News In Short 19-August-2025

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

Syllabus: GS2/Governance 

In News

• The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha.

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

• The Bill builds upon the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which was the first consolidated legislation to decriminalise minor offences across multiple laws. 
• The 2023 Act, notified in August 2023, had decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts administered by 19 ministries and departments.

Key Features of New Bill 

• The 2025 Bill targets 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts under 10 ministries.
  • 288 provisions are proposed for decriminalisation.
  • 67 provisions aim to promote ease of living.
• The amendments also include provisions under the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to make compliance smoother for citizens.
• It proposes replacing minor, technical, and procedural offences with monetary penalties or warnings, especially for first-time contraventions under 76 offences.
• Penalties made proportionate, with graduated penalties for repeated offences.
• Designated officers empowered to impose penalties through administrative processes, reducing judicial burden.
• Automatic 10% increase in fines every three years is proposed to avoid frequent legislative amendments.
• Further decriminalisation is suggested for laws already covered under the 2023 Act, including the Motor Vehicles Act, Tea Act, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Objectives 

• The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 marks a significant milestone in India’s regulatory reform journey. 
• It reflects the Government’s commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and will catalyze sustainable economic growth and improved ease of doing business.

Source :DD News

Visva-Bharati University

Syllabus :GS2/Education  

In News

• Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal denied permission for a lecture on Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
  • Visva-Bharati’s PRO claimed the denial was due to a scheduling conflict with the Rabindra Saptaha heritage event. 

Visva-Bharati University

• It was  founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921 in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
• It is a unique institution that blends Indian traditions with global educational ideals. 
• In 1951, it was recognized as a Central University and an institution of national importance. 

Key Functionaries 

• The President of India is the Paridarsaka (Visitor) of the University, the Governor of West Bengal is the Pradhana (Rector), and the Prime Minister of India acts as the Acharya (Chancellor). The President of India appoints the Upacharya (Vice-chancellor) of the University.

Characteristics 

• It emphasizes holistic learning, open-air education, and creativity, fostering a deep connection with nature. 
• It is Known for its focus on arts, music, literature, and rural development. 
• It remains a hub of cultural exchange and intellectual pursuit, reflecting Tagore’s vision of universal harmony and knowledge.

Source: TH

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

Syllabus :GS2/Health 

In News

• The Health department in Kozhikode, Kerala, has issued an alert against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in the district in view of cases of the infection and a death.

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)

• Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.
  • N. fowleri is a  free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater and soil.
    • An ameba is a single-celled living organism that is too small to be seen without a microscope.
• Transmission:   Infection typically occurs when contaminated water enters the nose during activities like swimming, nasal cleansing in religious rituals, or sinus irrigation.
  •  It does not spread through drinking water or person-to-person contact.
• Effect  : It travels to the brain, destroying tissue and causing brain swelling.
• Treatment and Precautions :  To reduce risk, limit water entering the nose during water activities.
  • Though some drugs work against N. fowleri in labs, they have limited success in treating infections, which are almost always fatal.

Source :TH

UNHCR Suspends Repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees

Syllabus: GS2/ International Institutions

In News

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently suspended the repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India after returnees were reportedly arrested upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations mandated to protect and support refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. 
• Established in 1950, the UNHCR leads international action to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and coordinates efforts for their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country when conditions allow.
• The agency operates under the principles of international refugee law, especially the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. 

Source: IE

NAVYA Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives

Context

• The Union minister provided the information on the  NAVYA initiative in the written reply in Lok Sabha. 

About

• NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational training for Young Adolescent Girls) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Women & Child Development, launched in June 2025.
• It aims to empower adolescent girls (16–18 years) in aspirational districts, with a minimum qualification of Class 10, by equipping them with relevant skills for socio-economic independence.
• Under NAVYA, 3,850 adolescent girls will be trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0) in non-traditional and emerging sectors such as digital marketing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled services, and green jobs.
• Training will also include life skills, financial literacy, and digital competence to prepare them for current and future workforce demands.

Source: PIB

Maize Cultivation

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• Recent reports highlight that maize is increasingly becoming the preferred crop for farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP), with many shifting from traditional crops to maize.

Reasons 

• Low Water Requirement: Unlike water-intensive paddy and sugarcane, maize consumes less water, making it suitable for regions facing irrigation constraints.
• Rising Industrial Demand: Growing demand from ethanol blending policy (E20 target), poultry feed, and starch industries is pushing maize cultivation.
• Economic Viability: Market prices have touched ₹2,500 per quintal, higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,225 per quintal (2024–25 season).

Geographical Conditions for Maize Cultivation

• Soil: Maize grows well in well-drained, fertile, sandy loam to silty loam soils. Alluvial soils are particularly suitable for maize cultivation.
  • The ideal pH for maize is between 5.5 and 7.5.
  • Drainage: Waterlogging can be harmful to maize, so good drainage is essential.
• Temperature: Maize is a warm-weather crop that prefers temperatures between 21°C and 32°C.
• Precipitation: Requires 50 – 100 cm of well-distributed rainfall.
• Season: In India, maize is typically grown during the Kharif season (June-September).
  • However, it can also be sown in other seasons depending on the region and specific variety.

Source: TOI