Current Affairs – June 10, 2025

{GS2 – MoAy – Initiatives} Ayush Nivesh Saarthi Portal

Context (ET): Ayush Nivesh Saarthi Portal was launched to boost investments in traditional medicine.

Ayush Nivesh Saarthi Portal is a one-stop, investor-centric digital portal for the Ayush sector (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy).
Developed by: Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with Invest India.
Objective: To promote FDI and private participation in Ayush-based ventures.
Key Features:
- Combines policy frameworks, incentives, investment-ready projects, and approvals in one place.
- Enables direct coordination with government departments to resolve queries efficiently.
- Targets international investors and promotes India’s Ayush systems globally.

{GS2 – MoHFW – Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

Context (PIB): The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) completes 9 years.

Launched: 2016
Nodal Ministry: Flagship initiative of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Aligned Strategy: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Objective: To provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) free of cost, especially during the 2^nd & 3^rd trimesters, to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

Eligibility: All pregnant women, especially unregistered, adolescent, early, and high-risk pregnancies.

Key Features:
- Fixed Day ANC Services: On the 9^th of every month at government facilities.
- Free Services: Physical examination, 1 ultrasound, lab tests, Iron & Folic Acid & calcium supplements.
- Specialist-led Care: By Obstetrics and Gynecology specialists, radiologists, physicians (including private doctors).
- Risk Identification: Green sticker: No risk; Red sticker: High-risk pregnancy.
Integration with other existing programmes: Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Janani Suraksha Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, LaQshya, Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan, POSHAN Abhiyaan.
Key Achievements of PMSMA (as of June 2025):
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) reduced from 130 (2014–16) to 80 (2021–23).
- 6.19 crore pregnant women examined under PMSMA.
- 78.27 lakh High-Risk Pregnancies identified under E-PMSMA.
- Strengthened public-private partnerships and community participation in maternal care.

Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA)

Launched: 2022
Aim: To strengthen monitoring and care of High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs) through targeted follow-up and financial incentives.
Key Features:
- Name-based HRP tracking till 45 days post-delivery.
- Up to 4 additional ANC sessions/month.
- Financial incentives for HRP women and ASHAs.

{GS2 – MoHI – Schemes} Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India

Context (TH): Ministry of Heavy Industries notified guidelines for the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI).

About SPMEPCI

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries
Objective: To attract fresh investments from global manufacturers and position India as a global manufacturing destination for electric vehicles.
Tenure: 5 years
Eligible Projects: Expenditure incurred on new Plant, Machinery, Charging Infrastructure, Equipment and associated utilities across India.
- Expenditure made on second hand/refurbished plant, machinery etc., will not qualify as investment.
Eligibility: Companies with global automotive manufacturing revenues exceeding ₹10,000 crore and global fixed asset investments above ₹3,000 crore.
Implementation: Project Management Agency (PMA) is responsible for providing secretarial, managerial and implementation support.

Key Features

Reduced Import Duty: Customs duty on Completely Built Units (CBUs) of electric four-wheelers priced above $35,000 has been reduced from 70–100% to 15%, capped at 8,000 units annually for the period of five years.
Investment Commitment: Eligible manufacturers must invest a minimum of ₹4,150 Cr within three years in new plants, engineering R&D, and charging infrastructure.
- Caps apply—maximum 10% of investment for buildings and 5% for charging infrastructure. Land costs are excluded.
Domestic Value Addition (DVA): Mandates at least 25% DVA within 3 years; 50% within 5 years.
Safeguards: Applicants must provide a bank guarantee equal to the higher of ₹4,150 crore or the total foregone import duty, valid throughout the scheme, to ensure compliance.

Complementary Schemes Supporting EV Ecosystem

PM E-DRIVE (2024): Incentivises the sale of electric 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, trucks, ambulances, and buses. Also supports charging infrastructure and modernisation of testing facilities.
FAME-II: Aim to promote domestic manufacturing of EVs and components by offering demand-side incentives and boosting local value addition.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI)-Auto (2021): Enhances domestic manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products, including EVs and high-end auto components.
PLI-ACC (2021): Targets creation of 50 GWh battery manufacturing capacity for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC), reducing import dependence.

PM e-Bus Sewa: Supports deployment of over 38,000 electric buses across India under a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM)

India’s Automotive Sector

India is currently the world’s 3rd largest automobile market and one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the world.
Market size: Rs.12.5 lakh crore; expected to cross Rs.24.9 lakh crore by 2030.
Contributes over 7.1% to India’s GDP.

