World Food Safety Day 2025: Food Safety is Everyone's Business

Every year on June 7, the world observes World Food Safety Day to draw global attention to the health consequences of contaminated food and water. The theme for 2025 is "Food Safety: Science in Action," highlighting the crucial role of scientific advancements in ensuring that the food we eat is safe from farm to fork.

The Global Burden of Unsafe Food

Unsafe food is a major cause of illness and death, posing a significant threat to public health worldwide.

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people—almost 1 in 10 people in the world—fall ill after eating contaminated food each year.
• This results in 420,000 deaths annually, with children under 5 years of age carrying 40% of the foodborne disease burden.
• The economic impact is also severe, particularly for low- and middle-income countries, which lose around $110 billion in productivity and medical expenses annually due to unsafe food.
• Foodborne illnesses are caused by a wide range of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical substances.

Why is World Food Safety Day Important?

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, World Food Safety Day is a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The day aims to:

• Raise awareness about food safety issues.
• Promote actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks.
• Emphasize that food safety is a shared responsibility among governments, producers, businesses, and consumers.
• Highlight the connection between food safety and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

The 2025 theme, "Food Safety: Science in Action," encourages the use of data, diagnostics, research, and technology to build a safer and more resilient global food system.

Food Safety in India: Challenges and Initiatives

India, with its vast and diverse food sector, faces unique challenges such as food adulteration, a large informal food sector (street food vendors), and gaps in cold chain infrastructure. The primary regulatory body responsible for food safety in India is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Key FSSAI Initiatives:

• Eat Right India Movement: A comprehensive initiative to transform the country's food ecosystem to ensure safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all Indians.
• State Food Safety Index (SFSI): An index to measure the performance of states on various parameters of food safety, fostering a spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism.
• Clean Street Food Hub: An initiative to train and certify street food vendors to ensure they follow hygienic practices.
• Heart Attack Rewind: A mass media campaign to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the food supply.

Additional Information

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):

• An autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Mandate: FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health by setting science-based standards for food articles and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.

World Health Organization (WHO):

• A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
• Established on April 7, 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. In food safety, it typically focuses on public health aspects and consumer protection.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):

• A specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
• Founded in 1945, with headquarters in Rome, Italy.
• FAO generally addresses food safety issues along the food production chain, from farm to market.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC):

• Established jointly by FAO and WHO in 1963.
• It is the body that develops harmonized international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade. These standards, known as the Codex Alimentarius or "Food Code," serve as a global reference point. India is a member of the Codex.

New ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag’ to Promote Indian Languages in Governance

In a significant step to strengthen India's linguistic diversity in administration, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag’ (Indian Languages Section) on June 6, 2025. This new section, operating under the Department of Official Language in the Home Ministry, aims to reduce the country's reliance on foreign languages, particularly English, in official work and to promote thinking, analysis, and decision-making in native Indian tongues.

What is the Goal of This Initiative?

The primary objective of the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag is to free the country's administration from the "influence of foreign languages" and to create a strong, organized platform for all Indian languages. This move aligns with the broader vision of fostering cultural self-reliance and making governance more inclusive and accessible to the common citizen.

• Promoting Mother Tongues: The initiative seeks to enable government officials and departments to conduct their original thinking, drafting, and decision-making processes in their own mother tongues.
• Breaking the Language Barrier: It aims to ensure that language does not act as a barrier in governance. The Home Minister emphasized that India's true potential can only be realized when its administrative processes are conducted in its own languages.
• Technological Integration: The new section will work closely with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to develop advanced tools for high-quality, real-time translation between various Indian languages and Hindi. This will facilitate seamless communication between the Centre and different states.
• Alignment with NEP 2020: The initiative is in sync with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places significant emphasis on promoting education and learning in the mother tongue and regional languages.
• Strengthening Linguistic Diversity: By providing a platform for all Indian languages, the government aims to strengthen them, viewing them as the soul of Indian culture and essential for national unity.

How Will it Work?

The Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag will function as a central body to facilitate the use of different Indian languages in official correspondence. For instance, if a state government communicates with the Centre in its regional language, this section will ensure its effective translation and comprehension, enabling replies in the respective language. The Union Budget for 2024-25 has already allocated ₹56 crore for the development of this platform, showing a clear financial commitment to the initiative.

Additional Information

Constitutional Provisions for Languages:

• Article 343: Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. It also provided for the continued use of English for all official purposes for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution. The Official Languages Act, 1963, later allowed for the continuation of English alongside Hindi indefinitely.
• Eighth Schedule: This schedule of the Constitution lists the 22 languages officially recognized by the Republic of India. These are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The government is obligated to promote the development of these languages.
• Article 351: It entrusts the Union government with the duty to promote the spread of the Hindi language and to develop it as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India.

Related Bodies and Initiatives:

• Department of Official Language: This department, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the primary body responsible for implementing the provisions of the Constitution relating to official languages and the Official Languages Act.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Strongly advocates for the use of the mother tongue or local language as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.

EnviStats 2025: NSO Report Card on India's Environment

On the eve of World Environment Day, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released its flagship annual publication, "EnviStats India-2025". The report, compiled from data sourced from various ministries, is structured along the United Nations' Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES), 2013, ensuring global comparability. While a detailed sectoral analysis is awaited, the initial highlights present a mixed bag of progress and pressing challenges.

Key Findings of EnviStats India-2025

The report underscores some significant long-term trends across different environmental domains:

• Rising Temperatures: The data points to an unambiguous warming trend. The annual mean temperature of the country has increased from 25.05°C in 2001 to 25.74°C in 2024. This rise in average temperature is a clear indicator of the impacts of climate change on India.
• Energy Sector Transition: The energy landscape shows a dual trend.
  • Thermal Power: Generation from thermal sources continues to rise, increasing from 7.92 lakh GWh in 2013-14 to 13.26 lakh GWh in 2023-24, highlighting India's ongoing reliance on fossil fuels for its energy security.
  • Renewable Energy: On a positive note, electricity generation from renewable sources has seen substantial growth, jumping from 65,520 GWh to 2,25,835 GWh in the same period, reflecting the push towards clean energy.
• Boom in Inland Fisheries: Inland fish production has more than doubled in a decade, surging from 61.36 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 139.07 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. This indicates significant growth in aquaculture and freshwater fisheries, which is crucial for livelihoods and nutritional security.
• Rich Biodiversity: The report documents India's rich faunal diversity, noting the presence of 1,04,561 faunal species, which is a significant portion of the global total. This underlines India's status as a mega-diverse country and the importance of its conservation efforts.

While the summary highlights these points, detailed official statistics from the report on critical areas like Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission trends, the rate of glacial retreat, the status of groundwater blocks, and waste management (solid, plastic, and e-waste) were not part of the initial release.

Linking Data with Government Initiatives

The findings of the EnviStats report must be studied in conjunction with major government programs aimed at environmental protection:

• For Climate Change & Air Quality: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce particulate matter pollution, while India's updated NDCs under the Paris Agreement set ambitious targets for emission intensity reduction and renewable energy capacity.
• For Waste Management: The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 focuses on making cities garbage-free, with a strong emphasis on solid waste management, plastic waste reduction, and remediating legacy dumpsites.
• For Water Conservation: With groundwater levels being a persistent concern, schemes like the Jal Shakti Abhiyan focus on rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and rejuvenating traditional water bodies.

Understanding the data from EnviStats provides the "what," and linking it with these government schemes provides the "what is being done," completing the preparation loop for a civil services aspirant.

Additional Information

National Statistical Office (NSO):

• The NSO is the statistical wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• It was formed by the merger of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
• Mandate: It is the nodal agency for all statistical activities in the country. It is responsible for compiling key economic indicators like the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), and national income estimates (GDP), besides conducting large-scale socio-economic surveys.

