25th June 2025

Find ways of increasing revenue of

panchayats, Amit Shah urges CMs

Current Context

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi, attended by Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh. A key agenda was enhancing revenue generation by gram panchayats, a vital issue for empowering local self-governments. The meeting also emphasized reducing malnutrition, school dropouts, and ensuring better cooperative and judicial systems at the grassroots level.

Feature of the News

• Meeting Held: 25th Central Zonal Council Meeting in Varanasi.
• Chairperson: Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Participating States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand (All BJP-ruled).
• Key Agenda:
  • Enhancing Panchayat revenue.
  • Addressing child malnutrition.
  • Reducing school dropout rate.
  • Strengthening fast-track courts for rape cases.
  • Ensuring brick-and-mortar banking in all villages.
  • Implementing Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).
  • Promoting the cooperative sector.
• Institutional Stats:
  • From 2004–2014: 11 Zonal Council meetings, 14 Standing Committee meetings.
  • From 2014–2025: 28 Zonal Council meetings, 33 Standing Committee meetings (2x rise).
• CM Statements:
  • Uttarakhand CM: Emphasized BRO support for border infrastructure.
  • UP & Chhattisgarh CMs: Highlighted federal unity and regional development.

Explainer

1. What is the Central Zonal Council?
   • One of five zonal councils established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
   • Purpose: To foster inter-State cooperation and resolve disputes.
   • Members: CMs, LGs/Administrators of States/UTs; chaired by Union Home Minister.
2. Why Panchayat Revenue Matters?
   • Gram Panchayats are key to last-mile service delivery.
   • Low revenue leads to dependency on state/central grants.
   • Empowering them financially strengthens participatory democracy under the 73rd Amendment.
3. How to Increase Panchayat Revenues?
   • Tax collection (property tax, water cess, market fees).
   • Local economic activities (rural tourism, land lease).
   • Public-private partnerships and CSR channeling.
   • Incentive-based devolution tied to performance.
4. Fast-Track Courts for Women & Child Safety:
   • Part of Nirbhaya Fund and POSCO Act reforms.
   • Ensures timely justice and reduces pendency in sexual violence cases.
5. Brick-and-Mortar Banking in Every Village:
   • Essential for Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity success.
   • Helps financial inclusion and reduces dependence on informal credit.
   • Aligns with RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index goals.
6. Child Malnutrition and School Dropouts:
   • Malnutrition reduces cognitive and physical development.
   • School dropout is linked to poverty, migration, and poor infrastructure.
   • Programs like POSHAN 2.0, PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) target these issues.
7. Strengthening Cooperatives:
   • Co-ops can drive rural credit, input supply, marketing, and agri-processing.
   • Ministry of Cooperation (formed 2021) working on multi-state cooperative legislation.
8. Significance of Increased Council Meetings:
   • Signals institutional strengthening post-2014.
   • Reinforces Centre-State dialogue mechanism for cooperative federalism.
   • Reflects increased political will and administrative coordination.

Conclusion

The Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi underscores the Centre’s push for deeper devolution and decentralised governance. Enhancing panchayat revenues, boosting local justice systems, and eliminating malnutrition and dropouts are central to inclusive and participatory democracy. Moreover, the renewed use of Zonal Councils shows a revitalised federalism in action, promoting inter-State synergy and localized solutions to national challenges. For UPSC aspirants, this represents a model case of how policy, federal platforms, and social development intersect in administrative practice.

India set to ‘gradually’ wind up evacuation from

Israel and Iran

Current Context

Following a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, hostilities in the West Asian region have de-escalated. In response, India has begun to gradually wind up its emergency evacuation efforts launched under Operation Sindhu.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has closed its help desk in Mashhad, a key point for assisting evacuees in northeastern Iran. While no new evacuation is being planned due to the ceasefire, advisory and helpline services remain active for two more days to monitor the situation and assist any remaining Indian nationals.

So far, 2,295 Indians have been evacuated from Iran, and 594 from Israel, using both special commercial flights and Indian Air Force aircraft via third countries like Jordan and Egypt. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed these operations have been successful and are now being phased out, indicating India’s readiness to shift from crisis response to diplomatic monitoring.

