🇮🇳 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Election Commission Delists 474 Unrecognized Political Parties
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Election Commission of India (ECI) has delisted 474 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) that failed to contest elections for the past six years
- Action taken under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
- Parties that did not participate in state assembly or parliamentary elections during 2018-2024 period targeted
- Move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability of political parties
- Includes parties that failed to file annual reports and provide bank account details
- Strict action against parties violating election expenditure limits and financial transparency conditions
- Stern warning issued to remaining registered unrecognized parties
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Election Commission of India (ECI):
- Establishment: 1950, under Article 324 of the Constitution
- Jurisdiction: Parliament, State Assemblies, President, Vice President elections
- Composition: Chief Election Commissioner + 2 Election Commissioners
- Tenure: 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
- Political Party Classification:
- National Party: Recognition in 4+ states, 6% vote share
- State Party: State-specific recognition, 6% vote share or 2 assembly seats
- Registered Unrecognized Party: Basic registration only
- Unrecognized Party: Parties without registration
- Party Recognition Criteria:
- Lok Sabha Election: 6% vote share in 4+ states + 4 MPs
- Assembly Election: 6% vote share + 2 MLAs or 3% of total seats
- Cross Criteria: Continuous election participation and performance
- Symbol Allotment: Reserved symbols for recognized parties
- Electoral Reforms and Accountability:
- Annual Returns: Party finances and activities reporting
- Bank Account: Party financial transparency requirements
- Donation Disclosure: All donations above ₹20,000
- Electoral Bonds: Political funding mechanism (now scrapped)
Prime Minister Launches ₹5,100 Crore Projects in Arunachal Pradesh
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- PM Modi launched projects worth ₹5,100 crore in Arunachal Pradesh on September 22, 2025
- Includes hydroelectric projects, roads, healthcare, fire safety, and convention center
- Aligns with India’s target of 500 GW renewable energy by 2030
- Foundation for developing Arunachal Pradesh’s 50,000+ MW hydroelectric potential
- Infrastructure development under North East Regional Development Scheme
- Strategic importance for border areas adjacent to China
- Convention center facility for regional connectivity and area development
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Arunachal Pradesh Profile:
- Area: 83,743 sq km (third largest state)
- Population: 13,84,432 (2011 Census)
- Capital: Itanagar (Naini-Tali)
- Borders: China (1,129 km), Bhutan (160 km), Myanmar (440 km)
- Hydroelectric Potential and Energy:
- Estimated Capacity: 50,000+ MW hydroelectric potential
- Current Generation: 2,000+ MW (2025)
- Major Rivers: Brahmaputra, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit
- Ecological Significance: Biodiversity hotspot, Central Asian Mountains
- Strategic Importance:
- Northeast Gateway: Access route from mainland
- China Border Security: LAC (Line of Actual Control) management
- Defense Infrastructure: Strategic roads and airstrips
- High Altitude Posts: Military positions at high elevations
- Northeast Development Schemes:
- Ministry of DONER: Development of North Eastern Region
- North East Incentive Scheme: NEDFi
- Northeast Infrastructure: NLCPR
- Cultural Preservation: Tribal heritage and linguistic identity
GST Next Generation Reforms – Tax Burden Reduction
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- PM Modi announced “Savings Festival” worth ₹2.5 lakh crore through GST and income tax reductions
- Next generation GST reforms reduce tax slabs to 5 categories
- Call to citizens to embrace indigenous products and strengthen Atmanirbhar Bharat
- AI-driven tax administration enhancing business tax compliance efficiency
- Higher tax exemption limits for small and medium enterprises
- Digital tax filing and automated refund mechanisms
- Improvement in revenue sharing formula with state governments
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- GST Structure and Features:
- Implementation: July 1, 2017 as unified indirect tax system
- Structure: Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST components
- Tax Rates: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28% tax slabs
- Coverage: Replaced 17 different indirect taxes
- GST Revenue Statistics:
- Monthly Collection: ₹1.7+ lakh crores average monthly GST collection
- Registered Taxpayers: 1.4+ crore businesses registered under GST
- Return Filing: 90%+ compliance rate in return filings
- Digital Transactions: 99% returns filed online
- Economic Impact and Benefits:
- GDP Growth: GST system contributes 1-2% to GDP growth
- Trade Growth: Removal of inter-state trade barriers
- Compliance Reduction: Single tax system from multiple taxes
- Transparency: Increased transparency through electronic means
