CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 October, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 October, 2025

1. AYUSHMAN BHARAT AND UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE –

• The National Health Authority’s (NHA) Annual Report 2024–25 has revealed that under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) while government hospitals make up the majority of empanelled institutions, most beneficiaries are actually availing treatment in private hospitals, often at higher costs.

What are the Key Findings Regarding the AB-PMJAY?

• Dominance of Private Hospitals: Of the 31,005 hospitals empanelled under AB-PMJAY, only 45% are private, yet they account for 52% of the 9.19 crore hospitalisations and receive 66% of the total ₹1.29 lakh crore treatment cost.
• Treatment Trends: Since 2018, 14% of treatments under AB-PMJAY have been for haemodialysis, followed by fever (4%), gastroenteritis (3%), and animal bites (3%). In 2024‑25, the top specialties were General Medicine, Ophthalmology, and General Surgery.
• Patient Mobility: A key feature of Ayushman Bharat is portability, enabling treatment across states.
• Top in-migration destinations are Chandigarh (19%), Uttar Pradesh (13%), and Gujarat (11%), while states with highest out-migration are Uttar Pradesh (24%), Madhya Pradesh (17%), and Bihar (16%).
• Digital Ecosystem Progress: The government’s digital health ecosystem is progressing fast: 6 in 10 people have an ABHA number, 50 crore health records are linked, 38% of health facilities and 26% of health personnel are registered on the system.
• ABHA number is a 14-digit ID that creates a cloud-based account for securely storing digital health records.

What is Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?

• About: Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY is India’s flagship health insurance scheme providing financial protection for secondary and tertiary care to vulnerable families, aiming to reduce catastrophic hospital expenses and promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Formerly National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), it subsumed the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY, 2008) and is run by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

2. INDIA-MONGOLIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP –

• The President of Mongolia undertook a State Visit to India, commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

What are the Key Outcomes of the President of Mongolia Visit to India?

• Defence & Security Cooperation: India launched a capacity-building programme for Mongolia’s border security forces and strengthened defence ties via training programmes and a Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy.
• Energy Security: The visit confirmed the USD 1.7 billion Oil Refinery Project in Mongolia, funded by an Indian Line of Credit, marking India’s largest global development partnership and pivotal for Mongolia’s energy security.
• Economic Partnership: Cooperation in critical minerals, rare earths elements, and coking coal was highlighted as a priority, with India considering logistical routes through Vladivostok (Russia) and Tianjin port (China) for importing Mongolian coking coal.
• Cultural Connectivity: India will send the holy relics of Lord Buddha’s disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, to Mongolia, and an MoU was signed between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Arkhangai Province to boost cultural ties.
• India will also send a Sanskrit teacher to the Gandan Monastery (Mongolia) and launch a project to digitize one million ancient Mongolian manuscripts.
• Development Cooperation & Skill Development: Both sides signed pacts on cultural exchange, immigration cooperation, disaster management, and Bogd Khan Palace (Mongolia) renovation, while India’s developmental role was highlighted via the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence for IT and the India-Mongolia Friendship School.

3. TRUMP, ALBANESE SIGN CRITICAL MINERALS DEAL TO COUNTER CHINA –

• In a significant move to bolster Western supply chain resilience and curb China’s dominance in critical minerals, U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a wide-ranging critical minerals agreement on October 21, 2025, at their first formal summit in the White House. The agreement establishes a new $8.5 billion mineral supply pipeline, with both nations pledging $1 billion each over the next six months toward mining and processing infrastructure for key minerals like lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements, vital for defence, technology, and clean energy sectors.

Strengthening Strategic Supply Chains

• The joint agreement seeks to reduce dependency on Chinese-controlled mineral supply chains, which dominate the market for rare earths, gallium, and other strategic elements. According to Trump, “In about a year from now, we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won’t know what to do with them.”

