Current Context: At its 196^th meeting, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) approved the revival of the SPREE scheme from July to December 2025 to broaden employer and employee registration .

ABOUT SPREE SCHEME

• Full name: Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers and Employees.
• First introduced in 2016, it successfully registered 88,000+ employers and 2 million (1.02 crore) employees under the ESI Act
• Renewed Version (2025):
• Open window from July 1 to Dec 31, 2025.
• Objective: Expand ESI coverage by enrolling:
• Unregistered employers,
• Left-out employees (including contractual and temporary staff).
• Coverage Mode: Upon registration, coverage applies from the date of registration or self-declaration for employers, and from registration date for employees

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.

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings on June 27, 2025, as millions of devotees thronged Puri for the sacred Rath Yatra procession .

 ABOUT RATH YATRA (CHARIOT FESTIVAL)

• Where & When: Held annually in Puri, Odisha, during Ashadha month (June–July).
• Significance: Marks the ceremonial journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, to the Gundicha Temple via massive wooden chariots.
• Duration: Festival lasts 1 week; deities return in the “Bahuda Yatra.”
• Devotee Participation: Millions pull the chariots—this public act is considered highly auspicious.
• Cultural Impact: Reinforces spiritual harmony, Odisha’s cultural heritage, and unity among diverse communities.

Observed on 30 June

Aim : to promote awareness about asteroids and planetary defense.

About the Day

• Marks the anniversary of the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia—the most harmful known asteroid impact in recent history.
• Adopted by the United Nations to educate the public about asteroid hazards and science.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• South Asia, despite being home to over a fifth of the world’s population having cultural and historical linkages, remains one of the least economically integrated regions in the world.

State of the South Asian Economy

• South Asia, comprising countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, is home to over 1.8 billion people and represents a combined GDP of around $5 trillion.
  • EU: $18 trillion with only about 5.8% of the global population.
  • NAFTA: $24.8 trillion
• Growth Amidst Divergence: Indian economy has rebounded strongly, driven by robust domestic demand, infrastructure investment, and digital innovation (Economic Survey 2024–25).
  • Bangladesh has maintained steady growth, particularly in its garment exports and remittance inflows.
  • Other nations — such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan — have faced economic crises, high inflation, and debt distress, highlighting the region’s economic divergence.
• Low Regional Trade: Intra-regional trade under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) accounts for just 5% to 7% of total trade — among the lowest globally.
  • It is far below the EU (45%), ASEAN (22%) and NAFTA (25%).
  • High tariffs, poor connectivity, and bureaucratic red tape discourage cross-border commerce.
• Trade Gaps: Even countries like Bangladesh (93% unutilized potential), Pakistan (86%), and Afghanistan (83%) have enormous room for economic collaboration.
  • Meanwhile, the region’s trade-to-GDP ratio fell from 47.3% in 2022 to 42.94% in 2024, indicating declining interdependence.
• High Cost of Being Neighbours: Paradoxically, it is more expensive to trade within South Asia than with distant partners:
  • Intra-SAARC trade cost: 114% of goods’ value
  • Trade cost with the U.S.: 109%
  • India-Pakistan trade cost is 20% higher than India-Brazil, despite Brazil being 22x farther
  • ASEAN’s intra-trade cost: 76% — about 40% cheaper than SAARC
• Missed Opportunities: South Asia’s current intra-regional trade among SAARC countries stands at around $23 billion, far below the potential $67 billion, and drastically lower than the estimated $172 billion potential identified by UNESCAP for 2020.

Other Key Challenges

• Geopolitical Tensions & Distrust: Long-standing rivalries — especially between India and Pakistan — have severely undermined regional cooperation initiatives like SAARC and SAFTA.
  • Political disagreements often spill over into economic decision-making.
• Protectionist Trade Policies: High tariffs, restrictive quotas, and non-tariff barriers discourage trade between neighboring countries.
  • Many South Asian economies have prioritized self-reliance over interdependence.
• Poor Connectivity & Infrastructure: Inadequate transport links, cumbersome customs procedures, and underdeveloped logistics networks limit the flow of goods, services, and people across borders.
• Asymmetry Among Member States: India’s economic dominance within the region has created power imbalances, leading to concerns among smaller countries about unequal benefits and influence.
• Weak Institutional Frameworks: Regional cooperation mechanisms often lack teeth, enforcement capability, or political will to deliver on integration promises.
  • SAARC, for instance, has been largely dormant.
• China’s Growing Influence: The growing involvement of external powers, particularly China, has led some South Asian countries to prioritize bilateral engagements over intra-regional collaboration.
• Climate vulnerability: The region is highly susceptible to climate shocks, from floods to heatwaves, which threaten agriculture and livelihoods.

