Daily PIB Highlights (12-07-2025)

Topic- 1: UNESCO Adds Maratha Military Landscapes to World Heritage List

GS-1: Art & Culture

The context:

At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, the Maratha Military Landscapes of India were officially inscribed as India’s 44th World Heritage Site. This significant recognition honours a network of twelve strategically designed forts spanning Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, reflecting the military brilliance of the Maratha Empire (17th–19th centuries CE).

The inscription of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India in the UNESCO World Heritage List:

• • The Maratha Military Landscapes of India have been inscribed as India’s 44th entry in the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee.
  • This recognition honors a network of 12 forts built between the 17th and 19th centuries, showcasing military strategy and architectural brilliance of the Maratha Empire.
  • These forts are located in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and include famous sites like Raigad, Shivneri, Sindhudurg, and Gingee Fort.
  • The forts are situated across diverse landscapes—ranging from hilltops and plateaus to coastal and island locations—demonstrating strategic defense planning.
  • The proposal for inscription underwent a detailed 18-month evaluation, including expert reviews and site visits by international heritage bodies.
  • The inscription was supported by 18 out of 20 State Parties and received global appreciation during the UNESCO committee meeting in Paris.
  • These sites were recognized under UNESCO criteria (iv) and (vi) for their architectural, technological, and cultural significance.
  • Some forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, while others are maintained by the state heritage department.
  • This recognition helps preserve the historical value of these forts and promotes India’s cultural legacy on the global stage.
  • India now ranks 6th in the world and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific region for the number of World Heritage Sites, with 62 more sites on the Tentative List.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 2: Operation Fire Trail: DRI Seizes 100 Metric Tonnes of Illegal Fireworks at Indian Ports

GS-3: Internal Security

The context:

In a significant anti-smuggling action named “Operation Fire Trail”, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted and seized around 100 metric tonnes of Chinese firecrackers and fireworks worth approximately ₹35 crore concealed in seven containers at Nhava Sheva, Mundra, and Kandla SEZ ports.

Key Highlights:

• • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted and seized 100 metric tonnes of illegally imported Chinese firecrackers/fireworks valued at around ₹35 crore.
  • The seizure took place at Nhava Sheva Port, Mundra Port, and Kandla SEZ, spread across seven containers.
  • The firecrackers were smuggled under false declarations such as “Mini Decorative Plants,” “Artificial Flowers,” and “Plastic Mats”.
  • Some consignments were routed through Kandla SEZ, with an intent to divert goods into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA), violating SEZ rules.
  • A key partner involved in the smuggling from the SEZ unit has been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

Legal & Safety:

• • Import of firecrackers is classified as ‘Restricted’ under the ITC (HS) Classification of Foreign Trade Policy.
  • Requires licenses from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under Explosive Rules, 2008.
  • Firecrackers contain harmful banned chemicals like red lead, copper oxide, lithium, etc., posing threats to public safety, port infrastructure, and the logistics supply chain due to their explosive nature.

Significance:

• • The operation showcases DRI’s effective surveillance and crackdown on illicit imports.
  • Helps protect India’s critical infrastructure and supply chains from hazardous goods.
  • Prevents potential accidents, explosions, and economic disruptions.
  • Upholds the integrity of India’s Exim trade ecosystem by detecting and dismantling smuggling networks.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 3: India Launches First-Ever e-Truck Incentive Scheme

GS-3: Science & Technology

The context:

Recently, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has launched India’s first direct financial incentive scheme for electric trucks as part of the PM E-DRIVE initiative. The scheme offers up to ₹9.6 lakh incentives per vehicle for N2 and N3 category e-trucks, supporting the deployment of approximately 5,600 electric trucks nationwide.

