News of The Day: 20th September 2025

News of The Day –  20th September 2025

SOURCES: The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS2: Polity and Governance)

• What are the economic and linguistic barriers affecting access to justice for the poor in India?
• How do these barriers impact the right to legal aid under Article 39A?
• What measures has the judiciary proposed to enhance legal education and court accessibility? 
• Role of initiatives like Nyaya Mitra and legal aid clinics in addressing these issues.

(GS2: Polity and Governance)

• What are self-help groups (SHGs), and how do they empower women and marginalized communities
•  Role of schemes like DAY-NRLM in promoting SHGs
•  How do SHGs contribute to financial inclusion and rural livelihoods?
• Challenges in scaling up SHG impact, such as access to credit and markets.

(GS2:Polity and governance)

• How did Puducherry achieve zero maternal mortality?. 
• What is Maternal Mortality Rate?
• How does this align with India’s SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) targets?

(GS2: Polity and Governance)

• What is the NE-SPARKS programme?
• Key focus areas like skill development, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure.
• Role of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in implementing the programme. 

(GS2: International Relations)

• What is the Universal Postal Congress?
• What are the roles of the Council of Administration (CA) and Postal Operations Council (POC)?
• Significance of India’s re-election for global postal governance.

(GS2: International Relations)

• Why did Pakistan propose designating a Baloch group as terrorists?
• About Baloch and their demand.
• Role of the UN Security Council in terrorism designations.
• India’s stance on Baloch human rights and regional stability.

(GS3: Economy)

• What is the Blue Ports initiative?
• Role of ports in India’s maritime economy and trade. How does it align with the Maritime India Vision 2030? Environmental measures like shore power and waste management in Blue Ports.

• What is a sovereign credit rating?
• Why was India upgraded to BBB+ by R&I, Japan? 
• Implications for foreign investment and borrowing costs. Comparison with ratings from agencies like S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch.

(GS3: Economy)

• What is the Bima Sugam portal?
• Role of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in its development.
• How does it enhance insurance penetration and financial inclusion?

(GS3: Security)

• What are the features and capabilities of the patrol ship Adamya?
• How does it strengthen India’s coastal security and maritime surveillance?

(GS3: Environment)

• What is the Kadamb tree? 
• Role in traditional medicine, literature (e.g., Kalidasa’s works), and biodiversity. 
• How does it contribute to afforestation and climate resilience?

(GS3: Environment)

• What is the climate-health vision outlined in the article?
• How does India’s experience with climate-related health challenges (e.g., heatwaves, air pollution) inform global strategies?
• Role of India’s National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH).
• How can integrating health into climate policies enhance resilience?

(GS3: Environment)

• What are the key findings of the WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2024 report?
• How does it assess global water availability?
• Implications for India’s water management policies, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Role of climate change in exacerbating global water scarcity.

(GS3: Science and Technology)

• What is chirality, and how does it influence optoelectronic properties? 
• Potential applications in telecommunications, displays, and renewable energy.