PRELIMS
Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA)
Why in News: Launched on 17 September 2025 by PM Narendra Modi. Largest health outreach programme for women and children in India.
Objectives
- Strengthen preventive, promotive, curative health services.
- Early screening & treatment of cancer, anaemia, TB, sickle cell disease, hypertension, diabetes.
- Promote maternal, child, adolescent health – immunisation, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, mental health.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles: obesity prevention, voluntary blood donation.
Implementation & Reach
- 10 lakh health camps from 17 Sept – 2 Oct 2025.
- Camps at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, CHCs, District Hospitals.
- Supported by private hospitals & medical colleges.
- Specialist services: gynaecology, paediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, etc.
- Central support: AIIMS, ESIC, CGHS.
- Mobilisation by ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, youth volunteers.
Significance
- Dedicated to mothers and sisters – preventing life-threatening illnesses.
- Special focus on tribal women (sickle cell anaemia testing & treatment).
- Aims to reduce MMR & IMR.
Integration with Existing Schemes
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – 4.5 crore women benefited since 2017.
- National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission – 5 crore screened.
- Ayushman Bharat – financial protection for treatment beyond camps.
Community Participation
- Jan Bhagidaari (people’s participation) model.
- Involvement of Centre, States, private sector, NGOs, local communities.
- Public representatives & volunteers mobilise families for participation.
Moran Community Demand for ST Status
Why in News: The Moran community in Assam has launched an economic blockade demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, led by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU).
About Morans
- Indigenous Assamese community, historically agrarian, concentrated in Upper Assam (Tinsukia & Dibrugarh districts).
- Trace their ancestry to Assamese tribal groups; considered among the early settlers of the Brahmaputra Valley.
- Language: Primarily speak Assamese, though retain Tai-Ahom linguistic influences.
Constitutional Basis for Inclusion in ST List
- Article 342: Empowers the President to notify any community as a Scheduled Tribe, after consultation with the concerned state.
Step-wise Process of Inclusion
1. State Government/UT Proposal – Initiated & justified by State/UT.
2. Examination by RGI – Registrar General of India scrutinises proposal. If not recommended → State asked to provide more data/clarifications.
3. Examination by NCST – National Commission for Scheduled Tribes reviews and gives recommendations.
4. Final Decision – Union Cabinet approval → Presidential notification.
5. Legislative Amendment – Final inclusion/removal requires Parliamentary amendment to Presidential Order.
Dual Mandate Conundrum
Why in News: US Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates by 25 basis points in Sept 2025. Both inflation (Consumer Price Index rising ~3.2%) and unemployment (~4.3%) are trending up since Jan 2025 → creating a policy dilemma.
Context
Fed faces political pressure (Trump’s criticism, appointments to Fed Board) raising concerns about monetary policy independence.
Key Issues Highlighted
- Rising Inflation: Fed worries price rise will get entrenched.
- Unemployment: Joblessness also going up → cutting rates helps growth but risks inflation.
- Policy Trade-off: Cannot solve one problem without worsening the other (inflation vs. unemployment).
- Trump’s Interference: Pushes Fed to cut rates more aggressively for electoral reasons, testing central bank autonomy.
Federal Reserve – Static Info
Established: 1913 (Federal Reserve Act).
Structure:
- Board of Governors (7 members incl. Chair).
- 12 Regional Federal Reserve Banks.
- FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee): Decides interest rates.
- Mandate: “Dual Mandate” → (1) Price Stability + (2) Maximum Employment.
Monetary Policy Tools:
- Open Market Operations.
- Discount Rate.
- Reserve Requirements.
- Forward Guidance, Quantitative Easing (post-2008).
Facts
- RBI vs Fed: RBI’s primary mandate = Inflation Targeting (4% ± 2% band under Monetary Policy Framework, 2016). Fed = Dual Mandate.
- Phillips Curve Concept: Trade-off between inflation and unemployment – UPSC has asked theory-based questions.
Global Spillover on India:
- Capital outflows/inflows.
- Rupee depreciation/appreciation.
- Impact on Indian inflation, forex reserves, and bond markets.
Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025
Why in News: The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 shows shifting global innovation patterns. India improved to 38th rank, up from 48th in 2020.
Global Innovation Trends (2025)
- Global R&D growth slowed to 2.9% (2024) → projected 2.3% (2025), lowest since 2010 financial crisis.
- Europe dominates → 15 countries in top 25, 6 in top 10.
- Top 3: Switzerland (1), Sweden (2), USA (3).
- China (10th) – excels in patent filings & R&D expenditure, leads in knowledge/tech outputs.
- Emerging hubs: Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania.
India’s Performance
- Rank: 38th (2025).
- Top innovator among lower-middle-income economies & Central and Southern Asia.
Strengths:
- Knowledge & Technology Outputs – 22nd.
- Market Sophistication – 38th.
Weaknesses:
- Business Sophistication – 64th.
- Infrastructure – 61st.
- Institutions – 58th.
About the GII
- Publisher: World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
- Coverage: 139 economies.
Indicators: 80+ indicators under 7 pillars –
1. Institutions
2. Human Capital & Research
3. Infrastructure
4. Market Sophistication
5. Business Sophistication
6. Knowledge & Technology Outputs
7. Creative Outputs
Measures Innovation Inputs & Outputs → how R&D converts to growth.
Regional Innovation
- Europe: Strongest region (Switzerland, Sweden).
- North America: USA (3), Canada (top 20).
- Asia: South Korea, Singapore, China (10th), India (38th) rising.
- Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania: Emerging innovation hubs.
Cheetah Relocation & Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in News: A female cheetah was recently relocated from Kuno National Park to Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, on the third anniversary of Project Cheetah.
Aim: Reduce stress on Kuno and diversify habitats for cheetahs.
About Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Established: 1974, in Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Location: Around the backwaters of Gandhisagar Dam on the Chambal River.
Importance:
- Declared a cheetah habitat (2nd after Kuno).
- Supports conservation initiatives – habitat restoration, prey base management, eco-tourism.
- Vegetation: Part of Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest (trees like Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash).
- Wildlife: Dhole (wild dogs), Chinkara, Leopard, Otter, Mugger Crocodile, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Gray Langur.
About Project Cheetah
- Launched: 2022, with 8 cheetahs from Namibia released in Kuno National Park.
- Later: 12 cheetahs translocated from South Africa (Feb 2023).
- Objective: Reintroduce cheetahs in India after extinction in 1952; restore ecological balance and grassland conservation.
- Authority: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC.
- Progress: India now has 27 cheetahs.
About Kuno National Park
- Declared: National Park in 2018; lies in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Location: Vindhyan hills & semi-arid region of northern MP, near Chambal River basin.
- Significance: Initially considered for Asiatic Lion relocation.
- Vegetation & Wildlife: Dry deciduous forests & grasslands.
- Species: Leopards, Chinkaras, Nilgai, Striped Hyenas, Jackals, and translocated Cheetahs.
