Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 02-08-2025

Precision Farming: Space tech enables real-time monitoring of crop health and soil conditions, allowing for targeted irrigation and fertilizer application. This reduces waste and improves yields.

Weather & Climate Management: Satellite data enhances weather forecasting, helping farmers plan activities and adapt to climate change impacts.

Resource Optimization: Satellites assist in managing water resources, monitoring drought conditions, mapping soil, and preventing land degradation.

Accurate Yield Forecasting: Programs like FASAL use remote sensing for precise crop production forecasts, vital for food grain procurement, insurance schemes (like PMFBY), and disaster planning.

Pest & Disease Detection: Advanced satellite data can identify early signs of crop issues, minimizing losses and reducing reliance on chemicals.

Drought Monitoring: Systems like NADAMS utilize satellite indicators to monitor drought in real-time, aiding in relief efforts and contingency planning.

Decision Support Systems: Platforms like Krishi-DSS integrate geospatial data and AI to provide farmers and policymakers with actionable insights for better agricultural management.

Government Initiatives: India actively uses space technology through programs like FASAL, CHAMAN, and NADAMS to deliver agricultural services, improve crop assessment, and support schemes like PMFBY.

GP-Level Yield Estimation: Initiatives like YESTECH are rolling out technology-based yield estimations at the Gram Panchayat level for paddy, wheat, and soybean to ensure timely and transparent crop insurance claims.

ISRO to launch BlueBird Block 2 satellite: India’s ISRO will use its LVM3 rocket to launch a communications satellite developed by U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile.

• Why: This mission highlights India’s growing role in commercial satellite launches and strengthens space cooperation with the U.S.

Objective: Direct mobile connectivity: The BlueBird satellite aims to provide mobile voice and internet services directly to smartphones, even in areas without traditional cell towers.

• Why: This technology will significantly enhance global connectivity, particularly in remote regions, aiding disaster response, education, and healthcare delivery.

Advanced Technology: The satellite features a large antenna (around 64 sq. meters) enabling near-total geographic coverage.

• Why: This large antenna is crucial for achieving the objective of widespread connectivity in underserved areas.

India’s Growing Commercial Space Presence: This launch demonstrates India’s increasing influence and capabilities in offering commercial satellite launch services globally.

• Why: It signifies ISRO’s strategic positioning as a key player in the international commercial space market.

• Why it’s news: This association is causing significant damage, including leaf fall and trunk drying, leading to economic losses for India, a major rubber producer.

• Why it’s news: This systemic infection is difficult to control, as fungi spread internally and resist typical treatments.

• Why it’s news: The widespread potential impact extends beyond rubber to other crucial agricultural and forest resources.

• Why it’s news: The threat is not just agricultural but also a potential public health concern.

• Why it’s news: This highlights a dynamic and evolving threat that could become more severe.

• Why it’s news: Current control methods are limited, and once systemic, saving infected plants is difficult.

• Why it’s news: Research is ongoing to find effective and sustainable solutions for this complex issue.

• Reform entrance exams to include all key school subjects (languages, humanities, ethics, reasoning).
• Uniformly enforce NEP, especially regarding medium of instruction and curriculum.
• Regulate misleading early branding by private schools (e.g., Class 1 IIT/NEET training).
• Upgrade government school infrastructure, teacher support, and digital tools.
• Strengthen community participation through School Management Committees.
• Advertise government school success stories to rebuild public trust.

• Why in News: This marks India’s first resolution at a Ramsar COP and was enthusiastically supported by 172 member parties.

• Promotes Sustainable Lifestyles: It advocates for a “whole-of-society” approach, emphasizing the role of individual and societal choices in wetland conservation.
• Aligns with Global Frameworks: It builds upon UN Environment Assembly Resolution 6/8 and supports the 10-Year Framework on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), as well as Ramsar Resolution XIV.8 on the CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation, Awareness) approach for wetlands.
• Mission LiFE Linkage: The resolution is directly linked to India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), promoting pro-planet behavior and conscious consumption.
• Focus on Behavioral Change: It encourages actions like waste reduction and minimizing environmental degradation.
• Integration into Wetland Plans: It urges the voluntary integration of sustainable lifestyle interventions into wetland management plans and investments.
• Enabling Conditions: It calls for fostering public-private collaboration, education, and awareness initiatives to empower citizens for informed choices.

• Victoria Falls Declaration: Emphasized political commitment and increased investment in wetland management.
• 13 Resolutions Adopted: Including strengthening flyway conservation, establishing the Global Waterbird Estimates Partnership, and protecting species like river dolphins. A resolution on wetland restoration was also adopted.
• Refined Designation Criteria: Criteria for Wetlands of International Importance were updated using IUCN Red List data.
• Recognition of Indigenous Knowledge: The role of local communities and indigenous knowledge in wetland management was acknowledged.
• 5th Ramsar Strategic Plan: A new strategic plan with four goals and 18 targets was adopted.

• Bypass the Special Marriage Act’s 30-day public notice requirement.
• Circumvent anti-conversion laws, especially when conversion rituals are not fully completed.
• Facilitate marriages involving minors or those without valid consent, particularly in interfaith unions.

Brutal Incidents: Five family members, including three women, killed in Purnia, Bihar, over witchcraft accusations (July 2024). Over 2,500 women killed as witches since 2000, many cases unreported.

