Current context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has sequenced 10,000 Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples under the Dare2eraD TB Programme as of March 2025. This milestone is part of India's efforts to combat drug-resistant TB and eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, ahead of the WHO’s 2030 target. Dare2eraD TB Programme: Launched on World TB Day, March 2022. Collaborative effort by the Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Programme Objectives: Sequence 32,200 MTB strains and create a centralised clinical MTB strain biorepository. Map genetic diversity, associate mutations with drug resistance, and study transmission dynamics. Alignment with National Goals:....Read More

Current Context: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes quality Early Childhood Education and the importance of multilingualism and mother tongue inclusion in primary education. Baalpan ki Kavita Initiative: Objective: Create a compendium of nursery rhymes/poems in Indian languages and English with content rooted in the Indian context for joyful learning at the Foundational stage. Focus: Promote cultural relevance and joyful learning through regional and folklore-based rhymes. Categories for Contribution: Pre-primary (Ages 3–6). Grade 1 (Ages 6–7). Grade 2 (Ages 7–8). Features: Contributions include existing folklore poems or newly composed poems with cultural relevance.Read More

Current Context: The Supreme Court of India established a National Task Force (NTF) to address the rise in student suicides in higher educational institutions, following recent incidents at IIT Delhi. Key Details: Chairperson: Justice S. Ravindra Bhat (former SC judge). Mandate: Identify causes of student suicides. Analyze mental health policies. Recommend solutions for better safeguards. Conduct surprise inspections in institutions. Key Issues: Over 13,000 student suicides in recent years, linked to academic pressure, harassment, and caste discrimination. Focus on addressing caste-based discrimination and systemic challenges. Legal and Institutional Reforms: Police directed to register FIRs in suspected foul play. Educational institutions....Read More

Current Context: The APAAR ID, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to streamline student records but has raised concerns over Aadhaar linkage, data privacy, and potential mandate issues. Key Facts: Objective: Establish a "One Nation, One Student ID" system to standardize academic records and link them to DigiLocker and Academic Bank of Credits. Implementation: Schools upload data, while higher education and skill institutions access verified records for admissions and recruitment. Concerns: Aadhaar Linkage Issues: Spelling mismatches complicating data updates. Mandate Concerns: CBSE's push for 100% APAAR enrolment contradicts Supreme Court rulings against mandatory Aadhaar for basic education....Read More

Recently, the Union Home Minister addressed the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar, Assam, where he highlighted the success of the Bodo Peace Accord (2020) in bringing peace and stability to the region. Background: Bodo Movement The Bodos are one of the largest tribal communities in Assam, with a distinct cultural and linguistic identity. Long-standing demands for autonomy led to the Bodoland movement in the 1980s, marked by agitation and insurgency led by groups like the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). Earlier Attempts to Resolve the Issue Bodo....Read More

The Oilfield (Regulatory and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 was passed by Lok Sabha after Rajya Sabha’s approval on December 3, 2024. Objective: Aims to reform the legal framework, enhance investor confidence, boost oil and gas exploration, and support India’s energy security. Key Reforms: Shift from multiple licenses to a single petroleum lease permit. Supports Ease of Doing Business and resource-sharing for small operators. Strengthens dispute resolution and stabilizes investor operations. Enables adoption of new technologies like Carbon Capture, Green Hydrogen. Enforcement & Penalties: Increased penalties: ₹25 lakh + ₹10 lakh per day for continued violations. Establishes an adjudication and appellate....Read More

Launched by Punjab Government on the eve of International Women’s Day. Aimed at supporting women and children facing violence and harassment. Focuses on domestic violence prevention and victim support. Objectives: Eliminate fear among victims and encourage them to seek help. Provide an integrated support system for distressed women and children. Enhance last-mile connectivity for immediate assistance. Helpline & Response Mechanism: 24×7 helpline (181) categorizing calls into emergency, non-emergency, and informational. Emergency cases are transferred to ERSS-112 for swift action. Multi-Agency Collaboration: Departments involved: Social Security, Health, and Punjab Police. Facilitates rescue operations, legal aid, medical assistance, and psycho-social support. Support....Read More

Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) The Union Cabinet has approved the revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) with a budget of ₹3,880 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26. The programme aims to improve livestock and poultry health through enhanced disease control and veterinary services. About LHDCP Comprises three major components: National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) – Focuses on controlling major livestock diseases. LHDCP – Strengthens veterinary infrastructure and disease management. Pashu Aushadhi – A new initiative to provide affordable veterinary medicines for farmers. Seeks to reduce disease outbreaks, enhance productivity, and support rural livelihoods. Key Sub-components....Read More

The 2nd All India State Water Ministers Conference was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on 18thand 19th February 2025. Organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Water Resources). Theme: "India@2047 – Water Secure Nation." Aims to enhance collaboration between states and ministries for water resource management. Focus areas include strengthening water governance, improving potable water distribution, and irrigation management. Emphasizes demand management, water use efficiency, and integrated river and coastal management.Read More

India's first government-led initiative for the safe collection and disposal of expired medicines launches on February 22, 2025, under Kerala’s nPROUD program. Objective:Collect and scientifically dispose of expired and unused medicines to prevent environmental pollution and health hazards. Implementation: Collection Methods:Scheduled pickups from households and designated blue drop-off boxes. Pilot Phase:Initiated in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat, with plans for statewide expansion. Collaboration:Led by the Drugs Control Department, supported by local self-government bodies and Haritha Karma Sena members. Background:Builds upon the 2021 PROUD pilot in Thiruvananthapuram, which disposed of 21 tonnes of unused medicines.  Read More