Daily Current Affairs 2025  

23/09/2025

WhatsApp Email Facebook Share

CA-23/09/2025

 
Why in news?
Ayushman Bharat recently celebrated its seventh anniversary, with the government highlighting its transformative impact on public healthcare and expansion of coverage for senior citizens and gig workers nationwide.
 
Key Achievements and Data

• Over 41-42 crore Ayushman Cards have been issued, enabling cashless treatment for families at empanelled hospitals.
• More than 10.3 crore hospital admissions have been authorized, resulting in over ?1.48 lakh crore worth of cashless care and reducing out-of-pocket health expenses for patients.
• The beneficiary base expanded to 12 crore families, including ASHA and anganwadi workers (as of 2024).
• Uttar Pradesh leads in implementing Ayushman Bharat, covering 87% of eligible families, with the highest number of empanelled hospitals nationwide.

About Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat is the Government of India’s flagship health protection initiative, targeting Universal Health Coverage and financial risk reduction for secondary and tertiary healthcare.
 
Key Components
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):

• World's largest government-funded health assurance scheme, providing cashless coverage of ?5 lakh per family per year.
• Covers hospitalization expenses for over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families (about 50 crore beneficiaries), focusing on the poorest 40% of the population as per SECC 2011.
• Entire family, regardless of size or age, is covered; all pre-existing illnesses are included from day one.
• Facilities include public and private hospitals across India, covering most secondary and tertiary procedures, pre and post-hospitalization expenses, medicines, diagnostics, and transport allowance.
• Senior citizens aged 70+ now receive coverage irrespective of income, with a distinct card under recent scheme expansion.

Health and Wellness Centres:

• Transforming 1.5 lakh existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres into Health and Wellness Centres offering comprehensive primary healthcare, free essential drugs and diagnostics, and preventive services, including NCD screening and mental health.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

• Creates a national digital health ecosystem connecting hospitals, healthcare providers, and citizens through Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and Health Facility Registry (HFR).
• Ensures digital storage and sharing of health records with privacy, security, and user consent, enabling access to timely and efficient health services (including telemedicine).
• As of August 2025 Over 79.9 crore ABHAs created, 4.19 lakh health facilities and 6.8 lakh healthcare professionals registered, and 67.2 crore linked health records.

Salient Features

• Benefits: Free treatment for multiple surgeries, critical illness coverage, chronic & catastrophic conditions, day-care procedures, pre/post hospitalization, discharge care, and transportation benefits.
• Eligibility: Based on deprivation and occupational criteria from SECC 2011. Women, children, elderly included and no cap on family size.
• Access: Ayushman Card ensures portability for cashless services across India; easy, paperless process.
• Monitoring: Implementation monitored by the National Health Authority with state and central dashboards.
• To move from a segmented health delivery approach to comprehensive, need-based care at all levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
• The program addresses both preventive and curative healthcare, promoting health and wellness as well as financial protection from catastrophic health expenditures.

Social Impact

• Reduces catastrophic health expenditure, bridges rural-urban health access gap, drives digital health inclusion, and empowers citizens with seamless health entitlements.
• Supports Sustainable Development Goals and India’s move toward Universal Health Coverage.

Ayushman Bharat aims to address gaps in the Indian healthcare system by improving access, equity, and quality, and supporting the goal of “leaving no one behind” as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
 
   
About
ComSec Scheme in India is a vital government program under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), implemented and managed by the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS).
 
Key aspects of the Communication Security Certification Scheme:
Objective:

• To develop country-specific security standards Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSARs).
• Establish a robust testing and certification ecosystem to ensure telecom equipment meets security assurance requirements.
• This protects Indian telecom networks from cyber threats, espionage, and vulnerabilities.

Scope:

• The scheme applies to all telecom equipment that is sold, imported, or used in India and connected to Indian telecom networks.
• Equipment categories cover include but are not limited to Wi-Fi CPE, IP routers, broadband modems, and other network elements.
• The scheme is part of the broader framework of Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE).

Implementation Structure:

• NCCS acts as the scheme administrator with three main divisions: Security Assurance Standards (development of ITSARs), Security Lab Recognition/Designation (designation of Telecom Security Test Laboratories or TSTLs), and Security Certification (evaluation and certification).
• The Head of NCCS serves as the Scheme Controller overseeing overall implementation, and any disputes are resolved within this framework.

Testing and Certification:

• Telecom equipment must be tested at designated and certified third-party Telecom Security Test Laboratories (TSTLs) according to ITSARs.
• Upon successful testing, NCCS issues a security certificate validating compliance.
• The certificate is typically valid for ten years, with conditions for suspension or cancellation if needed.

Mandatory Compliance Timeline: For example, all Wi-Fi CPE and IP routers require ComSec certification from July 1, 2024. The process extends to other equipment progressively.
 
