Weekly Current Affairs July 1st Week 2025

National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, replacing the 2001 policy. It envisions transforming India into a global sporting powerhouse, with a long-term focus on the 2036 Olympics.

Background and Evolution of Sports Policy in India

Five Pillars of NSP 2025

1. Excellence on the Global Stage

• Early talent identification, elite training ecosystems.
• Modern coaching, infrastructure, and sports science.
• Reform of National Sports Federations (NSFs).

2. Sports for Economic Development

• Promote sports tourism, startups, and private investment.
• Develop India’s sports industry and economy.

3. Sports for Social Development

• Inclusion of marginalized groups, revival of indigenous games.
• Empower women, tribal youth, and rural athletes.

4. Sports as a People’s Movement

• Mass participation via campaigns and fitness indices.
• Improve access to sports facilities at grassroots level.

5. Integration with Education (NEP 2020)

• Sports in school curricula, physical literacy, teacher training.
• Promote early-age engagement in sports.

Strategic Framework of NSP 2025

• Governance & Regulation: Legal framework for transparency in sports administration.
• Private Sector Role: Encourage PPP, CSR, and innovative financing.
• Technology & Innovation: Use AI, data analytics, wearables for performance tracking.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), national dashboards.
• Model for States: Guide states/UTs in drafting aligned policies.

Challenges in India’s Sports Ecosystem

• Governance failures: Politicisation of NSFs (e.g. WFI sexual harassment case, 2023).
• Cricket-centric media and funding: 87% of sports coverage in 2023 was cricket.
• Low Olympic participation: India sent 117 athletes to Paris 2024 vs. 594 by USA.
• Gender gap: 49% girls drop out from sports due to stigma and safety issues.
• Lack of grassroots scouting: Talent in rural/tribal areas often missed.
• Overemphasis on academics: Sports not treated as a serious career option.

Reforms for a Sporting Nation

• Grassroots Scouting: School-based Talent Search Programs (Australia model).
• Infrastructure: District-level inclusive facilities; integrate sports in higher education.
• Governance Reforms: Professionalize NSFs, ensure autonomy and accountability.
• Gender Equity: Safe sports environments, equal pay, grievance redressal.
• Science & Tech Integration: AI labs, zonal centers for biomechanics, nutrition.
• Cultural Shift: Media campaigns, school leagues, and family engagement in sports.
• Monitoring: Real-time dashboards, third-party audits to measure policy outcomes.

Significance of NSP 2025

• Promotes holistic human development, community health, and national pride.
• Aligns with NEP 2020, SDG-3 (Health), SDG-5 (Gender Equality), and SDG-8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth).
• Offers India a chance to fulfill its Olympic dream and develop a sports-driven economy.

NSP 2025 is a bold vision to transform India’s sports ecosystem—from mass participation to podium finishes. Realizing the 2036 Olympic dream will require coordinated efforts, sustained investments, and a cultural renaissance that embraces sports as a pillar of national development, not just recreation.

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, aiming to catalyse private sector investment in R&D, especially in sunrise and strategic sectors, and boost India’s self-reliance and technological leadership.

Objectives of the RDI Scheme

• Promote private sector-led R&D and innovation.
• Finance transformative projects at higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
• Support critical technology acquisition for economic and strategic security.
• Facilitate the creation of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds (FoF) to support cutting-edge startups.

Need for the Scheme

• Low GERD-to-GDP Ratio: Despite increasing from ₹60,000 cr (2011) to ₹1.27 lakh cr (2021), India’s Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) is only 0.64% of GDP, far below global leaders like Israel (5%), South Korea (4.5%), and China (2.4%).
• Underwhelming private sector participation: Over 60% of R&D is public-funded in India, whereas it is private-led in advanced economies.
• Innovation gap in critical sectors (AI, semiconductors, green energy, defence tech) needs bridging to meet the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

Funding Structure of the RDI Scheme

 Two-Tiered Mechanism

1. Special Purpose Fund (SPF) under Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):
   • Acts as the custodian of funds.
   • Financed through a 50-year, interest-free loan from the central government.
2. Second-Level Fund Managers:
   • Disburse long-term concessional loans or equity to selected projects/startups.
   • Evaluate, select, and monitor RDI projects.
   • Can invest in Deep-Tech Fund of Funds.

