Key Highlights
- India introduces a novel digital hallmarking system for silver jewellery, guaranteeing precise purity verification through unique identifiers.
- The PSA Mumbai Terminal Phase‑II reaches a record 4.8 million TEU capacity, cementing its status as the nation’s largest container hub.
- A unified pension regime is rolled out for central government personnel, modernising retirement benefits and procedural norms.
- The country’s inaugural vulture knowledge portal opens a digital sanctuary for conservation science and public outreach.
- UPI transaction ceilings are increased for key high‑value sectors, streamlining large‑scale digital commerce.
Detailed Insights
Silver Hallmarking Reinvented – The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised IS 2112:2025 to incorporate a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code. This change enhances traceability, aligns silver with gold’s hallmarking ecosystem, and is validated by 230+ national assay centres.
PSA Mumbai Terminal Breaks Ground – Phase‑II of the PSA Mumbai Terminal at JN Port, Navi Mumbai, has been virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong. The terminal’s 4.8 million TEU capacity and direct rail link to the Dedicated Freight Corridor set a new global benchmark for container handling.
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) Launch – The UPS rules, effective 1 April 2025, grant central employees a shift option from the older 25‑year retirement model to a 20‑year horizon, streamline enrolment, and introduce a switch facility for retirees, survivors, or disabled staff.
Vulture Conservation Portal – Launched from Assam on International Vulture Awareness Day, the portal “The Vulture Network” aggregates scientific data, awareness material, and downloadable campaigns, countering threats such as diclofenac poisoning and misinformation.
UPI Limit Revisions – NPCI has lifted daily per‑transaction limits to ₹5 lakh and the 24‑hour aggregate to ₹10 lakh for sectors like capital markets, insurance, and e‑marketplaces, while peer‑to‑peer caps remain at ₹1 lakh.
Key Concepts
- HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) – A digital tag attached to silver items that records purity and origin, enabling end‑to‑end verification.
- PSA (Port Services Agreement) – A contractual framework that governs the operation, expansion, and service quality of container terminals.
- UPS (Unified Pension Scheme) – A centrally administered pension framework that consolidates multiple retirement plans into a single, flexible system.
- UPI (Unified Payments Interface) – A real‑time payment system that facilitates instant fund transfers across banking platforms.
- Vulture Network – A dedicated online platform focused on vulture ecology, conservation efforts, and community engagement.