Topic- 1: RailOne App Launched: One-Stop Digital Platform for All Passenger Services
GS-3: Science and technology
The context:
On the 40th Foundation Day of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the RailOne App—a unified, user-friendly mobile application aimed at enhancing passenger interaction with Indian Railways.
RailOne App launched : One-stop solution for all passenger services
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- Railways has been consistently enhancing passenger amenities through introduction of new-generation trains, station redevelopment, and coach upgrades to LHB coaches, significantly improving passenger experience over the past decade.
- On the 40th Foundation Day of Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Union Railway Minister launched the RailOne app at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
- The RailOne app is a one-stop digital solution focused on improving the passenger interface with Indian Railways through a comprehensive and user-friendly platform.
- The app is available for download on both Android Play Store and iOS App Store, integrating multiple passenger services for seamless access.
It integrates all the passenger services such as:
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- Unreserved UTS Tickets via R-Wallet to Get 3% Discount
- Live train tracking
- Grievance redressal
- E-catering, porter booking & last-mile taxi
- RailOne enables services such as unreserved UTS tickets via R-Wallet with a 3% discount, live train tracking, grievance redressal, e-catering, porter booking, and last-mile taxi services.
- Reserved ticket booking will continue through IRCTC, though RailOne is also IRCTC-authorised like other commercial partners.
- The app offers a single-sign-on login system using mPIN or biometric, supports RailConnect and UTS credentials, and saves space by eliminating the need for multiple apps.
- The Railway Minister urged CRIS to continue strengthening Indian Railways’ digital infrastructure and appreciated the progress on the development of a modern Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to be launched by December 2025.
- The upgraded PRS will be agile, multilingual, inclusive, and scalable to manage 10 times the current load, supporting 1.5 lakh bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute.
Technology Defining the Future
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- Indian Railways is driven by PM Narendra Modi’s vision of making it the growth engine of India’s Vikas Yatra. Launch of RailOne app reaffirms Bhartiya Rail’s commitment to democratizing technology and delivering world-class mobility to every passenger.
Source: PIB
Topic- 2: PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025
GS-2: Governance
The context:
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has officially notified the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025 on 1st July 2025, aimed at recognizing outstanding contributions of civil servants across India.
The scheme includes 16 awards under three categories:
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- Category I: Holistic Development of Districts under 11 priority sector programmes (5 awards)
- Category II: Aspirational Blocks Programme (5 awards)
- Category III: Innovations by Central Ministries/Departments, States, and Districts (6 awards)
Key Highlights:
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- The web portal for registration and submission of nominations will be launched on 2nd October 2025, from which nominations can be formally submitted.
- The awards aim to promote holistic development using a saturation approach, focusing on data-backed governance and qualitative assessment of 11 priority sector schemes.
- Since 2014, the Awards Scheme has undergone a transformational change under Prime Minister of India emphasizing constructive competition, innovation, replication, and institutionalization of best practices.
- Evaluation will prioritize good governance, qualitative achievements, and last-mile connectivity over mere quantitative outcomes, shifting the focus from numbers to impact.
- For 2025, the awards will particularly assess the performance of District Collectors in delivering benefits to targeted individual beneficiaries through saturation implementation.
- The period of consideration is 1st April 2022 to 30th September 2025 for Category I, and 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2025 for Categories II and III.
- The multi-stage evaluation process includes short-listing by Screening Committees, assessment by an Expert Committee, and final selection by an Empowered Committee with Prime Minister’s approval.
- Each award will comprise a trophy, a scroll, and an incentive of ₹20 lakh to the awarded district or organization for project implementation or bridging public welfare resource gaps.
Source: PIB
Topic- 3: Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme
GS-3: Economy
The context:
On 1st July 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India , approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, aimed at promoting job creation, enhancing employability, and ensuring social security across sectors — with a special focus on the manufacturing sector.
The Key Highlights: Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme – 2025
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- The ELI Scheme, with a outlay of ₹99,446 crore, aims to generate over 3.5 crore jobs in two years, of which 1.92 crore are targeted to be first-time employees.
- The scheme will be applicable to jobs created between 1st August 2025 and 31st July 2027 and forms part of a ₹2 lakh crore package announced in Union Budget 2024–25 to support 4.1 crore youth through five employment and skilling initiative
- The scheme comprises two components: Part A offers direct incentives to first-time employees, while Part B provides incentives to employers generating new employment.
- Under Part A, first-time employees with EPF-linked salaries up to ₹1 lakh/month will receive one month’s EPF wage (up to ₹15,000) in two installments after 6 and 12 months of service, with a portion kept in a savings deposit for future withdrawal.
