India has revised royalty rates for graphite, caesium, rubidium and zirconium to stimulate domestic exploration and reduce dependence on imported critical minerals vital for clean energy, electronics and strategic sectors. The shift to ad valorem royalties and the lowering of high default rates aim to attract more bidders and improve mining viability. However, despite these reforms, India continues to face deeper challenges such as weak exploration capacity, limited processing infrastructure, low private participation and heavy reliance on global supply chains. Royalty rationalisation is a step forward, but comprehensive reforms across mining, processing and technology ecosystems are essential for true mineral self-reliance.
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The press in India has played a pivotal role from the freedom struggle to the modern democratic era. During colonial times, newspapers shaped nationalist consciousness, mobilized masses, and exposed British policies despite severe censorship. After Independence, the press expanded with constitutional protections, institutional reforms like the PCI, and growing diversity across languages and mediums. Today, the media continues to be essential for transparency and accountability but faces challenges such as misinformation, political pressure, commercialization, and threats to journalist safety. A strong, ethical, and independent press remains vital for sustaining India’s democracy.
Click to View MoreCoronal Mass Ejections are massive eruptions of magnetized plasma from the Sun’s corona that can travel through space and impact Earth. They are caused by magnetic instabilities and reconnection in the solar atmosphere. CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, auroras, satellite disruptions, and power grid failures. Studying them is crucial for space-weather forecasting, protecting technology, astronaut safety, and understanding planetary habitability. Recent observations, including the first CME detected on a red dwarf star, highlight their significance for both solar physics and exoplanet research.
Click to View MoreHepatitis A is a viral liver infection that spreads through contaminated food and water. While usually mild in children, it can be severe in older children and adults, sometimes leading to liver failure. Improved sanitation has reduced early childhood exposure, leaving many young people vulnerable. Safe and effective vaccines are available, including a single-dose option with long-lasting protection. Despite this, Hepatitis A is not yet part of India’s national immunisation program. Strengthening surveillance, promoting hygiene, improving water quality, and introducing phased vaccination can help prevent outbreaks and protect public health.
Click to View MoreTuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs (Pulmonary TB) but also other organs (Extrapulmonary TB). India has made remarkable progress in TB control, with incidence declining by 21% per year and mortality dropping from 28 to 21 per lakh population between 2015 and 2024. Key measures driving this success include early diagnosis through molecular tests, free treatment under the National TB Elimination Program, community screening campaigns like TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and digital monitoring via the Nikshay portal. The decline not only reduces transmission and deaths but also lessens socioeconomic burden, improves productivity, and contributes to global TB elimination goals.
Click to View MoreRetail inflation in India fell to a historic low of 0.25% in October 2025, primarily due to GST rate cuts, a favourable base effect, and a decline in prices of key food items such as vegetables, fruits, oils, and eggs. While food and beverage prices contracted, most other categories, including fuel, housing, and miscellaneous goods, saw higher inflation compared to last year. The decline provides short-term relief to households and businesses, stabilizes macroeconomic conditions, and supports policy measures aimed at economic growth and price stability.
Click to View MoreThe Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters is a government initiative providing collateral-free credit support of up to twenty thousand crore rupees to Indian exporters, including micro, small, and medium enterprises. By offering a 100% government-backed credit guarantee, the scheme enhances liquidity, promotes market diversification, strengthens global competitiveness, and supports employment. It aims to facilitate export-led growth, enable smoother business operations, and contribute to India’s journey towards becoming a self-reliant economy.
Click to View MoreIndia’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to position the country as a global leader in green hydrogen by 2030. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, offers a clean alternative to fossil fuels, helping decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, fertilizers, mobility, and shipping. The Mission focuses on scaling production, promoting domestic manufacturing, fostering R&D through public-private partnerships, developing port-based hydrogen hubs, and implementing certification standards. Despite challenges like high costs, infrastructure gaps, and technology readiness, strategic policy support, financial incentives, and skill development are driving India’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon, and energy-secure future.
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GS-3, Environment, Indoor air pollution, IAQ, air quality in India, health and environment, pollution mitigation, household pollution, PM2.5 and PM10, carbon monoxide, VOCs, government initiatives, sustainable living, urban health, environmental awareness, clean air solutions.
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Scientists have discovered a special type of brain immune cell called microglia that can protect against Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammation and slowing the buildup of harmful proteins like amyloid plaques and tau. These cells work through molecules PU.1 and CD28, offering a potential new direction for treatment. Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disorder causing memory and cognitive decline, is a growing public health challenge globally and in India. Governments are responding with awareness campaigns, healthcare policies, and research initiatives, but challenges like high costs, limited access, and early diagnosis remain. The discovery highlights the promise of combining scientific research, healthcare, and policy to combat Alzheimer’s disease.
Click to View MoreQuality Control Orders (QCOs) in India, intended to improve product quality, have largely targeted raw materials and intermediate goods rather than finished products. This has increased input costs, disrupted supply chains, and reduced trade competitiveness, particularly affecting MSMEs. Imports of critical inputs have fallen, exports have seen short-term gains but long-term decline, and domestic suppliers have gained market concentration advantages. Aligning QCOs with global standards, focusing on finished goods, strengthening testing infrastructure, and supporting MSMEs are key steps to mitigate these challenges.
Click to View MoreUrban unemployment in India, particularly among youth and women, reflects structural, demographic, and skill-related challenges. Addressing it requires a holistic approach: enhancing skills, promoting formal and inclusive jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, leveraging technology, and integrating employment into urban planning. With targeted policies and continuous monitoring, cities can transform rising joblessness into sustainable economic growth.
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