National Commission for Safai Karamcharis

Polity

News

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has made the appointment of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Members of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)

Established: 1994 under the NCSK Act, 1993 as a statutory body for 3 years.
Present status: Its statutory tenure lapsed; it continues as a non-statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Objective: Protect the dignity, safety, welfare and socio-economic interests of Safai Karamcharis.

Key Functions:

Monitor implementation of welfare and rehabilitation schemes.
Investigate grievances/complaints and take suo motu action.
Examine working conditions, health, safety and wages.
Advise Central & State Governments and submit reports/recommendations.
Oversee implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0

Economy

Context

The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 provides targeted credit guarantee support to businesses affected by external disruptions.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)

Launched: 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package to provide credit support to businesses affected by COVID-19.
ECLGS 1.0: MSMEs, business enterprises, Mudra borrowers & individual business loans; loans ≤ ₹50 crore, DPD ≤60 days (Feb 2020).
ECLGS 2.0: 26 stressed sectors + healthcare; loans >₹50 crore to ₹500 crore, DPD ≤60 days.
ECLGS 3.0: Hospitality, travel & tourism, leisure/sporting and civil aviation.
ECLGS 4.0: Strengthened healthcare infrastructure; hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical colleges and oxygen-related manufacturers.
ECLGS 5.0: Operational till 31 March 2027 or guarantees of ₹2.55 lakh crore, whichever is earlier.
- Covers MSMEs, eligible non-MSME business borrowers & scheduled passenger airlines.
- Guarantee coverage: 100% for eligible MSMEs; 90% for eligible non-MSMEs.
- No guarantee fee payable by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs).
- ECLGS = Government credit guarantee → enables lending to stressed businesses → COVID-era economic recovery.

Road Map To make India drug-free by 2029

Polity

Context

The Union Home Minister outlined a three-year roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029.

Roadmap

Goal: India aims to become drug-free by 2029; broader national goal is Drug-Free India by 2047.

Four Pillars:

Intelligence & operation-based enforcement
Precursor & synthetic drug control
Demand & harm reduction
Capacity building & coordination

Additional Information – Initiatives by the Government to control drug abuse

NDPS Act, 1985: Prohibits illicit production, possession, sale and consumption of narcotic drugs/psychotropic substances; prescribes penalties.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (2020): Awareness, prevention and rehabilitation against drug abuse.
National Goal: Drug-Free India by 2047.
International Cooperation: Bilateral agreements with 27 countries, MoUs with 16, and security-cooperation agreements with 2 countries.
ANTF: State-level Anti-Narcotics Task Forces for enforcement.
DarkNet Monitoring Cell (NCB): Tracks online drug trafficking/sales.
Joint Coordination Committee (JCC): Headed by DG, NCB; monitors investigation of major drug seizures.
NCORD (2019): Four-tier coordination mechanism at Centre, State and district levels to combat drug trafficking.

Jute- India’s Golden Fibre

Economy

Context

India is the world’s largest producer of raw jute and accounts for about 75% of estimated global jute goods production.

Jute

Natural fibre: Biodegradable, recyclable, fast-growing, low-cost & widely available.
Properties: Strong, durable, breathable and versatile.
Functional benefits: Thermal & acoustic insulation and high moisture absorption.
Applications: Packaging, construction, agriculture and industrial textile and low static generation.

Jute Crop Information System project

Aim: To monitor jute cultivation using remote sensing and field data.
As part of this initiative, two key tools have been developed:

BHUVAN JUMP – A mobile app for on-field jute monitoring, and
PATSAN (Prospective Assessment of Jute Using Mobile App-Based Field Observations) – a web-based platform that provides near-real-time jute surveillance and analytics to support informed decision-making by officials and stakeholders.

Jute Production In India

- It is also called the golden fibre, in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly product.

India is the largest producer of jute followed by Bangladesh and China.

West Bengal, Bihar and Assam account for almost 99% of India’s total production.

Conditions Required for Jute Production

- Temperature: A mean maximum and minimum temperature of 34°C and 15°C and a mean relative humidity of 65% are required.

Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm.

Soil: Jute can be raised on all kinds of soils from clay to sandy loam, but loamy alluvial soils are best suited.

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Environment

Context

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed globally on 7 September.
The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in 2019 to strengthen global action against air pollution.

Air Pollution

Definition: Presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere at concentrations that can harm human health and the environment.
Pollutants: May occur as gases, liquid droplets or solid particles; sources can be natural or anthropogenic.
Major pollutants: PM, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, CO, VOCs and Lead.
Particulate Matter (PM): Tiny solid/liquid particles suspended in air.
- PM₁₀: ≤ 10 μm diameter.
- PM₂.₅: ≤ 2.5 μm diameter.
Health significance: Smaller particles, especially PM₂.₅, penetrate deeper into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, causing greater health risks.
PM₂.₅ is more hazardous than PM₁₀ due to its smaller size and deeper penetration into the respiratory system.

Air Pollution in India (World Air Quality Report 2025)

India: Ranked 6th most polluted country globally.
National PM₂.₅ average: 48.9 µg/m³ — nearly 10× WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Top 25 polluted cities: Located in Pakistan, India and China.
Most polluted city: Loni (Ghaziabad) — PM₂.₅: 112.5 µg/m³.
Byrnihat (Meghalaya): 3rd most polluted city globally.
Delhi: Ranked 4th globally.

Additional Information – Government Initiatives to Curb Air Pollution in India

NAMP: CPCB programme to monitor ambient air quality, assess pollution levels, trends and future changes.
NCAP (2019): Comprehensive programme to reduce air pollution in identified cities/regions through monitoring, emission control and public awareness.
BS-VI (2020): Stricter vehicle emission norms promoting cleaner fuels & advanced emission-control technologies.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan (2022–23): Annual assessment of 130 cities under NCAP; evaluates pollution-control measures and implementation of City Clean Air Action Plans.
PMUY: Promotes LPG as clean cooking fuel, reducing dependence on biomass.
FAME: Promotes electric & hybrid vehicles through incentives, reducing vehicular emissions.
GRIHA: Promotes energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
Waste Management: Swachh Bharat and other initiatives aim to reduce open waste burning and improve waste disposal.
CAQM: Ensures coordinated action on air pollution in NCR & adjoining areas through coordination, research and problem-solving.
Green India Mission: Promotes afforestation and increased tree cover to support air-quality improvement.

Rajasthan Shekhawati Havelis enter UNESCO Tentative List

Culture

Context

Rajasthan’s historic Shekhawati havelis have been included in the UNESCO Tentative List, marking a significant step towards their recognition on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Shekhawati Havelis

Location: Northeastern Rajasthan; included in UNESCO Tentative List.
14 towns: Alsisar, Bissau, Chirawa, Churu, Dundlod, Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, Khetri, Laxmangarh, Mandawa, Mahansar, Nawalgarh, Ramgarh & Sikar.
Features: Elaborately painted havelis, frescoes, courtyards, gateways and ornate façades.
Fresco themes: Religious/mythological stories, portraits, daily life, flora & fauna and traditional motifs.
Historical value: Murals document 19th–early 20th century technological and cultural changes, including new transport and external influences.

UNESCO Tentative List

Inventory of cultural/natural sites with potential Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that may be nominated for World Heritage status.
A site generally needs to remain on the Tentative List for at least 1 year before formal nomination.
Tentative List ≠ World Heritage status; it is a preliminary step.
Sites can be added, removed or updated.