The United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation" and "Specially Designated Global Terrorist." TRF, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. India welcomed this move, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar calling it a strong affirmation of India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation. India had already designated TRF as a terror outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. The U.S. Department of State highlighted TRF's role in the Pahalgam attack, which was the deadliest civilian attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The U.S. designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
TRF is a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy and claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
India views this U.S. designation as a strong affirmation of India-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation.
Exam Points
The Resistance Front (TRF) was designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
TRF is a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The Pahalgam attack on April 22 killed 26 civilians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in a function at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district on July 27. The event commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I's conquest of the Gangetic plains and his establishment of Gangaikonda Cholapuram. During the function, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin. The temple town and its premises are being prepared for the Prime Minister's visit, including an exhibition showcasing the conquest, trophies, and miniature sculptures of Saivite saints. Gangaikonda Cholapuram served as the Chola capital for 250 years before losing its prominence with the fall of the Chola Dynasty.
PM Modi will release a commemorative coin at Gangaikonda Cholapuram on July 27.
The event marks the 1,000th anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I's conquest of the Gangetic plains.
Rajendra Chola I established Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which was the Chola capital for 250 years.
Exam Points
PM Modi to release commemorative coin on July 27 at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
The event commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I's conquest of the Gangetic plains.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, located in Ariyalur district on the banks of the Kollidam, was the Chola capital.
The European Union has sanctioned a Gujarat-based refinery owned by Nayara Energy Ltd., which has a 49.13% stake held by Russia's Rosneft. This action is part of a new sanctions package aimed at Russia's energy sector to weaken its ability to wage war in Ukraine. The EU also announced a lowering of the oil price cap for Russian crude from $60 to $47.6 per barrel for countries utilizing G7 shipping and insurance services. Additionally, the sanctions include an EU-wide import ban on refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil and a full transaction ban on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines.
The EU sanctioned Nayara Energy Ltd.'s Gujarat refinery due to its significant Russian ownership by Rosneft.
The new sanctions package targets Russia's energy sector to diminish its capacity for war in Ukraine.
The oil price cap for Russian crude was reduced from $60 to $47.6 per barrel for G7-insured shipments.
Exam Points
Nayara Energy Ltd.'s Gujarat refinery is sanctioned by the EU.
Russia's Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake in Nayara Energy.
The oil price cap for Russian crude was lowered from $60 to $47.6 per barrel.
With the implementation of the Tamil Nadu Criminal Procedure Rules, police stations can now register First Information Reports (FIRs) for cognisable offenses committed outside their geographical jurisdiction. These FIRs must then be electronically and physically transferred to the competent police station within 24 hours. The new rules, notified in 2025, aim to align the state's procedural framework with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. They are designed to institutionalize standardized practices, drive digital transformation, and ensure uniformity, transparency, efficiency, and accountability in criminal law enforcement. The eSakshya Mobile Application is now mandated for recording audio-visual evidence and generating immutable SID packets.
FIRs for cognisable offenses can now be registered at any police station, irrespective of its jurisdiction.
Registered FIRs must be transferred to the competent police station electronically and physically within 24 hours.
The new Tamil Nadu Criminal Procedure Rules, 2025, align with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Exam Points
Tamil Nadu Criminal Procedure Rules, 2025, allow FIR registration for crimes outside jurisdiction.
Rules align with Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
eSakshya Mobile Application is mandated for audio-visual evidence recording.
The Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a new umbrella scheme to be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments. It aims to address productivity disparities among states and districts, subsuming key central schemes like PM-KISAN and PMFBY. With an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years, the scheme will identify 100 low-productivity districts. While promoting national uniformity and local partnerships, the article highlights a concern: the continuous decline in public spending on agriculture, which has fallen from 3.53% in 2021-22 to 2.51% in 2025-26 as a percentage of total Central Plan outlay. The scheme will operate based on 'District Plans' aligned with national goals.
The PMDDKY is a new umbrella scheme converging 36 existing agricultural schemes across 11 departments.
It aims to address productivity disparities and will subsume schemes like PM-KISAN and PMFBY.
The scheme has an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years and targets 100 low-productivity districts.
Exam Points
Scheme name: Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).
Annual outlay: ₹24,000 crore for six years.
It will converge 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments.
A recent World Bank report, "India Poverty and Equity Brief: April 2025," asserts that India has almost eradicated extreme poverty and significantly reduced consumption inequality since 2011-12. Based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data for 2022-23, the consumption-based Gini coefficient reportedly dropped from 28.8 to 25.5. The report also highlights improvements in dietary intake for lower-income groups and welfare transfers. However, the author argues that while consumption inequality has decreased, income inequality remains a concern. Critiques are raised against income inequality estimates, particularly those from the World Inequality Lab (WIL), for using pre-tax income and making unrealistic assumptions about consumption exceeding income for many households, suggesting post-tax and post-subsidy analysis would show a decrease in income inequality.
The World Bank report claims India has significantly reduced consumption inequality and almost eradicated extreme poverty.
The consumption-based Gini coefficient decreased from 28.8 to 25.5 between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
Improvements in dietary intake and welfare transfers for the poor are noted in the report.
Exam Points
World Bank report: "India Poverty and Equity Brief: April 2025".
Consumption-based Gini coefficient dropped from 28.8 (2011-12) to 25.5 (2022-23).
Data based on Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2022-23.
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nistar, the first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel, in Visakhapatnam. Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth was present at the ceremony. The 118-meter ship is one of two diving support vessels being built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. It is designed for complex deep-sea saturation diving and rescue operations, a capability possessed by only a few navies globally. INS Nistar is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment, including remotely operated vehicles, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboats, and diving compression chambers, capable of operations up to 300 meters depth. It will also serve as a "Mother Ship" for deep submergence rescue vessels.
INS Nistar is the Indian Navy's first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel.
It was commissioned in Visakhapatnam in the presence of Union MoS for Defence Sanjay Seth.
The vessel is built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. and is designed for complex deep-sea saturation diving and rescue operations.
Exam Points
Vessel name: INS Nistar.
Type: First indigenous diving support vessel (DSV).
Builder: Hindustan Shipyard Ltd.
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