21.07.25 Current Affairs

One Liner Current Affairs

Polity and Governance

• Supreme Court emphasized that appointments to the Election Commission must follow the March 2023 ruling requiring a transparent process involving a high-level committee, not solely the executive.
• Centre has been criticized for delaying the implementation of court directives regarding electoral institution reforms.
• In West Bengal, the state government announced fresh recruitment for school teachers following controversy over alleged irregularities and previous court-mandated terminations.
• Centre is evaluating the proposal to establish All India Judicial Service (AIJS), aiming to standardize recruitment and reduce judicial vacancies, though states remain divided.

Social Issues and Welfare

• Reports highlight the significant shortage of medical personnel in rural areas, particularly in tribal districts, with high doctor-to-population disparities.
• Nutrition levels among children in urban slums remain below national average despite mid-day meal coverage, raising concerns about food quality and monitoring.
• State governments have been asked to submit action plans for improving Anganwadi infrastructure under the Saksham Anganwadi Scheme.

International Affairs and Diplomacy

• India reiterated its support for a peaceful resolution in Sudan during a UN debate, calling for regional consultations and African Union leadership in peace-building.
• China’s military drills near Taiwan again raised security concerns in the Indo-Pacific, with India monitoring developments under its Act East and SAGAR strategies.
• India is reportedly in talks with the EU for regulatory convergence on digital data transfers to facilitate secure cross-border services and compliance with GDPR norms.

Economy and Infrastructure

• The Reserve Bank of India stated that inflation control remains its primary objective despite growing calls for rate cuts amid signs of slowing consumer demand.
• The government is exploring options to accelerate disinvestment in select public sector undertakings, with a focus on logistics and energy sectors.
• A draft policy proposes simplified approval mechanisms for urban metro rail projects to reduce delays and ensure financial sustainability.

Environment and Climate

• Heavy rains continued across parts of North India, with Yamuna crossing danger levels again in Delhi, prompting flood alerts and evacuation plans.
• Experts warn of unplanned urban expansion in flood-prone areas, pointing to the lack of enforcement of urban development control norms and inadequate stormwater systems.
• A study revealed that India’s eastern coastal wetlands have seen a 28% reduction in area since 1990 due to land conversion and infrastructure development.

Science and Technology

• ISRO announced that the Aditya-L1 mission is on track for Lagrange Point-1 insertion, expected to enhance India’s solar observation capabilities significantly.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) confirmed successful low-altitude tests of a newly developed loitering munition system for precise target engagement.

Miscellaneous / Places in News

• The village of Gajoldoba in West Bengal, originally a minor irrigation project site, is emerging as a major eco-tourism and bird-watching destination.
• In Kerala, community-led water conservation projects in Wayanad and Idukki were acknowledged for effective local resource management during monsoons.

Internal Security and Cybercrime

• A major digital arrest scam in West Bengal resulted in over ₹100 crore being extorted from more than 100 victims using fake police impersonations and threats.
• Victims were tricked into transferring money under the pretense of being under investigation for crimes like identity theft or money laundering.
• The Centre has responded through institutional mechanisms like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), and suspect databases.
• Citizens can now check suspected numbers via cybercrime.gov.in and are advised not to share personal info or panic in such situations.
• The scam highlights the jurisdictional divide: ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects, while the Centre provides advisory and financial support.

Science and Technology – Quantum Cybersecurity

• The Ministry of Electronics and IT, along with CERT-In, released a whitepaper titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness”.
• Quantum cyber threats include “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” (HNDL) attacks—where encrypted data is stored now and decrypted using future quantum computers.
• Two main strategies are:
  • Post-Quantum Cryptography: Algorithms resilient to quantum attacks.
  • Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Uses quantum mechanics for unbreakable encryption.
• India’s roadmap includes identifying vulnerable assets, upgrading infrastructure, phased rollouts, and continuous monitoring.

Role of Social Institutions in Nation Building

• Lok Sabha Speaker highlighted the vital contribution of social organizations to national development.
• Institutions like family, religion, education, and NGOs transmit values, moral behavior, and civic responsibility.
• NGOs play an instrumental role in policy advocacy (e.g., RTI Act), gender empowerment (e.g., SEWA), service delivery (e.g., Pratham), and electoral reform (e.g., ADR).
• Social organizations bridge the gap between government and communities, helping build inclusive and democratic societies.

Governance and Regulation – Cryptocurrencies

• The US introduced the Genius Act to regulate stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar.
• Stablecoins offer lower volatility and operational efficiency in digital transactions compared to traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
• In India:
  • Crypto assets remain unregulated, but taxation provisions were added via the Finance Act, 2022 (30% tax on Virtual Digital Assets).
  • Crypto assets now fall under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 for oversight.

Defence and Strategic Technology

• Netra MkII, India’s advanced Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS), will be built on the Airbus A321 platform.
• It will feature state-of-the-art radar and control systems and serve as an airborne command centre.
• India has also approached the US for co-production of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, known for their fire-and-forget capability and battlefield agility.

