28.06.25

Equality in Indian Constitution

• Constitutional courts, like the Supreme Court and High Courts, are actively interpreting and enforcing the principle of equality, particularly regarding gender justice and anti-discrimination, making it a current legal focus.
• Key constitutional articles like 14 (equality before law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination), 16 (public employment), and 39(d) (equal pay for equal work) form the basis for this enforcement.
• Courts have moved beyond formal equality (same rules for all) to substantive equality, acknowledging the need for affirmative action and special provisions to address real-life disadvantages, which is a significant evolution in judicial practice.
• Landmark judgments in cases like Sabarimala (challenging gender exclusion), P.B. Vijay Kumar (upholding women’s reservations), Vishakha (sexual harassment guidelines), Dharwad PWD (enforcing equal pay), and Charu Khurana (extending principles to private bodies) demonstrate the judiciary’s ongoing role in applying and expanding equality rights.
• These judicial pronouncements and the principle of substantive equality underpin key actions like upholding affirmative action, striking down discriminatory practices, and ensuring the right to equal pay, highlighting the continuous application and evolution of equality in India’s legal system.

Climate Impact on Food

• Global temperatures rising by 1°C could reduce per capita calorie availability by 4% by 2100. This is why climate change poses a significant threat to future food security.
• Staple crops like wheat, rice, maize, and soybean face severe impacts. This is why production of key food sources is at risk globally.
• Farmer adaptation, such as using heat-resistant crops and adjusting planting/watering, can reduce losses by up to 34% by 2100. This is why these measures are crucial mitigation strategies.
• Despite adaptation, losses remain significant across most crops and regions, except possibly rice in some areas. This is why adaptation alone is insufficient to fully counter climate change impacts.
• Major yield drops (e.g., 30-40% for wheat in key producing countries, >50% for rice in some regions) are projected by 2050-2100. This illustrates the severity and scale of the problem in specific areas and crops.
• Losses will affect not just poor countries but also major modern breadbaskets like the US, Europe, and China. This is why the impact is a widespread global challenge, not limited to vulnerable regions.
• There is an urgent need for innovation, cropland expansion, and climate-resilient practices. This is why proactive measures and investments are essential to safeguard future food production.

GLP-1R

• GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide achieve exceptional weight loss (15-17%), sustained up to two years, significantly exceeding older methods. Why: Represents a major breakthrough in obesity treatment efficacy.
• They mimic natural GLP-1 hormones, activating receptors in the brain, pancreas, and gut to enhance insulin secretion, suppress glucagon, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite. Why: This mechanism effectively controls metabolism and food intake by leveraging the body’s own system.
• Beyond weight loss, they provide significant cardiometabolic benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular events (up to 20%), improved blood pressure, lipids, and reduced risks of diabetes and heart failure. Why: Offers comprehensive health improvements for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• Emerging evidence suggests benefits for conditions like kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, and potentially neurological effects like reduced dementia risk and decreased cravings. Why: Expands the potential therapeutic scope far beyond current uses, highlighting broad systemic impact.
• Generally well-tolerated with mostly mild gastrointestinal side effects, making them suitable for long-term use in managing chronic conditions. Why: Favorable safety profile supports their consistent application.
• The success of current drugs is driving development of new GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual/triple agonists (targeting GIP, glucagon), including oral options and less frequent injections. Why: Points to a rapidly evolving field promising even more effective or convenient future treatments.

India-US Trade Deal

• Talks are in final stages for a limited trade deal before the July 8, 2025 deadline. Why: To enhance bilateral trade and resolve ongoing frictions.
• U.S. seeks lower barriers: Wants India to reduce tariffs on items like autos, medical devices, farm goods (soy, corn), and allow market access for GM crops. Why: To boost American exports and market share in India.
• India protects sensitive sectors: Resists broad tariff cuts on agriculture and dairy. Why: To safeguard domestic farmers’ interests and food security.
• India offers limited concessions: Willing to reduce tariffs on some items like almonds and defense/energy goods. Why: To show flexibility while protecting core interests.
• India seeks U.S. tariff rollbacks: Wants the U.S. to remove tariffs on Indian steel and auto parts. Why: To gain reciprocal benefits and market access.
• Sticking points: Key disagreements remain over tariffs on farm goods, steel, and auto components, and the pace of market access (U.S. wants immediate, India phased). Why: Fundamental differences in protecting domestic industries vs. opening markets.
• Potential impasse: May require intervention from top leaders (Modi-Trump) to resolve. Why: Indicates significant difficulty in lower-level talks.
• Risk of 10% tariff: If no deal by the deadline, the U.S. might reimpose a 10% tariff on certain Indian goods. Why: A potential pressure tactic or consequence of failed talks, though impact expected to be limited due to resilient exports.
• Strategic relationship: The trade talks occur within a broader context of a robust and growing $190+ billion bilateral trade relationship, where the U.S. is India’s largest partner and India a key market/ally for the U.S. Why: Trade is a significant component of the overall strategic partnership, despite frictions.