Legal Backing: The scheme is supported by amended Indian Telegraph Rules (2017) mandating this certification before telecom equipment can be sold, imported, or deployed.
 
Facilities and Infrastructure: NCCS has established a dedicated Security Assurance Standards Facility with laboratories and testing infrastructure to support certification processes.
 
Communication Security Certification Scheme is a comprehensive, government-mandated program to enforce telecom equipment security through rigorous testing and certification, regulated by the NCCS, essential for protecting India's digital infrastructure.
 
 
   
Why in news?
India’s Telecommunication Services Interconnection Regulations 2025 (draft) were released by TRAI on September 22, 2025, focuses on strengthening audit, compliance, and infrastructure-sharing norms between broadcasters and distributors, especially for addressable cable and broadcasting systems.
 
Applicability and Timeline

• The regulations apply throughout India and are set to come into effect from April 1, 2026.
• Written comments from stakeholders on the draft are invited by October 6, 2025.

Key Changes Proposed

• Audit Cycle: Mandatory annual audits for distributors, now based on the financial year (not the calendar year).
• Audit Reports: Reports must cover systems like SMS, CAS, DRM for the preceding financial year, and be shared with broadcasters by September 30 every year.
• Small Distributors: Distributors with less than 30,000 active subscribers are not compelled to conduct mandatory audits, but are encouraged to do so voluntarily.
• Advance Notice: Distributors must notify broadcasters at least 30 days before the audit, specifying the schedule and auditor’s name.
• Broadcaster Oversight: Broadcasters may depute representatives during audits and raise objections within 30 days if discrepancies arise; auditors must issue updates within the next 30 days.
• Data Segregation: Shared SMS/CAS must have separate instances for each distributor, with clear segregation for entity-wise reconciliation.
• Penalties: Non-compliance with audit timelines and processes will continue to attract penalties, with clarified timelines to prevent disputes.

Regulatory Objectives

• Enhance transparency and accountability in reporting subscription data.
• Foster a more robust and inclusive digital broadcasting ecosystem through consultation and stakeholder feedback.
• Align audit requirements with Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual and stakeholder expectations built over several years.

These draft regulations are part of a broader reform in India’s broadcasting and telecom interconnection regime, intending to simplify, modernize, and make the sector more transparent and accountable.
 

   
Why in news?
India has established two major DBNet stations in Delhi/NCR and Chennai as part of the Mission Mausam initiative, covering vital geographic areas and increasing the nation's real-time data acquisition capability.
 
Key Highlights of News

• This development follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and New Space India Limited (NSIL) under the Mission Mausam initiative.

• The new DBNet stations will strengthen India's capacity to receive and process real-time direct broadcast data from both Indian and international Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites, including Oceansat, NOAA, and MetOp.
• By joining the global DBNet framework, India will contribute regional data to the international community through WMO networks, supporting improved global disaster preparedness and climate monitoring.

Core Functionality and Structure of DBNet

• DBNet operates via a worldwide network of local ground stations designed to receive direct broadcast signals from passing LEO satellites, process the raw data according to standardized protocols, and deliver the formatted observations to Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) centers and other users within minutes.
• DBNet greatly improves data timeliness and coverage by connecting regional networks and supporting inter-regional data exchange, helping ensure that vital atmospheric observations are available for assimilation into weather models before cutoff windows.
• The framework originated from the European EARS initiative and expanded globally under the guidance of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), integrating data sources from multiple satellites and locations.

Applications and Benefits of DBNet

• DBNet's primary application is supporting high-resolution NWP models, short-to-medium range weather forecasting, cyclone monitoring, and climate research.
• The system delivers satellite-derived atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles, among other parameters, crucial for accurate global and regional forecasts, particularly in data-sparse regions like oceans.
• By minimizing data latency and completing processing within minutes of satellite overpass, DBNet enhances disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and scientific research in meteorology and climatology.

   
Why in news?

• India is actively developing three types of SMRs: 200 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 55 MW SMR, and a 5 MW High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor focused on hydrogen production.
• Demonstration reactors are planned for construction within the next 5-6 years. India sees SMRs as critical for decarbonization, repurposing retiring coal power plants, and powering remote regions.

About Small Modular Reactors

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear fission reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW electric, about one-third the size of traditional nuclear power reactors.
• They are physically smaller and designed to be factory-fabricated as modular units that can be transported to installation sites, allowing for streamlined construction and scalability.
• SMRs generate energy by harnessing nuclear fission to produce heat, which is then converted to electricity or used for other purposes like desalination and hydrogen production.

Safety and Operation

• SMRs incorporate passive safety features that operate without external power or human intervention.
• Lower power output reduces decay heat risks and mitigates meltdown potential.
• Integral design often contains reactor core, steam generator, and pressurizer within a sealed vessel to prevent contamination.
• Some are planned to operate underground or as floating nuclear power plants.
• Military small reactors have an excellent safety record over decades of operation.