Economy – Price Indices and Labour

• Labour Bureau revised the base year of Consumer Price Index for Agricultural and Rural Labourers (CPI-AL & RL) to 2019=100.
• These indices track price changes for items consumed by agricultural and rural workers and are crucial for wage revisions and policy decisions.
• Earlier, the index was based on 1986–87, making the update more representative of current consumption patterns.

Administration and Reforms

• The government notified Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules, 2025, regulating uranium and thorium mining in offshore regions.
• Only government-nominated entities can obtain exploration or production leases; foreign players require prior approvals.
• India’s uranium deposits are of lower grade and limited, while thorium (found in monazite sands of Kerala and Odisha) is abundant.

Civil Services Capacity Building

• The Union government launched NSCSTI 2.0 (National Standards for Civil Services Training Institutes) to modernize training for bureaucrats.
• Developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) under Mission Karmayogi, the framework emphasizes digital integration, inclusivity, and measurable outcomes.

International Relations and Global Governance

• India reaffirmed its commitment to the ‘Pact for the Future’, adopted at the UN’s Summit of the Future in 2024.
• The pact focuses on digital cooperation, sustainable development, youth engagement, peace, and reforming global governance mechanisms.
• India advocates equitable representation and digital sovereignty in such multilateral efforts.

Technology and Innovation

• ESA and UK firm Frazer-Nash launched INVICTUS, a reusable hypersonic aerospace project targeting Mach 5 speeds.
• The vehicle aims to demonstrate hydrogen-fueled air-breathing propulsion and modular test systems for hypersonic aviation.

Welfare and Digital Governance

• Concerns have been raised about the manipulation of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App, used in MGNREGA for attendance recording.
• Issues include photo duplication, poor connectivity, and technical glitches, raising questions on transparency and inclusion in rural schemes.

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Revival Boosting India-China Ties

Context: Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong has expressed optimism over the revival of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, stating it could give new momentum to India-China relations. His remarks come amid continuing military and diplomatic engagement after the prolonged stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and efforts to restore normalcy.

Key Highlights:

• Border Management Talks: China is open to refining border management and control rules with India post the LAC stand-off to ensure sustainable peace.
• Kailash Manasarovar Yatra: The pilgrimage is expected to “inject new impetus” into bilateral ties; both governments and airlines are working to resume direct flights for pilgrims.
• SCO Engagement: China highlighted high-level Indian participation in recent SCO meetings as a positive signal for improving ties.
• On Operation Sindoor & Pakistan: Xu rejected Indian concerns over China’s support to Pakistan, saying China-Pakistan ties do not target third parties, and warned against politicising issues like the Dalai Lama’s successor.
• On the SCO Terror Statement: China sidestepped India’s concerns about the Pahalgam attack not being mentioned in the SCO statement, urging members to avoid bringing bilateral conflicts into multilateral forums.
• India-Pakistan-China Trilateral Talks: Xu denied China was attempting to sideline India in South Asia, stating India was welcome in regional initiatives like the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan or China-Pakistan-Afghanistan platforms.
• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Despite India’s opposition to BRI, China claimed that South Asia–China trade doubled from less than $100 billion to $200 billion over 12 years.

Conclusion:

While border tensions remain a sensitive issue, the Chinese envoy’s remarks reflect an attempt to reset diplomatic engagement through people-to-people initiatives like the Yatra and economic cooperation. However, contentious issues such as China’s strategic ties with Pakistan and border intrusions will continue to test the relationship.

Why Our Brain Takes the Easy Way Out

Context: A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that cognitive fatigue doesn’t just affect focus—it changes how we make decisions, leading the brain to prefer easier tasks even if they offer lower rewards. This helps explain why we often avoid effort after mental strain.

Key Highlights:

• What is Cognitive Fatigue?
  • It builds up from sustained mental effort, even during non-physical tasks.
  • Common in daily activities like working long hours or focusing intensely.
• Study Setup:
  • Volunteers performed a memory task repeatedly, which grew harder over time.
  • Once fatigued, participants chose easier tasks for less reward, unlike when they were rested.
• Brain Regions Involved:
  • Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (dlPFC): Linked with mental fatigue.
  • Right Anterior Insula: Evaluates whether effort is worth the reward.
  • These two areas interact to recalculate the cost of effort under fatigue.
• Key Findings:
  • Fatigue did not lower performance but changed choices—people avoided harder tasks.
  • Suggests the brain prioritizes energy-saving decisions even when capable of doing more.
• Wider Implications:
  • Explains everyday choices—why we pick the couch over a workout.
  • Could apply to physical tasks too: cognitive fatigue may lead to choosing physically easier actions.
• Clinical Relevance:
  • Fatigue is a symptom in disorders like MS, depression, stroke, and anxiety.
  • Understanding neural patterns may lead to better management strategies for these conditions.
• Advice for Daily Life:
  • Take regular mental breaks to reset fatigue.
  • Reframe tasks to make them seem less effortful.

