Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

Context: As of October 2025, Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 8.34 crore enrolments.

About Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• APY is a government-backed pension scheme aimed at providing old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector, encouraging voluntary retirement savings.
  • It replaced the Swavalamban Yojana (also known as NPS Lite) scheme.
• Launched : 1 June 2015.
• Administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
  • Implemented through banks and post offices designated as Points of Presence – Atal Pension Yojana (PoP-APY).
• Eligibility
  • Open to Indian citizens aged 18–40 years with a savings account in a bank or post office, who are not income tax payees.
  • Minimum 20-year contribution period (to receive pension at age 60).
• Benefits
  • Guaranteed minimum monthly pension of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000, or ₹5,000 from age 60.
  • The government funds any shortfall if investment returns are inadequate to provide the guaranteed pension.
  • On the subscriber’s death, the pension continues to the spouse; on the death of both, the accumulated corpus is returned to the nominee.
  • Contributions are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1) and an additional deduction of up to ₹50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B).
• Key Achievements Under APY
  • Massive coverage expansion: Over 8.34 crore subscribers as of October 2025, indicating deep penetration across rural and informal sectors.
  • High female participation: Women account for 48% of total enrolments (about 4.04 crore as of October 2025.
  • Enhanced outreach: Multilingual campaigns, digital onboarding (e-APY, mobile apps), and BC/SHG-led capacity building have strengthened nationwide adoption.

World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC)

Context: India emerged as a leading voice in global digital governance at WTDC-2025 held in Baku, Azerbaijan

About the WTDC

• It is the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU D) ’s flagship quadrennial conference bringing together global stakeholders to shape telecom and ICT development strategies for developing nations.
• Focus Areas (WTDC-25): The conference focused on meaningful connectivity, inclusive digital transformation, smart communities, innovation ecosystems, cybersecurity resilience, regulatory modernization, and ICT-enabled disaster preparedness.

India’s Major Contributions at WTDC-25

• Leadership Roles: India held several high-level posts including Conference Vice-Chair and Chairs for digital transformation groups, and secured two Vice-Chair positions for ITU-D Study Groups (2026–29).
• Advancing Key Global Resolutions
• • Pushed Resolution 85 to extend Smart Sustainable Cities to smart villages; strengthened Resolutions 89 and 90 on innovation and future readiness.
  • Reinforced cybersecurity-related Resolutions 45 and 84 on telecom misuse, spam control and device security.
  • Enhanced disaster-related Resolutions 34 and 66 on early warnings, climate action, e-waste, and digital inclusion.
  • Strengthening India’s Global Digital Footprint: India’s proactive engagement and technology showcase reinforced its position as a central partner in global telecom development.

About the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• ITU is a specialised UN agency for telecom and ICT, established in 1865, making it the oldest UN organisation.
• Key Functions
• • Coordinates global communication networks and connectivity.
  • Allocates radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
  • Develops global telecom standards.
  • Supports digital access and inclusion worldwide.
• Members: Comprises 194 countries and over 1,000 organisations, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • India became a member in 1869 and has served as a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
• Report: Publishes the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) assessing national cyber preparedness.

SIM Binding

Context: The Union Government has mandated SIM binding for all online messaging platforms to curb cyber fraud, ensure traceability, and strengthen telecom cybersecurity across digital communication services.

About SIM Binding

• SIM binding is a security mechanism that permanently links a user’s messaging or authentication service to the specific SIM card used during registration.
• The app stops functioning if the registered SIM is absent, ensuring identity verification through hardware-backed SIM identifiers like IMSI, ICCID and Ki.
• Provisions for SIM Binding
• • Messaging apps must remain continuously linked to the SIM used during sign-up.
  • Access must be blocked if the registered SIM is not physically present in the device.
  • Web interfaces (e.g., WhatsApp Web) must auto-logout every six hours.
  • Platforms must complete implementation within 90 days and submit compliance to DoT.
• Legal Provision Enabling SIM Binding: Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025
  • Issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
  • Introduces Telecommunication Identifier User Entity (TIUE) for regulating OTT-based communication platforms using mobile numbers for user identification.
  • Empowers the Government to enforce continuous SIM-device-account linkage to enhance digital communication security.

