10TH SEPTEMBER, 2025
Child Nutrition Report 2025 released by UNICEF
Report highlights alarming global rise of unhealthy diets and childhood obesity, largely driven by proliferation and aggressive
marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and beverages.
Key Findings of the Report
5% children under-5 years of age and 20% children and
adolescents aged 5–19 years is now living with overweight, a
number that has doubled since 2000.
In 2025, prevalence of obesity was 9.4% whereas prevalence
of underweight was 9.2% among school-age children and
adolescents.
Regional Concentration: More than half of all affected
children live in three regions: East Asia and the Pacific, Latin
America and the Caribbean, and South Asia.
In South Asia, since 2000, prevalence of overweight
among those aged 5-19 increased almost fivefold by
2022.
Key Drivers:
Availability and Affordability of UPFs: UPFs are often
cheaper than nutritious foods due to agricultural subsidies for key ingredients (corn, soy, wheat) and long shelf-lives, making
them an accessible option for low-income families, etc.
Aggressive and Unregulated Marketing: Targeted digital marketing, surrogate advertisements through influencers blurring
distinction between content and ads, etc.
Policy Gaps: Only 7% have mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling, only 8% have food subsidies for healthy foods, etc.
Key Recommendations
Protect Breastfeeding: Implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, including restrictions
on digital marketing.
Transform Food Environments: Implement comprehensive, mandatory measures, including restrictions on the availability
and marketing of unhealthy foods, taxes, and front-of-pack labeling.
Promote Nutritious Foods: Improve the availability and affordability of nutritious foods through redirected subsidies and
strengthened local food systems.
Others: Strengthen Social Protection to increase access to nutritious diets for low-income families, social and behaviour
change initiatives to build public demand for healthy food environments, etc.
C.P. Radhakrishnan elected as the 15th Vice-President of India
About the Office of the Vice President
The Vice-President of India is the second-highest constitutional office in the country.
The Constitution does not specify who performs the Vice President’s duties when the office falls vacant.
Article 63: India shall have a Vice-President.
Article 64: The Vice-President shall be the Chairman of the Eligibility for Vice-President (Article 66)
Rajya Sabha. Is a citizen of India.
Article 65: The Vice-President acts as President, during Has completed the age of 35 years.
casual vacancy in the office of the President. Is qualified for election as a member of the Council of
Election Procedure of the Vice President States (Rajya Sabha).
Nomination: Requires 20 proposers and 20 seconders with Must not hold any office of profit under the Government
₹15,000 deposit and certified copy of the entry showing his of India or the Government of any State or under any local
name in the current electoral roll. or other authority.
Voting: By an Electoral College, which consists of the
members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (both elected and nominated members).
Voting is with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting at such an
election shall be by secret ballot under Article 66.
The value of every vote cast in the Vice-Presidential election has the same value i.e. 1.
No Whip: Provisions of the Anti-Defection Law are not applicable.
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Prime Minister of Nepal resigned as the ‘Gen Z’ protests turn violent
The protests and demonstrations escalated into violent attacks on government buildings and prominent politicians' homes,
ultimately forcing the Prime Minister's resignation and leaving the country without a clear government.
Reasons for Crisis in Nepal
Gen Z Discontent: Due to widespread frustration over corruption and extravagant lifestyles and privileges of political leaders
and their families, lack of accountability and high unemployment.
Suppression of Dissent: Government's ban on 26 social media platforms removed Gen Z’s main channel for expression,
triggering major protests.
Extreme State Response: Authorities responded with excessive force, including firing on protesters, which further inflamed
public anger.
India’s Troubled Neighbourhood and Its Impact
Regional Instability: In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal show South Asia’s political fragility.
Spillover Risks for India: Neighbouring turmoil disrupts India’s trade, markets, supply chains, and remittances.
Refugee and Migration Concerns: Refugee inflows from crises create humanitarian and border management challenges.
Security Implications: Instability heightens India’s border security and diplomatic stabilization needs.
