Category: POLITY

Context:  The Union Cabinet has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) Scheme.

Key Features

• Central Sector Scheme to upgrade quality, equity, and governance in technical education, aligned with NEP 2020.
• Funding: ₹2,100 crore loan from the World Bank and ₹2,100 crore from the Central Government.
• Coverage: 275 government and government-aided technical institutions, including 175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics.
• Beneficiaries: Around 7.5 lakh students to benefit from better infrastructure, digital access, and skill development.

Objectives & Benefits

• Quality Enhancement: Improve teaching, research, governance, and industry relevance.
• Equity & Inclusion: Focus on women faculty, diverse student groups, and regional balance.
• Research & Innovation: Boost institutional autonomy, innovation culture, and R&D.
• Skills & Employability: Promote curriculum reform, internships, and blended learning.
• Governance Support: Capacity-building for state/UT technical education departments.
• Digital Transformation: Expand use of digital tools and e-learning platforms.

Implementation

Administered by a central nodal agency under the Ministry of Education in collaboration with states/UTs, AICTE, NBA, IITs, and IIMs.

Learning Corner:

Schemes on Higher Education – India

Source: PIB

Category: POLITY

Context : IndiaAI (MeitY) and the National Cancer Grid (NCG) have launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program to boost AI-based innovations in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment across India.

Key Highlights

• Funding: Up to ₹50 lakh per project; successful pilots may receive scale-up grants up to ₹1 crore.
• Focus Areas: AI solutions for screening, diagnostics, clinical decision support, patient engagement, operational efficiency, research, and data curation.
• Eligibility: Open to startups, health tech firms, academic/research institutions, hospitals, and non-profits in India. Joint clinical–tech applications encouraged.
• Deployment: Uses NCG’s 300+ cancer center network for validation, pilot testing, and nationwide scaling.

Timeline

• Launch: 2 Aug 2025
• Application deadline: 2 Sep 2025
• Review & matchmaking: Sep–Oct 2025
• Final approval: Oct–Nov 2025
• First grant disbursement: Feb 2026 onwards

Features

• Mentorship, regulatory guidance, and clinical support.
• Focus on ethical, clinically validated, and India-specific AI solutions.
• Large-scale impact via NCG and IndiaAI’s networks.

Learning Corner:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Medical Field

Use of algorithms, machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) to analyze medical data, assist diagnosis, predict disease progression, personalize treatment, and improve healthcare delivery.

Key Applications & Examples

Source:  PIB

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context: Mystery of 5 billion Starfish Deaths Solved

Over 12 years, more than 5 billion starfish along the Pacific coast of North America died from sea star wasting disease (SSWD), marked by lesions, limb loss, and body disintegration. The worst hit was the sunflower sea star, with population losses of up to 90%. As a keystone predator, its disappearance triggered sea urchin population booms, devastating kelp forests.

Discovery Journey

• Early studies suspected a virus (densovirus), but it proved unrelated.
• Researchers shifted focus to the coelomic fluid of starfish instead of tissue samples.
• Experiments showed that boiling the infected fluid removed the disease-causing agent, indicating a bacterium.

The Culprit Identified

• After years of analysis, scientists at the Hakai Institute and University of British Columbia found Vibrio pectenicida (strain FHCF-3) to be the cause.
• DNA sequencing revealed its high presence in sick starfish.
• Healthy starfish exposed to it developed wasting disease and died.

Why It Took a Decade

• Symptoms had multiple possible causes.
• Initial research targeted the wrong tissues and pathogens.
• The bacterium hid in plain sight, detectable only in fluid from living specimens.