This marks another successful demonstration of India’s expanding global capacity for Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and its commitment to diaspora welfare in volatile regions.

Feature of the News

• Evacuation Operation Name: Operation Sindhu
• Trigger Event: West Asian conflict (Iran-Israel hostilities) that began on June 13.
• Current Development:
  • Ceasefire Announced: Led to the gradual withdrawal of evacuation logistics.
  • Embassy Action: Indian Embassy in Tehran shut down its help desk in Mashhad.
• Evacuation Statistics (as of June 25):
  • From Iran:
    • 2,295 Indian nationals evacuated.
    • Most recent batch: 292 Indians flown from Mashhad.
  • From Israel:
    • Total of 594 Indians evacuated.
    • 161 flown in from Amman (Jordan).
    • 268 airlifted via C-17 IAF aircraft from Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) to Delhi.
• Communication Channels:
  • Telegram channel and embassy helplines to remain open temporarily.
  • Indians were advised not to travel to Mashhad due to reduced urgency post-ceasefire.

Explainer

What is Operation Sindhu?

1. A strategic evacuation operation launched by the Indian government amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
2. Managed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian missions abroad in coordination with the Indian Air Force and commercial carriers.
3. Evacuations carried out from Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.
4. Significance of Mashhad Help Desk Closure:
   • Mashhad served as a key hub for assisting Indians stranded in northeastern Iran.
   • Closure indicates confidence in the stability post-ceasefire and marks the winding down of emergency protocols.
5. India’s Evacuation Doctrine – A Pattern:
   • Operation Ganga (Ukraine), Operation Kaveri (Sudan), Vande Bharat (COVID), Operation Raahat (Yemen) — India has institutionalized rapid response evacuations.
   • Diplomatic outreach, IAF coordination, and MEA crisis cells form the backbone.
6. Implications for India’s Foreign Policy:
   • Reflects India’s increasing ability to conduct non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) in volatile regions.
   • Boosts diaspora confidence, demonstrates soft power, and showcases global logistical reach.
   • Strengthens India’s neutral posture amid global conflict zones.
7. Geopolitical Backdrop:
   • Iran-Israel tensions escalated dramatically mid-June, with airstrikes and regional instability.
   • Ceasefire brokered (reportedly) with U.S. involvement; announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
   • West Asia remains critical for India due to its large expatriate population and energy ties.

Conclusion:
With the ceasefire taking effect, India is strategically concluding its emergency evacuation mission — Operation Sindhu — that ensured safe return of nearly 3,000 citizens from the war zone. The success of the mission once again underscores India’s evolving crisis diplomacy and its role as a proactive protector of its diaspora in conflict zones.

For first time, India breaks into top 100 in global

SDG rankings

Current Context

India has, for the first time, broken into the Top 100 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, securing the 99th rank out of 167 countries in the 2025 edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR). This marks a significant improvement from its 109th rank in 2024.

The report is released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and led by economist Jeffrey Sachs. India’s improved score of 67 out of 100 reflects progress in areas such as health, education, renewable energy, and sanitation. However, the report also highlights that only 17% of SDG targets globally are on track for achievement by 2030 due to conflict, fiscal constraints, and structural issues.

This development is particularly important for India’s international standing, policy prioritization, and its commitment to achieving the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable and inclusive development.

Let me know if you’d like a Mains question or an SDG-wise analysis of India’s progress.

Feature of the News

According to SDG index

• India’s SDG Rank 2025: 99th out of 167 countries
• Previous Rankings:
  • 2024 – 109
  • 2023 – 112
  • 2022 – 121
  • 2021 – 120
• India’s 2025 SDG Score: 67/100
• Top Performing Countries:
  • Finland (1st)
  • Sweden (2nd)
  • Denmark (3rd)
  • Dominated by 19 European countries in top 20
• Comparison with Key Countries:
  • China – 49th (74.4)
  • USA – 44th (75.2)
  • Bhutan – 74th (70.5)
  • Nepal – 85th (68.6)
  • Sri Lanka – 93rd
  • Bangladesh – 114th (63.9)
  • Pakistan – 140th (57)
• Report Released By: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
• Report Led By: Economist Jeffrey Sachs

