GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

NHRC issued notices to the Delhi government after the death of a worker and injuries to three others during sewer cleaning.

Definition

• Manual scavenging refers to the physical cleaning, carrying, or handling of human excreta from insanitary toilets, open drains, pits, railway tracks, and sewer systems.
• It is considered a hazardous occupation due to direct exposure to pathogens, toxic gases, and physical risks.

Violation of Fundamental Rights

• Article 17: Prohibits untouchability; manual scavenging perpetuates caste-based discrimination.
• Article 21: Right to life and dignity; exposure to human waste, toxic gases, and unsafe conditions violates this right.
• Social and Gender Dimension: Women face double discrimination – gender inequality plus caste-based stigma.

Legal Framework

• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
  • Prohibits employment as manual scavengers and construction of insanitary latrines.
  • Mandates demolition or conversion of insanitary latrines into sanitary ones.
  • Provides rehabilitation, including skill development, alternative employment, and financial support.
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
  • Criminalisesemployment of SCs in manual scavenging, protecting them from caste-based exploitation.
• Occupational Safety and Health(OSH)Code 2020
  • Recognizes hazardous occupations and mandates safety standards, PPE, and employer accountability.

Major Challenges Faced

Supreme Court Guidelines (Dr. Balram Singh Case, 2023)

• Eradication of manual sewer cleaning through mechanization and phased elimination.
• Rehabilitation & Compensation: Rs 30 lakh for death; Rs 10–20 lakh for disabilities; employment and education support for dependents.
• Accountability: State and contractors liable; penalties for outsourcing unsafe work.
• NALSA: Responsible for compensation management.
• Monitoring & Transparency: Portal for tracking deaths, compensation, and rehabilitation efforts.

Government Initiatives

• Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge: Awards for ULBs reducing manual scavenging deaths.
• Swachhta Abhiyan App: Reporting and monitoring tool for sanitation issues.
• Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan: Focused on rehabilitation and social dignity.
• National Commission for SafaiKaramchari: Monitoring and policy recommendations.
• SwachhtaUdyami Yojana (SUY) & NAMASTE: Promote mechanized sanitation ecosystems.
• ERSUs (Emergency Response Sanitation Units): Well-trained professional workforce.

Technological Initiatives

• Bandicoot Robot: Autonomous sewer cleaning.
• Endobot&Swasth AI: Pipeline diagnostics, contamination detection.
• Robo-Drain System: Automated underground sewer cleaning.
• Vacuum Trucks: Powerful pumps remove sewage without human entry.

Way Forward

• Mechanization: Robotic arms, vacuum trucks, and semi-automated systems to reduce human exposure.
• OHS Standards: Implement OSH Code 2020 for sanitation workers.
• Health Screenings: Regular checks for respiratory, dermatological, and infectious diseases.
• Capacity Building: Training, safety gear, and financial assistance for technological adoption.
• Gender Inclusion: Empower women through SHGs and equitable employment in sanitation services.
• Integration with Swachh Bharat Mission: Focus on worker safety, dignity, and skill development.

The Union Cabinet approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)  to provide Indian farmers with virus-free, high-quality planting material, aiming to enhance horticulture productivity and global competitiveness.

Ensuring Disease-Free Horticulture

Challenges in Plant Health

• Climate and Biotic Threats:
  • Climate change, pests, and systemic pathogens like viruses pose major risks to crop productivity and quality.
  • By the time symptoms appear in the field, yield losses are often irreversible.
• Significance of Preventive Measures:
  • Use of high-quality seeds and disease-free planting material is recognized as the most effective strategy.
  • Preventive measures have no adverse side effects compared to chemical interventions.

Overview of Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

• Launch and Implementation:
  • Approved by Union Cabinet in August 2024, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) with technical guidance from ICAR.
  • Investment: ?1,765.67 crore, including $98 million ADB loan.
• Objectives:
  • Provide virus-free planting material of key horticultural crops.
  • Enhance farmer income, productivity, and global competitiveness.
  • Promote equity, inclusivity, and climate-resilient practices.
• International Collaboration:
  • Partnerships with Israel and the Netherlands for best practices and technology transfer.