India Launches First-Ever e-Truck Incentive Scheme to Boost Green Freight

• • The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), led by Union Minister has introduced a pioneering financial incentive scheme for electric trucks under the PM E-DRIVE initiative.
  • This marks the first direct government support for electric trucks in India, aiming to cut freight emissions and advance clean, sustainable transport.
  • Diesel trucks, while only 3% of vehicles, cause 42% of transport-related emissions; the scheme targets this by promoting electric trucks to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases.
  • Incentives apply to two categories of electric trucks:
    • N2: Trucks weighing between 3.5 to 12 tonnes.
    • N3: Trucks weighing over 12 tonnes up to 55 tonnes (incentives for puller tractors in articulated vehicles).
  • The scheme offers up to ₹9.6 lakh per e-truck as an upfront price reduction reimbursed to manufacturers on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Warranty requirements include:
    • Battery warranty: 5 years or 5 lakh km.
    • Vehicle and motor warranty: 5 years or 2.5 lakh km.
  • Around 5,600 e-trucks are expected to be deployed nationally, including 1,100 specifically for Delhi to tackle air pollution with a ₹100 crore allocation.
  • Key beneficiaries include sectors like cement, ports, steel, and logistics, with leading Indian OEMs (Volvo Eicher, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland) producing e-trucks under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) plans to purchase 150 e-trucks over two years and aims for 15% of its fleet to be electric.
  • Scrapping old polluting trucks is mandatory to qualify, ensuring fleet modernization and emission reduction.
  • This initiative aligns with India’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2070 and promotes a self-reliant electric mobility ecosystem.

About PM E-DRIVE Scheme

• • The PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme is a flagship initiative launched to accelerate electric mobility in India through demand incentives and charging infrastructure support.
  • It aims to reduce transport-related carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enhance energy security by decreasing fossil fuel dependency.
  • The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore and will be implemented from 2024 to 2026.

Key Objectives and Scope

• • To promote the adoption of EVs by supporting the purchase of electric vehicles (e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks).
  • To deploy a robust national EV charging grid to reduce range anxiety and ensure seamless mobility across cities and highways.
  • To provide direct demand incentives through Aadhaar-authenticated e-vouchers sent to the buyer’s mobile number after EV purchase.

BHEL as Nodal Agency

• • Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is being considered the nodal agency for:
  • Demand aggregation for charging infrastructure.
  • Development of a Unified EV Super App for users across India.
  • The app will offer real-time charger availability, slot booking, payment integration, and deployment progress tracking, ensuring digital ease-of-use for all EV stakeholders.

 

Source: PIB

Topic- 4: India Strengthens Digital Defenses with Strategic Quantum Cyber Readiness Initiative

GS-2: International Relation (IR) 

The context:

India has rapidly transformed into a digital-first economy with extensive online public services, digital payments, and critical national infrastructure relying heavily on encryption for security. However, with quantum computing advancing from theory to practical reality, traditional encryption methods (like RSA and ECC) are at risk of becoming obsolete in the near future.

India Accelerates Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness with New Whitepaper Launch

• • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with CERT-In and cybersecurity firm SISA, launched a whitepaper titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness” to guide India’s shift towards quantum-safe cybersecurity.
  • This initiative is critical as quantum computing threatens to break current encryption standards (RSA, ECC), which underpin India’s digital payments, public services, financial transactions, and national security infrastructure.
  • The whitepaper offers:
    • A comprehensive framework for public and private organizations to identify vulnerabilities, especially in sectors dealing with national security, financial data, and crucial public services.
    • Strategic pathways to migrate to quantum-resistant encryption algorithms.
    • Practical recommendations to integrate new security protocols while maintaining compliance and operational continuity.
  • MeitY emphasized that quantum readiness is a strategic imperative to build resilience in India’s ICT infrastructure amid ongoing digital, AI, and quantum transformations.
  • CERT-In highlighted the need for evolving security frameworks today through public-private partnerships to protect India’s expanding digital infrastructure tomorrow.
  • SISA noted the disruptive impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity, underlining the necessity for future-proof cryptographic strategies to safeguard data and digital trust in India’s digital-first economy.
  • The whitepaper particularly addresses regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, and government, offering tailored guidance to proactively manage quantum risks.

This launch reinforces India’s leadership in digital innovation and cybersecurity, aiming to prepare organizations to confidently navigate the emerging quantum computing challenges.

About CERT-In

CERT-In is the national agency for responding to cyber security incidents and has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security as per the Information Technology Amendment Act 2000:

• • Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
  • Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.
  • Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.
  • Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
  • Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.
  • Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed

About SISA

• • SISA is a Leader in Cybersecurity Solutions for the Digital Payment Industry. As a Global Payment Forensic Investigator of the PCI Security Standards Council, SISA leverages forensics insights into preventive, detective, and corrective security solutions, protecting 1,000+ organizations across 40+ countries from evolving cyberthreats.

Source: PIB

Topic- 5: Common Services Centres (CSC) to Celebrate 16 Years of Digital Empowerment

GS-2: Governance 

The context:

The Government of India’s flagship initiative under Digital India, Common Services Centres (CSC), will mark its 16th Establishment Day on 16th July 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.

