Current Affairs - National

The fifth edition of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2025 was held in New Delhi from 27–28 November. The event focused on “Advancing Internet Governance for an Inclusive and Sustainable Viksit Bharat” and included four major panels and twelve workshops addressing key aspects of digital governance. Day 1 took place at the India Habitat Centre, while Day 2 was held at the India International Centre. The forum was inaugurated by Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada, highlighting the importance of internet policy, digital inclusion, and governance in shaping India’s technological and socio-economic landscape.

‘Nayi Chetna 4.0’ is a national campaign launched to strengthen gender equality and empower women across communities. Led by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and organised by DAY-NRLM under the Ministry of Rural Development, the month-long initiative focuses on encouraging community-level action and awareness to combat gender-based violence. The campaign aims to inspire collective responsibility, promote safer environments for women, and reinforce the importance of equal opportunities. By engaging rural communities, the programme works toward long-term social transformation and supports broader national goals related to gender justice and empowerment.

The Asian Development Bank approved a $400 million results-based lending program aimed at strengthening rural and state road networks across Maharashtra. The initiative focuses on improving nearly 2,577 km of rural roads and 350 km of state highways, enhancing access to markets, education, healthcare, and public services for more than 1.7 million people. It also integrates climate-resilient designs, multi-hazard risk assessments, and advanced maintenance systems to address extreme weather challenges. Additionally, the project emphasizes gender inclusion, youth engagement, road safety enhancements through iRAP methodologies, and the development of digital planning systems, ensuring comprehensive and sustainable regional growth.

The World Bank approved a total of $776 million to support major reform-oriented projects in Punjab and Maharashtra. The funding is divided between two key initiatives: the POISE project in Punjab aimed at improving education quality through digital tools, teacher training, and performance-based systems, and the POCRA Phase II project in Maharashtra designed to promote climate-resilient agriculture using precision-farming technologies. These projects collectively aim to benefit more than 60 lakh people, including students, farmers, and early childhood learners. With long-term loan tenures and a strong emphasis on innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, the World Bank intends to drive measurable improvements in learning outcomes and agricultural resilience.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has established a four-member committee to undertake comprehensive cadre restructuring with the goal of improving operational efficiency and service delivery. Led by BP Sharma, the committee will evaluate the current organisational structure, identify gaps, streamline workflows, and propose reforms that align with the organisation’s growing responsibilities in a rapidly digitising ecosystem. With rising demands from EPF subscribers and new service expansions to gig and unorganised sector workers, the restructuring aims to ensure timely claim processing, enhanced grievance redressal, and improved customer support. The committee is expected to submit its detailed recommendations by March 31, 2026.