Access to Knowledge

Context: Recently Delhi High Court directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to block Sci-Hub and Libgen within 72 hours.

• Sci-Hub and Libgen: Platforms providing free access to research papers and books by bypassing paywalls.
• Publishers alleged copyright infringement.
• Arguments in Favour of Free Access
• • Section 52(1)(a)(i), Copyright Act 1957: Allows “fair dealing” for personal/research use.
  • Very High Subscription costs
  • Independent researchers & students outside institutions excluded.

About Copyrights Act 1957

• Objective: Safeguards the rights of authors, composers, artists, designers, and other creators over their original works.
• Scope (Section 13): Covers literary, musical, artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings, and other original creations.
• Exclusive Rights: Grants creators the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, adapt, and commercialize their works.
• Moral Rights: Protects the right to attribution (credit) and integrity (preventing distortion/misuse) of the work.
• Exceptions (Section 52)
• • Fair Use: Allows limited use without permission for criticism, review, news reporting, teaching, research, and personal use.
  • Public Interest: Ensures access for education, research, and non-commercial purposes while maintaining balance with creators’ rights.

About One Nation One Subscription

• Objective: Provide access to over 13,000 international e-journals from ~30 publishers under a single national subscription.
• Inclusive Access: For institutions in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, ensuring equitable access to knowledge.
• Nodal Authority: Department of Higher Education with partner ministries will run awareness, training, and outreach campaigns for wider adoption.
• Monitoring: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will oversee periodic reviews, focusing on resource use and contributions from Indian authors.

India Set to become World’s Second-largest Economy in PPP Terms by 2038

Context: EY report (2024), citing IMF data, projects India to emerge as the world’s second-largest economy (PPP terms) by 2038.

Global Projections

• China: Top position ($42.2 trillion) but challenged by ageing population and rising debt.
• India: $20.7 trillion (overtaking US, Germany, Japan).
• United States: Resilient economy, but debt >120% of GDP, slower growth.
• Germany & Japan: Face demographic decline and dependence on global trade.

Drivers of India’s Growth

• Demographics: Median age 28.8 years (2025); young and skilled workforce.
• Savings & Investment: High rates sustaining capital formation.
• Debt Profile: Govt. debt projected to decline from 81.3% (2024) to 75.8% (2030).
• Structural Strength:
• • Ongoing reforms.
  • Investments in critical technologies.
  • Resilient macroeconomic fundamentals.

About Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

• Concept: An economic theory that compares the value of different currencies through the cost of a common basket of goods and services.
• Use: Helps compare living standards, economic productivity, and income levels across nations more accurately than market exchange rates.

Finland (Places In News)

Context: PM Narendra Modi spoke with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on bilateral ties, India–EU FTA, emerging technologies, and global issues. 

• Stubb reaffirmed Finland’s support for an early, mutually beneficial India–EU FTA.

About Finland

• Location: A Nordic nation in Northern Europe, among the world’s northernmost countries.
• Borders: Shares boundaries with Norway (north), Sweden (northwest), Russia (east), the Gulf of Bothnia (west), and the Gulf of Finland (south).
• Geography: Known as the “land of a thousand lakes” with about 188,000 lakes; over 70% of its land is forested. 
  • Lapland in the north has hilly terrain and mountains.
• History: Declared independence from the Russian Empire in 1917; holds a rich cultural and historical legacy.
• Autonomous Region: The Åland Islands, at the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia, enjoy autonomous status.
• Biodiversity: Finland is habitat to the endangered Saimaa ringed seal, found in the Saimaa lake system.

Exercise Bright Star 2025

Context: Over 700 Indian Armed Forces personnel (Army, Navy, Air Force) to participate in Exercise Bright Star 2025.

About Exercise Bright Star

• Origin: Conceived during Camp David Accord (1977); began as US–Egypt bilateral exercise in 1980.
• Evolution: Expanded to multilateral format from 1995 onwards.
• Frequency: Biennial.
• Host: Hosted by Egypt in partnership with the US CENTCOM, one of the largest tri-service multilateral exercises in the region.
• Past Edition (2023) : 34 countries participated.
  • The Indian Army was represented by a contingent from 23 JAT Battalion.

