Topic- 1: Biomass Programme Guidelines
GS-2&3: Governance & Economy
The context:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has revised the Biomass Programme guidelines under Phase-I of the National Bioenergy Programme (2021–22 to 2025–26) to accelerate the adoption of biomass energy in India.
Key Revisions in the Biomass Programme Guidelines:
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- The revised guidelines simplify several processes including documentation and approval procedures, particularly benefiting MSMEs and supporting stubble management efforts.
- To make monitoring more affordable, the use of IoT-based monitoring systems or quarterly data submissions is now allowed in place of costlier SCADA systems.
- Developers of briquette and pellet manufacturing plants are no longer required to submit multiple clearance- related documents, thereby saving time and effort.
- The requirement for a two-year briquette or pellet sale contract has been replaced by a general sale agreement, giving developers more flexibility to adapt to market changes.
- Subsidy disbursement under the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) scheme is now performance-based, with full assistance provided to projects operating at or above 80% capacity, and pro-rata support below that level.
- The performance inspection window can now occur within 18 months from either the commissioning date or the In-principle approval date, whichever is later, with an option for extension by the MNRE Secretary.
- The inspection duration requirement for assessing operational capacity has been reduced from 16 hours per day over three days to a 10-hour continuous operation to verify plant performance.
- Pellet producers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh can now select between MNRE and CPCB support schemes based on whichever is more beneficial.
- These revisions aim to ensure the smooth implementation of the biomass programme, promote the establishment of more biomass-based plants, and contribute to sustainable agricultural waste management and pollution control.
Source: PIB
Topic- 2: Statistics Day
GS-3: Economy
The context:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will commemorate the 19th Statistics Day on June 29, 2025, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Statistics Day 2025 – Key Facts
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- Date: June 29, 2025
- Occasion: 19th Statistics Day
- Observed by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
- Objective: To raise awareness about the role of statistics in socio-economic planning and national development
Key Highlights of Statistics Day-2025:
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- The theme for 2025 is “75 Years of National Sample Survey,” recognising the National Sample Survey’s vital contribution to evidence-based governance and reliable statistical data in India.
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- To commemorate the 75th year of the National Sample Survey, a Commemorative Coin and Customized My Stamp will be released by the Ministry.
- Important publications such as the Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report 2025 and Nutritional Intake in India 2022-23 & 2023-24 will also be launched.
- MoSPI will launch the GoIStat mobile application, designed to provide user-friendly access to official statistics to stakeholders and the public.
- A technical session will follow the inauguration, including a short film on the 75-year journey of the National Sample Survey and a panel discussion on “Impact of Frontier Technologies on Official Statistics.”
- The event is expected to host around 700 participants including government officials, domain experts, and representatives from national and international organisations, with highlights shared via MoSPI’s social media platforms.
Source: PIB
Topic- 3: Centre Issues Model Rules to Boost Ease of Doing Business in Agroforestry
GS-3: Economy & Science and Technology
The context:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands on 29th June 2025. These are intended to assist States and Union Territories in simplifying regulatory frameworks related to agroforestry—an integrated land use system that provides ecological, economic, and social benefits.
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- Agroforestry is recognized for its multiple benefits including rural livelihood enhancement, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and reduced pressure on natural forests.
- The Model Rules aim to simplify processes for registering agroforestry lands and managing tree harvesting and transit, thereby encouraging wider adoption among farmers and stakeholders.
Key Objectives
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- Promote Agroforestry Practices: Encourage integration of trees into farming systems to enhance rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
- Simplify Regulatory Frameworks: Support States/UTs in reducing procedural hurdles in tree felling, registration, and timber transport.
- Enhance Ease of Doing Business: Make it easier for farmers and stakeholders to engage in agroforestry by streamlining permissions and monitoring.
- Boost Domestic Timber Production: Reduce reliance on forest-based timber by supporting tree-based farming systems on agricultural lands.
- Support Climate Resilience: Encourage practices that contribute to water conservation, biodiversity protection, and soil health.
- Balance Ecology and Economy: Ensure sustainable land use practices while supporting income generation for rural communities.
Highlights of the Model Rules
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- Digital Registration via NTMS Portal: Farmers must register agroforestry plantations on the upcoming National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal using geotagged data, ownership details, KML files, and plantation specifics.
- Online Tree Felling Applications: Harvesting requests can be submitted online with species-wise details of trees to be felled from registered lands.
- Empanelled Verification Agencies: Independent agencies, overseen by Divisional Forest Officers, will inspect and verify applications for felling permissions.
- Geo-tagged Monitoring: Periodic uploading of geotagged plantation photos ensures traceability and transparency.
- State-Level Oversight: State Level Committees (as per Wood-Based Industries Guidelines, 2016) will guide implementation and help ease transit and felling regulations.
