India has made significant strides in global mobility, improving its ranking in the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing 8 places to 77th position from 85th in 2024. This improvement reflects India's enhanced travel freedoms and diplomatic engagements.
Compiled by: Henley & Partners, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Scope: Includes 227 travel destinations and is updated quarterly.
Purpose: The index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa, offering insights into global mobility, international relations, and travel accessibility.
Top 3 Rankings:
1st: Singapore - Visa-free access to 193 destinations.
2nd: Japan and South Korea - Visa-free access to 190 destinations.
3rd (tie): Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Ireland - Visa-free access to 189 destinations.
U.S. Passport Decline:
The United States dropped to 10th place, with visa-free access to 182 destinations, a sign of shifting global mobility dynamics.
Asian and European Dominance:
Asian and European passports continue to dominate the top spots, reflecting robust diplomatic relations and favorable visa policies.
Rank in 2025: 77th (an 8-place improvement from 2024).
Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival Access: Indian passport holders now enjoy access to 59 destinations, including Philippines and Sri Lanka, which were newly added to the list.
Global Mobility Context: Despite gaining access to only two new countries, India’s rank rose significantly due to global reshuffling, which suggests that diplomatic efforts and regional agreements have improved India’s standing.
Global Reshuffling: While India's access has expanded modestly, the significant rise in its rank is due to shifts in other countries' positions, such as declines in traditional powers like the U.S. and the U.K. This indicates India's improving diplomatic relations, trade ties, and regional influence, especially in Asia.
Recovery from Setback: India had suffered a 5-place drop in 2024, but this year’s 8-place jump represents a recovery, reflecting the positive impacts of foreign policy adjustments, multilateral agreements, and improved travel diplomacy.
Launched on February 15, 2024, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been making significant strides in providing free electricity to households across India. As of July 14, 2025, the scheme has already benefited 15.45 lakh households, according to the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Free Electricity: The scheme aims to provide free electricity to one crore households across India.
Solar Panel Subsidy: Households will receive a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs, thereby promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing dependency on conventional electricity sources.
Up to 2 kW Capacity: 60% subsidy on the solar unit cost.
Between 2 kW and 3 kW Capacity: 40% subsidy for the additional cost.
Capacity Cap: The subsidy is capped at a 3 kW system.
For example:
Rs 30,000 subsidy for a 1 kW system.
Rs 60,000 subsidy for a 2 kW system.
Rs 78,000 subsidy for a 3 kW system or higher.
Special States: An additional 10% subsidy per kW for special states.
Free Electricity: Households can receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month.
Annual Savings: Families could save up to Rs 18,000 annually on electricity bills.
Government Savings: The scheme is expected to save the government Rs 75,000 crore per year in electricity costs.
Environmental Impact: It encourages the use of renewable energy, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Financial Outlay: Rs 75,021 crore has been allocated for the scheme.
Implementation Timeline: The scheme is set to be implemented until FY 2026-27.
Indian Citizenship: Only Indian citizens are eligible.
Own a Roof: The household must own a house with a suitable roof for solar panel installation.
Valid Electricity Connection: The household must have a valid electricity connection.
No Previous Solar Subsidy: The household should not have availed any other subsidy for solar panels.
National Program Implementation Agency (NPIA): The scheme is coordinated at the national level.
State Implementation Agencies (SIAs): State-level agencies (primarily DISCOMs) are responsible for implementation, including net meter availability, inspections, and installations.
Incentives to DISCOMs: DISCOMs will receive incentives based on their performance in installing additional grid-connected rooftop solar capacity beyond a baseline level. The total financial outlay for this component is Rs 4,950 crore.
Model Solar Villages: The scheme includes the development of Model Solar Villages in each district. An amount of Rs 800 crore has been allocated for this purpose, with Rs 1 crore financial assistance per model village.
Incentives to Local Bodies: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) will receive an incentive of Rs 1,000 per rooftop solar installation within their jurisdictions.
Empowering Rural India: With special focus on rural and underserved areas, the scheme promises to provide a significant boost to rural electrification and sustainable development.
Job Creation: As solar panel installations increase, the scheme is expected to create new employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Sustainability: The emphasis on solar energy will help reduce India's reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to the global fight against climate change.
The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a game-changer for energy access, environmental sustainability, and economic savings in India. With its focus on solar energy and affordable electricity, it has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of millions of households, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is a critical piece of legislation designed to protect the rights and dignity of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. It seeks to prevent atrocities and discrimination against these vulnerable groups.
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court recently held that when a complaint discloses cognizable offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the police cannot conduct a preliminary inquiry. Instead, FIRs (First Information Reports) must be registered immediately against the suspects. This is a notable development because it ensures timely action and prevents delays in providing justice to victims of atrocities under this Act.