RGI Birth Directives

• RGI Directives on Birth Certificates: States directed to issue birth certificates within 7 days of registration, preferably before hospital discharge (especially government hospitals).

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  • Why: To ensure timely registration and provide immediate legal identity to newborns. Government facilities are key as they handle over 50% of institutional births.

• Increased Birth Registration: Registration rate in India has risen from 86% (2014) to over 96% (2024).

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  • Why: Indicates improved system effectiveness and public awareness over the decade.

• Legal Framework (RBD Act, 1969 & 2023 Amendment): Birth registration is free within 21 days. The 2023 amendment mandated digital registration and recognized electronic certificates.

  • Why: Simplifies the process, ensures comprehensive registration including vulnerable children (adopted, orphaned, etc.), and provides legal backing for digital documentation.

• Digital Birth Certificate as Sole Proof: Since Oct 1, 2023, digital certificates are the only proof for school admissions, jobs, marriage, driving licenses, and passports.

  • Why: Standardizes identity verification across crucial services and transitions towards a digital-first approach.

• Central Civil Registration System (CRS) Portal: Developed to centralize registration data.

  • Why: This data will feed into major national databases (NPR, ration cards, electoral rolls) to strengthen governance and improve service delivery.

• Global Alignment: The efforts align with UN ESCAP’s “Get everyone in the picture” goal and SDG Target 16.9 (“By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration”).

  • Why: Demonstrates India’s commitment to international standards for civil registration and legal identity for its citizens.

SCO Summit 2025

India’s strong stance on terrorism, potentially leading to non-consensus on joint statements, as seen in a recent summit over concerns not being reflected. Why: India follows a zero-tolerance policy and demands specific condemnation of all forms and sources of terrorism, contrasting with selective focus or omission in drafts.

Tensions between member states, particularly India-Pakistan and India-China, limiting consensus building on key initiatives like connectivity masterplans mentioned in the context of 2025. Why: Bilateral disputes and mistrust hinder cooperation within the multilateral framework.

Growing influence of Russia and China, potentially shaping the agenda and outcomes, especially with China potentially chairing in 2025. Why: Russia’s shift in focus and China’s economic and strategic leverage impact the group’s direction and dominance.

Challenges in achieving deeper economic integration and harmonisation despite objectives. Why: Lack of infrastructure coordination and tariff barriers persist, slowing down initiatives like regional trade facilitation and connectivity projects.

SCO’s role as a platform for dialogue despite rivalries, but its effectiveness is constrained by these internal dynamics and geopolitical complexities. Why: Fundamental disagreements limit the organisation’s ability to fully address security threats and implement cooperation goals.

Global Ed India

• Foreign universities are entering India, a significant shift enabled by NEP 2020 and UGC regulations.
• This is driven by India’s large youth population and growing higher education market potential, coupled with foreign universities seeking new revenue sources and global expansion amidst challenges in their home countries.
• Benefits include providing Indian students access to internationally recognised degrees and quality education without high overseas costs, helping retain talent and foreign exchange.
• Entry promotes enhanced research collaboration, academic standards, and industry-aligned programs, improving graduate employability.
• India is strategically positioned to become a global education hub by attracting regional students and fostering competition among top institutions.
• Key challenges involve ensuring affordability and equity, preventing socio-economic inequality if fees are high, and the potential for limited short-term impact on overall education access.
• Other concerns include the risk of commercialisation overriding academic quality and the need for effective regulation, local integration, and overcoming infrastructure hurdles.
• Sustainable success requires ensuring inclusive access through scholarships, maintaining regulatory oversight on quality and ethics, and fostering genuine collaboration with Indian institutions.

