Current Affairs – September 26, 2025

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections} Election Commission Restores Rules for Counting Postal Votes

• Context (IE): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reinstated the pre-2019 counting sequence, mandating completion of the postal ballot tally before finalising EVM results.

Rule for Counting Postal Votes

• Penultimate Round: The second-to-last round of EVM/VVPAT counting starts only after all postal ballots are counted at that centre.
• Segmented Counting: In constituencies with multiple centres, EVM tally pauses only where postal ballot counting is ongoing; all other centres continue without interruption.
• Operational Readiness: Returning Officers must ensure they have enough staff and tables to handle the high volumes of postal ballots.

Rationale for the Decision

• Legal Compliance: Rule 54A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 requires counting postal ballots before EVM votes. The updated mandate aligns with the right counting order.
• Procedural Integrity: Prioritising postal ballots prevents premature EVM-based trends that could sway public perception in closely contested elections.
• Scalability Adjustment: Expanded voter eligibility has led to an increase in postal ballot volumes. Counting these first helps maintain efficiency and accuracy in results

Read More > Special Category of Voters

{GS2 – MoA – Initiatives} WHO 2^nd Global Summit on Traditional Medicine

• Context (PIB): The Ministry of Ayush will co-host the 2^nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.

• Theme: Restoring balance for people and planet: The science and practice of well-being.

• Objective: To provide an international platform for experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to promote the role of traditional medicine in global health and sustainable development.
• Significance: It promotes indigenous knowledge, incorporates traditional medicine into healthcare, and encourages evidence-based traditional medicine practices that support human well-being.

Read More > WHO

{GS2 – MoHI – Initiatives} Isobutanol-Diesel Blending

• Context (TH): The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is assessing the feasibility of blending isobutanol with diesel after ethanol-diesel blending trials failed.

• If successful, India could be the first country to adopt isobutanol-diesel blending.

Advantages of Isobutanol

• Better Blending: Isobutanol mixes more easily with diesel than ethanol.
• Higher Flash Point: Safer compared to ethanol, which has a lower flash point and is more volatile.
• Surplus Utilisation: Can be produced from the same feedstock as ethanol (sugarcane juice, molasses, grains), providing an outlet for surplus production.

Limitations & Operational Challenges

• Low Cetane Number: Cetane number measures combustion quality; isobutanol’s lower value could cause reduced ignition quality. It can be corrected with additives, but it increases the cost.
• Diesel Knock Risk: May damage engines due to uneven combustion.
• Miscibility Issues: Needs biodiesel as a co-blending agent to ensure stability.
• Cost Factor: Restoring cetane levels requires the use of additives, which increases costs.
• Engine Performance: Blending more than 10% could harm engines by reducing power and efficiency.

Read More > India’s Biofuel Push

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act

• Context (LM): Amid the ongoing Ladakh protests, the Home Ministry cancelled FCRA registration of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, SECMOL, citing violations of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

About the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)

• Emergency Origin: Enacted in 1976 during the National Emergency, the Act aimed to prevent foreign interference through unregulated financial flows.
• Legal Consolidation: The FCRA, 2010, replaced earlier laws and explicitly prohibited the use of foreign funds for activities deemed as “detrimental to national interest”.
• Registration Mandate: Eligible entities must register with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or get prior permission to receive foreign funds. Approvals last five years.
• 2020 Amendments: Key changes included Aadhaar requirements for office holders, a limit of 20% on administrative expenses, & a designated SBI account in New Delhi for receiving funds, among others.
• Oversight Powers: The Act authorises the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to carry out background checks and empowers the MHA to suspend registrations for up to 180 days during investigations.
• Recipient Ban: Foreign contributions are not allowed for election candidates, judges, civil servants, political parties, and media organisations to maintain institutional neutrality and democratic integrity.

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana

• Context (TH): PM Modi launched Bihar’s Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, transferring ₹10,000 each via DBT to 75 lakh women in the state to boost financial independence & livelihood opportunities.

Key Features of the Scheme

• Eligibility Criteria: Women aged 18-60 years, from nuclear families, not income tax payees, and without a permanent income source.
• Special Inclusion: Members of Jeevika Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and unmarried adult women without parents are eligible.
• Second Instalment: After a six-month performance review, eligible women entrepreneurs will receive an additional grant of ₹2 lakh.

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} 49^th Meeting of PRAGATI

• Context (NOA): PM Modi chaired the 49^th meeting of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) and reviewed eight key infrastructure projects worth over ₹65,000 crore.

About PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) Platform

• Launch & Purpose: PRAGATI was launched in 2015 under the Digital India programme to promote e-governance and e-accountability in inter-ministerial project coordination.
• Development: It was created by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to accelerate project execution and address citizen grievances.
• Governance Model: Its three-tier system includes the PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and State Chief Secretaries, promoting centre-state coordination through cooperative federalism.
• Technology Stack: The platform integrates video conferencing, geo-tagged dashboards, and spatial tools (e.g., Drones) for real-time project monitoring and administrative oversight.
• Review Process: Monthly PRAGATI Day sessions take place every fourth Wednesday to review issues flagged by ministries and states. The Prime Minister presides over the sessions.
• Measured Impact: As of 2025, PRAGATI has fast-tracked over 340 infrastructure projects worth more than USD 205 billion.