- The second installment under Part A is contingent upon the completion of a financial literacy programme by the employee, aimed at promoting long-term savings and financial awareness.
- Part B incentivizes employers for hiring new employees with sustained employment for at least six months; incentives range from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per month per additional employee based on their salary bracket.
- Employers registered with EPFO must hire at least two new employees (for establishments with less than 50 employees) or five (for those with 50 or more employees) to be eligible for benefits under Part B.
- For the manufacturing sector, employer incentives will extend to the third and fourth years, in contrast to two years for other sectors, underscoring the sector’s priority in India’s job creation strategy.
- Payments to employees under Part A will be made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System, while payments to employers under Part B will be credited to PAN-linked bank accounts, promoting transparency and formalization of employment.
Source: PIB
Topic- 4: Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
GS-3: Economy
The context:
Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister of India has approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a corpus of Rs. One lakh Crore.
About Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
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- It aims to provide long-term financing or refinancing with long tenors at low or nil interest rates to spur private sector investment in RDI.
- The scheme has been designed to overcome the constraints and challenges in funding of private sector.
- It seeks to provide growth & risk capital to sunrise and strategic sectors to facilitate innovation, promote adoption of technology and enhance competitiveness.
Key Objectives of the Scheme
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- Encourage the private sector to scale up research, development, and innovation (RDI) in sunrise domains and in other sectors relevant for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance;
- Finance transformative projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)
- Support acquisition of technologies which are critical or of high strategic importance;
- Facilitate setting up of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds.
Funding Mechanism of Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
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- The RDI Scheme will have a two-tiered funding mechanism.
- At the first level, there will be a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) established within the ANRF, which will act as the custodian of funds.
- From the SPF funds shall be allocated to a variety of 2nd level fund managers. This will be mainly in the form of long-term concessional loans.
- The funding to R&D projects by the 2nd level fund managers would normally be in the form of long-term loan at low or nil interest rates.
- Financing in the form of equity may also be done, especially in case of startups. Contribution to Deep-Tech Fund of Funds (FoF) or any other FoF meant for RDI may also be considered.
Execution of the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
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- The Governing Board of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), chaired by the Prime Minister, will provide overarching strategic direction to the RDI Scheme.
- The Executive Council (EC) of ANRF will approve the Scheme’s guidelines, and recommend 2nd level fund managers and scope and type of projects in sunrise sectors.
- An Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) led by the Cabinet Secretary, will be responsible for approving scheme changes, sectors and types of projects as well as second-level fund managers besides reviewing the performance of the Scheme.
- Nodal Department: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will serve as the nodal department for implementation of the RDI Scheme.
Source: PIB
Topic- 5: Indian Navy Leads Firefighting and Rescue Operation on MT Yi Cheng 6 in North Arabian Sea
GS-3: Science and Technology
The context:
On 29 June 2025, the Indian Navy, demonstrating high operational readiness and humanitarian commitment, conducted a critical firefighting and rescue operation aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Yi Cheng 6, which had suffered a major engine room fire approximately 80 nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE, in the North Arabian Sea.
Rescue Operation Highlights:
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- Firefighting Efforts:
- 7 crew evacuated early for safety and medical examination.
- 6-member fire control team from INS Tabar deployed initially.
- Reinforced by 13 additional naval personnel (5 officers + 8 sailors).
- Fire contained to engine room through sustained firefighting.
- Medical & Safety Measures:
- All 14 Indian crew members safe.
- Continuous temperature checks and monitoring underway.
- INS Tabar remains on-site for extended support.
- Firefighting Efforts:
Significance of the Operation:
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- Demonstrates Indian Navy’s humanitarian role and maritime responsiveness.
- Upholds India’s position as a “First Responder” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Reinforces mission-based deployment strategy and commitment to safety of Indian seafarers.
- Reflects operational synergy between naval capability and civil maritime safety.
About INS Tabar:
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- A Talwar-class stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.
- Regularly deployed in Mission-Based Deployments (MBDs) for maritime security, HADR, and anti-piracy patrols in the IOR.
Source: PIB
Topic- 6: INS Tamal Commissioned – Boost to Indian Navy’s Maritime Prowess
GS-3: Internal Security
The context:
On 01 July 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned INS Tamal (F 71)—the eighth multi-role stealth frigate under Project 1135.6 and the second of the Tushil-class ships—at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia.
