India's retail inflation rose to 2.1% in August 2025, breaking a nine-month downward trend. This figure is slightly higher than the 1.55% recorded in July 2025 but remains within the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) comfort band of 2% to 6%. The data, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), indicates that while food and beverage inflation remained relatively flat, categories like clothing, footwear, and fuel saw marginal increases. The historic low of 1.55% in July 2025 was the culmination of several months of falling prices, starting from November 2024.
Retail inflation ended its nine-month decline by rising to 2.1% in August.
The current inflation rate remains well within the RBI's target range of 2% to 6%.
Food and beverage inflation remained stable, while fuel and light categories saw a faster increase to 2.9%.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw a Union Ministry memorandum that exempts atomic mineral mining from public consultation. Stalin argues that coastal regions, rich in rare earth elements, are ecologically fragile and home to endangered species and natural barriers like mangroves. He emphasizes that such projects demand rigorous scrutiny and community involvement. The CM cited a 2020 Supreme Court verdict (Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. Rohit Prajapati) stating that substantive changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework cannot be made through executive instructions like office memoranda, which cannot override statutory notifications.
The Union Ministry issued a memorandum exempting atomic and strategic mineral mining from public hearings.
CM Stalin argues this weakens participatory democracy and threatens ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems like the Gulf of Mannar.
The EIA Notification of 1994 originally made public hearings mandatory for such projects.
The article discusses how the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, significantly narrows the scope of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. By amending Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, the DPDP Act broadens the definition of 'personal information,' making it easier for Public Information Officers (PIOs) to deny requests. Critics argue this transforms the RTI into a 'Right to Deny Information,' undermining transparency and accountability. The amendment removes the 'larger public interest' test for personal information, potentially shielding corrupt officials and ghost employees from public scrutiny, thereby threatening the fundamental right to information guaranteed under the Constitution.
The DPDP Act amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, removing the provision that allowed disclosure if it served a larger public interest.
The new definition of 'personal information' is extremely broad, potentially covering almost any data related to an individual.
This shift threatens the fundamental right to information guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Exam Points
Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) vs Union Of India (Privacy judgment).
Recent cases, including a scam involving a deepfake of the Union Finance Minister, highlight the growing threat of digital fraud on social media. Scammers exploit limited technical literacy and regulatory gaps in cryptocurrency to defraud users. While platforms like Instagram provide reporting mechanisms, they often respond passively, allowing scams to circulate until reported. The article calls for three measures: government standards for cross-border cooperation, enhanced technical literacy through education, and a legal requirement for platforms to proactively remove fraudulent content rather than relying on user reports. Without these, deepfake scams will continue to cause significant human and material costs.
Deepfake technology is being used to create fraudulent investment schemes featuring public figures like Nirmala Sitharaman.
Current platform policies focus on user self-protection rather than proactive detection of AI-generated scams.
Most countries, including India, lack clear classification of these digital assets as conventional securities.
Exam Points
Deepfake technology uses AI to create realistic but fake videos.
Recent scam in Hyderabad involved a deepfake of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Despite the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, tribal women in India continue to face significant gender injustice regarding ancestral property rights. Most tribal communities follow customary laws that exclude daughters from inheritance, a practice the Supreme Court recently scrutinized in Ram Charan and Ors. vs Sukhram and Ors. (2025). While the Hindu Succession Act was amended in 2005 to grant equal rights to daughters, Section 2(2) specifically excludes Scheduled Tribes. The article advocates for the codification of tribal laws or a separate act to ensure gender parity and protect tribal women from land alienation, ensuring their fundamental right to equality is upheld.
Tribal women are often denied inheritance rights under customary laws, unlike women covered by the Hindu Succession Act.
The Supreme Court has emphasized that excluding daughters from ancestral property negates the fundamental right to equality.
Only 16.7% of ST women possess land compared to 83.3% of ST men, according to the 2015-16 Agriculture Census.
Exam Points
Section 2(2) of the Hindu Succession Act, 2005.
Ram Charan and Ors. vs Sukhram and Ors. (2025) judgment.
Kamala Neti (Dead) Thr. Lrs. vs Special Land Acquisition Officer (2022).
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that it will hold a high-level meeting with state officials and law enforcement agencies to establish exclusive courts for trying offences under special statutes like the NIA and UAPA Acts. This move aims to address the overwhelming pendency in regular courts, which delays trials for serious national security offences. Currently, out of 52 designated courts, only three are exclusively dedicated to NIA cases. A Supreme Court bench emphasized that proceedings under special statutes cannot be delayed due to general court backlogs, as swift justice is essential for maintaining national security and the rule of law.
The government plans to create exclusive courts to expedite trials for NIA and UAPA cases.
High pendency in regular courts is currently hindering the swift disposal of national security-related trials.
Only a small fraction of currently designated courts are exclusively handling NIA cases.
Exam Points
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Act.
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Only 3 out of 52 designated courts are currently exclusive to NIA cases.
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan has been sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of several dignitaries. Radhakrishnan also assumes the role of Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Following the ceremony, he held a meeting with floor leaders of various political parties to discuss House proceedings, though some opposition parties stayed away citing short notice. He succeeded Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned in July for health reasons. Radhakrishnan emphasized that a strong Opposition is an essential element of a functioning parliamentary democracy.
C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 15th Vice-President of India.
The Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The President of India administers the oath of office to the Vice-President.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Gyan Bharatam' portal, a dedicated digital repository aimed at digitising and preserving India's vast collection of ancient manuscripts. Speaking at an international conference, the PM highlighted that digitisation would curb 'intellectual piracy' and facilitate the sharing of traditional knowledge. India possesses the world's largest collection of manuscripts (approximately one crore), with only 10 lakh digitised so far. The initiative is part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission and aligns with the concepts of 'swadeshi' and 'atmanirbhar Bharat'. The project also involves international collaboration with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Mongolia to preserve shared cultural heritage.
The Gyan Bharatam portal is a digital repository for ancient Indian manuscripts.
Digitisation aims to protect traditional knowledge from being copied and patented by others.
India has roughly 10 million (one crore) manuscripts, representing a significant portion of human heritage.
The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to ensure 'upward mobility' for meritorious candidates with disabilities. The court ruled that if a candidate with a disability scores higher than the cut-off for the unreserved category, they should be moved to the unreserved list, leaving the reserved seat vacant for another person with a disability. The bench stated that denying this mobility defeats the purpose of reservation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and constitutes 'hostile discrimination.' This principle applies to both initial recruitment and promotions, ensuring that reservation serves its objective of opening windows for mainstream participation.
Meritorious candidates with disabilities who qualify on their own merit must be counted against unreserved seats.
This practice ensures that more people with disabilities can benefit from reservation quotas.
The court emphasized that the law must view disability as a lens to reveal institutional frameworks rather than a deficit.
Exam Points
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (Section 34).
Supreme Court Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
India was among 142 nations that voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the 'New York Declaration' on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue. The resolution supports the implementation of a two-state solution and calls for a clear public commitment from Israeli leadership toward a sovereign and viable Palestinian State. The resolution, introduced by France, was adopted with overwhelming support, while 10 nations voted against it and 12 abstained. This vote reaffirms India's long-standing support for a negotiated two-state solution and collective action to end the war in Gaza for a lasting regional settlement.
India supported a UNGA resolution for the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue.
The resolution endorses the 'New York Declaration' and the two-state solution.
142 nations voted in favour, while the U.S. and Israel were among those who voted against.
Exam Points
142 nations in favour, 10 against, 12 abstentions.
Resolution title: 'Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine'.
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