MoU Signed to Develop Dual-Use Cutting-Edge Technologies

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Recently, Innovations for Defence Excellence - Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO) has inked an MoU with EdCIL (India) Limited to foster the development of dual-use cutting-edge technologies.

About the MoU

• MoU aims to develop dual-use (both commercial and defense uses) cutting-edge technologies and to link defence expertise with emerging ed-tech solutions.
• MoU was signed under the new ASPIRE (Accelerating Strategic Progress in Research and Education) program.
• The objective is to extend iDEX’s innovation model to the civilian sector by addressing critical challenges and leveraging the strengths & expertise of both organisations to promote innovative technologies

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)

• iDEX was launched in 2018 as a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence and  was implemented through the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
• It aims to promote indigenous defence innovation, foster collaboration between start-ups, MSMEs, and the armed forces, and develop dual-use cutting-edge technologies.

EdCIL (India) Limited

• EdCIL (India) Limited was established in 1981 by the Government of India to provide consultancy and technical services in the education sector.
• It is a Mini Ratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Education.
• It aims to deliver project management, consultancy, and ed-tech solutions across the entire spectrum of education, both within India and abroad.

Schemes to Strengthen the Social Security Framework 

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Recently, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has launched two major initiatives — SPREE-2025 and the AMNESTY Scheme-2025 with the aim to bring more workers under the ambit of social security while providing industries with relief from the burden of litigation.

SPREE-2025 (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees)

• SPREE 2025, approved by the ESIC, is a special initiative aimed at expanding social security coverage under the ESI Act.

• The scheme will be active from 1st July to 31st December 2025 and provides a one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employees - including contractual and temporary workers-to enroll without facing inspections or demands for past dues.

• Under SPREE 2025 

• Employers can register their units and employees digitally through the ESIC portal, Shram Suvidha and MCA portal. 
• Registration will be considered valid from the date declared by the employer. a a o 
• No contribution or benefit will apply for periods prior to registration. 
• No inspection or demand of past records will be made for the pre-registration period. 

• The scheme focuses on voluntary compliance instead of punitive measures, thereby reducing litigation and encouraging trust between employers and employees.

AMNESTY Scheme-2025 

• It is a one-time dispute resolution mechanism aimed at addressing issues related to damages, interest, and coverage under the ESI Act.
• The AMNESTY Scheme-2025 will be in effect from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026. Employers are provided with an opportunity to resolve pending disputes and regularise their compliance status.
• The initiative is intended to reduce litigation burden, promote cooperation, and ensure smooth delivery of social security benefits to employees.

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) 

• The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• It administers the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, which provides health and social security benefits to employees.
• ESIC delivers benefits such as medical care, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, and dependents’ benefit.
• It is financed through contributions from both employers and employees, making it a contributory social security scheme.

India’s First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre

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Recently, the Union Education Minister inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus during his two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

More on the News

• The visit aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in education, foster academic excellence and innovation, and explore new avenues of partnership.
• The Minister launched Atal Innovation Labs in Indian schools across the Emirates, inspired by the success of Atal Tinkering Labs in India.
• Key areas of focus included expanding Indian-curriculum schools, fostering student and teacher exchanges, harmonising curriculum and qualifications with new education policy priorities.
• The minister also launched two key academic programs: a Ph.D. program in Energy and Sustainability and a B.Tech program in Chemical Engineering.

Atal Innovation Centre (AIC)

• AIC under India's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a government-supported incubation center that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by providing startups with world-class infrastructure, mentorship, access to investors, and other essential resources. 
• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative established in 2016 by the Government of India, under the NITI Aayog, to foster a nationwide culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Aadi Sanskriti

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Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs today launched the beta version of Aadi Sanskriti,  a platform for digital learning of tribal art forms. 

About Aadi Sanskriti Platform

• Beta version of Aadi Sanskriti was launched during the National Conference on Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Aadi Sanskriti is a leading digital learning platform to preserve tribal art forms, heritage, enable livelihoods and connect India's tribal communities with the world.
• Aadi Sanskriti is envisioned as the world’s first digital university to preserve and promote the culture and traditional knowledge of tribal communities, and an online marketplace providing worldwide access to products made by tribal artisans.

• The platform consists of three key components:

• Adi University (Digital Tribal Art Academy): Currently offering 45 immersive courses on tribal dance, painting, crafts, music and folklore.
• Adi Sampada (socio-cultural repository): A collection of over 5,000 compiled documents on five themes, including paintings, dances, textiles and clothing, artefacts, and livelihoods.
• Adi Haat (Online Marketplace): Currently linked with TRIFED, it will develop as a dedicated online marketplace for tribal artisans, enabling sustainable livelihoods and direct consumer access.

• Aadi Sanskriti has been developed in collaboration with State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs).

• TRIs from 15 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, have contributed to content documentation, artefact collection, and digital mapping.

Bairabi–Sairang Railway Project

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Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Bairabi-Sairang railway line to connect Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl to the national railway grid for the first time ever.

About Bairabi–Sairang Railway Project

• The 51.38-km-long line extends from Bairabi, on the Assam–Mizoram border, to Sairang near Aizawl, reducing the travel time from six–seven hours by road to about two hours by train. 
• With this, Aizawl becomes the fourth North-Eastern capital (after Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar) to be linked with the Indian Railways.
• The Ministry of Railways announced three new passenger services—Aizawl–Delhi Rajdhani Express, Aizawl–Kolkata Express, and Aizawl–Guwahati Express—alongside freight train operations beginning September 14, 2025.
• The railway budget allocation for the Northeast has risen substantially—from around ₹2,000 crore annually before 2014 to nearly ₹10,000 crore now.
• Mizoram’s first Freight Train (goods train) started operations on September 14, enabling cheaper transport of cement, steel, and household goods via the new railway line.
• Electrification of the Bairabi–Sairang line is underway and is expected to be completed by end-2025, opening possibilities for running sleeper versions of Vande Bharat trains in the region.

Significance of the Project

• Boost to Trade & Economy: Facilitates cheaper logistics, better market access, and smoother transport of goods, supporting businesses and livelihoods.
• Social Benefits: Improves mobility for students, patients, and professionals, enhancing access to education, healthcare, and opportunities.
• Tourism Promotion: Opens Mizoram to greater tourist inflow by providing affordable and faster connectivity.
• Strategic Development: Strengthens integration of Mizoram with the rest of India, contributing to regional development and national unity.