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July11th Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – July 24th

Table of Contents

PM-YASASVI Scheme in News: Government Highlights Scholarship Support for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

Why in News?

PM-YASASVI (PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) was in the news after the Union Government highlighted the scheme as part of its efforts to expand educational opportunities and financial assistance for students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The scheme is being implemented through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

What is PM-YASASVI?

PM-YASASVI stands for Prime Minister’s Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India.

It is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide financial assistance to meritorious students belonging to:

  • Other Backward Classes (OBC)
  • Economically Backward Classes (EBC)
  • Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT/SNT)

The objective is to reduce financial barriers and improve access to quality education.

Objectives

  • Promote educational opportunities for disadvantaged students.
  • Support meritorious students in pursuing quality school and higher education.
  • Reduce dropout rates due to financial constraints.
  • Improve social justice and educational equity.

Key Features

  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • Mode of Application: National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
  • Benefit: Scholarships covering tuition fees and, in eligible cases, hostel and other educational expenses.
  • Selection: Merit-based, subject to eligibility conditions.

Eligibility

Students should:

    • Belong to OBC, EBC or DNT categories.
    • Meet the prescribed annual family income limit.
    • Be studying in eligible institutions notified under the scheme.
    • Fulfil the academic merit criteria prescribed by the government.

Significance for India

  • Encourages higher education among underrepresented communities.
  • Supports inclusive growth and human capital development.
  • Contributes to the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by improving access to education.
  • Helps bridge educational and socio-economic inequalities.

Prelims Facts

  • Full Form: Prime Minister’s Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)
  • Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • Beneficiaries: OBC, EBC, and DNT students
  • Nature: Central Sector Scholarship Scheme
  • Application Portal: National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

UMEED Portal: 6.17 Lakh Waqf Properties Approved, Says Ministry

Why in News?

The Ministry of Minority Affairs informed Parliament that, as of 17 July 2026, 7,99,978 Waqf properties had been initiated for uploading on the UMEED Central Portal. Of these:

  • 6,17,102 properties have been validated and approved.
  • 91,623 properties are pending at different stages of processing.
  • 91,253 properties (about 11.4%) were rejected during verification.

What is the UMEED Portal?

UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development.

It is a centralized digital portal developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to create a transparent, verified, and digitized database of Waqf properties across India.

The portal was launched in 2025 following the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which renamed the Waqf Act framework as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act.

Objectives of the UMEED Portal

  • Digitize all Waqf property records.
  • Increase transparency in Waqf administration.
  • Prevent duplicate, fraudulent, or disputed property records.
  • Enable real-time monitoring of Waqf assets.
  • Improve governance and utilization of Waqf properties for community welfare.

What is a Waqf Property?

A Waqf is a permanent endowment made by a person professing Islam for religious, charitable, or public welfare purposes.

Examples include:

  • Mosques
  • Dargahs
  • Graveyards
  • Madrasas
  • Charitable institutions
  • Land or buildings dedicated for public welfare

These properties are managed by State Waqf Boards under the Waqf law.  

How Does the UMEED Portal Work?

The portal follows a multi-level verification process:

  1. Maker – Uploads the property details.
  2. Checker – Verifies the uploaded information.
  3. Approver – Gives final approval after validation.

Properties that fail verification are rejected to maintain the accuracy of the national database.

Significance

  • Promotes digital governance in the management of religious endowments.
  • Improves transparency and accountability.
  • Helps reduce disputes over ownership and records.
  • Creates a reliable national database for policy and administration.
  • Supports better utilization of Waqf assets for educational, social, and charitable purposes.

Challenges

  • Large number of pending and rejected applications.
  • Incomplete or inaccurate property records in some States.
  • Legal disputes over ownership of certain Waqf properties.
  • Need for stronger coordination between State Waqf Boards and the Centre.

East Asia Summit (EAS): Jaishankar Calls for Safe and Unimpeded Global Waterways

Why is it in News?

India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, speaking at the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, emphasized that global waterways must remain safe, secure, and free from obstruction. He stressed the importance of respecting international law, ensuring freedom of navigation, and resolving maritime disputes peacefully amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

What is the East Asia Summit (EAS)?

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a leaders-led strategic forum for dialogue and cooperation on political, security, and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

It was established in 2005 to promote peace, stability, and regional cooperation.

Objectives of EAS

  • Promote peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Strengthen economic growth and regional integration.
  • Address common challenges such as:
    • Maritime security
    • Terrorism
    • Climate change
    • Energy security
    • Disaster management
    • Public health
    • Cybersecurity

Membership (18 Countries)

The EAS has 18 participating countries:

ASEAN Member States (10)

  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Dialogue Partners (8)

  • India
  • Australia
  • China
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Korea (South Korea)
  • Russia
  • United States

ASEAN plays the central role in leading the EAS process.

Why Did Jaishankar Stress "Safe and Unimpeded Waterways"?

His remarks come amid increasing geopolitical tensions in important sea routes such as the:

  • South China Sea
  • East China Sea
  • Indian Ocean Region

India highlighted that:

  • Maritime trade is vital for the global economy.
  • Sea lanes should remain open without coercion or obstruction.
  • International rules should govern maritime conduct rather than unilateral actions.

