SNIPPETS: 10 NOVEMBER 2025

POLITY

• The government approved the terms of reference (ToR) of the Eighth Central Pay Commission after having announced its formation in January this year. It will revise the salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and allowances of 65 lakh pensioners, which will come into effect from January 1 next year. The Eighth Central Pay Commission will be headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a former Supreme Court judge and the chairperson of the Press Council of India.   A Pay Commission is constituted by the central government approximately every decade to revise the salary structure of its employees and determine pension payments. Since 1947, seven Pay Commissions have been established.

POLICY

• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has released the India AI Governance Guidelines, advocating a “hands-off” regulatory approach that balances innovation with responsibility. Drafted by a panel led by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran (IIT Madras), the report lays out seven principles including trust, equity, and responsible innovation. It recommends expanding AI infrastructure via digital public infrastructure, promoting skill development, and ensuring flexible regulation. The framework shifts focus from risk aversion to innovation-driven governance without immediate AI legislation.
• The two-day National Urban Conclave was organised at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, on 8-9 November 2025. It brings over participants that including policymakers, urban planners, experts, and stakeholders, to deliberate on the theme “Sustainable Urban Development and Governance” through intensive brainstorming sessions across six thematic areas. During the inaugural session, the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP), the Swachh Bharat Mission – Knowledge Management Unit (KMU), and Urban Invest Window (UiWIN).
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will soon release black spot data for 2023 and 2024 to curb road accidents and fatalities. The data is based on the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) and Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) systems, which record real-time accident information from state police. A 500-metre stretch is classified as a black spot if it reports five serious accidents or 10 deaths in three years. The 2020–22 analysis identified 1,330 critical stretches nationwide.

ECONOMY

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released its report on “Asset Recovery Guidance and Best Practices”, commending India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) for effective asset recovery under the PMLA (2002) and Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (2018). India’s use of blockchain analytics and global cooperation was highlighted as a model practice. However, FATF noted challenges like judicial delays, coordination barriers, and data gaps, recommending stronger forensic capacities, data systems, and cross-border collaboration to improve recovery efficiency.

ENVIRONMENT

• India joined the Brazil-led Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as an observer in November 2025. The USD 125 billion initiative rewards tropical nations for conserving and restoring forests through performance-based payments funded by sovereign and institutional investors. It earmarks 20% of funds for Indigenous and local communities, excluding high-income nations. Unlike REDD+, TFFF is a long-term, self-financing and South-South cooperative model, valuing ecosystem services and promoting climate resilience in tropical regions.
• In Punjab, stubble-burning in three major districts—Amritsar, Taran Taran, and Ferozpur—was about 20% lower this year compared to last, with 2.46 lakh hectares burnt versus 3.15 lakh hectares in 2024, according to satellite data. Despite a sharp rise in fire counts from October 28 to November 4, overall incidents remain below last year’s levels. Early measures over the past five years appear effective, though peak burning historically occurs in the first half of November.