The Indian government has issued a notice to Meta, the parent company of Instagram, directing it to disable advertisements promoting child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSEAM). This action follows a BBC report highlighting such ads on Instagram. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has given Meta seven days to respond, threatening further action if compliance is not met. The government emphasizes its zero-tolerance policy towards CSEAM, citing IT Act 2000 provisions and IT Rules 2021 that mandate intermediaries to remove such content within 24 hours.
The Indian government has directed Meta to disable ads promoting child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSEAM) on Instagram.
The action was prompted by a BBC report that exposed the presence of such advertisements on the platform.
Meta has been given seven days to respond to the notice, with a warning of further action if compliance is not met.
Exam Points
Notice issued by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
IT Act, 2000 provides punishment for publishing obscene material and CSEAM.
IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 enforces obligations on intermediaries.
India has eased emergency gas supply curbs as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipments normalize following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The government had invoked emergency powers in March to prioritize gas supplies to essential sectors due to threats to traffic through the waterway, which affected about 65% of India's LNG imports from West Asia. While crude oil purchases were diversified, LNG supplies remained vulnerable. The easing of curbs indicates a restoration of normal supply chains and a reduction in the immediate threat to energy security.
India has eased emergency gas supply restrictions following the normalization of LNG shipments.
The curbs were imposed in March due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy imports.
About 65% of India's LNG supplies from West Asia pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country vulnerable to disruptions.
Exam Points
India is the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer.
India imports about 88% of its crude oil and half of its natural gas needs.
About 40-45% of crude oil imports and nearly 65% of LNG supplies come from West Asia.
Despite significant gains in maternal and child health, including increased institutional deliveries and women's empowerment, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in India have declined, according to NFHS-6 data. EBF, crucial for infant survival and development, fell from 63.7% in NFHS-5 to 55.8%. Experts attribute this paradox to growing economic pressures, informal employment, lack of maternity protection, inadequate workplace support, and erosion of traditional support networks. The decline is steeper in rural areas and is also linked to rising C-section rates and aggressive marketing of formula products.
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in India have declined, despite overall improvements in maternal and child health indicators.
The decline is attributed to economic pressures, lack of maternity protection, inadequate workplace support, and changing family structures.
Rising C-section rates and aggressive marketing of infant formula are also cited as contributing factors to the decline.
Exam Points
EBF declined from 63.7% in NFHS-5 to 55.8% in NFHS-6 (2023-24).
Early initiation of breastfeeding improved from 41.8% to 50.1%.
India's Asiatic lion conservation is a success story, with numbers increasing significantly, but the species remains vulnerable due to its confinement to a single population in Gujarat's Gir forest. Scientific consensus, supported by the Wildlife Institute of India and a 2013 Supreme Court judgment, mandates establishing a second, geographically separate population to mitigate risks from epidemics, natural disasters, or prey decline. Despite the Kuno National Park being prepared for translocation, Gujarat has resisted the move, creating a policy impasse. This delay risks turning a global conservation triumph into an ecological vulnerability.
The Asiatic lion population, despite its growth, remains vulnerable due to being confined to a single habitat in Gujarat's Gir forest.
Scientific bodies and the Supreme Court have advocated for establishing a second, geographically separate population for resilience.
Gujarat has resisted the translocation of lions to Kuno National Park, creating a policy impasse.
Exam Points
Asiatic lion population increased to approx. 891 today.
Supreme Court judgment of April 15, 2013, directed translocation to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The 2018 Canine Distemper Virus outbreak killed several lions.
Official claims of sustainable marine fish stocks in India are misleading, as the real crisis lies in the severe degradation of inshore fishing grounds. While the government reports high sustainability based on landing data, experts and fishers observe a consistent decline in catches and disappearance of species. This degradation is attributed to factors like dam construction, mangrove destruction, pollution, and critically, the uncontrolled expansion of mechanized trawling. The oversized trawler fleet, operating with weak regulations, continuously ploughs the seabed, destroying marine life and creating conflicts with small-scale fishers, pushing them to offshore zones.
Official claims of sustainable marine fish stocks in India are questioned due to the degradation of inshore fishing grounds.
The decline in inshore ecosystems is caused by factors such as dam construction, mangrove destruction, pollution, and uncontrolled mechanized trawling.