Explainer

1. What is the SDG Index?
   • An annual report that tracks the performance of 167 countries toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
   • Score out of 100 denotes how close a country is to fully achieving the SDGs.
   • Published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
2. India’s Rise in Rankings: Why Significant?
   • First time India is among Top 100, showing accelerated efforts in health, education, renewable energy, sanitation, and digital infrastructure.
   • Reflects better performance in key goals such as SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation).
   • Progress driven by flagship schemes like Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission, Digital India, and PM Ujjwala Yojana.
3. Challenges Highlighted in the Global Report:
   • Only 17% of SDG targets globally are on track for 2030.
   • Main global bottlenecks:
     • Conflicts (e.g., Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan)
     • Structural vulnerabilities in governance and infrastructure
     • Limited fiscal space in Global South
4. India vs. Regional and Global Peers:
   • Outperformed Bangladesh (114), Pakistan (140)
   • Behind Bhutan (74), Nepal (85), Sri Lanka (93)
   • Continues to trail far behind China (49) and developed nations.
   • European countries dominate despite their own challenges like climate change, unsustainable consumption, and biodiversity loss.
5. Relevance for India’s Global Commitments:
   • Aligns with Agenda 2030 of the UN.
   • India’s development model needs to ensure inclusive, equitable, and green growth.
   • Progress can help India strengthen its case in forums like G20, UN ECOSOC, and BRICS on sustainable development leadership.

Who Releases the SDG Index?

• Released by: The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) — which includes the SDG Index and Dashboards — is published annually by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• Lead Author: The index is led by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, a globally renowned development economist and President of the SDSN.
• Partners: In collaboration with the Bertelsmann Stiftung (a German foundation) and supported by various UN bodies, academic institutions, and data providers like WHO, World Bank, and UNDP.

When Did the SDG Index Start?

• Year Started: 2016
• The first SDG Index and Dashboard Report was launched in July 2016, one year after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly.

About the SDG Index:

• Purpose: Measures and compares how close each UN member country is to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
• Score Range:
  • 0 to 100
  • A score of 100 means the country has fully achieved all 17 SDGs.
• Updated Annually: Provides global rankings, national trends, gaps, and priority areas.

Conclusion:

India’s entry into the Top 100 in the SDG Index marks a major achievement in its sustainable development journey. However, while the upward trend is encouraging, challenges persist in gender equity, climate resilience, inequality, and institutional capacity. With just five years left to meet the 2030 targets, India’s sustained focus on data-driven governance, decentralized implementation, and policy innovation will determine how far and fast it can climb in future SDG rankings.

Technique to make CAR T-cells in vivo could

transform cancer care

Current Context:

A major scientific breakthrough has been reported in the journal Science (June 19, 2025), where researchers from the US National Institutes of Health (NIAMS), University of Pennsylvania, and Capstan Therapeutics have successfully demonstrated a technique to engineer CAR T-cells directly inside the body (in vivo) using messenger RNA (mRNA) and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

This in vivo CAR T-cell platform bypasses the need for lab-based T-cell extraction and modification, which has been a major bottleneck in conventional CAR T-cell therapy due to high cost, infrastructure needs, and risk of complications. Instead, genetic instructions are delivered intravenously and targeted directly to CD8+ T-cells inside the body, turning them into cancer-killing cells.

In preclinical animal models (mice and monkeys), the therapy induced strong anti-cancer responses, eliminated B cells, and showed potential for treating both cancers and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and myositis — with lower side effects, no chemotherapy, and reduced inflammation.

This comes at a crucial time for India, where the high cost (₹60–70 lakh) and limited availability of traditional CAR T therapy have restricted access for most patients. Given India’s growing burden of B-cell cancers and autoimmune diseases, this simplified, scalable method — if successful in human trials — could revolutionise affordable immunotherapy in Indian public and private healthcare systems.

Part A: Concept & Technique – What Is New?

What is CAR T-cell Therapy?

• CAR = Chimeric Antigen Receptor
• A genetically engineered receptor added to T-cells to help them detect and destroy specific cells (like cancer B-cells).
• Most commonly used for B-cell cancers (target: CD19), autoimmune diseases (target: rogue B cells).

