02.08.25 Current Affairs

ONE LINER CURRENT AFFAIRS

National Affairs

• The Supreme Court intervened in the Telangana MLA disqualification case, setting a 3-month deadline for the Speaker’s decision.
• The judgment criticized prolonged delays in disqualification petitions, calling them “constitutional subversions.”
• Court urged Parliament to amend the Tenth Schedule to create an independent tribunal instead of the Speaker.
• Lok Sabha nominated new members to the Panel of Chairpersons to preside in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
• Government emphasized the need for timely action on anti-defection matters, hinting at likely constitutional amendments.
• India faces new food security challenges, with the Food Ministry reviewing food subsidy disbursal mechanisms.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission implementation began at Kandla with the commissioning of a 1MW green hydrogen plant.
• A new white paper on the Blue Economy outlines a roadmap till 2035, proposing institutional reforms and blue bond financing.
• Legal Aid and NALSA services underperformed in 2023-24, despite 80% of India being eligible, highlighted in the India Justice Report 2025.
• The government approved ₹6,520 crore for the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to enhance food processing infrastructure.

International Relations

• The U.S. sanctioned 6 Indian companies for continuing trade with Iran, violating U.S. secondary sanctions.
• The move reflects increasing pressure on Indian firms navigating global compliance between U.S. and regional trade.
• India expressed diplomatic concerns, asserting the need for balanced foreign policy autonomy.
• The sanctions came amid global tensions over oil trade, nuclear non-compliance, and sanctions evasion.
• Affected firms include energy, shipping, and financial services linked to Iran’s Chabahar port development.
• India defended the Chabahar port project as crucial for Afghanistan’s connectivity and regional stability.
• Sanctions add complexity to India’s foreign trade under the “Act West” Policy.
• U.S. Treasury warned of broader implications if firms “facilitate Iran’s strategic sectors.”
• MEA spokesperson reiterated that India’s actions comply with UNSC mandates, not unilateral regimes.
• Dialogue mechanisms proposed between the India-U.S. Treasury Departments to address future compliance issues.

Environment and Climate

• India ramped up mangrove restoration across Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Mumbai under MISHTI and other state initiatives.
• Mangroves help absorb tidal surges, act as carbon sinks, and provide livelihood to coastal communities.
• Tamil Nadu doubled mangrove cover from 4,500 to 9,000 ha through canal and estuary work.
• Gujarat leads MISHTI with 19,000 ha of mangroves planted in 2 years.
• Mumbai’s Thane Creek project aims to intercept 150 tonnes of plastic over 3 years.
• Local women’s involvement in seed planting integrates gender with ecosystem protection.
• Climate threats to mangroves include sea-level rise, plastic pollution, and invasive species like Prosopis juliflora.
• Mangroves are recognized as essential buffers during disasters like the 2004 tsunami and cyclones Amphan and Fani.
• India called for integrating mangroves into urban flood mitigation and smart city design.
• The Environment Ministry proposed blue carbon accounting using drones and satellite mapping of mangrove health.

Science and Technology

• India commissioned its first 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at Kandla Port under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Plant to produce 140 MT of green hydrogen annually using renewable-powered electrolysis.
• Hydrogen has applications in steel production, refineries, fertilizers, and mobility.
• Cost remains a challenge at $4–6 per kg; the government proposes tax cuts, incentives, and cheap green finance.
• Storage hurdles include the need for cryogenic tanks and pressurized vessels.
• Hydrogen electrolysis consumes ~48 kWh of electricity/kg, and requires ~9 litres of water/kg.
• India aims to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
• The SIGHT program under the mission will support electrolyzer manufacturing and pilot projects.
• Satellite internet was boosted as Starlink received Indian approval to operate in rural and remote zones.
• Satellite broadband seen as key for disaster zones, remote military posts, IoT, telemedicine, and education.

Governance and Public Policy

• SC ruling in Padi Kaushik Reddy v. Telangana emphasized urgency in adjudicating anti-defection petitions.
• Recommended an independent tribunal for quicker and unbiased resolution.
• Legal aid delivery under NALSA found to be sub-optimal—only 15.5 lakh beneficiaries in 2023–24.
• Budget utilization fell from 75% to 59%, leading to poor access in rural and tribal areas.
• Only 1 legal aid clinic per 163 villages—raising concerns of access and quality.
• PLVs (Para Legal Volunteers) declined by 38% between 2019 and 24.
• New framework proposed to digitize NALSA tracking and performance.
• Cabinet approved outlay to NCDC to support cooperatives in credit, modernization, and capacity expansion.
• Lok Sabha nominated a new Panel of Chairpersons under Rule 9 to assist in legislative functioning.
• White Paper on Blue Economy proposes PPPs, inter-ministerial coordination, and decentralized governance.

