UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

ILO launches Labour Inspectorates and the Future of Technology (LIFT) tool Government of India announces Labour Codes will be effective from 21st November 2025 Genetic Engineering Technology by ICAR to use TnpB or Transposon-associated proteins as molecular scissors RBI engaging with European Central Bank to interlink UPI with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) of the Eurosystem India Unveils “National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is advancing technological transformation for labour inspectorates with the roll-out of the Labour Inspectorates and the Future of Technology (LIFT) tool, a cloud-based electronic case management system designed to replace paper-based planning, monitoring and reporting with fully digital workflows.  A core innovation of LIFT is its ability to link related enterprises across supply chains, extending oversight beyond individual worksites and helping labour inspectorates identify systemic compliance risks across the entire chain. LIFT connects contractors, subcontractors and suppliers within a single digital database, allowing the inspectorate to classify economic units by size, sector, inspection history and other risk indicators, and to detect non-compliance patterns across different tiers of the supply chain. International Labour Organization ( ILO )

  In a historic decision, the Government of India has announced that the four Labour Codes  - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are being made effective from 21st November 2025 , rationalising 29 existing labour laws. By modernising labour regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work, this landmark move lays the foundation for a future-ready workforce and stronger, resilient industries driving labour reforms for  Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Key Highlights of Labour Codes: Code 1: The Code of Wages, 2019 The Code on Wages, 2019 seeks to simplify, consolidate, and rationalize the provisions of four existing laws-  The Payment of Wages Act, 1936; The Minimum Wages Act, 1948; The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965;  and  The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.  It  aims to strengthe...

Indian Council of Agricultural Research developped a indigenous genome-editing technology that functions as an alternative to the CRISPR-Cas system. TnpB is a compact "molecular scissor" that precisely cuts and modifies plant DNA, is easier to deliver into plant cells than larger CRISPR proteins, and reduces dependence on foreign technology and intellectual property.  Key features of TnpB Alternative to CRISPR: TnpB is an indigenous system that provides a cost-effective alternative to CRISPR-Cas technologies. Compact size: TnpB proteins are significantly smaller than Cas9 and Cas12a, making them easier to deliver into cells. This also allows for direct injection via viral vectors, bypassing the need for tissue culture. Precision: Like CRISPR, TnpB acts as a molecular scissor to make precise cuts at target DNA sites for genome editing. Intellectual Property (IP) and cost: The technology, patented by ICAR, eliminates dependency on foreign IP, allowing for free use in India and ...

Reserve Bank of India and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) have been engaging with European Central Bank on the initiative to connect UPI with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS), the instant payment system operated by the Eurosystem.   These initiatives are aligned with the G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments, with a focus on cheaper, efficient, more transparent and more accessible remittances. About TIPS: TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) is a market infrastructure service launched by the Eurosystem in November 2018. It enables payment service providers to offer fund transfers to their customers in real time and around the clock, every day of the year.  Using TIPS, individuals and firms can transfer money between each other within seconds, irrespective of the opening hours of their local bank. TIPS settles payment transfers in euro, in Swedish kronor as of February 2024 and in Danish kroner as of April 2025. TIPS is compliant with t...

On the occasion of  World Fisheries Day 2025 (  21 NOV 2025 ),  The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  released the   National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025. Framework aims to establish a national digital traceability system that enhances food safety, sustainability, and global market access. The framework outlines a comprehensive strategy to unify fragmented traceability practices by integrating digital tools such as blockchain, IoT, QR codes and GPS, while ensuring inclusivity for small-scale fishers and farmers. The framework will enable real-time, end-to-end tracking of Seafood products from ‘farm to plate’ and ‘catch to consumer.’ It was developped under  the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi SahYojana (PM-MKSSY) . Objectives of the framwork: Develop a unified digital traceability system.  Ensure compliance with regulations.  Promote food safety, sustainab...

