1. Cabinet approval on Lucknow Metro Rail Project phase 1B
Context: On August 12, 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project. This marks a significant expansion in the city’s urban mobility infrastructure, catering to Old Lucknow’s densely populated and historically rich zones.
Details:
- Corridor & Coverage
The new stretch spans 11.165 km, bringing 12 new stations into the metro network—7 underground and 5 elevated. - Once operational, Lucknow’s active metro network will reach 34 km.
- Key Zones Connected
The route strategically links:
- Commercial nodes: Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, Chowk
- Healthcare hub: King George’s Medical University (KGMU)
- Cultural and tourist landmarks: Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Bhool Bhulaiya, Clock Tower, Rumi Darwaza.
- Culinary hotspots famed for Lucknow’s heritage food culture.
- Outlay and Timeline
Estimated cost: ₹5,801 crore.
Project implementation through Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) over approximately five years. - Benefits & Impact
- Decongestion & Mobility: Helps cut down traffic in Old Lucknow’s narrow lanes, reduces travel time, and enhances road safety.
- Environmental Gains: Shifts commuters to electric metro, lowering carbon emissions compared to road transport.
- Economic & Tourism Boost: Greater access to markets, heritage sites, and transport hubs (airport, railway, and bus depots) expected to elevate business activity and investment in the region.
- Inclusive Access: Enhances public transport accessibility for diverse socio-economic groups, bridging inequality in urban mobility.
- Leadership Endorsement
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the decision as transformative—rooted in inclusive infrastructure, job creation, tourism, and economic growth.
Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh added gratitude to the Prime Minister and state authorities, highlighting the metro’s role in easing daily commutes and supporting broader urban improvements.
Conclusion:
Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro is a game-changer for the city—combining heritage preservation with modern urban infrastructure. It promises smarter mobility, reduced congestion, environmental benefits, tourism-led economic gains, and equitable access across social segments. This expansion cements Lucknow’s trajectory toward being a resilient, inclusive, and globally connected urban center.
2. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan releases Rs 3,200 crores to farmers under PMFBY
Context: On August 11, 2025, Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan digitally released a historic ₹3,200 crore crop insurance payout under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The event, held at the Jhunjhunu Airstrip in Rajasthan, marked one of the largest single-day payouts in the scheme’s history and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to support farmers affected by natural calamities.
Details
Beneficiaries: Over 30 lakh farmers across the country received the first installment directly into their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
State-wise Disbursement:
Madhya Pradesh: ₹1,156 crore
Rajasthan: ₹1,121 crore
Chhattisgarh: ₹150 crore
Others: ₹773 crore
Speed & Transparency: The government introduced a simplified claim settlement system allowing payouts solely based on the central subsidy, bypassing delays due to state’s premium contributions. From the Kharif 2025 season, both state governments and insurance companies face a 12% penalty on delayed payments, with the interest being credited directly to farmers.
Program Impact: PMFBY has disbursed a staggering ₹1.83 lakh crore in claims since 2016, against just ₹35,864 crore in premiums collected—averaging payouts more than five times the premium paid. Technological tools like YES-TECH, WINDS portal, AIDE mobile app, Krishi Rakshak Portal, and the 14447 helpline have enhanced transparency and delivery efficiency.
Wider Reach: In the same event, Minister Chouhan also revealed that 34.48 lakh farmers have benefited under PMFBY across India, including 9.7 lakh in Rajasthan alone.
Conclusion: The ₹3,200 crore disbursement under PMFBY stands as a pivotal moment in India’s farmer-centric welfare policy. It underscores digital governance, real-time support, and accountability—all while empowering farmers to recover swiftly from crop losses. With technology, penalty mechanisms for delays, and expanded coverage, PMFBY is evolving into a consistent shield against agricultural risks and reinforcing the government’s vision of inclusive, resilient agrarian development.
3. Union Health Secretary launches ‘SHRESTH’ Initiative to boost drug quality and safety
Context: On August 12, 2025, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava virtually launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH)—a pioneering, data-driven framework designed to strengthen and benchmark state-level drug regulatory systems across India. Designed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), this initiative reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every Indian has access to safe, high-quality medicine.
Details
Purpose & Vision
SHRESTH serves as a transparent, data-driven tool to assess and improve drug regulation across states and Union Territories. The initiative is designed to standardize performance, close regulatory gaps, and promote accountability.
Two-State Classification System
Manufacturing States: Focused on large-scale pharmaceutical production.
Distribution States/UTs: Primarily engaged in medicine supply and retail.
This separation ensures the evaluation framework matches operational realities.
Key Indicators for Evaluation
Manufacturing States: 27 parameters across Human Resources, Infrastructure, Licensing, Surveillance, and Responsiveness.
Distribution States: 23 indicators tailored to their role.
Weightages are assigned to give a balanced and fair scoring system.
Monthly Monitoring & Scoring
States submit performance data every month by the 25th. CDSCO reviews and scores them by the 1st of the following month, providing clear feedback for improvement.
Capacity Building & Support
Beyond evaluation, SHRESTH includes training workshops, audits, and capacity-building programs to help state regulators achieve “maturity certification.”
Global Standard Alignment
Following India’s WHO ML3 status for vaccines, SHRESTH aims to align drug regulation with international benchmarks, boosting trust in Indian pharmaceuticals globally.
Impact on Public Health & Economy
Strengthens patient safety by minimizing risks from substandard medicines.
Encourages uniform enforcement of laws.
Enhances India’s export credibility in the pharma sector.
Conclusion:
SHRESTH is more than a ranking system, it’s a roadmap for a robust, transparent, and responsive drug regulatory framework. By setting measurable benchmarks and ensuring continuous feedback, it fosters trust in India’s medicines both domestically and internationally. If executed diligently, it could become a gold standard in public health governance and a global case study in regulatory excellence.