EV Ecosystem

India’s EV market is dominated by electric three-wheelers (57%) and two-wheelers; four-wheelers currently hold a smaller market share.
Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) produced over 80% of electric cars domestically in 2024; Chinese EV imports remained below 15% due to high duties and the availability of affordable local models.
Cost of EV inputs remains 20–30% higher than that of comparable Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, with a persistent dependence on imported batteries and components.

Context (TH): India has shifted to a science-based food safety framework, but gaps remain in local research, risk communication, and outdated regulations.

Food Safety Regulations

India’s food safety laws began with the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, supported by several product-specific orders.
In 2006, Food Safety and Standards Act consolidated these under a single authority, establishing FSSAI.
Post-2015, reforms aimed to align with international standards (Codex), improve transparency, and strengthen enforcement after high-profile food safety incidents.

Challenges

Food Adulteration: Common adulterants include urea, synthetic colour, detergents, and spurious additives in milk, spices, oils, and sweets. FSSAI’s 2012 survey found 68% of milk samples adulterated with water, detergent, and urea.
Weak Accountability: Many food operators function without licenses; periodic inspections are rare. CAG reports show irregular inspection & incomplete documentation in licensing by state food authorities.
Malpractices by Companies: Misleading labelling, ingredient misreporting, and use of banned substances compromise consumer trust.
Complex Regulatory Framework: Compliance difficulty for MSMEs and food hawkers due to fragmented, overlapping, & confusing standards. (Only 377 food products are covered under FSSAI norms, vs. 10,000+ internationally).
Lack of Transparency: Despite frequent adulteration raids, public access to food testing reports remains limited, reducing awareness and deterrence.

Government Initiatives

Eat Right India Movement: Launched by FSSAI to ensure safe, healthy, and sustainable food, aligned with the National Health Policy 2017.
RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil): Targets reuse of edible oil; promotes conversion of used oil into biodiesel. FSSAI reported over 250 RUCO collection points and partnerships with OMCs for safe disposal.
State Food Safety Index: Annual ranking of states on food safety across 5 parameters.
Food Safety Mitra Scheme: Creates a trained workforce (FSMs) to help food businesses with licensing, audits, hygiene. Over 1,000 FSMs trained since its launch.
Eat Right Station Certification: Certification awarded to railway stations maintaining high standards. As of 2023, over 100 stations certified, improving food safety for millions of passengers daily.

Way Forward

Strengthen Infrastructure: Only 68 NABL labs are FSSAI-notified (2023). Increase funding for labs, mobile testing kits, and training of food safety personnel.
Simplify regulations: Move toward “One Nation, One Regulator” by eliminating dual certifications (e.g., BIS, AGMARK). Draft regulations aim to consolidate approvals for better ease of doing business.
Strict penalties for food safety violations (e.g., Maggi ban due to high lead & MSG).
Awareness Campaigns on food labelling, safe pesticide usage, and risks of reused cooking oil.
Safe Agricultural Practices: Reduce pesticide overuse and chemicals like calcium carbide for fruit ripening by promote organic farming.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Sodium salt of glutamic acid, used as a flavor enhancer to give foods a savory umami taste.
It occurs naturally in foods like tomatoes & cheese and is considered safe by global health authorities.

MSG Regulation

Since 1971, Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives declared MSG safe for consumption.
Countries like the US, Japan, and China allow unrestricted use of MSG without any warning labels.
In India, MSG use, initially restricted to meat products, was later expanded to broader food categories but still carries a cautionary label for infants.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Heeng (Ferula assa-foetida)

Context (TH): The 1^st flowering and seed set of heengat Palampur was reported by CSIR, showing heeng can indeed be successfully cultivated in India.

About Heeng

Also known as asafoetida, Heeng is a pungent spice used in Indian cuisine and traditional medicine for its digestive and other health benefits.
- There are mentions of heeng in ancient Indian texts such as Mahabharata, Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, Pippalada Samhita and the works of Panini.
Heeng is a perennial plant that typically takes 5 years to mature and start flowering. It’s extracted from the resin of the Ferula plant.

Climatic Conditions Required for Heeng

Climate: Thrive in cold, arid environments suited to native regions in Iran, Afghanistan, & Central Asia.
Soil: Prefers sandy, well-drained soil with low moisture.
Rainfall: Annual rainfall of 200 mm or less. It can tolerate up to 300 mm in cultivated regions like the Indian Himalayas.
Temperature: 10-20° C. It can tolerate highs of up to 40° C and withstands winter lows down to –4° C.
- In extremely dry and cold weather, heeng plants typically become dormant to survive.