Initiatives By India Supporting South Asian Economy

• Development Partnerships and Lines of Credit: For infrastructure, energy, and capacity-building projects, that include road and rail links with Nepal and Bangladesh, power-sharing agreements, and port development in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• Infrastructure and Connectivity Projects: Projects like the India-Bangladesh Maitree Power Plant, the India-Nepal cross-border petroleum pipeline, and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (linking India to Myanmar and beyond) are designed to boost regional trade and integration.
• SAARC Development Fund (SDF): It finances regional projects in areas like energy, transportation, and social development.
• BIMSTEC and BBIN Initiatives: These sub-regional groups aim to promote trade, connectivity, and energy cooperation.
• Startup India and Digital Outreach: India’s Startup India initiative has inspired cross-border collaboration, with Indian incubators and digital platforms offering mentorship and market access to entrepreneurs from neighboring countries.

Way Forward: Strategic Regionalism

• South Asia’s development hinges on genuine regional cooperation. To tap into its potential:
  • Reform SAFTA and focus on actionable enforcement;
  • Address border and trust issues through sustained diplomacy;
  • Create regional value chains to boost employment and innovation;
  • Develop trade infrastructure that supports integration over division;
• Separate economic cooperation from political conflict, as seen in the EU model.

Current Context: Cloudburst-triggered flash floods in Kullu and Kangra have resulted in multiple deaths, missing persons, and widespread damage as monsoon begins.

ABOUT CLOUD BURST

• Definition: Sudden, intense rainfall (>100 mm/hr) over small areas (~20–30 sq km), usually in hilly terrain.
• Cause: Orographic lift—warm, moist air rises over mountains, cools, and precipitates heavily.

Current Context: A detailed caste census in Himachal Pradesh will begin in 2026, prioritising snow-bound regions, with full-scale rollout in 2027.

 ABOUT CASTE CENSUS

• Demography:Population ~7.756 million; SCs ~25%, OBCs ~13.5%, STs ~5.71%. 57 SC castes recognised; Hattee community granted ST status in 2023.
• Methodology:State employees (teachers, anganwadi workers) to conduct door-to-door surveys using digital tools; data validated via official records.
• Legal Dispute:High Court stayed Hattee ST notification; hearing expected July 2027—outcome may influence census methodology.
• Importance:Enables evidence-driven policies on reservation, welfare, and inclusive development tailored to state demographics.

Current Context: On 25 June 2025, Neeraj Chopra won the Ostrava Golden Spike javelin title in Czech Republic with a throw of 85.29 m—his second major win within a week.

ABOUT ATHLETIC TRIUMPH

• Event: Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, part of the European athletics circuit.
• Performance:29 m throw—second win after Paris Diamond League (88.16 m).
• Coach:Mentored by Czech javelin legend Jan Železný.
• Significance:Maintains peak form ahead of major global competitions, reaffirms India’s growing presence in international track and field.

Current Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar rolled out biometric e‑passports nationally under Passport Seva Programme 2.0 during Passport Seva Divas (June 24–25).

ABOUT E‑PASSPORT

• Definition: Traditional passport book with embedded RFID chip/antenna storing biometrics (photo, fingerprints, DOB), encrypted via PKI.
• Rollout: Pilot since April 2024 in 13 cities (Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Goa, etc.); nationwide by mid‑2025 with enhanced tech (mPassport Police App, new centers).
• Benefits: Strengthens border security, speeds immigration, prevents forgery, aligns with ICAO standards; older passports remain valid until expiry.

Current Context: Union Cabinet approved establishment of the South Asia Regional Centre (SARC) of CIP in Agra with ₹111.5 crore funding.

ABOUT CIP

• Background: Founded in 1971 (Lima, Peru) to advance potato, sweetpotato, and Andean tuber research globally.
• Mission: Develop climate-adaptive seeds, pest-management techniques, post-harvest improvements, farmer training to boost food security and incomes.