Learning Corner:

Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)

• Description: One of the largest and fastest-moving sea stars found along the Pacific coast of North America, with up to 24 arms resembling sunflower petals.
• Ecological Role: A keystone predator that regulates sea urchin populations, helping maintain the health of kelp forest ecosystems.
• Significance: Its predation controls sea urchin overgrazing, which otherwise devastates kelp habitats vital for marine biodiversity.
• Threats: Severely impacted by Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) since 2013, with population declines exceeding 90% in some areas.
• Conservation Status: Considered critically endangered in several regions due to disease and environmental stressors.
• Recovery Efforts: Ongoing research focuses on disease mitigation, captive breeding, and habitat restoration to revive populations and preserve ecosystem balance.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context: The government has drafted rules to penalise automakers exceeding fleet-level emission norms under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.

Key Features

• Authority: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to monitor compliance with Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms and report violations to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) for adjudication.
• Penalties:
  • Excess of 0–4.7g/km CO₂: ₹25,000 per vehicle sold.
  • Excess above 4.7g/km CO₂: ₹50,000 per vehicle sold.
  • Base penalty: ₹10 lakh for administrative breaches.
• Funds: 90% of penalties go to states via the Energy Conservation Fund.
• Dispute Resolution: SERC where automaker’s registered office is located.

Impacted Automakers

Eight carmakers exceeded norms in FY23, including Kia, Hyundai, Renault, and Honda, facing penalties worth hundreds of crores. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Toyota complied due to cleaner fleets.

Policy Context

Previously, no clear penalty process existed. New rules, effective January 2023, replace earlier lighter fines. Industry seeks non-retroactive application and broader recognition of hybrid, ethanol, and CNG vehicles.

Significance

The framework strengthens enforcement, accelerates cleaner vehicle adoption, and aligns with India’s emission-reduction goals, while sparking debate over competitiveness and transition timelines.

Learning Corner:

Schemes to Prevent Automotive Emissions in India

Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS Norms)

• India’s emission standards modeled after European norms.
• Currently at BS VI (since April 2020), drastically reducing pollutants like NOx, PM, and hydrocarbons.
• Mandates cleaner fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME)

• Promotes adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles via subsidies, incentives, and infrastructure development.
• FAME-II (since 2019) focuses on demand creation, charging infrastructure, and supporting EV manufacturing.

Vehicle Scrappage Policy

• Encourages phasing out old, polluting vehicles by offering incentives for scrapping and replacing them with cleaner vehicles.
• Aims to reduce vehicular pollution and boost EV adoption.

Energy Conservation (Compliance Enforcement) Rules, 2025

• Empowers Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to monitor and penalize automakers exceeding emission norms.
• Penalties imposed based on carbon emission excess per vehicle.

Promotion of CNG and Alternative Fuels

• Incentives for CNG vehicles, biofuels, and other cleaner fuels to reduce dependence on petrol/diesel.

National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM)

• A broader initiative to promote electric mobility and reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions.

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Context The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) held its first auction for Green Ammonia under the SIGHT Scheme (Mode-2A) of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

• Record Price: Discovered at ₹55.75/kg (~USD 641/MT), far lower than the ₹100.28/kg in the previous year’s H2Global auction. Grey ammonia costs around USD 515/MT.
• Scale: SECI will procure 75,000 MT/year for Paradeep Phosphates, Odisha. This is the first of 13 auctions targeting 7.24 lakh MT/year.
• Contract: 10-year fixed price to encourage industries like fertilizers, shipping, and heavy manufacturing to switch to green ammonia.
• Impact: Indicates near price parity with fossil-based ammonia, reduces natural gas dependence, lowers fertilizer subsidies, and supports climate goals.
• Green Ammonia: Produced by combining green hydrogen (from renewable-powered electrolysis) with nitrogen, yielding carbon-free ammonia for fertilizers, marine fuel, and clean energy storage.

Learning Corner:

Green Ammonia

Definition:
Green ammonia is ammonia (NH₃) produced using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels. The key difference lies in the hydrogen source:

• In conventional (grey) ammonia, hydrogen is derived from natural gas via steam methane reforming (SMR), emitting CO₂.
• In green ammonia, hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water using renewable electricity (solar, wind, hydro), and then combined with nitrogen from the air through the Haber–Bosch process.

