IMPORTANT DAYS
National Statistics Day 2025 observed on June 29
• National Statistics Day 2025 observed annually on 29th June to recognize contributions to the field of statistics in India.
• The 2025 theme focused on “75 Years of National Sample Survey”.
• This year marked the 19th celebration, hosted in New Delhi at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation led the event.
• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of eminent statistician Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
• Prof. Mahalanobis founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata.
• Statistics Day was officially designated by the Indian government in 2007.
• It highlights the importance of statistics in shaping national development policies.
NATIONAL NEWS
India’s First Quantum Computing Valley to Rise in Amaravati
• Amaravati is set to become home to India’s first Quantum Computing Valley by January 2026.
• The initiative will serve sectors like education, healthcare, pharma, agri-tech, and med-tech nationwide.
• The Quantum Valley Tech Park aims to create lakhs of jobs through research and innovation.
• Access to its advanced infrastructure will be extended to institutions and industries across India.
• IT Secretary Katamneni Bhaskar assured quantum computing will complement, not replace, classical systems.
• The project will boost startups and job creation, backed by the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub for skill training.
• It aligns with the National Quantum Mission to advance tech capabilities and national productivity.
• Global tech giants like IBM and Google are already engaged, with IBM pledging qubit systems for Amaravati.
Centre’s Draft Rules to Boost Agroforestry and Simplify Tree Felling
• Centre has released draft rules to ease tree felling on agricultural land and promote agroforestry.
• The move aims to increase farmer income, expand tree cover, and support climate goals.
• The Environment Ministry shared the draft with states on June 19, 2025.
• Rules encourage farmers to grow trees without facing complex permissions or delays.
• State Level Committee under 2016 Wood-Based Industries guidelines will oversee implementation.
• Committee will now include officials from Revenue and Agriculture departments.
• Plantation lands must be registered on the NTMS portal with details of land and saplings.
• Small-scale felling (up to 10 trees) will only require photos and geotagged data for permits.
• Verified field visits and felling approvals will be managed by empanelled agencies.
• All transit and yield data will be digitally tracked to ensure transparency and reduce timber imports.
India’s Expanding Social Security: 64.3% Coverage Reached in 2025
• Social security coverage rose from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, now reaching 94 crore citizens.
• ILO’s ILOSTAT recognized this 45-point growth, ranking India second globally after China in social protection reach.
• A national data integration across 34 schemes (like EPFO, ESIC, PM-POSHAN) is being done via Aadhaar-linked systems.
• Phase 1, launched on March 19, 2025, covers 10 states; Phase 2 aims to verify over 100 crore beneficiaries.
• Labour reforms merged 29 laws into 4 codes, expanding rights to the unorganized sector (90% of India’s 50 crore workers).
• The Social Security Code, 2020 guarantees pensions, insurance, and maternity support for informal and formal workers.
• Jan Dhan and Aadhaar-enabled DBT have streamlined benefits, saving the government over ₹3.48 lakh crore.
• Schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PMGKAY, Ujjwala, Lakhpati Didi, ADIP, and SMILE have boosted welfare for women, seniors, PwDs, and transgender citizens.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
CPA Zone-2 Conference Held in Dharamshala to Strengthen Democratic Governance
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the CPA Zone-2 conference at Tapovan, Dharamshala.
• Zone-2 covers Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.
• The event served as a key platform to reinforce democratic values and legislative cooperation.
• Best practices in lawmaking were exchanged among participating states.
• The focus was on digital-age governance and innovation in administration.
• Delegates discussed modern tools for effective policy and resource management.
• The theme was "Good Governance in the Digital Era: Managing Resources, Defending Democracy, and Embracing Innovation."
• The CPA, a global body of legislators, works to strengthen parliamentary democracy through dialogue and collaboration.
RANKING AND INDEX
India’s Major Progress in Reducing Child and Neonatal Mortality
• India achieved a 78% drop in under-five mortality, outpacing the global average decline of 61%.
• The 2024 UN report highlights a 70% fall in India’s neonatal mortality, compared to the global dip of 54%.
• The Health Ministry credits this success to focused immunization campaigns and improved outreach.
• Special attention has been given to vaccinating underserved and remote populations.
• Immunization is seen as one of the most cost-effective public health solutions.
• The Universal Immunization Programme provides free vaccines to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants yearly.
• Continued vaccination efforts have led to a sharp decline in zero-dose children.
• The percentage of children receiving no vaccines dropped from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024.