Conventional (Ex Vivo) CAR T-Cell Therapy Involves:

1. Extracting patient’s T-cells.
2. Genetically modifying them in the lab using viral vectors.
3. Re-infusing them after pre-treatment chemotherapy (lymphodepletion).
4. Cost: ₹60–70 lakh in India.
5. Risks: Severe infections, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, prolonged hospitalisation.

Part B: What Has Changed – In Vivo CAR T-Cell Engineering

Study Overview:

• Developed by researchers from NIAMS (NIH), University of Pennsylvania, Capstan Therapeutics.
• Published in Science, June 2025.

Key Innovation:

• No extraction of T-cells.
• Delivered mRNA (encoding CAR) directly into the body using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).
• Targeted delivery: CD8-targeted LNPs (tLNPs) bind only to CD8+ T cells.

Outcome in Animal Studies:

• In mice: Tumour regression within days; complete B-cell depletion.
• In monkeys: Up to 85% CD8+ T-cells turned into CAR-expressing cells.
• No chemotherapy or cell harvesting required.
• Use of Lipid 829, a new biodegradable carrier with minimal liver toxicity.

Part C: Safety & Efficacy

Advantages Over Traditional CAR T:

• Temporary effect (mRNA-based): Lower risk of unintended long-term mutations.
• No chemotherapy (no lymphodepletion): Avoids immunosuppression & secondary infections.
• No viral vectors: Safer and cheaper.
• Infusion-based: Resembles routine drug therapy rather than specialised cell therapy.

Risks & Observations:

• In monkeys:
  • Mostly safe with minor inflammation.
  • One case of immune hyperreaction (HLH-like syndrome).
• Demonstrates need for dosing control and clinical monitoring.
• Lab tests on lupus and myositis patients’ blood: Promising in vitro results.

Part D: Scope Beyond Cancer – Autoimmune Reset

Autoimmune Applications:

• B cells are central to diseases like lupus, myositis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Reprogrammed T-cells depleted old memory B cells, replaced by naïve B cells — resetting the immune system.
• Mimics long-term remissions seen in conventional CAR T use for lupus.

Part E: Indian Context – Why This Matters

1. High Disease Burden in India:

• DLBCL (Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma): 34–60% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Most common in children (~75% of childhood cancers).
• Autoimmune disorders: Increasing by 30% post-COVID (study estimate).

2. Cost Barriers:

• Conventional CAR T-cell therapy unaffordable for 99% of Indian patients.
• ₹30–35 lakh spent on lab-based T-cell engineering alone.
• New in vivo platform could reduce cost to a fraction (lab-free, chemo-free, viral-free).

3. Infrastructure Limitations:

• Only a few centres (like Tata Memorial Centre, Apollo) offer CAR T-cell therapy.
• Skilled workforce shortage in genomics, cellular manufacturing.
• In vivo technique needs only infusion rooms, could be rolled out in district hospitals.

4. Ethical and Policy Relevance:

• Addresses inequity in access to cutting-edge therapies.
• Could be covered under Ayushman Bharat, Health insurance if standardised.
• Opens avenues for Make-in-India biotherapeutics using LNP/mRNA tech.

Part F: Static Knowledge

Term	Explanation
CAR	Chimeric Antigen Receptor — synthetic molecule enabling T-cells to detect specific antigens (e.g., CD19).
LNP (Lipid Nanoparticle)	Tiny fat-based carriers that deliver genetic material into cells. Used in COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
CD8+ T Cells	Cytotoxic immune cells that kill infected or cancerous cells. Targeted in this study.
CD19/CD20	Antigens found on B-cells — main targets in blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
CRS (Cytokine Release Syndrome)	Severe immune reaction caused by overactive T-cells post-infusion.
HLH (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis)	Life-threatening overactivation of the immune system, seen in rare CAR T complications.

Conclusion

• The new platform shows extraordinary potential to make CAR T-cell therapy cheaper, safer, scalable, and democratically accessible.
• Still in preclinical stage — human trials needed to confirm efficacy, safety, and reproducibility.
• If successful, it could redefine cancer and autoimmune care, especially in resource-limited countries like India.

