Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 18-07-2025

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Blackhole Merger

  • Largest Black Hole Merger Detected: Scientists have observed gravitational waves from the merger of the most massive black holes recorded to date.

    • Why it’s news: This event challenges existing theories as it involved black holes of unprecedented size (100-150 times the Sun’s mass) and a merged black hole 225 times the Sun’s mass. Such sizes were not previously expected to exist.

  • Spinning Black Hole: One of the merging black holes was observed spinning at extremely high speeds.

    • Why it’s news: This speed approached the theoretical limits predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, providing new data for testing these fundamental physics principles.

  • Impact on Theories: The discovery is expected to refine our understanding of how black holes form, how stars evolve, and the composition of the universe.

    • Why it’s news: It reveals gaps in current theories about stellar evolution that lead to the creation of these massive black holes.

  • Advancement in Detection: The detection was made possible by LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and its global collaborators (Virgo, KAGRA).

    • Why it’s news: The upcoming LIGO observatory in India, expected by April 2030, will further enhance global capabilities for detecting these cosmic events, which are indirect windows into the invisible universe.

History Textbook Shifts

  • Key Figures Removed: Raziyya Sultan and Nur Jahan have been omitted from the new Class 8 NCERT History textbook. Tipu Sultan and Haidar Ali are also gone.
  • Reason for Changes: NCERT states these changes align with the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework 2023, not older content structures.
  • Impact of Omissions: The removal of Raziyya Sultan, previously described as more able than her brothers, and Nur Jahan, who had coins and seals issued in her name, means no women rulers from the Delhi Sultanate or Mughal period are mentioned in the new book.
  • Key Figures Added: Rani Durgavati (Gond queen) and Tarabai (Maratha queen) have been included.
  • Significance of Additions: Rani Durgavati is recognized for resisting Akbar’s Mughal attacks. Tarabai is highlighted as a “fearless warrior queen” who resisted Aurangzeb, preserving Maratha sovereignty.
  • Context: Raziyya Sultan was the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, and Nur Jahan was highly influential in Mughal history, co-ruling with Jahangir and issuing decrees in her name.

US Eases China EDA: India Impact

  • US Eases EDA Restrictions on China: The US reversed its stringent controls on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software exports to China, allowing Chinese firms full access to critical chip design tools.

    • Why in News: This move occurred in exchange for China’s commitment to approve rare earth element exports to the US, significantly altering global semiconductor dynamics.

  • Implications for India:

    • Increased Competition: Chinese companies can now accelerate their chip design capabilities, intensifying competition for Indian firms aiming to establish themselves in the global market.
    • Opportunity for Diversification: The rapid reversal highlights the volatility of tech trade policies and the risks of over-dependence, encouraging multinational companies to diversify supply chains, which can benefit India as a stable alternative.
    • Boost for Indigenous Development: The episode underscores India’s reliance on foreign EDA tools, reinforcing the need to develop indigenous EDA capabilities for long-term self-reliance and strategic autonomy.
    • Attracting Investment: Companies seeking to de-risk from Chinese suppliers may increase investment in Indian capabilities and partnerships, potentially leading to premium pricing for trusted Indian suppliers.
    • Geopolitical Advantage: India’s position as a trusted partner for democratic nations, coupled with its growing ties with key semiconductor players, allows it to benefit from the global supply chain realignment.

  • India’s Semiconductor Ambitions:

    • Government Support: Initiatives like the Semicon India programme and the Design-linked Incentive (DLI) scheme aim to boost India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
    • Growth Potential: India’s semiconductor market is projected for significant expansion, driven by various sectors.
    • Need for Action: India must accelerate investments in domestic EDA tools, research, and workforce development to leverage current opportunities and avoid future technological dependence.

US Eases China EDA: India Impact

Plastic Treaty: Just Transition

  • Why in News: Global Plastics Treaty negotiations (UNEA resolution 5/14) highlight the need for a “Just Transition” ensuring environmental sustainability and social fairness in tackling plastic pollution. INC-5.1 in Busan emphasized stronger legal recognition for informal waste workers and vulnerable communities.

  • Critical Inclusion of ‘Just Transition’:

    • Ensures fairness and inclusivity by protecting workers and vulnerable communities during the shift to sustainable economies.
    • Aims to fix existing injustices and avoid creating new ones.
    • Promotes green jobs, retraining, and social protection, particularly for informal waste workers.