The primary aim of the Act is to prevent atrocities against SCs and STs and to ensure that offenders are punished. It also provides a mechanism for enforcing the rights of these communities and improving their social and economic standing.
The Act identifies 37 types of offences related to the violation of the dignity and self-respect of SCs and STs. These include:
Denial of economic, democratic, and social rights.
Exploitation and abuse of the legal system.
The Act does not apply to crimes committed between SCs and STs or between STs and SCs.
All offences listed under the Act are cognizable, meaning police can arrest without a warrant. Moreover, an investigation must be conducted by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
The investigation should ideally be completed within 30 days, and the report must be sent directly to the Director of State Police.
Exclusive Special Courts are set up to handle cases under the Act, ensuring a speedy trial.
These courts operate on a day-to-day basis, aiming to reduce delays in delivering justice.
A Special Public Prosecutor is appointed in each case for the prosecution.
Minimum Punishment: Generally, six months of imprisonment.
Maximum Punishment: It can extend to a five-year sentence with a fine.
In more severe cases, life imprisonment or even a death sentence can be imposed.
Section 4 also penalizes public servants who deliberately neglect their duties under the Act, with imprisonment for up to six months.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 provide for immediate relief to victims:
District Magistrates or Executive Magistrates are responsible for ensuring that victims of atrocities receive relief in cash or kind.
Relief may include food, water, shelter, clothing, medical aid, and transport facilities.
Recent Amendments:
2015 Amendment:
New categories of offenses were added, such as garlanding with footwear, forcing individuals into manual scavenging, and social ostracism.
Public servants found negligent in carrying out duties under the Act can face imprisonment.
2018 Amendment:
It removed the requirement of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) approval for arrests. Arrests under the Act can be made immediately without prior approval.
The Act plays a crucial role in safeguarding the dignity and rights of SCs and STs, ensuring that they are protected from exploitation, discrimination, and violence.
The recent ruling by the Madras High Court further strengthens the law by preventing delays and ensuring prompt registration of FIRs in cases involving atrocities.
The establishment of Special Courts ensures that such cases are dealt with efficiently and swiftly, ensuring justice for victims.
Inadequate Resources for Special Courts:
Special Courts, although mandated, often suffer from a lack of infrastructure and resources, leading to a slow resolution of cases. Some courts handle cases beyond the scope of the SC/ST Act, leading to backlogs.
Limited Rehabilitation Provisions:
While the Act provides for social and economic support, it lacks comprehensive rehabilitation measures for victims, leaving them in difficult physical, psychological, and social conditions. More support is needed to help victims rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient.
Lack of Awareness:
Many people, including victims and law enforcement officers, are unaware of the Act’s provisions, leading to ineffective implementation. Awareness programs and better training for police officers are required for effective enforcement.
Allegations of Misuse:
The stringent provisions of the Act, such as warrantless arrests and non-bailable offenses, have led to allegations of misuse. Critics argue that the law can be misused to make false accusations, leading to harassment of individuals from non-SC/ST communities.
Limited Scope of Covered Crimes:
Some offenses, such as blackmailing that leads to atrocities or other forms of abuse, are not explicitly covered under the Act. There is a call for amendments to include more crimes, ensuring that all forms of abuse are addressed.
Kanubhai M. Parmar v. State of Gujarat (2000):
The Gujarat High Court ruled that the Act does not apply to crimes between SCs and STs. The rationale is that the Act is intended to protect SCs and STs from atrocities committed by individuals outside their communities.
Raj Mal v. Ratan Singh (1988):
The Punjab & Haryana High Court clarified that Special Courts established under the Act are exclusive to try offenses related to SC/ST atrocities. These courts should not be confused with regular magistrate or session courts.
Arumugam Servai v. State of Tamil Nadu (2011):
The Supreme Court emphasized that insulting a member of an SC/ST community is an offense under the SC/ST Act, as verbal abuse or insult against SC/ST members is recognized as an atrocity.
Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018):
The Supreme Court clarified that the exclusion of anticipatory bail under Section 18 of the Act does not constitute an absolute bar. Courts can still grant anticipatory bail if the allegations of atrocities are untrue or appear to be false.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is a vital instrument in India's efforts to eliminate discrimination and violence against SCs and STs. The Madras High Court ruling reinforces the need for swift justice in such cases, while the amendments in 2015 have made the law more robust.
Newly Discovered Species:
Chamaegastrodia reiekensis is a new species of orchid discovered by scientists from Mizoram University and Manipur University in the forests of Northeast India.
Name Origin:
The orchid is named after its type locality, Reiek, a scenic mountain destination in Mizoram. Reiek is known for its rich biodiversity and serves as a natural habitat for this rare species.