Institutional Architecture

Note: ANRF was established under Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023. It has subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

What are Sunrise Sectors?

Sunrise sectors are emerging industries with high growth potential and strategic significance. Examples include:

• Electronics & Semiconductors
• Electric Vehicles (EVs)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Renewable Energy & Hydrogen
• Agri-Tech & Food Processing
• Biotech, Pharma & Healthcare
• SpaceTech, Quantum Computing

Significance of the RDI Scheme

• Bridges the R&D funding gap by unlocking private capital
• Catalyses innovation in critical, strategic, and emerging sectors
• Supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by reducing tech import dependence
• Boosts India’s global competitiveness and startup ecosystem
• Aligns with National R&D Policy, Make in India, Startup India, and Digital India

Challenges Ahead

• Ensuring efficient fund utilisation and project selection transparency.
• Building evaluation capacity among 2nd-level fund managers.
• Preventing fragmentation and duplication in funding and project pipelines.
• Synchronizing with existing schemes like Startup India, PLI, NIDHI, and DST-INSPIRE.

The RDI Scheme marks a paradigm shift in India’s innovation financing model, fostering a private-sector-driven research ecosystem. Its success will depend on efficient governance, strategic coherence, and outcomes-based monitoring. With sunrise sectors defining the future global economy, this scheme can play a pivotal role in making India an innovation hub by 2047.

NITI Aayog Report on Chemical Industry

Context:

NITI Aayog released its report “Chemical Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains”, laying out a roadmap for transforming India into a $1 trillion chemical powerhouse by 2040 and increasing its GVC share from 3.5% to 12%.

Current Status of India’s Chemical Industry

• 6th largest producer globally, 3rd in Asia.
• Contributes 7% to manufacturing GDP.
• Supports critical sectors: pharma, agriculture, textiles, construction, electronics.
• Market size in 2023: ~$220 billion.
• Exports: $44 billion | Imports: $75 billion → $31 billion trade deficit.
• Highly fragmented, MSME-dominated and regionally skewed (Gujarat, Maharashtra, TN).

Key Challenges

Opportunities for Growth

• Global Supply Chain Diversification: Post-COVID & China+1 strategy
• Green Chemistry Demand: Bio-based plastics, lubricants, zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) tech
• Rising Domestic Demand: Agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, paints, and electronics
• Job Creation: Potential for 7 lakh skilled jobs by 2030
• FTA Leverage: Trade pacts with UAE, EU, ASEAN can boost exports

NITI Aayog’s 7-Pronged Strategy for Transformation

Specialty Chemicals: Growth Engine

• ~50% of chemical exports come from specialty chemicals (dyes, agrochemicals, textile chemicals).
• Huge export opportunity in semiconductor materials, EV battery chemicals, and green tech inputs.

Way Forward

🔹 Align Indian standards with global norms via Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
🔹 Enforce Process Safety Management (PSM) and modern environmental safeguards
🔹 Promote financial support for MSMEs and venture capital for green startups
🔹 Strengthen chemical export promotion councils and global brand building

India’s chemical industry stands at a strategic inflection point. With robust domestic demand, global realignments, and strong policy support, India can reduce import dependency, become a key player in global value chains, and reach the $1 trillion target by 2040. The NITI Aayog roadmap offers a bold, actionable vision—now implementation is the key.

National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025

Context:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025, tracking India’s performance on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using 284 indicators across 17 goals.