The partnership outlines,

• Minimum price floors for critical minerals to stabilise the market
• Permitting reforms to speed up mining and processing projects
• Joint efforts on geological mapping, mineral recycling, and security-based asset protection
• Provisions to prevent foreign (especially Chinese) acquisitions of critical mineral assets on national security grounds

4. INDIA DEVELOPS FIRST INDIGENOUS ANTIBIOTIC, ADVANCES GENE THERAPY –

• In a landmark moment for Indian science, India has developed its first fully indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, and achieved a major milestone in gene therapy for hemophilia. These breakthroughs, announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, reflect the country’s growing capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceutical innovation, and clinical research.
• The announcement highlights India’s move toward biotech self-reliance and a more robust public-private innovation ecosystem, aligning with national goals under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Nafithromycin: India’s First Homegrown Antibiotic

• India’s first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, is designed to treat resistant respiratory infections, which are particularly threatening to cancer patients and individuals with uncontrolled diabetes. This antibiotic was,
• Conceptualised, developed, and clinically validated entirely in India
• Created through a collaboration between the Department of Biotechnology and Wockhardt, a private pharmaceutical firm
• Announced as a model for industry-academia partnership, marking a significant departure from India’s previous reliance on foreign drug innovations

5. SANAE TAKAICHI BECOMES JAPAN’S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER –

• In a moment of historic significance, Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female prime minister, shattering one of the world’s most enduring political glass ceilings. On October 21, 2025, she secured 237 votes in the 465-seat Lower House of Parliament, becoming Japan’s 104th prime minister, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned last month following electoral setbacks.
• Takaichi’s rise not only represents a symbolic victory for gender representation but also signals a sharp ideological pivot to the right in Japanese politics, aligning closely with the legacy of her mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A Hardline Conservative with Thatcherite Admiration

• A known conservative and a long-time member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Takaichi has modelled much of her political outlook on Margaret Thatcher and Shinzo Abe. She has consistently advocated for,
• Stricter immigration policies
• Traditional family values
• A tougher national security stance
• Reinterpretation of Japan’s pacifist constitution

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  The Kolam tribe is primarily found in which states ?

1. a) Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
2. b) Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim
3. c) Gujarat and Rajasthan
4. d) Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh

Q2.  What is the name of the mission launched by government in October 2025 to promote high-yield, long-staple cotton cultivation ?

1. a) Better Cotton initiative
2. b) Kapas Kranti Mission
3. c) White Gold Mission
4. d) Cotton Development Mission

Q3.  Taftan Volcano, that was recently seen in news, is located in which country ?

1. a) Iran
2. b) Japan
3. c) Indonesia
4. d) Iraq

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding BIMSTEC.

1. BIMSTEC includes members from both SAARC and ASEAN, but China holds observer status.
2. The BIMSTEC Charter (2022) gave the grouping legal personality and a formal governance framework.
3. BIMSTEC operates on a consensus-based decision-making model similar to SAARC.

         How many of the above statements is/are incorrect ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• The BIMSTEC Charter, adopted in 2022, was a milestone that formalized the grouping, granting it legal identity and outlining governance protocols, including rotational chairmanship and sectoral responsibilities.
• The 6th Summit highlighted people-centric regionalism, focusing on educational, youth, and cultural linkages as vital for deepening cooperation beyond trade and security.
• BIMSTEC decisions are taken through consensus, akin to SAARC’s model, though BIMSTEC has shown more agility.
• Statement 1 is incorrect — China is neither a member nor an observer in BIMSTEC. The grouping connects South and Southeast Asia without Chinese involvement, offering India an alternative to Chinese-led regional forums like the Lancang-Mekong or BRI initiatives.

Q5.  Consider the following statements about the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013):

1. It mandates the establishment of Lokayuktas in all Indian states.
2. The Lokayuktas have the same powers as the judiciary to enforce their decisions.
3. The Lokpal deals with corruption cases at the national level, while Lokayuktas operate at the state level.

         How many of the above statements is/are incorrect ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013) was enacted to address corruption at both the national and state levels in India. It mandates the establishment of Lokayuktas in all Indian states to investigate allegations of corruption against public officials at the state level. This helps decentralize the anti-corruption mechanism, ensuring that states have an independent body to handle complaints.
• At the national level, the Lokpal deals with corruption cases involving central government officials, ensuring accountability at the federal level. The distinction between Lokpal (national) and Lokayuktas (state) highlights the dual approach to tackling corruption across different levels of governance.
• However, while Lokayuktas can investigate corruption cases and make recommendations, they do not have judicial powers to enforce their decisions, meaning their recommendations are not legally binding. This limits their ability to ensure corrective actions are taken, as the implementation of their recommendations depends on the government’s discretion.

Answer Key