News Summary · 3 minutes read
Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE preparation with our daily News Summary. Designed to save time, it highlights key national and international events from leading newspapers and government websites.
Central Pay Commission (CPC)
- CPC is set up by an executive order based on a Cabinet decision → Terms of Reference (TOR) of CPC are also finalised by the Union Cabinet.
- Role of the CPC is to go into the issues of salary structures, retirement benefits and other service conditions of Central govt employees, and make suitable recommendations on the changes required.
- First CPC was set up in 1946 under Srinivasa Varadachariar.
- 8th CPC was formally constituted on 3 November 2025, with Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as the Chairperson → will submit its report within 18 months.
TOR of the 8th CPC
- Economic conditions of the country and the need for fiscal prudence.
- Need to ensure adequate resources for developmental expenditure and welfare measures.
- Unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes.
- Impact on State govt finances that usually adopt the recommendations of the CPC.
- Prevailing emolument structure and working conditions available for CPSUs and private sector employees.
The general perception in India is that public sector employment and wages are huge with limited efficiency, but in reality it is lesser when compared to other major democracies. It is shown below in the table.
Table: Comparison of public sector employment and expenditure in India with other countries
| Country | Public sector wage bill (% of GDP) | Public sector wage bill (% of total expenditure) | Public sector employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 5.48 | 17.70 | 8.5 |
| U.S. | 9.50 | 20.58 | 12.9 |
| U.K. | 10.20 | 20.29 | 29.0 |
| France | 13.37 | 21.43 | 31.5 |
| Germany | 8.51 | 16.46 | 22.4 |
| Brazil | 10.65 | 24.92 | 12.5 |
Source: World Bank – World Bureaucracy Indicators, 2022
Raksha Mantri inaugurates DPSU Bhavan
- Raksha Mantri (RM) Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated DPSU Bhawan at the World Trade Centre, New Delhi on 10 November 2025 → DPSU = Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
- Also, 4 DPSUs (MIL, AVNL, IOL, HSL) were felicitated on being granted Miniratna (Category-I) status.
- RM launched SWAYAM – Sustainable and Green Defence Manufacturing at the occasion.
- Anchored in the Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Action Plan (CEEAP) 2023, SWAYAM details efforts to enhance energy efficiency, expand renewable energy adoption, and reduce carbon emissions across the defence production ecosystem.
- Supported by digital tools like the SWARNA Dashboard and DPSU Energy Efficiency Index, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to combining sustainability with self-reliance.
- RM also felicitated IOL and BEL for achieving 100% green energy usage.
India’s defence sector
- India recorded defence production worth ₹1.51 lakh crore in 2024-25, with DPSUs contributing 71.6% of the total.
- India’s defence exports (including private sector) for FY 2024-25 increased to ₹23,622 crore, with DPSUs contributing ₹6,695 crore.
Criteria for Miniratna Category-I status
- Must have achieved profitability in the last three consecutive years.
- Need to demonstrate a pre-tax profit of Rs.30 crores or more in at least one of the three years.
- Must maintain a positive net worth.
Ratna scheme (Navratna and Miniratna categories) was introduced in 1997 to grant greater autonomy to high-performing Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) → Maharatna category was introduced in 2010.
Quick Picks
- Dogon Chiku: a place in Borno State of Nigeria → appeared in news due to conflict between Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants → Both are Sunni Islamic extremist groups, operating primarily in northeastern Nigeria.
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