• 15 Dec 2025

Home Minister Addresses Closing Ceremony of Bastar Olympics

Why in News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at the Bastar Olympics closing ceremony, reiterated the government’s resolve to end Naxalism by 31st March 2026, and announced plans to develop Bastar into the country’s most developed tribal region.

Key Points

• Transition: The Home Minister highlighted that Bastar had moved from fear to hope, with schools, roads, railways and highways replacing gunfire, and expressed confidence that the entire country would be Naxal-free by the next Bastar Olympics.
• Inauguration: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had inaugurated the three-day divisional-level Bastar Olympics at Indira Priyadarshini Stadium, Jagdalpur.
• Participation: Around 3,500 athletes from all seven Bastar districts, including surrendered Naxalites and Naxal-affected players under the Nua Baat category, participated in the event.
• Expansion: The second edition recorded a massive rise in participation, increasing from 1.65 lakh players last year to about 3.92 lakh this year.
• Inclusion: Women, Divyang players, surrendered Maoists, and those affected by Naxal violence took part, making the Olympics a symbol of social inclusion.
• Empowerment: Women’s participation increased nearly threefold, reflecting growing confidence and empowerment among girls in the Bastar region.
• Platform: The Bastar Olympics were conducted across cluster, block, district and divisional levels, creating a structured pathway for talent identification.
• Disciplines: Eleven sports disciplines, including athletics, archery, football, kabaddi, hockey and kho-kho, were featured in the tournament.
• Opportunity: The state government assured enhanced training and exposure for talented athletes to prepare them for national and international competitions.
• Recognition: The government reiterated cash rewards of ₹3 crore, ₹2 crore and ₹1 crore for Chhattisgarh athletes winning gold, silver and bronze medals at international Olympic events.
• Transformation: The Bastar Olympics concluded as a strong symbol of Bastar’s shift from conflict to peace, trust, cultural revival and aspirations for a prosperous future.

AI X-rays for Tuberculosis Detection

Why in News?

The Rajasthan State Health Department launched an initiative deploying 29 advanced portable X-ray machines to strengthen Tuberculosis diagnosis.

Key Points

• Technology: The portable X-ray machines use Artificial Intelligence to rapidly identify individuals with suspected Tuberculosis, including in remote villages.
• Outreach: The initiative aimed to improve early diagnosis, treatment and management of Tuberculosis in underserved rural and remote communities.
• Priority:High-risk locations such as brick kilns, construction sites, mining areas, jails, hostels, slums and other congregate settings were identified for focused Tuberculosis screening.
• Approach: The Health Department emphasised Active Case Finding as a cost-effective strategy to reduce delays in Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.
• Infrastructure: The initiative addressed major gaps in public health facilities, including the lack of X-ray equipment and shortage of trained radiologists.
• Screening: A high-sensitivity digital chest X-ray screening tool, digital Chest X-ray, combined with Computer-Aided Detection, was adopted for identifying suspected Tuberculosis cases.
• Diagnostics: Individuals flagged through screening were linked to Xpert molecular testing for rapid confirmatory diagnosis and to reduce pre-treatment loss to follow-up.
• Deployment: Portable X-ray machines were deployed across 29 districts of Rajasthan, with a recent screening drive identifying 2.3 lakh individuals with Tuberculosis symptoms from a vulnerable population of nearly 160 lakh.
• Burden: Rajasthan reported a high Tuberculosis burden, with over 1.7 lakh cases in 2024 and 89,132 cases recorded by June 2025.
• Targeting: The Health Department planned to use Artificial Intelligence–enabled X-ray machines to screen high-risk groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS, diabetes patients, senior citizens, malnourished individuals, and those recovering from Tuberculosis.

Microforest Inaugurated Under Special Campaign 5.0

Why in News?

Shri Sanjay Kumar inaugurated a microforest (Fruit Orchard and Pollinator Park) under Special Campaign 5.0 at PM SHRI Navodaya Vidyalaya, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, on 14th December 2025.

Key Points

• Transformation: Over 3,200 sq. metres of barren land were converted into an ecological learning space under Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE, with participation of senior officials, educators, students and Say Trees representatives.
• Education: Emphasising National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Shri Sanjay Kumar highlighted experiential, joyful and nature-connected learning to nurture well-rounded, mentally sound and value-driven students.
• EcoClubs: Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE, operational in over 9.23 lakh schools, promote hands-on environmental learning aligned with the seven Mission LiFE themes, fostering environmental consciousness.
• Stewardship: Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) leadership urged students to take responsibility for nurturing fruit-bearing trees and green spaces, supporting sustainable living, ecological balance and holistic development.
• Campaign: Under Special Campaign 5.0, over 6.16 lakh swachhata drives were conducted; an e-waste campaign engaged 1 lakh+ students, collected 4,000 kg e-waste, and reused 100 kg for an awareness mural at Shastri Bhavan.
• Sustainability: The microforest includes 500+ fruit trees and 350+ pollinator plants, enhances biodiversity and microclimate, is supported by Say Trees, aligns with SDG 4 & 13, and will be scaled nationwide across schools.