Diplomatic Challenges: Prolonged unrest strains India’s strategic, economic, and cultural ties with neighbours.
Conclusion
In the backdrop of the significance of the Nepal's political stability for India, the Prime Minister of India held a meeting of the
Cabinet Committee on Security and stated that stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance for India.
Centre Seeks Report on Tribal Rights Concerns in Great Nicobar Island Project (GNIP)
The concerns were related to Tribal Council complaints of identification and settlement of tribal people’s rights under the For-
est Rights Act (FRA).
About GNIP
Clearance: The project was granted in-principal forest clearance and environmental clearance in 2022 under the Holistic
Development of Islands program (HDIP).
Nodal agency: Led by NITI Aayog and implemented through About Forest Rights Act, 2006
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Officially known as Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
Corporation (ANIIDCO). Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act.
Area: 130.75 Sq km of forest land is diverted (50% reserved Objective: To undo historical injustice occurred to forest
for green development with no tree felling). dwelling communities.
Infrastructure Projects: The project plan encompasses Key Features:
developing an international container transshipment Forest Rights Recognized as Individual Rights and
terminal (ICTT) at the Galathea Bay, a greenfield Community Rights.
international airport, a township, and a 450 MVA gas and ♦ The right to community tenures of habitat and
solar-based power plant. habitation over customary territories used by
Issues related to GNIP PVTGs include not only habitation, but also social,
Tribal Rights: GNI is home to the Shompens (PVTG) and economic, spiritual, sacred, religious and other
Nicobarese. purposes.
Biodiversity: Galathea Bay is one of the primary nesting Forest Rights Committee (District Level Committee)
sites in the world of the endangered Leatherback Turtles is envisaged to ensure that the claims are verified and
and the Nicobar Megapode, listed under Schedule I of the addressed.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
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Swachh Vayu Sarveshan Award 2025 announced by Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change
The award recognizes best-performing cities under Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025, conducted across 130 cities under the
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Swachh Vayu Sarveshan Award 2025
Population based Categories: Category 1 (Population >10 lakh), Category 2 (Population 3–10 lakh) and Category 3 (Population
<3 lakh).
Total Awards: 11 best-performing cities were awarded out of 130 NCAP cities-
Category 1 (Population >10 lakh): Indore (1st Rank)>Jabalpur (2nd Rank)>Agra & Surat (3rd Rank).
Category 2 (Population 3–10 lakh): Amravati (1st Rank) >Jhansi & Moradabad (2nd Rank)> Alwar (3rd Rank).
Category 3 (Population <3 lakh): Dewas (1st Rank)> Parwanoo (2nd Rank)>Angul (3rd Rank).
Ranking Criteria: Biomass & Municipal Solid Waste Burning, Road dust, Dust from Construction & Demolition Waste, Vehicular
Emissions, Emissions from Industries, IEC activities, Improvement in PM10 concentrations, etc.
About NCAP
Genesis: Launched by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2019.
Objective: To improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by engaging all
stakeholders.
Target: To achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national ambient air quality standards (60 µg/m3) by
2025-26 from the levels of 2019-20.
Implementing Body: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the national level.
PRANA (Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities): Launched to monitor the implementation of NCAP.
Also in News
National Scheduled Tribe Finance and
Section 29A of RPA, 1951
Development Corporation
Coal India Limited and National Scheduled Tribe Finance and
ECI has decided to verify antecedents of founding members at Development Corporation (NSTFDC) signed MoU aimed at
registration stage itself for associations seeking registration as empowering tribal students enrolled in Eklavya Model Residential
Political Party under Section 29A of the Representation of the Schools.
People Act (RPA), 1951. About NSTFDC
Section 29A of RPA 1951 Set up in 2001 under the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs,
Parties must apply to the Election Commission within 30 days of Government of India.
formation. Objective: To work for socio-economic and educational upliftment
Applications are made as per ECI guidelines under Article 324 of STs, to provide better self-employment avenues so that they
of the Constitution and Section 29A. can become economically independent and self-reliant.
