NATIONAL NEWS
Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025: Fostering Innovation Among Students
• Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, launched by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, is a nationwide student innovation event.
• It engages school students across India in a large-scale hackathon emphasizing creativity and practical problem-solving.
• The event is organised by the Department of School Education & Literacy in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and AICTE.
• The Buildathon focuses on four themes: Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, and Samriddhi, promoting self-reliance and national prosperity.
• The program began with student registrations on 23 September 2025, followed by a preparation phase guided by teachers, and the Live Synchronized Innovation Event on 13 October.
• Students submit final prototypes by 31 October, which are then evaluated by expert panels, with winners announced in January 2026, recognising over 1,000 top innovators.
• The initiative encourages creative thinking, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving skills while supporting India’s goals of technological self-sufficiency and sustainable growth.
STATE NEWS
Uttar Pradesh Marks 7th Anniversary of Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY)
• Uttar Pradesh celebrated Ayushman Bharat Diwas on the 7th anniversary of PMJAY, highlighting achievements of the scheme.
• Special camps were conducted statewide to issue Ayushman Cards, making UP the top state in card distribution.
• Currently, 87% of eligible families have at least one member holding an Ayushman Card, with 5.38 crore cards issued out of nine crore targeted beneficiaries.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced plans to include teachers under the scheme.
• So far, 74.4 lakh beneficiaries in UP have received free treatment, amounting to a total expenditure of Rs 12,283 crore.
• The scheme has empanelled 6,099 hospitals (2,921 government and 3,088 private), ensuring wide access to healthcare services.
• Expenditure on tertiary care services has reached Rs 4,200 crore, covering specialized treatments like cancer, cardiology, orthopedics, organ transplants, pediatric oncology, and plastic surgery.
Cabinet Approves Doubling of Bakhtiyarpur – Rajgir – Tilaiya Railway Line in Bihar
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur – Rajgir – Tilaiya railway line in Bihar.
• The project will cover a 104 km stretch, passing through four districts and connecting key destinations like Rajgir, Nalanda, and Pawapuri.
• The total project cost is estimated at Rs. 2,192 crore and will benefit 1,434 villages and 13.46 lakh people, including the aspirational districts of Gaya and Nawada.
• Capacity enhancement is expected to generate additional freight traffic of 26 MTPA (million tonnes per annum), boosting trade and transport efficiency.
• The railway, being an eco-friendly and energy-efficient mode, will support India’s climate goals, reduce oil imports by 5 crore litres, and cut CO2 emissions by 24 crore kg (equivalent to planting 1 crore trees).
• The project improves rail connectivity for pilgrims and tourists, enhancing access to major religious and heritage sites.
• It is part of the PM Gati Shakti Plan, aimed at strengthening multi-modal transport networks and overall infrastructure development.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
India Strengthens Ties with Pacific Island Nations through FIPIC
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with foreign ministers from the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in New York.
• The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session.
• Dr. Jaishankar highlighted steady progress on the 12-point action plan initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The 12-point plan, launched during the FIPIC-III Summit, aims to enhance cooperation between India and Pacific Island countries.
• India collaborates with these nations as a development partner, focusing on improving citizens’ lives.
• Key areas of partnership include healthcare, technology, skill development, and capacity building.
• FIPIC, a multilateral platform, was established by India in 2014 during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji to strengthen ties with 14 Pacific Island countries.
PM Modi Reviews Major Infrastructure Projects through PRAGATI Platform
• PM Modi chaired the 49th PRAGATI meeting in New Delhi to monitor progress on key national projects.
• The review covered eight major infrastructure initiatives spanning sectors like mining, railways, water, industry, and electricity across 15 States and Union Territories.
• These projects represent investments of over ₹65,000 crore, critical for economic growth and improved public services.
• The meeting emphasized strict adherence to deadlines, enhancing inter-departmental coordination, and removing implementation bottlenecks.
• PM Modi highlighted that delays increase costs and postpone benefits, urging officials to prioritize results and deliver tangible outcomes.
• The PRAGATI platform facilitates central-state collaboration to accelerate execution and ensure timely delivery of infrastructure and services.
• PRAGATI is an ICT-enabled, multi-layered governance tool designed for proactive decision-making, fast-tracking projects, and improving efficiency in governance.
