Daily PIB Highlights – (11th & 12th OCTOBER 2025)

Topic 1: PM Launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ & ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’

GS Paper 3: Indian Economy | GS Paper 2: Governance

Context: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched two transformative schemes — the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’ — alongside inaugurating and laying the foundation for 1,100 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors. These initiatives collectively represent a historic investment exceeding ₹42,000 crore for strengthening India’s agricultural and rural ecosystem.

Key Initiatives & Announcements:

Initiative	Objective	Key Features
Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana	Comprehensive agricultural development across aspirational districts	• Integrates 36 sub-schemes under 11 ministries for coordinated agricultural progress. • Focuses on infrastructure, innovation, and farmer welfare.
Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission	Achieve self-sufficiency in pulses	• Reduce import dependence by boosting domestic production. • Encourage R&D, high-yield seed varieties, and area expansion.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)	Rural infrastructure creation	• PM inaugurated/laid foundation for 1,100 projects — modern cold storages, warehouses, and processing units.
Farmer Recognition	Encourage innovation and entrepreneurship	• PM felicitated farmers, FPOs, cooperatives, and innovators demonstrating excellence in agri-business.

 Key Highlights:

• • PM Modi: Emphasized farmers’ central role in Viksit Bharat and the goal of achieving “Samriddh Kisan, Samriddh Bharat”.
  • Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
    • Thanked the PM for ensuring that fertilizer prices remain stable despite global surges — Urea at ₹266/bag, DAP at ₹1,350.
    • Acknowledged reduction in GST on farm machinery, easing mechanization costs.
    • Announced a historic MSP increase for major crops:
      • Wheat: +₹160/qtl
      • Gram: +₹200/qtl
      • Lentil: +₹300/qtl
      • Mustard: +₹250/qtl
      • Sunflower: +₹600/qtl
    • Financial Empowerment:
      • ₹3.90 lakh crore transferred via PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi.
      • Over ₹10 lakh crore disbursed under Kisan Credit Cards in FY 2024–25.
      • ₹1.83 lakh crore paid as insurance compensation under PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
    • FPO Success:
      • 52 lakh farmers as shareholders in FPOs.
      • 1,100 FPOs became ‘Crorepati FPOs’ with a combined turnover of ₹15,000 crore.

Strategic Significance:

• • Marks a shift from input-driven subsidies to investment-led modernisation — integrating animal husbandry, fisheries, and processing.
  • Reduces import dependence and strengthens nutritional security and food sovereignty.
  • Expansion of FPOs strengthens collective bargaining power and market linkages.
  • Record levels of credit flow, insurance coverage, and DBT transfers enhance farmers’ resilience and income security.
  • Demonstrates the government’s focus on self-reliance through Swadeshi agriculture, technology, and innovation-driven rural growth.

 

Topic 2: Shri Manohar Lal Highlights India’s Leadership in Energy Transitions at G20, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

GS Paper 3: Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development | GS Paper 2: International Relations

Context: Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, led the Indian delegation at the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting (ETMM) held in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, under the South African G20 Presidency.

Key Highlights of India’s Address:

1. Global Energy Security and G20 Cooperation

• • • Shri Manohar Lal emphasized that energy security is a defining challenge of the 21st century, particularly for the Global South.
    • Stressed the need for collective G20 action to ensure economic stability, sustainability, and equitable access to energy resources.

2. India’s Energy Transition Achievements

• • • India achieved its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 50% installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources—five years ahead of schedule (in 2025).
    • The Minister outlined ambitious future goals:
      • 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047,
      • Positioning India as a global hub for green hydrogen, and
      • Advancing sustainable development pathways aligned with “LiFE” (Lifestyle for Environment).

3. India’s Biofuel Leadership

• • • India’s Biofuels Programme was cited as a global benchmark:
      • Achieved 20% ethanol blending,
      • Leading the Global Biofuels Alliance, now comprising 32 countries and 14 international organizations.
    • The Minister described biofuels as a bridge between energy security and environmental stewardship, enabling rural income generation and energy diversification.

4. Climate Justice and Technology Transfer

• • • Reiterated India’s stance on climate justice, emphasizing that developing nations bear a disproportionate burden of climate change.
    • Urged developed nations to fulfill their climate finance and technology transfer commitments under the Paris Agreement.

5. Support for Africa’s Mission 300

• • • India reaffirmed its support for Africa’s Mission 300, aiming to bring electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
    • This aligns with India’s broader South–South cooperation agenda and its role as a development partner in the Global South.

6. Global Engagement and Diplomacy

• • • On the sidelines, Shri Manohar Lal held bilateral meetings with:
      • Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy, South Africa, and
      • Mr. Lars Aagaard Møller, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark.
    • Discussions focused on clean energy partnerships, technology exchange, and preparations for “Bharat Urja Manthan – A Global Energy Conclave”, to be held in March 2026 in New Delhi.

Strategic Significance:

• • For India:
    • Reinforces India’s leadership role in global energy governance and transition diplomacy.
    • Showcases India’s success in balancing energy access, affordability, and sustainability — the “energy trilemma.”
    • Projects India as a net provider of solutions, not merely a consumer in global climate action.
  • For Africa and Global South:
    • India’s support to Mission 300 strengthens its image as a reliable development partner, extending the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
    • Enhances South–South cooperation in renewable technologies, electrification, and capacity-building.