  • Protecting Workers:

    • Workers across the plastic value chain face job displacement as plastic bans and sustainable alternatives are promoted.
    • Informal waste pickers are crucial for recycling but lack recognition and legal protection.

  • Gaps in Draft Treaty:

    • Recognizes waste pickers but lacks binding protections and clear definitions for informal sectors.
    • Articles 8 & 9 encourage inclusion without mandating obligations.
    • Article 11 lacks financial support for Just Transition programs.
    • Without binding protections, waste pickers risk economic displacement; a clear framework is needed for inclusion, social protection, and retraining.

  • Country Stances:

    • India: Agrees with Just Transition but stresses alignment with national regulations and local contexts; advocates for clear treaty scope, avoiding overlaps with existing agreements, and adherence to Rio Declaration principles.
    • EU: Supports safe working conditions and legal recognition for informal workers.
    • PSIDS: Proposes inclusion of indigenous people and local communities.
    • US & African Group: Support existing provisions, emphasizing inclusion of children, youth, and waste pickers; African Group has reservations on legal recognition of informal workers.
    • Iran: Calls for financing and technology transfer but disagrees on terms like ‘vulnerable groups’ and resists legal recognition of waste management cooperatives.

  • Roadmap for Operationalizing Just Transition:

    • Binding Provisions: Make Just Transition provisions legally binding for accountability, referencing ILO conventions, national labour laws, and UN human rights frameworks.
    • Definitional Clarity: Explicitly recognize informal waste workers as critical stakeholders.
    • Institutional Mechanisms: Establish a global Just Transition Fund for worker support, retraining, and green infrastructure.
    • Link to Technology Transfer: Ensure access to clean technologies includes safeguards for affected workers and mandatory capacity-building programs for integrating informal workers into formal systems.

Sarala Das Jayanti

  • President’s Participation: The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, attended the birth anniversary celebrations of Adikabi Sarala Das on July 15, 2025, in Cuttack, Odisha.
  • Honoring Sarala Das: The President paid tribute to Sarala Das, recognizing him as the originator of Odia literature and crediting him for enriching Indian literature through his composition of the Mahabharata.
  • Kalinga Ratna Award: The President presented the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024 to Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
  • Sarala Samman Award: Shri Bijaya Nayak was also congratulated for receiving the literary award, ‘Sarala Samman’.
  • Appreciation for Sarala Sahitya Sansad: The President commended the ‘Sarala Sahitya Sansad’ for organizing the birth anniversary celebrations and various literary programs.
  • Emphasis on Mother Tongue Education: The President highlighted the National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on mother tongue education, stating it helps children connect with their culture and tradition while also encouraging learning other languages.
  • Cultural Unity: The President spoke about India’s unity amidst diversity in languages and religions, emphasizing the strength of Indian languages in enriching the educational tradition.

Black Hole Smash

  • Most Massive Black Hole Merger Observed (GW231123): Scientists detected the collision of two black holes, approximately 100-140 times the Sun’s mass, forming a single black hole about 225 times the Sun’s mass. This is the most massive merger ever observed.
  • Significance of Mass: This merger involved black holes significantly larger than typical stellar black holes (under 60 solar masses), making it an unusual and intriguing discovery.
  • Implications for Black Hole Formation: The event suggests that massive black holes might form through the mergers of smaller black holes, rather than solely from the collapse of giant stars, challenging existing theories.
  • Spin Characteristics: The black holes involved in GW231123 were spinning unusually fast, which also presents a challenge to current understanding of their formation and existence.
  • Detection Method: The merger was detected by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration, which observes gravitational waves – ripples in spacetime caused by cosmic events.
  • Origin and Arrival of Waves: The gravitational waves from GW231123 originated billions of years ago and reached Earth in 2025, detected on November 23, 2023.