Significance of SIM Binding

• Strengthens Cybersecurity: It prevents misuse of Indian mobile numbers from outside the country and reduces impersonation, spoofing and OTP-bypass attacks.
• Enhances Traceability: It ensures the device–SIM–account linkage needed to identify users engaging in cyber fraud or anonymous communication.
• Reduces Cross-Border Fraud: Fraudsters using inactive or illegally procured SIM-linked accounts can no longer access apps without the original SIM.
• Aligns with Financial-Grade Security: It brings messaging platforms closer to SIM-active authentication already used by banking and UPI apps.

UNESCO Executive Board

Context:  India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025–29 term, reaffirming its strong standing within multilateral institutions.

About UNESCO Executive Board

• The Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO, (the others being the General Conference and the Secretariat)
• Establishment: UNESCO was founded in 1945, and once its Constitution came into effect in 1946, the Executive Board became one of its key governing bodies.
• Headquarters: The Executive Board, along with UNESCO’s main secretariat, operates from Paris, France.
• Membership: It consists of 58 Member States each with a four-year term of office, elected by UNESCO’s General Conference
• Members are chosen through regional electoral groups to ensure balanced and equitable representation across different regions of the world.
  • India is within the Group IV (Asian and Pacific States)

Functions of Executive Board

• The Board examines UNESCO’s programme of work and the corresponding budget submitted by the Director-General.
• It prepares and submits recommendations to help shape the agenda of the General Conference.
• It makes recommendations on the admission of new Member States into UNESCO.
• It provides guidance on the appointment of the Director-General.
• It is responsible for the execution of programmes approved by the General Conference.
• The Board summons extraordinary sessions of the General Conference
• The Board promotes and oversees international conferences and initiatives on education, science, culture, and knowledge dissemination.

Sanchar Saathi App

Context: The Union Minister for Communications clarified that activation of the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on mobile handsets is not mandatory; it is fully up to consumers to use or delete it like any other app.

• Earlier,  the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued directives to all mobile phone manufacturers and importers to pre-install the cybersecurity app the Sanchar Saathi on every handset sold in India within 90 days.

Sanchar Saathi Initiative

• It is a comprehensive telecom security programme created to curb misuse of telecom resources, prevent cyber fraud, and strengthen national telecom cybersecurity.
• Objective: It aims to verify device genuineness, protect user identity, detect SIM misuse, block stolen devices and provide citizen-friendly telecom safety tools.
• Launch: Launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, it operates through a unified Sanchar Saathi Portal and Mobile App.

About Sanchar Saathi App

• Introduction: The Sanchar Saathi App is a citizen-protection tool developed by DoT to verify handset IMEI numbers, report fraudulent communications and manage mobile identities securely.
• Key Features
  • IMEI Verification: Confirms whether a device’s IMEI is genuine, duplicated or blacklisted.
  • Lost/Stolen Device Blocking: Enables IMEI blocking for missing phones and tracking of recovered devices.
  • SIM & Identity Management: Shows all mobile connections linked to a user’s identity to detect unauthorized usage.
  • Fraud Reporting: “Chakshu” tool flags phishing, impersonation scams, fake KYC alerts and suspicious numbers.
  • Spam & Scam Detection: Allows reporting of masked international calls, spam messages and unsafe links.
• DoT Directions (2025)
  • All handsets manufactured or imported for India must have the Sanchar Saathi App pre-installed, visible, functional and enabled during first device setup.
  • Features cannot be disabled or restricted by manufacturers.
  • Devices already in sales channels must receive the App through software updates.
  • Implementation must be completed in 90 days, with a compliance report due in 120 days.

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