Daily Current Affairs 2025  

11/08/2025

WhatsApp Email Facebook Share

Daily News

India has emerged as a global leader in medical tourism, witnessing a sharp surge in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes between January and April 2025. This growth is corroborated by data from the Ministry of Tourism, which reported 131,856 foreign arrivals for medical purposes during this period, accounting for approximately 4.1% of total FTAs. Affordability & Quality: India offers advanced medical treatments at costs up to 60-80% lower than in Western countries without compromising quality. Many procedures, such as cardiac surgery, are performed at less than one-tenth the price compared to the US, with equivalent outcomes.
Wide Range of Services: Treatments include cardiac care, orthopedics, oncology, organ transplants, plastic and cosmetic surgeries, fertility treatments, dental care, and Ayurveda-based wellness therapies.
World-Class Infrastructure: India boasts over 1,700 NABH-accredited hospitals and 63 JCI-accredited institutions, ensuring international standards.
Ease of Travel: The Government of India has made medical visas easier to obtain, with e-medical visa facilities extended to 171 countries, promoting patient convenience and boosting sector growth.
Public-Private Partnerships: Initiatives such as the ‘Heal in India’ campaign support collaboration among hospitals, government, and private facilitators to create patient-centric systems, further improving accessibility and quality.
Traditional & Modern Medicine Integration: India combines advanced medical treatments with holistic practices (Ayurveda, Yoga, AYUSH).
Top Source Countries:

• Bangladesh (most significant, with 4,82,336 arrivals in 2024)
• Iraq (32,008 in 2024)
• Somalia (11,717 in 2024)
• Oman (10,431 in 2024)
• Uzbekistan (8,921 in 2024).

Economic Impact & Market Size

In 2024, India’s medical tourism sector was valued at $7.69billion.
By 2025, projections indicate growth to $8.71billion, with expectations to reach $16.21billion by 2030 and $18billion by 2027.
The sector maintains a robust double-digit annual growth rate and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 13.23% and 19%.
 
Government Initiatives
Heal in India: This initiative markets India internationally as a premier healthcare destination, simplifying visa processes and promoting structured coordination between hospitals and patients.
Infrastructure Development: Special provisions and loans for healthcare infrastructure have led to the expansion of world-class facilities into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, increasing accessibility.
Medical Visa Facilitation: Quicker and more hassle-free visa approvals encourage more foreign patients to seek treatment in India.

Competitive Advantages
Comparatively Short Waiting Times: Patients can access specialists and undergo major surgeries with minimal delay.
Integrated Wellness & Traditional Medicine: India’s globally recognized Ayurveda, Yoga, and holistic treatments add unique value, appealing to a broader segment of medical tourists seeking both cures and long-term wellbeing.
Digital Health Initiatives: Online portals and digital health lockers streamline treatment planning and medical record management.

Challenges
Continued efforts are needed in standardization, patient safety, transparent pricing, and regulatory frameworks for sustainable growth.
Investment in healthcare infrastructure and public-private partnerships must keep pace with rising demand.   India’s Deep Ocean Exploration centers on the ambitious Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which includes the landmark Samudrayaan project aiming to send a human crew to 6,000 meters deep in the Indian Ocean using the indigenous Matsya6000 submersible.

Key details:

• The mission focuses on India's exclusive economic zones and continental shelf, with the main goal to explore and sustainably use deep-sea resources such as polymetallic nodules, gas hydrates, cobalt crusts, critical minerals, rare metals, and unique marine biodiversity.
• DOM supports the government’s Blue Economy initiatives by developing advanced technologies for mining, manned and unmanned submersibles, underwater robotics, climate change advisory services, deep-sea surveys, and ocean energy and freshwater extraction.
• The Samudrayaan sub-project features Matsya6000, a titanium-hulled manned submersible designed to carry three people to 6,000 meters and withstand extreme oceanic pressure; India will join an elite group of six nations with this capability.
• The mission budget is ?4077 crore for 2021-2026, with phased implementation. The initial manned dives are planned up to 500 meters in 2025, with a deeper dive to 6,000 meters by 2026.
• The mission’s scientific yield includes understanding deep-sea ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation, and potential avenues for deep-sea tourism and national security applications.
• Environmental safeguards, such as mandatory impact assessments, are critical due to ecosystem vulnerabilities and international seabed resource regulations.
• India has been allocated a 75,000 km² area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for nodule exploration, estimated to contain vast quantities of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese.
• The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is the nodal agency for submersible development, with recent successful wet testing of Matsya6000.
• Advancing deep ocean exploration positions India as a global leader in marine science and resource utilization, supporting long-term economic and strategic goals

How will India’s Matsya6000 submersible compare to global counterparts in technology?

• India's Matsya6000 submersible is a fourth-generation, indigenously developed deep-ocean human submersible designed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 meters, placing India among only six countries with this capability (US, Russia, Japan, France, China, and India).