Biofuel vs Fossil Fuel

  • Biofuel as a Renewable Alternative: Biofuels, particularly bioethanol derived from biomass, are promoted as renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Carbon Cycle Benefit: Unlike fossil fuels releasing ancient carbon, biofuels utilize carbon within the natural, dynamic carbon cycle, potentially reducing net greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Ethanol’s Properties and Use: Ethanol remains liquid and flammable, usable in vehicles. E5 blends require no engine changes, while E10/E15 need minor tuning.
  • First-Generation Biofuels (Food vs. Fuel Debate): Fuels from crops like corn and sugarcane raise concerns about diverting food supplies, especially in lower-income countries, leading to debates on using genetically modified maize.
  • Second-Generation Biofuels (Waste Utilization): Aim to convert agricultural waste (stalks, husks, wood) into fermentable sugars, but face challenges in extracting sugars from complex biofibres, often requiring harsh and expensive pre-treatments.
  • Production Challenges: Ethanol production faces issues like water separation in fuel blends and microbial limitations on concentration (inhibitory above 10%), necessitating purification and co-fermentation.
  • Environmental and Social Concerns: Land-use change (deforestation), fertilizer use emitting potent greenhouse gases (Nâ‚‚O, CHâ‚„), displacement of populations, monoculture practices reducing biodiversity, and high water demand are significant drawbacks.
  • Net Emissions and Radiative Forcing: Sugarcane ethanol shows negative GHG emissions, but other biofuels and associated land-use changes can increase radiative forcing through Nâ‚‚O and CHâ‚„ emissions.
  • India’s Role: India is a significant ethanol producer, aiming for 20% blending, utilizing sugarcane and now surplus grain.
  • Limited Replacement Potential: Biofuels offer a promising alternative but face technological, environmental, and social constraints that limit their ability to fully replace fossil fuels.

Biofuel vs Fossil Fuel

FPIs

  • Significant Net Outflow: Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) withdrew a substantial ₹77,901 crore from Indian equities in the first half of 2025. This indicates a bearish sentiment among these investors during this period.
  • Sectoral Trends: Information Technology (₹30,600 crore), FMCG (₹18,178 crore), and Power (₹15,422 crore) sectors saw the highest outflows, suggesting FPIs were booking profits or reducing exposure in these areas due to perceived overvaluation or other concerns. Conversely, Telecommunication, Financial Services, and Services experienced net inflows, indicating continued investor interest in these segments.
  • FPI Shareholding Decline: FPI ownership in Indian markets decreased slightly to 16.09% by June 2025, down from 16.11% at the end of 2024. While a small change, it reflects a marginal reduction in their overall market participation.
  • Q1 Selling Pressure, Q2 Reversal: FPIs were net sellers throughout the first quarter of 2025, with significant outflows in January and February. However, they turned net buyers from April to June, indicating a shift in sentiment possibly due to more attractive valuations or improved economic outlook in the latter half of the period.
  • Reasons for Selling: Overvaluation in certain sectors, profit-booking by investors who had seen gains, and strategic reallocation of capital were the primary drivers for FPI exits in the early part of 2025.
  • FPI vs. FDI Distinction: It’s important to note that FPIs invest in financial assets (stocks, bonds) and are generally short-term and volatile, unlike Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which involves direct investment in physical assets and is long-term and stable. SEBI regulates FPIs.

Peace Over Noise

  • Madras High Court Ruling: Religious gatherings with loud prayers in residential premises require prior District Collector permission.
  • Reasoning: Right to Peace Over Noise: Religious freedom (Article 25) doesn’t override others’ right to peace and quiet. Prayer should be personal, not cause public disturbance.
  • Precedent: Echoes Supreme Court 2005 ruling: noise pollution violates Article 21 (right to life, peaceful living); loudspeaker use for religious purposes isn’t a fundamental right.
  • Focus: Protecting people from being a “forced audience to noise,” not targeting religion itself.
  • Legal Basis: Noise can be considered an “air pollutant” under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, if harmful.
  • Specific Case: Restrained Nama Sankeerthanam in a residential house without Collector’s permission due to neighbour’s complaint.
  • Judge’s Observation: “Peace is the best prayer and silence is the greatest prayer.” Loud prayer disturbs others.
  • Enforcement: Police directed to ensure compliance; prohibition until permission granted.