Current Status and Development

• As of 2025, operational SMRs exist in Russia (floating plant Akademik Lomonosov) and China (HTR-PM pebble-bed reactor).
• About 127 SMR designs worldwide, with several in pre-licensing or licensing stages.
• NuScale Power's SMR designs (VOYGR-4 and VOYGR-6) are licensed in the US.
• Significant government and industry interest globally for energy transition and decarbonization.

Environmental and Economic Aspects

• SMRs are considered to support carbon emission reduction and net zero goals.
• Modular construction may reduce on-site costs but have higher per-unit costs due to smaller scale.
• Advanced fuel cycles and waste recycling technologies are being developed to reduce radioactive waste volume.
• Economic competitiveness still debated; large-scale production and deployment needed to lower costs.

Challenges

• Higher surface-to-volume ratio can lead to more neutron leakage and radioactive waste per unit output.
• Licensing and regulatory processes are complex due to diverse designs.
• Proliferation concerns exist, but sealed, long-life fuel designs can improve security.
• Waste management strategies need adaptation to varied SMR fuel cycles.

   
Why in news?
As the New START Treaty approaches its expiration date of February 5, 2026 Russia has warned that allowing the treaty to lapse without a successor agreement poses serious risks to international security and global strategic stability.

About New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)

• The New START Treaty is a bilateral nuclear arms reduction agreement between the United States and Russia, formally named "Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
• It was Signed on April 8, 2010, in Prague, it entered into force on February 5, 2011, after ratification by both countries.
• The treaty aims to reduce and limit strategic offensive arms of the two countries.
• It caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 for each side, significantly lowering prior limits.
• The treaty includes robust verification measures like satellite monitoring and up to 18 on-site inspections annually to ensure compliance.

Importance of the New START Treaty

• Nuclear Arms Reduction: It limits deployed strategic nuclear warheads of the US and Russia reducing nuclear arsenals and lowering the risk of nuclear conflict.
• Verification and Transparency: It establishes a rigorous verification regime including 18 annual on-site inspections, data exchanges and remote monitoring fostering transparency and trust between the two countries.
• Strategic Stability: By capping and monitoring each side's strategic offensive arms, the treaty plays a crucial role in maintaining global strategic stability between the two largest nuclear powers.
• Prevents Arms Race: It curtails the potential for a costly nuclear arms race and destabilizing military buildup, promoting international security.
• Last Major Treaty: With the collapse of other arms control treaties, New START remains the last major legally binding arms control agreement between the US and Russia.
• Global Security: Its extension and enforcement are vital to broader efforts to reduce nuclear risks worldwide and encourage other nuclear states to engage in arms control.

Challenges facing the New START Treaty

• Suspension and Non-compliance Issues: Russia suspended several treaty obligations in 2023, including refusal of on-site inspections and data exchanges, limiting verification.

• Geopolitical Tensions: The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and related sanctions have exacerbated distrust and complicated arms control dialogue, inhibiting treaty enforcement and future negotiations.
• Inclusion of Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons: The treaty does not cover tactical or non-strategic nuclear weapons, which remain unmanaged and a critical gap in arms control efforts.
• Limited Scope for New Weapon Types: Emerging strategic offensive arms such as hypersonic weapons and new delivery systems challenge the treaty's relevance as it primarily governs traditional ICBMs, SLBMs, and bombers.
• Political Disagreements and Mutual Accusations: Both countries accuse each other of treaty violations and cheating, adding to deteriorating relations.
• Exclusion of Other Nuclear States: The treaty is bilateral and does not include other nuclear powers like China, which Russia asserts should be part of future arms control frameworks.

 
   
Why in news?
A new quasi-moon of Earth, asteroid 2025 PN7, was first detected in August 2025 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope and confirmed in September 2025.
 
Quasi Moon

• Quasi moons are not true moons; they orbit the Sun but have an orbit similar to Earth's, appearing to move alongside Earth in a "quasi-satellite" configuration.
• Unlike mini moons, quasi moons are more stable companions and can stay near Earth for decades or centuries.
• They do not orbit Earth but remain close to it in a synchronized solar orbit, making them appear from Earth to orbit it.
• Quasi moons are considered a form of co-orbital companion to Earth but do not have the gravitational bond of a true satellite.

Mini Moon

• Mini moons are small asteroids that fall into Earth's gravitational influence and orbit Earth temporarily.
• These moons are usually only a few meters in size and remain captured for a few months or less.
• They orbit Earth for at least a part of their trajectory before escaping back to orbit the Sun.
• An example is asteroid 2024 PT5, which orbited Earth briefly in 2024 for about two months.
• Mini moons can be considered "temporary natural satellites" and are relatively common but hard to detect due to their size and faintness.

 

Download Pdf