Ministry of Jal Shakti launches “Hamara Shauchalaya, Hamara Bhavishya” Campaign on World Toilet Day 2025 Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under Paris Agreement

Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the nationwide campaign, ‘ Hamara Shauchalaya, Hamara Bhavishya’  (हमारा शौचालय, हमारा भविष्य) on World Toilet Day 2025. ‘Hamara Shauchalay, Hamara Bhavishya’  campaign reiterates the importance of toilets and ensuring their proper maintenance to provide safe sanitation to communities today and to prepare for a cleaner and healthier future. It emphasizes on functionality assessment, repair and aesthetic upliftment of rural toilets, for both Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) and Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs). The campaign aligns with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). The key objectives of the campaign include: Enhancing functionality and undertaking repairs of CSCs and IHHLs Assessing and strengthening existing O&M systems for community toilets Promoting and encouraging communities for aesthetic upliftment of their CSCs and IHHLs Awareness generation in the community and ...

F irst cycle of the  Enhanced Transparency Framework  (ETF) under the Paris Agreement successfully completed - UNFCCC In 2015 the Paris Agreement established an Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) to build trust and confidence that countries are contributing to global climate action, and set out the Global Goal for Adaptation (GGA)  The ETF provides arrangements to track and report on national climate change mitigation policies and adaptation actions and support towards achieving the global temperature and adaptation goals, including progress on implementing and achieving individual  Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The ETF includes flexibility for developing country Parties, considering Parties’ different capacities. No later than December 2024 countries should report on the implementation and achievement of their national objectives through Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). These reports provide a snapshot of progress made by countries to meet the o...

Climate Change Performance Index Copernicus Sentinel - 6B Epstein files

1.  The CCPI was first published in 2005. 2.  The Index is published by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute, and the Climate Action Network. 3. It was presented every year at the UN Climate Change Conference. Methodology: In 2017, the underlying methodology of the CCPI was revised and adapted to the new climate policy framework of the Paris Agreement from 2015.[3] The CCPI was extended in order to include the measurement of a country’s progress towards the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the country’s 2030 targets. The national performances are assessed based on 14 indicators in the following four categories: GHG emissions (weighting 40%) Renewable energy (weighting 20%) Energy use (weighting 20%) Climate policy (weighting 20%) The three categories "GHG emissions", "renewable energy" and "energy use" are each defined by four equally weighted indicators: (1) current level, (2) recent developments (5-year trend), (3) 2 °C compatibility of the cu...

Copernicus Sentinel-6B  1. It was successfully launched from Vandenberg Base in California. 2. The new satellite is equipped with a highly accurate radar altimeter that measures the height of the ocean surface to within a centimetre. These data cen be used for tracking rising seas.  3. Sentinel-6 is a collaborative EU-US mission, uniting the expertise of EUMETSAT, ESA, NASA, NOAA, and CNES to deliver the most precise global sea level record to date.  4. This launch is the fourth successful Copernicus Sentinel mission of 2025, following Sentinel-4A, Sentinel-5A, and Sentinel-1D, further bolstering Europe’s leadership in global Earth observation. European Commission   

The Epstein list is a hypothesized document containing the names of high-profile clients to whom the American financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked young girls, part of the wider body of documents known as the Epstein files. Epstein cultivated a social circle of public figures that included politicians and celebrities, fueling claims suggesting that he maintained such a list to blackmail these associates—and that his 2019 death was not a suicide (as officially reported) but a murder to protect his clients. Claims surrounding the existence of a client list first surfaced in the immediate aftermath of Epstein's death, later reaching heightened prominence in 2025 following a now-deleted tweet from former White House senior advisor and Department of Government Efficiency associate Elon Musk alleging that United States president Donald Trump was among the names listed. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump floated the idea of releasing the Epstein ...