Skill India @ 10

  • 10 Years of Skill India Mission: The Skill India Mission, launched on July 15, 2015 (World Youth Skills Day), marks its 10th anniversary in 2025.
    • Why in News: This milestone signifies a decade of efforts to equip India’s youth with job-ready skills.
  • Mission Objectives: To skill, reskill, and upskill India’s youth with industry-relevant training to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities.
    • Achievement: Over 6 crore individuals trained, including in emerging sectors like AI, robotics, and green energy.
  • Restructured Skill India Mission (2022–26): Approved in February 2025, this restructured mission merges PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, and JSS into a single Central Sector Scheme.
  • Key Features: All courses and certifications are aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and integrated with DigiLocker & National Credit Framework (NCrF).
  • Key Initiatives:
    • PMKVY: Provides free, short-term, quality-assured skill training. Over 1.63 crore candidates trained across various phases and sectors.
    • JSS Scheme: A community-based vocational training program for non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts, focused on inclusive and flexible skilling. Over 26 lakh individuals trained (FY 2018–19 to 2023–24).
    • PM-NAPS: Aims to boost apprenticeship training by providing stipend support. Over 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged (as of May 2025).
  • Conclusion: PMKVY is a crucial part of India’s skilling ecosystem, promoting inclusivity and future-readiness. Aligning skills with digital governance and demand-driven training is vital for sustained growth and employment.

Rocket Tests

  • India Conducts Multiple Strategic Missile Tests: Showcases deterrence and operational readiness.
  • Akash Prime Test in Ladakh:
    • Why: High-altitude air defense capability, particularly relevant after India-China border tensions.
    • Significance: Upgraded, indigenously developed missile for the Army, tested in a sensitive high-altitude region.
  • Prithvi-II and Agni-I Tests in Odisha:
    • Why: To demonstrate capabilities of short-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
    • Significance: Reinforces India’s strategic nuclear deterrent and second-strike capability. Prithvi-II is a tactical battlefield missile, while Agni-I contributes to nuclear deterrence.
  • Operational Readiness: The simultaneous tests of different missile systems highlight India’s preparedness across various strategic domains.
  • Indigenous Development: The Akash Prime test emphasizes DRDO’s capability in developing advanced, specialized defense systems for critical operational needs.

PLFS

  • Overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) dropped: Fell from 54.8% in May 2025 to 54.2% in June 2025.
    • Why: Attributed to seasonal agricultural patterns, heat impacting outdoor work, and a shift of unpaid helpers to domestic chores, particularly in rural areas.
  • Worker Population Ratio (WPR) declined: Decreased from 51.7% to 51.2% from May to June 2025.
    • Why: Similar reasons as LFPR decline, with rural females showing a more pronounced drop in participation.
  • Unemployment Rate (UR) remained stable: Steady at 5.6% between May and June 2025.
    • Why: For rural areas, an increase in own-account workers and fewer unemployed persons contributed to this stability.
  • Youth Unemployment Rose: Increased from 15.0% to 15.3% for the 15-29 age group.
    • Why: Detailed reasons not specified in the summary, but a concerning trend for young job seekers.
  • Female Labour Force Participation Lower: Overall Female LFPR was 30.2%, with rural at 35.2% and urban at 25%.
    • Why: Significant gap compared to male participation, influenced by the reasons cited for overall LFPR decline.
  • Methodology Update: PLFS now uses a rotational panel sampling design introduced in January 2025, with households surveyed four times over four months, and an expanded sample size.
    • Why: Aims to provide higher frequency (monthly) labour indicators with enhanced coverage and improved accuracy.

Entanglement & Noise

  • Noise Can Enhance Quantum Entanglement: Contrary to earlier beliefs, quantum noise doesn’t just disrupt quantum systems; it can also enhance, revive, or even create entanglement.
  • Intraparticle Entanglement’s Resilience: Entanglement within a single particle (intraparticle entanglement) is significantly more robust to noise than entanglement between separate particles (interparticle entanglement).
  • Amplitude Damping’s Surprising Role: Specifically, amplitude damping noise (energy loss) can create, preserve, or revive entanglement in intraparticle systems, and even generate it in initially unentangled states.
  • Interparticle Entanglement’s Decay: Interparticle entanglement, however, shows only steady decay under noise, with no signs of revival or spontaneous creation.
  • Realistic Noise Model Developed: Researchers created a precise analytical formula using a Global Noise Model, which treats the particle as a whole, to predict entanglement behavior under various noise types.
  • Implications for Quantum Technology: This discovery suggests that intraparticle entanglement could be a valuable tool for building more efficient and stable quantum systems for technologies like quantum communication and computing, even in real-world noisy environments.
  • Breakthrough Research: The study, supported by the DST’s National Quantum Mission, challenges the notion that noise is solely detrimental to entanglement, opening new avenues for quantum technology applications.

