Current Affairs - National

The ‘Apna Ghar’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is primarily aimed at improving the well-being of truck drivers across the country. By July 1, 2025, a total of 368 rest units with 4,611 beds were established at highway fuel outlets. These facilities provide clean and safe environments for rest, equipped with essential amenities like sanitation and bedding. Truck drivers, who often face fatigue and lack proper resting spaces during long journeys, are the main beneficiaries. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance logistics infrastructure and improve working conditions in the road transport sector.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta initiated a month-long door-to-door cleanliness campaign in New Delhi, beginning at ISBT Kashmiri Gate. The campaign is designed to improve hygiene standards in residential areas, government offices, and public transport hubs. Civic bodies and citizens are both playing an active role in ensuring the success of this initiative. The Chief Minister also drew attention to the poor conditions of existing government offices, underlining the necessity for a new Secretariat. This reflects a broader push to not only clean public spaces but also upgrade the infrastructure that supports government functioning in the capital city.

The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, with a capacity of 1,856 MW, has been revived by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in response to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. Located on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ramban district, it is a run-of-river project aiming to optimise India's use of the western rivers allocated to Pakistan under the IWT. The project, conceived decades ago, is of strategic and national importance. With in-principle clearance for forest land diversion and a planned investment of over ₹22,700 crore, it is expected to boost energy capacity and regional development.

The Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) has triggered a serious inter-state water-sharing conflict between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The project proposes diverting 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwaters to the Krishna and Penna basins to address water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region. Telangana opposes the project, citing violations of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, lack of clearances from bodies like the Apex Council and Central Water Commission, and environmental concerns. Additionally, it disputes the claim of “surplus” water and objects to the unauthorised inter-basin transfer. The high-level committee aims to address these complex legal, environmental, and federal issues through cooperative dialogue.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was introduced to overhaul India’s education system after 34 years, replacing the NEP of 1986. It was formulated based on the recommendations of the Dr. K. Kasturirangan Committee and officially adopted in 2020. The policy emphasises inclusive, flexible, and multidisciplinary learning approaches across school and higher education. Key reforms include the 5+3+3+4 school structure, mother tongue instruction in early education, the introduction of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and the promotion of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs). Its fifth anniversary in 2025 was commemorated at the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS).