Current Affairs 02 July 2025

Content :

1. Cabinet nod to job-linked incentive scheme
2. Using tech to empower women and children
3. A look at India’s sports policy journey
4. Indo-French Army exercise ‘Shakti 2025’ concludes
5. Navy inducts second indigenous stealth frigate in record time

Cabinet nod to job-linked incentive scheme

Relevance : GS 2(Governance) , GS 3(Employment )

Highlights

• Total Outlay: ₹99,446 crore over 4 years.
• Primary Goal: Boost employment generation, especially in the manufacturing sector.
• Target Beneficiaries:
  • 3.5 crore youth to gain jobs.
  • 1.92 crore first-time employees to be directly benefited.
• Employee Benefit:
  • First-time workers to receive 1 month’s wage up to ₹15,000.

• Employer Incentives:
  • Up to ₹3,000/month per employee for 2 years.
  • For manufacturing sector, extended benefits for 3rd and 4th years.
  • Applies to new employees with salaries up to ₹1 lakh/month and minimum 6 months’ tenure.
• Implementation Window: Jobs created between August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2027 are eligible.
• Part of a Larger Plan:
  • One of 5 schemes under a ₹2 lakh crore youth employment and skilling package in Budget 2024–25.
• Union Concerns:
  • CITU criticized it as a transfer of public funds to employers under the guise of job creation.

Interlinkages & Implications

• Slower GST growth could impact revenue-based fiscal space for new schemes like ELI.
• ELI may stimulate hiring, potentially leading to improved GST collections from increased economic activity.
• Union-government conflict could shape future labour reforms and political messaging.

Using tech to empower women and children

Vision & Approach

• Empowerment = Access to rights, services, protection, and opportunity.
• Aligned with Viksit Bharat@2047 and Amrit Kaal goals.
• Focus on technology integration, real-time governance, and last-mile delivery.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Social Issues)

Key Transformative Initiatives

Saksham Anganwadi

• Upgrading 2 lakh Anganwadi centres with smart infrastructure and digital tools.
• Enhances nutrition, preschool education, and healthcare delivery.

Poshan Tracker

• Real-time data for 14 lakh Anganwadi centres.
• Over 10.14 crore beneficiaries (pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, adolescent girls).
• Recognised with the PM’s Award for Excellence (2025).
• Enables “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi” through Anganwadi worker training modules.

Supplementary Nutrition Programme

• Facial recognition technology to reduce leakages and ensure benefit targeting.

Women’s Safety and Support

SHe-Box Portal

• Single-window platform for complaints under the Sexual Harassment Act (2013).
• Enables online filing and redressal tracking.

Mission Shakti App/Dashboard

• Real-time support to women in distress.
• One-stop centres functional in nearly all districts.

Maternal Welfare: PMMVY

• ₹5,000 for 1st child, ₹6,000 if 2nd child is a girl (positive gender reinforcement).
• ₹19,000 crore disbursed to over 4 crore women.
• Fully paperless DBT system, Aadhaar-authenticated, mobile-based, with grievance redressal.

Tangible Outcomes

• Sex Ratio at Birth improved: 918 (2014–15) → 930 (2023–24).
• Maternal Mortality Rate declined: 130 → 97 per 1,000 live births.

Child Protection & Welfare

CARINGS Portal

• Strengthened adoption ecosystem with transparent & digital process.

Digital Child Rights Monitoring

• Platforms by NCPCR track child rights violations.
• Mission Vatsalya dashboard enhances inter-agency convergence for child welfare.

Conclusion

• Digital tools have redefined governance as inclusive, transparent, and efficient.
• The Ministry has become a model of purpose-driven digital transformation in social sectors.

A look at India’s sports policy journey

Post-1947: Early Years of Nation-Building

• Focus post-Independence: poverty, health, education — sports not a priority.
• 1951: Hosted 1st Asian Games — soft power assertion.
• 1954: Set up All-India Council of Sports (AICS) for policy and funding advice.
• Funding was limited; many athletes missed global events due to lack of support.
• Despite this, Indian men’s hockey team dominated (1920–1980); notable athletes emerged (e.g., Milkha Singh, Kamaljeet Sandhu).

Relevance : GS 2(Governance)

Turning Point: 1982 Asian Games

• Hosted in Delhi — boosted awareness and infrastructure.
• Led to creation of:
  • NSP 1984 – India’s first National Sports Policy, focused on infrastructure, mass participation & education integration.
  • 1986 NEP integrated sports into education.
  • SAI (Sports Authority of India) founded to implement policy and develop talent.

1990s to Early 2000s: Liberalisation and Cultural Shift

• Economic reforms (1991) and cable TV raised sports visibility and aspirations.
• 1997 Draft NSP suggested Union–State division of sports responsibilities; never finalized.
• 2000: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) formed.
• 2001: Revised NSP launched for mass participation and elite performance.

Recent Reforms & Schemes

• NSDC 2011: Sports Development Code – aimed at regulating sports bodies (governance, anti-doping, age fraud, gender equality); poor implementation.
• Major schemes:
  • TOPS (2014): Elite athlete support (coaching, nutrition, training).
  • Khelo India (2017): Grassroots youth talent identification.
  • Fit India Movement (2019): Promoted fitness as public health goal.

