26 April 2025

• International: UN's World Social Report 2025 found 60 per cent of the global population faces economic insecurity. The richest 1 per cent hold more wealth than 95 per cent of humanity.
• Health-Nutrition: Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris extended the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition to 2025-2030.
• Security: Cross-border infiltration data showed Pakistan-side launch pads active in Pir Panjal and Rajouri areas following the Pahalgam attack.
• Governance: Line of Control fencing architecture and CIBMS details were reviewed by Parliamentary committees.

GS area: Social Issues, International Relations

The United Nations' World Social Report 2025 painted a stark picture of global inequality and economic insecurity.

• Economic insecurity: 60 per cent of the world's population experiences economic insecurity.
• Extreme poverty: More than 690 million people remain in extreme poverty.
• Wealth concentration: The richest 1 per cent hold more wealth than the bottom 95 per cent combined.
• Poverty reduction progress: Despite the crisis, approximately 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty since 1995.
• Inequality widening: Income inequality has widened in two-thirds of countries surveyed.
• Trust deficit: Over 50 per cent of people in surveyed countries distrust their governments.
• Recommendations: Universal social protection, fair taxation, and inclusive institutions.

Static linkage: Social development, inequality, international governance (GS-2 Social Issues, GS-2 IR).

GS area: Social Issues, Governance, International Relations

The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris in 2025 produced a commitment on childhood nutrition education.

• Focus: Integrating food literacy into school curricula.
• Outcome: The UN Decade of Action on Nutrition was extended from 2025 to 2030.
• Data point: 70 per cent of preventable adult diseases are linked to poor childhood eating habits.
• Key finding: Most children consume fewer than 5 of the 10 essential food groups, lacking dietary diversity.
• India context: PM-POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal) feeds 118 million children daily. POSHAN Abhiyaan targets stunting, wasting, anaemia, and low birth weight.

Static linkage: Child nutrition, food policy, international summits (GS-2 Social Issues, GS-2 IR).

GS area: Internal Security

The Pahalgam attack triggered a detailed review of infiltration patterns and border security architecture in J&K.

• Affected areas: Pir Panjal range, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda, and the Pahalgam corridor.
• Border fencing: India's comprehensive border fencing project was initiated in 2003.
• CIBMS: Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System uses thermal imagers, ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and high-definition cameras.
• Snow damage: One-third of fencing is damaged annually by heavy snowfall, requiring continuous restoration.
• Infiltration success rate: Security agencies estimate approximately 20 per cent of attempts successfully cross undetected.
• New measures: Following Pahalgam, drone surveillance was intensified and additional infantry units deployed in high-risk passes.

Static linkage: Internal security, J&K, border management (GS-3 Internal Security).

GS area: International Relations, Internal Security

The Pahalgam aftermath brought the LoC's legal basis and geography into sharp focus.

• Length: 740 km, running from Manawar in the south to NJ9842 near the Siachen Glacier in the north.
• Origin: Simla Agreement, 2 July 1972. Formalised the ceasefire line from the 1971 war.
• Legal status: Not an internationally recognised border. The LoC is a bilateral ceasefire line. The two sides pledged not to alter it unilaterally.
• Distinction from LAC: The LAC (Line of Actual Control) is the de facto boundary with China. The LoC is the de facto boundary with Pakistan.

Static linkage: India-Pakistan relations, J&K geography (GS-2 IR).

GS area: Governance, Education

In the context of Dr Kasturirangan's passing (April 2025), the National Education Policy 2020 that he drafted received review attention.

• NEP 2020: Replaced the National Policy on Education 1986.
• 5+3+3+4 structure: Early Childhood Care and Education (5 years), Preparatory (3 years), Middle (3 years), Secondary (4 years).
• Three-language formula: Emphasis on regional language instruction, particularly in early years.
• Multidisciplinary education: Removed rigid stream separation (arts-science-commerce) at the undergraduate level.
• Board exams: Proposed modular board exams to reduce the "high stakes" one-shot examination model.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio target: 50 per cent in higher education by 2035 (from approximately 27 per cent in 2019).

Static linkage: Education policy, governance (GS-2 Governance).

• CSIR-IMMT agreements with Russia: The April 2025 agreements with Russia's Giredmet, Rosatom, and NUST MISIS are part of India's critical minerals strategy. India seeks Russian expertise in rare earth and nuclear mineral processing.
• Project Nilgiri Tahr: Five-year conservation programme (2022-2027) targeting India's Endangered Nilgiri Tahr with population surveys and potential habitat expansion. About 2,056 individuals survive in the wild (Tamil Nadu + Kerala combined estimate).