Mission LiFE 

• The Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is a global initiative launched by India in October 2022 aimed at fostering sustainable lifestyles through mindful and deliberate consumption to protect the environment. 
• The initiative focuses on seven core themes: saving water, conserving energy, reducing waste, managing e-waste, eliminating single-use plastics, promoting sustainable food systems, and adopting healthy lifestyles.

RVCF Launches ₹150-Crore India Growth Fund

Why in News?

Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund launched its fourth fund, India Growth Fund IV, with a corpus of ₹150 crore and a Green Shoe Option of ₹100 crore.

Key Points

• Objective: The fund was designed to invest in pre-Series A and Series A technology startups with scalable business models, strong job creation potential and significant economic impact.
• Sectors: Key investment areas include technology, healthcare, agritech, cleantech and digital transformation.
• Support: Beyond capital, Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund will provide strategic guidance, governance support and access to industry networks to help startups scale sustainably.
• Vision: The fund aligns with the Rajasthan government’s long-term vision of innovation-led development and building a self-sustaining startup ecosystem.
• Legacy: With over 23 years of operations, Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund has made 44 investments, largely supporting first-generation entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Returns: Two earlier funds were fully liquidated with positive returns, while the third fund is under divestment with expected returns of about double the invested amount.
• Impact: Select exits delivered returns of over 20 times, four portfolio companies achieved public listings, and invested ventures served over 10 million customers and created more than 10,000 jobs.
• Inclusion: About 66% of funded ventures were founded by first-time entrepreneurs and nearly one-third had women founders, highlighting the fund’s inclusive growth approach.

Venture Capital Funds

• Venture capital funds are investment vehicles that allow investors to put money into start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
• These funds mainly focus on companies with high growth potential and the ability to generate substantial returns.
• Under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, Venture Capital Funds are classified as Category I Alternative Investment Funds.

Raj Kumar Goyal Sworn in as CIC

Why in News?

Former Indian Administrative Service officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu.

• The appointment filled the CIC post that had remained vacant since September 2025, after the previous CIC, Heeralal Samariya, demitted office.

Key Points

• About: Raj Kumar Goyal was a 1990-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, originally of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, later part of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019.
• He retired in August 2025 as Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• During his career, Goyal also served in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Appointment of ICs: At present, Anandi Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari are Information Commissioners(ICs), while Jaya Verma Sinha, Swagat Das, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Surendra Singh Meena and Khushwant Singh Sethi have been recommended for appointment as Information Commissioners.

Central Information Commission

• Establishment: It was established under the RTI Act, 2005, as a statutory body (not a constitutional body). 
• Composition: The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary. 
• Appointment: Members are appointed by the President of India based on the recommendations of a committee comprising: 
  • The Prime Minister (Chairperson). 
  • The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. 
  • A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. 
• Eligibility and Exemption: Eminent individuals with experience in law, science, technology, social service, management, journalism, or governance. 
  • Must not be MPs, MLAs, or hold any office of profit. 
  • No political affiliations, business, or professional engagements. 
  • They are not eligible for reappointment. 
• Powers of the CIC: Summoning witnesses, inspecting documents, requisitioning public records, and issuing summons for examination. 
• Functions: Its primary role is to ensure the effective implementation of the RTI Act, 2005 and uphold citizens’ right to information. 
  • It deals with cases involving offices, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, and other entities under the Central Government and Union Territories. 

Veerangana Tiger Reserve to be 3rd Cheetah Habitat in MP

Why in News?

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve at Nauradehi in Sagar district would become a new home for cheetahs before the next monsoon.

Key Points

• Approval: The State Cabinet gave in-principle approval to develop Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve as Madhya Pradesh’s third cheetah habitat.
• Habitats: The first cheetah habitat was established at Kuno National Park, Sheopur, in September 2022, and the second at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Mandsaur, in April 2025.
• Population: Kuno National Park currently houses 28 cheetahs, while Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has two cheetahs, with scope for further expansion.
• Translocation: Eight more cheetahs are expected to be brought from Botswana to Kuno National Park in January 2026.
• Success: The Chief Minister stated that India, and Madhya Pradesh in particular, is the only place globally where cheetah rehabilitation has been successful.
• Wildlife: Addressing tiger deaths, he said such incidents occur due to rising numbers, while the government is working to minimise losses and facilitate wildlife migration and exchange.
• Diversification: The state government is also translocating other species, including rhinoceroses from Assam and king cobras from Bengaluru, and is developing snake parks, rescue centres and zoos to boost conservation and tourism.

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

• Heritage: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, named after Veerangana Rani Durgavati, was established in 1997 and is known for its rich biodiversity.
• Biodiversity: Spread across about 550 square kilometres, the reserve is home to Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, deer species and diverse flora and fauna, attracting wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
• Location: The reserve is situated around 11 kilometres from Jabera on the Damoh–Jabalpur road, where wildlife sightings are common along the route.