- Challenges and Reforms:
- Tax Rate Rationalization: Simplifying multiple tax slabs
- IT System Reform: Advanced technology platform
- State Compensation: GST compensation period expiry issues
- Revenue Distribution: Center-state revenue sharing formula
🌍 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
India-ILO Understanding Agreement 2025
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with International Labour Organization (ILO) in September 2025
- Aim to develop International Standard Classification of Occupations to support global employment
- Initiative addresses global skills shortage caused by demographic changes and digitalization
- G20 leaders endorsed this framework during India’s presidency in 2023
- Classification will improve data comparison and encourage mutual recognition of skills
- Feasibility study and pilot program to be conducted in green, digital, and care sectors under this MoU
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- International Labour Organization (ILO):
- Establishment: 1919, headquartered in Geneva
- Membership: 187 countries
- Objective: Social justice, international labor standards
- Structure: Tripartite framework (government, employers, workers)
- Key ILO Conventions:
- Fundamental Principles: 8 fundamental conventions (forced labor, child labor)
- Trade Union Rights: Freedom of association, collective bargaining rights
- Anti-Discrimination: Non-discrimination in work and occupation
- Working Time Standards: Working hours, rest periods, wages
- India-ILO Relations:
- Membership: Founding member since 1919
- Ratified Conventions: Has ratified 47 ILO conventions
- Labor Reforms: 2019-20 labor law reforms
- International Cooperation: Skill development, technical assistance
- Future of Work and Skills:
- Digital Skills: AI, machine learning, data science
- Green Jobs: Renewable energy, environmental technology
- Care Economy: Healthcare, elderly care
- Lifelong Learning: Continuous skill development and retraining
🔬 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Public Utility AGI Platform
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Sentient AI company has launched a Public Utility Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) platform
- Platform integrates 40+ specialized AI agents, 50 data sources, and 10+ AI models in single network architecture, enabling real-time collaboration and complex task execution
- Platform supports ecosystem agents used across multiple blockchain technologies including Base, Binance Coin (BNB), Polygon, Arbitrum, Celo, and Near
- Sentient uses token-based incentive model, unlike traditional Pay-per-API models, providing ownership stakes and profits to developers
- Startup aims to make AGI platform publicly accessible and free from any single corporate control
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) Concept:
- Definition: AI system with human-level general intelligence
- Distinction: Narrow AI vs General AI capabilities
- Goals: Matching or exceeding human performance in multiple tasks
- Challenges: Consciousness, creativity, general understanding
- AI Technology Framework:
- Machine Learning: Supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning
- Deep Learning: Neural networks, CNN, RNN, Transformers
- Natural Language Processing: NLP, GPT models, language translation
- Computer Vision: Image recognition, object detection, facial recognition
- Robotics: AI-driven autonomous systems, IoT integration
- Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Basics:
- Blockchain: Distributed ledger technology, transparency
- Smart Contracts: Automated contract execution
- Metaverse: Digital spaces, virtual reality integration
- DeFi: Decentralized finance, traditional banking alternatives
- AI Ethics and Policy:
- AI Bias: Algorithmic discrimination and fairness
- Privacy Protection: Data protection and consent
- Transparency: Explainability of AI decisions
- Human Oversight: Human control in AI systems
SPIN90 Protein – Cell Movement Research
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Scientists at Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), CSIR Hyderabad discovered crucial role of SPIN90 protein in cell movement
- Study explains how cells modify their internal structure to move and change shape
- SPIN90 helps cells like white blood cells create rapid extensions to chase and destroy pathogens
- Understanding cancer cell spread and immune system function
- New targets for drug design and therapeutic development
- Significant contribution by Indian scientists in cell biology research
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- CSIR and CCMB Profile:
- CSIR: Established 1942, 37 research institutes
- CCMB: 1977 Hyderabad, cellular and molecular biology
- Research Areas: Genetics, cancer research, immunology
- International Collaboration: Global research partnerships
- Cell Biology Fundamentals:
- Cell Movement: Cytoskeleton, actin filaments
- Protein Functions: Enzymes, structural proteins, signaling
- Cell Division: Mitosis, meiosis, cell cycle
- Apoptosis: Programmed cell death, role in diseases
- Medical Applications:
- Cancer Research: Understanding and preventing metastasis