Chemical Reaction:
N2+3H2→2NH3N_2 + 3H_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3

• For green ammonia, H₂ comes from renewable-powered electrolysis.

Why Green Ammonia is Important

1. Climate Goals:
   • Ammonia production accounts for ~1-2% of global CO₂ emissions (due to fossil-based hydrogen).
   • Green ammonia production can be nearly carbon-free.
2. Energy Transition:
   • Supports decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors like shipping and fertilizers.
3. Energy Storage & Transport:
   • Easier to store and transport than hydrogen gas.
   • Can be shipped in liquid form at moderate pressures and temperatures.

Applications of Green Ammonia

Fertilizers (Primary Use – ~80% of ammonia production)

• Used directly or converted into urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate.
• Green ammonia enables carbon-neutral agriculture.
• Reduces India’s import dependence on natural gas-based ammonia.

Shipping Fuel

• International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set targets to cut emissions by 50% by 2050.
• Green ammonia is a promising zero-carbon bunker fuel for long-distance vessels.
• Example: Trials of ammonia-fuelled engines by companies like MAN Energy Solutions.

Power Generation

• Can be used directly in gas turbines for electricity generation or co-firing with coal to reduce emissions.
• Potential for seasonal energy storage by converting renewable power into ammonia and back to electricity.

Hydrogen Carrier

• Ammonia can be “cracked” back into hydrogen at the point of use.
• Easier to transport than liquid hydrogen due to higher energy density and lower cryogenic requirements.

Industrial Chemicals

• Feedstock for plastics, explosives (ammonium nitrate), and other chemicals.
• Enables low-carbon industrial supply chains.

Emerging Uses

• As a refrigerant (low-GWP alternative).
• Fuel for high-temperature industrial heat (steel, cement).

Production Pathway

1. Electrolysis: Renewable power splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
2. Air Separation: Nitrogen extracted from air.
3. Haber–Bosch Process: Hydrogen and nitrogen react under high temperature and pressure with an iron-based catalyst to form ammonia.

Challenges

• Cost: Currently more expensive (~2–4x) than grey ammonia, but falling rapidly.
• Infrastructure: Requires retrofitting of fertilizer plants and bunkering facilities.
• Energy Intensity: Haber–Bosch process is energy-intensive, even with green inputs.
• Safety: Ammonia is toxic and requires careful handling.

Table comparing Grey, Blue, and Green Ammonia 

Source: PIB

Introduction (Context)

The Supreme Court recently refused to entertain a plea seeking the extension of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) to political parties. The Court held that the matter lies within the policy domain of the legislature and the executive.

What is POSH Act?

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (referred to as the POSH Act) is a landmark Indian legislation aimed at creating a safe and dignified work environment for women.

This Act is to provide 

• Protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace
• Prevention 
• Redressal of complaints of sexual harassment

Historical Background

• Before the PoSH Act was enacted in 2013, sexual harassment at the workplace in India was addressed only through the Vishakha Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 1997. 
• These guidelines emerged from the landmark case Vishakha & Others v. State of Rajasthan, which was triggered by the gang rape of Bhanwari Devi, a social worker assaulted after trying to stop a child marriage. 
• While the Vishakha Guidelines offered an important legal foundation, they were not statutory in nature, leading to inconsistent implementation across workplaces. 
• The PoSH Act was therefore introduced to codify these guidelines into law, extend their application to all workplaces in India, and create a clear, enforceable system for handling sexual harassment cases.