Conclusion:

Mental fatigue isn’t just tiredness—it reshapes our effort-reward calculations and choices. The brain, when exhausted, avoids anything that seems hard—even if it’s beneficial. Recognising this can help us manage decisions better and build smarter work-rest cycles.

International Moon Day

Context: International Moon Day, observed annually on July 20, commemorates the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, marking the first human step on the lunar surface. Recognised by the United Nations in 2021, it promotes peaceful and cooperative lunar exploration globally.

Key Highlights:

• Apollo 11 Legacy: Celebrates the first Moon landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969.
• UN Recognition: Declared by the UN General Assembly in 2021 following a proposal from the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
• Global Participation: Encourages international cooperation and collective progress in space exploration.
• Educational Outreach: Activities include sky-gazing, exhibitions, lectures, and science competitions to engage youth in space science.
• Sustainability Focus: Promotes sustainable practices in space and responsible use of lunar resources.
• Date Controversy: Some debate exists as Armstrong’s first step occurred on July 21 (UTC), though July 20 remains officially recognised.
• Inclusivity Concerns: Some critics question whether a date tied to an American achievement truly represents a global perspective.
• Ongoing Relevance: Serves as a platform to inspire curiosity, celebrate scientific achievement, and emphasize peaceful space exploration.

PM Visit to the U.K. and the Maldives

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26 to strengthen bilateral ties, unveil a major India-U.K. trade deal, and attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives as the Guest of Honour.

Key Highlights:

India–U.K. Visit

• Purpose: Unveiling of the India–U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) announced on May 6, 2025.
• Meetings:
  • Bilateral talks with British PM Keir Starmer on strategic, trade, and global issues.
  • Audience with King Charles III.
• Agreement Status:
  • Negotiations began in 2022 but were delayed due to U.K. political changes.
  • British govt. calls it the most economically significant bilateral trade deal.
• Focus Areas:
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) covering:
    • Trade and Economy
    • Technology and Innovation
    • Defence and Security
    • Climate and Health
    • Education and cultural ties

India–Maldives Visit

• Dates: July 25–26
• Occasion: Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations; PM Modi to attend as Guest of Honour.
• Engagements:
  • Talks with President Mohamed Muizzu on regional maritime security and economic cooperation.
  • Review of the India–Maldives Joint Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership (signed in October 2024).

Nepal PM Oli to Visit India

Context: Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli is scheduled to visit India in mid-September, marking a key diplomatic step after he chose China for his first foreign visit last year. The upcoming visit aims to recalibrate ties amid speculation of strained relations with New Delhi.

Key Highlights:

• Nepal’s Foreign Ministry confirmed PM Oli’s visit is in preparation for mid-September.
• Tentative date set for September 16; visit likely to last two days.
• This will be Oli’s first official trip to India since assuming office in July 2024.
• He previously broke tradition by visiting China first in December 2024.
• Visit follows media reports suggesting India had not invited Oli, hinting at sour ties.
• Oli clarified that groundwork is in progress from both sides, without giving a specific date.

India’s UN Abstentions Hit Record High

Context: India’s pattern of abstaining in United Nations votes has reached its highest level ever, with 44% of annual votes cast as abstentions in 2025 — a strategic shift attributed to rising global polarisation and the increasing complexity of UN resolutions.

Key Highlights:

• India’s annual UN ‘yes’ vote share dropped to 56% in 2025, lowest since 1955.
• Abstentions rose to 44%, the highest in India’s voting history at the UN.
• Shift in voting trends began around 2019, marking a significant deviation from past patterns.
• Between 1970–1994, India’s ‘yes’ votes were stable (74–96%), with abstentions between 8–19%.
• From the mid-1990s to 2019, abstentions remained stable (10–17%) before the recent surge.
• Former diplomats cite global power polarisation and multi-issue resolutions as reasons.
• T.S. Tirumurti noted that abstention gives India space to take nuanced positions.
• Syed Akbaruddin highlighted the rise of “Christmas tree” resolutions — containing mixed provisions — making abstention a pragmatic diplomatic tool.
• Abstentions now reflect India’s attempt to balance diplomacy and strategic autonomy without taking rigid sides.Top of Form

Cadaver Dogs to Aid in Disaster Recovery

Context: For the first time, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is training cadaver dogs to detect human remains during rescue operations, aiming to bring closure to families after disasters.

Key Highlights:

• NDRF is training its first batch of cadaver dogs to locate dead bodies in disaster zones.
• Around six dogs, mostly Belgian Malinois and Labradors, are under training in Arakkonam (TN) and Ghaziabad (UP).
• Special synthetic scent resembling decomposing human remains has been imported for training purposes.
• Traditionally, NDRF focused on searching for survivors during the “golden hour” of rescue.
• Shift in approach acknowledges that retrieving bodies is also crucial for emotional closure of families.
• Trained cadaver dogs will enhance the effectiveness of post-disaster recovery operations.