External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for further de-escalation of troops from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Delhi. He stated that maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas is crucial for positive momentum in bilateral ties, noting that demobilisation and dismantling of infrastructure to restore the pre-April 2020 status quo are still incomplete. The discussions also covered preparations for PM Modi's visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and the upcoming Special Representative talks on boundary disputes. China highlighted global challenges like "unilateral bullying" in trade and expressed readiness to work with India on "peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendship."
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed the importance of continued de-escalation at the LAC for improving India-China relations.
Demobilisation and infrastructure dismantling at the LAC, aiming to restore the pre-April 2020 status quo, remain incomplete.
Discussions included preparations for PM Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit and upcoming Special Representative talks on boundary disputes.
The Health department in Kerala's Kozhikode district has issued an alert against Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) following the reporting of three infection cases and one death recently. District Medical Officer K.K. Rajaram stated that while the mortality rate of this rare brain infection is very high, it does not transmit from person to person. PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, and people typically get infected by swimming or bathing in stagnant waters. The alert aims to raise awareness and prevent further cases in the region.
An alert has been issued in Kozhikode, Kerala, due to cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM).
PAM is a rare but highly fatal brain infection, though it is not transmitted from person to person.
The infection is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba.
The Karnataka High Court ruled that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, is gender-neutral, meaning women can also be accused of penetrative sexual assault. The court refused to quash a criminal case against a 52-year-old woman accused of compelling a minor boy for sex. It clarified that Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act define "anyone" who compels a minor to perform sexual acts as an offender. The court also dismissed arguments that a victim in shock could not have sexual arousal and rejected the "archaic" thought that women are only passive participants in intercourse.
The Karnataka High Court affirmed the gender-neutral nature of the POCSO Act, 2012.
Women can be charged under the POCSO Act for penetrative sexual assault.
Sections 4 and 6 of the Act refer to "anyone" as an offender, not specifically men.
Exam Points
Act: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Sections cited: Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act.
Global efforts to establish a universal treaty on eliminating plastic pollution are facing significant resistance, with the sixth attempt by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) failing to reach consensus. Disagreement persists among major countries on whether the treaty should mandate eliminating plastic production itself, or focus solely on waste management and recycling. India, generating 3.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and recycling only 30%, has seen its plastic consumption rise, despite a ban on single-use plastic items. Globally, over 430 MT of plastic is produced annually, with two-thirds becoming waste and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Some nations view calls to cut production as trade barriers, highlighting the need for greater trust and open dialogue to overcome the impasse.
Global negotiations for a plastic pollution treaty, led by UNEP, are stalled due to disagreements over addressing plastic production.
India generates 3.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, recycling only 30%, and its consumption is rising.
Worldwide, 430 MT of plastic is produced annually, with a large portion becoming waste and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Exam Points
Organization: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
India's plastic waste generation: 3.4 million tonnes (MT) annually.
Global chronic undernourishment is declining, with 673 million people undernourished in 2024, down from 688 million in 2023, marking a reversal from COVID-19 increases. India has been pivotal in this progress, driven by policy investments in food security, digital technology, and improved service delivery. The prevalence of undernourishment in India decreased from 14.3% (2020-22) to 12% (2022-24), meaning 30 million fewer people living with hunger. This success is largely attributed to the transformed Public Distribution System (PDS) through digitalization and Aadhaar-enabled targeting. However, challenges remain in nutrition, with healthy diets unaffordable for over 60% of the population, necessitating agrifood system transformation and continued investment in digital tools and women-led enterprises.
Global chronic undernourishment has decreased, with India significantly contributing to this positive trend.
India's prevalence of undernourishment declined from 14.3% to 12% between 2020-22 and 2022-24, reducing the number of hungry people by 30 million.
The transformation of India's Public Distribution System (PDS) through digitalization and Aadhaar-enabled targeting is central to this achievement.
Exam Points
Global undernourished population (2024): 673 million.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced in Lok Sabha that an Indian astronaut will land on the moon by 2040, and India will establish its own 'Bharat Antariksh Station' by 2035. He highlighted the growth of India's space economy to $8 billion, projected to reach $45 billion in the next decade, following reforms initiated in 2014. Future missions include an uncrewed space mission with robot Vyommitra in 2026, followed by the maiden human spaceflight Gaganyaan in 2027. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, discussing his experiences and India's space progress.
