Observed every year on 8 September (since 1996).

• Established by: World Confederation for Physical Therapy (founded in 1951, now World Physiotherapy).
• Theme 2025: Healthy Ageing – Prevention of Frailty and Falls.
• Objective: To raise awareness about the contribution of physiotherapists in improving mobility, independence, and overall health.

Observed on 8 September (every year, since 1967).

• Established by: UNESCO in 1966.
• Objective: To highlight the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.

Observed every year on First Sunday of September (In 2025 – 7 September in USA).

• Objective: To honour grandparents and celebrate intergenerational bonding.
• Origin: Officially recognised in the United States in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter.

Current Context : The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released a report analyzing the criminal background of ministers across India.

KEY FINDINGS

• Ministers Analyzed: 643 (27 States + 3 UTs + Union Council)
• Criminal Cases: 47% declared criminal cases
• Serious Criminal Cases: 27% declared cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women

CAUSES OF CRIMINALIZATION

• Muscle Power: Criminal nexus used to influence elections (noted in Dharam Vira Commission, 1977)
• Money Power: High election spending, corruption, illegal funding
• Identity Politics: Caste/religion overshadowing criminal records
• Weak Laws & Delays: Slow judicial process, poor enforcement

IMPACTS

• Weakening of democracy and rule of law
• Justice delayed, erosion of accountability
• Risk of a “government of criminals, by criminals, for criminals”

MEASURES TAKEN

• Legislative: Section 8(3), Representation of People Act, 1951 – disqualification after conviction (2+ years sentence).
• Judicial Pronouncements:
  • Union of India v ADR (2002): Mandatory disclosure of criminal records.
  • Public Interest Foundation v Union of India (2018): Parties must publish candidates’ criminal records.
  • Lily Thomas v Union of India (2013): Immediate disqualification of convicted legislators.

Current Context : India has joined the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN), alongside the UK and Singapore, to share safety protocols and monitor AI use in healthcare.

ABOUT HEALTHAI GRN

• Headquarters: Geneva
• Nature: Independent non-profit promoting equitable access to AI in healthcare
• Collaborations: Works with governments, international bodies, and health experts
• Special Access: Members can use a Global Public Repository of AI-registered health solutions

Role of AI in Healthcare

• Transforming Delivery: Data-driven, efficient, patient-centered care
• Targeted Therapeutics: Supports drug discovery, clinical trials, personalized treatment
• Connected Care: Enables chatbots, remote monitoring, virtual assistants for patient engagement

Current Context : Odisha’s Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is set to be declared as India’s newest tiger reserve.

ABOUT DEBRIGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Bargarh district, Odisha
• Established As Sanctuary: 1985
• Nearby Landmark: Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi River (world’s longest earthen dam)
• Historical Link: Freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used it as his base during the revolt against British rule.

Current Context : The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has asked the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) to consider separately enumerating PVTGs in the upcoming Census.

ABOUT PVTGs

• Category: Sub-group of Scheduled Tribes (STs)
• Identified By: Dhebar Commission (1960–61) under U. N. Dhebar
• Criteria for Identification:
  • Declining or stagnant population
  • Geographical isolation
  • Pre-agrarian level of technology (hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation)
  • Economic backwardness and low literacy

Distribution

• Total Groups: 75
• Spread Across: 18 States + Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Population:5 lakh (as per recent survey)
• Largest Population: Madhya Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra (6.7 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh

 Livelihoods : Depend on forest produce, hunting, livestock rearing, shifting cultivation, artisan works.

Welfare Measures

• PM JANMAN Scheme (2023):
  • Outlay: ₹24,104 crore
  • Aim: Improve socio-economic status, health, education, livelihoods, and amenities of PVTGs in 200+ districts.

Current Context : In Chamoli’s Nanda Nagar (Uttarakhand), people are witnessing land subsidence, adding to the state’s natural calamities like landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts.

About Land Subsidence

• Meaning: Gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth’s surface.
• Causes:
  • Natural: Earthquakes, volcanic activity, collapse of cavities, compaction of soil.
  • Human-induced: Excess groundwater withdrawal, mining, and energy extraction.

Impacts

• Damage to infrastructure (roads, buildings, pipelines).
• Increases flood risk and reduces aquifer storage capacity.
• Causes saltwater intrusion and changes in river/stream flow.
• High maintenance costs for public infrastructure.

Global Context

• Estimated 12 million sq. km of land worldwide is vulnerable.
• Reported in USA, China, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Egypt, Japan, Italy, and now India.

Current Context : The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme for recycling critical minerals from secondary sources. It is a part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• Tenure: FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
• Outlay: ₹1,500 crore.
• Feedstock: e-waste, Lithium-Ion Battery scrap, and other industrial scrap.
• Incentives:
  • 20% capital subsidy on plant and machinery.
  • Operational subsidy (40% in 2nd year, 60% in 5th year).
  • Limit: ₹50 crore for large entities, ₹25 crore for small entities.

EXPECTED IMPACT

• Capacity creation: 270 kilotons of annual recycling.
• Critical mineral output: 40 kilotons annually.
• Investment: ~₹8,000 crore.
• Jobs: ~70,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Current Context : UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) as a knowledge hub of best practices for UPSC and State PSCs.

OBJECTIVES

• Collect and share best practices, SOPs, and innovations in recruitment.
• Strengthen transparency, efficiency, and fairness in exams.
• Support State PSCs for improved recruitment systems.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Will create a uniform and transparent recruitment process across the country.
• Encourages modern tools and innovation in examinations.