1. Raisina Dialogue
- Context: The 10th edition of the annual Raisina Dialogue was inaugurated by the Prime Minister where the chief guest, the New Zealand Prime Minister delivered the keynote address, with the theme “Kalachakra” (wheel of time).
Key Highlights of 10th edition:
- Contingent from the U.S. to take the centre stage, the new American policy:
- The Ukraine war
- The talks with Russia
- The new tariff regime that threatens ties between the U.S. and countries around the world, including India
- The U.S.’ fraying relations with its NATO and European allies
- Uncertainty around the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific policy
- New statements on China and Taiwan.
10th Raisina Dialogue(2025):
- It is the 10th edition conference happening between 17 March to 19 March 2025, marking a decade of global conversations.
- More than 3,500 participants from 125 countries will be participating in this conference, and will be attended by ministers, former heads of state, military leaders, industry experts, journalists and academics, highlighting the commitment of the conference towards inclusivity and diverse discussions.
Raisina Dialogue:
- It is a multilateral conference held in New Delhi annually.
- Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
- Held for the first time in 2016, this dialogue has become a prominent forum for strategic discussions on issues such as geopolitics, economics, regional and security challenges.
Theme:
- The Raisina Dialogue 2025 is centered around the theme “Kālachakra – People, Peace, Planet,” reflecting a holistic approach to global challenges by emphasizing human interconnectedness, the imperative of peace, and the urgency of environmental protection.
Six thematic pillars of 10th edition:
- Politics Interrupted: Shifting Sands and Rising Tides
- This pillar examines the shifting dynamics of global power, the emergence of new actors, and the challenges posed to traditional international relationships and institutions.
- Resolving the Green Trilemma: Who, Where, & How
- Addressing climate change by focusing on key stakeholders, resource distribution, and the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
- Digital Planet: Agents, Agencies, and Absences
- Exploring the transformative impact of technology on governance, economies, and societies, while addressing ethical concerns, cybersecurity risks, and the evolving geopolitics of artificial intelligence.
- Militant Mercantilism: Trade, Supply Chains & Exchange Rate Addiction
- Analyzing the rise of economic nationalism and protectionism, and discussing strategies to create resilient global trade systems in an increasingly fragmented economic landscape.
- The Tiger’s Tale: Rewriting Development with a New Plan
- Highlighting the role of the Global South in shaping development paradigms through innovative governance, sustainable economic growth, and inclusive global partnerships.
- Investing in Peace: Drivers, Institutions, & Leadership
- Examining emerging security threats, the role of new technologies and non-state actors in conflict dynamics, and the leadership required to ensure global stability and peace.
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to Raisina Dialogue, consider the following statements:
- It is a forum for strategic discussions on issues such as geopolitics, economics, regional and security challenges.
- It is organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Government of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
2. NASA astronauts
- Context: A pair of U.S. astronauts stuck for more than nine months on the International Space Station (ISS) returned to Earth.
Key Highlights:
- NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing after the shuttle program ended, in order to have two competing U.S. companies for transporting astronauts.
International Space Station (ISS):
Prelims Special:
Q. In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news? (UPSC 2010):
- A mini satellite launched by ISRO for promoting the distance education in India
- The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayaan-II
- A geoportal of ISRO with 3D imaging capabilities of India
- A space telescope developed by India
Ans: (c)
3. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs)
- Context: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), who have been agitating in Kerala to secure a better remuneration package, have decided to go ahead with their indefinite hunger strike.
Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs)
- ASHA is a trained female community health activist.
- ASHA workers are a core part of the National Rural Health Mission launched by the Government of India.
- Selected from the community itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system.
Functions:
- Act as a care provider at the community level.
- Facilitating access to healthcare, medicine, and sanitation services.
- Raising the level of awareness of health issues among the marginalised sections within the community.
- Advocate for female health and hygiene standards.
- Advocate for a health-conscious behaviour and approach to livelihood.
- The ASHA scheme is presently in place in all States/UTs (except Goa).
- The states are mandated to employ at least one ASHA worker per every 1000 people.
- They are chosen through a rigorous process of selection involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha.
- The States have been given the flexibility to relax the population norms as well as the educational qualifications on a case to case basis, depending on the local conditions as far as her recruitment is concerned.
