5 May 2025

• Health: Vaccine-preventable diseases are rising globally. India's Universal Immunisation Programme targets 26 million children annually but 1 in 4 still misses essential vaccines.
• Economy: The 16th Finance Commission is navigating fiscal federalism. States currently receive a de facto 32 per cent of central gross tax revenues.
• Agriculture: India's first genome-edited rice varieties were cleared. DRR Dhan 100 provides 19 per cent higher yield using CRISPR-Cas9.
• Defence: DRDO's stratospheric airship platform completed its maiden flight at 17 km altitude.
• Sports: The 7th Khelo India Youth Games opened virtually in Patna, Bihar. Sepaktakraw included for the first time.

GS area: Health, Public Health Policy, Disease Prevention

The global resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases is a product of disrupted immunisation services combined with organised vaccine hesitancy movements.

• Global figures: 14.5 million children missed routine vaccines in 2023 (WHO-UNICEF data). Over 50 per cent of WHO-monitored countries reported moderate to severe immunisation disruptions in 2024.
• US measles surge: As of May 2025, measles cases in the US exceeded 935, tripling 2024 totals.
• Vaccines' value: Vaccines save 4.2 million lives annually by preventing 14 major diseases.
• India's programme: The Universal Immunisation Programme targets 26 million children and 34 million pregnant women annually. Mission Indradhanush (launched 2014) specifically addresses vaccination gaps in underserved areas. Still, 1 in 4 Indian children misses essential vaccines.

Static linkage: Public health, National Health Mission, disease prevention.

GS area: Economy, Fiscal Federalism, Centre-State Relations

The 16th Finance Commission is working on recommendations for the period 2026-31 while navigating competing demands from states.

• Constitutional basis: Article 280 mandates the President to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to recommend tax devolution between the Centre and states.
• Current Commission: Constituted December 2023. Chaired by Arvind Panagariya.
• Devolution reality: The 15th Finance Commission fixed states' share at 41 per cent of divisible pool taxes (reduced from 42 per cent after J&K reorganisation). However, the de facto share is roughly 32 per cent because cesses and surcharges are outside the divisible pool. The share of divisible taxes in the Centre's gross revenues fell from 88.6 per cent in 2011-12 to 78.9 per cent in 2021-22.
• States' demand: Many states demand an increase to 50 per cent and a cap on non-shareable levies.
• Fiscal stress: 14 states launched income support schemes totalling 0.6 per cent of GDP. States like Karnataka and Punjab face rising revenue deficits.

Static linkage: Centre-state financial relations, Finance Commission, fiscal federalism.

GS area: Agriculture, Biotechnology, Food Security

India cleared its first genome-edited rice varieties developed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

• DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala): Developed by ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad. Based on the Samba Mahsuri variety. Provides 19 per cent higher yield and matures 20 days earlier (in 130 days). Saves approximately 7,500 million cubic metres of irrigation water. Targets the CKX2 (Gn1a) gene.
• Pusa DST Rice 1: Developed by ICAR-ARDI, New Delhi. Based on MTU 1010. Improves drought and salt tolerance via the DST gene. Delivers up to 30.4 per cent yield increase in harsh conditions.
• Regulatory status: Both varieties contain no foreign DNA. They are classified as SDN1 (Site-Directed Nuclease 1) method, which is exempt from the stricter GMO regulatory framework.
• CRISPR-Cas9: A gene-editing technology that acts like molecular scissors to precisely alter specific DNA sequences without introducing foreign genes.

Static linkage: Agricultural biotechnology, food security, ICAR research.

GS area: Defence Technology, Science and Technology

DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra successfully completed the maiden flight trial of India's stratospheric airship platform.

• Performance: Reached 17 km altitude. Completed a 62-minute endurance flight.
• Operational zone: The stratosphere begins at approximately 12 km above Earth's surface. Operating there avoids commercial air traffic while remaining far below satellite altitudes.
• Payload and applications: Carries instrument payloads for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Also applicable for border monitoring, coastal surveillance, disaster management and communication relays.
• Advantage: Long-duration airborne operations at far lower cost than satellites.

Static linkage: DRDO, space-adjacent surveillance technology, national security.

GS area: Sports Policy, Youth Development, Governance

The 7th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was inaugurated virtually by the Prime Minister in Patna, Bihar.

• Significance for Bihar: Bihar's first-ever multi-discipline national sporting event.
• Scheme: Annual multi-sport event under the Khelo India scheme, launched in 2018.
• Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Eligibility: Youth athletes under 17 and 21 years of age.
• Scale: 27 medal sports. Sepaktakraw was included for the first time. Esports was introduced as a demonstration event.
• Benefits: Winners receive scholarships under the Khelo India Scheme.
• Previous editions: Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula, Bhopal, Chennai.

Static linkage: Sports governance, youth development, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

GS area: E-Governance, Electoral Reform, Technology

The Election Commission of India launched ECINET, a unified digital platform.

• What it does: Consolidates over 40 existing mobile and web applications into a single user-friendly interface.
• Users served: Voters, officials, political parties and civil society organisations.
• Merged apps include: Voter Helpline, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham and the KYC App.
• Features: Single sign-on with one login for all services; cross-device compatibility for desktops and smartphones; rigorous cybersecurity protocols.
• Scale: Designed to serve approximately 100 crore voters nationwide.
• Data integrity: Only authorised Election Commission officials input data. Statutory forms prevail in case of discrepancies.

Static linkage: Election Commission of India, electoral technology, democratic governance.

• Angola visit: PM Modi held bilateral talks with Angola during an African tour. India offered a $200 million defence credit line. Angola is located in southwestern Africa bordered by the Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Zambia and Namibia. Its capital is Luanda. Angola is Africa's top oil producer and contains the Cabinda exclave north of its main territory.