🔆 VOPPA Order 2025: Key Facts

📍 Why in News?

Govt launched nationwide workshops to implement the amended Vegetable Oil Products Production & Availability (Regulation) Order, 2025.

📍 Key Features

✅ Mandatory registration of all edible-oil units on VOPPA portal
✅ Monthly returns by 15th (production, imports, stocks, sales).
✅ Ensures data-driven monitoring, transparency & better policy planning.
✅ Non-compliance → penalties under Essential Commodities Act & Statistics Act.

📍 Workshops

Held across major edible-oil clusters to:
✅ Train units on NSWS & VOPPA portal
✅ Improve compliance and smooth implementation

📍 Significance

✅ Strengthens supply-chain transparency
✅ Boosts national food security
✅ Supports Atmanirbhar, data-driven edible-oil ecosystem

🔆 Mains Q

Q. How can the VOPPA Order 2025 improve transparency and strengthen India’s edible-oil supply chain?

#GS3 #economy
#FoodSecurity

🔆 NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION — KEY FACTS

📍 Core Targets (2030)
✅ 5 MMT/yr Green H₂
✅ 125 GW RE capacity
✅ ₹8 lakh cr investments
✅ 6 lakh jobs
✅ Cuts imports by ₹1 lakh+ cr

📍 What Counts as Green H₂?
✅ Produced using renewables/biomass
✅ Emissions ≤ 2 kg CO₂/kg H₂

📍 Mission Outlay: ₹19,744 cr
✅ SIGHT Scheme: ₹17,490 cr
✅ Pilot Projects: ₹1,466 cr
✅ R&D: ₹400 cr

📍 Key Actions
✅ Electrolyser & H₂ production incentives (SIGHT)
✅ Green Hydrogen Hubs: Deendayal, VOC Port, Paradip
✅ GHCI certification (BEE)
✅ 23 R&D projects + Startup Call

📍 Sectoral Push
✅ Fertilizers: 7.24 LMT green ammonia auction
✅ Steel & Refineries: multiple pilots
✅ Mobility: 37 H₂ vehicles, 9 refuelling stations
✅ Shipping: India’s 1st port pilot at VOC Port

📍 Global Partnerships
✅ EU, UK, Germany (H2Global), Singapore
✅ India Pavilion at World Hydrogen Summit

🔆 MAINS QUESTION
“Evaluate the significance of Green Hydrogen in India’s Net-Zero strategy.”

#GS3

🔆 Draft Seeds Bill, 2025 – Public Comments Invited

Replaces: Seeds Act, 1966 & Seeds (Control) Order, 1983
Deadline for feedback: 11 December 2025

📍 What is the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025?
A new legislation by DA&FW (Ministry of Agriculture) to modernise India’s seed regulation framework and align it with current agricultural, scientific, and market needs.

📍 Key Objectives
✅ Ensure quality seeds & curb sale of spurious/poor-quality seeds
✅ Guarantee affordable high-quality seeds for farmers
✅ Protect farmers’ rights & prevent losses
✅ Liberalise seed imports to promote innovation & global access
✅ Improve seed supply chain transparency & accountability
✅ Promote Ease of Doing Business in agriculture

📍 Enforcement Highlights
✅ Decriminalises minor offences → reduces compliance burden
✅ Strong penalties for serious violations
✅ Supports more efficient, market-friendly regulation

🔆 UPSC Mains Question (GS3 – Agriculture)
Q. Critically examine how the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025 seeks to balance farmers’ rights, seed quality regulation, and ease of doing business in the agricultural sector.

#GS3

🔆 India–Nepal Ink Deal to Boost Rail Trade Connectivity

Source: PIB | 13 Nov 2025

📍 What Happened?

India and Nepal signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the India–Nepal Treaty of Transit, strengthening multimodal freight connectivity.

