Daily PIB Highlights (26-06-2025)

Topic- 1: Axiom-4 Mission

GS-3: Science and Technology

The context:

The successful launch of the Axiom-4 Mission on 25^th June 2025, featuring Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, has been hailed as a milestone in India’s space journey, symbolizing the nation’s transformation from a technology follower to a frontline global partner in space exploration.

Highlights of the Axiom-4 Mission:

• • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla serves as Mission Pilot in Axiom-4, part of a four-member international crew to the International Space Station (ISS).
  • This mission is a milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a “Viksit Bharat”.
  • It is attributed to the space sector reforms introduced by the Government of India that opened space to private and international collaboration.
  • It will focus on Space Biotech for study microgravity and cosmic radiation effects on edible microalgae, a rich and sustainable food source for long-duration missions.
  • It will be contribution to Gaganyaan and Deep Space Missions and support the sustainability of human presence in space.
  • It’s International Recognition by Governor of South Australia and Australian High Commissioner, highlighting global recognition of India’s achievement.
  • The launch event was screened live at Anusandhan Bhawan, Delhi, with a standing ovation led by the Minister, symbolizing national pride and scientific achievement.

Significance of the Axiom-4 Mission for India:

• • Marks India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years, since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
  • First government-sponsored flights to the ISS for India, Poland, and Hungary in over four decades.

• • Marks India as a Global Space Power from follower to frontliner in space exploration.
  • International Collaboration enhances India’s role as an equal global partner in international space missions.
  • Boosts Scientific Innovation to promote cutting-edge biotech research in space using indigenous technology.
  • Supports Self-Reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and promoting indigenous R&D.
  • Encourages Youth and Startups as an inspiration for young scientists, researchers, and private space startups in India.
  • Strategic to enforce the India’s technological diplomacy and soft power on the global stage.

About Axiom-4 Mission:

• • Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO.

Objectives:

• • Enable commercial activities in low Earth orbit, including space tourism and private research.
  • Demonstrate the feasibility of commercial space stations as platforms for business and science.
  • Strengthen international collaboration in space exploration.
  • Conduct scientific experiments in microgravity, focusing on materials science, biology, Earth observation, and life sciences.
  • Launch Vehicle & Capsule: First flight of Crew Dragon C213—the fifth and final new Dragon capsule—to be launched atop a Falcon‑9 Block 5 from LC‑39A, Kennedy Space Centre.
  • Mission Timeline: Originally set for early June 2025, the mission was moved multiple times— then again postponed on June 11, due to the LOx leak, which caused further delay.

Crew (4 total):

• • Peggy Whitson (USA)
  • Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
  • Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland)
  • Mission Specialist: Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 2: International Potato Centre (CIP)

GS-3: Economy

The context:

On 25^th June 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

The Key Highlights Points:

• • The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Centre aims to boost food and nutrition security, farmers’ income, and employment through improved potato and sweetpotato productivity and value addition.
  • The potato sector in India has vast potential to generate jobs across production, processing, packaging, transport, and marketing.
  • CSARC will develop high-yielding, nutrient-rich, and climate-resilient varieties of potato and sweetpotato.
  • The initiative will support sustainable development in India and the broader South Asia region through advanced science and innovation.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated 10 hectares of land for the proposed centre.

• • • The total cost of the project is ₹171 crore, with India contributing ₹111 crore and the CIP (International Potato Center) providing ₹60 crore.
    • Impact on Employment: India’s potato sector holds significant potential for job creation in areas such as production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and the broader value chain.

About the International Potato Center (CIP): 

It was founded in 1971, is headquartered in Lima, Peru, and focuses on potato, sweet potato, and Andean roots and tubers.

• • • China established the China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP) in Yanqing, Beijing, in 2017 to serve the East Asia and Pacific region.

• • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)operates two institutions focusing on tuber crops: ICAR-CPRI (Central Potato Research Institute) in Shimla, which works on potatoes, and ICAR-CTCRI (Central Tuber Crops Research Institute) in Thiruvananthapuram, which focuses on sweet potatoes.
  • In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture supported the establishment of a regional centre for the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Varanasi, India.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 3: Smart CRISPR Tool Empowers Plants to Combat Heat and Disease

GS-3: Science and Technology

The context:

Recently, researchers from the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a smart molecular tool that can help plants respond more effectively to rising temperatures and microbial infections.

