UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 6 October 2025

Why Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Is Crucial for India’s Courts?

Context

India’s judicial system is grappling with an unprecedented backlog underscoring the urgent need for alternative mechanisms to ensure timely delivery of justice.

Constitutional and Legal Basis of ADR

Article 39A: It mandates the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid.

Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure (1908): ADR processes such as arbitration, conciliation, mediation, and judicial settlement (Lok Adalat) derive statutory recognition from Section 89 CPC.

AI Integration in Indian Classroom

Context

India AI’s mission envisages the opening of the AI Centres for Excellence (CoE) in education.

India’s AI Integration in Education

Increase in Number of Schools having Computer Access: One of the most notable improvements is the increase in the number of schools with computer access, rising from 57.2% in 2023–24 to 64.7% this year.

Increase in Number of Schools having Internet Access: The percentage of schools with internet connectivity increased from 53.9% in the previous year to 63.5% in 2024–25.

Teacher training & digital literacy: Fewer than 50% of secondary/higher secondary teachers are trained in computer use.

Student access, gender, and digital divides: Male students tend to have higher digital literacy than female peers; rural and disadvantaged students have lower access.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Nurturing Organic Farming in India

Context

The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, has emerged as a flagship initiative to promote organic farming in India.

What is Organic farming?

Organic farming is a sustainable agriculture system that excludes synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

It relies on natural resources like crop residues, farmyard manure, and compost to maintain soil health and manage pests and diseases.

RBI Grants SRO Status to Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC)

Context

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially recognised the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) as the Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for the non-banking financial company (NBFC) sector.

What are Self‑Regulatory Organisations (SROs)?

The RBI’s Omnibus Framework describes an SRO as a non‑governmental organisation that is authorised by a regulator to regulate and oversee a particular industry or sector.

SROs derive authority from membership agreements and operate within the boundaries defined by law.

Eligibility: The RBI’s guidelines require an SRO to be a Section 8 not‑for‑profit company, have diversified shareholding (no entity may hold more than 10 % of capital) and maintain sufficient net worth.

Philippines Pioneers Coral Larvae Cryobank

Context

The Philippines has launched Southeast Asia’s first coral larvae cryobank to preserve coral genetic diversity and protect reef ecosystems.

Coral Cryobank Initiative

The initiative involves collaboration among research institutions in the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The objective is to freeze and preserve coral larvae, ensuring long-term protection of coral genetic diversity.

News in Short – 6 October, 2025

In Context

The Union Cabinet announced nationwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.

About

Vande Mataram composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel Anandamath (1882).

Its first public recital by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 INC session gave it national exposure.

The national song has equal status with Jana Gana Mana, as declared by a 1950 Presidential order.

Article 51A(a) mandates respect for the anthem but not for a national song, indicating a sensitive balance.