Explore the Daily Current Affairs 23 September 2025, focusing on recent events. Download quick REVISION NOTES.
Source: The Hindu Newspaper (Page no. 6)
Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre:
Context: The editorial highlights the significance and major concerns of PHC centers.
Definition: A Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) is a basic health unit designed to provide integrated curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative services. These centers are usually the first point of contact between the individual and the healthcare system.
Significance of PHCs in India
1. Backbone of Rural Healthcare
- Over 65% of India’s population lives in rural areas.
- PHCs act as the first point of contact for medical services in these areas.
- They help bridge the urban-rural healthcare divide.
2. Universal Health Coverage
- PHCs are key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by delivering affordable and equitable health services.
- They align with India’s commitment to “Health for All” under the Ayushman Bharat initiative.
3. Implementation of National Health Programs
- PHCs are the execution points for major health programs such as:
- National Immunization Program
- Reproductive and Child Health (RCH)
- Tuberculosis Control (RNTCP)
- Malaria Eradication (NVBDCP)
- Family Planning programs
4. Maternal and Child Health
- PHCs provide antenatal care, institutional deliveries, postnatal care, and child immunizations.
- This directly impacts maternal and infant mortality rates.
5. Disease Prevention and Control
- Early diagnosis and treatment at PHCs reduce the burden of communicable diseases (like TB, malaria) and non-communicable diseases (like diabetes, hypertension).
- They support health promotion and awareness programs at the community level.
6. Reduces Pressure on Higher Facilities
- By handling minor ailments and basic treatments, PHCs reduce the load on secondary (Community Health Centres) and tertiary (District Hospitals, Medical Colleges) care centers.
7. Cost-effective Health Delivery
- PHCs are low-cost, community-based models that provide essential care efficiently.
- They make healthcare more accessible and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
8. Community Engagement
- PHCs promote community participation through health workers like ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) and Anganwadi Workers.
- This increases health literacy and ownership of health at the grassroots level.
9. Support for Emergency and Referral Services
- PHCs serve as a referral link between Sub-Centres and higher medical institutions.
- They are often equipped to handle minor emergencies, stabilizing patients before referral.
10. Role in Public Health Surveillance
- PHCs collect epidemiological data, helping track disease trends and plan effective responses (e.g., during COVID-19, outbreaks).
Mains Practice question:
Q1. “Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) form the backbone of India’s rural healthcare system, yet they face several challenges in delivering quality services.” Critically examine the role and significance of PHCs in India. Suggest measures to strengthen them for achieving universal health coverage. (15 marks, 250 words)
Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page no. 6)
Traditional Medicines:
Context: Editorial highlights the growing relevance of traditional medicine.
What are traditional medicines?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Traditional medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.”
Examples of Traditional Medicine Systems:
| Region | Traditional System | Description |
| India | Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani | Herbal remedies, diet, lifestyle, and natural therapies |
| China | Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) | Acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tai Chi |
| Africa | African Traditional Medicine | Plant-based treatments, spiritual healing |
| 🇬🇧 / 🇺🇸 (Indigenous) | Western Herbalism | Use of European and Native American herbal remedies |
| Japan/Korea | Kampo, Hanbang | Herbal formulations with historical roots in TCM |
Key Facts:
- Analysts estimate that the global traditional medicine market will reach $583 billion by 2025, with annual growth rates of 10%-20%.
- China’s traditional Chinese medicine sector is valued at $122.4 billion.
- Australia’s herbal medicine industry at $3.97 billion.
- India’s Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) sector at $43.4 billion.
- The AYUSH industry, comprising over 92,000 micro, small and medium enterprises, has expanded nearly eight-fold in less than a decade.
This expansion reflects a fundamental shift in health-care philosophy from reactive treatment models to proactive, preventive approaches that address root causes rather than symptoms alone.
Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page no. 8)
Maize for ethanol blending of Petrol:
Context: India’s maize import has been increased in recent times.
Concern: India’s maize yield is quite poor and is below four tonnes per hectare whereas the world average is six tonnes.
India is pushing towards ethanol blending in petrol to:
- Reduce oil imports
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions
- Promote renewable energy
While sugarcane has been the traditional feedstock for ethanol, maize (corn) is increasingly being considered due to sustainability concerns.
What is Ethanol Blending?
- Ethanol is an alcohol that can be blended with petrol.
- Common blends: E10 (10% ethanol), E20 (20%), with a target of E20 by 2025.
Ethanol can be produced from:
- Sugar-based crops: sugarcane, molasses
- Starch-based crops: maize, broken rice
- Cellulosic sources: crop residue, bamboo, etc.
Key Fact:
- India’s maize yield is quite poor and is below four tonnes per hectare whereas the world average is six tonnes.
River Pollution:
Context: The number of locations in Indian rivers unfit to bathe reduced to 807 in 2023 from 815 in 2022, according to a recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Drivers of Improvement:
- Strengthened regulation & enforcement by CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards.
- Building / upgrading sewage treatment plants, intercepting drains to prevent untreated sewage discharge.
- River basin committees, action‐plans under programmes for river rejuvenation.
Major Causes of River Pollution in India:
| Cause | Explanation / Examples |
| Untreated Domestic Sewage | Large volumes of municipal wastewater are released untreated into rivers. Urban areas often lack adequate sewage treatment capacity. |
| Industrial Effluents | Factories (textile, tannery, chemical, pharmaceutical, sugar mills etc.) discharge untreated or partially treated toxic effluent. Heavy metals, dyes, and chemicals are common pollutants. |
| Agricultural Runoff | Fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides run off into rivers especially during rains; causes nutrient pollution (nitrates, phosphates), leading to eutrophication. |
| Solid Waste / Garbage / Plastic Waste | Improper disposal of waste, dumping of solid waste in river banks and water, plastic pollution etc. |
| Religious and Other Ritual Practices | Idol immersion, ritual bathing etc contribute organic load, dyes and non‑biodegradable waste. |
Key Rivers / Hotspots:
- Yamuna (especially in and around Delhi): Severely polluted by sewage, industrial effluent.
- Ganga & its tributaries: Multiple stretches polluted, especially downstream of major cities.
- Sabarmati: Classified as critically polluted; textile and chemical industries contributing heavily.
- Cooum (Tamil Nadu): One of the most polluted river stretches.
Mains Practice question:
Q2. “Despite various policy measures and flagship programmes, river pollution continues to remain a serious environmental concern in India.” Critically examine the causes, impacts, and limitations of current interventions to address river pollution. Suggest a multi-pronged strategy for sustainable river rejuvenation. (15 marks, 250 words)