The Key Highlights:
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- Tamal is the second ship of the Tushil-class and the eighth in the series of Project 1135.6 multi-role stealth frigates, designed for blue-water operations across all four warfare dimensions: air, surface, underwater, and electromagnetic.
- The ship is commanded by Capt Sridhar Tata, a specialist in gunnery and missile warfare, and is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet — “The Sword Arm” under the Western Naval Command.
- The commissioning included ceremonial events such as Guard of Honour, signing of the Delivery Act, lowering of the Russian flag, hoisting of the Indian Naval Ensign, reading of the Commissioning Warrant, and hoisting of the ship’s commissioning pennant.
- INS Tamal is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil-1 vertical launch surface-to-air missiles, 100mm main gun, 30mm close-in weapon systems, potent anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rockets, and heavyweight torpedoes.
- The ship incorporates advanced Indian systems like the indigenous Humsa-NG sonar and has 26% indigenous content despite being built in Russia; future ships of the class will be built in India, boosting Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
- Tamal features sophisticated automated systems for nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) defence, advanced electronic warfare systems, network-centric capabilities, and a combat management system that integrates all weapons and sensors.
- It is capable of operating Kamov-28 ASW helicopters and Kamov-31 AEW helicopters, enhancing maritime domain awareness and ASW capability.
- The commissioning of INS Tamal represents the 51st ship delivered under Indo-Russian naval collaboration in 65 years and is a testament to the strong strategic maritime partnership between India and Russia.
- With a complement of 250 sailors and 26 officers, Tamal’s motto “Sarvatra Sarvada Vijaya” (Victory always, everywhere) reflects its role as a force multiplier in safeguarding national maritime interests, with its homeport at Karwar, Karnataka.
About INS Tamal
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- It is the stealth multi-role frigate belonging to the series of Krivak class frigates inducted from Russia over the past two decades.
- The ship’s name, Tamal, symbolises the mythical sword used for combat by Indra – the King of the gods.
- It is the second ship of the Tushil Class, which are the upgraded versions of their predecessors, Talwar and Teg classes having three ships each.
- It was built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and is the last warship to be inducted from a foreign source, in line with the Government of India’s impetus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Features of INS Tamal
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- It has 26% indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile for targeting both at sea and land.
- It has significant upgrades in its arsenal in comparison to its predecessors, such as vertically launched surface-to-air missiles, improved 100 MM gun, new age EO/IR system in addition to the standard 30 MM CIWS, heavyweight torpedoes, urgent-attack anti-submarine rockets, and a host of surveillance and fire control radars and systems.
- Force multipliers include Air Early Warning and Multi Role helicopters, which can operate from the deck of Tamal.
- The combat capability of the ship is augmented by a host of Network Centric Warfare capabilities and advanced Electronic Warfare suite.
- Tamal punches well above its weight with a very high tonnage to firepower ratio, extended endurance, and a top speed in excess of 30 knots.
- It has successively completed extensive sea trials undertaken over three months, proving its systems, weapons and sensors.
- Its mascot is inspired by the congruence of the ‘Jambavant’ the Immortal Bear King of Indian Mythology and the Russian National Animal – the Eurasian Brown Bear.
Source: PIB
Topic- 7: INS Udaygiri Delivered to Indian Navy Under Project 17A: A Boost to Indigenous Naval Power
GS-3: Defense, Security, Indigenization of Technology
The context:
On 1 July 2025, Yard 12652 (Udaygiri)—the second indigenous stealth frigate under Project 17A—was delivered to the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
The Key Highlights:
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- Project 17A is the advanced follow-on of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates, and seven such ships are under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata.
- Udaygiri is a modern reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Udaygiri, a steam-propelled ship decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service.
- Designed for blue water operations, P-17A frigates are capable of countering both conventional and non-conventional threats in areas of India’s maritime interests.
- The ship features state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, enhanced stealth technology, and a hull that is 4.54% larger than its P-17 predecessor.
- Udaygiri is equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system with controllable pitch propellers and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
- The weapons suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, a medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a 76mm main gun, and rapid-fire close–in weapon systems of 30mm and 12.7mm calibre.
- The frigate was constructed using the ‘Integrated Construction’ method involving extensive pre-outfitting at the block stage, enabling its delivery in a record time of 37 months from launching.
- The delivery of Udaygiri underlines India’s growing Aatmanirbharta in defence production, with over 200 MSMEs supplying indigenous systems, and major weapons and sensors sourced from Indian OEMs.
- The P-17A project has generated direct employment for about 4,000 individuals and indirect opportunities for over 10,000 more, contributing to self-reliance, economic growth, and expansion of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Source: PIB
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