Woman at the helm

Current Context:

Kirsty Coventry, a 41-year-old Olympic swimmer and Zimbabwe’s most decorated athlete, has officially assumed office as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This marks a historic moment as she becomes the first woman, the first African, and the youngest person since Pierre de Coubertin to lead the world’s most powerful sports organisation.

Her appointment comes at a time when global sports are increasingly influenced by political tensions (e.g., Russia-Ukraine war, West Asia conflicts), gender debates (e.g., transgender participation), and challenges to the Olympic model (e.g., declining youth interest, commercial pressures). Coventry, with her athlete-minister background in politically unstable Zimbabwe, is expected to bring a more empathetic and inclusive leadership style compared to her predecessor Thomas Bach.

Her tenure begins as critical decisions loom over:

• The possible return of Russia to the Olympics,
• The impact of geopolitics on the 2036 Olympic bid (India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia),
• Sport-policy engagement with the US, especially under Donald Trump ahead of LA 2028,
• Reshaping the Olympic identity to attract youth without diluting sporting values.

Feature of the News

Key Fact	Details
New IOC President	Kirsty Coventry, 41 years old
Historic Firsts	First woman, first African, youngest since Pierre de Coubertin
Nationality	Zimbabwe
Background	Seven-time Olympic medalist; former Sports Minister in Zimbabwe
Predecessor	Thomas Bach (now honorary president for life)
IOC HQ	Lausanne, Switzerland
Tenure Focus Areas	Female and transgender athletes’ rights, anti-doping measures, Olympic relevance, new audience engagement, sponsorship sustainability
Major Challenges Ahead	Return of Russia, relations with Donald Trump-led USA, 2036 Olympics host decisions, balancing traditional and new sports (e.g., breakdancing experiment)

Explainer

1. What is the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?

• A non-governmental international organisation that oversees the Olympic Movement.
• Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin.
• Responsible for organising the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, selecting host cities, enforcing anti-doping rules, and setting ethical sports standards.

2. Why Is This Leadership Transition Significant?

• Historic moment for diversity and gender equity: First woman and African leader in a 130-year-old male-dominated institution.
• Coventry brings a dual perspective — elite athlete and policymaker — into a world still governed largely by political and commercial interests.

3. Major Global Issues Affecting the IOC in 2025–2036:

Issue	Impact on IOC & Coventry’s Leadership
Russia-Ukraine War	Whether Russia will be allowed to return for 2028 or 2036 Games.
West Asia Conflicts	Affects bids from Qatar, Saudi Arabia; geopolitical tension vs financial muscle.
Political Dynamics with USA	U.S. President Donald Trump could influence LA 2028 Games policy and media narratives.
Sponsorships	Pressure to attract and retain ethical, sustainable brands amidst global scrutiny.
Inclusion vs Performance	Transgender athlete inclusion policy to balance fairness and inclusivity.
Experimentation in Sports	Debates on new formats like breakdancing for youth outreach vs Olympic tradition.

4. India’s Strategic Interest

• 2036 Olympics Bid: India is among the contenders, alongside Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
• Political stability and sporting infrastructure will be key.
• Nita Ambani, India’s IOC member, is an important ally for Kirsty, potentially giving India diplomatic leverage.

5. Coventry’s Personal and Political Background

• Athlete: Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian (swimming).
• Ministerial Experience: Served in Zimbabwe’s cabinet, navigating post-Mugabe politics.
• Has experienced racial, political, and gender tensions firsthand, which could influence a more empathetic, consensual leadership style.

6. Administrative & Ethical Challenges Ahead

• Navigating IOC bureaucracy without much prior administrative experience.
• Ensuring fairness in sponsorship and bidding processes.
• Balancing humanitarian ethics with commercial realities.
• Managing global power dynamics while defending IOC neutrality.

Conclusion:

Kirsty Coventry’s presidency marks a symbolic and functional transformation in global sports leadership. As the first woman and African to helm the IOC, she carries the hope of a more inclusive, balanced, and modern sporting world order. Her leadership will be tested on multiple geopolitical, ethical, and commercial fronts, and her success could redefine both the Olympics and the wider role of sports diplomacy.