Daily PIB Highlights – 28th & 29th  September 2025

Topic 1: PM pays tribute to Rani Rashmoni on her birth anniversary

GS Paper 1: Modern Indian History | GS Paper 4: Ethics (Philanthropy & Leadership)

Context: On her birth anniversary, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rani Rashmoni, describing her as a towering figure of courage, compassion, and conviction. She is remembered as a visionary social reformer, philanthropist, and spiritual leader from 19th-century Bengal.

About Rani Rashmoni (1793–1861):

• • Born in Hooghly district, Bengal, she rose from humble origins and became the zamindar of Janbazar Estate after her husband’s death.
  • Renowned for her social reform initiatives, philanthropy, and fearless leadership.
  • Philanthropy & Institutions:
    • Founded the iconic Dakshineswar Kali Temple (1855), where Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa later served as priest.
    • Contributed to building schools, roads, ghats, and charitable works in Calcutta and surrounding regions.
    • Supported fishermen, traders, and the poor by constructing ghats and public infrastructure along the Ganga.
  • Role in Society & Reform:
    • Defended the rights of peasants and common people against exploitative colonial policies.
    • Extended help to the downtrodden, widows, and marginalized groups.
    • Patronized education, culture, and spirituality, making her a bridge between faith and social welfare.
  • Legacy:
    • Remembered as a pioneer of women’s leadership in colonial India, combining religious devotion with progressive social action.
    • Her works inspired leaders of the Bengal Renaissance and reformers who carried forward her vision.

Strategic Significance:

• • Her life reflects the role of women in India’s social reform movements during the 19th century.
  • Symbolizes compassionate leadership, integrating spirituality with social service.
  • Demonstrates how philanthropy and institution-building can outlast individuals, leaving a lasting cultural and spiritual impact.
  • Provides ethical inspiration in today’s context of inclusive development and service to the poor.

Conclusion:

Rani Rashmoni remains a timeless figure of courage, philanthropy, and visionary leadership. Her contribution to spiritual life, social reform, and welfare of the marginalized continues to inspire India’s journey of inclusivity and compassion in nation-building.

Topic 2: NAVYA – Empowering Adolescent Girls for a Viksit Bharat

GS Paper 2: Governance | GS Paper 3: Economy

Context: The Government of India launched the NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls) initiative on 24th June 2025 in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. It is a joint effort of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD). NAVYA aims to equip adolescent girls (16–18 years, Class 10 and above) with vocational training in emerging, non-traditional sectors along with holistic life skills to ensure socio-economic independence.

Key Highlights:

• • Coverage: Target to train 3,850 girls in 27 Aspirational and North-Eastern districts across 19 states. Currently piloted in 9 districts across 9 states.
  • Vocational Training (PMKVY 4.0 & PM Vishwakarma integration):
    • Focus on non-traditional and emerging fields: digital marketing, AI-enabled services, cybersecurity, graphic design, drone assembly, CCTV & solar PV installation, professional makeup artist etc.
    • Demand-driven and industry-aligned to enhance employability and entrepreneurship.
  • Holistic Development Modules (7 hours):
    • Interpersonal skills – hygiene, self-presentation, conflict management.
    • Communication skills – workplace interaction, active listening.
    • Workplace safety – awareness of POSH and POCSO laws.
    • Financial literacy – budgeting, earnings management, savings.
  • Forward Linkages: Internships, apprenticeships, and pathways to self-employment and job opportunities.
  • Gender Inclusivity: Safe training spaces, stipends, and encouragement for girls to enter male-dominated technical fields.

Strategic Significance:

• • Empowers adolescent girls in underserved and tribal areas, bridging the gap between education and livelihood.
  • Advances gender-inclusive skilling, breaking stereotypes by training girls in cybersecurity, AI, and emerging tech.
  • Promotes economic independence, confidence, and resilience, enabling participants to pursue jobs or entrepreneurship.
  • Supports India’s demographic dividend by preparing skilled youth for future-ready industries.
  • Aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, ensuring women become equal contributors to national development.

Conclusion:

NAVYA, by linking education with employability and focusing on future-oriented sectors, fosters self-reliance, inclusivity, and gender equity.

Topic 3: Siphon-Powered Desalination – Turning Saltwater into Sweetwater

GS Paper 3: Science & Technology | GS Paper 2: Governance

Context: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a siphon-based thermal desalination system that produces clean drinking water from seawater faster, cheaper, and more reliably than conventional solar stills. Supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), the breakthrough holds promise for addressing India’s and the world’s growing water scarcity challenges.

Key Highlights of the Innovation:

• • Challenges in Conventional Solar Stills:
    • Salt buildup on evaporator surfaces, blocking flow.
    • Scaling limits as wicking materials can only lift water 10–15 cm, restricting system size.
  • New Solution – Siphon Principle:
    • Uses a composite siphon: fabric wick + grooved metallic surface.
    • Wick draws saltwater; gravity ensures smooth flow.
    • Prevents salt crystallization by flushing it away before buildup.
  • Working Mechanism:
    • Thin water film flows across heated metal surface → evaporates.
    • Vapor condenses on a nearby cooler surface, just 2 mm away.
    • Ultra-narrow air gap enhances efficiency.
  • Performance:
    • Produces >6 liters of fresh water per sq. meter per hour under sunlight (several times higher than traditional solar stills).
    • Can handle up to 20% salinity without clogging—ideal for brine-rich water.
    • Heat recycling through stacked evaporator–condenser pairs maximises output.
  • Practical Features:
    • Low-cost, scalable, and made with simple materials (aluminum, fabric).
    • Operates on solar energy or waste heat.
    • Suitable for off-grid communities, disaster relief, and arid coastal regions.

Strategic Significance:

• • Tackles India’s and global water stress by making seawater a reliable drinking source.
  • Offers a sustainable, decentralized solution for villages, coastal areas, and island nations.
  • Reduces dependence on expensive, energy-intensive desalination plants.
  • Enhances disaster resilience by providing portable, off-grid safe water technology.
  • Strengthens India’s scientific innovation ecosystem, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat in water security technologies.

Conclusion:

The siphon-powered desalination system represents a game-changing advance in water purification by turning the ocean into a dependable source of drinking water. It can empower millions in water-stressed regions.