Health Benefits

Known for its therapeutic properties, carminative, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative and diuretic properties.
Apart from healing digestive disorders, Heeng also helps in lowering blood pressure, heals menstrual pain, reduces headaches, relieves asthma, and can also cure insect bites.

Heeng Production in India

India is the world’s largest importer, consumer and exporter (reexports imported Heeng) of asafoetida. India imports heeng from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, among others.
During 2022-23, heeng imports constituted 15.6% of the total spice imports in value terms.
Recent efforts have focused on domestic cultivation in India, particularly in the cold desert regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Organizations like CSIR-IHBT (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Himalayan Bio-Technology) are involved in developing technologies and providing training for farmers.

{GS3 – Agri – Initiatives} Agroforestry

Context (TH): Agroforestry can transform rural India by boosting biodiversity, farmer incomes, carbon sequestration & ecosystem restoration.

What is Agroforestry?

Agroforestry is a land-use system that integrates agricultural and forestry practices to create diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable landscapes.
It aims to:
1. Enhance land productivity and restoration
2. Utilize resources economically and efficiently
3. Create rural employment opportunities
4. Supply raw materials for rural cottage industries
5. Increase food crop production to meet growing demand
6. Improve nutritional value through diversified food sources
7. Provide fodder for livestock supporting milk and meat production

Classification of Agroforestry

Agrisilvicultural Systems: Growing crops alongside trees on the same land boosts soil fertility and provides diversified income from both agriculture and forestry.
Silvopastoral Systems: Planting trees in pastures offers shade and shelter to livestock while improving soil and environmental health.
Apiculture with Trees: Nectar-rich trees support honeybees, enhancing crop pollination and enabling honey production for extra farmer income.
Aquaforestry: Trees around fish ponds stabilize banks, improve water quality, and increase fish production sustainably.

Significance

Soil & Water Conservation: Tree roots anchor the soil, reducing erosion during heavy rains; agroforestry can reduce soil erosion by up to 50% in certain regions, such as the Himalayan foothills in India.
Environment friendly: Agroforestry improves soil fertility through nitrogen-fixing trees, reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers by 20-30% (seen in Andhra Pradesh’s agroforestry projects).
Supports biodiversity: Creates habitats and corridors for pollinators like bees and birds, crucial for crop pollination and ecosystem balance.
- Agroforestry areas in Tamil Nadu have increased bird species richness by 25%.
Carbon Sequestration: In India, agroforestry can sequester about 68 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and reduce local temperatures by around 1°C.
Nutritional Security: It increases production of pulses and vegetables, helping address India’s average calorie deficit (~3000 calories recommended vs. actual intake).

Challenges

Regulatory Restrictions: Only 33 tree species are allowed free harvesting and transport across states, while high-value species like teak and sandalwood require permits that cause delays.
Research Gaps: About 10% of planting material meets quality standards, with limited large-scale research on indigenous species and fragile ecosystems like the Himalayas.
Policy Issues: Weak marketing infrastructure and complex taxation reduce farmer profits, with multiple taxes on timber processing discouraging enterprises.
- NABARD’s Odisha pilot increased agroforestry loan uptake by 30%, showing scope for improvement.
Extension Services: Extension services remain inadequate, benefiting mainly large farmers, whereas two-thirds of Indian farmers (small/marginal) lack access to targeted support.
Digital Access Gaps: Low literacy and poor connectivity limit farmers’ knowledge of species selection and carbon markets.
- Digital tools like AgroConnect exist but have limited reach, constraining effective support.

Way Forward

Regulatory Reforms: Simplify harvesting and transport rules by amending laws and implementing region-specific, time-bound permits like Tamil Nadu’s pilot, to reduce bureaucratic delays.
Research & Development: Set up regional agroforestry research centers and invest in certified nurseries. E.g. Maharashtra’s nurseries improved sapling survival rates by 40%.
Extension Strengthening: Promote FPOs for better market access, expand tailored credit and insurance schemes, & strengthen extension via apps and platforms like AgroConnect for farmer empowerment.
Equitable Access: Design schemes prioritizing small/marginal farmers with subsidies and technical aid, and support community-driven habitat restoration and ecological corridor creation.
Sustainability Focus: Scale agroforestry to boost rural employment, income stability, and climate resilience, while promoting carbon credit participation through transparent benefit-sharing models demonstrated successfully in Uttarakhand.

{GS3 – IE – Development} GDP Base Revision

Context (IE): The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is undertaking a revision of the GDP base.

