Yojana Summary: August 2025 | Monthly Yojana & Kurukshetra Magazine (English) - UPSC PDF Download

Historical & Civilisational Roots

• Human advancement has always relied on innovation, spanning from primitive stone tools to cutting-edge artificial intelligence and ambitious space exploration.
• India’s rich civilisational heritage underscores a long-standing tradition of knowledge and intellectual pursuit. Esteemed scholars like Aryabhata, Bhaskara, and Pingala, along with renowned ancient institutions such as Nalanda and Vikramshila, made remarkable contributions to various fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, metallurgy, and linguistics.
• While Ayurveda is primarily known as a traditional medical system, it also forms an integral part of India’s vast knowledge tradition.
• Even in the face of historical challenges posed by invasions and colonial rule, India’s capacity for scientific and cultural innovation exhibited remarkable resilience and continuity.

Constitutional Ethos and Freedom to Innovate

In today's context, freedom encompasses more than just political autonomy; it involves the ability to create, solve problems, and innovate. The Freedom to Innovate concept takes local knowledge and makes it applicable on a global scale. This idea is strongly supported by various articles in the Constitution, including:

• Article 14. Ensures equality of opportunity for all individuals.
• Article 21. Guarantees the right to life and dignity for every person.
• Article 21A. Establishes the right to education for all citizens.
• Article 51A(h). Imposes the duty to promote and develop scientific temper among the people.

Government Initiatives to Foster Innovation

Policy and Budgetary Support

• In the Union Budget for 2025–26, the government allocated ₹20,000 crores for research and development in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, clean energy, and semiconductors.
• The Deep-Tech Fund of Funds, managed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), with a budget of ₹10,000 crores, aims to support deep technology ventures and stimulate innovation across various sectors.
• The introduction of 10,000 PM Research Fellowships, offering monthly stipends between ₹70,000 to ₹80,000, is intended to encourage research talent.
• There is a growing recognition that innovation is a national necessity, rather than an optional pursuit.

Institutional Reforms

• The Atal National Research Foundation (ANRF), established in 2023 with a corpus of ₹50,000 crores for the period 2023 to 2028, replaces the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) and aims to boost research funding.
• The Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, set to launch in 2025 with a budget of ₹1 lakh crores, will provide long-term, low-interest financing for research and development in the private sector.
• There is an emphasis on regulatory simplification, promoting procurement autonomy, and fostering governance based on trust to facilitate research and innovation.

Grassroots Innovation

• The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has facilitated over 1,400 patents and more than 120 technology transfers, supporting grassroots and student innovators, some of whom have been honored with Padma Shri awards for their contributions.
• The Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) programme aims to connect universities with rural areas to develop contextual technology solutions that address local challenges and needs.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC are crucial platforms for fostering inclusive innovation.
• ONDC has more than 7 lakh sellers, with an expected 20 crore transactions by 2025. This initiative helps MSMEs by expanding their market reach.
• India Energy Stack (IES) is a system akin to UPI but for renewable energy, benefiting farmers and DISCOMs.

Sectoral Innovation Push

Health

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): has generated 70 crore ABHA IDs, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive digital health ecosystem.
• PRIP:. substantial ₹5000 crore has been allocated to promote research and development in pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.
• ICMR Action Plan (2024–29): aims to stimulate the development of indigenous and affordable health technology solutions.

Agriculture 4.0

• Initiatives such as Drone Didi, Akashdoot, support for agri-startups, various hackathons, ARYA, and RKVY-RAFTAAR are being implemented.
• There is a strong emphasis on precision farming techniques, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things applications, and drone technology.

Deep Tech

• Initiatives like NM-ICPS, NQM, and Atal Innovation Labs are being promoted in Tier-II and Tier-III areas.
• There is a significant focus on advancing technologies related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cyber-physical systems.

Global Impact & Achievements

• Global Innovation Index 2024: India is ranked 39th.
• Patent Filings (WIPO 2023): India is 6th in the world for patent filings.
• Network Readiness Index: India has improved its ranking from 89th in 2015 to 49th in 2024.
• Startup Ecosystem: There are 157,000 DPIIT-recognised startups in India, with over 100 unicorns. Notably, 51% of these startups are from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Civilisational Shift

• Innovation is now spreading from the grassroots level to ISRO laboratories, creating “oceanic circles of change.”
• Jan Bhagidari, which means people’s involvement, and Srijan, which stands for creative expression, are fundamental to this shift.
• India is making progress towards Aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance, and is aiming for a Viksit Bharat, or developed India, by 2047.