Read More > PRAGATI Platform

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} India Hosts FIPIC Ministerial in New York

• Context (NOA): During the 80^th UN General Assembly (UNGA), India hosted the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York.

• The meeting reviewed the progress of PM’s 12-point action plan, which was announced at the FIPIC-III Summit (2023, Papua New Guinea).

India’s Key Initiatives under FIPIC

• Expansion of e-Vidya Bharati (tele-education) and the Pan-Pacific Islands e-Network launch.
• Creation of a USD 1 million fund for climate change adaptation and clean energy.
• Training for diplomats, a special visitors’ programme, and enhanced grant-in-aid for community projects.
• Visa-on-arrival facility at Indian airports for Pacific nationals; promotion of Yoga and cultural exchanges.

Read More> United Nations | Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

{GS3 – IE – Securities} India Attracts $11.11 bn FDI in July

• Context (IE): The Reserve Bank of India reported $11.11 billion gross FDI inflow in July 2025, the highest since May 2021.

About Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) refers to investment by a non-resident acquiring 10% or more equity in a listed Indian company or any equity stake in an unlisted company.
• Stable Capital: It represents a long-term, equity-based, non-debt-creating capital flow, unlike short-term and speculative Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI).
• Legal Framework: FDI is governed by the Consolidated FDI Policy 2020 and the FEMA (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules 2019, framed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
• Dual Regulation: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) formulates FDI policy, while the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) enforces compliance and reporting norms.
• Prohibited Sectors: FDI is barred in atomic energy, lotteries, gambling, chit funds, tobacco, Nidhi companies, and real estate (except for construction and development projects).

Two Routes of FDI

• Automatic Route: Permits foreign investment without prior government or RBI approval, provided sectoral caps and conditions are met; post-facto transaction reporting to the RBI is required.
• Government Route: Mandates prior approval via the Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP) for sensitive sectors like defence, multi-brand retail, broadcasting, and print media.

Three Types of FDI

• Horizontal FDI: Involves replicating home-country operations abroad in the same industry; e.g., Suzuki Motor Corporation (Japan) setting up Maruti Suzuki in India.
• Vertical FDI: Takes place when firms invest in upstream or downstream value chain to secure inputs or markets; e.g., ArcelorMittal acquiring iron ore mines abroad.
• Conglomerate FDI: Refers to investment in an unrelated foreign business (often via joint ventures) to diversify operations; e.g., Reliance Industries acquiring Hamleys (UK toy retailer).

Investment Methods

• Greenfield Investment: Involves establishing entirely new facilities from scratch, e.g., Hyundai building its automobile plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
• Brownfield Investment: Refers to acquiring or merging with existing firms, enabling immediate operations, e.g., Vodafone acquiring Hutchison Essar in India’s telecom sector.

Categories of FDI

1. Category 1: Provides 100% FDI under the Automatic Route in non-sensitive sectors, e.g., civil aviation MRO, ports, and railway infrastructure.
2. Category 2: Requires Government Route for up to 100% FDI in sensitive sectors, e.g., multi-brand retail and satellite operations.
3. Category 3: Allows FDI up to a cap under the Automatic Route; beyond this, government approval is required, e.g., for private sector banks.
4. Category 4: Permits FDI only up to a fixed cap, accessible through both Automatic and Government Routes, e.g., print media.

Read More > Difference Between FDI, FPI And FII

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive

• Context (TH): Vaccination is one of India’s most impactful and cost-effective health interventions, showcasing major achievements despite challenges.

Immunisation Coverage in India

• India runs the world’s largest Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), covering 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, with six new vaccines added in the past decade.
• India’s under-5 mortality declined from 45 (2014) to 31 (2021) per 1,000 live births.
• Full immunisation coverage rose significantly after the launch of Mission Indradhanush (2014) and Intensified MI (2017).

Major Achievements

• Polio-free since 2011, maternal and neonatal tetanus eliminated in 2015, and Yaws-free in 2016.
• Mass campaigns: Measles-Rubella drive vaccinated 34.8 crore children between 2017-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination: Over 220 crore doses administered by January 2023; 97% first dose and 90% double dose coverage.
• Global recognition: India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024) for regional efforts.
• Vaccine Maitri initiative: Supplied vaccines to several low and middle-income countries, reinforcing Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Challenges

• Hard-to-reach groups: Migratory, remote, and marginalised populations still face access barriers.
• Vaccine hesitancy: Anti-vaccine narratives affect coverage in some clusters.
• Immunity gaps: Measles outbreaks (2022-24) revealed setbacks caused by the COVID-19 disruption.
• Infrastructure gaps: Need for better last-mile delivery and cold chain in rural areas.

Key Lessons

• Zero-dose outreach and targeted interventions are essential to reach unreached populations.
• Disease surveillance must be closely integrated with immunisation efforts to plug immunity gaps quickly.
• Public trust and community mobilisation are as important as supply chains.
• A One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health surveillance, is vital for future pandemic preparedness.