Genus and Characteristics:
This orchid belongs to the Chamaegastrodia genus, which is known for its holomycotrophic nature. Unlike most plants, C. reiekensis lacks chlorophyll and leaves and is incapable of photosynthesis. It survives by forming a symbiotic relationship with underground fungi, from which it derives all of its nutrients.
Global Count:
With the discovery of C. reiekensis, the global count of species in the Chamaegastrodia genus has increased to eight. These species are typically found in various regions across East Asia and Southeast Asia, including the Eastern Himalayas, South-Central China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand.
Distribution:
Interestingly, all of the Indian representatives of this genus have been found exclusively in Northeast India, making this region a hotspot for such unique species.
Location and Environment:
C. reiekensis was discovered in the Reiek forest, a lush region with a multi-layered canopy, featuring tall emergent trees and dense understorey vegetation. The habitat provides ideal conditions for various rare plant species to thrive.
Elevation and Climate:
The orchid was found at an elevation of 1,500 meters, in moist, humus-rich soil near bamboo clumps. The region experiences temperatures between 20–28°C and receives annual rainfall of 200–250 cm, which supports tropical vegetation year-round.
Flowering and Fruiting:
C. reiekensis flowers from August to September and fruits from September to October, making it a brief presence in the forest during these periods.
Conservation Status:
The species has been provisionally listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN criteria. This designation is due to its rarity, small size, and camouflaged appearance, which makes it very difficult to detect on the forest floor. Furthermore, the orchid's fleeting appearance during flowering and fruiting periods adds to the challenge of studying and preserving it.
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is set to launch three more navigation satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NavIC. These launches are planned to take place by 2026.
What is IRNSS?
IRNSS, or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, is an autonomous satellite navigation system developed by ISRO to provide accurate position information services to users in India and surrounding areas. It is also called NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).
Development and Purpose:
NavIC was developed by ISRO to serve the Indian subcontinent and the region up to 1500 km from India’s borders.
The system ensures independent navigation capabilities for India, reducing reliance on other international systems like GPS.
The NavIC system is made up of a combination of satellites placed in different orbits:
Seven Satellites in Total:
Three satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GSO): These satellites maintain a fixed position relative to the Earth, ensuring continuous coverage over India.
Four satellites in Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO): These provide additional coverage, ensuring the system’s availability across the region.
Ground Stations:
NavIC operates through a network of ground stations that monitor and control the satellites in real time.
Standard Positioning Service (SPS):
This service is available to all users, providing civilian use of navigation data for positioning and timing.
Restricted Service (RS):
This encrypted service is provided exclusively to authorized users (such as military or government bodies). It ensures security and reliability for critical applications.
The IRNSS/NavIC system is designed to provide accurate positioning information within India and the surrounding area, extending up to 1,500 km from India's boundaries. This includes the entire Indian subcontinent and its maritime boundaries.
NavIC is designed to be interoperable with other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), such as:
GPS (USA)
GLONASS (Russia)
Galileo (EU)
BeiDou (China)
NavIC’s Standard Positioning Service (SPS) signals are compatible with the signals of other GNSS systems, making it possible for devices to use signals from multiple satellite systems to improve positioning accuracy and reliability.
Independence in Navigation: NavIC reduces India’s dependency on foreign satellite systems, offering a sovereign, independent navigation infrastructure.
Strategic and Security Uses: The Restricted Service (RS) offered by NavIC is crucial for defense and security purposes, ensuring that critical military and strategic operations have access to secure, accurate navigation data.
Commercial and Civil Use: NavIC's Standard Positioning Service (SPS) is beneficial for commercial sectors, including transportation, logistics, farming, aviation, and mobile applications, contributing to the economy.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has recently captured the first detailed images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes through our solar system. This offers scientists a rare and exciting glimpse of a visitor from another star system.
Comets are fascinating celestial objects that have captured human curiosity for centuries.
Composition:
Comets are large objects composed mainly of dust and ice. They orbit the Sun and are often best known for their long, streaming tails. These icy bodies are leftovers from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago.
Location:
Comets are primarily located in two major regions of the solar system:
Kuiper Belt: A region just beyond Neptune, home to short-period comets, which take less than 200 years to complete one orbit around the Sun.
Oort Cloud: A spherical cloud at the outer edge of the solar system, 50 times farther from the Sun than the Kuiper Belt. These are long-period comets, taking much longer—up to 250,000 years or more—to orbit the Sun.
Parts of a Comet:
Nucleus: The solid core of the comet, usually a few kilometers in diameter. It is made of volatile ices (like water ice) and silicate and organic dust particles.
Coma: A cloud of gas and dust that forms around the nucleus when the comet nears the Sun. This occurs when volatile ices sublimates (turns directly from solid to gas), creating a visible atmosphere around the comet.
Dust Tail: Formed from dust particles that escape the coma and are pushed away by solar radiation pressure. This tail typically appears white or yellow.