Economy and Finance

• ₹2,000 crore Grant-in-Aid Scheme approved for National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
• Aims to mobilize ₹20,000 crore from the open market for credit to women-led and agri-cooperatives.
• PMKSY outlay increased to ₹6,520 crore for 2021–26 under 15th Finance Commission cycle.
• New projects include 50 Food Irradiation Units and 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Labs.
• These labs enhance food safety and reduce post-harvest losses.
• India’s Blue Economy roadmap aims for investments in marine fisheries, seaweed farming, and coastal tourism.
• Key reforms include blue bonds, blended finance, and private equity in coastal infrastructure.
• White paper aligns Blue Economy with Viksit Bharat 2047 growth goals.
• Starlink’s entry creates a new investment arena in satellite telecom and broadband.
• India needs ~$1 billion investment in green hydrogen infrastructure by 2030 to meet emission targets.

Social and Cultural Issues

• Legal Aid services (NALSA) showed inequity in access, with poor tribal and rural penetration.
• Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojana launched to support women-led cooperatives with cheap credit.
• Nandini Sahakar Yojana promotes capacity building and business model development for women.
• Both schemes target SHGs, PACS, DCCBs, and small women entrepreneurs.
• Blue Economy White Paper supports Odisha’s women-led seaweed cooperatives as a best practice.
• MISHTI mangrove projects employed coastal women in conservation and reforestation.
• PMKSY and NCDC schemes aim to bridge rural economic gaps through cooperative empowerment.
• Satellite broadband expected to reduce the rural–urban digital divide.
• NALSA began legal literacy clubs in colleges to build early rights awareness.
• Fisheries and coastal projects emphasized livelihood-security linkages with vulnerable communities.

Defence and Strategic Affairs

• Green Hydrogen commissioned at Kandla Port, a strategic port used by the Navy and logistics agencies.
• Satellite broadband (Starlink) supports military connectivity in high-altitude areas like Siachen.
• Starlink’s global coverage is seen as disaster-proof communication for armed forces.
• Blue Economy paper mentions the need for coastal security modernization and shipbuilding capacity enhancement.
• Climate change threats like cyclone-induced port damage are linked to strategic preparedness.
• Mangroves are highlighted as a natural defense during cyclones and tsunamis.
• Port modernization under Blue Economy aligns with maritime domain awareness goals.
• Satellite internet enhances real-time border surveillance and AI-based threat detection.
• PMKSY infrastructure, including irradiation and cold chain tech, relevant for food supply in military logistics.
• SC’s insistence on swift anti-defection rulings ensures political stability critical for strategic policymaking.

Art and Culture

• Vaishnav poet Tulsidas is remembered on his 500th birth anniversary.
• Real name: Rambola Dubey; born in Banda (UP); contemporary of Emperor Akbar.
• Wrote Ramcharitmanas, a vernacular retelling of Valmiki Ramayana in Awadhi.
• His works popularized the Bhakti movement philosophy in North India.
• Composed Hanuman Chalisa, a widely recited devotional hymn.
• Propagated Nirguna–Saguna Bhakti traditions, emphasizing devotion over ritual.
• Tulsidas’ poetry contributed to the cultural unification of Hindi-speaking regions.
• Legacy continues through temples, folk performances, and Ramlila enactments.
• Recognized as a cultural bridge between Sanskritic and vernacular religious traditions.

Infrastructure

• PMKSY invests ₹1,000 crore in 50 multi-product food irradiation units to reduce waste and extend shelf-life.
• ₹6,520 crore outlay will upgrade agri-supply chains and food preservation infrastructure.
• 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Labs planned under PMKSY’s FSQAI component.
• NCDC funds for cooperatives will support rural infra development, especially in agri-processing.
• Kandla’s Green Hydrogen Plant adds renewable energy infrastructure to a major maritime hub.
• Starlink’s license allows expansion of digital infrastructure in remote areas.
• Gujarat’s Thane Creek mangrove project includes eco-tourism and visitor infrastructure development.
• Satellite internet enhances digital governance platforms in infrastructure planning.
• NCDC aims to support infrastructure in cold chains, agri-logistics, and fisheries.
• Blue Economy policy includes smart ports and eco-friendly maritime infrastructure.