Key Highlights from the NIF Report

Progress Achieved

Areas of Concern

Significance of the NIF

• Acts as India’s official framework to monitor SDG progress.
• Provides data-based insights for policy decisions, scheme evaluation, and intervention planning.
• Promotes accountability and evidence-based governance at the national level.

India has shown commendable progress on key SDG indicators—especially in areas like clean energy, poverty reduction, and digital access. However, structural issues remain in agriculture, gender equity, fiscal spending, and road safety. The NIF 2025 underscores the need for targeted reforms, robust monitoring, and equitable development to achieve the SDG 2030 Agenda.

SIGACHI INDUSTRIES BLAST

The Blast occurred at a Sigachi Industries factory in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district, Telangana on June 30, 2025.

• Immediate Cause: A devastating dryer explosion in the chemical unit.
• Human Cost: death toll climbing to 37-40 people

Governmental Response (State and Central):

• Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the site, announced an ex-gratia of ₹1 crore for families of the deceased and ₹10 lakh for incapacitated individuals, and promised new industrial safety norms.
• The Sigachi blast is not an isolated incident. In the past five years, Telangana has seen 703 ‘incidents’ in factories, with over 500 occurring in pharma units and others using hazardous chemicals.

Sigachi Industries manufactures Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).

Microcrystalline cellulose

A natural polymer derived from plant cell walls, primarily wood pulp.

• Pharmaceutical Industry:Understand MCC’s role as a vital excipient in drug formulation, manufacturing processes (e.g., direct compression), and its impact on drug release and bioavailability beyond food, cosmetics, and advanced manufacturing industries
• Sustainable Development:Recognize MCC as a bio-renewable and biodegradable alternative to non-renewable materials, contributing to environmentally friendly practices.

Management of Chemical and Industrial Disasters

• Factories Act, 1948: Enacted to ensure safety, health, and welfare at the workplace.
• Bhopal Gas Tragedy in December 1984, which resulted in over 2,500 deaths due to the accidental release of Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC)

Post-Bhopal Era (Increased Emphasis):

• Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF): Created in 1985 as the nodal ministry for managing chemical (industrial) disasters.
• Industries must obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) and Authorization under Hazardous and Other Waste Management Rules from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs).
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EP Act): An umbrella act dealing with chemical management and safety.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Established under The Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Measures for Disaster Management

Preparedness Measures

• Risk Mapping: Comprehensive risk mapping should be carried out for Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units.
• Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs): Must be fully equipped with communication and coordination means for emergencies.
• Training and Capacity Building: Specific training modules on chemical disaster management should be developed for various stakeholders (employees, field workers, community representatives, NGOs), with periodic training and retraining programs.
• Off-site Emergency Plans: Need to be adequately followed and rehearsed at least once a year through mock drills, with the district collector overseeing them.

Operational Measures

• Industrial Installations and Storages: Regular testing of critical equipment, Hazard Operability (HAZOP), and Hazard Analysis (HAZAN) studies are crucial for early hazard identification.

Russia’s Formal Recognition of the Taliban (July 3–4, 2025)

• Key Fact: On July 3, 2025, Russia officially recognized the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, making it the first country to do so since the group’s 2021 takeover.
• Moscow also removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organisations in April 2025, and explicitly accepted credentials of their new ambassador.
• The Russian government cited interests in counter-terrorism, regional stability, and economic cooperation (trade, energy, infrastructure) as drivers for this decision.

Geopolitical Ripples: What This Means for India

1. Multipolar Shift & Diplomatic Precedent

• Russia’s action signals a shift away from Western-led isolation of the Taliban/administering withdrawal of universal pressure.
• For India, which also shares close ties with Russia, this sends a complex signal: balancing long-standing strategic partnerships with evolving West–Russia dynamics.

2. India’s Calculated Afghanistan Policy

• Despite no formal recognition of the Taliban, India maintains a technical presence in Kabul since 2022, engaging on humanitarian aid and transit (esp. via Chabahar).
• India has consistently urged the Taliban to not allow Afghan soil to become a safe haven for terror groups like LeT and JeM who threaten Indian security.

