Current Context: IISc launched BHARAT—“Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions”under its Longevity India program.  About the Bharat Study Objective: Create the Bharat Baseline—India-specific biomarker database tracking genomic, proteomic, metabolic, environmental, and lifestyle markers. Scope: Multiparametric assessments, advanced clinical checks, multi-omics, and lifestyle integration; addresses diagnostic mismatch with Western standards. Outcomes: Aims to improve age-related disease interventions, refine public health diagnostics, and influence national standards for vitamin/mineral markers.Read More

Current Context: The World Health Organization launched its ambitious “3 by 35” Initiative, calling on countries to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035, aiming to reduce non‑communicable diseases (NCDs) and generate US $1 trillion in public revenue over the next decade.  About “3 BY 35” Purpose: Use health taxes to curb harmful usage and fund health systems ― saves lives, reduces NCD burden, and boosts government revenue. Targets: A minimum 50% price increase on each product category (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks) through excise or health tax instruments. Actions: Mobilisation: Engaging heads of....Read More

CURRENT CONTEXT : Puducherry has become the first UT in India to integrate tuberculosis (TB) screening into the Family Adoption Programme, an NMC-mandated initiative led by medical colleges. ABOUT FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAMME (FAP) Mandated by: National Medical Commission (NMC) Concept: Medical students adopt 3–5 families each and engage in long-term follow-up over 3 years New Addition in Puducherry: Routine TB screening of adopted family members as part of community outreach Collaboration between medical students, colleges, and local health authorities ABOUT NTEP IN PUDUCHERRY National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) active since Feb 20, 2004 Coverage: Single TB district covering 92 lakh....Read More

Current Context: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched C‑FLOOD on 2 July 2025 in New Delhi. It provides two-day inundation forecasts at village level. ABOUT C‑FLOOD Agencies Involved: Developed by C-DAC Pune, Central Water Commission (CWC), and NRSC—under the National Hydrology Project and the National Supercomputing Mission. Coverage: Initial focus on the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi basins, with plans to include other river systems. Features & Functionality: Offers 2-day advance flood forecasts through maps and water-level predictions up to village-level. Integrates national and regional flood models into a unified decision‑support system. Based on 2-D hydrodynamic modelling using HPC at....Read More

Current Context: From mid-July 2025, Tamil Nadu has launched a pilot scheme delivering essentials to senior citizens (70+) and PwDs in Chennai and nine other districts. About Mobile PDS shops Concept: Vehicles carrying essentials (rice, wheat, sugar, oils, pulses), equipped with weighing machines and biometric/palm-reader ID systems. Beneficiaries: Over 15 lakh ration cardholders, including PHH and NPHH families aged above 70 or with disabilities. Coverage: Pilot across Chennai and districts like Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, and Dindigul—urban to rural/coastal regions .Read More

Current Context: Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the “Adi Karmyogi” mobile initiative to train tribal-affairs field officers for enhanced grassroots governance. About Adi karmyogi Programme Goal: Build a motivated cadre of citizen-centric officials for tribal development. Scale: 180+ State-level master trainers, 3,000 district trainers, 15,000 block-level trainers, Aim : to reach 2 million stakeholders and 100,000 tribal villages. Approach: Emphasis on attitude change, multi-department coordination, and mentorship for inclusive tribal welfare.Read More

Current Context: The central government launched NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls) in Sonbhadra, UP, as a joint pilot by MWCD & MSDE aimed at skill-building in [16‑18]-year-old girls.  ABOUT NAVYA INITIATIVE Target Group: Girls aged 16–18 with Class 10 qualification; focus on aspirational and North-Eastern districts. Ministries: Collaborative effort of Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Training Focus: Vocational training in non-traditional sectors—graphic design, telecom, drone tech, solar PV, CCTV, smartphone assembly. Coverage: Pilot phase in 27 districts across 19 states, including aspirational regions. Objectives: Empower girls with skills,....Read More

Current Context: Gujarat became the first state to implement the Amended BharatNet Program under a state-led model, with ₹5,631 crore approved for rollout and ten-year O&M. ABOUT AMENDED BHARATNET PROGRAM Genesis: Original BharatNet scheme for rural broadband; ABP approved in 2023 to improve delivery. Gujarat Pilot: Quadripartite MoU with central, state govt, BSNL & GFGNL; covers 14,287 GP hubs & 3,895 villages. Network Design: Ring topology optical-fibre network using IP-MPLS; routers at block and GP levels. Service Standards: ≥25 Mbps FTTH; 98% uptime; rural Wi‑Fi & institutional connections. O&M: 10-year operations and maintenance commitment under BharatNet Udyami model. Significance: Enables....Read More

Current Context: Recently, Tripura declared fully literate (95.6% literacy) as the third Indian state, after Goa and Mizoram, achieving full functional literacy under ULLAS (2022–2027). ABOUT ULLAS: Ministry: Type: Centrally sponsored scheme (2022‑27). Goal: Achieve literacy (≥95%) among individuals ≥15 yrs; foundational literacy and numeracy for ~5 crore learners. Implementation: Hybrid approach, volunteer-driven, multilingual, across India. Tripura’s Achievement: From 93.7% (2023–24) to 95.6% (2024–25); focus on vocational, digital, life skills.Read More

Current Context: UPSC launched Pratibha Setu, a secure portal for government and private employers to access profiles of over 10,000 meritorious candidates who cleared all UPSC exam stages but narrowly missed the final list.  ABOUT PRATIBHA SETU Origin: Rebranded from the Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS) in June Eligibility: Candidates who cleared prelims, mains & interview but were not recommended. Opt‑in: Only willing candidates who consent have their soft biodata (qualifications, contact details) shared. Access: Verified central government departments and private organisations receive login credentials. Purpose: Bridge top UPSC performers with hiring bodies, tapping an “almost equally meritorious” talent pool.Read More