India aims to land an astronaut on the moon by 2040 and establish its own space station by 2035.
The Indian space economy has grown to $8 billion and is projected to reach $45 billion within the next decade.
Upcoming missions include an uncrewed mission with Vyommitra in 2026 and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight in 2027.
The Union government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana portal, a scheme aimed at generating 3.5 crore jobs. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya encouraged first-time employees and employers to utilize the scheme's benefits. The scheme covers both employers and first-time employees, allowing beneficiaries to avail incentives by registering on the portal or uploading their Universal Account Number (UAN) via the UMANG application. Part A of the scheme is designed for first-time employees, while Part B caters to employers, facilitating job creation and employment opportunities across the country.
The Union government launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana portal.
The scheme aims to generate 3.5 crore jobs.
Both first-time employees and employers are covered under the scheme.
The government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, aiming to amend 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts to enhance "ease of living." The Bill proposes to decriminalise 288 provisions and amend 67 others. It builds upon the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which previously decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts. The new legislation suggests that first-time contraventions for 76 offences under 10 Acts will only attract an advisory or warning. Imprisonment clauses for minor defaults will be replaced with proportionate monetary penalties or warnings, with increasing penalties for repeated offences. The government has requested the Speaker to refer the Bill to a Select Committee for review.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, was introduced to decriminalise and amend provisions across 16 Central Acts.
The Bill proposes to decriminalise 288 provisions and amend 67 others to facilitate "ease of living."
It builds on the 2023 Act, which decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts.
Exam Points
Bill: Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025.
Number of provisions to be decriminalised: 288.
Previous Act: Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023.
India's unemployment rate declined to 5.2% in July from 5.6% in June, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women marginally increased to 25.5% in July, while for men it stood at 57.4%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which measures the proportion of employed persons, rose to 52% nationally, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from June. Notably, the WPR in rural areas for persons aged 15 and above was 54.4%, indicating significant rural employment growth, while urban WPR was 47%.
India's unemployment rate decreased to 5.2% in July from 5.6% in June.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women saw a marginal increase to 25.5%.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating the proportion of employed persons, increased to 52% nationally.
The Union Home Ministry has stated that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) can nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. This raises questions about democratic accountability in Union Territories (UTs). While the Constitution provides for nominated members in Parliament and State legislatures (nominated by President/Governors on ministerial advice), the procedure for UTs is governed by specific Acts of Parliament. The Madras High Court previously upheld the Union government's power to nominate members to the Puducherry Assembly without ministerial advice, a ruling later set aside by the Supreme Court on recommendations. The Supreme Court's 'triple chain of command' concept from the NCT of Delhi case, which mandates LGs to act on ministerial advice in most matters, is relevant here, advocating for democratic principles in J&K's nominations.
The Union Home Ministry asserts that the J&K LG can nominate five assembly members without the Council of Ministers' advice.
The Indian Constitution provides for nominated members in Parliament and State legislatures, where nominations are typically based on ministerial advice.
For Union Territories, nominations are governed by specific Acts of Parliament, such as the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
Exam Points
J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 (as amended in 2023) provides for up to five nominated members.
Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 (for Puducherry).
Case: K. Lakshminarayanan versus Union of India (2018) (Madras High Court).
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has recommended significant reforms to toll collection on national highways, advocating for an end to "perpetual tolling" once capital and maintenance costs are recovered. The PAC expressed concern that current practices allow indefinite collection regardless of road quality or user affordability. It proposed establishing an independent regulatory authority for transparency in toll determination and collection, and suggested reimbursements for users during construction. Despite FASTags, traffic bottlenecks persist due to malfunctioning scanners. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways acknowledged the concerns and initiated a comprehensive study with NITI Aayog to revise the user fee determination framework, considering factors like vehicle operating cost and user willingness to pay.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommends ending perpetual toll collection on national highways after capital and maintenance costs are recovered.
The PAC called for an independent regulatory authority to ensure transparency and fairness in toll determination, collection, and regulation.
It highlighted issues with FASTags, including persistent traffic bottlenecks due to malfunctioning scanners.
Exam Points
Committee: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
PAC Head: Congress MP K.C. Venugopal.
Act: National Highways Act, 1956 (Sections 7 and 9).
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