International Conference on Space 2025

Context: 

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised the two-day International Conference on Space on 8 -9 September 2025.

About the Conference

• The theme of the International Conference on Space 2025 was “Harnessing Space for Global Progress: Innovation, Policy, and Growth.”
• The conference highlighted the pivotal roles of ISRO, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), in advancing India’s space capabilities, with a focus on satellite manufacturing, execution of space missions, space exploration, and industry participation, thereby strengthening the Indian space sector.
• The conference engaged in deliberations on the key focus areas outlined by IN-SPACe under the Decadal Vision for the Indian Space Economy. 
• This year, Denmark is the Guest Country for the conference.

• Key Ambitious Space Goals:

• Establishment of the Bharatiya Space Station by 2035.
• Landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
• Upcoming exploration missions to Mars, Venus, and asteroids.
• Continuation of the human spaceflight programme (Gaganyaan)

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

• Founded in 1895, CII works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, government and civil society through advisory and consultative processes.

• CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry managed organisation with members from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs.

• CII’s Mission:

• One-stop platform for services to industry & society
• Customer-focused organisation
• World-class services
• Global thinking and local action
• Learning and caring organisation
• Partnership approach

UPI–UPU Integration at the Universal Postal Congress 

Context: 

The Union Minister for Communications, Government of India unveiled the UPI–UPU Integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 

About the UPI-UPU Integration

• The UAE hosted the Universal Postal Congress (UPU) for the first time, bringing together over 2,000 delegates from 192 Universal Postal Union member countries to chart the future of global postal services.
• Union Minister for Communications unveiled the UPI–UPU Integration project at the Congress to transform cross-border remittances for millions worldwide.
• It aims to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UPU Interconnection Platform to create a secure and affordable channel for cross-border remittances, benefiting millions of Indian families and boosting economic growth. 
• The initiative was developed by the Department of Posts (DoP), NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), and the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
• India signed Letters of Intent with partners in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa and secured a regional UPU office in New Delhi to amplify the voice of the Global South.

Universal Postal Union

• The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in 1874 with headquarters in Bern, Switzerland

• It is the primary forum for cooperation in the postal sector and the second oldest international organization worldwide.

• UPU has 192 member countries; India joined on July 1, 1876.

• UPU consists of 4 bodies:

• Congress: It is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years.
• Council of Administration: It ensures UPU continuity between Congresses, supervises its work, and examines its regulatory, administrative, legislative, and legal issues.
• Postal Operations Council: It is the technical and operational body, composed of 48 member countries elected by Congress.
• International Bureau: It acts as the UPU’s secretariat and provides logistical and technical support to the UPU's bodies.

Angikaar 2025 Campaign

Context: 

Recently, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Angikaar 2025 campaign under PMAY-U 2.0 to ensure the completion of pending houses and enhance beneficiary awareness.

About the Campaign

• Angikaar 2025 seeks to create widespread awareness about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0 and fast-track verification of applications.
• It aims to expedite the completion of already sanctioned houses under PMAY-U.
• The campaign also seeks to inform stakeholders about the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) scheme.
• It reinforces the government’s drive to bridge implementation gaps, extend housing benefits to vulnerable groups by offering PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana benefits, and prioritise housing for Special Focus Groups under PMAY-U 2.0.
• Apart from the campaign, PMAY-U Awas Diwas will be celebrated on 17th September 2025 to celebrate the first anniversary of PMAY-U 2.0 across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0 

• PMAY-U 2.0 is the continuation and extension of the earlier PMAY-U mission, launched in 2015 to provide central assistance to eligible urban poor and middle-class families for constructing, purchasing, or renting affordable houses.
• PMAY-U 2 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10th August 2024 to bridge housing gaps and extend affordable housing to urban poor and middle-class families.
• It targets building 1 crore houses in five years with a ₹10 lakh crore investment and ₹2.30 lakh crore subsidy, ensuring affordable housing through four verticals:  Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH), and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS).
• It aims to ensure inclusivity by prioritising Economically Weaker Sections, low and middle income groups, and vulnerable groups; promotes sustainable, disaster-resistant housing; strengthens “Housing for All” and urban development vision.

The Vulture Network

Context: 

Recently, a group of organisations led by We Foundation India, in collaboration with the Department of Zoology at Gauhati University, launched India’s first dedicated vulture conservation portal, “The Vulture Network”.

About the Vulture Network

• It is a cloud-based platform designed as a comprehensive knowledge and awareness hub on all nine vulture species found in India.
• It was established to create a collaborative network of individuals and organisations committed to vulture conservation.
• This Network was developed with the support of the Assam Bird Monitoring Network, LASA Foundation, Suraksha Samitee, Bihongo Bondhu, and several local conservationists.
• The portal is structured to compile scientific data, raise awareness, and provide freely accessible outreach material for conservation campaigns.
• Emphasises the dissemination of information in local languages (beginning with Assamese) to strengthen grassroots-level understanding.
• The portal places special emphasis on the slender-billed vulture, which currently has only about 800 mature individuals remaining in the wild.

Conservation Efforts

• Ban on Diclofenac: Vultures feeding on the remains of animals treated with diclofenac can suffer acute kidney failure, leading to rapid death of vultures causing slowing decomposition and increasing disease risk.
• Designated Vulture Safe Zones: Eight zones have been established across India, with efforts to include at least one in every state.
• Breeding Centres and Vulture Conservation Centres: The government has set up dedicated rescue and rehabilitation centers in different geographical areas, including Pinjore, Bhopal, Guwahati, and Hyderabad.
• Vulture species in India include the white-rumped vulture, slender-billed vulture, red-headed vulture, Himalayan griffon, Indian vulture, cinereous vulture, Eurasian griffon, Egyptian vulture, and bearded vulture.

Significance of the Network

• It is the first-of-its-kind digital initiative to establish a national-level network for vulture conservation.
• Enhances community engagement and scientific collaboration to safeguard biodiversity.
• Supports India’s commitments under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the National Biodiversity Action Plan.