Geography

• Kandla Port – location of India’s first Green Hydrogen Plant; critical maritime hub in Gujarat.
• Starlink satellites orbit in Low Earth Orbit (~550 km), enabling low-latency coverage.
• Mangrove zones mapped in Sundarbans, Mahanadi, Godavari, and the Gulf of Kutch.
• Coastal ecosystem threats detailed for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• CR blood group discovered in Bengaluru, Karnataka – adds medical geography relevance.
• Mangrove hotspots like Pichavaram, Muthupettai have been identified for community conservation.
• Thane Creek in Mumbai is targeted for biodiversity restoration and plastic waste interception.
• Coastal tourism to be expanded in Andaman & Nicobar, Kochi, and Odisha.
• Satellite internet proposed in border areas and Himalayan zones for disaster resilience.
• India’s 11,098 km coastline and 2.4 million sq. km EEZ are vital for Blue Economy growth.

Places in the News

• Kandla Port (Gujarat) – first site for green hydrogen generation in India.
• Banda, UP – birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas.
• Mumbai – Thane Creek – mangrove reforestation and plastic waste control.
• Gulf of Kutch – one of India’s key mangrove zones.
• Chabahar Port (Iran) – Indian-linked companies sanctioned over trade.
• Bengaluru – discovery site of a new rare blood group ‘CRIB’.
• Odisha – women-led seaweed farming model for Blue Economy reforms.
• Andaman Islands – projected site for eco-tourism under the Blue Economy roadmap.
• Kochi – smart port development proposed.
• Muthupettai Estuary (TN) – successful mangrove restoration site.

History and Heritage

• Tulsidas’ 500th birth anniversary brings focus on the Bhakti Movement and vernacular literature.
• Ramcharitmanas symbolizes devotional Hindu revival under Mughal rule.
• His work shows literary continuity from Valmiki to vernacular Bhakti saints.
• Promoted Rama-centric devotion and cultural cohesion in medieval North India.
• His poetry is linked to folk traditions like Ramlila and Chaupai recitation.
• Tulsidas integrated philosophical elements from Upanishads, Yoga, and Vaishnavism.
• Celebrated in modern India via cultural programs and literary festivals.
• Incorporated into India’s soft power diplomacy with Southeast Asia.
• Important for understanding the cultural synthesis of the medieval Indo-Islamic era.
• Legacy kept alive through temples like Tulsi Ghat and Hanuman Garhi in Varanasi.

India’s commitment to its “Neighbourhood First” policy

Context: Prime Minister visit to the Maldives for its 60th Independence Day marks a revival of strong bilateral ties, reaffirming India’s commitment to its “Neighbourhood First” policy amid shifting geopolitical and regional challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Reset in India-Maldives Relations:
  • Visit follows strained ties due to the “India Out” campaign and “Boycott Maldives” response.
  • Relations improved after President Muizzu’s 2024 visit to India and economic cooperation announcements.
• Major Economic Support to Maldives:
  • India extended a new $565 million line of credit and reduced the Maldives’ debt burden on earlier loans by 40%.
  • Currency swap agreement and new digital rupee-rufiyaa payments system launched.
• Future Economic and Strategic Ties:
  • India-Maldives FTA negotiations initiated, expected to enhance trade and integration.
  • MoUs signed in fisheries, pharma, meteorology, and digital solutions.
• Strengthening Regional Security Partnerships:
  • India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral cooperation reaffirmed.
  • Back-to-back visits of Sri Lankan and Indian leaders signal regional coordination.
• Neighbourhood First Policy in Focus:
  • Maldives visit comes amid regional tensions (Pakistan, Bangladesh) and global conflicts (Ukraine, Gaza).
  • India preparing to host Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli, indicating renewed regional diplomacy.
• Symbolic and Cultural Messaging:
  • Maldives’ commemorative stamp featuring Indian and Maldivian boats signifies shared heritage.
  • PM Modi hailed the image as a symbol of joint progress and partnership.
• Strategic Implication:
  • As global disruptions continue, regional economic and developmental support becomes crucial for strategic stability.
  • India’s engagement with its immediate neighbours is seen as balancing global uncertainty with regional outreach.