Key Infrastructure and On-Ground Actions

• Clean Plant Centres:
  • Nine centres to be established across India; three in Maharashtra for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates (?300 crore).
  • National-level laboratory in Pune for original plant species research.
• Nursery Development:
  • Large nurseries supported with ?3 crore; medium nurseries ?1.5 crore.
  • Annual distribution: 8 crore disease-free seedlings.
• Hazard Analysis and Laboratory Assessments:
  • Profiling viruses to ensure certification.
  • Crop-specific surveys: Grapevine (578 samples), Apple (535 samples), Citrus in preparation.
  • Bioinformatics pipeline for HTS data developed for faster virus detection.
• Source to Soil Protocol:
  • Pathogen-free material undergoes re-testing, propagation, and distribution via accredited nurseries.
  • Positive material undergoes virus elimination through tissue culture, heat, or cryo-therapy.

Benefits and Broader Impact
       

• Farmers:Higher yields, improved quality, and increased income.
• Nurseries:Streamlined certification, infrastructure support, and growth opportunities.
• Consumers:Virus-free, nutritious, and better-quality fruits.
• Exports:Strengthens India’s global horticultural competitiveness.
• Equity and Inclusivity:Affordable access for all farmers; active participation of women; region-specific clean plant varieties.
• Alignment with National Initiatives:
  • Mission LiFE: Promotes sustainable and eco-friendly horticultural practices.
  • National One Health Mission: Integrates human, animal, and environmental health to address plant-livestock-human interactions.
  • MIDH: CPP complements Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, enhancing productivity from 12.10 MT/ha (2019–20) to 12.56 MT/ha (2024–25).

Comprehensive Analysis

• Strategic Importance: CPP addresses systemic pathogen threats, ensuring sustainable horticulture growth.
• Economic Impact: Boosts farmer income, rural employment, and export potential while reducing crop losses.
• Technological Integration: Hazard analysis, bioinformatics, and tissue culture enhance disease detection and prevention.
• Policy Synergy: Alignment with MIDH, Mission LiFE, and One Health ensures holistic development and sustainability.

The Tripura Sundari Temple in Udaipur, Tripura, is being redeveloped under the PRASHAD scheme, reflecting India’s vision of heritage-led spiritual tourism in the North-East.

Temple Significance:

• Tripura Sundari Temple, established in 1501 A.D., is a Shakti Peetha and a symbol of Tripura’s cultural, spiritual, and architectural heritage, attracting devotees nationally and internationally.

       

PRASHAD Scheme:

• Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) aims to modernize infrastructure, enhance tourist convenience, ensure sustainability, and promote local livelihoods while preserving cultural and spiritual significance.

Redevelopment Initiatives:

• The ?34.43 crore project includes modern amenities like food courts, multipurpose halls, improved water and sewage systems, landscaping, solar PV systems, and the creation of a 51 Shakti Peethas Park to boost spiritual tourism.

Regional Impact:

• The redevelopment strengthens Tripura and the North-East as spiritual tourism hubs, fostering employment, homestays, local entrepreneurship, and cultural promotion while preserving sacred heritage sites.

Historical Integration:

• The temple’s architecture blends rural Bengal aesthetics with spiritual symbolism, housing deities like Goddess Tripura Sundari and Chhoto-Ma, uniting communities across faiths.

Government Vision:

• Aligns with PM Modi’s vision of “Vikas Bhi, VirasatBhi” and the E-A-S-T approach—Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform—linking heritage preservation with economic and tourism-led development.

A Supreme Court judge highlighted the misuse of criminal defamation law by private individuals and political parties, suggesting the need to decriminalise it.

Criminal Defamation in India:

• Covered under Sections 499–500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
• Punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or fine, or both.
• Objective: Protects individual reputation, considered part of the fundamental right to life (Article 21).

Balancing Free Speech and Reputation:

• Article 19(1)(a): Right to freedom of speech and expression.
• Reasonable Restrictions: Section 499 deemed a “reasonable restriction” on free speech by Subramanian Swamy vs. Union of India (2016).
• Courts now recognise potential misuse for settling personal or political scores rather than public interest.

Recent Judicial Trends:

• SC has stayed multiple criminal defamation proceedings (e.g., Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor) emphasizing freedom of speech and public interest.
• March 2025 Imran Pratapgarhi case judgment: Defamation claims must be judged from standards of strong-minded, reasonable individuals, not overly sensitive persons.