Mandatory Pledge: Association or body shall bear true faith and It also provides grants for conducting training and skill
allegiance to the Constitution of India as established by law, development programs for tribal youth.
and to the principles of socialism, secularism, and democracy,
and would uphold the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
Decision of the Election Commission regarding registration is EU Expands India Seafood Export Access
final.
Recently, European Union's approved 102 additional Indian fishery
UK India Infrastructure Financing Bridge establishments to export seafood to EU member nations.
(UKIIFB) Significance of the Expansion
Expected to
UKIIFB marked its first anniversary by launching a report. increase India's
Recommendations Report Include: seafood exports to
Aligning the Indian procurement process with globally the EU by 20%.
recognised frameworks. Reflects growing
India will also need to address operational risks for projects international
and the perception of unpredictability and opacity in confidence in India’s
construction. food safety and
About UKIIFB quality assurance
It is a collaborative initiative led jointly by NITI Aayog and the City systems.
of London. It is expected
It is aimed at unlocking infrastructure investment and leveraging to specifically
the City of London's expertise in structuring and phasing major benefits exports
infrastructure projects. of aquaculture
The partnership seeks to secure long-term investment for vital shrimps and Cephalopods, which include squid, cuttlefish, and
infrastructure sectors in India. octopus.
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India Energy Stack Vembanad Lake
Ministry of Power Initiates Stakeholder Survey to Build India Energy Unchecked tourism, luxury houseboats, and decades of
Stack (IES) encroachment are threatening the Vembanad Lake.
The survey aims to gather insights on organizational profile, About Vembanad Lake
readiness to participate in the IES ecosystem. It is India's longest lake, its largest tropical wetland ecosystem.
About IES It is largest Ramsar site spanning multiple districts in Kerala.
It is conceptualized by the Ministry of Power as a Digital Public Fed by 10 rivers, it includes the Thanneermukkom salt water
Infrastructure (DPI) for the power sector. barrier, India's largest mud regulator, vital for agriculture.
Aim: To enable a connected, intelligent, and interoperable energy It's a prime backwater tourism hub, famous for Kettuvallams and
ecosystem. the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
It will define open standards and interoperability frameworks.
Utility Intelligence Platform will be developed to unlock data from
various systems to drive innovation and efficiency.
CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate
Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL)
Program)
A study of fossil leaves from Nagaland revealed how Antarctica Nobel laureate Michael Kremer found PAL software used in Andhra
shaped the Indian Monsoons.This was done through CLAMP Method. Pradesh’s government schools led to a doubling of learning rates
About CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) among those who used it.
CLAMP uses fossil leaves as “climate fingerprints” to decode About PAL
how Earth’s climate looked in the past. It means a learning approach that adapts to the individual needs
It is used to reconstruct past climates (temperature, rainfall, of a learner.
humidity) by studying the shape, size, and margins of fossilized It helps them learn according to their own learning levels,
leaves. preferences, and style.
It helps in paleoclimate studies, especially where other climate It mainly necessitates a change away from traditional one-size-
records (like ice cores or sediments) are missing. fits-all teaching approaches and towards a more flexible and
Useful in predicting future climate responses by comparing past adaptive paradigm.
warming/cooling events with present trends.
Personality in News Govind Ballabh Pant (10 September 1887- 7 March 1961)
Indian Freedom fighter Birth Anniversary celebrated.
About Govind Ballabh Pant
Born in Almora, Uttarakhand.
He started Kumaon Parishad in 1916.
Got elected to the United Provinces Legislative Council on a Swaraj Party
ticket in 1923.
Key Contributions
Took part in the Salt March, Quit India Movement and was arrested in 1930
for planning the Civil Disobedience Movement.
He was the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Linguistic Reorganization of States: During his tenure as India’s home
minister from 1955 to 1961.
Rewards and recognition: Received Bharat Ratna in 1957.
Values: Courage, Integrity, Compassion, etc.
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