Prelims-Pinpointer-for-01-Nov-2025

Prelims

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)

Overview of CAPF

• Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refer to central police organisations under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• These forces, previously known as Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF), dropped the term “paramilitary” in 2011 to align with their growing significance in maintaining internal security and border guarding.
• CAPF consists of seven security forces, each managed by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers but with their own cadre.

Seven Forces under CAPF

• Assam Rifles (AR):
  • The oldest paramilitary force, responsible for guarding the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border. 
  • Under MHA’s administration, with operational control by the Indian Army.
• Border Security Force (BSF):
  • Guards Indo–Pakistan and Indo–Bangladesh borders, deployed at the Line of Control (LOC) and includes air, marine, artillery wings, and commando units. 
  • It is known as the First Line of Defence.
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):
  • Formed in 1969
  • Tasked with protecting critical infrastructure like nuclear installations, airports, and seaports.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
  • Created in 1939 to assist states with law and order, counter-insurgency, and anti-riot duties. 
  • Includes units like the RAF (Rapid Action Force) and the COBRA (anti-Naxal).
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP):
  • Established in 1962 after the Indo-China War, secures the Indo-China border.
  • It is a specialised mountain force skilled in mountaineering and skiing.
• National Security Guard (NSG):
  • The elite counter-terrorism force was created in 1986
  • It is widely known as Black Cats, founded after Operation Blue Star.
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB):
  • Formed in 1963, post-Indo-China war.
  • It is responsible for guarding Nepal and Bhutan’s borders.

Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan

Context: Union Health Ministry achieved three Guinness World Records under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan campaign, launched September 17 during the Poshan Maah celebration period.

More in News:

• Most people registered for the healthcare platform in one month, with over 3.21 crore registrations, setting an unprecedented global healthcare enrollment record.
• Most people signed up for breast cancer screening online in one week, with over 9.94 lakh participants joining the nationwide initiative.
• Most people signed up for vital signs screening online in one week at the State level, with over 1.25 lakh registrations achieved.

About the Abhiyaan

• Aimed at strengthening healthcare services for women and children across India comprehensively nationwide.
• Focus on improving access, quality care, and awareness for maternal and child health.
• Initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
• Encourages active participation from private hospitals and healthcare professionals for inclusive healthcare delivery.
• Objectives
  • Enhance women’s health through comprehensive screening and services ensuring quality healthcare access.
  • Promote family well-being via maternal and child care improving overall family health outcomes.
  • Foster behavior changes through education creating awareness about health and hygiene practices.
  • Encourage community participation and public awareness for sustainable health improvements and engagement.

Implementation Strategy

• Health Camps
  • Organize over one lakh health camps across Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Community Health Centres.
  • Coordinated and tracked through SASHAKT portal ensuring real-time monitoring and management efficiency.
• Awareness Campaigns
  • Leverage Doordarshan, All India Radio (AIR), social media campaigns to maximize public awareness.
  • Multi-platform outreach for maximizing participation and spreading health messages reaching diverse audiences.
• Volunteer Engagement
  • Expands participation through Nikshay Mitras and volunteers supporting tuberculosis eradication efforts comprehensively.
  • Support community health initiatives ensuring grassroots-level implementation and sustained engagement effectively.

Aabhar Store

• Indian Railways to patronise newly launched ‘Aabhar’ online store promoting local talent and artisans.
• Showcases exquisite gift items manufactured by indigenous tribes, handloom weavers under ODOP and GI products.
• Hosted by Government e-Marketplace (GeM) sourcing exclusively from authorised government emporia nationwide.
• Sources from Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) exclusively.
• Also, sources from various Central and State Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums ensure authenticity.
• Purpose
  • Promoted with ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign offering articles and hampers for official events, ceremonies.
  • Objective: promote social inclusion, encourage local artisans, support traditional industries, and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
  • Promote India’s rich heritage through handlooms, handicrafts, and artisanal goods, providing market access comprehensively.
  • Supports local artisans, rural entrepreneurs, and women-led enterprises for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
• Previous Initiatives
  • Railways launched the ‘One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme years ago, showcasing local products.
  • OSOP showcases: artefacts by indigenous tribes, handlooms by local weavers, handicrafts like chikankari.
  • Aim: provide a market for local/indigenous products, create additional income opportunities for marginalised sections.

Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)

Context: Foreign Portfolio Investors net bought ₹14,610 crore equities in October 2025, ending a three-month selling streak, alongside ₹3,507 crore debt securities purchase.

About FPI

• Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) refers to investments by foreign entities in financial assets like stocks, bonds, securities.
• Distinct from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): does not involve acquiring control over business operations.
• Key Characteristics
  • Passive investment: investors do not participate in company management or strategic decision-making processes.
  • Short-term focus: aims for capital appreciation rather than long-term strategic interests in companies.
  • Enhances market liquidity: provides capital flow into financial markets increasing efficiency and investment potential.
  • Sensitive to market sentiments: highly volatile; investors can quickly withdraw funds during economic/political instability.
• FPI Policy in India
  • A foreign investor can hold up to 10% total paid-up capital without being classified as FDI.
  • Holding exceeds 10%: reclassified as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with different regulatory requirements.
  • Regulated by SEBI, ensuring compliance with financial laws and market regulations for investor protection.

FII vs FPI

Aspect	Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)	Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
Definition	Subset of FPIs, including Mutual Funds, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies, Hedge Funds	Broad category of foreign investors, including FIIs and individual investors
Investment Approach	Structured, strategic investment approach	Diverse investment strategies, can include speculative investments
Hierarchical Relationship	All FIIs are FPIs, but not all FPIs are FIIs	Higher level than FIIs in terms of investor types

FDI vs FPI

Aspect	Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)	Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
Definition	Involves active management and physical business investment, like factories, offices	Involves passive investment, such as stocks, bonds only
Management Involvement	Actively manage business assets and operations	No direct management, only financial asset purchases
Exit Strategy	Difficult to exit, involves selling physical business assets (long-term commitment)	Easier to withdraw, as securities are highly liquid (short-term investment)
Market Type	Primary market (long-term focus)	Secondary market (short-term speculative investments)
Economic Impact	FDI boosts economic growth, employment, innovation	FPI primarily provides market liquidity

Fiscal Deficit

Context: Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at 36.5% of the full-year target at ₹5.73 lakh crore in April-September FY26, up from 29% previous year.

More in News:

• Government estimates fiscal deficit at 4.4% of GDP or ₹15.69 lakh crore for FY 2025-26; gap between expenditure and revenue measured accordingly.
• Centre received ₹17.3 lakh crore or 49.5% of Budget Estimates 2025-26 as total receipts up to September end this financial year.

Fiscal Deficit

• Fiscal deficit refers to the shortfall in the government’s revenue when compared to its expenditure.
• When the government’s expenditure exceeds revenues, the government must borrow money or sell assets to fund the deficit.
• Government Revenue
  • Taxes are mthe ost important revenue source for any government, ensuring financial sustainability and operations.
  • 2024-25: government’s tax receipts expected Rs 26.02 lakh crore; total revenue estimated Rs 30.8 lakh crore.

Controller General of Accounts (CGA)

About CGA

• CGA in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, isthe  Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.
• Responsible for establishing and managing the Management Accounting System and preparing Union Government accounts.
• Responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the central government, ensuring financial discipline.
• Established in October 1975 to administer the departmentalisation of Union accounts systematically nationwide.