Read More> Vaccine Diplomacy

{GS3 – S&T – Nuclear Power} Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Project

• Context (NOA | PIB): PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Mahi Banswara Atomic Power Project near Mahi Dam in Rajasthan.

About the Mahi Banswara Project

• The project will include four indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), totalling a capacity of 2,800 MW.
• Project Developer: Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Limited (ASHVINI), a joint venture of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
• Construction Strategy: The project is part of the Indian government’s “fleet mode” initiative to construct ten identical 700 MW PHWRs across India.
• Significance: It advances India’s goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

India’s Nuclear Energy Landscape

• Capacity: The operational nuclear capacity increased by 71%, from 4,780 MW to 8,780 MW across 25 reactors with a 60% rise in annual nuclear electricity generation between 2014 and 2025.
• Medium-Term Target: India aims to achieve 22,480 MW capacity by 2031–32, supported by the three-stage nuclear program.
• Long-Term Mission: The Nuclear Energy Mission, launched in 2025, aims to expand nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, aligning with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Read More on Nuclear Energy | Private Participation in Nuclear Energy | India’s First Prototype FBR

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Protecting Satellites in Space

• Context (TH): Following a near-collision between an Indian satellite and a foreign spacecraft in 2024, India started planning comprehensive satellite safeguarding mechanisms.

Need for Safeguarding Satellites

• National Security: Military satellites enable continuous surveillance, navigation, and reconnaissance, making them essential for India’s border security and defence preparedness.
• Economic Infrastructure: India’s $8.4-billion space economy contributes ₹20,000 crore annually, while disruptions could lead to daily losses of $23.6 million for every 10 million people.
• Public Services: Weather satellites assist IMD forecasts and disaster protocols, lowering disaster mortality and safeguarding aviation, shipping, agriculture, and civilian safety.
• Strategic Autonomy: Indigenous systems like NavIC provide operational independence, since the GPS denial during the Kargil war revealed vulnerabilities of depending on foreign satellites.
• Global Credibility: Satellite protection showcases India’s responsible space conduct, boosting its influence in IADC and COPUOS multilateral forums.

Challenges in Safeguarding Satellites

• Space Debris: Fast-moving debris in Earth’s orbit poses collision risks, prompting ISRO to execute 23 collision avoidance manoeuvres (CAMs) in 2023.
• Hostile Operations: Foreign satellites conducting proximity manoeuvres near Indian assets raise concerns of surveillance, interference, and deliberate disruption.
• Cyber Intrusions: Ground stations and networks are vulnerable to hacking threats, while satellites remain susceptible to jamming & spoofing. CERT-In warns that each satellite is a potential target for cyberattack.
• Solar Storms: Coronal mass ejections damage onboard electronics and increase drag, gradually destabilising orbits and shortening satellite lifespans.
• Ageing Systems: Satellite components degrade over time, as demonstrated by nine NavIC atomic clock failures between 2016 and 2018.

Way Forward

• NETRA Expansion: Enhance ISRO’s NETRA network with nationwide radars and telescopes to ensure independent debris tracking and reliable collision warnings.
• Startup Integration: Encourage private firms to develop LiDAR satellites and situational awareness systems, fostering innovation and decreasing reliance on foreign technology.
• Anti-Jamming: Adapt the US’s Protected Tactical SATCOM with robust waveforms and encrypted channels to secure communications against spoofing and jamming.
• Cybersecurity: Establish cyber defence centres modelled on the European Space Agency, constantly monitoring threats and coordinating satellite protection responses.
• Security Standards: Implement NASA’s security framework with supply chain checks, quantum-resistant encryption, and zero-trust systems to safeguard satellite resilience.

{Prelims – Bio – Diseases} Nightmare Bacteria

• Context (TOI): The United States reported a 70% increase in infections caused by “nightmare bacteria” from 2019 to 2023.

About Nightmare Bacteria

• Nightmare bacteria are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to most antibiotics.
• They include Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and drug-resistant Pseudomonas and Klebsiella species.
  • The CRE includes bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; they carry the New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase (NDM) gene, which produces an enzyme that breaks down carbapenems.

• Vulnerable Groups: Include people with weak immune systems, ICU inpatients, diabetics, renal patients, and individuals with indwelling medical devices like catheters.
• Symptoms: Resemble common bacterial infections, making them difficult to distinguish — Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), pneumonia, or sepsis with fever, chills, and respiratory distress.
• Prevention & Cure: The best protection is hand hygiene, sterilisation of medical equipment, and responsible use of antibiotics; only a limited number of intravenous drugs remain as treatment options.
• Global Threat: NDM-carrying bacteria are endemic in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan; also prevalent in Southern Europe, now spreading globally through healthcare systems.

Read More > Antimicrobial Resistance

{Prelims – Awards} National Geoscience Awards 2024

• Context (PIB): The President of India will confer the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) 2024 in New Delhi on 26 September 2025.

• National Geoscience Awards, instituted in 1966 by the Ministry of Mines (originally as National Mineral Awards), represent the highest recognition in geosciences in the country.