Green Bonds

• Emerging as a key financial tool in Africa for climate resilience, funding projects like renewable energy and infrastructure. Why: Enables investment in vital climate action and sustainability.
• Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco are successfully using them for flagship projects. Why: Reflects growing interest and application of sustainable finance on the continent.
• They mobilize finance specifically for climate mitigation and adaptation projects (e.g., solar, hydropower). Why: Provides dedicated funding for initiatives addressing climate change impacts.
• Drive private sector engagement, with banks and companies now contributing over 60% of issuance value. Why: Expands the pool of potential investors and increases market participation.
• Align with Africa’s Paris Agreement commitments and help address the significant climate finance gap. Why: Provide a mechanism to fund climate goals and meet funding needs.
• Face challenges including a risk premium demanded by investors (due to credit risk, currency, political instability), increasing borrowing costs. Why: Raises the cost of capital for African issuers.
• Growth is hindered by structural barriers like weak capital markets, poor regulatory frameworks, and lack of standardized green finance norms. Why: Create difficulty and uncertainty for market development.
• Limited overall private climate investment in Africa (only 18%) and an imbalance with most funds going to mitigation (~7% to adaptation) are issues. Why: Shows a need for broader private participation and better funding for adaptation projects, which have uncertain returns.

MM Hills Sanctuary

• A tigress and four cubs were found dead in the sanctuary, suspected to have been poisoned.
• The deaths are linked to escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region.
• The sanctuary is located in Chamarajanagar district, southeast Karnataka, near the Tamil Nadu border.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2013 and features diverse forests including dry deciduous and evergreen types.
• Ecologically, it’s important as it connects BRT Tiger Reserve and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) with Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), serving as a critical tiger corridor.
• It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, and prey species.
• A proposal to upgrade it to a Tiger Reserve has been pending for about 15 years.
• If approved, Chamarajanagar district would uniquely have three tiger reserves (Bandipur, BRT, MM Hills).
• Karnataka is significant for having India’s second-largest tiger population (563).
• The area includes human settlements of Soligas and Lingayats communities.

Proj. Elephant Review

• Union Environment Ministry reviewed key initiatives under Project Elephant – Why News: Signals a formal assessment and update on the progress of a major conservation program for India’s National Heritage Animal.
• Completion of Phase-I of synchronized elephant population estimation in Northeastern states highlighted – Why News: Indicates a significant step taken in conducting a comprehensive census to understand elephant numbers and distribution in a key region.
• Mortality mitigation measures reviewed, including surveying railway tracks – Why News: Focuses on addressing a major threat, elephant-train collisions, which caused 73 deaths from 2019-2024, showing efforts to reduce preventable deaths.
• Review included progress on genetic profiling of captive elephants – Why News: Highlights the use of advanced techniques for managing and conserving captive populations.
• Efforts on regional action plans for human-elephant conflict and protecting corridors discussed – Why News: Shows active work being done to manage conflict and conserve crucial habitat links in areas like Southern and Northeastern India, addressing a significant human-wildlife challenge.

Kazi-KA Dhole

CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT
CONTEXT: Researchers have documented the first camera-trap evidence of the endangered dhole (Asiatic wild dog) in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape, Assam.
SIGNIFICANCE: Rediscovery of a species previously believed locally extinct in the region, confirming its presence.
LOCATION: Captured in the Amguri corridor, a vital wildlife linkage, notably just 375 metres from a national highway.
WHY this matters: Emphasizes the critical importance of preserving wildlife corridors for species survival and highlights threats posed by human infrastructure near key habitats.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Dhole is classified as Endangered (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
THREATS: Decline due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and human-wildlife conflict.
BROADER IMPACT: Enhances the conservation value of the Kaziranga area (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and underscores the importance of connectivity for biodiversity in Northeast India.

NATO Summit 2025

• Agreement on a 5% GDP defence spending target (3.5% core, 1.5% defence-related expenditure). Why: Aims to significantly increase defence capabilities and ensure allies contribute more equitably to collective security, addressing ongoing and future threats.
• Leaders reaffirmed “ironclad commitment” to Article 5, the collective defence clause. Why: This core principle of mutual defence is fundamental to NATO’s deterrence posture and assures members that an attack on one is met by the response of all.
• The Ukraine issue was reported to be sidelined at the summit. Why: Suggests a potential shift in the alliance’s immediate focus or strategy regarding Ukraine aid and membership discussions at the highest level, potentially reflecting changing geopolitical considerations or influence of future policy directions mentioned in the text.