cognition and behaviour, aiding targeted gene and cell-based therapies for conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and brain cancer.

Scintillometer

• A scintillometer has been installed at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute in Aduthurai.
• TRRI is a part of a Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) network, with only three in India, and this is the only one in Tamil Nadu.
• It is an optical device that measures the movement of heat and moisture between the land surface and the atmosphere.
• The instrument works by sending a light beam between two fixed points; turbulence in the air causes tiny fluctuations (scintillations) in the beam.
• These fluctuations are analysed to calculate heat transfer and evapotranspiration, providing reliable microclimate and irrigation-related data.

Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute

• TRRI was established under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) with support from the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) and has been fully operational since 2022.
• It generates continuous datasets on weather, soil moisture, canopy conditions, and hydrology, crucial for the Cauvery Delta, a climate-sensitive agricultural region.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of RVF affecting Mauritania and Senegal in Western Africa.

RVF

• Origin: Derives name from Kenya’s Rift Valley, where the disease was first recognised in the early 1930s
• Caused By: Phlebovirus belonging to the Phenuiviridae family.
• Spread: It primarily affects animals eg. cattle,etc.
• Humans get infected through close contact with infected animals or by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• It  has not been shown to spread from person to person.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment. However, animals vaccine do exist.

India’s Development Cooperation Model: A Distinct Alternative to Conventional Aid

India’s development model seeks to blend local ownership with global credibility, defining a new approach to South-South Cooperation that looks beyond aid dependency.

India’s development cooperation model 

• Demand-Driven Approach: Meaning proposals originate from partner governments eg. India-UN Development Partnership Fund
• The fund was established in 2017 under the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
• Capacity-Building Focus: It includes training local personnel, strengthening institutions, and facilitating technology transfer 
• Eg. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, of the Ministry of External Affairs has trained officials from 160+ countries.
• Prioritizing vulnerable states eg. Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States 
• Eg. Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS), which provides lines of credit through Export-Import Bank of India to developing African and non-African countries.
• Blending local Ownership and multilateral Credibility: By partnering with the UN, execution is transparent, insulating the initiatives from bilateral political dynamics.
• Eg. India-UN Global Capacity-Building Initiative, under the ministry of external affairs 
• Other features: Respecting sovereignty, cost-effective solution, Non-Conditional Support eg, vaccine maitri, etc.

China’s Development model: Supply-driven (projects often initiated by China), projects driven by strategic and economic influence (Belt and Road Initiative), lending large sums of money to financially vulnerable developing countries (debt diplomacy), etc.

Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) Launched

It is a year-long, targeted initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 to achieve the goals of Lakshya Zero Dumpsites by September 2026.

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-U) 2.0 was launched in 2021 to achieve Garbage Free Status for all cities. It also aims at remediation of all legacy dumpsites and converting them into green zones.

DAMP

• Objective: Prioritize high-impact locations, covering approximately 8.8 crore MT of legacy waste.
• Legacy Waste refers to aged municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites, it is a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, etc. 
• About 80% of the legacy waste is concentrated in 214 sites across 202 Urban Local Bodies. 
• Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 
• Eligibility: All States/UTs with ongoing legacy waste projects with priority to sites containing over 45,000 MT of legacy wastes. 
• No minimum threshold for eligibility for UTs and North Eastern States. 

Dumpsites and its Management in India

• Status: Currently, 1,428 sites are undergoing remediation (1,048 have been fully remediated). 
• Major emissions of primary concern:
• Leachate: Polluted water that emerges at the base of dumpsite waste.
• Landfill Gas: Mixture of carbon dioxide and methane formed because of anaerobic conditions created in dumpsites during waste decomposition.