New Protocol under Tehran Convention enters into force Crop loss due to wild animal attack and Paddy Inundation will be covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) YUVA AI for ALL India–Australia Nursing Roundtable Concludes with Renewed Commitment to Global Collaboration India Re-Elected to Codex Executive Committee National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2.0 Launched MoSPI Releases the National Industrial Classification (NIC) – 2025

 As per this protocol,  Major new infrastructure planned around the Caspian Sea will be legally required to meet transboundary environmental standards. UNEP Caspian Sea: The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, described as the world's largest lake and usually referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it is situated in both Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia, south of the fertile plains of Southern Russia in Eastern Europe, and north of the mountainous Iranian Plateau. It covers a surface area of 371,000 km2 (143,000 sq mi) (excluding the highly saline lagoon of Garabogazköl to its east), an area approximately equal to that of Japan, with a volume of 78,200 km3 (19,000 cu mi). It has a salinity of approximately 1.2% (12 g/L), about a third of the salinity of average seawater. It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Tur...

  The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has extended a major benefit to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has now recognised the modalities for covering crop loss due to Wild Animal Attacks   and   Paddy Inundation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Under the revised framework, crop loss due to wild animal attack will now be recognised as the fifth Add-on Cover   under the Localised Risk category. States will notify the list of wild animals responsible for crop damage and identify vulnerable districts or insurance units based on historical data. Farmers will be required to report losses within 72 hours using the Crop Insurance App by uploading geotagged photographs. There decisions respond to long-standing requests from several States and is aimed at strengthening protection for farmers against sudden, localised, and severe crop damage. The modalities have been pre...

T he Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the  IndiaAI  Mission , has launched  ‘YUVA AI for ALL’ ,   a first-of-its-kind free course that introduces the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to all Indians, especially the youth. This short,  4.5-hour self-paced course  is designed to make students, professionals and othe r  curious learners   comfortable with the basics of AI and to show how it’s transforming the world. It’s simple, practical, and filled with  real-life Indian examples  to make learning relatable and fun. The course is available  for free  on leading learning platforms -  FutureSkills Prime, iGOT  Karmayogi , and other popular ed-tech portals. Every learner who completes the course will get an  official certificate  from the Government of India. PIB

India has concluded a productive session at the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48), securing a unanimous mandate that highlight its commitment to collaborative global food governance, focusing on efficiency, data management, and the development of equitable standards. PIB

India has concluded a productive session at the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48), securing a unanimous mandate that highlight its commitment to collaborative global food governance, focusing on efficiency, data management, and the development of equitable standards. PIB <<< About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) & Codex Alimentarius

  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as a global health threat with serious health, political and economic implications. AMR leads to delays in treatment thus increasing the risk of spreading resistant microorganisms and health-care costs and the economic burden to families and societies. AMR threatens the safety and effectiveness of procedures such as surgical interventions, cancer treatment, and organ transplants thereby having the potential to reverse the advancements made not just in modern medicine but also the growth and economy at the global and national levels. AMR is recognized as a National Priority  and the Union Health Ministry has  taken several steps for AMR Containment. The National Task Force on AMR Containment was constituted in 2010 leading to development of the National policy on AMR containment in early 2011. In April 2017 the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) developed in alignment with Global Action Plan (GAP)...

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 during the ‘Culmination Ceremony' of 75th anniversary of National Sample Survey (NSS) and World Statistics Day 2025 on 18th November   2025 at Udaipur. The NIC is a fundamental tool used in statistical surveys, censuses, economic research, and policy formulation. India’s classification system, first introduced in 1962, has been revised periodically in line with international standards and changing economic landscape, leading to NIC 1970, NIC 1987, NIC 1990, NIC 1998, NIC 2004 and NIC 2008. The  NIC 2025  represents the latest updated national standard for classifying economic activities in India. The updated classification provides a comprehensive and contemporary framework for all economic activities, capturing the rapid transformation of Indian economy driven by technological advancement, innovation, and the emergence of new sectors. The revision re...