24 March 2025

• Health: India achieved a 17.7 per cent reduction in tuberculosis incidence, moving from 237 to 195 cases per lakh population.
• Environment: India launched the Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) under a UNEP framework.
• Economy: MSME reclassification thresholds were set to take effect from April 1, with significantly higher turnover limits.
• Defence: INS Tavasya, a new frigate, was launched at Goa Shipyard.
• Governance: The fertiliser subsidy for FY2025-26 was set at 1.84 lakh crore rupees, down 7.38 per cent.

GS area: Health, Governance

India's TB incidence fell from 237 cases per lakh population (2015 baseline) to 195 per lakh population.

• India's TB target: Eliminate TB by 2025 (Sustainable Development Goal: 2030). India's target is 5 years ahead of the global goal.
• Nikshay portal: Patient management database. Nutritional support (Nikshay Poshan Yojana: 500 rupees per month to TB patients during treatment).
• PMTB Mukt Bharat: PM TB Free India campaign. Targets social support and community engagement.
• Drug-resistant TB: Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is rising. India has the highest burden of drug-resistant TB globally.
• BCG vaccine: Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine protects against severe TB in children. Part of India's universal immunisation programme.
• WHO Global TB Report 2024: India accounts for 26 per cent of the world's TB burden. Over 2.8 million new cases annually.

Static linkage: Health (communicable disease, schemes).

GS area: Environment, International Relations

India launched its participation in the UNEP-led Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) with five foundational pillars.

• GEDS pillars: Data generation, data standardisation, data sharing, data analysis and data governance.
• UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme. Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya. The world's leading environmental authority.
• Context: Global environmental monitoring suffers from fragmentation and poor data interoperability.
• India's role: India contributes satellite data through ISRO, ground-based monitoring through CPCB and climate modelling through IMD.
• CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board. Under the Ministry of Environment. Monitors air and water quality nationwide.
• Bhumi portal: India's geospatial data platform for environment and land-use data.

Static linkage: Environment (international organisations, data governance).

GS area: Economy (Agriculture, Fiscal Policy)

The Union Budget for FY2025-26 set the fertiliser subsidy at 1.84 lakh crore rupees, a 7.38 per cent reduction from the previous year.

• NBS (Nutrient Based Subsidy): Applies to decontrolled fertilisers (DAP, MOP, SSP, complex fertilisers). Subsidy per kg of nutrient is fixed.
• Urea: Under the New Urea Policy, urea prices are fixed and the central government pays the entire subsidy. Urea price to farmers: about 267 rupees per bag (fixed since 2012).
• PM-PRANAM: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth. Incentivises states to reduce chemical fertiliser use and shift to alternatives.
• Nano urea: IFFCO's liquid nano urea (approved 2021). One 500 ml bottle replaces one bag of conventional urea. Lower transport and subsidy cost.
• Anti-diversion: Soil Health Cards and the Mera Khaad Mera Mati campaign link fertiliser use to soil test data.

Static linkage: Economy (agriculture, fiscal policy).

GS area: Defence, Science and Technology

INS Tavasya, a 3,600-tonne multi-role stealth frigate, was launched at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

• Project: Under the indigenous defence shipbuilding programme of the Ministry of Defence.
• Tonnage: 3,600 tonnes.
• Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). A Government of India undertaking under Ministry of Defence.
• Role: Multi-role surface warfare including anti-ship, anti-submarine and area air defence.
• Indian Navy's frigates: The P17A (Nilgiri class) frigates are being built at MDL and GRSE. INS Tavasya is distinct.
• Indigenisation: About 75 per cent indigenous content by value.
• Defence Production Policy 2020: Targets 50,000 crore rupees in defence exports and self-reliance in defence production.

Static linkage: Science and technology (defence), economy.

GS area: Economy (International Trade)

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated anti-dumping investigations against several Chinese imports.

• Dumping: Selling goods in a foreign market below the cost of production or below the domestic price in the exporting country.
• Anti-dumping duty: Levied under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 to neutralise the price advantage from dumped goods.
• DGTR: Under the Ministry of Commerce. Investigates anti-dumping, subsidies (countervailing duty) and safeguard cases.
• WTO Agreement on Anti-dumping (ADA): Allows member countries to impose anti-dumping duties after a proper investigation establishing injury to domestic industry.
• India's usage: India is among the world's top users of anti-dumping measures, primarily against China.

Static linkage: Economy (international trade, trade remedies).

GS area: Polity (Parliament)

The Vice President mentioned Parliament's provision for a "secret sitting" under Rule 248 of the Rajya Sabha.

• Rule 248 (Rajya Sabha): The Chairman may call for a secret sitting when a minister requests, on grounds of national security. Members of the Lok Sabha and public are excluded.
• Equivalent in Lok Sabha: Rules of Procedure Rule 257. Similar provision.
• Historical use: Rarely used. The last known instance was during the India-Pakistan conflicts.
• Parliamentary privilege: Proceedings in Parliament are privileged (protected from court review under Article 105 and 194).
• Rajya Sabha procedures: Governed by its own rules framed under Article 118.

Static linkage: Polity (parliament, procedures).

GS area: Geography, Environment (Polar Regions)

Researchers reported accelerated melting of the George VI Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula.

• George VI Ice Shelf: Located on the western Antarctic Peninsula, between Alexander Island and Palmer Land.
• Ice shelf: Floating extension of a glacier into the sea. Does not directly raise sea levels (already floating). But its loss accelerates glacier flow behind it.
• Significance: Warm Circumpolar Deep Water intruding under the shelf is the main driver.
• Antarctic governance: Antarctic Treaty System (1959). Signed by 56 countries. Antarctica has no permanent human population and is not claimed by any nation (though 7 countries have historic territorial claims).
• IPCC projections: Complete loss of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would raise sea levels by 5 to 7 metres globally.

Static linkage: Geography (polar regions), environment (climate change).

• Form 17C electoral: The Election Commission was examining demands that Form 17C (voter turnout data at booth level) be made publicly accessible before results are announced.
• TB Harega Desh Jeetega: Campaign under the PMTB Mukt Bharat initiative, with community involvement from civil society.