{"id":56181,"date":"2025-10-06T20:31:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=56181"},"modified":"2025-10-07T12:06:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T06:36:43","slug":"news-in-short-6-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/06-10-2025\/news-in-short-6-october-2025","title":{"rendered":"News in Short &#8211; 6 October, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>150th anniversary of Vande Matram<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union Cabinet announced nationwide celebration of the<strong> 150th anniversary of the national song \u2018Vande Mataram\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vande Mataram composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel <strong>Anandamath\u00a0 (1882<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its first public recital by<strong> Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 INC<\/strong> session gave it national exposure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The national song has <strong>equal status with Jana Gana Mana<\/strong>, as declared by a 1950 Presidential order.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 51A(a) mandates respect for the anthem but not for a national song, indicating a sensitive balance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The song was a rallying cry for anti-colonial revolutionaries and a symbol of collective resolve during the independence movement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: IE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Schedule M Norms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union Health Ministry has mandated strict compliance with the revised Schedule M norms for pharmaceutical manufacturers in India, following recent incidents of diethylene glycol (DEG) contamination in cough syrups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Schedule M?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Schedule M is part of the<strong> Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940<\/strong>, prescribing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for pharmaceuticals in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It establishes minimum standards for plant, equipment, hygiene, and processes to ensure drug safety and quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of the Revised Schedule M<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The recent major revision in 2023\u201324 aligns Indian GMP norms with WHO-GMP and PIC\/S international standards, strengthening India\u2019s position as a global pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compliance with the revised Schedule M became mandatory for all pharmaceutical units by December 31, 2025, with large units under stricter timelines and small and medium enterprises given conditional extensions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All records must be Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available to ensure data reliability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Diethylene Glycol (DEG)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DEG is a<strong> colorless, odorless, syrupy industrial chemical (formula C4H10O3) <\/strong>used as a solvent, antifreeze, and in plastics but not approved for pharmaceutical or food use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pharmaceutical contamination happens when industrial-grade DEG is mistakenly or fraudulently substituted for pharmaceutical-grade glycerine or propylene glycol during drug formulation, often due to poor quality control or cost-cutting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DEG contamination has tragically led to deaths linked to adulterated cough syrups like Coldrif.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Leprosy in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s leprosy prevalence rate has fallen from <strong>57.2 per 10,000 population<\/strong> in 1981 to just <strong>0.57 in 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Leprosy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Leprosy, or Hansen\u2019s disease,<\/strong> is a chronic infectious disease caused by <strong>bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symptoms<\/strong> include discoloured skin patches, lack of ability to feel touch, pressure, pain, heat and cold, muscle weakness, non-healing ulcers, deformities particularly in hands, feet and face and inability to close eyes and poor vision.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leprosy is transmitted<\/strong> through droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leprosy can be <strong>multibacillary or paucibacillary.<\/strong> It refers to classifications based on the number of Mycobacterium leprae bacteria present and the severity of the disease.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>While <strong>multibacillary leprosy shows a high density <\/strong>of bacilli on slit-skin smear examination, <strong>paucibacillary leprosy cases show only a few <\/strong>or no bacilli on slit-skin smear examination.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The introduction of <strong>Multidrug Therapy (MDT) in 1983<\/strong> in India revolutionized treatment of leprosy.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early diagnosis and treatment with MDT can prevent disabilities and deformities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The NLEP is a centrally sponsored scheme under the <strong>National Health Mission (NHM).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Initiatives under NLEP:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023-27:<\/strong> The strategy document and roadmap outline the strategic interventions and lay out a clear-cut roadmap to achieve the goal of interruption in transmission of leprosy by 2027.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leprosy screening<\/strong> has been integrated with the activities of comprehensive primary health care under <strong>Ayushman Bharat Yojana<\/strong> for screening of people above <strong>30 years of age.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nikusth 2.0:<\/strong> A revamped web-based ICT portal for data recording, reporting, and monitoring of leprosy activities for further strengthening services related to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of leprosy patients was launched in <strong>2023.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>International Recognition &amp; Partnerships<\/strong><br>&#8211; In the <strong>World Health Assembly Commitment (1991)<\/strong>, India committed to the World Health Assembly\u2019s goal of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem by the year 2000.\u00a0<br>&#8211; WHO supported India\u2019s <strong>Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (MLECs), <\/strong>diagnostic protocol shifts, and Special Action Projects for hard-to-reach populations.\u00a0<br>&#8211; It also piloted the <strong>COMBI (Communication for Behavioural Impact) strategy<\/strong> in <strong>Bihar.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174943\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Namchik Namphuk Coal Block<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arunachal Pradesh has launched its first commercial coal mining project at the <strong>Namchik-Namphuk coal block<\/strong> in Changlang district, marking a milestone in Northeast India\u2019s resource development and energy self-reliance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Namchik-Namphuk Coal Block<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Changlang district, southeastern Arunachal Pradesh, part of the Upper Assam coal belt region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reserves: <\/strong>Estimated 1.5 crore tonnes of coal, enabling long-term production viability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Impact:<\/strong> Expected to generate \u20b9100 crore annual revenue for the state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental Features:<\/strong> Operates under Mission Green Coal Regions, focusing on land reclamation, afforestation, and eco-responsible mining.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Impact:<\/strong> Creation of local employment; reduction of illegal mining activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Alignment: <\/strong>Supports the PM EAST vision \u2014 Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform \u2014 for balanced Northeast development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Commercial Coal Mining in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition:<\/strong> Allows private players to mine coal and sell it in the open market, ending Coal India Ltd.