Prelims Focus 15th October 2025

Pasni Port

In News: Recently, Pakistan has allowed the US to build and manage Port Pasni as a commercial port and this will give the US access to Pakistan’s critical minerals.

• • Location: Pasni Port is located in the Gwadar district, Balochistan, and it borders the Arabian Sea. It is 113 km east of the China-run Gwadar Port and approximately 286 km away from the Iranian-run Chabahar Port.​
  • Facilities: A fish harbor, a cargo jetty, and the base of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) are presently found in the port.​
  • Natural Depth: It has a deep-water harbor that renders it a viable site in terms of major shipping and mineral export.

• Strategic Significance

• • Regional Hub: Pasni lies close to both Gwadar (China-backed) and Chabahar (India-backed, Iran), which makes it a hub in a potential maritime triangle- South, West and Central Asia.
  • Strategic Competition: By having the US in Pasni, the three major powers will be in proximity to each other due to the presence of China at Gwadar and India at Chabahar, increasing the rivalry in terms of trade routes and mineral accessibility.​
  • Trade and Security: The port has the potential to support global supply chains of critical minerals, energy and security co-operation and create a strong axis in regional trades with South, West and Central Asia.

LEAPS 2025

In News: The Minister of Commerce and Industry has introduced Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025.

• • LEAPS is a flagship project that belongs to the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
  • Purpose: To benchmark and reward excellence in the logistics industry, and foster efficiency, sustainability, innovation, and the adoption of technology.
  • Alignment: National Logistics Policy (2022), PM GatiShakti, and programs such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• Objectives:

• • Cultivate the best logistics practices.
  • Promote ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and green logistics.
  • Encourage government, industry and academia partnership.
  • It encompasses a big range of logistics actors such as air, road, sea, and rail carriers; warehousing; multimodal carriers; MSMEs; Startups; and Academia.

Bharat Taxi Initiative

In News: The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) have partnered with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited to launch the Bharat Taxi Initiative, a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-driven national ride-hailing platform in India. This service, set to launch in December 2025, aims to provide a secure, inclusive, and citizen-centric alternative to private ride-hailing giants by integrating technology with the cooperative movement’s values.​

Key Features and Objectives

• Cooperative Model: Promoted by major cooperatives like NCDC, IFFCO, AMUL, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NDDB, and NCEL, the initiative is designed to ensure fairer returns for drivers and affordability for passengers.​
• Platform Integration: The Bharat Taxi platform will be integrated with national digital infrastructure such as DigiLocker, UMANG, and API Setu, enabling seamless identification verification and service delivery.
• Security and Compliance: NeGD’s role includes ensuring robust cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance with national data protection norms, promoting user trust.​
• Citizen-Centric and Inclusive: The service will offer a multilingual interface and features for accessibility, aiming to benefit diverse users including those with disabilities.
• Digital India Alignment: The initiative supports the Digital India vision for inclusive, transparent, and technology-enabled public service delivery.
• Competing with Private Giants: By leveraging a community-owned, cooperative model, Bharat Taxi offers an alternative to private players like Ola and Uber, aiming to empower both drivers and users on a national scale.

Van Rakshak Project

In News: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) recently released a report titled “Guardians of the Wild – Supporting India’s Frontline Forest Staff” celebrating 25 years of the Van Rakshak Project. The report highlights the crucial role of India’s forest protectors or Van Rakshaks, who safeguard the country’s biodiversity by patrolling over 1,100 protected areas and forests. 

About the Project: 

The Van Rakshak Project (VRP), also known as “Guardians of the Wild,” is an initiative launched by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in 2000 with support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The project aims to strengthen and support India’s frontline forest staff, known as Van Rakshaks, who protect and manage over 1,100 protected areas and numerous forests across the country.

Objectives and Features

• Training and Capacity Building: VRP provides training in wildlife crime prevention, law enforcement, conflict mitigation, wildlife monitoring, and rescue operations, thus enhancing the skills and effectiveness of forest guards.
• Equipping Forest Staff: The project supplies essential field gear and equipment such as backpacks, rain suits, torches, and water bottles to over 28,000 personnel to facilitate their work in challenging terrains.
• Accident Assurance Scheme: VRP offers a supplementary accident assurance scheme that provides financial aid to forest staff injured or killed in the line of duty, covering many temporary and daily-waged workers not protected under government schemes.
• Support during Emergencies: During the COVID-19 pandemic, VRP extended aid to families of forest staff who succumbed to the virus via a Conservation Heroes COVID Casualty Fund.
• Risk and Sacrifice: The Van Rakshaks work under dangerous conditions, facing threats from poachers, wildlife, accidents, and hostile environments, with India recording one of the highest global fatalities among forest personnel.

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