3. Strategic Concerns & Soft Power

• While Russia views the Taliban as allies against ISIS-K and narco-terrorism, India remains deeply anxious about possible terror conduits affecting Jammu & Kashmir and beyond.
• India must tread carefully: it risks ceding influence to China, Pakistan, and others operating in Kabul if it stays on the sidelines.

4. Ethical and Geostrategic Balance

• Russia’s move underscores that security and commerce can overshadow human rights concerns – a tension India grapples with similarly.
• The Taliban’s records on women’s education and rights remain dire—a point of explicit concern for India’s democratic credentials

National Turmeric Board (NTB) in Nizamabad

On 29 June 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the long-awaited headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, marking the culmination of a 40‑year-old demand voiced by turmeric farmers

• The NTB is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, with partnerships from the Ministries of AYUSH, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, and Cooperation.

Its governing body will include:

• Chairperson appointed by the central government
• Secretary from the Department of Commerce
• Representatives from turmeric-producing states—Telangana, Maharashtra, Meghalaya
• Farmer representatives, exporters, and research institutions

Objectives & Functions

• Boost farmer income by cutting out middlemen and creating an integrated supply chain from cultivation to export.
• Promote value addition, branding, packaging, and marketing, both domestically and internationally.
• Enhance quality infrastructure to meet global standards and promote GI‑tagged organic turmeric.
• Train and skill farmers, support research and development, and disseminate knowledge on turmeric’s medicinal benefits.
• Develop export infrastructure and enable the NTB and cooperatives to assist with logistics and complianc.

Economic & Agricultural Relevance

• India dominates global turmeric production, contributing around 75% of global output (3.24 lakh ha yielding 11.6 lakh tonnes in 2022–23).
• In the 2023–24 season, cultivation covered about 3 lakh hectares with output of 10.74 lakh tones.
• Farmers in 2025 received ₹18,000–19,000 per quintal, with potential to increase prices by ₹6,000–7,000 over the next three years via Board support.
• The government aims for US $1 billion in turmeric exports by 2030, leveraging the NTB’s institutional push.

Regional Importance: Nizamabad & Telangana

• Nizamabad, along with districts like Jagtial, Nirmal, and Kamareddy, is known as the “turmeric capital”—a hub that now gets the spotlight for global marketing.
• The choice of Nizamabad as the NTB headquarters (even housed temporarily in a remodeled rural MLA camp office) underscores the region’s strategic role.
• Its large agricultural market includes e-NAM integration and is known for 10.6 lakh quintals of turmeric trade

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

What is the “Big Beautiful Bill”?

The “Big Beautiful Bill” (officially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) is a major tax and spending law passed by the US Congress in July 2025. It is a signature legislative achievement of President Donald Trump’s second term, aiming to make permanent many of his earlier tax cuts, increase spending on defense and border security, and introduce new fiscal measures affecting both Americans and immigrants.

Major Provisions of the Bill

• Permanent Tax Cuts: Extends the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts, which were set to expire, making them permanent for individuals and businesses.
• No Tax on Tips and Overtime: Removes federal taxes on tips and overtime pay, benefiting service and hourly workers.
• Increased Child Tax Credit: Boosts the child tax credit, providing more relief to families.
• Cuts to Social Programs: Reduces funding for Medicaid (healthcare for low-income Americans), food stamps, and other welfare programs.
• Defense and Border Security: Allocates $150 billion each for defense and border enforcement, including expanded funding for immigration enforcement and the US-Mexico border wall.
• Remittance Tax: Introduces a 1% tax on certain cash-based remittances sent abroad by non-citizens, including many Indian immigrants in the US.
• Education and Energy: Cuts federal education funding, promotes school vouchers, and rolls back incentives for clean energy in favor of fossil fuel production.

Why Does This Matter for India?