- Immune Therapy: Enhancing T-cell, B-cell function
- Gene Therapy: Gene expression control
- Regenerative Medicine: Stem cell research
🌱 ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE
Disaster Risk in Indian Himalayan Region
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- 2025 monsoon severely affected Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand
- Indian Himalayan region highly vulnerable due to active continental plates, seismicity, and fragile geological structure
- Climate change led to frequent cloud bursts, flash floods, and avalanches similar to Uttarakhand incidents in 2013 and 2025
- Human-induced factors like road construction, hydel projects, and land use change worsen slope instability and erosion
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Himalayan Region Geography:
- Length: 2,500 km across Asia
- Height: Everest (8,848 m) world’s highest peak
- Formation: Indian plate collision with Asian plate
- Regions: Western, Central, Eastern Himalayas
- Natural Disaster Types:
- Earthquakes: Richter scale 7+ possibilities
- Floods: Monsoon and snow melt
- Landslides: Hill slope mass movements
- Avalanches: Snow movement at high altitudes
- Climate Change Impacts:
- Himalayan Melting: Rapidly melting glaciers
- Rising Temperature: Extreme heat waves
- Precipitation Change: Increased extreme weather events
- Biodiversity Loss: High altitude flora and fauna
- Disaster Management Strategies:
- Early Warning Systems: Weather monitoring and forecasting
- Hazard Mapping: Risk identification and mapping
- Community Preparedness: Village disaster management plans
- Response Infrastructure: NDRF, SDRF, ambulance services
📊 REPORTS AND INDICES
Gender Snapshot Report 2025
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- UN Women and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) released 2025 Gender Snapshot Report
- Closing gender gaps in digital divides could boost global GDP by $1.5 trillion and lift 30 million women out of poverty by 2050
- Women now more likely than ever to complete schooling, and maternal mortality dropped nearly 40% from 2000 to 2023
- Countries with comprehensive measures against intimate partner violence have rates 2.5 times lower than those with weak protections
- Women’s leadership in climate negotiations has doubled in recent years
- 99 new or reformed laws reduced discrimination against women in past five years
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Gender Equality SDG Targets:
- SDG 5: Gender equality and women’s empowerment
- Goals: Education, health, economic participation
- Target Year: 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
- Global Monitoring: UN Women organization
- Women’s Empowerment Indicators:
- Global Gender Gap Index: WEF annual report
- Gender Development Index: UNDP gender equality measure
- Women’s Empowerment Index: OECD social institutions
- Maternal Mortality Ratio: Health indicator by WHO
- India’s Gender Equality Status:
- Global Ranking: 129/146 in Gender Gap Index (2024)
- Progress Areas: Political empowerment, educational attainment
- Challenge Areas: Economic participation, health and survival
- Government Schemes: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nirbhaya Fund
🏛️ STATE AFFAIRS
Shakti Scheme 5.0 – Uttar Pradesh
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Shakti Scheme 5.0 launched in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen women’s safety, dignity, and empowerment
- Shakti Scheme centers launched in all 1,647 police stations across the state with SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) manuals and awareness materials
- UP government increased women police personnel from 10,000 before 2017 to over 44,000 by 2025
- From January 2024 to March 2025, 12,271 criminals were convicted in 9,513 cases against women, including 12 death sentences and 987 life sentences
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Uttar Pradesh Profile:
- Area: 2,40,928 sq km (7.3% of India)
- Population: 19.98+ crores (2011), highest in India
- Districts: 75 districts, 18 divisions
- Capitals: Lucknow (administrative), Kanpur (commercial)
- Women Safety Legal Framework:
- Mahila Schemes: 181 Women Helpline, Digital Shakti
- Nirbhaya Fund: Central fund for women safety programs
- POCSO Act: Protection against child sexual offences
- Domestic Violence Act: 2005 women violence protection law
👤 PERSONALITIES, AWARDS, AND EVENTS
Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Mohanlal to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023
- Award to be presented during 71st National Film Awards ceremony
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award is highest honor in Indian cinema
- Mohanlal is leading actor with over forty years of contribution in Malayalam cinema
- Has acted in about 400 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi languages
- Won five National Film Awards in his career
- Government of India honored him with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2019
- Appointed as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army in 2009
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
