Daily Current Affairs 2025  

05/09/2025

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CA-05-09-2025

 
Why in news?
NEP 2020 highlights its fifth anniversary, ongoing reforms, implementation challenges, controversies, and state-level pushback in India.

Major Updates

• The government continues to emphasize NEP 2020 as central to India's journey toward self-reliance and development, with expanded vocational education in schools and a multidisciplinary approach in curricula by 2025.
• Key reforms include formative assessments, increased use of AI and digital learning platforms, integration of vocational subjects, and focus on early childhood care.
• The CISCE board is revamping its curriculum to increase competency-based questions to 25% (growing to 40%) in board exams starting 2025.

About National Education Policy 2020
 
The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is India’s first comprehensive education reform of the 21st century, aiming to transform the country’s entire education system from preschool through higher education. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020, replacing the 1986 Policy.
 
Vision and Objectives

• The policy’s vision is rooted in making education more equitable, accessible, and holistic, preparing students for global challenges and individual growth.
• Key objectives include universalization of education from preschool to secondary level by 2030, bridging rural-urban and gender gaps, promoting multilingualism, and fostering creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.

School Education Reforms

• NEP 2020 introduced the new “5+3+3+4” curricular structure (ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, 14-18), emphasizing foundational literacy and numeracy in early years with initiatives like NIPUN Bharat and Vidya Pravesh.
• Focus on flexible learning: Vocational education starts from Class 6, no rigid separation between curricular, extracurricular, and vocational learning.
• Teaching till Grade 5 in mother tongue/regional language, promoting cultural and linguistic inclusivity.
• Holistic report cards and comprehensive assessment systems (PARAKH), reducing exam-centricity and enabling overall development.

Higher Education Reforms

• NEP aims to achieve a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 50% in higher education by 2035, adding 3.5 crore seats.
• Multiple entry/exit options in UG courses, Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) for credit transfers, and interdisciplinary curriculum.
• Emphasis on research and innovation through National Research Foundation and phasing out the college affiliation system in favor of autonomy.
• Four-year integrated B.Ed as mandatory teacher training by 2030.

Technology and Inclusion

• Establishment of the National Educational Technology Forum to advocate EdTech and digital learning in schools and colleges.
• Inclusive education provisions: Gender Inclusion Fund, special zones for disadvantaged regions and groups, and strengthened infrastructure.

Implementation Progress

• Transformative initiatives have rolled out such as NIPUN Bharat, PM e-VIDYA (comprehensive digital education), DIKSHA, Jadui Pitara, and teacher training programs like NISHTHA.
• Tracking milestones include revised curricula, universal access infrastructure, foundational literacy projects, and flexible learning pathways.
• Implementation remains collaborative, with Center and States sharing responsibility.

Advantages

• Holistic learning and reduced curriculum burden.
• Flexibility and choice in subject selection, personalized pacing.
• Focus on quality and inclusivity, bridging gaps between urban/rural and gender divides.

Challenges

• Implementation varies across states, with mixed progress on digital readiness and vocational integration.
• Managing diversity in language, regional needs, and infrastructural disparities remains ongoing.

NEP 2020 is a landmark policy reshaping Indian education to be future-ready, student-centered, inclusive, and globally competitive.
 
  Why in news?
Onam 2025 will be celebrated from August 26 to September 5, with the most important day, Thiruvonam, falling on Friday, September 5, 2025.
 
History and Significance

• Onam marks the legendary homecoming of King Mahabali, a beloved ruler whose annual return to his subjects is honored with gratitude, unity, and joy.
• It is both a harvest festival and a celebration of Kerala’s cultural identity, representing prosperity, unity, and the victory of good over evil.

Rituals and Cultural Highlights

• Pookalam: Colorful floral rangolis that decorate homes for ten days.
• Onasadya: Grand vegetarian feast on banana leaves, traditionally featuring 25+ dishes.
• Vallamkali: Snake boat races, especially on Anizham.
• Pulikali: Tiger dance and other lively folk performances.
• Traditional Attire: Wearing new clothes (Onakkodi), exchanging gifts, organizing swings decorated with flowers (Oonjal).

