Women and Society
Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023: Parliament passed a law reserving 33% of seats in the
Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, marking a historic step toward gender
equality [1] .
Budget 2024–25 for Women: Over ₹3 lakh crore allocated for women’s welfare, including
working women’s hostels, skilling programs, and support for women entrepreneurs [2] .
Mission Shakti: Expanded government initiative focusing on women’s safety (Sambal) and
empowerment (Samarthya), with increased funding for both components in 2024 [2] .
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana: Ongoing focus on improving child sex ratio and girls’
education [3] .
Nirbhaya Fund Expansion: Continued funding for women’s safety initiatives, including
support centers for victims of violence [3] .
Security
Pahalgam Terror Attack (2025): Recent attack in Kashmir underscores persistent terrorism
threats, especially cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and the need for enhanced
intelligence and technology [4] .
Cybersecurity in Banking: Over 23,000 cybersecurity incidents reported by Indian banks
in 2023, including phishing and hacking, highlighting rising digital threats [5] .
BSNL Data Breach (2024): Major breach exposed millions of users’ data, prompting
government audits of telecom networks [6] .
Energy Sector Espionage (2024): Cyberattack on Indian energy companies led to massive
data theft, signaling vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure [6] .
Uttar Pradesh Welfare Scheme Fraud: Hackers exploited government portals for fraudulent
payouts, spotlighting risks in digital governance [6] .
Governance
Women’s Reservation Bill Implementation: Major legislative reform for political
representation of women [1] .
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Expansion: Continued push for efficient, transparent welfare
delivery through DBT systems.
Digital India Initiatives: Ongoing digitization of government services for transparency and
efficiency.
Electoral Reforms: Debates on simultaneous elections and electoral bond transparency.
Anti-Corruption Measures: Strengthening of anti-corruption agencies and digital tracking
of government spending.
Environment
Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR: Severe air quality crises in winter months, with emergency
measures like odd-even vehicle rules and school closures.
Cheetah Reintroduction Project: Ongoing monitoring of African cheetahs reintroduced to
Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.
Plastic Waste Management Rules: Stricter enforcement and bans on single-use plastics.
G20 Environment Agenda (2023): India’s leadership on climate finance and sustainable
development at G20 summits.
Heatwaves and Climate Adaptation: Record-breaking heatwaves in 2023–24, prompting
new government guidelines for cities and states.
Youth and Education
National Education Policy (NEP) Implementation: Rollout of NEP reforms, including
multidisciplinary education and skill development.
Agnipath Scheme Protests: Youth protests and debates around the new military
recruitment policy.
Digital Learning Push: Expansion of e-learning platforms and digital classrooms post-
pandemic.
Exam Paper Leaks and Reforms: Incidents of paper leaks in competitive exams leading to
calls for examination reforms.
Skill India Mission: Ongoing efforts to boost youth employability through vocational and
technical training.
Science and Technology
Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission (2023): India’s successful lunar landing, making it the fourth
country to achieve this feat.
Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Preparations: Progress on India’s first crewed space
mission, with astronaut training underway.
AI Regulation Debates: Discussions on ethical and legal frameworks for artificial intelligence.
5G Rollout: Nationwide expansion of 5G services and related infrastructure.
Rise in Cyberattacks: Surge in cyberattacks on Indian businesses and public sector entities
in 2023–24 [7] .
Economy
Budget 2024–25 Focus: Emphasis on women-led development, infrastructure, and social
justice [2] .
Inflation and Food Prices: Persistent concerns over food inflation and government
interventions.
PLI Schemes for Manufacturing: Production-linked incentives to boost electronics, EVs,
and semiconductor manufacturing.
Start-up Ecosystem Growth: Surge in Indian start-ups and unicorns, especially in fintech
and edtech.
Global Economic Uncertainties: Impact of global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical
tensions on Indian exports.
Ethics
Electoral Bonds Controversy: Supreme Court scrutiny of political funding transparency.
AI and Deepfakes: Rising concerns about misinformation, privacy, and ethical use of AI.
Data Privacy Bill: Ongoing debates on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and citizens’
privacy rights.
Corporate Governance Scandals: Cases like the NSE co-location scam and regulatory
responses.
Media Ethics: Debates on sensationalism, fake news, and responsible reporting.
International Affairs
India’s G20 Presidency (2023): Hosting G20 summit, shaping global climate and economic
agendas.
Border Tensions with China: Ongoing standoffs and diplomatic talks in Ladakh.
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Launch of new trade and connectivity
initiatives.
Global South Leadership: India’s advocacy for developing countries in global forums.
Ukraine-Russia War Diplomacy: India’s balancing act in international responses to the
conflict.
This list covers at least five major current topics for each theme, reflecting issues widely
reported in Indian news and newspapers during 2023 and 2024.
⁂
1. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2023/10/india-passes-law-to-reserve-seats-fo
r-women-legislators
2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/economy/budget-2024-25-empowering-women-advancing
-social-justice-101723786176612.html
3. https://www.nextias.com/blog/women-empowerment/
4. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/terrorism-and-india-s-security-landsca
pe
5. https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/indian-banks-reported-over-23000-cybersecurity-incidents-in-
2023-government-to-parliament-19526257.htm
6. https://www.sattrix.com/blog/biggest-cyber-attacks-in-india/
7. https://thecyberexpress.com/top-15-cyberattacks-that-rocked-india/
