Daily Current Affairs 2025  

29/11/2025

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CA-29/11/2025

• The Bill implements NEP 2020’s vision of “one umbrella” regulator for higher education to replace the current fragmented system of multiple bodies (UGC for general, AICTE for technical, NCTE for teacher education).
• It focuses on unifying regulation, accreditation and academic standards while promoting greater institutional autonomy and clearer separation of regulatory and funding roles.
• It is the second major attempt after the 2018 draft HECI Bill, which had proposed only replacing UGC but did not subsume AICTE and NCTE and therefore stalled amid concerns of centralisation and overregulation.

• HECI will be set up as a single commission overseeing four verticals envisaged in NEP 2020: National Higher Education Regulatory Council (regulation), National Accreditation Council, General Education Council (learning outcomes), and Higher Education Grants Council (funding?related recommendations).
• The commission itself is expected to be a compact body of eminent experts supervising these verticals, with medical and legal education kept outside its jurisdiction under their existing regulators.

• First effort came via the 2018 HECI draft Bill, aiming to repeal UGC Act 1956 and create HECI as a commission with chairperson, vice-chairperson, and 12 central appointees, but excluding AICTE/NCTE merger.
• It limited HECI to academic standards and autonomy, leaving funding with the Ministry, and included an advisory council led by HRD Minister.

• HECI will regulate both technical and nontechnical higher education institutions (except medicine and law), laying down norms for academic standards, accreditation, and professional standards in a unified framework.
• The Bill proposes to repeal the UGC Act, 1956 and merge UGC, AICTE and NCTE into HECI, simplifying approvals and reducing regulatory overlap and red tape.

• The Bill aims to promote institutions as “independent selfgoverning” entities by linking autonomy to transparent accreditation and performance, rather than detailed microregulation.
• Funding powers are expected to remain with the government/administrative ministry, while HECI focuses on academic and regulatory functions, thereby separating regulation from grant?giving.

• Key concerns flagged by experts and committees include possible overcentralisation of powers at the Union level, the need for adequate representation of states and disadvantaged groups, and safeguards for institutional autonomy.
• Implementation challenges include coordinating with existing professional councils, ensuring robust accreditation capacity, and avoiding excessive compliance burdens even under a “single regulator” model.

• Primary Sector: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing: 3.5% growth, lower than 4.1% in Q2 FY25 due to weather variability, mining and quarrying: near-flat at -0.04%.
• Secondary Sector: Overall: 8.1% growth, (manufacturing: 9.1%, fastest in six quarters with improved capacity utilization, construction: 7.2%, supported by infrastructure push, Electricity, gas, water supply, and utilities: 4.4%).
• Tertiary Sector: Overall: 9.2% growth (Financial, real estate, and professional services: 10.2%, Public administration, defence, and other services: 9.7%, Trade, hotels, transport, communication: 7.4%).

• Gross fixed capital formation grew 7.3%, signaling steady investment.
• Exports rose 5.6%, but imports surged 12.8%, creating a trade drag.
• Real GDP reached ?48.63 trillion, up from ?44.94 trillion last year.

• Fastest major economy: Reinforces India's lead over peers like China (~4.8%), attracting FDI and supply-chain shifts despite US tariffs.
• Higher FY26 projection: Puts full-year growth above 7% (vs RBI's 6.8%), with H1 averaging 8%, aiding fiscal targets.
• Market boost: Lifts stocks in manufacturing, financials, and consumer sectors via better earnings outlook.
• RBI policy flexibility: Low inflation allows steady rates or cuts, supporting credit and investment.
• Consumption revival: 7.9% private spending rise shows healthy demand, especially rural, fueling jobs and wages.
• Revenue gains: Strong activity lifts GST/direct taxes, easing budget deficit without tax hikes.

• RBI likely holds repo rate at 5.5% in Dec 2025; growth beat reduces cut urgency despite CPI at ~2%.
• Low inflation (below 4% target) allows neutral stance, focusing on financial stability.
• Future cuts possible if H2 growth moderates, supporting credit flow to private capex.

• Reinforces 4.4% deficit target; nominal GDP at 8.7% aids tax buoyancy without extra spending.
• Sustains capex on infra (highways, railways) to crowd in private investment.
• GST cuts (effective Sep 2025) boost consumption; more rationalization eyed for H2 demand.

• Validates GST 2.0 reforms; further tweaks to counter US tariffs and lift MSME participation.
• Pushes private capex via tax relief, better credit; targets manufacturing/services for 7%+ FY26 growth.
• Enhances FDI appeal; structural reforms (labor, land) prioritized for sustained 7-8% trajectory.

• Maps plots with GPS coordinates, GIS references, shape, and road connectivity details.
• Tracks asset details: Khasra number, civic body zone, ownership type (freehold, leased), land use per Master Plan.
• Records encumbrance status (litigation, free), proposed development plans, and building specifics (plinth area, construction year).
• Data submission from departments like PWD, Delhi Jal Board; compiled by IT Department into software.