Salient features

• The PoSH Act mandated that every employer must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at each office or branch that had 10 or more employees.
• The aggrieved victim under the Act can be a woman “of any age whether employed [at the workplace] or not”, who “alleges to have been subjected to any act of sexual harassment”. 
• In effect, the Act protects the rights of all women who are working or visiting any workplace, in any capacity.
• Under the 2013 law, sexual harassment includes “any one or more” of the following “unwelcome acts or behaviour” committed directly or by implication:

• • Physical contact and advances
  • A demand or request for sexual favours
  • Sexually coloured remarks
  • Showing pornography
  • Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

• It is not compulsory for the aggrieved victim to file a complaint for the ICC to take action. If the woman cannot complain because of “physical or mental incapacity or death or otherwise”, her legal heir may do so.
• Under the Act, the complaint must be made “within three months from the date of the incident”. 
• However, the ICC can “extend the time limit” if “it is satisfied that the circumstances were such which prevented the woman from filing a complaint within the said period”.
• The ICC “may”, before inquiry, and “at the request of the aggrieved woman, take steps to settle the matter between her and the respondent through conciliation” — provided that “no monetary settlement shall be made as a basis of conciliation”.
• The ICC may either forward the victim’s complaint to the police, or it can start an inquiry that has to be completed within 90 days. 
• When the inquiry is completed, the ICC must provide a report of its findings to the employer within 10 days. The report must also be made available to both parties.
• The identity of the woman, respondent, witness, any information on the inquiry, recommendation and action taken, should not be made public.
• If the allegations of sexual harassment are proved, the ICC will recommend to the employer to take action “in accordance with the provisions of the service rules” of the company. These may vary from company to company.

Do political parties come under the PoSH Act?

The Supreme Court has recently refused to entertain a petition seeking application of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 to political parties, saying it falls in the domain of the policymakers.

However, the petitioner said that despite the expansive definitions of “employee” and “workplace” in the Act, women engaged in political work, particularly at the grassroots, continue to face rampant sexual harassment with no structured mechanism in place to address this.

Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to handle sexual harassment complaints are missing in political parties.

The P0SH Act can be difficult to determine for a political party. Party workers, for instance, who parties tend to employ in droves, often have little interaction with high-level officials and are hired temporarily to operate on the field without a defined “workplace”.

Supreme Court stated it is a legislative/executive policy matter, not for judicial mandate.

Kerala High Court view (2022)

• In the Centre for Constitutional Rights Research and Advocacy v. State of Kerala case, the court said:

• Political parties don’t have an employer-employee relationship with their members.
• They don’t run a “venture” or “establishment” that fits the PoSH definition of a workplace.
• Therefore, they are not required to set up ICCs.

Such verdicts highlight gaps in workplace protection laws for women in political spaces and raise questions about safeguarding women in informal and unregulated work environments.

Way Forward

• Expand POSH definition of “workplace” to explicitly include political organisations.
• Mandate grievance redressal mechanisms in political parties.
• Sensitisation for party workers at all levels.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s refusal to bring political parties under the ambit of the POSH Act underscores the existing legal vacuum in protecting women from sexual harassment in political spaces. 

While the Act has been instrumental in formal workplaces, its limited applicability leaves vast informal sectors—including political organisations—outside its scope. 

Bridging this gap requires proactive legislative intervention, coupled with internal party reforms and robust grievance redressal mechanisms, to ensure that women’s participation in politics is free from intimidation, harassment, and discrimination.

Mains Practice Question

Q The POSH Act 2013 has significantly strengthened workplace safety for women, yet its limited applicability leaves gaps in political organisations. Discuss the challenges and possible reforms to ensure comprehensive protection. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: UPSC current affairs | POSH Act & Hema Committee: Workplace Safety for Women

Introduction (Context)

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has replaced the 10+2 system with a 5+3+3+4 school structure, aligning education stages with a child’s cognitive development. While the model promises holistic transformation, challenges remain in infrastructure, teacher preparedness, parental awareness, etc.

Objective of NEP 2020

• NEP 2020 emphasizes on ensuring universal access to school education at all levels- pre-school to secondary.
• To increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035.

• 3.5 Crore new seats will be added to Higher education institutions.
• The Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

Overview of the 5+3+3+4 Structure

The 5+3+3+4 model replaces the traditional 10+2 system and divides the educational journey into four stages based on the cognitive and developmental needs of children:

Foundational Stage (5 years):

• Age Group: 3 to 8 years
• Components: This stage includes 3 years of preschool (Anganwadi or nursery) followed by 2 years of primary education (Classes 1 and 2).
• Focus: Emphasizes play-based and activity-driven learning to develop essential skills such as social interaction, language, and basic numeracy. 