In terms of technology comparison to global counterparts:

• Structural Design: Matsya6000 features a 2.1-meter diameter spherical pressure hull made of titanium alloy, capable of withstanding pressures 1.2 times greater than those at 6,000 meters depth (about 720 bars), comparable to advanced submersibles globally.
• Life Support and Safety: It includes a DNV-certified Human Support and Safety System controlling oxygen, CO2, and humidity levels to maintain crew safety and comfort for up to 12 hours of operation, with emergency endurance up to 96 hours. DNV certification is a global benchmark ensuring high safety standards.
• Technological Systems: The submersible has advanced integrated subsystems such as:

• Main ballast and buoyancy management with syntactic foam,
• Thrusters for omni-directional movement,
• Power distribution with onboard batteries,
• Sophisticated control hardware and software,
• Underwater navigation devices including acoustic modem, acoustic positioning, VHF, and GPS for surface tracking,
• Oceanographic sensors,
• Underwater lighting and high-resolution imaging cameras,
• Communication tools including underwater telephone and acoustic communication systems,
• Robotic arms for sample collection.                                                            

• Operational and Mission Capability: Designed for continuous operations at 6000 meters for 12 hours, Matsya6000 supports deep water observations, scientific research (such as deep-sea mining and biodiversity studies), and maritime security—aligned with international state-of-the-art submersibles like Alvin (USA) and Shinkai (Japan).
• Testing and Development: It has successfully completed dry and wet tests up to 500 meters with plans for deeper dives by 2026. The comprehensive indigenous design and testing process demonstrate a sophisticated engineering and integration capability comparable to global standards.

How does India's submersible technology stand out in underwater navigation and safety?

• India's Matsya6000 submersible stands out in underwater navigation and safety through several advanced, indigenously developed features:
• Underwater Navigation: Matsya6000 employs a combination of sophisticated underwater navigation devices including an inertial navigation system, acoustic positioning systems, and GPS for precise surface tracking. These systems compensate for the lack of GPS functionality underwater, allowing accurate positioning at great depths. Acoustic modems and underwater telephones enable communication essential for navigation and coordination in the challenging deep-sea environment.
• Safety Systems: The submersible integrates a DNV-certified human support and safety system that controls oxygen, CO2 levels, humidity, and temperature inside the titanium spherical hull, ensuring crew safety for up to 12 hours of operational time, with an emergency endurance of 96 hours. Life-support systems and environmental parameter displays are carefully integrated for real-time monitoring during missions.
• Structural Excellence: The personnel sphere is made from 80mm thick titanium alloy, providing immense structural integrity to withstand crushing pressures at depths of up to 6,000 meters. This robust hull is engineered to protect the crew from extreme oceanic pressure and harsh conditions.
• Navigation Control: The crew maneuvers the submersible using joysticks and sophisticated control hardware and software, enabling omni-directional movement with eight electric thrusters at speeds up to three knots. This allows precise maneuverability in complex underwater terrains.
• Communication and Testing: The submersible has undergone extensive dry and wet testing, including eight dives with both unmanned and manned missions, validating performance of navigation, communication, power, ballast, and life-support systems. Underwater voice communication effectiveness has been scrutinized with ongoing improvements at greater depths planned.
• These aspects collectively position Matsya6000 as a cutting-edge, safe, and highly navigable deep-sea submersible comparable to leading global technologies, supporting India's aims to explore and utilize deep ocean resources effectively and securely.

 
  The BHU-NEER Portal is an advanced digital platform developed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It was launched in 2024 to regulate and manage groundwater extraction across India more efficiently and transparently.

Key features and purposes of the BHU-NEER Portal:

• Serving as a one-stop platform for applying and processing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater withdrawal by industries, infrastructure projects, and mining projects in states where CGWA regulates groundwater.
• Hosting a centralized database to provide information on groundwater compliance, policies, legal frameworks, and sustainability practices at both state and national levels.
• Incorporating user-friendly functions like a PAN-based single ID system, online charges calculator, real-time SMS and email alerts on application status, and issuance of NOCs with QR codes to enhance security and verification ease.
• Promoting Ease of Doing Business by making groundwater regulation streamlined, faceless, and accessible online, reducing procedural delays and physical paperwork.
• Ensuring sustainable groundwater use by enforcing guidelines such as rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment requirements with project compliance monitored via the portal.
• The portal went live for public use on October 30, 2024, and supports both fresh and renewal NOC applications. It also provides a query module for direct interaction with CGWA officials and offers transparency through tracking and payment facilities.
• Overall, BHU-NEER is a significant step towards sustainable groundwater management and regulatory transparency in India, aligning with national water conservation goals and the government's ease of business vision.

 


   
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project located in Telangana, India, on the Godavari River. It spans approximately 500 km across 13 districts, featuring an extensive canal network over 1,800 km long.
 