📍 Key Upgrades (Very Important)
✅ Rail-based freight allowed between Jogbani (India) – Biratnagar (Nepal) for container & bulk cargo
✅ Transit liberalisation extended to major corridors:
• Kolkata–Jogbani
• Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli)
• Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli)
➡️ Boosts Nepal’s trade with third countries

📍 New Rail Connectivity Advantage
🔸 Enables direct rail link for Nepal-bound cargo from Kolkata & Visakhapatnam ports
🔸 Rail link to Nepal Customs Yard (Biratnagar) opened jointly by both PMs in June 2023
🔸 Facilitates cheaper, faster cargo movement

📍 Strategic Importance
✅ Enhances India–Nepal cross-border connectivity
✅ Supports integration of ICPs (Integrated Check Posts)
✅ Strengthens Nepal’s supply chains (India = Nepal’s largest trade partner)
✅ Deepens economic & commercial linkages

🔆 UPSC Mains Question (IR – GS2)
Q. Discuss how recent amendments to the India–Nepal Treaty of Transit enhance regional connectivity and economic integration. Highlight the strategic relevance for both countries.

#International_relations

🔆 Sahitya Akademi – Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025

📍 What’s the News?

Sahitya Akademi announced the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025, awarded for the best works in children’s literature across 24 Indian languages.

📍 Key Highlights

✅ Event Date: 14 November 2025 (Triveni Auditorium, New Delhi)
✅ Presented by: President of Sahitya Akademi – Madhav Kaushik
✅ Chief Guest: Eminent Gujarati writer Varsha Das
✅ Vote of Thanks: VP of Akademi – Kumud Sharma

📍 Award Details

✅ Prize: ₹50,000 + Bronze Plaque
✅ Recognises: Excellence in stories, poetry, plays, memoirs, novels for children

📍 What’s Next?

Awardees meet scheduled on 15 November 2025, Ravindra Bhawan, New Delhi, chaired by Vice President of Akademi.

🔆 Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the role of Sahitya Akademi in promoting children’s literature in India. How do awards like Bal Sahitya Puraskar contribute to cultural and linguistic diversity?

#GS1
#art_and_culture

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Honouring India’s Tribal Freedom Fighters

🔆 India’s Textile Exports Show Resilience & Diversification (2025-26)

📍 Key Highlights

✅ Exports to 111 countries in Apr–Sep 2025
✅ 10% growth YoY → USD 8,489 million (increase of USD 770 million)
✅ Sector shows resilience despite global tariff barriers + slowdown

📍 Top Markets with Strong Growth

✅ Japan – 19%
✅ UAE – 14.5%
✅ Spain – 9%
✅ France – 9.2%
✅ Germany – 2.9%
✅ UK – 1.5%

Non-traditional high-growth markets:
✅ Egypt – 27%
✅ Saudi Arabia – 12.5%
✅ Hong Kong – 69%

📍 Sector Drivers

✅ Ready-Made Garments (RMG) – 3.42% growth
✅ Jute products – 5.56% growth

📍 Why This Matters

✅ Shows adaptability amid global uncertainties
✅ Demonstrates market diversification beyond traditional buyers
✅ Reflects success of Make in India & Aatmanirbhar Bharat
✅ Boosts integration with global value chains

🔆 Mains Practice Question

Q. India’s textile exports have shown resilience despite global challenges. What factors enabled this performance, and how can India further strengthen its position in global textile value chains?

#GS3
#Economy

🔆 Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) – Cabinet Approval

📍 What is CGSE?
✅ A 100% credit guarantee scheme to support exporters with additional working capital and collateral-free loans
✅ Provides guarantee cover to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) so they can safely extend extra credit

📍 Aim & Purpose
✅ Help exporters diversify into new markets
✅ Boost global competitiveness
✅ Support India’s goal of USD 1 trillion exports & Aatmanirbhar Bharat

📍 Implementation
✅ Implemented by Department of Financial Services (DFS)
✅ Operated through National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd. (NCGTCL)
✅ Management Committee headed by DFS Secretary to monitor progress

📍 Key Features
✅ Validity: Till March 2026
✅ Loan Support: Up to 20% of sanctioned limits as additional credit
✅ Eligibility: Exporters including MSMEs & non-MSME exporters
✅ Type of Support:
• Additional working capital
• Collateral-free term loans
• 100% guarantee coverage to lenders

🔆 UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Discuss how the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) can strengthen India’s export ecosystem and contribute to achieving the USD 1 trillion export target.