For India, secure sea routes are essential because around 95% of India’s trade by volume and nearly 70% by value is transported through the seas.

Importance of EAS for India

  • Supports India’s Act East Policy.
  • Advances India’s vision of a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
  • Enhances cooperation with ASEAN and major global powers.
  • Promotes maritime security and regional connectivity.
  • Provides a platform to discuss regional security and economic issues.

Prelims Facts

Feature

Details

Established

2005

Nature

Leaders-led strategic forum

Members

18

Core

ASEAN-led mechanism

India’s Participation

Founding member

Major Focus

Indo-Pacific security, maritime cooperation, economic integration

Endangered Herb: Himalayan Farmers Pioneer Sustainable Cultivation of Kutki

Why in News?

Himalayan farmers have successfully adopted the sustainable cultivation of the endangered medicinal herb Kutki, reducing pressure on wild populations while improving rural livelihoods. The initiative demonstrates how conservation and income generation can go hand in hand.

What is Kutki?

  • Common Name: Kutki
  • Scientific Name: Picrorhiza kurroa
  • Family: Plantaginaceae (earlier classified under Scrophulariaceae)
  • It is a high-value medicinal herb native to the Himalayan region.

Distribution

Kutki grows naturally in the higher Himalayas at altitudes of about 3,000–5,000 metres.

It is found in:

  • Jammu & Kashmir
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Uttarakhand
  • Sikkim
  • Arunachal Pradesh

It also occurs in Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Tibet.

Why is it Endangered?

The species has declined due to:

  • Overharvesting for the herbal medicine industry.
  • Slow natural regeneration.
  • Habitat degradation.
  • Climate change affecting alpine ecosystems.

Because of these pressures, wild populations have reduced significantly.

Medicinal Importance

Kutki is widely used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine for:

  • Liver disorders
  • Fever
  • Digestive ailments
  • Respiratory problems
  • Immune support

Its rhizomes contain important bioactive compounds such as picroside-I and picroside-II, which are valued for their medicinal properties.

Sustainable Cultivation

The initiative highlighted in the news promotes:

    • Cultivation instead of wild collection.
    • Scientific farming practices.
    • Conservation of natural populations.
    • Better income opportunities for Himalayan farmers.
    • A sustainable supply of medicinal raw material for the pharmaceutical industry.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (globally assessed; in India it is widely recognized as a threatened medicinal plant).
  • Listed by conservation agencies as a high-priority medicinal plant requiring sustainable management.

Significance

Ecological

  • Conserves alpine biodiversity.
  • Reduces exploitation of wild medicinal plants.
  • Supports ecosystem restoration.

Economic

  • Provides an alternative livelihood for mountain communities.
  • Encourages cultivation of high-value medicinal crops.

Health

    • Ensures a sustainable supply of medicinal herbs for traditional and modern medicine.

NATO's Ankara Summit: Warning Signals for India from NATO's Expanding Indo-Pacific Outlook

Why in News?

The editorial discusses the outcomes of NATO’s Ankara Summit and examines their implications for India. The summit reflected NATO’s growing focus beyond the Euro-Atlantic region, particularly on the Indo-Pacific, where China, maritime security, and strategic partnerships have become major concerns. The editorial argues that these developments carry important strategic lessons and challenges for India.

What is NATO?

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a political and military alliance established in 1949 through the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty).

Headquarters

  • Brussels, Belgium

Founding Purpose

  • To provide collective defence against external aggression.
  • Maintain peace and security among member states.

Collective Defence Principle

  • Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members, requiring collective response.

Members

NATO currently has 32 member countries (after the accession of Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024).

Major members include:

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Canada
  • Türkiye
  • Finland
  • Sweden

What Was Highlighted at the Ankara Summit?

The summit emphasized:              

  • Strengthening collective defence.
  • Continued support for Ukraine.
  • Addressing the strategic challenge posed by China.
  • Enhancing cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
  • Protecting critical infrastructure, cyber networks, and maritime routes.

Why is it Important for India?

The editorial suggests several “warning signals”:

1. NATO’s Expanding Indo-Pacific Role          

Although NATO is a Euro-Atlantic alliance, it is increasingly engaging with Indo-Pacific security issues.

2. Growing Strategic Competition

China’s expanding military and economic influence has made the Indo-Pacific a key strategic theatre, leading NATO to strengthen partnerships in the region.

3. Pressure on India’s Strategic Autonomy

India traditionally follows strategic autonomy, maintaining relations with multiple major powers. A more active NATO in Asia could increase pressure to align more closely with one geopolitical bloc.

4. Maritime Security

As India’s trade depends heavily on sea routes, developments in the Indo-Pacific and NATO’s interest in maritime security have direct implications for India’s economic and strategic interests.

5. Defence and Technology

Closer NATO cooperation in defence technology, cyber security, and intelligence could reshape the regional security environment in which India operates.

India's Position

India is:                           

  • Not a member of NATO.
  • Committed to strategic autonomy.
  • Promoting a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
  • Strengthening cooperation through forums such as:
    • Quad
    • ASEAN-led mechanisms
    • East Asia Summit
    • Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

India also maintains defence and diplomatic relations with both Western countries and Russia.

 

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