Daily Current Affairs 2025  

17/09/2025

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CA-17/09/2025

 
Why in news?
The National Logistics Policy (NLP) , launched on September 17, 2022, has completed three years as of September 2025.
 
Key Features of the National Logistics Policy

• Focus on cutting logistics costs by half through process re-engineering, digitization, multi-modal transport integration, and infrastructure enhancement.
• Introduction of platforms like the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to integrate over 30 digital systems for seamless workflow and enable over 160 crore digital transactions.
• Establishment of the Logistics Data Bank to provide real-time visibility on container movements across inland container depots.
• Emphasis on skill development and human resource capacity building in the logistics sector.
• Integration with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to complement infrastructure and network planning.
• Promotion of green and sustainable logistics practices, including electric vehicles and renewable energy use in logistics operations.

Achievements and Impact

• Improved coordination among stakeholders, better use of technology such as AI and blockchain, and real-time data sharing have led to reduced costs and enhanced efficiency.
• The policy is driving the development of multi-modal logistics parks, improved transportation networks, and enhanced digital infrastructure.
• It supports India's vision to become a global logistics hub by improving supply chain visibility, streamlining export and import operations, and boosting sector competitiveness.

Goals by 2030

• Reduce logistics cost to around 8% of GDP.
• Place India in the top 25 countries in the Logistics Performance Index.
• Establish a robust data-driven ecosystem to optimize logistics planning and execution.

The NLP represents a transformative initiative for the Indian logistics sector, focusing on transparency, technology, sustainability, and cost efficiency, thus supporting economic growth and employment generation across multiple sectors.


   
About Vishwakarma Yojna

• Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana is a central government scheme launched on 17th September 2023  on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti to support traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill development, financial assistance, and market linkage.

Key Features and Benefits

• The scheme aims to enhance the livelihood of artisans engaged in 18 traditional trades such as carpenter, goldsmith, blacksmith, potter, tailor, cobbler, and others.
• Skill Development: Beneficiaries receive basic (5-7 days) and advanced (15 days) training, along with a stipend of ?500/day during the training period.
• Toolkit Incentive: After training, ?15,000 is provided for tool and equipment purchases.
• Recognition: All beneficiaries get a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card, certifying their skills and eligibility for scheme benefits.
• Credit Support: They can access collateral-free loans up to ?1 lakh (first tranche, to be repaid in 18 months) and ?2 lakh (second tranche, 30 months), with a concessional rate of 5% per annum.
• Digital Transactions Incentive: ?1 provided per digital transaction (max 100/month).
• Market Linkage: Support for participation in trade fairs, branding, and quality certification helps artisans connect with broader markets.

The Vishwakarma Yojana promotes the preservation and growth of traditional skills while integrating artisans with modern markets and technologies, aiming to improve their livelihoods and product quality significantly.
 
 
   
Why in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan on September 17, 2025, from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.
 
Introduction

• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2025, running until October 2, 2025 (Gandhi Jayanti).
• Joint initiative by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD).
• Largest health outreach campaign focusing on women and children with over 1 lakh health camps planned nationwide.
• Aligned with national priorities for inclusive development, nutrition, and women empowerment.

Objectives

• Strengthen preventive, promotive, and curative healthcare services for women, adolescent girls, and children.
• Early screening and treatment of conditions including anemia, hypertension, diabetes, cancer (breast and cervical), tuberculosis, and sickle cell disease.
• Promote maternal, child, and adolescent health via antenatal care, immunization, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and mental health awareness.
• Encourage healthy lifestyles emphasizing obesity prevention, proper nutrition, and voluntary blood donation.
• Mobilize community participation for awareness and health service delivery.

Key Features

• Health camps organized at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, District Hospitals, and other government facilities.
• Active involvement of private hospitals, medical colleges, and central government institutions (AIIMS, ESIC, CGHS) for specialist services.
• Use of grassroots workers including ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, ANMs, self-help groups, panchayati raj institutions, and youth volunteers (MY Bharat initiative).
• Real-time monitoring through SASHAKT digital portal ensuring transparency and efficient implementation.
• Focus on tribal and rural areas with community-centric models like Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan.