Key highlights of the project:

• The project lifts a total of 240 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water to an elevation of up to 618 meters above sea level, sourced mainly from the Medigadda Barrage and supplemented by other sources.
• It comprises seven links and 28 major packages, incorporating three main barrages (Medigadda, Annaram, Sundilla), several reservoirs, tunnels, and four large pump houses—the Ramadugu pump house being Asia’s largest.
• The project's purpose is multi-fold: to irrigate about 18.25 lakh acres, supply drinking water to Hyderabad and nearby areas, meet industrial water demands, and stabilize existing irrigation.
• Engineering feats include the world's longest underground irrigation tunnel (~14 km) and specialized large-capacity pumps designed for the high lift.
• KLIP was inaugurated in June 2019 and is seen as a critical infrastructure for improving agriculture, drinking water supply, and regional development in Telangana.

Purpose of the Kaleshwaram project

• The project aims to increase the culturable command area by approximately 18.25 lakh acres (1,825,000 acre-feet) across all 13 districts and stabilize existing irrigated lands.
• KLIP includes four major pump houses, with the Ramadugu pump house being the largest in Asia, powered by seven 140 MW pumps specially designed by BHEL.
• It features the world's longest underground irrigation tunnel (~14 km), connecting key reservoirs.
• The project lifts water from an elevation of about 100 meters at the Godavari to heights of up to 618 meters above mean sea level at the Kondapochamma Sagar reservoir.
• The infrastructure includes three main barrages: Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla, crucial for water diversion and storage.
• KLIP serves multiple purposes: irrigation, drinking water supply to Hyderabad and rural areas, industrial water needs, and aids in regional development in Telangana.

However, the project has recently faced intense scrutiny due to structural damages in the barrages reported by the National Dam Safety Authority, along with allegations of financial and procedural irregularities involving high-level officials.
 
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) reported notable structural damage and design flaws in the project's barrages, particularly Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. The NDSA described "irreparable damage" to three barrages linked to KLIP, raising concerns over safety and engineering aspects.
 
 
   
Why in news?
 
The Environment Ministry has notified new rules under the Environment Protection Act that lays out a process for addressing sites with chemical contamination.
 
Key provisions and features of the 2025 Rules:

• Definition and Scope: Contaminated sites refer to locations affected by hazardous chemicals from past industrial activity, such as old landfills, chemical spill sites, and waste dumps. The rules exclude contamination caused by radioactive waste, mining operations, marine oil spills, or municipal solid waste dumps, as these are governed by other specific laws.
• Identification and Reporting: District administrations and local bodies must prepare half-yearly reports of suspected contaminated sites and submit these to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or a designated authority. The SPCBs perform a preliminary assessment within 90 days and a detailed site survey in the next 90 days to confirm contamination status using a list of 189 hazardous chemicals regulated under the 2016 Hazardous Waste Rules.
• Public Transparency: Officially declared contaminated sites are publicly notified, and access restrictions may be imposed to safeguard health. The names and details of contaminated sites are published on a centralized online portal, with stakeholder and community engagement encouraged.
• Remediation Planning and Execution: A reference organisation of experts develops site-specific remediation plans outlining decontamination methods, financial resources required, timelines, and safety measures. The responsible person or entity identified by the SPCB must implement the remediation plan within six months and report progress biannually until completion.
• Liability and Cost Recovery: The polluter pays principle applies—those responsible must bear the full cost of assessment, remediation, and post-remediation monitoring. If the polluter cannot be identified or is unable to pay, the cost is shared between the central and state governments according to prescribed arrangements. Orphan sites are managed using dedicated funds from government sources.
• Penalties and Criminal Liability: Failure to remediate contaminated sites, especially where public health is at risk, can result in fines. Additionally, criminal liability for loss of life or severe environmental damage is addressed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
• Voluntary Remediation: The rules allow for voluntary cleanup efforts at sites not officially classified as contaminated for early intervention, provided there is an agreement among landowners and capacity to finance remediation.

Overall, the 2025 Rules mark a paradigm shift from fragmented regulatory responses to a structured, time-bound, and accountable mechanism for contaminated site management in India. This legal framework is expected to enhance environmental governance, ensure the restoration of polluted lands, and protect communities from hazardous exposures.
 
 
 

• Date: August 9, 2025 (Shravan Poornima)
• Purpose: To honor and promote the ancient Sanskrit language, its rich literary heritage, and its cultural significance as the root of many Indian languages and ancient knowledge systems.
• Historical Significance: Marks the traditional start of the academic year in ancient India when Vedic studies resumed in gurukulas; also known as Rishi Parv, honoring sages regarded as the source of Sanskrit literature.
• Historical note: The day was officially designated by the Government of India in 1969
• Coincides with: Raksha Bandhan festival and Rishi Parv, honoring sages regarded as the originators of Sanskrit literature
• Additionally, Sanskrit Week in 2025 is observed from August 6 to August 12, expanding the celebration with extended activities.
• This observance continues to inspire both academic and cultural communities to engage with Sanskrit as a living, evolving language of great historical and intellectual importance.

Download Pdf