• Enable quick planning for infrastructure like schools, hospitals, offices, and parking by identifying available assets.
• Identify encroachments, their types (e.g., slums, homeless settlements), and duration for better oversight.
• Support IT reforms for transparent, accountable governance through digital asset inventory.

• Uranium: 13 of 83 samples above limits; part of northwestern hotspot including Delhi.
• Lead: Tops national list at 9.3% exceedance.
• Nitrate and Fluoride: Driven by human activities and natural rock interactions.
• Salinity Issues: Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) up to 179.8 (34.8% exceedance); Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) worst nationally at 51.11%.

• Overuse of groundwater: Too many borewells and handpumps suck up water faster than it refills, letting dirty stuff build up deep underground.
• Farming chemicals: Fertilizers and pesticides wash from fields into water, spiking nitrate levels.
• Bad waste dumping: Sewage, trash, and factory leaks seep into the ground, adding lead and other metals.
• Natural rock leaks: Rocks like granite release uranium and fluoride as water flows through them.
• Old landfills: Leaky garbage sites let metals like lead and cadmium mix into nearby water.

• High uranium links to kidney issues and carcinogenicity, while lead acts as a neurotoxin. Elevated SAR and RSC render water unsuitable even for irrigation or industry.
• Delhi Jal Board supplies over 450 million liters daily of minimally treated groundwater, prompting demands for public testing data from all 5,500 tubewells.

• Applies to labour lines: Residential areas next to tea gardens no longer count as "ancillary to special cultivation," making them surplus land for government takeover and redistribution to workers.
• Who benefits: Permanent, temporary tea garden workers, and their descendants get first rights to own the land they occupy; covers 3.33 lakh workers in 825 estates across 2.18 lakh bighas.
• Land size rules: Government sets the exact area per family through notifications.
• Ownership limits: Land is heritable (passes to family) but cannot be sold for 20 years; after that, only sellable to other workers in the same tea estate.
• Exclusions: Joloha tea garden workers from the Muslim community are not included.
• Simple process: All rights vest directly with the government for quick acquisition and allotment.

• Grants legal land ownership to over 3.33 lakh tea garden workers from Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities in 825 estates, covering 2,18,553 bighas of labour lines.
• Provides housing security after decades of vulnerability, as workers previously lacked titles under the 1956 Act.
• Promotes social justice by redistributing surplus land preferentially to permanent, temporary workers, and descendants.

• Land non-transferable for 20 years (then only to same estate workers), potentially limiting economic flexibility.
• Excludes Joloha tea garden workers from Muslim community, raising equity questions for other marginalized groups.
• Risk of implementation delays or disputes in land surveys and notifications across estates.

• The National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) addresses the need for continuous professional development among school teachers, whose requirements vary by geography, roles, challenges, and interests, requiring tailored support beyond initial B.Ed training.
• It responds to diverse classroom environments influenced by resources, community, and politics, enabling personalized guidance to improve teaching effectiveness.

• NMM fulfills NEP 2020's vision (Para 15.11) of creating a national knowledge system with outstanding professionals providing short- and long-term mentorship to enhance education outcomes and holistic teacher growth.
• This leverages technology for seamless mentor-mentee connections, transcending geographical barriers and fostering collaborative learning.

• NMM aims to build a large pool of outstanding professionals offering short- and long-term support to enhance teachers' skills, teaching practices, and student outcomes.
• It promotes individualized, mentee-centric mentoring focused on pedagogical excellence, emotional well-being, and lifelong learning to address diverse teacher needs.
• Key expected results include improved teacher effectiveness, retention, collaboration, and leadership development.

• Inclusive Digital Future (bridging digital divide for underserved areas).
• Digital Infrastructure for Resilient and Sustainable Growth.
• AI for People, Planet and Progress (safe, responsible AI use).

• India Internet Governance Forum is India's national chapter of the UN Internet Governance Forum, launched in 2021 to enable multi-stakeholder discussions on internet policy issues.

• It involves equal representation from government, industry, civil society, academia, and technical communities, managed by a 14-member committee.

• National Productivity Council (NPC) is an autonomous organization established in 1958 under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• Registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, it operates as a tripartite body representing government, industry, and labor to promote productivity culture nationwide.
• NPC focuses on developing, disseminating, and applying productivity knowledge to enhance economic competitiveness, working conditions, and quality of life.
• Key goals include consultancy for productivity improvement, research and database maintenance, project implementation for public and private sectors, and strengthening regional productivity organizations.
• It also promotes IT-enabled services, e-Governance, and innovation-led productivity addressing economic, environmental, and social factors.