Preparatory Stage (3 years):

• Age Group: 8 to 11 years
• Components: Covers Classes 3 to 5.
• Focus: Introduces subjects like reading, writing, science, and mathematics, with a discovery-oriented approach to foster curiosity and critical thinking. 

Middle Stage (3 years):

• Age Group: 11 to 14 years
• Components: Encompasses Classes 6 to 8.
• Focus: Aims to deepen knowledge in various subjects while encouraging students to explore their interests and develop skills in a more structured environment.

Secondary Stage (4 years):

• Age Group: 14 to 18 years
• Components: Includes Classes 9 to 12.
• Focus: Prepares students for higher education and vocational training, allowing them to choose subjects based on their interests and career aspirations.

This model is built on the recognition that a child’s brain development is most rapid in the early years, and therefore, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) must be formally integrated into the education system. 

The emphasis shifts from rote memorisation to experiential, multidisciplinary, inquiry-based learning, along with flexible subject choices and holistic assessment.

Key Gaps in Implementing NEP’s 5+3+3+4 Model

1. Infrastructure Gaps

• Many private urban schools have started using NEP methods like play-based learning and soft-skill evaluation.
• Most government and rural schools still lack basic facilities such as:
  • Toilets and clean drinking water.
  • Proper classrooms many anganwadis run in single rooms.
  • Pre-primary classes, which are the starting point of the foundational stage.
  • Adequate teaching-learning materials.

2. Teacher Preparedness

• NEP’s success depends on well-trained teachers, however, challenges include:
  • Limited exposure to activity-based and competency-based teaching.
  • Outdated B.Ed. courses still designed for the old 10+2 system.
  • Lack of regular training and skill upgrades, especially in rural schools.
  • Need for continuous mentoring and hands-on classroom support, not just one-time orientation.

3. Curriculum & Textbook Changes

• States are rolling out NEP-aligned syllabi at different speeds.
• Issues faced:
  • Some states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have started updates, but others are lagging.
  • Textbooks often arrive late; in some cases, mid-year.
  • Teachers have to rely on outdated books, leading to inconsistent learning quality.
  • No uniform standard across states, which goes against NEP’s aim of equal education access.

4. Parental Awareness & Support

• Many parents, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, are not aware of NEP’s new approach.
• Common issues:
  • Parents still measure learning through high marks and rote memorisation.
  • They often doubt the value of play-based learning, projects, and portfolio assessments.
  • Building trust and understanding takes time and regular interaction.

Recent Initiatives for NEP implementation

• PM SHRI Schools initiative aims to upgrade over 14,000 government schools. These schools will act as model NEP schools with modern infrastructure, experiential learning, and digital classrooms. 

• Delhi, Maharashtra, and Odisha have started testing new foundational and preparatory stage curricula.
• Platforms like NISHTHA and DIKSHA provide online training and resources for teachers.

What needs to be done?

For the NEP and its 5+3+3+4 model to succeed, we must:

• Strengthen foundational infrastructure – especially in anganwadis and primary schools.
• Revamp teacher education both pre-service and in-service.
• Ensure timely rollout of updated curriculum and materials.
• Engage parents and communities to build awareness and trust.
• Monitor progress transparently and support schools in the transition.

Conclusion

The 5+3+3+4 model is not just a structural reform but a shift in mindset about what education should achieve. Its success depends on collective action by policymakers, educators, parents, and communities. With sustained investment in infrastructure, teacher capacity, and community awareness, India can turn this policy into a global benchmark for school education reform.

Mains Practice Question

Q What is the 5+3+3+4 school structure under NEP 2020 and why is it significant for India’s education system? (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: NEP’s 5+3+3+4 education overhaul: Promise, gaps, and the road to transformation – The Hindu