13 August 2025

• Genetics: India's 5,000+ ethnic groups carry 1.6 lakh unique genetic variants : the base for a proposed National Biobank.
• Semiconductors: India Semiconductor Mission approves four new projects worth Rs 4,600 crore in Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
• Tribal languages: SPPEL scheme deploys digital tools to document Toda language of the Nilgiri Hills.
• Anti-drug policy: Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has sensitised 18 crore citizens across 272 high-risk districts since 2020.
• UPSC centenary: 1 October 2025 marks 99 years since the Union Public Service Commission was established in 1926.

GS area: Science and Technology (Health, Genetics)

India's population of over 5,000 ethnic groups carries extraordinary genetic diversity accumulated through ancient migrations, Neanderthal and Denisovan genetic mixing, and millennia of endogamy.

• Unique variants: Over 1.6 lakh genetic variants linked to congenital, metabolic and neurological conditions have been identified. Many are unique to specific Indian communities.
• Biobank proposal: A National Biobank to systematically collect and store biological samples and associated health data would create the foundation for personalised medicine : treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles.
• Policy relevance: Most global genomic databases are skewed toward European ancestry. An Indian biobank would address this bias and enable population-specific drug development.
• Privacy concern: Genetic data is among the most sensitive personal information. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and proposed health data regulations would govern its use.

Static linkage: Science and technology, health policy, genetics.

GS area: Culture, Governance (Tribal Issues)

The SPPEL scheme (Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages) supports digital documentation of the Toda language.

• Toda community: A pastoral tribal community of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. Population under 2,000.
• Toda language: A Dravidian language with no script. CIIL (Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru) under the Ministry of Education is documenting it using Tamil script and AI tools.
• Sanchika repository: An online repository maintained by CIIL for public access to documented endangered languages.
• Constitutional basis: Article 29 guarantees the right of any section of citizens with a distinct language, script or culture to conserve the same.
• SPPEL scheme: Runs through the Ministry of Education. Covers languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers or those at imminent risk.

Static linkage: Tribal issues, culture, constitutional rights.

GS area: Economy (Technology), Governance

The Cabinet approved Rs 4,600 crore for four new semiconductor manufacturing projects under the India Semiconductor Mission.

• SiCSem facility: India's first Silicon Carbide compound semiconductor fab. SiC chips are used in EV power electronics, industrial power management and high-frequency defence systems.
• Strategic import substitution: India imports approximately Rs 1.2 lakh crore of semiconductors annually. These four projects are initial steps toward reducing this dependency.
• Talent pipeline: The mission includes a target of developing over 60,000 skilled semiconductor professionals : recognising that manufacturing capacity without skilled labour is incomplete.
• Compound semiconductors: Distinct from silicon chips. Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) are the two main compound semiconductor types. They operate at higher voltages and temperatures than silicon.

Static linkage: Technology policy, economy, semiconductor strategy.

GS area: Governance (Social Justice, Health)

The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched on August 15, 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

• Coverage: 272 high-risk districts across India.
• Three-pronged approach: Supply reduction (supporting law enforcement), demand reduction (awareness and community mobilisation) and treatment (de-addiction services).
• Scale: Over 18 crore citizens sensitised. More than 20,000 Master Volunteers trained as community-level anti-drug advocates.
• High-risk districts: Selected based on data on drug seizures, alcohol consumption patterns and demographic vulnerability.
• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment : not the Health Ministry. This distinction appears in MCQs.

Static linkage: Welfare schemes, social justice, health governance.

GS area: Polity (Constitutional Bodies)

The Union Public Service Commission's centenary period runs from October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026.

• Establishment: October 1, 1926, following the Lee Commission (1924) recommendation for a permanent civil services commission.
• First chairman: Sir Ross Barker.
• Historical milestone: Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to pass the Indian Civil Service examination in 1864 : decades before the UPSC's formal creation.
• Constitutional basis: Articles 315 to 323. Article 315 mandates a UPSC for the Union and Public Service Commissions for states. Article 320 defines its functions (recruitment, promotion, disciplinary matters).
• Independence: The UPSC is independent of the executive. Its chairman can only be removed by presidential order following Supreme Court inquiry.
• State PSCs: Article 315(1) mandates each state to have its own Public Service Commission. Joint PSCs can serve two or more states.

Static linkage: Constitutional bodies, Polity, civil services.

GS area: Governance (Health Regulation)

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced SHRESTH : the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index : implemented through CDSCO.

• CDSCO: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. It regulates the quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics and medical devices at the national level.
• SHRESTH purpose: To benchmark and strengthen state-level drug regulatory systems. States differ enormously in their capacity to inspect manufacturers, test drugs and enforce quality standards.
• Two categories: Manufacturing states and union territories (where production is the focus) and distribution states (where retail and supply chain regulation is the focus).
• Update frequency: Monthly data submission. The index is designed to create real-time competitive accountability among states.

Static linkage: Health regulation, federalism, governance.

• 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics: Hosted in Mumbai by HBCSE and TIFR with Ministry of Education support. Over 300 students from 64 countries participated.
• African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness): Kenya certified disease-free by WHO : the 10th African nation. Caused by Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by the tsetse fly. The gambiense form affects 24 countries; the rhodesiense form affects 13.
• Open-Book Assessments: CBSE to introduce OBE for Class 9 from 2026-27 in English, Mathematics, Science and Biology. Pilot studies showed strong teacher support. Aligned with NEP 2020's competency-based evaluation vision.