Onam 2025 continues to symbolize prosperity, unity, and Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, making it one of India’s most cherished festivals.
 
   
Why in news?
Angikar 2025 is a comprehensive outreach campaign launched on September 4, 2025, by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to accelerate the implementation and awareness of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).
 
About the campaign

• The campaign aims to ensure the delivery of housing benefits to the last mile, expedite application verification, and speed up the construction of approved houses.
• It also focuses on providing information about the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH), linking the free electricity scheme under PM Suryaghar with the housing scheme,
• Prioritizing the housing needs of special focus groups, and promoting convergence with other government schemes and community participation.

 
  Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) is a flagship housing scheme launched by the Government of India to provide affordable, all-weather pucca houses to 1 crore eligible urban poor and middle-class families over five years starting from September 1, 2024. It is an upgraded version of the original PMAY-U scheme, aligning with India’s vision of "Housing for All" by 2047.
 
Key Features of PMAY-U 2.0

• Implementation Period: 5 years from September 1, 2024.
• Objective: To enable eligible urban households to construct, purchase, or rent houses at affordable costs.
• Financial Assistance: Up to ?2.50 lakh assistance per unit with a total investment of ?10 lakh crore, shared between the central government, states/UTs, and primary lending institutions (PLIs).
• Target Groups: Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG), and Middle Income Groups (MIG). Special focus is on vulnerable sections like widows, single women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, transgenders, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, minorities, Safai Karmi, street vendors, artisans, Anganwadi workers, construction workers, slum/chawl residents, and others.

• Income Criteria:

1. EWS: Up to ?3 lakh annual household income.
2. LIG: ?3 lakh to ?6 lakh.
3. MIG: ?6 lakh to ?9 lakh.

• Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS): Offers 4% interest subsidy on housing loans up to ?25 lakh (first ?8 lakh considered for subsidy), with a maximum subsidy amount of ?1.8 lakh spread over 12 years.
• House Value and Size Limits: Maximum house value up to ?35 lakh and carpet area up to 120 sqm.

Four Vertical Components for Implementation:

1. Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC): Assistance to EWS families to construct/strengthen houses on their own.
2. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP): Collaboration with private/public agencies to promote affordable housing projects, reserving at least 25% units for EWS groups.
3. Affordable Rental Housing (ARH): For urban migrants and low-income groups, through repurposing vacant government houses or constructing new rental units.
4. Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS): Interest subsidy on housing loans to make home loans affordable to eligible groups.

Implementation and Eligibility

1. The scheme involves States/Union Territories and Primary Lending Institutions for execution.
2. Loans sanctioned from September 1, 2024, onwards are eligible.
3. Beneficiaries must not own a pucca house anywhere in the country.
4. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), except the ISS vertical which is a Central Sector Scheme.
5. Beneficiaries choose one vertical; this choice is final and cannot be changed later.

Special Focus

• Priority is given to disadvantaged and vulnerable demographics to ensure inclusive urban housing growth.
• The scheme promotes sustainability with provisions for eco-friendly, disaster-resilient houses and encourages community participation for successful implementation.

PMAY-U 2.0 is a large-scale, inclusive mission intended to address the housing shortage in urban India by financially enabling a wide range of urban poor and middle-class families to either own or rent affordable, durable homes, thereby improving quality of life and living standards significantly.
 
   
Why in news?
The 2025 edition of Shilp Samagam Mela began on September 5 and is running till September 14 at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 
Overview and Objectives

• The mela showcases a wide variety of handcrafted products such as metalwork, wooden artifacts, cane and bamboo products, pottery, textiles, jewelry, leather goods, and handloom crafts.
• It emphasizes economic empowerment and social inclusion of artisans from Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Safai Mitras (sanitation workers), Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-nomadic tribes, and persons with disabilities.
• The mela acts as a platform where these artisans can sell their products directly to urban and international audiences, fostering their livelihood and preserving India’s cultural legacy.
• It embodies the government's ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative by promoting indigenous crafts.

 

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