Controversy & Reform Debate:

• Misuse by political actors, private citizens, and activists has prompted discussion on decriminalising defamation, leaving it as a civil matter instead.
• Potential benefits: Reduces frivolous litigation, protects democratic discourse, prevents intimidation of journalists and dissenters.

SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha) has significantly streamlined defence pension administration by resolving legacy cases, reducing grievance redressal time, and ensuring timely disbursement.

Objective of SPARSH:

• Designed to integrate defence pension administration, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and timely delivery of pension entitlements to retired defence personnel.
• Resolves legacy discrepancies, safeguarding the rights of pensioners.

Achievements:

• Legacy Cases:60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh legacy discrepancies resolved (~87%).
• Grievance Redressal: Average disposal time reduced from 56 days (April 2025) to 20 days.
• Onboarding:54 lakh defence pensioners in India and Nepal enrolled.
• Budget Disbursement: ?1,57,681 crore disbursed in FY 2024–25; OROP-III implemented efficiently with ?1,224.76 crore transferred to 20.17 lakh beneficiaries within 15 days.

Governance Implications:

• Enhances transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in defence pension administration.
• Minimizes human errors and corruption risks while improving pensioner satisfaction.

The Government has undertaken a major GST rate rejig to simplify classification, rationalise slabs, and reduce the inverted duty structure (IDS), with the aim of boosting consumption and investments.

Background of GST Rationalisation

• Introduction of GST (2017): GST subsumed 17 indirect taxes and 13 cesses into a unified framework, initially with four slabs – 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.
• Problem of Complexity: Multiple slabs and exceptions created confusion for taxpayers and businesses.
• Objective of GST 2.0: To streamline rates, reduce disputes, and spur consumption by placing items in a simplified two-slab structure.

Key Changes in Rate Structure

• Standardisation of Rates:
  • Four main slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) further rationalised; exemptions removed for items like bread, food additives, and health insurance.
  • Precious stones taxed at 1.5%; diamonds at 0.25%; gold and silver at 3%.
  • Medical devices, bio-fuel, and hydrogen vehicles rationalised under lower slabs.

               

• Consumer Impact:
  • Household expenditure expected to decline due to reduction in rates of essential goods like milk products, footwear, and packaged food.
  • Some items such as tobacco continue to be taxed at higher rates for revenue and health concerns.

Inverted Duty Structure (IDS): A Persistent Issue

• Definition: IDS arises when input tax is higher than output tax, leading to accumulation of Input Tax Credit (ITC).
• Examples: Steel taxed at 18% but bicycles made using steel at 12%.
• Concerns: Refunds are often delayed, locking working capital for businesses, especially SMEs.

Expected Benefits

• For Consumers:
  • Increased disposable income, enhancing demand for goods and services.
  • Reduced litigation due to simplified classification.
• For Businesses:
  • Lower compliance burden, promoting ease of doing business.
  • Potential rise in investment due to predictable tax environment.
• For Government:
  • Streamlined revenue inflow through reduced evasion.
  • Enhanced efficiency in tax collection via harmonised slabs.

Challenges and Concerns

• Incomplete IDS Resolution: Certain sectors (fertilisers, textiles, bicycles) continue to suffer from blocked credit.
• Revenue Concerns: Excessive rate cuts could limit fiscal capacity of the government.
• Frequent Changes: Continuous modifications in slab rates may cause uncertainty for businesses.

CPCB’s latest assessment shows a slight decrease in the number of rivers unfit for bathing in 2023 compared to 2022.

India River Pollution Status

• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): Primary indicator used by CPCB to measure organic pollution in rivers. BOD > 3 mg/L is considered unfit for bathing.
• Polluted River Stretch (PRS): Defined as two continuous locations exceeding BOD limits in a river.
• Key Data (2023 vs 2022):
  • Rivers unfit for bathing: 807 (2023) vs 815 (2022).
  • PRS locations: 296 in 271 rivers (2023) vs 311 in 279 rivers (2022).
  • Priority 1 (most polluted, BOD > 30 mg/L): 37 stretches (2023) vs 45 stretches (2022).

                 

• State-wise Highlights:
  • Highest PRS: Maharashtra (54), Kerala (31), MP & Manipur (18 each), Karnataka (14).
  • Highest Priority 1 stretches: Tamil Nadu, UP, Uttarakhand (5 each).
• Monitoring Network: CPCB monitors 4,736 locations including rivers, lakes, canals, and drains.
• Implications for Policy: Indicates incremental improvement in river health but continued priority on pollution hotspots; essential for NamamiGange Mission, National River Conservation Plan, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation).