Functions of CGA

• Accounting and Analysis
  • Prepares an annual analysis of expenditure, revenues, borrowings, and fiscal indicators for the Union Government comprehensively.
  • Formulates policies relating to general principles, forms, and procedures of accounting for the Central and State Governments.
• Payment and Receipt Administration
  • Administers the process of payments, receipts, and accounting in Central Civil Ministries/Departments, ensuring transparency.
• Internal Audit
  • Through Internal Audit Units, maintains requisite technical accounting standards in departmentalised accounting offices.
  • Monitors financial performance, effectiveness of various programs, schemes, and activities of civil ministries, ensuring accountability.
• Banking Arrangements
  • Administers banking arrangements for disbursements of government expenditures and collection of government receipts.
  • Interacts with the Central Bank for reconciliation of cash balances of the Union Government, ensuring accuracy.
• Monitoring and Coordination
  • Coordinates and monitors submission of corrective/remedial action taken notes (ATNs) on PAC and CAG reports.
  • Uses web-based Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) for tracking and monitoring progress systematically.
• Pension Administration
  • Looks after the pensions of Central government employees, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements nationwide.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

About APEC

• The Regional Economic Forum was established in 1989, leveraging the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region.
• Aims to create greater prosperity, promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, secure growth and regional integration.
• Focus on trade and economic issues; terms countries as “economies” rather than nations.
• Operates on non-binding commitments; decisions through consensus on a voluntary basis without treaty obligations.

Member Countries

• Currently has 21 members; membership criterion: independent economic entity, not necessarily a sovereign state.
• Members include: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia, China, and Japan.
  • Also includes South Korea, Russia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Secretariat

• APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, operates as a core support mechanism forthe  APEC process.

Economic Significance

• Member economies are home to over 2.9 billion people, representing a significant global population share.
• Make up over 60% of global GDP, highlighting APEC’s critical importance tothe  world economy.

Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan

About Ayni Air Base

• Ayni air base (Gissar Military Aerodrome) is a strategically located airbase in Tajikistan developed by India.
• India has helped develop and operate jointly with the Tajik government since 2002, India’s first overseas military facility.

Location

• Located just west of Dushanbe (Tajikistan’s capital); ~20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor strategically.
• Wakhan Corridor borders Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China, offering regional surveillance capabilities.

History

• Originally built during the Soviet era, fell into disuse after the USSR’s collapse in 1991 and was redeveloped in 2001-2002
• Funded by MEA: India spent $70 million extending the runway to 3,200 metres, building hangars, and refuelling facilities.
• Occasionally used by the IAF for humanitarian and evacuation missions, including the Afghanistan crisis of 2021.

Strategic Importance

• Provided India’s military foothold in the Central Asia region of high strategic interest for security.
• Enabled surveillance and operational reach over Pakistan and Afghanistan, monitoring regional activities effectively.
• Located near the Wakhan Corridor, offering India leverage in regional security, counter-terror operations significantly.
• Strengthened India’s role as a security partner in Central Asia amid growing China-Pakistan proximity threats.

Current Status

• Lease expired in 2021; Tajikistan declined renewal under Russian and Chinese influence and pressure.
• India completed its withdrawal in 2022; Russian forces took over operations by early 2023, reportedly.
• Though no longer Indian-operated, India continues diplomatic and security engagement in the Central Asia region.

Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) Initiative

About MYGS

• Model Youth Gram Sabha nationwide initiative providing students with hands-on experience in grassroots democracy.
• Simulates the functioning of real Gram Sabhas, encouraging civic awareness, leadership, and participatory governance among youth.

Organization

• Jointly launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Affairs collaboratively.
• Supported by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools nationwide.

Objectives

• Nurture democratic leadership among students through experiential and activity-based learning methods effectively.
• Align with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, fostering responsible, participative, community-oriented citizens.

Key Features

• Implementation across 1,000+ schools nationwide, ensuring wide reach and student participation extensively.
• Integration of training modules and a dedicated MYGS digital portal for streamlined implementation and monitoring.
• Promotes learning by doing, teamwork, transparency, and decision-making through mock Gram Sabha sessions practically.
• Plans to extend to urban areas through Model Ward Sabhas for city students, ensuring inclusivity.

Significance

• Connects education with governance, making students active participants in democracy at the grassroots level.
• Strengthens grassroots awareness and civic responsibility in youth, preparing future democratic leaders effectively.