PIB Summary - 24th June 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

A holistic Approach at Transforming Mining Sector

Introduction

The mining sector in India has seen significant changes over the past 11 years, focusing on improving transparency, encouraging private involvement, and ensuring strategic resource security.

Structural Reforms in the Mining Sector

• Auction Regime (Post-2015). The previous opaque allocation system was replaced with a transparent and competitive bidding process. Over 500 blocks have been auctioned, with 119 blocks auctioned in the last year alone.
• Amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (2015–2023). These amendments have modernized policies governing the mining sector, making them more relevant to current needs.

Centre-State Synergy

• Strengthened cooperative federalism has resulted in states earning ₹4 lakh crore through auction premiums and royalty.
• Tools such as the State Mining Index, State Mineral Exploration Trust, and Mining Ministers’ Conclaves have enhanced collaboration between the Centre and states.
• The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has improved local welfare by distributing mineral wealth in a decentralized manner.

Critical and Strategic Mineral Push

• The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) has been launched to enhance self-reliance in critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), and nickel.
• India’s first potash block has been auctioned, and initiatives for offshore mineral exploration have been started.
• Strategic global outreach efforts include acquiring lithium mines in Argentina and securing assets abroad through KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited).

Private Sector Enablement

• Reforms such as offering 50-year leases, facilitating the transfer of clearances, and establishing an exploration license regime have fostered investor confidence in the mining sector.
• Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups now have improved access to mining opportunities due to reforms like faceless return filing, the Mining Tenement System, and the use of drone surveys for site assessments.

Tech and R&D Ecosystem

• The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) has funded various initiatives, including the establishment of Centres of Excellence and supporting research and development projects by start-ups in the mining sector.
• There is a strong emphasis on promoting local innovation in recycling and processing technologies, which are crucial for establishing a circular economy in the mining sector.

Outcome and Vision

•  The mining sector is now aligned with broader national goals, including energy security, food security, and economic growth. 
•  The reforms implemented in the sector have ensured a framework that is predictable, transparent, and inclusive, supporting India’s ambition to become the third-largest economy in the world. 

Tripura becomes third state in the country, after Mizoram and Goa, to achieve Full Functional Literacy

 Introduction 

On June 23, 2025, Tripura achieved full functional literacy, reaching a rate of 95.6%. This milestone made Tripura the third Indian state, following Mizoram and Goa, to attain such a level of literacy according to national standards.

This accomplishment was made possible through the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, a flagship adult education initiative in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Relevance: GS 2 (Education, Governance)

About the ULLAS Programme

• The ULLAS Programme is a centrally sponsored initiative running from 2022 to 2027.
• It aims to provide foundational literacy, numeracy, and critical life skills to non-literate individuals aged 15 and above.
• The programme utilizes both physical outreach and digital tools, including the ULLAS mobile app, to facilitate learning.

Implementation Highlights in Tripura

• The programme was implemented intensively at the district level in Tripura, involving door-to-door surveys and volunteer mobilization.
• Strong community engagement was a key feature, with an emphasis on Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) and Kartavyabodh (sense of duty) to ensure grassroots ownership.
• Digital platforms were leveraged for certification and monitoring, allowing real-time progress tracking.

Significance of the Milestone

• Tripura’s literacy rate increased from 20.24% in 1961 to 95.6% in 2025, reflecting sustained policy and social commitment.
• This achievement enhances human capital, gender empowerment, and inclusive development, which are key pillars of Viksit Bharat @2047.
• It reinforces the NEP 2020 principle of education as a lifelong and universal process.

Broader Implications for India

•  Tripura’s achievement demonstrates scalable best practices for adult literacy and community-led education models. 
•  The success of the ULLAS Programme in Tripura serves as a replicable model for other states and Union Territories (UTs) in India to achieve educational equity. 
•  The programme contributes to boosting India’s global standing in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) – Quality Education for All.