India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

• A commitment made under the Paris Agreement to outline climate actions.
• Key Goals by 2030:
  • To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from the 2005 level.
  • To achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources.
  • To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover.
• It also includes the ‘LiFE’ - Lifestyle for Environment movement, a mass movement for sustainable lifestyles.

Kutch Findings Push Back Human History, Predating Harappans

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeological evidence from the Kutch region of Gujarat has revealed that thriving prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities lived there at least 5,000 years before the rise of the great Harappan cities. This finding fundamentally alters our understanding of the cultural evolution in the region, suggesting a gradual, locally-rooted development rather than urbanism being an abrupt influence from Sindh.

The research, a collaborative effort by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, IIT Kanpur, Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) Delhi, and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, has unearthed significant proof of human settlement long before the Harappan era.

What are the Key Discoveries?

The study focused on shell midden sites in the vast expanses of Kutch. A shell midden is essentially a heap of discarded shells, remnants of food consumed by ancient communities, which serves as a rich archaeological record.

• Ancient Hunter-Gatherers: The findings confirm that the region was home to hunter-gatherer communities who lived in a mangrove-dominated landscape. Their primary food source was shell species like oysters and gastropods.
• Dating the Sites: Using a precise technique called Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) for Carbon-14 dating on shell remains, researchers established the age of these sites. The results confirmed that these settlements are significantly older than the Harappan civilization.
• Stone Tool Culture: Besides shell deposits, a variety of stone tools used for cutting, scraping, and splitting were discovered. The presence of these tools and raw materials suggests that these communities were proficient in manufacturing implements for their daily needs.
• Challenging Existing Narratives: This evidence challenges the long-held view that urbanism in Kutch was primarily an external influence. Instead, it points towards a gradual process of local adaptation and cultural development. The accumulated knowledge of local geology, water resources, and navigation by these early communities may have later helped the Harappans plan their settlements and engage in long-distance trade.
• Links to other Ancient Cultures: The findings also show similarities with coastal archaeological sites in the Las Bela and Makran regions of Pakistan and the Oman Peninsula, suggesting that early coastal communities across this wider region may have developed similar survival strategies.

Additional Information

Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization - IVC):

• A Bronze Age civilization that flourished in the northwestern regions of South Asia from circa 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
• Known for its advanced urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems, and large non-residential buildings.
• It was one of the three early civilizations of the Near East and South Asia, along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Dholavira: A Harappan Metropolis in Kutch:

• Located on Khadir Bet island in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Dholavira is one of the five largest Harappan sites in the Indian subcontinent.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its unique city planning, sophisticated water conservation system with reservoirs, and a signboard with ten large Indus script signs.
• The recent findings suggest that the knowledge of the local landscape by pre-Harappan communities could have been instrumental in the establishment and success of cities like Dholavira.

Prehistoric Periods in India:

• Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): Characterized by hunter-gatherer lifestyles and the use of rudimentary chipped stone tools.
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): A transitional phase. People used smaller, more refined stone tools called microliths. There was a shift in hunting patterns, and the beginning of animal domestivation was seen. The new Kutch findings likely belong to this era.
• Neolithic (New Stone Age): Marked by the beginning of agriculture, the domestication of animals, settled life, and the use of polished stone tools
• Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone Age): Characterized by the use of both copper and stone tools, it preceded the full-blown Bronze Age cultures like the Harappan Civilization.

Russia Patents Space Drone Technology for Future Orbital Station

Russia's state space corporation, Roscosmos, has announced the patenting of a new technology to launch and operate drones directly from an orbital space station. This innovative system is designed to perform external inspections and maintenance, significantly reducing the need for astronauts to conduct high-risk spacewalks.

This development is a key part of Russia's plan for its future independent space platform, the Russian Orbital Station (ROSS), which is expected to begin deployment after 2027. The goal is to create the world's first space station designed from the ground up to be serviced by robotic systems.

How will the Technology Work?

