Relevance: GS II & III – Health, Welfare Schemes;  Source: The Hindu, Global TB Report 2025 Despite major gains, the Global TB Report 2025 shows India is not on track to meet its 2025 TB elimination target. India achieved a 12% fall in incidence and 28% reduction in deaths between 2015–2024, yet remains the world’s highest TB burden country….

Relevance: GS Paper III – Indian Economy (Trade, Industry Standards); Source: The Hindu, NITI Aayog Review India has paused/withdrawn several Quality Control Orders (QCOs) after concerns that they increased costs—especially for MSMEs—without improving export competitiveness. Between 2016–2025, items under mandatory QCOs expanded from <70 to >450, affecting many intermediate goods. QCOs & Their Impact QCOs mandate compliance with BIS…

Relevance: GS Paper III – Science & Tech (Biotechnology, NCDs);  Source: The Hindu, global medical research 1. Immune-Free Bacterial Cancer Therapy A Japanese research team has developed AUN Therapy, a novel cancer therapy that uses two engineered bacteria (Proteus mirabilis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris) to destroy tumour cells without relying on patient immunity. Selectively targets cancer cells and remodels tumour…

Relevance: GS Paper III – Economy (Money Laundering, Digital Finance); GS II – Governance Source : Indian Express Cryptocurrencies have become a major new route for money laundering as they allow anonymous, fast, and borderless movement of funds. Global estimates (FATF/UNODC) indicate that over $8 billion is laundered annually through crypto channels, with a rapid rise in the use…

Relevance: GS II (Education & Human Resources), GS III (Agriculture) Source: PIB Fact Sheet – Agricultural Education & Training in India Agriculture supports nearly half of India’s population and contributes ~18% of GDP. To achieve “Viksit Krishi, Samruddh Kisan,” India must strengthen the triad of education, research and extension—the backbone of rural development and productivity growth. India’s Institutional Ecosystem…

Relevance: GS-2 (Vulnerable Groups, Governance), GS-3 (Inclusive Growth) Source: The Wire, RBI Reports, NRLM Data, Parliamentary Committee Observations The Issue: A Growing Microfinance Crisis Reports from West Bengal reveal women disappearing from homes, families buried under multiple microfinance loans, and coercive recovery practices. What appears local is actually symptomatic of a national-level structural crisis in India’s microfinance sector. Microfinance,…

Relevance: GS Paper III – Indian Economy (Electronics, Innovation); GS Paper II – Governance Source: PIB, MeitY The Government’s Electronics Development Fund (EDF) has invested ₹257.77 crore through eight daughter funds, supporting 128 start-ups in electronics and IT design. These start-ups have generated 23,600+ jobs and created 368 IP assets, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem. The Fund  What is the…

Relevance: GS Paper III – Indian Economy (Electronics Manufacturing Policy); GS Paper II – Government Initiatives Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Electronics & IT The News The Government of India’s Electronics Development Fund (EDF) has invested ₹257.77 crore across eight daughter funds, which in turn have committed ₹1,335 crore to 128 selected start-ups in the electronics and IT…