Key Features of 2025 Edition

• Live firing by Army, Navy, Air Force.
• Command Post Exercise – joint planning, decision-making, operational coordination.
• Short training exercises – aspects of modern warfare.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) interactions – contemporary military domains.

Significance for India

• Enhances jointness & interoperability with friendly nations.
• Showcases operational capabilities of Indian Armed Forces.
• Reinforces India’s role in regional peace, stability, and security.
• Builds defence cooperation with the US, Egypt, and other partners.

UMEED Portal

Context: The Ministry of Minority Affairs launched an additional module on the UMEED Portal to provide maintenance support to widows, divorced women, and orphans from Waqf-alal-aulad properties.

Key Features of the Module

• Aadhaar-based authentication for beneficiary verification.
• Online application & approval through State/UT Waqf Boards.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of financial support to bank accounts.
• Transparency, efficiency, accountability ensured by minimizing delays and reducing administrative hurdles.

What Is the UMEED Portal?

• UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development.
• Objective: The portal aims to digitise and simplify the registration and management of Waqf properties across India.
• It will also provide legal guidance to citizens on their rights and responsibilities under the new Waqf law.
• Features of the UMEED Portal
• • Online Registration: Digitized system for registering Waqf properties.
  • Transparency & Efficiency: Ensures all formalities are completed within six months.
  • Legal Support: Helps individuals understand their rights and obligations under the new law.
  • Automatic Dispute Referral: Properties not registered within the timeframe will be declared disputed and referred to a tribunal for resolution.
  • State Waqf Boards Oversight: Responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with amended legal provisions.

PM SVANidhi Scheme

Context: Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved extension and restructuring of PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme until 2030.

Key Features of Restructured Scheme

• Enhanced Credit Support:
  • First tranche: ₹15,000 (up from ₹10,000)
  • Second tranche: ₹25,000 (up from ₹20,000)
  • Third tranche: ₹50,000 (unchanged)
• UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card:
  • For beneficiaries who have repaid a second loan.
  • Provides instant access to credit for business or personal needs.
• Digital Adoption & Incentives:
  • Cashback up to ₹1,600 for retail and wholesale digital transactions.
• Expanded Geographical Coverage:
  • Beyond statutory towns → census towns, peri-urban areas, in a graded manner.
• Holistic Development – ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’:
  • Focus on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, marketing.
  • Hygiene and food safety training for street food vendors (in partnership with FSSAI).
• Capacity Building & Training:
• • Monthly Lok Kalyan Melas to ensure benefits of GoI schemes reach vendors & families.

About PM SVANidhi

• Objective: Provide working capital loans, enhance financial inclusion, encourage digital payments, and grant formal recognition to street vendors.
• Target Beneficiaries: Street vendors and hawkers operating in urban areas as of March 24, 2020.
• Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Implementation:
• • MoHUA – overall administration
  • Department of Financial Services (DFS) – facilitating loans/credit cards through banks and financial institutions

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Context:  The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana PMJDY completes 11 years.

About PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana)

• Launch Year: 2014
• Purpose: Ensure universal access to banking services for the unbanked population
• Key Features: Zero-balance accounts, RuPay debit cards, insurance coverage, pension benefits, and facilitation of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs)
• Financial Services Offered:
• • Savings bank accounts
  • Need-based credit
  • Remittances facility
  • Insurance (life and accident)
  • Pension schemes
• Coverage: Encompasses both urban and rural households.

Achievements & Coverage

• Accounts opened: Over 56 crore.
• Deposits: ₹2.68 lakh crore.
• Women ownership: 56% of accounts.
• Rural & semi-urban coverage: 67% of accounts.
• RuPay debit cards issued: Over 38 crore.
• Average balance per account: ₹4,768 (more than tripled in 11 years).
• DBT facilitated via JAM trinity: ₹6.9 lakh crore transferred in 2024–25.

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