22.07.25

• Hasty arrests due to public/political pressure for immediate detection.
• Difficulty in collecting concrete forensic/scientific evidence.
• Over-reliance on confessional statements, which often fail court scrutiny.
• Challenges in linking individuals, detailing roles, and proving conspiracy.

• Delayed trials weaken prosecution (fading memories, lost evidence).
• Weak witness protection leading to fear and retracted testimonies.
• Lack of advanced training for investigators.
• Courts distrust police-recorded confessions without corroboration.

• Erosion of public faith when grave crimes go unpunished.
• Collective failure of police, prosecution, and judiciary.
• Failure to convict emboldens terror networks and undermines safety.

• Strengthen forensic infrastructure and cyber intelligence.
• Establish fast-track courts for terror cases.
• Enhance witness protection.
• Allow NIA to function independently and train state ATS.
• Improve coordination between all justice system wings.
• Train officers to plug investigative loopholes and secure timely legal advice.

Why in News: India observed National Flag Day (Tiranga Adoption Day) on July 22, 2025, commemorating the adoption of the Indian National Flag by the Constituent Assembly in 1947.

Key Facts About the Indian National Flag:

• Evolution: The flag evolved from designs in 1904 (Sister Nivedita), 1906 (Swadeshi Movement), 1907 (Madam Bhikaji Cama), 1917 (Home Rule Movement), and 1921 (Pingali Venkayya).
• Present Flag: Adopted on July 22, 1947, with three horizontal stripes: saffron (top), white (middle), and green (bottom).
• Ashoka Chakra: Replaced the spinning wheel in 1947. It’s a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes, signifying law, justice, and progress.
• Symbolism: Saffron for strength and courage; white for purity, truth, and peace; green for fertility, growth, and prosperity.
• Dimensions: 3:2 ratio (length to height).
• Regulation: Governed by the Flag Code of India, 2002, which includes fundamental duties for citizens to respect the flag.
• Material: Traditionally hand-spun khadi, but amendments allow other materials.
• Oldest Surviving Flag: Housed at Fort St George Museum, Chennai.

Flag Code of India, 2002:

• Allows citizens to fly the flag on any day, not just national occasions, provided rules are followed.
• Amended in 2022 to allow flying day and night.
• Outlines Do’s and Don’ts to preserve the flag’s dignity.

Significance of National Flag Day:

• Instills pride, patriotism, and national unity.
• Encourages reflection on civic responsibilities and the flag’s symbolism.
• Highlights the sacrifices of freedom fighters.
• Often marked by ceremonies and educational programs.

India’s Longest Road Tunnel & Asia’s Longest Bi-Directional Tunnel: The Zojila Tunnel project is set to achieve these distinctions upon completion. This makes it a significant engineering feat and a landmark infrastructure project.

Crucial All-Weather Connectivity: The tunnel, spanning over 30 km at 11,578 feet in the Himalayas, will ensure year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Leh via Kargil and Dras. This bypasses the Zojila Pass, which is closed for about six months annually due to snow.

Enhanced Civilian and Military Logistics: Reliable connectivity is vital for moving people and goods, especially for military purposes in this strategically sensitive region. The tunnel significantly improves mobility for both.

SAIL’s Significant Steel Contribution: The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has supplied over 31,000 tonnes of steel (TMT Re-bars, Structurals, Plates) for the project, demonstrating the crucial role of public sector undertakings in national development.

Strategic Importance and Nation Building: The project enhances border infrastructure and defense preparedness. SAIL’s involvement reinforces its legacy in supporting iconic national projects, contributing to India’s engineering prowess and nation-building efforts in challenging terrains.

Economic Opportunity and Tourism Boost: Improved connectivity is expected to stimulate economic development and tourism in the remote Himalayan regions.

Scheduled Completion: The tunnel is slated for completion by 2027.

Supreme Court Criticizes ED Misuse: The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for using its powers inappropriately, particularly in politically charged investigations.