#goverment_schemes

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🔆 Fertilizer Black-Marketing Crackdown (2025–26)

Source: PIB (13 Nov 2025)

📍 What Happened?

A nationwide crackdown by the Department of Fertilizers (DoF) + DA&FW to secure smooth fertilizer supply for Kharif & Rabi 2025–26.

📍 Key Enforcement Results (Very Important)
✅ 3,17,054 inspections/raids nationwide
✅ 5,119 show-cause notices (black marketing)
✅ 3,645 license cancellations/suspensions
✅ 418 FIRs (black-marketing offences)
✅ Hoarding: 667 notices, 202 cancellations, 37 FIRs
✅ Diversion: 2,991 notices, 451 cancellations, 92 FIRs

📍 Major States’ Action
✅ Uttar Pradesh → 28,273 inspections, 1,957 notices, 2,730 licenses cancelled, 157 FIRs
✅ Maharashtra → 42,566 inspections, 1,000+ license cancellations
✅ Bihar → ~14,000 inspections, 500+ suspensions
Other strong performers: Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh

📍 Digital & Real-Time Monitoring
✅ Digital dashboards → live tracking of stock movement
✅ Rapid redirection of seized/hoarded fertilizers
✅ Faster response to farmer complaints
Ensures availability, transparency, accountability.

📍 Why It Matters
✅ Prevents artificial shortages & price manipulation
✅ Protects farmer interests
✅ Strengthens national fertilizer supply chain
✅ Reinforces market discipline & rule-of-law in inputs distribution

🔆 UPSC Mains Question (GS-3)
Q. How do strict regulatory enforcement and digital monitoring systems contribute to fertilizer availability and curb black-marketing in India? Discuss with recent examples.

#GS3

🔆 India’s TB Decline – Key Facts (WHO Global TB Report 2025)
Source: PIB

📍 Major Achievements
✅ TB incidence down 21% — from 237/lakh (2015) to 187/lakh (2024)
(compared to global decline of only 12%)
✅ TB mortality down — 28/lakh → 21/lakh (2015–2024)
✅ Treatment coverage: 92% (one of the highest among high-burden nations)
✅ Treatment success rate: 90% (global avg: 88%)
✅ 26.18 lakh TB patients diagnosed in 2024 (out of estimated 27 lakh cases)

📍 TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (launched Dec 2024)
✅ 19 crore individuals screened
✅ 24.5 lakh TB patients detected — includes 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases
✅ Backed by:
• 9391 rapid molecular test centres
• 107 culture & DST labs
• 500+ AI-enabled X-ray devices (1500 more being deployed)
• 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for decentralised care

📍 Community & Support Systems
✅ Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana DBT increased to ₹1000/month
→ ₹4,406 crore disbursed to 1.37 crore beneficiaries since 2018
✅ 6.77 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras + 2 lakh My Bharat volunteers supporting patients
✅ 45 lakh food baskets distributed

📍 Why TB Decline is Significant for UPSC
• Demonstrates public health system strengthening,
• AI-enabled screening, molecular diagnostics,
• Jan Bhagidari model,
• Multi-sectoral response + community participation
• Critical progress toward SDG 3.3 — End TB by 2030

🔆 Mains Practice Question (GS2 – Health)
Q. India has shown one of the fastest declines in TB incidence globally in the last decade. Discuss the key drivers behind this progress and evaluate the challenges that remain in achieving a TB-Mukt Bharat by 2025/2030.