\u2019s monopoly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Origin: <\/strong>Introduced under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Operationalised in 2020 through AatmaNirbhar Bharat reforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Objectives: <\/strong>Boost domestic coal production and cut imports.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encourage private investment, adoption of advanced mining technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Governing Laws: <\/strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Related environmental and land laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2174956\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Falling Camel Counts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Species in News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying<\/strong> is planning to launch the <strong>National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI)<\/strong> \u2014 a national mission aimed at <strong>reversing the steady decline in India\u2019s camel population.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is witnessing a <strong>rapid and alarming decline in its camel population<\/strong>, especially in the <strong>traditionally camel-rearing states of Rajasthan and Gujarat.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to the <strong>20th Livestock Census,<\/strong> India\u2019s camel population stood at 2.52 lakh in 2019, down from about 11 lakh in 1977 and 4 lakh in 2013.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nearly 90%<\/strong> of these camels are concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The NCSI,\u00a0 would bring together the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the Ministries of Environment, Rural Development and Tourism, and State governments, to ensure coordinated action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Camels in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India mainly has one species of camel: <\/strong>Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) \u2013 one-humped camel, adapted to desert conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chinkara and Camel<\/strong> are the two State Animals of Rajasthan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic &amp; Cultural Importance:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Transport &amp; Labor:<\/strong> Traditionally used for carrying goods, plowing, and transport in desert regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Milk Production:<\/strong> Camel milk is nutritious and in demand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tourism:<\/strong> Camel safaris are popular in Rajasthan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural Festivals:<\/strong> Camel fairs, especially the Bikaner Camel Festival, celebrate the animal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defense Use:<\/strong> Camels are used by the Border Security Force (BSF) in desert patrols.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/centre-plans-national-camel-mission-to-save-indias-dwindling-desert-icon-10289360\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Phosphine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Astronomers detected <strong>trace amounts of phosphine<\/strong> in the atmosphere of a <strong>brown dwarf called Wolf 1130C,<\/strong> located dozens of light-years from Earth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phosphine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phosphine (PH\u2083)<\/strong> is a molecule made of three hydrogen atoms and one phosphorus atom.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On Earth, it is mostly produced by microbial life in swamps and animal intestines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In 2020, phosphine detection on Venus<\/strong> sparked debates about possible life there.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Phosphine is also present on gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, showing it can form in uninhabitable environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance: <\/strong>It helps scientists understand how phosphine forms naturally and could refine the search for phosphine as a potential biosignature (hint of life) on other planets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are brown dwarfs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Brown dwarfs<\/strong> are <strong>celestial bodies<\/strong> that share some <strong>similarities with stars and others with planets.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These objects form<strong> like stars from collapsing clouds of gas and dust.<\/strong> However, they do not have enough mass to consistently fuse hydrogen, a process that heats a star and makes it shine. That is why they are often known as <strong>\u201cfailed stars\u201d.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have <strong>atmospheres similar to gas giant planets<\/strong> such as Jupiter and Saturn.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Their atmospheres can consist of clouds and molecules like H2O.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brown dwarfs can also be up to<strong> 70 times more massive than Jupiter.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They help astronomers better understand the conditions that are necessary for the formation of stars and planets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determining the abundance and distribution of brown dwarfs gives key information on the distribution of mass in the universe to astronomers.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Exercise KONKAN-25<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and the United Kingdom conducted the 2025 edition of Exercise KONKAN, an annual bilateral maritime exercise that began in 2004.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The exercise comprised a <strong>Harbour Phase<\/strong>, involving professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, and operational discussions, and a <strong>Sea Phase<\/strong> featuring complex drills in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, along with carrier-based flying operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 2025 edition marks the first-ever participation of both nations\u2019 <strong>Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs)<\/strong> \u2014 the UK\u2019s HMS Prince of Wales and India\u2019s INS Vikrant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exercise KONKAN reinforces the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the India\u2013UK Vision 2035<\/strong>, highlighting a shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other India-UK Bilateral Exercises<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a0AJEYA WARRIOR (Army), Exercise Indradhanush (Air Force), and Exercise Cobra Warrior (multinational air exercise hosted by the UK).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/uk-and-india-launch-historic-carrier-strike-group-exercise-konkan\/article70127988.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Union Cabinet announced nationwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the national song \u2018Vande Mataram\u2019.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>About<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Vande Mataram composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel Anandamath\u00a0 (1882).<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Its first public recital by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 INC session gave it national exposure.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The national song has equal status with Jana Gana Mana, as declared by a 1950 Presidential order.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Article 51A(a) mandates respect for the anthem but not for a national song, indicating a sensitive balance.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/06-10-2025\/news-in-short-6-october-2025\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":56183,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/upsc-news-in-short-6-october-2025.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56181"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56196,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56181\/revisions\/56196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}