1. Remittance Tax and Indian Families

• India is the world’s largest recipient of remittances, with over $129 billion received in 2023, and about 28% of this coming from the US.
• The new 1% remittance tax applies to cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks sent by non-citizens (including H-1B, H-2A visa holders, students, and green card holders). Bank transfers and digital payments via US-issued cards are exempt.
• Impact: While the tax is lower than the initially proposed 5%, it still adds a cost for Indian families relying on cash remittances, especially in states like Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, where such funds are a financial lifeline.
• Limited Scope: Most middle-class professionals use digital banking, so the real-world impact is limited but not negligible, especially for those using cash-based channels.

2. Broader Economic Implications

• Foreign Exchange: Any reduction in remittances could affect India’s foreign exchange reserves and the rupee’s value.
• Real Estate and Investments: NRIs sending money for property purchases or investments in India may face higher transaction costs, especially for large cash-based transfers.
• Student and Family Support: Cuts to US student aid and social programs may make it harder for Indian students and low-income families in the US to access support, potentially affecting their ability to send money home.

3. Comparative Policy Perspective

• Remittance Tax: India does not tax inward remittances, and in fact, encourages them through schemes like NRE/NRO accounts. The US move is a contrast, showing how policy can be used to both raise revenue and influence migration/remittance flows.
• Social Welfare: The US bill’s cuts to healthcare and welfare are in contrast to India’s recent expansions in social safety nets (e.g., Ayushman Bharat, PM-KISAN), offering a point of comparison for students on welfare policy approaches.

Key Takeaways

• Policy Impact on Diaspora: US domestic policy changes can have direct effects on India, especially given the size of the Indian diaspora and the importance of remittances.
• Global Interdependence: The bill highlights how interconnected economies are—US fiscal policy can influence India’s foreign exchange, household incomes, and even real estate markets.
• Comparative Governance: The contrasting approaches to welfare, taxation, and migration between the US and India provide rich material for comparative analysis in public administration and international relations.

Congress flays proposal to revive mining operations in Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Context:

The Rajasthan government proposes redrawing Sariska Tiger Reserve’s Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) boundary, removing 48.39 sq km of peripheral degraded hills and adding 90.91 sq km of quality habitat from the buffer.

This change would place over 50 marble and dolomite mines outside the one-kilometre no-mining zone, potentially reviving their operations.

Senior forest officers warn that excluding the finger-shaped hills could sever the reserve’s two southern segments and disrupt tiger movement.

The Head of Forest Force contends that only unsalvageable areas are excluded, aiming to enhance ground-level management and foster better community relations.

Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Location and History:

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, situated within the historic Aravalli Range.
• Prior to its designation as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and subsequent upgrade to national park status in 1979, it functioned as the hunting grounds for the Maharaja of Alwar.
• The area is interspersed with historical landmarks and lakes, such as Bhangarh Fort, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake, and Jai Samand Lake.
• Its vibrant cultural heritage harmoniously integrates with its natural environment.

Topography:

• The terrain of the reserve is marked by rocky outcrops, steep cliffs, and rolling scrub-thorn forests.
• Areas of grassland provide grazing opportunities within semi-deciduous woodlands.
• Seasonal streams cut through the Aravalli mountains, forming valleys that create microhabitats across varying altitudes.
• This diverse array of landforms facilitates the movement of wildlife and the establishment of various ecological niches.

Vegetation Zones:

• Sariska’s vegetation can be categorized into two primary types: Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Northern Tropical Thorn Forests.
• The dry deciduous areas lose their leaves in the height of summer, whereas the thorn forests consist of species that are well-suited to dry conditions.
• Transitional zones contain a blend of both types, illustrating differences in soil depth and moisture levels.