Researchers have demonstrated the use of optical fibres to perform AI tasks faster and more efficiently than conventional electronic computers.

Optical Computing:

• Uses photons instead of electrons to process data, enabling higher speed, bandwidth, and energy efficiency.

Nonlinear Regime of Light:

• High-intensity light pulses in optical fibres create interactions that can perform complex transformations useful for AI computations.

Extreme Learning Machine (ELM):

• A simple neural network with a single hidden layer; output weights are trained in one step. Optical fibres serve as the hidden layer by transforming input data (images) into light pulse fingerprints.

Process Overview:

• Input image downsized and encoded onto light pulses (phase/amplitude at different frequencies).
• Light pulses travel through optical fibres, exploiting nonlinear effects and dispersion.
• Resulting light spectrum (“fingerprint”) acts as the hidden layer input for ELM classification.

Performance:

• Achieved >91% accuracy in the anomalous dispersion regime and >93% in the normal dispersion regime, comparable to conventional ELMs.

Significance:

• Demonstrates potential for faster, energy-efficient AI hardware, enabling optical neural networks and photonic integrated circuits in the future.

Limitations:

• Real-world effects such as light polarization not fully utilized; future research could enhance performance.

A former banker in South Delhi lost ?23 crore to a cybercrime called ‘digital arrest’, highlighting increasing online frauds targeting citizens.

Nature of Digital Arrest Scam:

• Scammers impersonate police or telecom officials, claiming the victim’s mobile number is used for fraudulent or illegal activity.
• Threats include fake investigations, intimidation, and digital confinement via calls or video conferencing apps (Skype, WhatsApp).

Mechanism of Fraud:

• Callers often convince victims to transfer money or reveal sensitive data.
• Targets are often elderly or unsuspecting individuals.
• Payments are siphoned through multiple transactions across banks.

Preventive Measures & Technology:

• ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app by the Department of Telecom allows verification of mobile numbers and Aadhaar to check misuse.
• Reporting suspicious numbers can block the IMEI or prevent fraud.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and 1930 helpline help victims report cyber fraud promptly.

Regulatory & Legal Guidance:

• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) issued advisories on digital arrest scams.
• No legal provision exists for actual digital arrests, highlighting the importance of awareness and verification.
• Victims are advised to contact local police and avoid transferring money without verification.

India observes Ayurveda Day on September 23, 2025, with the theme “Ayurveda for People & Planet” to promote traditional medicine globally and integrate it into modern healthcare systems.

Ayurveda Day 2025
       

• Theme: “Ayurveda for People & Planet”
• Theme Significance: The theme emphasizes holistic health by linking human wellbeing with environmental sustainability, reflecting Ayurveda’s preventive and integrative approach.
• Global Outreach: Initiatives like World Ayurveda Congress, AYUSH Information Cells in 30+ countries, and Chairs in foreign universities promote India’s traditional medicine on the global stage.
• Government Initiatives: The Ministry of AYUSH and CCRAS launched programs including “Desh ka SwasthyaParikshan”, DRAVYA Portal, and APTA Portal to standardize, document, and propagate Ayurveda knowledge.
• Integration in Healthcare: Inclusion of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani in ICD-11, standardization by BIS, and international MoUs strengthen research, insurance coverage, and global credibility.
• Public Engagement: Nationwide events, health services during MahaKumbh 2025, and awards like National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards recognize practitioners and promote excellence.
• Economic and Soft Power Impact: The AYUSH sector, including exports and global partnerships, enhances India’s soft power while contributing to healthcare innovation and economic growth

The Supreme Court reaffirmed secularism as a part of India’s Constitution while dismissing a petition challenging a Muslim author’s participation in the Mysuru Dasara festival.

Constitutional Principles

• Secularism as Basic Structure: The Court reiterated that secularism is a fundamental part of India’s constitutional framework.
• Equality in State Events: Public events organised by the State cannot discriminate based on religion, ensuring inclusive participation.
• Freedom of Religion Clarified: Articles 25 and 26 guarantee individual religious rights but do not restrict others from participating in cultural or religious celebrations.