Olympic Performance (2000–2020s)

• 2004: Rajyavardhan Rathore (silver),
  2008: Abhinav Bindra (gold),
  2008 & 2012: Boxing bronzes – Vijender Singh, Mary Kom.
• Still limited Olympic medal tally despite potential.
• India at Tokyo 2020 – Highlights
  • Total Medals: 7 🥇1 Gold, 🥈2 Silver, 🥉4 Bronze
    → India’s best-ever Olympic medal haul

Latest Momentum & Future Goals

• 2036 Olympics Bid: India expresses intent to host, sparking reform push.
• 2024: Draft National Sports Policy & Governance Bill released.
• 2025: NSP 2025 (Khelo Bharat Niti) unveiled — aligns with Olympic aspirations.
• Urgent Issues:
  • India tops WADA global doping list – reforms needed.
  • Delayed governance reforms (e.g., 2017 Draft Good Governance Code).

Challenges

• Sports is a State subject – leads to fragmented implementation.
• Policies often lack execution and accountability.
• Weak market & societal engagement until recently.
• Need for investment in:
  • Scientific coaching
  • Physical literacy
  • Sports-integrated education

Conclusion

• India’s sports ecosystem has moved from neglect to reform.
• A sporting nation requires consistent policy, grassroots inclusion, and elite excellence.
• Long-term success lies in institutional integrity, mass participation, and scientific systems.

Indo-French Army exercise ‘Shakti 2025’ concludes

Overview

• Exercise Name: Shakti 2025
• Edition: 8th
• Duration: June 18 – concluded on July 2, 2025
• Location: France

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Defence )

Participants

• France:
  • Over 500 personnel
  • Units involved:
    • French Army
    • Foreign Legion
    • French Air & Space Force
    • French Navy

• India:
  • 90 personnel
  • Primarily from Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
  • Also included members from other Indian military services

Significance

• Enhances interoperability between Indian and French forces
• Focus on joint operational preparedness in multi-domain scenarios
• Reinforces the Indo-French strategic defence partnership
• Promotes exchange of tactical knowledge, cultural understanding, and professional military practices

Strategic Relevance

• Part of broader Indo-Pacific cooperation framework
• Aligns with India’s emphasis on bilateral defence diplomacy
• Complements naval (Varuna) and air (Garuda) exercises between the two nations

Conclusion

• Exercise Shakti 2025 reflects growing military synergy and trust between India and France
• Supports India’s goal of being a net security provider in the region
• Adds momentum to India’s Make in India–Defence goals through deeper cooperation with European allies

Major Bilateral Exercises

• Shakti 2025 (India–France): Army exercise in France (June); focused on joint operations; involved J&K Rifles.
• Varuna 2025 (India–France): Naval drill in Arabian Sea (March); featured INS Vikrant & Charles de Gaulle.
• Tiger Triumph 2025 (India–US): Tri-service exercise off Andhra coast (April); joint HADR & amphibious ops.
• Dharma Guardian 2025 (India–Japan): Army drill near Mt. Fuji (Feb–Mar); enhanced counter-terror coordination.
• Cyclone 2025 (India–Egypt): Special forces training in Rajasthan (Feb); desert warfare and tactical ops.
• Nomadic Elephant 2025 (India–Mongolia): Jungle and urban ops.

Navy inducts second indigenous stealth frigate in record time

Context :

India has strengthened its naval power with the induction of INS Udaygiri, a Project 17A stealth frigate, and INS Tamal, an Indo-Russian built warship. These reflect India’s growing indigenous defence capabilities and strategic maritime partnerships.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security , Defence)

INS Udaygiri – Project 17A Stealth Frigate

• Delivered to Indian Navy in record 37 months from launch.
• Part of Project 17A, a successor to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates.
• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDSL) in Mumbai.
• Second of seven stealth frigates under construction; all to be delivered by end-2026.

Features:

• Multi-mission ‘blue water’ warship for deep-sea operations.
• Equipped with:
  • Supersonic surface-to-surface missiles
  • Medium-range surface-to-air missiles
  • 76 mm naval gun
  • 30 mm + 12.7 mm CIWS (close-in weapon systems)
• Significant upgrade in stealth, sensors, and weapons over P-17 class.
• Designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau – reflects self-reliance in defence production.
• Named after and modern version of erstwhile INS Udaygiri, decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years.

INS Tamal – Indo-Russian Collaboration

• Represents 51st Indo-Russian ship in a 65-year partnership.
• Commissioned with Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh present.
• Fully combat-ready for:
  • Air, surface, sub-surface, and electronic warfare.

Features:

• Armed with dual-role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• Highlights India–Russia strategic defence ties and maritime modernisation.

Strategic Significance

• Both ships reinforce India’s ‘blue water navy’ ambition.
• Project 17A and Indo-Russian builds mark Make in India progress in naval shipbuilding.
• Enhances maritime deterrence, combat-readiness, and force projection in the Indian Ocean Region.

Railways launches RailOne app to ease ticket booking, travel services

What is RailOne?

• Launched by: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (July 2025, New Delhi).
• Developed by: CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems), a PSU under Indian Railways.
• Aimed at streamlining and unifying all passenger services via a single platform.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance)

Key Features

• All-in-one app: Combines services of IRCTC, UTS, Rail Connect, etc.
• Services included:
  • Booking of unreserved tickets (with 3% discount)
  • Live train tracking, platform tickets
  • E-catering, porter, tourism, last-mile taxi, and grievance redressal
• Single sign-on: mPIN/biometric login; integrates UTS and RailConnect credentials.

Advantages

• No need for multiple railway apps — saves device space.
• Authorised by IRCTC for commercial services (except reserved ticketing).
• User-friendly design for a better passenger interface.

Future-Ready Ticketing

• Railways is also upgrading its Passenger Reservation System (PRS):
  • Multilingual, scalable system under development.
  • Will support 1.5 lakh bookings/min and 40 lakh enquiries/min.

Significance

• Part of Railways’ digital transformation and passenger-centric governance.
• Reinforces India’s push for integrated, real-time, and contactless mobility solutions.