About the smart molecular tool:

• • The tool is built using a modified version of CRISPR called dCas9, which does not cut DNA but acts as a gene switch to control gene expression.
  • The tool remains inactive under normal conditions and activates only when the plant experiences stress, such as heat or microbial infection.
  • A TM domain from a tomato protein (NACMTF3) is used to tether the dCas9 switch outside the nucleus, preventing premature activation.
  • Under stress, the tether is released, allowing dCas9 to enter the nucleus and turn on protective genes, helping plants defend themselves.
  • This tool offers a new strategy for developing climate-resilient, disease-tolerant crops, enhancing agricultural productivity and food security.

The Key Objectives:

• • To develop a smart CRISPR-based tool that enhances plant resilience against environmental stresses like heat and pathogens.
  • To regulate plant genes without cutting DNA using a modified version of CRISPR known as dCas9.
  • To activate stress-responsive genes only when plants are exposed to stress, thereby ensuring targeted gene expression.
  • To test the system in key solanaceous crops such as tomato, potato, and tobacco for practical agricultural applications.
  • To reduce energy expenditure by plants by avoiding constant gene activity and enabling defense only when required.

Significance:

• • The technology improves crop resistance to heat and bacterial infections, especially during heat waves.
  • It enabled tomato plants to activate defense genes like CBP60g and SARD1 during infection, enhancing immunity.
  • Heat-tolerance genes NAC2 and HSFA6b were turned on only during high temperatures, helping plants stay hydrated and green.
  • The system saves plant energy and resources, making it ideal for climate-smart and sustainable agriculture.
  • It holds potential for wider use in other crops like eggplant and chili, promoting food security and resilience in South Asia’s agriculture sector.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 4: Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA)

GS-2: Governance and Social Justice

The context:

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June 2025, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) is organizing a national-level event at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, to be graced by Union Minister of State.

Current Achievements of NMBA:

• • Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 15.78+ crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 5.26+ Crore Youth and 3.31+ Crore Women.
  • Participation of 4.31+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the country.
  • A strong force of 20,000+ Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained.
  • Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
  • NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level, on a real-time basis by the districts and master volunteers. This App has been placed on the Google Play Store.
  • NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, an online discussion forum, NMBA dashboard, e-pledge.
  • A National Online Pledge to be Drug Free had 1.67+ Crore students from 99,595 educational institutions pledging to be drug free.
  • Events like ‘Nashe se Azaadi- A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme’, ‘Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, ‘NMBA Interaction with NCC’ are regularly organized to engage and connect with youth and other stakeholders.
  • MoUs have been signed with Spiritual/Social Service organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission (Daaji), ISKCON and All World Gayatri Parivaar to support to NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.
  • All the de-addiction facilities have been geo-tagged for ease of access by the public.

About the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA):

• • It was flagged off on 15^th August 2020 (Independence Day) across 272 districts of the country found to be most vulnerable based on the data available from various sources.
  • Its focal points are preventive, mass education and sensitization, capacity building of service providers, positive partnership with educational institutions, and augmentation of treatment, rehabilitation and counselling facilities.

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction:

• • This Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has begun implementation of a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.
  • It aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy involving education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.
  • It focuses on preventive education, awareness generation, identification, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons and training and capacity building of the service providers through collaborative efforts of the Central and State Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations.

• • • There are more than 500 voluntary organizations across the country, which are assisted financially under the NAPDDR scheme.

 

Source: PIB

 

Topic- 5: ECINET Operations

GS-2: Polity and Governance

The context:

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has successfully operationalised its new digital platform, ECINET, during the recently concluded bye-elections in five Assembly Constituencies across Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal. Announced earlier in May 2025, ECINET integrates over 40 existing ECI applications into a one-stop digital ecosystem aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of election-related data.

The Key Highlights:

• • The bye-elections marked the partial implementation of ECINET modules, which are expected to become fully operational in the coming weeks.
  • One of the key achievements was the direct uploading of Voter Turnout Report (VTR) trends by Presiding Officers (PROs), replacing the earlier manual process.
  • This change led to faster, transparent, and more accurate availability of voter turnout data to the public in real-time.
  • PROs uploaded the final VTR figures from their polling stations before leaving, ensuring immediate data availability on ECINET.
  • The use of ECINET enabled the publication of Index Cards within 72 hours of poll result declaration, a significant improvement over earlier delays.
  • The Index Card is a non-statutory, post-election statistical report that provides detailed election-related data at the constituency level.
  • Most fields in the new Index Cards are now auto-filled using ECINET data, streamlining the process and reducing human error.
  • Index Cards offer valuable data for researchers, journalists, policymakers, and the public, covering aspects like candidate-wise votes, turnout, party performance, gender patterns, and regional variations.