Flora:

• Dhok (Anogeissus pendula)
• Salar (Shorea robusta)
• Kadaya (Mitragyna parvifolia)
• Gol (Lannea coromandelica)
• Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)
• Banyan (Ficus benghalensis)
• Gugal (Commiphora wightii)
• Bamboo
• Kair (Capparis decidua)
• Adusta (Hardwickia binata)

Fauna:

• Bengal tiger
• Leopard
• Sambar (Cervus unicolor)
• Chital (Axis axis)
• Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)
• Four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis)
• Wild boar
• Various bird species, reptiles, and smaller mammals

Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH):

• According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs) are designated as inviolate core zones within tiger reserves, where all human activities are prohibited to facilitate undisturbed breeding and survival of tigers.
• Each CTH is encircled by a buffer zone that allows for regulated eco-tourism and sustainable resource utilization, thereby establishing a transitional area that benefits both conservation efforts and local communities.
• The boundaries of these habitats are established based on scientific data regarding tiger movement corridors, breeding locations, prey density, water availability, and vegetation cover, which are essential for maintaining ecological connectivity and ensuring long-term viability.
• Conservation efforts are made inclusive by legally acknowledging the rights of Scheduled Tribes and forest-dwelling communities within and adjacent to CTHs, with the largest such habitat in India covering an area of 5,937 square kilometers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

Navy stealth frigate INS Tabar extends help to tanker on fire

Context:

• INS Tabar diverted to assist the Palau-flagged MT Yi Cheng 6, whose engine-room fire and total power failure left its 14 Indian crew stranded en route from Kandla to Shinas.
• A combined team of 13 naval personnel and five tanker crew, equipped via the frigate’s boat and helicopter, is actively engaged in firefighting operations onboard.

INS Tabar:

• INS Tabar (F44) represents the third Talwar-class stealth frigate within the Indian Navy, constructed in Russia and officially commissioned in 2004.
• It is assigned to the Western Fleet, which is based in Mumbai and operates under the Western Naval Command, making it one of India’s initial stealth frigates.
• The vessel has been a pioneer in naval anti-piracy deterrence, successfully thwarting numerous pirate attacks since its inaugural mission.
• Equipped with sophisticated missile systems, radar technologies, electronic-warfare capabilities, and helicopters for enhanced surveillance and strike operations, it stands out in its class.
• INS Tabar is also outfitted with strong firefighting and damage-control systems, allowing it to effectively handle emergencies that may arise onboard.
• With a crew of 280 specially trained personnel, the frigate is engaged in rescue missions, environmental protection efforts, humanitarian assistance operations, and conventional naval warfare.

10 Years of Digital India

Context:

India marked the tenth anniversary of the Digital India initiative on July 1, 2025, with Prime Minister Modi celebrating its evolution from a top-down governance scheme into a grassroots-driven movement.

Body Part:

Launch & Vision

• Officially launched on July 1, 2015, by the Prime Minister under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Seeks to establish digital infrastructure as a utility, facilitate on-demand governance, and empower citizens

Core Pillars

• Broadband Highways and Universal Mobile Access to ensure seamless connectivity
• Common Service Centres as part of the Public Internet Access Programme
• e-Governance and e-Kranti initiatives aimed at providing paperless, on-demand services
• Information for All through open data initiatives, Electronics Manufacturing, IT for Jobs, and Early Harvest projects

Major Achievements

• The number of internet subscribers increased from 250 million in 2014 to nearly 970 million by 2024
• India holds 49% of the global market for real-time digital payments
• The digital economy’s contribution to GDP rose to 11.74% in 2022–23, with a target of 13.42% for 2024–25
• BharatNet has connected over 218,000 Gram Panchayats using optical fiber technology
• DigiLocker has been adopted by 539 million citizens; UMANG offers over 2,300 services with 83.4 million users
• PMGDISHA has trained more than 60 million rural beneficiaries; ₹44 lakh crore has been disbursed through Aadhaar-DBT.