- Institution: 1969, highest honor for Indian film industry
- Named After: Dadasaheb Phalke (Father of Indian Cinema)
- Presentation: During National Film Awards ceremony
- Prize: ₹10 lakhs, Golden Lotus, shawl and certificate
- Indian Cinema History:
- First Film: Raja Harishchandra (1913) by Dadasaheb Phalke
- Regional Cinema: Film production in various state languages
- Bollywood: Hindi film industry
- South Indian Cinema: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada films
🗓️ IMPORTANT DAYS
National Pharmacovigilance Week 2025
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) launched 5th National Pharmacovigilance Week (NPW)
- NPW observed from September 17 to 23, 2025
- Theme for this week-long observance in 2025: “Your Safety, just a Click Away: Report to PvPI”
- Week-long campaign aims to create awareness among healthcare professionals, regulatory bodies, researchers, and general public
International Day of Heart and Vascular Intervention 2025 – September 16
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- First coronary angioplasty performed on September 16, 1977 by Dr. Andreas Grüntzig
- Cardiovascular diseases are group of disorders of heart and blood vessels
- Theme for 2025: “Innovations in Heart Care: Bridging Gaps for Cardiovascular Health Equity”
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Heart Disease Definition and Types:
- Coronary Heart Disease: Blood vessel blockage, heart attack
- Stroke: Brain blood supply interruption
- Peripheral Vascular Disease: Limb blood vessel problems
- Valvular Heart Disease: Heart valve damage and dysfunction
- Heart Disease Status in India:
- Prevalence: 54.5 million people affected by heart disease
- Mortality Rate: 28.1% of total deaths due to heart disease
- Annual Incidence: 2.5+ million new heart disease cases annually
- Treatment Cost: Average ₹2-5 lakhs for cardiac surgery
- Prevention and Treatment Methods:
- Lifestyle Changes: Healthy diet, regular exercise
- Medications: Blood pressure medicines, cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Surgery: Angioplasty, bypass surgery
- Rehabilitation: Cardiac rehabilitation programs
💰 ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Bima Sugam Platform – Insurance Marketplace
📰 NEWS ANALYSIS
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) launched Bima Sugam web platform in September 2025
- Bima Sugam designed as single-point digital insurance marketplace for consumers, insurers, agents, and intermediaries
- Platform enables users to compare, purchase, renew, and ultimately settle claims for all types of insurance policies
- AI-driven recommendation system suggests suitable insurance products based on customer needs
- Digital KYC and instant policy issuance facilities
- Transparency through multi-participant comparison system
📚 STATIC BACKGROUND – EXAM ESSENTIALS
- Indian Insurance Industry Profile:
- Market Size: ₹8.13 lakh crores gross premium collection (2024-25)
- Penetration: 4.2% insurance penetration (global average 7.23%)
- Growth Rate: 12% annual growth in insurance sector
- Employment: 28+ lakh agents and employees in insurance industry
- Insurance Types:
- Life Insurance: Strategic investment and protection
- Health Insurance: Medical expense coverage
- General Insurance: Motor, home, travel, equipment insurance
- Crop Insurance: Agricultural and livestock insurance
- IRDAI Role and Functions:
- Establishment: 1999, insurance sector regulator
- Objective: Protecting interests of insurers and policyholders
- Powers: Licensing, supervision, regulation
- Policy Making: Insurance laws and guidelines
🎯 TNPSC EXAM STRATEGY TIPS – SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
Key Theme Focus:
- Electoral Reforms: Political party registration, ECI role, transparency
- Northeast Development: Arunachal Pradesh, strategic importance, hydel potential
- Tax Reforms: Next generation GST, tax simplification, digital compliance
- International Cooperation: ILO partnership, skill development, future jobs
Technology Concepts Understanding:
- AGI and AI: Artificial intelligence fundamentals, applications, future impact
- Biological Research: Cell biology, protein functions, medical applications
- Digital Revolution: Blockchain, cryptocurrency, FinTech transformations
Environment and Disaster Management:
- Himalayan Ecology: Climate change, disaster risk, prevention strategies
- Sustainable Development: Environmental protection, biodiversity conservation
- Government Policies: Environmental governance, green jobs
Social Development Sections:
- Gender Equality: SDG 5 targets, women’s empowerment programs
- Health Policies: Pharmacovigilance, heart disease prevention
- Safety Initiatives: Women’s safety, police reforms
Key Dates and Observances:
- September 16: International Day of Heart and Vascular Intervention
- September 17-23: National Pharmacovigilance Week 2025
- September 24: Current affairs compilation focus, sector-specific attention
Statistical Memory List:
- 474 Political Parties: ECI delisting, 6-year inactivity criteria
- ₹5,100 Crores: Arunachal Pradesh development projects investment
- ₹2.5 Lakh Crores: GST and income tax savings amount
- 50,000+ MW: Arunachal Pradesh hydel potential estimate