Selection Criteria:
- In rural areas, ASHA must primarily be a woman resident of the village married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years and literate preferably qualified up to 10th standard (formal education up to Class 8).
- In urban areas, ASHA must be a woman resident of the “slum/vulnerable clusters” and belong to that particular vulnerable group which have been identified by City/District Health Society for selection of ASHA, and must have good communication and leadership skills.
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to the National Rural Health Mission, which of the following are the jobs of ‘ASHA’, a trained community health worker? (UPSC 2012)
- Accompanying women to the health facility for antenatal care checkup
- Using pregnancy test kits for early detection of pregnancy
- Providing information on nutrition and immunisation.
- Conducting the delivery of baby
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (a)
4. Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)
- Context: Boots on the ground cannot be replaced and technology will only be an enabler: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Chief of Defence Staff(CDS):
- CDS acts as the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which will also have three service chiefs as members.
- Function: foster greater operational synergy between the three service branches of the Indian military and keep inter-service frictions to a minimum.
- Head: Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence.
- Single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister on matters involving all three services
- Service chiefs will be obliged to confine their counsel to issues pertaining to their respective services.
- CDS is vested with the authority:
- Prioritizing inter-service procurement decisions as Permanent Chairman-Chiefs of Staff Committee.
- Provide directives to the three chiefs.
- CDS is first among equals: He enjoys the rank of Secretary within the DoD (Department of Defence)and his powers will be confined to only the revenue budget.
- He will perform an advisory role in the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Which of the statements given below is not correct?
- He enjoys the rank of Secretary within the DoD (Department of Defence)and his powers will be confined to only the revenue budget.
- The tenure of CDS can be extended to a maximum of 62 years.
- CDS will perform an advisory role in the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
- CDS acts as the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which will also have three service chiefs as members.
Ans: (b)
5. North-south river-linking project
- Context: The Member of Parliament(MP) from South made a strong pitch for linking rivers in north and south India and urged the Centre to expedite the inter-state river-linking project because of its economic and logistic benefits.
Key Highlights:
- He stressed on the need to link major peninsular rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar and Kaveri to address water scarcity in southern India.
Interlinking of Rivers
- National River Linking Project (NRLP) aimed to link different surplus rivers of the country with the deficient rivers so that the excess water from surplus regions could be diverted to deficient regions.
- It was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980.
- Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports.
- In 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Ken Betwa river link – first interlinking of rivers project.
Benefits of Interlinking of Rivers
- Irrigation Facility: As per National Perspective Plan, the Interlinking of Rivers Projects aims to benefit 35 million hectares of irrigation (25 million ha from surface waters and 10 million ha by increased use of ground waters).
- Hydro power Generation: Help in generation of around 34000 Megawatt of hydropower (National Perspective Plan).
- Water Security: Increasing water availability for drinking and industrial purposes.
- Inland waterways: Once canals are built, they will also be used as waterways for navigation, reducing stress on road/rail transport.
- Tackle droughts and floods: As per World Meteorological Organisation, Economic losses in 2022 due to disasters relating to floods in India are estimated to be over US$ 4.2 billion.
- Others: Employment generation, Growth of Service sector, safe drinking water etc.
What is the Ken-Betwa Link?
- The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the river interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh (MP) to Betwa in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
- The region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.
- The project involves building a 77-metre tall and a 2-km wide Dhaudhan dam (to be built within Panna tiger reserve) and a 230-km canal.
- Ken-Betwa is one of the 30 river interlinking projects conceived across the country.
What are Ken and Betwa Rivers?
- Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
- Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
- Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
- Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.
Prelims Special:
Q. Which of the following is/are tributaries of Yamuna?
- Ken
- Betwa
- Chenab
- Chambal
- Hindon
Select the correct answer using the codes give below:
- 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 1 , 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ans: (a)
6. Eklavya schools
- Context: A parliamentary panel on social justice asked the Union government to “urgently” pursue the centralisation of Eklavya Schools and empower the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) further to run them.
Key Highlights:
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment noted the “slow” progress in the implementation of the PM-JANMAN package.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):
Prelims Special:
Q. Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: (UPSC 2019)
- PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
- A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
- There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
- Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1, 2 and 3
- 2, 3 and 4
- 1, 2 and 4
- 1, 3 and 4
Ans: (c)