Context of Mysuru Dasara

• Festival Participation: Banu Mushtaq, a Muslim author, inaugurated the festival at Chamundeshwari Temple as part of a State-sponsored cultural event.
• Legal Validation: Both the Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court upheld that her participation did not violate any constitutional provision.
• Public vs Private Events: The Dasara festival is a public event, not a private religious ceremony, allowing people of all faiths to partake.

Social and Political Implications

• Pluralistic Society: Restricting participation in public gatherings based on religion undermines India’s social harmony.
• Historical Unity: Festivals and pilgrimages have historically united diverse communities, transcending social and religious barriers.
• Political Misuse: Opportunistic political actors exploit communal sensitivities, creating rifts and threatening coexistence.

Practice Question:

Examine the role of secularism in India’s public life and discuss how judicial intervention ensures protection of constitutional principles during state-sponsored cultural events.

The article highlights the immense responsibilities, challenges, and burnout faced by Primary Health Centre (PHC) doctors, underscoring the need for systemic reform in India’s primary healthcare system.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Clinical Care: PHC doctors provide comprehensive medical services to communities of 20,000–50,000 people, including women, children, elderly, and vulnerable groups.
• Public Health Functions: They coordinate immunisation campaigns, disease surveillance, school health programs, and vector control, linking policy to grassroots implementation.
• Community Engagement: PHC doctors mentor ASHAs, ANMs, visit Anganwadis, participate in Gram Sabhas, and ensure health programs reach the last mile.

Challenges and Workload

• High Patient Load: On busy days, PHC doctors attend up to 100 outpatients and 100 antenatal visits, managing diverse medical conditions across age groups.
• Multi-Specialty Expectations: They must remain updated in newborn care, geriatrics, infectious diseases, mental health, trauma, and chronic illnesses, delivering emergency care independently.
• Burnout Risk: The combination of clinical, administrative, and public health responsibilities causes emotional exhaustion and detachment, affecting physician well-being.

Systemic Issues and Reform Needs

• Administrative Burden: PHC doctors maintain over 100 registers and multiple digital systems like IHIP, PHR, IDSP, and HMIS, often duplicating data entry.
• Need for System Redesign: Automation, delegation of non-clinical tasks, and reduction of redundant documentation are required to reduce workload and enhance efficiency.
• Primary Care as Foundation: Strengthening PHCs is essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage (SDG 3.8) and ensuring equitable access to healthcare, making physician welfare a systemic priority.

Practice Question:

Critically examine the role of Primary Health Centre (PHC) doctors in India’s healthcare system and discuss the systemic reforms required to reduce their administrative burden and prevent burnout.

The article highlights the growing relevance, global expansion, and scientific validation of India’s traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayurveda and the broader AYUSH sector.

Global Relevance and Market Growth

• Wide Usage: Traditional medicine is practised in 88% of WHO member states, serving billions due to affordability and accessibility.
• Market Expansion: The global traditional medicine market is projected to reach $583 billion by 2025, with China, Australia, and India being key contributors.
• Preventive Approach: Traditional medicine emphasizes proactive, preventive care addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.

India’s AYUSH Transformation

• Industrial Growth: India’s AYUSH sector, with over 92,000 MSMEs, has grown eight-fold in under a decade, with manufacturing and services revenues exceeding ?1.37 lakh crore and ?1.67 lakh crore respectively.
• Global Exports: India exports AYUSH products worth $1.54 billion to over 150 countries, enhancing soft power and international recognition of Ayurveda.
• Public Awareness: NSSO survey (2022-23) reports near-universal awareness (95–96%) and widespread usage of AYUSH, with Ayurveda being preferred for preventive and rejuvenation care.

Scientific Validation and International Outreach

• Research Investment: Institutions like All India Institute of Ayurveda and CCRAS focus on clinical validation, drug standardisation, and integrative care models combining traditional and modern practices.
• Global Partnerships: India has signed 25 bilateral agreements, 52 institutional partnerships, established 43 AYUSH Information Cells, and positioned 15 academic chairs abroad to promote traditional medicine.
• Technology Integration: WHO-supported initiatives integrate AI and digital tools into traditional medicine, enhancing clinical validation, predictive care, and big-data analytics.

Practice Question:

Discuss the growing global significance of India’s traditional medicine systems, with reference to AYUSH, and examine the role of scientific validation and international cooperation in mainstreaming traditional healthcare.