4. UIDAI signs agreement with ISI for joint R&D to enhance aadhar operations
Context: On August 12, 2025, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) signed a pivotal five-year umbrella agreement with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), a premier research institution under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI). This collaboration aims to fortify the security, reliability, and robustness of Aadhaar operations through cutting-edge, data-driven innovations.
Details
Scope of Collaboration
The agreement focuses on enhancing Aadhaar’s operational resilience by targeting key areas such as:
- Fraud and anomaly detection
- Biometric liveness detection tools
- Identification of high-risk enrolment or update categories
- Refinement of biometric matching algorithms
- Other jointly identified priority areas
Signatories and Stakeholder Presence
The MoU was signed by Tanusree Deb Barma, Deputy Director General of UIDAI’s Technology Centre, and Prof. B. S. Daya Sagar, head of ISI’s Bengaluru Centre. Present during the event were UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar and Additional Secretary (MoSPI) Puja Singh Mandol.
Strategic Synergy
The pending union brings together UIDAI’s technological capabilities and ISI’s deep expertise in statistics, mathematics, computer science, and data science. CEO Kumar described it as a step toward “advanced, secure, and citizen-centric innovation,” while Mandol highlighted the combined synergy of data-driven research and technology.
Conclusion:
This collaboration marks a forward-looking approach in India’s identity infrastructure. By tapping into ISI’s analytical prowess, UIDAI lays the groundwork for a more resilient, algorithmically sophisticated Aadhaar system — elevating standards in security, accuracy, and citizen trust. If executed well, this partnership could pave the way for global benchmarks in identity-tech governance.
5. MHA tightens rules governing OCI card holders’ registration
Context: On August 11, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a gazette notification invoking clause (da) of Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The move introduces enhanced grounds for the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registrations—reflecting a tightened legal framework to preserve the integrity of this privilege-based scheme.
Details:
Expanded Grounds for Cancellation
The MHA notification now specifies that an OCI registration shall be liable for cancellation if the cardholder:
- Has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years or more, or
- Has been charge-sheeted for an offence punishable with 7 years or more imprisonment.
Applicability Across Jurisdictions
The rule applies irrespective of where the offence occurred—whether in India or abroad.
If the offence is recognized under Indian law, it can trigger cancellation proceedings.
Legal Authority and Enforcement
The notification leverages Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and relevant clauses in the Citizenship Rules, 2009.
This legal backing ensures that the decision is enforceable, with the MHA empowered to act on verified criminal records and judicial findings.
Rationale for the Move
Preventing Misuse: OCI status grants long-term visa benefits, property ownership rights (with certain restrictions), and other privileges. The government aims to prevent these from being exploited by individuals engaged in unlawful activities.
Reinforcing National Security: In recent years, a small but concerning number of OCI holders have been implicated in serious crimes, including financial fraud, narcotics trafficking, and anti-national activities.
Maintaining OCI as a Privilege, Not a Right: The MHA reiterated that OCI is a discretionary facility granted by the Government of India—it is not equivalent to citizenship and carries responsibilities alongside privileges.
Operational Implications
Data Coordination: Enforcement will require closer coordination between MHA, Ministry of External Affairs, state police forces, Interpol, and foreign law enforcement agencies.
Due Process: Any cancellation will be preceded by a show-cause notice, giving the OCI cardholder an opportunity to respond before the final order.
Public Awareness: The government is expected to release updated guidelines for embassies, consulates, and immigration checkpoints to ensure uniform enforcement.
Conclusion
This update marks a decisive shift towards accountability-driven governance in India’s engagement with its overseas community. While India values the contribution of its global diaspora in investment, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchange, it is equally committed to ensuring that those enjoying long-term residency privileges respect Indian laws.
6. PPSL received RBIs approval to operate as online PA
Context: On 12 August 2025, Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), the payments arm of Paytm under One97 Communications, received an in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator (PA) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. This marks a key regulatory milestone, enabling PPSL to onboard merchants again after a long freeze.
Details
Scope of the Licence
The approval strictly covers online payment aggregator operations, as per RBI’s Payment Aggregator–Payment Gateway guidelines.
Payout-type transactions, such as disbursing merchant funds, remain beyond the scope and must not be routed through escrow accounts designated for PA operations.
Audit and Compliance Conditions
PPSL must complete a comprehensive system audit, including cyber-security, conducted by appropriately qualified auditors (like CERT-In empanelled, CISA-certified, or DISA-qualified professionals).
The audit report must be submitted within six months—failure to comply will result in the automatic lapse of the in-principle authorisation and no further consideration for final license.
Lifting Merchant Onboarding Freeze
Since November 2022, PPSL was barred from onboarding new merchants due to regulatory issues. The new approval immediately lifts this freeze, clearing the way for growth in merchant acquisition.
Regulatory Background
PPSL had originally applied for the PA licence in August 2024, after meeting FDI compliance requirements and addressing RBI’s earlier concerns.
The approval reflects resolved issues, including the exit of Ant Group (which had held a 5.84% stake), ensuring PPSL now aligns with RBI’s ownership norms.
Market Reaction
Following the news, the stock of One97 Communications surged approximately 5%, hitting a 52-week high, signalling renewed investor confidence in Paytm’s revival and operational expansion.
Conclusion:
This RBI nod is more than regulatory clearance; it’s the ignition of Paytm’s revival in digital payments. By re-enabling merchant onboarding, re-energizing revenue streams, and showcasing improved governance, PPSL is positioned to reclaim its presence in India’s competitive fintech space. Operational success hinges on swift compliance with audit mandates and adherence to regulatory norms, yet the path ahead looks clear and promising.