India is set to update the base year for calculating gross domestic product (GDP) to the financial year 2022-23 from the financial year 2011-2012.
- Other key economic datasets such as Index of industrial production (IIP) and consumer Price Index (CPI) will see a new base from next year onwards.
A 26-member advisory committee on national accounts statistics, chaired by Biswanath Goldar, has been formed to identify new data sources and advise on the methodology for the revised series.
- It will also decide on aligning GDP with other indices, like the wholesale price index (WPI), CPI and IIP for calculating industrial growth.
The new series for GDP is scheduled to be released on February 27, 2026.

What is Base Year?

It is the benchmark year used for comparison in economic indicators like GDP, inflation, IIP, CPI, etc.
It represents the year against which the performance in other years is measured, with the index value set at 100 in the base year.
- E.g., If GDP in 2011–12 is ₹100 lakh crore (base year = 2011–12), and in 2021–22 it is ₹150 lakh crore, the economy has grown by 50% over the base year.
The base year serves as a standard for determining GDP, by eliminating inflation and enables a comparison of economic growth over time.

Need For Base Year Revision

Reflect Structural Changes in Economy: To accurately reflect structural changes in the economy, including shifts in consumption patterns, sectoral contributions, and the inclusion of emerging sectors.
To Maintain Relevance in Policy Making: By aligning with the economic realities of 2022-23, the revised series will offer a more precise framework for policymaking and analysis.
Improved Data Availability: Newer and more accurate data sources (like GST, corporate filings, satellite data) become available over time.
Other: Countries revise base years periodically to align with the UN System of National Accounts (SNA) guidelines.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Rules, 2025

Context (PIB): The government has notified Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to address the specialized needs of semiconductor and electronics component manufacturing sector

Notified in exercise of the powers conferred by section 55 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.

Key Reforms

Relaxed Land Norms: The minimum contiguous land requirement for setting up an SEZ exclusively for semiconductor or electronic component manufacturing has been reduced from 50 hectares to just 10 hectares.
Preferential Consideration by the Board of Approval (BoA): The BoA for SEZs is now allowed to relax the requirement for SEZ land to be encumbrance-free if it is mortgaged or leased to the Central or State Government or their authorized agencies.
Free-of-Cost Supplies in Net Foreign Exchange (NFE): It allows the value of goods received and supplied on a free-of-cost basis to be included in NFE calculations and assessed using applicable customs valuation rules.
Domestic Supply by Semiconductor Units: It allows SEZ units in semiconductor as well as electronics component manufacturing sector to also supply domestically into the Domestic Tariff area as well after payment of applicable duties.

Significance

Support sectors that are capital-intensive, import-dependent, and have long gestation periods before becoming profitable.
It will boost high-tech manufacturing in the country, spur growth of semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem and create high skilled jobs in the country.

Read More> Special Economic Zone

{GS3 – IS – Initiatives} T20: Case for an India-led bloc Against Terrorism

Context (IE): In light of the impending threat of state-sponsored terrorism and the failure of global counter-terror institutions, there is a need for T20 (Twenty Against Terrorism), led by India.

The Idea of T20 (Twenty Against Terrorism)

Proposed as a coalition of 20 Global South nations combating frequent, asymmetric, and ideologically motivated terrorism. Not to be a replacement for UN/FATF, but a supplementary, agile platform.
Proposed Members: Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Mali, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, etc.
Objectives: To facilitate data exchange on terror activities, safe havens, address emerging threats like cyber-terrorism & crypto financing and counter radicalisation.

Why India Should Lead the Fight Against Terrorism?

Extensive Experience: India has decades of operational and strategic expertise in countering cross-border terrorism, especially from Pakistan (e.g., 26/11, Pulwama).
High Credibility: As a dual victim of state-sponsored terrorism and internal ideological extremism (like Left-Wing Extremism/Naxalism), India offers a balanced, grounded perspective.
Presence of Digital Infrastructure: India’s capabilities in cybersecurity, surveillance (e.g., NATGRID), and AI-based threat detection make it well-suited to lead modern counter-terror frameworks.
Voice of the Global South: India’s leadership of G20 (2023), SCO, and the Global South Summit underscores its diplomatic influence and inclusive vision for collective security.

Global Inadequacy in Fight Against Terrorism

UN & FATF Limitations: The UN’s counter-terror efforts remain largely declarative, with delayed designations and weak enforcement mechanisms.
- The FATF, while effective in tracking illicit financial flows, lacks integration with intelligence and counterterror strategies of affected nations, limiting real-time impact on active threats.
Western-Centric Lens: Global counter-terror frameworks are skewed toward preventing attacks in Western nations, often ignoring the persistent, systemic threats faced by South Asia, Africa & Middle East.