India's Ongoing Fight Against Terrorism

Terrorism remains a significant threat to national security in India, particularly due to cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.

Recent Events

• The Baisaran Valley attack in April 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) underscored the persistent nature of this threat.
• India’s strategy for countering terrorism has evolved over time. It has shifted from an emphasis on restraint and dialogue to a comprehensive and multidimensional approach that includes military strength, institutional reforms, financial intelligence, and proactive diplomacy.

Changes in Counter-Terrorism Approach

• Past Approach: Emphasised restraint, bilateral talks, and international pressure.
• Present Approach: Focuses on pre-emption and proactive strategies.
• Policy Declaration (Prime Minister, May 2025):
  • A terrorist attack is considered an “act of war.”
  • No differentiation between terrorists and their support systems.
  • Pakistan’s plausible deniability is not acceptable.

Military Action & Engagement Rules

• Operation Sindoor (2025): Involved deep strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
• Historical Precedents:
  • Surgical Strikes (2016): In response to the Uri incident.
  • Balakot Airstrikes (2019): Following the Pulwama attack.
  • Hot Pursuit (2015): Military action in Myanmar.
• Key Aspects of Operation Sindoor: Precision targeting with minimised collateral damage, aimed at countering Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail.
• Pressure Tactic: Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, underscoring the message that “bloodshed and water resources cannot coexist peacefully.”

Institutional Reforms in Counter-Terrorism Architecture

• Post-2008 Mumbai Attacks. Shift towards enhancing the structural framework.
• The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC). Established as a central hub for intelligence sharing among various agencies.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA) (2009) – Designated as the primary agency for counter-terrorism efforts. The 2019 Amendment expanded its scope to include cyber-terrorism, human trafficking, fake currency, and issues of international jurisdiction.
• NATGRID. Aimed at the integration and analysis of real-time data to aid in counter-terrorism operations.
• Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU-IND) & Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) (2002, with amendments in 2009 and 2023):
• Key focus areas include monitoring and tracking terrorism financing, regulating cryptocurrencies, and overseeing the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 
• NIA’s Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TF-FC) Cell. Targeted efforts to dismantle and disrupt terror-funding networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Counter-Insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir

• Curbing infiltration: The strategy includes a three-tier counter-infiltration grid, fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), and the use of advanced technology such as drones, night vision goggles, and thermal imagers to prevent infiltration.
• Local recruitment: There has been a decrease in the overall number of militants, but an increase in "hybrid" terrorists and proxy groups such as the Resistance Front (TRF) and People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF).
• Narco-terrorism: There is a growing link between drug money and militancy, with 26 cases reported in 2022–23. The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been identified as a major beneficiary of this drug money.
• Asset seizures: Properties belonging to smugglers have been confiscated as part of the counter-insurgency efforts.
• Impact: While there has been a decline in overall violence, sporadic high-profile attacks are expected to occur, particularly in areas like Pahalgam, by 2025.

Countering Radicalisation

• Challenges: Victimhood narratives, social media propaganda, and peer pressure.
• Emerging Trend: Attacks by lone wolves and self-radicalised individuals, such as those in Udaipur and Amravati in 2022.
• Response: Actions by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), monitoring of online activities, and deradicalisation programmes.
• Need for: Increased community involvement, educational reforms, and digital literacy initiatives.

Diplomatic and Global Partnerships

• Multilateral Engagement: India is actively involved with various international bodies and initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and related financial crimes. This includes participation in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Group of Twenty (G20), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee, and the “No Money for Terror” conference.
• Focus Areas: India's engagement in these forums addresses critical issues such as crypto-financing, the use of drones in terrorism, and cyber-terrorism.
• Bilateral Cooperation: India has strengthened its bilateral ties with countries like Bangladesh and Nepal to enhance cooperation in combating terrorist recruitment and infiltration. A notable example of bilateral cooperation is the extradition of Tahawwur Rana from Canada to India. Rana is accused of involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and his extradition is seen as a significant step in bringing perpetrators of terrorism to justice.
• India–Bangladesh and India–Nepal Collaborations: These collaborations have been instrumental in efforts to curb terrorist recruitment and infiltration across borders. By working together, these countries aim to strengthen their security measures and prevent the spread of extremist ideologies.
• Limitation: One of the challenges India faces in its fight against terrorism is the lack of a global consensus on the definition of terrorism. India has been advocating for its Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), proposed in 1996, but it is still awaiting approval. This convention aims to provide a clear and unified definition of terrorism at the international level, which would facilitate more effective cooperation and action against terrorist activities worldwide.