• Why in News: This indicates a significant judicial check on the agency’s operations and raises questions about its impartiality.

ED as a Political Tool: The court emphasized that the ED should not be employed as a mechanism for political gains or to target opponents.

• Why in News: This highlights a serious concern about the politicization of a key financial investigation agency.

Officers Crossing Limits: The Supreme Court observed that ED officers are exceeding their authority and boundaries in their conduct.

• Why in News: This points to potential overreach and misconduct by individuals within the ED, warranting scrutiny.

Upholding Constitutional Values: The SC sternly reminded the ED to adhere to constitutional principles, ensuring fairness and professionalism in its actions.

• Why in News: This serves as a reminder for the ED to operate within the legal and ethical framework of the constitution.

ED Functions: The ED is a law enforcement and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing laws like the PMLA and FEMA, investigating financial crimes, and confiscating illegal assets.

• Why in News: Understanding the ED’s mandate is crucial in evaluating the court’s criticism in the context of its powers and responsibilities.

Date and Purpose: International Moon Day is observed annually on July 20 to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission’s first human landing on the Moon in 1969.

• Why: This date marks a historic milestone for humanity’s exploration of space.

UN Recognition: The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized July 20 as International Moon Day in 2021.

• Why: To promote global cooperation in space exploration and acknowledge the collective progress of all nations in lunar exploration.

Apollo 11 Mission: Launched by NASA on July 16, 1969, it was the first crewed mission to land on the Moon and return safely. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to walk on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.

• Why: This mission is the primary reason for the day’s observance.

India’s Lunar Contributions: India has made significant strides with its Moon missions, including Chandrayaan-1 (discovering water) and Chandrayaan-3 (historic soft landing at the South Pole).

• Why: Highlights the growing international participation and achievements in lunar exploration beyond the initial Apollo missions.

Activities and Goals: Worldwide events, educational outreach, and science competitions are organized to inspire interest in space science.

• Why: To foster curiosity, promote sustainable space practices, international cooperation, peaceful exploration, and responsible resource use.

Date Debate: Minor criticism exists regarding the exact timing of the first step on the Moon (UTC July 21) versus the landing date (July 20).

• Why: Occasional debate over the most accurate commemoration date, with some questioning if July 20 fully represents the international spirit due to its American roots.

Supreme Court Examines Nature of Right to Vote: The apex court is deliberating whether the right to vote is constitutional, statutory, or fundamental, particularly in light of Bihar’s electoral roll revision. This is significant because the classification of the right impacts its enforceability and protections.

Article 326 and Representation of the People Act, 1951: Article 326 grants universal adult suffrage, giving the right to vote to citizens over 18. The Representation of the People Act, 1951, outlines specific conditions for voting, demonstrating that the right is subject to legal qualifications and disqualifications.

Conflicting Judicial Precedents: Past Supreme Court rulings have vacillated, with some (like N.P. Ponnuswami) deeming it a statutory right, while others (like PUCL) have suggested it’s a constitutional right. Most recently, the Anoop Baranwal case (2023) majority reaffirmed its statutory nature.

Dissenting View Links Voting to Freedom of Speech: Justice Ajay Rastogi’s dissenting opinion argued that the right to vote is an expression of choice, intrinsically linked to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), suggesting a higher constitutional standing.

Constitutional vs. Statutory Rights: Understanding the difference is crucial. Constitutional rights are guaranteed by the Constitution (even if not Fundamental Rights) and are enforceable. Statutory rights are created by legislation and can be altered or repealed. The court’s decision will clarify which category the right to vote definitively falls into.

• Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh will preside over the Rajya Sabha until a new VP is elected, as per Article 91.
• A new Vice President must be elected within 60 days (by September 19, 2025).

• Ex officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
• Can act as President in case of vacancy, for a maximum of six months.

• Why: AI can generate outputs that mimic or duplicate original works, leading to potential copyright infringement allegations.