Ion Tail: This forms from the volatile gases in the coma when they are ionized by the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. It is pushed away by the solar wind and appears blue because of the presence of CO+ ions.
Origin:
3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet, meaning it originated from outside our solar system and has made its way into the solar system. This is incredibly rare, as most comets are from within our solar system, either from the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud.
Observations:
The Hubble Space Telescope has provided detailed images of this comet as it travels through our solar system. This is a significant achievement, as studying interstellar objects helps scientists understand more about the formation of star systems and the interstellar medium.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the flight trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
The ULPGM-V3 is a precision-guided air-to-surface missile designed to be launched from drones. It is developed to strike targets with high accuracy, reducing the risk to personnel, especially in combat situations. This missile is part of India's efforts to enhance its indigenous defence capabilities.
Launch Platform: Drones
Target: High-precision strikes with reduced risk to personnel
High-Definition Dual-Channel Seeker:
Enables the missile to strike a wide variety of targets with high accuracy.
Versatility in Terrain:
Can be deployed in plain and high-altitude areas.
Day-and-night capability ensures effective targeting in diverse conditions.
Equipped with a two-way data link for post-launch target/aim-point updates.
Warhead Options:
Anti-armour: Designed to destroy modern age armoured vehicles equipped with Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) and Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
Penetration-cum-Blast warhead: For Anti-bunker applications.
Pre-fragmentation warhead: Ensures a high lethality zone, making it effective for various operational needs.
Variants of ULPGM:
ULPGM V1: Baseline variant
ULPGM V2: Production variant
ULPGM V3: Extended-range variant, also referred to as ULM-ER.
Lightweight Design:
Weighs 12.5 kg, allowing it to be integrated with lightweight drones.
Remote and mountainous operations: Can be carried and operated by individual soldiers in rugged terrains.
Tandem Warhead:
Equipped with a tandem warhead to defeat tanks with explosive reactive armor (ERA).
Range:
4 km during the day
2.5 km at night
Weight:
The missile's compact design at 12.5 kg makes it suitable for lightweight drone integration.
The ULPGM-V3 missile is a joint development by the DRDO, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Adani, and multiple MSMEs and start-ups under the Make in India initiative.
The collaboration reflects India's focus on self-reliance in defence technology, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and fostering innovation within the country.
Enhanced Precision and Safety: The ULPGM-V3 enables drone-launched attacks with a high degree of precision, reducing the risk to personnel and enhancing the effectiveness of the Indian Armed Forces in targeting high-value enemy assets.
Flexibility for Ground Soldiers: The missile’s ability to be operated by individual soldiers in remote regions gives Indian forces greater flexibility and enhances tactical capabilities in difficult terrains like mountains and forests.
Make in India Initiative: This project is a significant step towards self-reliance in advanced defence technologies, aligning with the government's vision for indigenous defence production.
The successful flight-trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3 (ULPGM-V3) mark an important milestone in India's defence capabilities.
The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism recently provided an update in the Rajya Sabha regarding the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), a flagship initiative aimed at fostering scientific temper and awareness across India.
Objective:
The scheme is designed to promote scientific temper and awareness among the general public, with a special focus on students. It aims to increase public engagement with science and cultivate a culture of science, innovation, and technology across India.
Initiatives under the Scheme:
Establishment of Science Cities and Science Centres.
Innovation Hubs and Digital Planetariums in various regions to promote interactive and informal science education.
Nodal Agency:
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, serves as the nodal agency for the scheme’s implementation.
Target Areas:
Under the scheme, Science Centres/Digital Planetariums (Category-III) are established in regions with a population of less than 5 lakhs, providing rural and smaller urban areas access to scientific resources and education.
As of July 2025, a total of 27 Science Centres have been established across India under the SPoCS scheme.
These institutions have significantly contributed to increasing scientific awareness through:
Hands-on exhibits that offer practical learning experiences.
Innovation hubs to encourage creativity and invention among students.
Digital planetariums that provide interactive astronomy and space science education.
Outreach programmes that extend scientific education to communities in remote areas.
Promotion of Scientific Temper:
The scheme works towards instilling a scientific mindset in the general public, particularly students, thus helping them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Access to Science Education:
By establishing Science Centres in smaller towns and rural areas, the scheme makes science more accessible to people who may not have the resources to visit larger cities.
Hands-on Learning:
Through interactive exhibits and activities, the scheme promotes experiential learning in science and technology, moving beyond traditional book learning.
Innovation Encouragement:
The Innovation Hubs foster creativity and invention, empowering the youth to become innovators and contribute to the country’s technological advancement.
Public Engagement:
The establishment of Digital Planetariums has made the study of astronomy and space science more engaging, especially for students and the general public interested in the mysteries of the universe.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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