Success Enablers

• Strong Digital Public Infrastructure: Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker
• Extremely affordable mobile data (~₹10/GB) and nearly universal 5G coverage
• Initiatives like ONDC and GeM empowering MSMEs and start-ups
• Strategic missions in AI and semiconductors fostering next-generation innovation

Remaining Challenges

• Ongoing urban-rural and gender disparities in device ownership and usage
• Developing data protection regulations and low levels of privacy awareness
• Predominantly English content despite Bhashini’s support for over 35 languages
• Infrastructure constraints in power supply, bandwidth, and last-mile connectivity
• Skill deficiencies in advanced fields such as AI and cybersecurity

Future Roadmap

• Enhance vernacular digital education through DIKSHA, SWAYAM, PM eVIDYA
• Close urban-rural divides with increased infrastructure, device subsidies, and community training
• Utilize inclusive AI for agriculture, disaster notifications, diagnostics, and education
• Strengthen data security via CERT-in, fiduciary standards, and public awareness
• Advocate for India’s Digital Public Infrastructure—including UPI and Aadhaar—as global benchmarks.

Conclusion:

Over the last decade, Digital India has revolutionized governance, service delivery, and citizen empowerment. As India strides toward a Viksit Bharat, the initiative’s next chapter must deepen inclusivity, uphold ethical innovation, and amplify India’s role as a global digital leader.

BRICS will help create a ‘multipolar’ world: Modi

Context:

• Prime Minister Modi’s five-nation tour—Brazil for the BRICS summit, plus Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina and Namibia—aims to deepen Global South solidarity and shape a balanced, multipolar world order through high-level bilateral engagements.
• In Brazil, India and Brazil will co-chair discussions on advancing Global South priorities; Modi will leverage the BRICS platform for broader cooperation among emerging economies.
• In Ghana and Trinidad & Tobago, he’ll receive the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana and the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago respectively, address both parliaments, and explore partnerships in investment, energy, health (including Ghana as an African vaccine hub), and diaspora ties.
• Stops in Argentina and Namibia will strengthen historic bonds—Modi will meet leaders, discuss development and decolonisation support, and address Namibia’s joint parliamentary session, underscoring India’s commitment to inclusive South–South cooperation.

BRICS:

Genesis & Evolution

• 2001: British economist Jim O’Neill coins “BRICs” for Brazil, Russia, India and China.
• 2006: BRIC begins formal meetings at the G8 Outreach Summit.
• 2009: First BRIC Summit held in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
• 2010: South Africa joins, transforming “BRIC” into “BRICS.”

Pillars of Cooperation

• Political & Security: Joint consultations on global governance and conflict resolution.
• Economic & Financial: Collaboration via the New Development Bank, trade facilitation, and currency-de-dollarisation talks.
• Cultural & People-to-People: Student exchanges, tourism partnerships, and diaspora engagement.
• Institutional Building: Proposals like a BRICS credit-rating agency and shared digital platforms.

Membership & Global Footprint

• Core Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• BRICS+: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
• Demographic Weight: Represents 45% of the world’s population.
• Economic Clout: Accounts for 37.3% of global GDP and produces about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

Relevance in Today’s World

• Energy Security: Integrates major oil producers (Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE) to stabilise supply.
• Voice for the Global South: Platform to champion developing-country interests on climate, debt relief, and trade.
• Dialogue Space: Neutral forum for managing bilateral tensions (e.g., India–China) without derailing larger agendas.
• Multilateral Reform: Vehicle for pushing UNSC and WTO equity, and reshaping international financial institutions.

Key Challenges

• Underutilised Trade Potential: Intra-BRICS trade is just 2.2% of global trade despite large combined economies.
• Limited Financial Reach: The NDB lacks the capital and co-financing partnerships to rival the World Bank or AIIB.
• Geopolitical Rivalries: Tensions between members (India–China, Saudi Arabia–Iran) hinder unified policy stances.
• Economic Slowdowns: China’s deceleration, Russia’s recession, and South Africa’s fiscal woes weaken collective momentum.