Significance

Global South-First Approach: Focuses on countries most affected by terrorism (e.g., Nigeria, Mali, Philippines), which are often ignored in Western-led security structures.
- 5 of top 10 most terror-impacted nations are from the Global South (Global Terrorism Index)
India’s Soft Power Advantage: Offers leadership without military interventionism. Enhances India’s moral authority and diplomatic capital in the Global South.

Challenges

Lack of Global Backing: Without UN/FATF recognition, T20 decisions lack enforcement power.
Diverse Threat Perceptions: Varying regional terror profiles hinder a unified counter-terror approach. E.g. India faces ideological extremism; Nigeria confronts religious terrorism.
Intelligence Capacity Gaps: Technological disparity limits secure data sharing & real-time coordination.
Political Constraints: Limited funding and political instability undermine sustained collaboration. E.g. Conflict in Ethiopia or coup in Mali disrupts continuity.
Diplomatic Sensitivities: Naming state sponsors and overlapping roles with global bodies may trigger backlash. E.g. Western powers may resist T20 if seen as duplicating FATF or GCTF.

Way forward

Global Advocacy: India should formally propose the T20 initiative at key international groupings such as BRICS+, SCO, and the G77, where many Global South countries are already members.
- India can lobby for observer status or consultative recognition of T20 at the United Nations, similar to how ASEAN or IORA are acknowledged.
Bilateral Diplomacy: India must initiate bilateral talks with frontline states like Kenya, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, Philippines, etc., to secure founding members.
Seed Funding: Channel initial funding for the T20 Secretariat, operational setup, and pilot programs through the Ministry of External Affairs.

Also Read > Operation Sindoor.

{Prelims – In News} Shangri-La Dialogue

Context (TH): 22^nd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 was held recently.

Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier annual summit on defence and security. Established in 2002.
Held every June at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.
Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London, in collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.
Functions as a Track 1.5 dialogue — blending official diplomacy (Track 1) with informal, strategic discussions involving think tanks and defence experts (Track 2).
Participation & Scope: Attended by defence ministers, military chiefs, policymakers, and strategic analysts from around 40 countries, including the U.S., China, India, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN nations.
Provides a high-level platform for both bilateral and multilateral engagements on traditional (territorial disputes, regional conflicts) & non-traditional (terrorism, cybersecurity, climate change) challenges.
Discussions are held in two formats: open plenary sessions for public speeches and broader dialogue and closed-door meetings for in-depth, focused, and confidential exchanges.

Also Read >Raisina Dialogue

{Species – Discovery} Dugesia Punensis

Context (NDTV): Dugesia Punensis, a newly identified species of planarian worms, belonging to the genus Dugesia, was discovered in Pashan Lake, Pune.

Credit: NDTV

Dugesia punensis is a regenerative freshwater free-living flatworm or Platyhelminthes. It is delicate and distinct from related species.
Physical appearance: The dorsal side is spotted dark brown with a light brown midline, while the ventral side is pale. Has slightly reduced auricles, elongated pharynx and gonopore, two bright black eyes in auricular grooves and reddish circular eggs.

Regeneration duration: Fully regenerates in 10–13 days, even after 15–20 days of starvation.
Diet: Feeds on chicken liver.
Significance: First new planarian species recorded in India since 1983, and its discovery adds significant value to the taxonomy of flatworms and the biodiversity of the Western Ghats hotspot.

Planarians are free-living flatworms known for their regeneration capabilities. They have soft, leaf-shaped bodies with bilateral symmetry and can be found in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats.
They possess a simple brain and ladder-like nervous system, as well as light-sensitive eyespots. Planarians feed through a muscular pharynx and have a branched intestine without an exit cavity. Excretion is carried out by flame cells.

{Species – Mammals – Misc} Himalayan Long-Tailed Myotis (Myotis himalaicus)

Context (TH): Himalayan long-tailed Myotis, belonging to the genus Myotis (mouse-eared bats), has been discovered from Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, raising India’s bat species count to 135.
Myotis frater species complex are known for morphologically similar species across East and Central Asia.

Credit: TH

Habitat: Found in southern Himalayan coniferous forests (pine, deodar, cedar).
- Distribution likely restricted to southern Himalayan slopes, with sightings in India and Pakistan.
Features: Characterised by a distinctively long tail, distinguishing it from closely related species.
- Shows subtle anatomical variations that set it apart within its genus.

Long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) are endemic to New Zealand, are considered nocturnal, eat moths, beetles, flies and other small insects, and use echolocation to navigate and hunt for prey.

Also Read > Bats