• Provides training and consultancy in Industrial Engineering, Agri-Business, Quality Management, Human Resources, Energy Management, and Environmental Management.
• Conducts research studies, surveys, and productivity awareness programs, including the annual National Productivity Week.
• Implements Asian Productivity Organization (APO) programs, as India is a founding member.

• IPC signed three major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Nagaland on November 27, 2025, with the Nagaland Medical Council, Nagaland State Drugs Control Administration (NSDCA), and Nagaland State Pharmacy Council.
• These agreements aim to promote the use of Indian Pharmacopoeia Reference Substances in drug testing, enhance pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance activities, and advance patient safety across the state.
• Earlier in September 2025, IPC also signed an MoU with the UP Pharmacy Council to promote rational use of medicines through the National Formulary of India.

• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Established in 2005 and fully operational from January 1, 2009, to set and update standards for drugs manufactured, sold, and consumed in India.
• Publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), the official book of standards for drug identity, purity, and strength, complying with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
• Regularly updates IP monographs and publishes the National Formulary of India (NFI) to promote rational use of generic medicines.
• Provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) as fingerprints for drug identification and purity testing.
• Oversees programs like Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI) for drug safety monitoring.
• Member of the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG) since 2023, aiding global harmonization of pharmaceutical standards.
• Has a three-tier structure: General Body, Governing Body, Scientific Body, supported by IPC Secretariat and Indian Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (IPL).

• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): This is the primary fund for state governments, jointly financed by the Centre and States in a 75:25 ratio for most states, and 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states.
• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Fully funded by the Union government, NDRF supplements SDRF when a disaster is classified as "severe" and SDRF funds are insufficient.
• Disaster Risk Management Funds (NDRMF & SDRMF): The 15th Finance Commission recommended expanding the framework to include funds for disaster mitigation, renaming the combined corpus as National and State Disaster Risk Management Funds.

• Funding allocation is based on recommendations of the Finance Commission, considering population and area, though recent critiques highlight the need for hazard-specific criteria.
• The process for releasing funds involves sequential clearances, which can sometimes cause delays. The criteria for classifying a disaster as "severe" remain ambiguous, leading to discretion in NDRF eligibility.
• The framework now encourages a bottom-up approach, with greater roles for local governments (PRIs) in relief, recovery, and mitigation activities.

• Adopt trigger-based fund releases using rainfall thresholds, satellite damage assessments, and loss-to-GSDP ratios for faster aid.
• Update outdated norms like compensation ceilings (e.g., 4 lakh per life lost) and define "severe" disasters clearly in DM Act.
• Empower states, districts, and local bodies (PRIs/ULBs) with flexible SDRF/SDRMF use and reduce central discretion.
• Boost mitigation funding (e.g., via SDMF/NDRMF) with proactive tools like catastrophe bonds and micro-insurance.
• Link allocations to hazard-specific risks, not just population/area, via 16th Finance Commission reforms.
• Promote rule-based, transparent systems with outcome tracking per Sendai Framework.

• Added new Zone VI as highest-risk category, covering entire Himalayan arc (previously split into IV/V).
• Uses probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) based on faults, magnitudes, tectonics, and soil type, not just history.
• Boundary towns auto-shift to higher zone; 61% land now moderate-high risk (up from 59%).
• Minor tweaks in stable southern peninsula areas.

Aspect	Previous (IS 1893:2016)	New (BIS 2025)
Zones	II, III, IV, V	Adds Zone VI; 4-6 total
Himalayan Coverage	Split IV/V	Entire arc in VI
Land in High Hazard	59% moderate-high	61% moderate-high ?
Methodology	Historical data, boundaries	PSHA with faults, lithology ?
Boundary Towns	Varied by admin lines	Auto higher-risk ?

• Stricter building codes for homes, hospitals, bridges to handle shaking, liquefaction, and faults.
• Covers 75% population in active zones; mandates retrofitting in Himalayas.
• Factors population density and vulnerability for better planning.

• India’s Council seat enables direct influence on decisions affecting global shipping, sustainability regulations, and maritime governance.
• Bilateral engagements at IMO sessions help India build partnerships for maritime technology, efficiency, and climate resilience.
• India's re-election to Category (b) with the highest votes reaffirms India's growing stature in multilateral institutions and its maritime diplomacy priorities.

• Comprises 40 Member States elected by the IMO Assembly every two years.
• Divided into three categories:

• (a) 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services;
• (b) 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade; (India in b cat.)
• (c) 20 states with special interests in maritime transport/navigation for global geographic representation.
• Recent expansion proposals aim to increase it to 52 members.

• Coordinates activities across IMO organs and submits work programs/budgets to the Assembly.
• Receives committee reports, makes recommendations to Member States, and enters agreements with other organizations (subject to Assembly approval).
• Performs Assembly duties except recommendations on maritime safety/pollution prevention.

• Elected during the IMO Assembly's biennial regular sessions.
• Serves two-year terms starting post-election.

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