Trends in Pakistan-Sponsored Terrorism

The document discusses how Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has changed over the past twenty years.

• Before 2008: There were large-scale attacks in urban areas, such as in Delhi in 2005, Mumbai in 2006, and the infamous 26/11 attack.
• From 2010 to 2019: The focus shifted to attacks on security forces, with incidents like Pathankot in 2016, Uri in 2016, and Pulwama in 2019 becoming prominent.
• After 2019: Proxy groups like the The Resistance Front (TRF) and the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) began targeting minorities, civilians, and security forces, especially following the abrogation of Article 370.
• Pakistani Narrative: The narrative from Pakistan, which includes claims of ‘false flag’ operations, has become less effective in swaying public opinion.

Understanding these trends is essential for grasping the wider implications of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the region.

Challenges and Way Forward

• Persisting Threat: Pakistan’s ‘thousand cuts strategy’ is a continuing threat.
• Evolving Tactics: Involves urban blasts, proxy groups, narco-terror, and cyber-terror.
• Global Challenge: Selective actions by states pose a global challenge.

Way Forward:

• Multi-pronged Strategy: Combine military strength, policing reforms, and financial intelligence.
• De-radicalisation: Focus on community outreach, counter-narratives, and youth involvement.
• Leverage Technology: Utilize drones, AI, and cyber-forensics.
• Diplomacy: Advocate for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and FATF oversight of Pakistan.
• Societal Resilience: Strengthen societal resilience to counteract terrorism's psychological impacts.

Conclusion

• India’s Counter-Terrorism (CT) doctrine has evolved from being defensively restrained to assertively deterrent.
• The country is in the process of establishing a comprehensive counter-terrorism framework.
• This framework encompasses:
  • Military precision strikes
  • Institutional strengthening
  • Financial crackdowns
  • Proactive diplomacy
  • Grassroots resilience
• The aim is to deter both terrorists and their state sponsors.

The Right to Good Health

• Health goes beyond just not being sick; it involves dignity, fairness, and empowerment.
• India’s main program, Ayushman Bharat, is working towards this idea of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through four essential pillars.

Four Pillars of Ayushman Bharat

1. PM-JAY (2018):

• It is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme.
• It offers ₹5 lakh per year, per family for secondary and tertiary care.
• Achievements:. crore hospital admissions; 41 crore Ayushman cards issued.
• Network: Pan-India portability; empanelled over 32,000 hospitals (46% private).
• Equity: Women make up ~50% of beneficiaries; transgender coverage began in 2023.

2. Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM):

• Health and Wellness Centres are revamped for comprehensive primary care.
• It covers non-communicable diseases, palliative care, free medicines, diagnostics, and mental health.
• By 2025, around 1.7 lakh AAMs will decentralise healthcare.

3. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM 2020):

• It creates a digital backbone for healthcare, ensuring secure and portable health data.
• Key features: ABHA (14-digit Health ID), HPR – registry of healthcare professionals, HFR – national database of facilities.
• Innovations: Consent-based Health Information Exchange, Unified Health Interface (UHI) for telemedicine.
• Progress: Over 61 crore records linked, more than 54,000 facilities onboarded.

4. PM-ABHIM (2021):

• It is a ₹64,000 crore infrastructure mission.
• It improves critical care blocks, laboratories, surveillance systems, and emergency response.
• It enhances preparedness for pandemics and frontline service delivery.

Additional Aspects:

• Financial Protection: Aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses, which currently constitute about 48% of total health spending, one of the highest rates globally.
• Equity: Benefits are designed to reach vulnerable groups including the poor, migrants, women, and transgender individuals.
• Continuity of Care: Ensures seamless healthcare connections across different levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and digital care.
• Scale: Represents the world’s largest healthcare coverage, decentralised down to village-level centres.
• Trust-Building: Positions health care as a right of citizenship rather than a privilege, fostering public trust.

Synergy of the Four Pillars

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) = Affordability & Dignity
• Aayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) = Portability & Choice
• Ayushman Bharat Mission (AAMs) + PM-ABHIM = Infrastructure & Resilience
• Together, these initiatives create a “One Health Ecosystem” that is preventive, promotive, curative, and participatory.

Value Addition for UPSC

Data & Reports:

• India spends ~2% of GDP on healthcare (Economic Survey 2022-23), which is lower than the OECD average of ~9%.
• Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE): decreased from 62% (2014) to 48% (2022) due to PM-JAY.
• NITI Aayog (2021): The “Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle” report pointed out PM-JAY as a crucial step but recommended including the uncovered middle-class groups.
• Lancet Report (2023): India’s progress on UHC has improved, yet regional disparities still exist.