Swachh Awards 24-25

  • President Conferred Awards: The President of India presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25, the 9th edition, hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

  • New ‘Super Swachh League’ Category: Introduced to acknowledge consistent top performers like Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Vijayawada, Noida, Chandigarh, Mysuru, Ujjain, and Gandhinagar, these cities are excluded from regular rankings for fairness and to encourage emerging cities. Indore has held the No. 1 spot for 7 consecutive years.

  • Population-Based City Classification: For the first time, cities were ranked in 5 population categories (<20k, 20k-50k, 50k-3 lakh, 3 lakh-10 lakh, >10 lakh) for fair comparison. Mira Bhayandar, Bilaspur, and Jamshedpur ranked top in the 3 lakh to 10 lakh category.

  • Special Awards:

    • Prayagraj received recognition for its waste management during the Mahakumbh 2025 and was also named Cleanest Ganga Town.
    • Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were honored with Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar Awards for sanitation worker safety.
    • Secunderabad Cantonment was recognized as the Cleanest Cantonment Board.
    • 35 cities across 33 States/UTs, including Rajahmundry, Patna, Guwahati, Pimpri Chinchwad, Agra, and Bhubaneswar, were named “Promising Swachh Shehar.”

  • Swachh Survekshan Context: Conducted by MoHUA since 2016, it’s the world’s largest urban sanitation survey under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U). It expanded from 73 cities to 4,589 ULBs in the 2024-25 edition. The 2025 edition focuses on a revamped framework with simplified indicators, tourist/high-footfall areas, public space sanitation, and the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)” theme, aligning with circular economy principles. School-level assessments were also introduced.

  • Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Launched in 2014, SBM aims for ODF status, garbage-free cities, and waste management. SBM-Urban 2.0 focuses on remediating legacy landfills by 2026. The ministry will launch a one-year campaign to remediate legacy landfills starting August 15, with an “accelerated dumpsite remediation” program planned.

SC: Spousal Privilege Void

  • Secret Spousal Recordings Admissible in Divorce: Supreme Court ruled that secretly recorded conversations between spouses can be used as evidence in matrimonial disputes, including divorce.

    • Why in News: This overturns previous reluctance by many High Courts to accept such evidence.

  • Impact on Spousal Privilege (Section 122, Indian Evidence Act): The ruling clarifies that while a spouse cannot be compelled to testify against the other, evidence of their communications is not automatically barred, especially in divorce cases.

    • Why in News: The Court interprets the law to prioritize a fair trial over absolute protection of all marital communications.

  • Balancing Privacy and Fair Trial: The judgment emphasizes that the right to privacy, while fundamental, is not absolute and must be balanced against the right to a fair trial.

    • Why in News: The Court acknowledges that secret recordings infringe privacy but deems them admissible if relevant and crucial for determining facts in a case.

  • Digital Evidence Treated Like a Third-Party Witness: The SC equated secret digital recordings to an eavesdropper or a third-party witness, making them potentially admissible if independently verifiable.

    • Why in News: This extends reasoning from previous cases where the method of obtaining evidence was overlooked if the evidence itself was vital.

  • “Sanctity of Marriage” vs. Modern Privacy: The Court suggested Section 122 was drafted for the “sanctity of marriage” rather than absolute privacy within it, especially in a modern context where privacy is a fundamental right.

    • Why in News: This challenges the traditional interpretation of spousal privilege in light of evolving privacy rights.

  • Addressing Surveillance Concerns: The SC stated that if spouses are “snooping,” it indicates a broken relationship, implying that the ruling acknowledges such scenarios are part of marital reality.

    • Why in News: The Court pushed back against the argument that this would encourage widespread marital surveillance.

  • Potential Gender Disparity: Concerns exist that easier access to technology for some spouses could create an imbalance, potentially impacting women’s ability to present evidence.

    • Why in News: The ruling’s reliance on digital evidence raises questions about equitable access to technology.