#GS3

🔆 Cooperative Kumbh 2025 – Key Facts (PIB)

📍 What is it?
✅ Cooperative Kumbh 2025 is an international conference on the urban cooperative credit sector, focusing on collaboration, digital innovation & policy reforms.

📍 Aim
✅ To strengthen India’s cooperative framework, boost financial inclusion, and promote innovation in cooperative banking.

📍 Nodal Ministry
✅ Ministry of Cooperation

📍 Organiser
✅ NAFCUB – National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks & Credit Societies

📍 Global Alignment
✅ Linked with the UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives 2025

📍 Theme
✅ “Digitizing Dreams – Empowering Communities”

📍 Key Features
✅ Digital Transformation: Tech-driven solutions for cooperative credit societies
✅ Governance Reforms: Strengthening transparency & accountability
✅ Women & Youth Empowerment: Leadership and participation in cooperative institutions
✅ Global Insights: Speakers from
• World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU)
• GreenStone Farm Credit Services
sharing global best practices in sustainable cooperative finance

📍 Inauguration
✅ To be inaugurated by Union Minister of Cooperation at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

#goverment_schemes

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@upsc_government_scheme

🔆 Cabinet Rationalises Royalty Rates for Critical Minerals (Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, Zirconium)

📍 Why in News?
The Union Cabinet approved revised royalty rates to boost auctions & domestic production of critical minerals essential for EVs, electronics, defence & clean energy.

📍 Revised Royalty Rates (Prelims-Key)
✅ Caesium: 2% of ASP
✅ Rubidium: 2% of ASP
✅ Zirconium: 1% of ASP
✅ Graphite (>80% C): 2% of ASP
✅ Graphite (<80% C): 4% of ASP

📍 Why this Matters
✅ Enables auction of mineral blocks → unlocking reserves
✅ Moves to ad valorem royalty → aligns with global norms
✅ Reduces import dependence & strengthens supply chains
✅ Supports India’s energy transition, battery manufacturing & strategic sectors

📍 Strategic Uses (Super Crisp)
✅ Graphite: EV battery anodes
✅ Caesium: atomic clocks, GPS, high-precision tech
✅ Rubidium: fibre optics, telecom, night-vision
✅ Zirconium: nuclear reactors, aerospace

📍 Recent Govt Steps
✅ NIT (Sept 2025) → auction of 5 Graphite, 2 Rubidium, 1 Caesium, 1 Zirconium blocks

📍 UPSC Mains Practice Q
“Critically analyse how royalty rationalisation for critical minerals strengthens India’s clean energy & strategic technology ecosystem.”

#GS3

🔆 Disruptive Tech & Start-ups Key for Self-Reliance in Defence

📍 What’s the News?

Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar emphasised that AI, ML, quantum tech, robotics, and start-up collaboration are essential to strengthen India’s defence ecosystem and achieve Aatmanirbharta in Defence.

📍 Key Points

✅ Disruptive technologies (AI, ML, quantum computing) now drive modern defence capability
✅ Calls for deeper collaboration between govt, start-ups, innovators, MSMEs
✅ Stress on seamless information exchange to accelerate deployable solutions
✅ Space tech plays a critical role in modern warfare & preparedness
✅ Initiatives empowering innovation:
• iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)
• TDF (Technology Development Fund)
➡️ Both support start-ups & MSMEs in new-age defence technologies

📍 Event Context: Delhi Defence Dialogue

🔹 Theme: Harnessing New-Age Technology for Defence Capability Development
🔹 Attended by Armed Forces leadership, industry, experts
🔹 Discussions on defence applications of:
▪ AI & Robotics
▪ Quantum Computing
▪ Unmanned Systems
▪ Space-based technologies

🔆 Why It Matters

✅ Strengthens technological backbone of Indian defence
✅ Boosts indigenous innovation → reduces import dependency
✅ Builds an innovation-driven defence ecosystem
✅ Enhances national preparedness & modernisation

🔆 Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the role of disruptive technologies and start-up ecosystems in achieving India’s goal of self-reliance in defence. Highlight key initiatives driving this transformation.