• Why: Existing laws were not designed for AI, and exceptions haven’t been adequately tested in court for AI training processes.

• Anthropic: Using copyrighted data for AI training can be “transformative” (like a writer learning), but using pirated copies requires trial.
• Meta: AI outputs not causing market dilution and being “transformative” can be covered by fair use. However, tech companies should share AI boom wealth with copyright holders.
• Why: These rulings offer some clarity by favoring “fair use” for transformative training but highlight limits on pirated content and call for creator compensation.

• Why: Global litigation signals the need for clear AI-IPR policies, transparent data usage guidelines, and creator compensation mechanisms to balance innovation and creator rights. India needs to proactively adapt its framework.

• Why: This lack of global consistency creates legal uncertainties for AI development and copyright enforcement worldwide.

• CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System): 24×7 online platform for citizens to lodge grievances, now a global model.
• Jeevan Pramaan (Digital Life Certificate): Biometric-enabled digital service simplifying life certificate submission for pensioners, also a global model. Over 10.31 crore submitted since 2014.

• Revolutionary reforms under PM Modi have instilled self-esteem, confidence, and trust in citizens.
• 29 out of 41 Good Governance Conferences since Independence have been held during PM Modi’s tenure, showing the scale of reforms.
• Reforms are revolutionary, have significant socio-economic impact at the grassroots, and have changed citizen mindset.
• India’s UPI adoption shows commitment to innovation and digital empowerment.
• Over 1,600 obsolete laws repealed for efficiency and transparency.

• Commitment to people-centric, technology-driven governance.
• Good governance is a right of every citizen and duty of public servants.
• Odisha has made progress in disaster resilience, inclusive growth, and citizen services.

• Conference aligned with “Holistic Development of India through Holistic Development of Districts and Blocks.”
• Call for Commitment, Collaboration, and Capability among civil servants for Vikshit Bharat.
• New paradigm where young civil servants are thought leaders and catalysts for innovation.

F-35B Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing in Kerala: A Royal Navy F-35B, operating from the HMS Prince of Wales, landed in Kerala due to an unspecified emergency.

• Why it’s news: This marks an unusual event involving a high-tech, fifth-generation fighter jet from a major naval power landing in India under emergency circumstances.

Repairs Conducted by Air India MRO: Air India’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Kerala provided the necessary support for the F-35B.

• Why it’s news: Highlights the capability of Indian MRO facilities to service advanced foreign military aircraft, fostering international cooperation and demonstrating technical prowess.

UK Engineering Team Assisted: A 14-member UK engineering team worked alongside Indian personnel for the assessment and safety checks of the F-35B.

• Why it’s news: Demonstrates collaboration between UK and Indian technical teams on a complex military asset, underscoring diplomatic and operational ties.

Logistical Support by UK Airbus A400M: A UK A400M Atlas aircraft provided logistical support and transported the engineering team.

• Why it’s news: Shows the integrated support systems used by modern air forces for deploying and maintaining advanced aircraft globally.

F-35B Significance: The F-35B is a stealth, multirole fighter known for its Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capability, allowing it to operate from carriers without catapults.

• Why it’s news: Provides context on the advanced nature of the aircraft involved and its unique operational features, making the incident more significant.

• Why in News: This finding underscores a critical environmental and economic issue for the continent.

• Why in News: This emphasizes the significant economic cost of wetland loss, particularly for African nations heavily reliant on nature-based sectors.

• Conservation Over Restoration: Conserving healthy wetlands is more cost-effective than restoring degraded ones.
• Invest in Nature-Based Solutions: Boost public and private investment in wetland protection as NbS for resilience and climate mitigation.
• Align with Biodiversity Goals: Urgent action is needed to meet Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets for wetland restoration (30% of degraded ecosystems) and conservation (30% of land, waters, seas).
  • Why in News: These recommendations provide a roadmap for policy and legislative interventions to protect these vital ecosystems.