Comparative Perspective:

• UK’s NHS: Funded by taxes, offering universal free access.
• Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme: Significantly reduced catastrophic expenditure.
• India’s model: Hybrid approach (public funding + private empanelment + digital backbone).

Ethics/Philosophical Perspective (GS-4 / Essay):

• Health is a fundamental aspect of the Right to Life as per Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The emphasis on health reflects Rawlsian justice, which prioritizes the needs of the least advantaged members of society.
• According to Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, healthcare is essential for empowering individuals by enhancing their freedom and capabilities.

Future Directions

• Enhance digital adoption and improve last-mile connectivity in healthcare services.
• Integrate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine, remote diagnostics, and personalized medicine into healthcare delivery.
• Strengthen state capacity and accountability to ensure effective service delivery.
• Expand healthcare coverage to include the missing middle and reinforce funding for primary health services.
• Focus on training and equitably distributing the health workforce to meet healthcare needs.

Ayushman Bharat goes beyond mere healthcare reform; it embodies the idea of liberation from vulnerability and inequality. This initiative positions health as a fundamental pillar of inclusive development and the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, which aims for a developed India by that year.

Empowering Farmers

Agriculture is crucial for India’s economy, contributing 18% to Gross Value Added (GVA) and employing 46% of the workforce. In 2024-25, India achieved record outputs in various agricultural sectors:

• 354 million tonnes (MT) of foodgrains, a 6.5% increase.
• 426 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of oilseeds, a 7.4% increase.
• Horticulture output has now surpassed that of foodgrains.

Self-Sufficiency and Food Security

• India has achieved self-sufficiency in rice, wheat, and pulses.
• The country is also making progress towards self-reliance in oilseeds, which is vital for enhancing food security and livelihoods.

Policy Shifts

• Recent policy changes in agriculture now view farmers as agricultural entrepreneurs, placing emphasis on income security rather than just food security.
• A multi-faceted approach is being implemented, which includes enhancing productivity, reducing cultivation costs, ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) and fair pricing, promoting post-harvest value addition, diversifying into high-value crops, and advancing climate-smart and risk-mitigated farming practices.

Key Interventions in Agriculture

• Research and Development of Seeds: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working with state governments to create seeds that can withstand climate change, are enriched with essential nutrients, and have high yields. This research is part of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO).

Credit Support: The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) provides low-interest loans to farmers, with amounts up to Rs 3 lakh at an interest rate of 4%. This rate includes benefits for timely repayment. Agricultural loans are projected to reach Rs 10.2 lakh crore by 2025.

• Input Subsidies, Mechanisation, and Minimum Support Price (MSP): Farmers receive subsidised Urea and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) to encourage the use of these inputs. The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation promotes the use of machinery, particularly benefiting small farmers. The MSP is set at 1.5 times the cost of production for 22 crops, helping to prevent forced sales by farmers.
• Infrastructure Development: The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has a corpus of Rs 1.5 lakh crore aimed at enhancing post-harvest facilities. This includes improvements in cold storage, grading units, and pack houses. By May 2025, an investment of Rs 1.03 lakh crore is expected across 1.09 lakh projects.
• Collectivisation and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs): The establishment of 10,000 FPOs is intended to promote cluster farming. These organisations help farmers access markets directly, retail seeds and fertilisers, promote organic farming, and add value to their products. This collectivisation strengthens farmers' bargaining power and increases their sales.
• Digital Agriculture Initiatives (Agri Stack): The development of a geo-referenced plot registry, a unique Farmer ID, and a digital crop survey aims to support targeted schemes such as KCC, MSP, and various subsidies. The Aadhaar-linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system ensures transparency in these processes.
• Seed Quality Assurance: The SATHI Portal (Seed Authentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory) is designed to ensure the complete traceability of seeds from the breeder to the farmer. This system helps protect farmers against counterfeit seeds.
• Technology Adoption: The implementation of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), precision farming, remote sensing, and digital advisory systems is being promoted. These technologies assist farmers in various tasks including sowing, pest control, weather prediction, and marketing, thereby enhancing productivity and efficiency in agriculture.

Overall Impact

• Shift from food self-sufficiency to farmer income security.
• Emphasis on productivity, digital empowerment, post-harvest value addition, and sustainability.
• FPOs, DPI, MSP, and infrastructure creation for agricultural transformation.
• Foundation for self-reliant agriculture and farmer empowerment.