Nature of Witch-Hunting: Accusing individuals, mostly women, of witchcraft, leading to severe physical/mental torture, rape, beating, flogging, and execution. Jharkhand leads in reported witch-related murders (593 between 2001-2021).

Root Causes:

• Superstition & Ignorance: Belief in magical powers, lack of knowledge in remote, isolated areas.
• Socio-Economic Factors: Poverty, vulnerability, refusal of sexual relations, financial/property disputes, jealousy.
• Patriarchy & Gendered Violence: Targeting widowed, elderly, or single women seen as obstacles to inheritance/land, a tool for male control and punishing defiance of gender roles.

Intersectionality:

• Caste: Dominant castes target lower-caste and tribal women to maintain social hierarchies.
• Tribal Beliefs: Traditional spiritual beliefs distorted by modernization, land dispossession, and exploitation, used by powerful to disempower women.

Legal & Governance Gaps:

• Existing Laws: IPC Sections 302, 323, 506 invoked; state-level Anti-Witch-Hunting Laws exist (Assam, Jharkhand, etc.) but are insufficient.
• Implementation Issues: Cases treated as “local cultural matters,” low conviction rates, poor victim rehabilitation, community complicity, fear/acceptance preventing reporting.
• Need for Central Law: Current laws focus on punishment, not eradicating beliefs; Prevention of Witch Hunting Bill 2016 lapsed.

Constitutional & International Violations: Violates Articles 14, 15(3), 21 of the Indian Constitution and international human rights conventions. UNHRC resolution calls for criminalization, awareness, and tackling root causes.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen Enforcement: Fast-track courts, mandatory FIRs.
• Public Awareness: Spread scientific temper, community sensitization.
• Structural Reforms: Improve healthcare, empower local bodies (SMCs, Panchayats, SHGs).
• Victim Support: Safe shelters, medical/psychological aid, economic rehabilitation.
• Political Will: Treat as gender-based violence, ensure political accountability.

Central Government to Form High-Level Committee: The Union Government will form a committee to resolve disputes between Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana concerning the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and other Krishna-Godavari water-sharing issues.

• Why in News: This decision follows a meeting between AP CM Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, addressing ongoing water-sharing conflicts.

Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP):

• Objective: To divert 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwaters to the Krishna and Penna river basins to alleviate water scarcity in the Rayalaseema region.
• Mechanism: Water from Polavaram Dam will be diverted via Prakasam Barrage, lifted to Bollapalli reservoir, and tunneled through Nallamala forest to Banakacherla reservoir.
• Significance: Enhances irrigation, drinking water supply, and agricultural sustainability in southern AP.

Key Disputes & Telangana’s Objections:

• Violation of 2014 Act: Telangana alleges AP bypassed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which requires Apex Council, KRMB, and CWC approval for inter-state projects.
• Disputed Surplus Water: Telangana questions AP’s claim of 200 TMC “surplus” Godavari water, stating it’s not adjudicated.
• Unauthorised Diversion: Telangana objects to diverting Godavari water to the Krishna basin without mutual consent, fearing reduced availability for its projects.
• Breach of Cooperative Federalism: Telangana views AP’s unilateral actions as a violation of cooperative federalism.

Agreed Measures:

• Telemetry Systems: Both states agreed to install telemetry systems at all water projects for real-time water usage monitoring.
• Srisailam Project Repairs: AP agreed to undertake repairs of the Srisailam project.
• KRMB Office Shift: The KRMB office will be shifted to Vijayawada/Amravati.
• Committee Formation: A committee of senior officials and technical experts from both states and the Centre will be formed to study concerns and suggest solutions.

• Why: Celebrates excellence in Indian cinema.

• Why: Recognition for leading roles. Shah Rukh Khan’s first National Award after 33 years.

• Why: Recognition for her performance; her first National Award.

• Why: Awarded for directing excellence.

• Why: Highlights the best Hindi language film.

• Why: Recognizes films that entertain a wide audience. Vaibhavi Merchant won for choreography in this film.

• Why: Honours films with important social messages.

• Why: Recognizes excellence in non-feature filmmaking.

• Why: Acknowledges quality documentary filmmaking.

• Why: Recognizes advancements in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics.

Key Provisions Effective August 1, 2025: The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, with its 19 amendments across five core banking laws, will come into force.

Enhanced Bank Governance: The Act aims to improve overall governance standards in the Indian banking sector.

Revised ‘Substantial Interest’ Threshold: The limit to define ‘substantial interest’ for directors has been increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore, reflecting current economic realities and addressing potential conflicts of interest.

Cooperative Bank Reforms: Director tenures in cooperative banks are extended from 8 to 10 years (excluding chairperson and whole-time directors), aligning with the 97th Constitutional Amendment for better governance continuity.

Investor Protection and Fund Transparency: Public sector banks can now transfer unclaimed shares, interest, and bond redemption amounts to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), mirroring Companies Act norms for greater transparency.

Improved Audit Quality in PSBs: Public sector banks are empowered to determine and offer remuneration to statutory auditors, attracting quality professionals and enhancing audit standards.

Strengthened Depositor Protection: The amendments contribute to enhanced safeguarding of depositors and investors.

Modernized Regulatory Framework: The Act modernizes and strengthens the legal and regulatory framework for the Indian banking sector.