Services Covered

• Comprehensive health screening for women’s specific health issues and non-communicable diseases.
• Maternal and child healthcare services including nutritional counseling, immunizations, and antenatal care support.
• Awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene, mental health, and wellness.
• Promotion of blood donation drives addressing hemoglobinopathies and emergency health needs.

Implementation Strategy

• Nationwide deployment of health camps over two weeks with daily engagement in all government health facilities.
• Collaboration with private sector and specialists for outreach and service quality enhancement.
• Integration with ongoing government schemes like Mission Shakti and Poshan 2.0 ensures synergy in health and nutrition goals.
• Empowerment of women as primary health decision-makers within families to build healthier households and communities.

Expected Outcomes

• Reduction in maternal and child mortality and morbidity through early detection and prompt treatment.
• Increased health awareness leading to better lifestyle choices among women and families.
• Strengthened community health infrastructure and cadre of trained frontline health workers.

• Progress towards a healthier, empowered India with strong families as the foundation of society and nation-building.

This campaign epitomizes the government's commitment to "Healthy Women, Empowered Families", linking health with women's empowerment and national development goals.
 
 
   
Why in news?
Government Notifies National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025) to Accelerate Clean Energy Transition, Supporting India’s Net Zero 2070 Commitment
 
Key points of National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025)

• Objective: To promote exploration, development, and utilization of geothermal energy as a clean, reliable, and sustainable renewable energy source contributing to India’s Net Zero 2070 target.
• Geothermal Potential: Identifies about 10 GW geothermal capacity with 381 hot springs and 10 geothermal provinces including the Himalayas, Cambay Basin, Aravalli Range, Godavari Basin, Mahanadi Basin, and others.
• Applications: Supports electricity generation, direct-use such as district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, cold storage, and space heating/cooling using Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs).
• Project Development: Provides for exploration permits, long-term leases up to 30 years, and sanctioning of pilot and resource assessment projects to evaluate geothermal viability.
• Financial Incentives: Includes risk-sharing, concessional loans, viability gap funding, GST exemption, tax holidays, accelerated depreciation, property tax relief, and 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) allowed.
• Technological Innovation: Encourages Research & Development of hybrid geothermal-solar systems, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), retrofitting abandoned oil and gas wells, and local innovation.
• Regulation and Facilitation: MNRE is the nodal agency; state governments to establish single-window clearance for faster approvals; emphasis on sustainability, fluid reinjection, and consultation especially in ecologically sensitive zones.
• Collaboration: Promotes cooperation with international geothermal agencies and experts, oil and gas companies, state governments, academic institutions, and private sector involvement.
• Ecosystem Building: Aims to build a robust public-private ecosystem to attract startups, research, and investment in geothermal energy.
• Initial Steps: Five pilot and resource assessment projects are already sanctioned to map potential and demonstrate technology viability across different regions.

This policy represents a significant step for India to diversify its renewable energy portfolio with baseload geothermal power, supporting sustainable development and energy security goals.
 
Key Aspects of Geothermal Energy

• Source: Heat from the Earth’s core and mantle due to radioactive decay and residual heat from Earth’s formation.
• Types of geothermal plants:

• Vapor-dominated: Use superheated steam from reservoirs.
• Liquid-dominated: Use hot water to generate steam.
• Engineered systems: Enhanced geothermal systems inject water to improve heat extraction.

• Uses: Electricity generation, direct heating of buildings, heating water, and industrial processes.
• Global presence: Generated electrically in around 26 countries with significant contributions in the US, Iceland, Philippines, Kenya, and New Zealand.
• Environmental impact: Low greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels; considered a clean and sustainable energy source.
• Capacity: As of 2024, global installed geothermal electric capacity is around 16.7 GW with various countries using it for a substantial portion of their electricity mix (e.g., Kenya ~34%, Iceland ~27%).

Advantages

• Renewable and sustainable with minimal carbon footprint.
• Provides stable, base load power unlike intermittent renewables.
• Small land footprint and scalable from small to large projects.

Challenges

• Geographically limited to areas with suitable geothermal reservoirs or requiring costly engineered systems.
• Initial drilling and development costs are high.
• Risk of induced seismicity in some enhanced geothermal projects.

Countries including India are actively pursuing policies to harness geothermal energy for clean energy transition and de-carbonization goals, reflecting growing interest globally to enhance this renewable energy source.
 

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