#GS3

🔆 20th International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony to Begin in Bodh Gaya (2025)

📍 Introduction
✅ Seventeen Buddhist organisations across India have united for the first time to jointly organise the 20th International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya (Bihar).
➡️ Marks a historic moment for Buddhist heritage, cultural unity, and inter-community collaboration.

📍 Event Details
✅ Dates: 2–13 December 2025
✅ Venue: Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya
✅ Followed by: Commemorative walk from Jethian Valley to Venuvana, Rajgir
➡️ This event has been held annually since 2006.

📍 Key Organisers & Leadership
✅ Led for two decades by Ms. Wangmo Dixey, Founder & Executive Director, LBDFI–USA
✅ Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in partnership with the Ministry of Culture

📍 Significance
✅ Highlights the importance of collective recitation of the Tipitaka — the sacred Pali canon of Buddhism.
✅ Strengthens ties among Indian and international Sangha members and lay devotees.
✅ Celebrates the Government of India’s recognition of Pali as a Classical Language.

📍 Quotes & Cultural Importance
👉 Ms. Dixey emphasised the privilege of bringing the “sound of the Dharma” back to the land of Buddha.
👉 Calls for greater participation from people across India.

📍 Conclusion
✅ The ceremony reinforces India’s status as the spiritual homeland of Buddhism, while promoting global cultural diplomacy and preserving ancient Pali traditions.

🔹 UPSC Mains Question
“Examine the cultural and diplomatic significance of events like the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony in strengthening India’s Buddhist heritage and global soft power.”

#prelims
#art_and_culture

@studytoday1
@upsc_art_and_culture

🔆 e-Jagriti: India’s New-Age Consumer Grievance Revolution (2025)

📍 Introduction
✅ The e-Jagriti platform, launched on 1 January 2025, has emerged as a major leap in digital consumer justice, improving accessibility, speeding up case disposal, and enabling global NRI participation.

📍 Key Achievements (2025)
✅ 2.75 lakh+ users, including 1,388 NRIs
✅ 1,30,550 cases filed | 1,27,058 cases disposed
➡️ Reflects high efficiency and faster backlog clearance
✅ Adoption highest in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra

📍 Key Features
✅ OTP-based registration
✅ Virtual hearings & online document exchange
✅ Real-time tracking & SMS/email updates (12+ lakh notifications sent)
✅ Multilingual interface, chatbot, voice-to-text for elderly & visually impaired
✅ Secure payments via Bharat Kosh & PayGov
➡️ Ensures accessibility, transparency & user security

📍 Integrated Single Platform
✅ Merges older systems: OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS, CONFONET
➡️ Reduces fragmentation & speeds up redressal

📍 Global Accessibility for NRIs
✅ File complaints from abroad
✅ Attend virtual hearings
✅ Receive real-time updates across time zones
➡️ Over 466 NRI complaints filed in 2025 (major contributors: USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, Germany)

📍 Performance Gains
✅ Disposal rates exceeded 100% in 10 states
✅ July–Aug: 27,545 disposed vs 27,080 filed
✅ Sep–Oct: 24,504 disposed vs 21,592 filed

📍 Success Stories
🏆 Assam: ₹3.05 lakh refund for online course scam (25 days)
🏆 Tripura: ₹1.67 lakh+ compensation for defective LG fridge (8 years old)
➡️ Highlights speed + consumer empowerment

📍 Conclusion
✅ e-Jagriti is a major step toward paperless, contactless, citizen-centric governance, empowering both domestic consumers and NRIs.

🔹 UPSC Mains Question
“Discuss how platforms like e-Jagriti strengthen consumer protection and digital governance in India. What challenges must be addressed to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and long term efficiency?

#goverment_schemes

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