About ECINET

• • It is a single-point digital platformbeing developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • It is a new user-friendly digital interface for the electors and other stakeholders such as the election officials, political parties, and civil society.
  • It will integrate and reorient over 40 of ECI’s existing mobile and web applications.
  • ECINET will subsume existing apps like the Voter Helpline App, Voter Turnout App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham, and KYC App.
  • ECINET will have an aesthetic User Interface (UI) and a simplified User Experience (UX) by providing a singular platform for all electoral-related activities. 
  • This move is also designed to alleviate the burden of the users for downloading and navigating multiple apps and remembering different logins.
  • ECINET will enable users to access relevant electoral data on their desktops or smartphones.
  • The data on ECINET will be entered solely by the authorized ECI official.
  • It would ensure that the data made available to the stakeholders is as accurate as possible.
  • However, in case of any conflict, the primary data as duly filled in statutory forms will prevail.
  • The data provided through ECINET will be strictly aligned within the legal framework established by the Representation of People Act 1950, 1951, Registration of Electoral Rules 1960, Conduct of Election Rules 1961, and instructions issued by ECI from time to time.
  • ECINET is expected to benefit nearly 100 crore electors and the entire electoral machinery comprising over 10.5 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs), around 15 Lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by Political Parties, nearly 45 Lakh Polling Officials, 15,597 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), 4,123 EROs, and 767 District Election Officers (DEOs) across the country.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 6: BharatNet Program

GS-3: Economy

The context:

Gujarat has become the first state in India to operationalise the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under the State-led model, marking a significant advancement in rural digital empowerment. A quadripartite agreement was signed between the Government of India (via Digital Bharat Nidhi – DBN), Government of Gujarat, BSNL, and Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL) in Gandhinagar, enabling GFGNL to take full charge of BharatNet activities in the state.

The Key Highlights of the Amended Bharatnet Rollout in Gujarat

• • The successful rollout of Amended BharatNet will enable seamless and uniform digital connectivity across all 14654 Gram Panchayats and all non-GP villages in Gujarat on demand basis. With state-of-the-art infrastructure and a target of over 98% service uptime, the programme will provide rural communities with high-speed internet access and reliable digital platforms—enhancing education, healthcare, livelihoods, and overall quality of life.
  • This initiative will empower government departments to directly engage with citizens through digital governance and value-added services tailored for farmers, students, women, and consumers—driving inclusive growth and improving the livelihood index of previously underserved populations.
  • The execution of the Amended BharatNet Program will further reinforce the distinctiveness of Gujarat government, establishing a futuristic, telecom-grade network to support integrated governance, digital commerce, and community empowerment across remote regions.

The project will also unlock the full value of the fiber infrastructure through innovations such as:

• • Fiber to Far-Flung Towers – boosting mobile connectivity and signal strength in rural areas
  • Fiber to Field Offices – enabling real-time, grassroots-level governance
  • Fiber to Families – delivering high-speed broadband with value-added digital services
  • Fiber to Financial Enterprises – facilitating rural fintech growth and entrepreneurship

About Amended BharatNet Programme

• • The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 4th August 2023, to be funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi. This enhanced initiative aims to deliver optical fiber (OF) connectivity using MPLS technology to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in ring topology, and also extend connectivity to approximately 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on a demand-driven basis.
  • To ensure smooth implementation, BSNL has been appointed as the Project Management Agency (PMA). BSNL will engage professional Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) to execute the project under a Design, Build, Operate & Maintain (DBOM) model. The timeline for the upgradation of the existing BharatNet infrastructure and creation of around 42,000 new GPs is set for March 2027.

The salient features of program are:

• • Program cost of INR 1,39,579 crores including CAPEX cost of Rs.  42,847 crores and OPEX cost for ten years at Rs 48.717 crores.
  • To upgrade ~1.64 lakh GPs (excluding 53,265 GPs in ring under State led model) & to create remaining ~47 K GPs (including Satellite GPs)
  • IP-MPLS network at Block and GPS with provision of Routers with 10 Gbps downward links in Blocks and 1 Gbps downward links at GPS.
  • O&M of ~2.64 lakh GPs with SLA for network uptime
  • Last-Mile Network to be implemented through BharatNet Udyami model
  • Minimum 25 Mbps download speed for each FTTH subscriber.
  • To provide one crore fifty lakh (1.5) Crore FTTH connections across rural households/ institutions/ enterprises in India over a period of five (5) years

 

Source: PIB

Spread the Word