 

Topic 3: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Reviews Multi-Hazard Early Warning DSS and “Mausamgram” at IMD Headquarters

GS Paper 3: Disaster Management | Science & Technology | E-Governance

Context: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, reviewed the Web-GIS based Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS) and the “Mausamgram” initiative developed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Key Highlights:

1. Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS):

• • • Developed in-house by IMD — fully indigenous and self-reliant, eliminating foreign vendor dependency.
    • Led to a cost saving of ₹250 crore and avoidance of ₹5.5 crore annual maintenance expenditure.
    • Represents a successful implementation of Atmanirbhar Bharat in meteorological technology.
    • Integrates Web-GIS based tools for real-time weather, flood, cyclone, and lightning forecasts, supporting disaster management authorities.
    • Enhanced forecast capability:
      • Lead period increased from 5 to 7 days,
      • Preparation time reduced by 3 hours,
      • Accuracy improved by 15–20%.

2. “Mausamgram” Initiative (Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam):

• • • A citizen-centric platform providing hyperlocal weather forecasts down to the village level.
    • Offers:
      • Hourly forecasts for the next 36 hours,
      • Three-hourly forecasts for 5 days,
      • Six-hourly forecasts for 10 days.
    • Accessible through PIN code, location, or administrative hierarchy (state → district → block → gram panchayat).
    • Available in all official Indian languages, ensuring linguistic inclusivity.
    • Empowers citizens with location-specific, actionable weather alerts, vital for agriculture, disaster preparedness, and rural planning.

3. AI and Future Forecasting:

• • • Dr. Jitendra Singh recommended integrating AI-driven analytics into Mausamgram for personalized and adaptive forecasting.
    • Vision: Develop AI-enabled, risk-based early warning systems that provide citizens with clear, actionable guidance.

4. Awards and Recognitions:

• • • IMD received the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance (Visakhapatnam) for its DSS innovation.
    • The Minister praised IMD’s digital transformation as a benchmark in public service technology.

5. Swachhata and Institutional Reforms:

• • • Under Special Swachhata Program 5.0, IMD:
      • Cleared 600 sq. meters of office space,
      • Generated ₹30 lakh from e-waste disposal,
      • Felicitated 50 “Safai Mitras” for their contribution.
    • Dr. Singh planted a sapling under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, linking environmental stewardship with institutional sustainability.

6. Mission Mausam – Vision 2030:

• • • A long-term initiative to expand IMD’s capacity by 2030:
      • Install advanced meteorological instruments,
      • Enable 5×5 km scale severe weather forecasting,
      • Implement impact-based forecasting and risk-based early warnings.
    • Objective: Achieve last-mile connectivity so that early warnings reach every household — realizing the vision of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”

Significance:

• • Strengthens India’s data-driven disaster preparedness and public service delivery through e-governance.
  • Saves substantial public expenditure by indigenizing meteorological technologies.
  • Democratizes access to weather data, crucial for farmers, fishermen, and disaster-prone regions.
  • Aligns with the National Geospatial Policy, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat frameworks.

 

Topic 4: Three Landmark Initiatives Unveiled at International Purple Fest, Goa

Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities)
GS Paper 2: Social Justice | Inclusive Development | Welfare of Vulnerable Sections

Context: International Purple Fest, held in Goa on 11th October 2025, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched three landmark initiatives to strengthen accessibility in listening, reading, and writing for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Key Highlights:

1. IELTS Training Handbook for Persons with Disabilities

• • • Developed by Believe in the Invisible (BITI) with support from DEPwD.
    • Authored by Anjali Vyas, a British Council–certified IELTS trainer and Co-Founder of BITI.
    • Objective: Make IELTS preparation accessible and structured for PwDs, supporting equal participation in global education and career opportunities.
    • Key Features:
      • Step-by-step learning strategies across all four modules – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
      • Practical tools and accessible study materials for various disabilities — visual, hearing, locomotor, and others.
      • Includes reasonable accommodation guidelines, lesson plans, ISL video links, grammar and vocabulary support, and time management tips.
    • Significance:
      • First-of-its-kind inclusive learning resource for international language testing.
      • Advances India’s goal of inclusive education under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and NEP 2020.

2. ISLRTC – Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Certification Programme

• • • Conducted by Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi – an autonomous institution under DEPwD.
    • Course Title: Certification in ISL Interpretation (CISLI) / Skill Course for SODA (Siblings of Deaf Adults) and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults).
    • Duration: 11th – 29th August 2025 (offline mode).
    • Participants: 17 candidates from across India successfully completed the course.
    • Outcome: Certificates to be distributed on 3rd December 2025 (International Day for Persons with Disabilities).
    • Objective:
      • Recognize prior learning and provide professional certification in ISL interpretation.
      • Encourage familial interpreters (SODA/CODA) to contribute to the national inclusion movement.

3. Specialized Basic Training Programme on ASL & BSL

• • • Announced by ISLRTC to be launched from 3rd December 2025.
    • Duration: One month (4 weeks), physical training at ISLRTC, New Delhi.
    • Purpose:
      • Introduce ISL professionals to American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL).
      • Build cross-linguistic and cultural competencies.
      • Enable international mobility and professional recognition for Indian sign language interpreters.
    • Expected Outcome:
      • Enhances ISLRTC’s role as a global hub for sign language research and training.
      • Promotes India’s cultural heritage and inclusivity in global deaf communities.

Unified Vision of the Initiatives:

• • To create accessible and empowering learning pathways for persons with disabilities.
  • Strengthen India’s transition toward an inclusive knowledge economy.
  • Promote international collaboration, capacity-building, and social participation of PwDs.
  • Aligns with global frameworks such as:
    • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
    • Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Significance:

Aspect	Impact
Education	Opens global language learning and testing opportunities for PwDs.
Skill Development	Strengthens professional capacity in ISL and international sign languages.
Inclusion	Encourages cross-cultural and intergenerational participation of the deaf community.
Governance	Reflects DEPwD’s integrated, mission-based approach under “Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan)”.

Conclusion:

The initiatives launched at the International Purple Fest embody India’s vision of “Empowerment through Accessibility.”

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