NEWS:CAG report on pollution flags ‘flaws’ in AQI data, PUC certificate system

GS-2: Governance – Accountability, Environmental Regulation, Role of Auditing Bodies

Key Highlights
Flaws in AQI Monitoring

• Air Quality Index (AQI) data in Delhi termed “unreliable” due to incomplete and inadequate data.
• AQI was calculated with less than 16 hours of required monitoring, violating CPCB norms.
• DPCC failed to measure lead levels and ensure functional air quality stations.

Issues with PUC Certification

• Over 1.08 lakh vehicles exceeding emission limits still received PUC certificates.
• Multiple certificates issued to vehicles simultaneously or within minutes.
• From 2015 to 2020, ~4,000 vehicles violated norms but still got certified.
• Lack of inspection and third-party audits in PUC centres highlighted.

Vehicle Scrapping & Policy Failure

• Only 2.98 lakh (6.27%) of overage vehicles were de-registered.
• Not a single one of 347 impounded vehicles scrapped by March 2021.
• Scrapping infrastructure severely lacking—can handle only 4,000 vehicles vs 41 lakh awaiting scrapping.

Unutilized Transport Alternatives

• Despite budgetary provisions, no progress on monorail/trolleybus projects.
• Two new ISBTs still unconstructed despite SC directions from 1998.

Political Reactions

• AAP government accused of compromising public health via inaction.
• AAP leaders defended their environmental record, claiming proactive measures.

National Clean Air Programme

• It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
• It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
• It seeks to cut the concentration of coarse (particulate matter (PM) of diameter 10 micrometer or less, or PM10) and fine particles (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less, or PM2.5) by at least 20% in the next five years, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
• It covers 132 non-attainment cities which were identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
  • Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.
    • NAAQs are the standards for ambient air quality with reference to various identified pollutant notified by the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. List of pollutants under NAAQS: PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-Pyrene, Arsenic and Nickel.

NEWS 2 :Pension woes: The Centre must bring in transparency in scrutiny of pension claims

GS-2: Governance – Social Security, Pension Reforms, Transparency

Key Highlights
Issues in EPS Implementation

• Standing Committee on Labour urges revision of ₹1,000 minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995—unchanged since 2014.
• Government currently allocates ₹980 annually per pensioner; panel calls for a threefold increase.

Government Contributions & Fund Allocation

• Govt contributes 1.16% of wages (capped at ₹15,000) to EPS corpus.
• Allocation: ₹9,250 crore in 2024-25; projected to cross ₹10,000 crore in 2025-26.

Problems with High-Wage Pension Claims

• Applicants face unclear demands for arrears and contributions in lakhs.
• No official communication from EPFO; online portals lack accuracy.
• Exempted establishments have rejected or reversed sanctioned pensions arbitrarily.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a statutory body established by an enactment of Parliament, for the purpose of regulating, promoting and ensuring orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) 

• It works under the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance

 Structure of PFRDA? 

• Head Office:
  • The head office of the Authority shall be in the National Capital Region (NCR).
  • The Authority may establish offices at other places in India.
• Composition:
  • The Authority shall consist of the following Members, namely: —
    • (a) Chairperson
    • (b) Three whole-time members
    • (c) Three part-time members
  • To be appointed by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing and having knowledge and experience in economics or finance or law with at least one person from each discipline.
• Pension Regulatory and Development Fund:
  • The PFRDA Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of the fund to be called the Pension Regulatory and Development Fund and there shall be credited thereto:
    • All Government grants, fees and charges received by the Authority.
    • All sums received by the Authority from such other source as may be decided upon by the Central Government.

• News 3:Tackling the disinformation threat in India

GS-3: Internal Security – Cybersecurity, Misinformation Threats

Key Highlights
Disinformation as a Global Risk

• The WEF Global Risks Report 2025 ranks misinformation/disinformation as the top short-term global threat.
• AI-generated content, algorithmic bias, and deepfake technologies worsen trust deficits.
• Platforms like Weibo, TikTok have been banned post-2017 for Chinese-origin propaganda.

India’s Vulnerability

• With 900 million Internet users, India is highly exposed to disinformation risks:
  • Fuels communal tensions, voter manipulation, economic coercion.
  • Political and non-state actors exploit declining mainstream media.
  • Survey: 46% of disinformation political, followed by general (33.6%) and religious (16.8%) content.

Youth and Digital Spaces

• India’s youth are highly vulnerable to false information due to:
  • Reliance on family/peers for news.
  • Declining critical thinking in digital literacy.

Recommended Measures

• Global Risk Report 2025 advises:
  • Upskilling developers, digital literacy, transparency in algorithms.
  • AI governance via independent supervisory boards and councils.
• Indian initiatives like Shakti, Deepfakes Analysis Unit, and India Election Fact-Checking Collective helped curb misinformation in 2024 polls.

Policy Reforms Suggested

• Follow EU’s Digital Services Act model for India’s large user base (400M on Facebook, 500M on WhatsApp).
• Stronger regulations for platform transparency, AI-generated content, and audits of large platforms.

NEWS 4:Xi Jinping calls for ‘elephant-dragon duet’ on 75th anniversary of ties between India, China,

GS-2: International Relations – India-China Diplomacy, Border Issues, Global South Cooperation

Key Highlights
Commemorative Messages

• Marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping urged India and China to pursue a cooperative “elephant-dragon duet”.
• Emphasized mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and shared modernization goals.

India’s Diplomatic Response

• President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the importance of stable and predictable relations for mutual growth.
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called for rebuilding ties with a strategic and long-term perspective.

Focus Areas for Cooperation

• Xi called for both sides to:
  • Deepen trust
  • Enhance dialogue on major international issues
  • Promote common development
• Reinforced commitment to the Global South, multilateralism, and peace in border areas.