Digital Sector Ignored in FTA Discourse

Context: The India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (CETA), hailed as a ‘gold standard’, has drawn criticism for undermining India’s digital sovereignty by conceding regulatory rights and strategic digital assets in a rapidly evolving sector.

Key Highlights:

• Digital Sector Ignored in FTA Discourse: While agriculture and manufacturing were prioritized, digital trade impacts — vital to India’s future — received no official or public scrutiny.
• Loss of Source Code Access Rights:
  • India gave up its right to demand ex ante access to source code, vital for regulatory and security oversight.
  • Contradicts India’s earlier position at WTO; even the U.S. has now backed off from such prohibitions.
• Broad and Permanent Impact:
  • The U.K. FTA prohibits source code access for all software, unlike U.S. deals that exempt critical infrastructure.
  • Limits India’s sovereign regulatory capacity for the foreseeable future.
• Open Government Data Giveaway:
  • India conceded non-discriminatory access to U.K. firms for “Open Government Data.”
  • Data, now the backbone of AI and digital economies, risks being exploited, undermining India’s own AI ambitions.
• Commitment to Data Flow and Localisation: Though India stood its ground on these, it agreed to consult and potentially extend similar terms if such concessions are made with others, weakening its negotiating leverage.
• Digital Concessions Hard to Reverse: Unlike tariff changes, digital rules are embedded into long-term regulatory architectures — almost impossible to roll back.
• Lack of Policy Backing: India lacks a coherent digital industrialization strategy, leaving negotiators without clear mandates or long-term vision.
• No Political Constituency for Digital Sovereignty: Digital rights lacked advocacy during talks, unlike sectors with strong political representation (e.g., farming, textiles).
• Urgent Need for Action:
  • India must draft a comprehensive digital sovereignty and industrialisation policy.
  • Future negotiations should involve experts with strategic oversight and proximity to political decision-makers.
• Strategic Warning: Author compares this misstep to India’s colonial-era industrial exploitation, risking digital subjugation in the 21st century.

25% Tariff on Indian Goods

Context: Despite U.S. threats of penalties over India’s energy ties with Russia, President Trump’s executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Indian goods exempts key sectors, including petroleum, pharma, and electronics, allowing fuel exports to continue unaffected.

Key Highlights:

• Petroleum Products Exempt from Tariff: Diesel, jet fuel, LNG, electricity, coal, and refined fuels exported from India to the U.S. remain duty-free.
• Trump’s 25% Tariff Announcement: The Tariff intended as a penalty for India’s trade with Russia, especially in energy and defence, but no specific penalty mechanism has yet been applied.
• Other Key Sectors Also Exempted: Pharmaceuticals (finished products and APIs), electronics, and ICT goods (e.g., semiconductors, smartphones) also escape the new tariff.
• Reliance Industries Major Beneficiary: India exported 4.86 million tonnes of petroleum products worth $4+ billion to the U.S. in FY 2024–25; Reliance is the top exporter.
• Russian Oil Imports Under Watch: India now imports 35–40% of its crude from Russia (up from just 0.2% pre-2022), triggering U.S. scrutiny.
• No Immediate Penalty for Russian Oil Trade: Although threatened, no penalty has been imposed yet for India’s imports of discounted Russian oil.
• Analysts Cautious but Relieved: Current tariff exemption brings short-term relief, but risk of future U.S. penalties remains open.
• India’s Changing Oil Trade Pattern: Shifted from traditional suppliers (Iraq, Saudi Arabia) to Russia post-Ukraine invasion, benefiting from discounted prices.

PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission

Context: ISRO has completed its failure analysis of the PSLV-C61/EOS-09 mission, which malfunctioned during the third stage in May 2025; the report will soon be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Key Highlights:

• Mission Overview: PSLV-C61 was launched on May 18, 2025, to place EOS-09 in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.
• Launch Performance: Lift-off and performance were normal till Stage 2; anomaly occurred during Stage 3, causing mission failure.
• Failure Identified: A “small” issue in the third stage has been pinpointed by the failure analysis committee.
• Report Submission: Final analysis report to be submitted soon to PM Modi, said ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.
• Significance of PSLV: The failure is notable as PSLV is ISRO’s most reliable launcher, often dubbed the “workhorse” of India’s space program.
• No Public Details Yet: Specific cause of failure not disclosed pending submission to the Prime Minister.