- Permit Issuance Based on Verification: Tree felling permits will be issued after physical verification and compliance checks, reducing delays and uncertainty.
- Support for Wood-Based Industries: Locally sourced timber from agroforestry will aid in raw material supply for domestic industries and exports.
- Encouragement of Commercial Species: Easier approval processes for commercially valuable species to incentivize economic forestry on farms.
- Periodic Supervision and Monitoring: Divisional Forest Officers will monitor the functioning of verifying agencies to ensure accountability.
- Voluntary Adoption by States/UTs: Model Rules are advisory, and States/UTs are encouraged to adopt them to promote sustainable agroforestry practices locally.
Source: PIB
Topic- 4: National Turmeric Board
GS-3: Science and Technology
The context:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, fulfilling a 40-year-old demand of turmeric farmers, particularly from Telangana.
Highlights of the National Turmeric Board Initiative
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- National Turmeric Board Headquarters was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Nizamabad, Telangana, fulfilling a 40-year-old demand of turmeric farmers.
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- The Board aims to boost turmeric exports to $1 billion by 2030, with all necessary preparations already in place.
- It will establish a complete value chain for turmeric including packaging, branding, marketing, and export, reducing dependence on middlemen.
- With this initiative, Nizamabad’s turmeric is expected to reach global markets within the next 3–4 years.
- The Board will ensure fair pricing, with the current rate of ₹18,000–₹19,000 per quintal expected to rise by ₹6,000– ₹7,000 over three years.
- GI-tagged and organic turmeric production will be promoted to enhance market value and global appeal.
- Farmers will benefit from training and skill development to meet global quality standards and avoid export-related issues.
- The government will promote scientific research on turmeric’s health benefits, highlighting its anti-viral, anti- cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Support from National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) will enhance farmer participation in exports and organic farming.
- In 2023–24, turmeric was cultivated on 3 lakh hectares, producing 74 lakh tonnes, with Telangana districts like Nizamabad, Jagtial, Nirmal, and Kamareddy leading production.
About the National Turmeric Board:
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- It will provide leadership on turmeric related matters, augment the efforts, and facilitate greater coordination with Spices Board and other Government agencies in development and growth of the turmeric sector.
Composition of Board
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- A Chairperson to be appointed by the Central Government.
- A Secretary to be appointed by the Department of Commerce.
- Members from the Ministry of AYUSH, Departments of Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Commerce & Industry of the Union Government.
- Representatives from the top two turmeric growing states of Maharashtra and Telangana and from the state of Meghalaya. States will be represented on the Board by rotation.
- Select national/state institutions involved in research, representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters.
Mandate
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- The Board will focus on key areas such as research and development, value addition to turmeric products, and promoting awareness of the spice’s medicinal and essential properties.
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- It will also work on improving turmeric yield, enhancing logistics and supply chains, and exploring new international markets for turmeric.
- Ensuring quality and safety standards for turmeric production and exports will also be a critical aspect of the Board’s mandate.
Headquarter: Nizamabad, Telangana
Status of Turmeric in India
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- Turmeric, often referred to as the “Golden Spice,” holds immense economic potential for Indian farmers, particularly those in 20 states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
- The largest producing states of Turmeric are Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- The leading export markets for Indian Turmeric are Bangladesh, UAE, USA and Malaysia.
- India is responsible for over 70% of the world’s turmeric production, with 30 varieties of turmeric being grown in the country.
Source: PIB
Topic- 5: GoIStats Mobile App
GS-3: Science and Technology
The context:
On Statistics Day 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the GoIStats mobile application, developed by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO). The app is a major step toward creating a citizen- centric, transparent, and mobile-first data ecosystem in India.
Key Features of GoIStats Mobile App
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- The GoIStats mobile app was launched by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) under MoSPI on Statistics Day 2025 to provide easy, on-the-go access to official statistical data.
- The app is a part of MoSPI’s vision to create a user-centric, accessible, and integrated digital data ecosystem for all stakeholders.
- It features an interactive “Key Trends” dashboard with dynamic visualizations of major socio-economic indicators like GDP, inflation, and employment.
- Users can directly access NSO’s data through the “Products” section, with one-click CSV downloads for seamless data use.
- The app offers advanced search and filtering, mobile-optimized data tables, and complete metadata support for better understanding and usability.
- A curated infographics section transforms complex data into easy-to-understand visuals with interactive charts, contextual explanations, and social sharing features.
- The publication section provides direct access to NSO reports with instant download options, aligned with MoSPI’s publication calendar and app notifications.
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- The app includes a feedback mechanism, a user-friendly interface, and a “Contact Us” section for improved communication and continuous development.
- Transparency and trust are ensured through proper source attribution for every visualization and dataset presented.
- The Android version is now available free of cost on the Google Play Store, while the iOS version is expected to be launched soon.
Source: PIB
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