• Drone Deployment: The patent covers a system that will allow small, automated spacecraft or drones to be launched from the exterior of the space station.
• Robotic Maintenance: These drones will be equipped with sensors and cameras to carry out detailed inspections of the station's outer hull, searching for micrometeoroid damage, structural stress, or other issues.
• Reducing Spacewalks: The primary aim is to automate routine checks and minor repairs. This will enhance astronaut safety by minimizing their exposure to the harsh environment of open space during Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), commonly known as spacewalks.
• Future Applications: Russian officials have stated that this technology, once tested on ROSS, could also be adapted for future missions, including the exploration and maintenance of infrastructure on and around the Moon.

Additional Information

What is an Orbital Space Station?

• An orbital space station is a large spacecraft that remains in a low Earth orbit (LEO) for an extended period. It is designed to be a habitat and laboratory for astronauts to live and conduct experiments in a microgravity environment.
• The International Space Station (ISS) is the most well-known example, a collaborative project involving NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
• China operates its own station, the Tiangong Space Station.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) or Spacewalk

• An EVA is any activity done by an astronaut outside a spacecraft, beyond the Earth's atmosphere.
• Risks Involved:
  • Radiation: Direct exposure to harmful solar and cosmic radiation.
  • Space Debris: Risk of collision with tiny, fast-moving objects (micrometeoroids) that can puncture a spacesuit.
  • Extreme Temperatures: Facing temperature swings from over 120°C in sunlight to below -150°C in shadow.
  • Physical and Technical Failure: The process is physically demanding, and any failure in the complex life support system of the spacesuit can be catastrophic.

Roscosmos

• The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities is the national space agency of the Russian Federation.
• It is responsible for Russia's wide range of space flights and cosmonautics programs. It was formed by merging the Russian Federal Space Agency and the United Rocket and Space Corporation.

India's Space Station: Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS)

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced its plan to build an indigenous space station, named the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
• The first module of the station is targeted for launch by 2028, with the station expected to be completed by 2035.
• It is designed to be a 20-tonne station orbiting at an altitude of about 400 km, capable of hosting astronauts for 15-20 days.
• This project is a crucial next step after the Gaganyaan mission, which will demonstrate India's human spaceflight capability. The BAS will solidify India's position as a major space-faring nation.

Magnus Carlsen Wins Record Seventh Norway Chess Title

Norwegian chess icon and world number one, Magnus Carlsen, has once again proven his dominance by winning the prestigious Norway Chess tournament for a record seventh time. In a dramatic final round, Carlsen secured the top spot in one of the world's most elite chess competitions held in Stavanger, Norway.

In the parallel Women's Norway Chess tournament, Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk clinched the title, finishing undefeated in the classical format.

Tournament Highlights and Indian Performance

• Men's Tournament:
  • Winner: Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won the title in a nail-biting finish.
  • Indian Contenders: India was represented by young Grandmasters R. Praggnanandhaa and D. Gukesh. In a notable upset during the tournament, Praggnanandhaa secured his first-ever classical victory against the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren of China. Despite strong individual games, neither could secure a podium finish in the final standings.
• Women's Tournament:
  • Winner: Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) emerged as the champion.
  • Indian Contenders: The Indian challenge was led by Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and Vaishali Rameshbabu (Praggnanandhaa's sister). Koneru Humpy put up a formidable fight, securing the third position on the podium. Vaishali also had a strong tournament, including a notable victory over the women's world champion, Ju Wenjun of China.

Unique Format of Norway Chess

The Norway Chess tournament is famous for its unique and exciting format, designed to ensure a decisive result in every round.

• Classical Win: A player who wins a standard (classical) game gets 3 points.
• Draw and Armageddon: If a classical game ends in a draw, both players get 1 point. They then immediately play a tie-breaker game called Armageddon.
  • In an Armageddon game, the player with the white pieces gets more time but must win. The player with the black pieces has less time but wins the tie-break if the game is a draw.
  • The winner of the Armageddon game gets an additional 0.5 points. This means the winner gets a total of 1.5 points from the round, while the loser gets 1 point.