• • With over 6.5 lakh functional centres nationwide, CSC stands as one of the world’s largest digital service delivery networks, transforming lives in both rural and urban India.

The Key Highlights:

• • The celebration will unveil CSC’s future roadmap, focusing on:
    • Integration of AI-based services
    • Expansion of cloud technologies
    • Promotion of rural innovation
    • Strengthening digitally enabled livelihoods
      This aligns with the vision of an inclusive and self-reliant Digital India.
  • The CSC Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will organize celebrations at national, state, and district levels, recognizing outstanding Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and community leaders for their social entrepreneurship and commitment.
  • This milestone reiterates the government’s dedication to inclusive development through digital means, highlighting CSC’s role as a model public-private partnership in delivering citizen-centric services and fostering grassroots transformation.

CSC and Cooperative Sector

• • In the year 2022, in the presence of  Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, CSC signed an agreement with NABARD and the Ministry of Cooperation. Under this agreement, cooperative credit societies across the country have now started functioning as Common Services Centres (CSCs).
  • Following this partnership, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and LAMPS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Societies) were provided CSC IDs and were given comprehensive training. After completing the training, these societies began offering CSC services in the remote areas of their respective states.
  • The objective behind this collaboration is to empower a larger section of rural communities and financial empowerment of PACS. On average, each society has around 500 members. If one community progresses well, the benefits reach these 500 individuals or families first. Eventually, this creates a ripple effect, expanding the network and significantly increasing the number of registrations for services offered by CSCs.

Common Service Centres: From Last-Mile Access to Future-Ready Services

• • CSC SPV was established in 2006 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with the vision to deliver digital services to the last mile and to create a robust ICT-based network across India.
  • Each CSC is managed by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), a local resident who serves as the digital and service bridge between the government and citizens. These centres provide a wide range of essential services including Aadhaar enrollment and update, PAN card processing, passport applications, banking and insurance services through DigiPay and the BC model, telemedicine through eSanjeevani, legal services under the Tele-Law initiative, PMGDISHA digital literacy training, and various utility services like electricity and water bill payments. CSCs also support students with exam registrations, scholarship applications, and online courses.

Vision for Inclusive Digital India

• • CSCs have played a pivotal role in empowering citizens in rural India—particularly women, farmers, and marginalized communities by offering them digital access, financial inclusion, healthcare, and livelihood support at their doorstep. The CSC ecosystem includes initiatives such as CSC Academy for digital education and skill training; CSC Grameen eStore to promote rural e-commerce; and programs for supporting Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), especially in agriculture and crafts.
  • Here is a comprehensive list of services delivered through Common Services Centres (CSCs) across India:

Government to Citizen (G2C) Services

• • Aadhaar Enrollment and Update
  • PAN Card Application
  • Passport Services
  • Birth and Death Certificate applications
  • DigiLocker services
  • Utility Bill Payments (Electricity, Water, Gas, etc.)
  • Municipal Services (e.g., Property tax payment)

Financial Inclusion Services

• • Banking (via Business Correspondents of various banks)
  • DigiPay – Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS)
  • Insurance services (PMJJBY, PMSBY, Life & General Insurance)
  • Pension Services (e.g., Atal Pension Yojana, NPS, Jeevan Pramaan)
  • Loan facilitation and PM Mudra Yojana support

Education and Skill Development

• • CSC Academy (Skill training, online courses)
  • NIOS and IGNOU Registration and Services
  • CSC Olympiad

Health Services

• • Telemedicine Services
  • Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) registration and support

Agriculture and Allied Services

• • Kisan Credit Card (KCC) applications
  • PM-KISAN registration and beneficiary support
  • Soil Health Card and Crop Insurance
  • Agri-input booking through CSC Grameen eStore
  • Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) support
  • Tele-agriculture and agri advisories

Digital Services and Utilities

• • CSC Grameen eStore (eCommerce for rural products)
  • LED Bulb distribution (UJALA Scheme)
  • Recharge and DTH services
  • Mobile and DTH recharges

Legal and Governance Services

• • Tele-Law: Legal consultation and services
  • eStamp and Document Registration

Other Notable Services

• • Travel Booking (Train, Bus, Flight)
  • Hotel Booking and Tour Packages
  • IRCTC Agent Services
  • Mobile phone and accessories sale

 

Source: PIB

Spread the Word