Mechanized trawling, an introduced method, has expanded significantly with weak regulations, damaging seabed ecology.
Exam Points
Government claims 91.1% of 135 fish stocks evaluated in 2022 were sustainable.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is more reserved in its assessment of Indian marine fisheries.
Odisha's Election Commission has published its draft electoral roll after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, revealing that over 20 lakh names were deleted. The deletions include deceased, absent, or shifted electors, and those enrolled in multiple places. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) criticized the EC for inconsistencies in voter figures, claiming a discrepancy between the initially stated number and the final draft. The CEO clarified that no name can be deleted without notice and a speaking order, and special camps will be held to enroll young voters and receive claims/objections.
Odisha's Election Commission published its draft electoral roll after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with over 20 lakh names deleted.
Deletions were primarily due to electors being deceased, absent, shifted, or enrolled in multiple places.
The BJD criticized the EC for inconsistencies in the total number of voters reported at different stages of the SIR process.
Exam Points
Odisha's draft roll has 3,13,87,034 names, down from 3,33,99,591 before SIR.
The Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, released the first instalment of ₹25,863 crore to States for the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G). This new Act, which came into effect on July 1, replaces MGNREGA. Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation. Concerns persist regarding the scheme's centralized planning, which relies on GIS-based platforms like Yuktdhara and PM Gati Shakti, potentially creating technological barriers and shifting financial burden onto States, moving away from a demand-driven, bottom-up approach.
The Union government has released the first instalment of ₹25,863 crore for the new VB-G RAM G Act.
The VB-G RAM G Act, effective July 1, replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The planning process for the new scheme is centralized, using GIS-based platforms like Yuktdhara and PM Gati Shakti.
Exam Points
First instalment released: ₹25,863 crore.
Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation: ₹3,210.76 crore.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the first ground test of the solid motor-based Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) at Sriharikota. SOLVE is a crucial component for Gaganyaan test missions, designed to carry the crew module to an altitude of 10-17 km for parachute tests. Derived from the PSLV Strap-on Motor with modifications, SOLVE's successful test demonstrates its capability to simulate various conditions for the crew module's deceleration system, marking a significant step towards India's human spaceflight mission.
ISRO has successfully conducted the first ground test of the SOLVE solid motor at Sriharikota.
SOLVE is a key component for the Gaganyaan mission, specifically for conducting Integrated Parachute Tests of the crew module.
The solid motor is derived from the PSLV Strap-on Motor with modifications for slow burn propellant and thrust vector control.
Exam Points
Test conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
SOLVE is derived from the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Strap-on Motor.
Crew module will be carried to an altitude of 10 km to 17 km.
India is set to host the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies meeting in Guwahati, starting Monday. Organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the meeting aims to transform BRICS cooperation from dialogue-centric to action-oriented. Key focus areas will include combating synthetic drugs, strengthening intelligence sharing, enhancing operational coordination, and capacity building. India, as chair, seeks to foster collaboration through information exchange on clandestine laboratories, emerging drug trends, precursor chemicals, and joint training programs to tackle drug-related threats effectively.
India is hosting the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies meeting in Guwahati.
The meeting aims to shift BRICS cooperation towards action-oriented collaboration in combating drug-related threats.
Key focus areas include synthetic drugs, intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building.
A cargo ship in the Red Sea reported being under attack by unknown armed assailants off the coast of Hodeida, Yemen. A skiff approached the bulk carrier and opened fire, prompting the ship's security guards to return fire. The skiff then retreated to a larger vessel with its automatic identification system switched off. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident, stating that the cargo ship and its crew were reported safe. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
A cargo ship was attacked by unknown armed assailants off the coast of Hodeida, Yemen, in the Red Sea.
A skiff opened fire on the bulk carrier, to which the ship's security guards responded with fire.
The skiff retreated to a larger vessel that had its automatic identification system switched off.
Exam Points
Incident occurred off Hodeida, Yemen.
Reported by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The city of Hodeida is under control of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
A new study in Scientific Reports reveals that climate change is causing a massive decline in bovine milk production, particularly in India's trans-Gangetic plains. High temperatures (over 38°C) combined with high humidity (over 70%) during summer and monsoon months significantly reduce milk yield in buffaloes and cross-bred cattle, as animals divert energy to regulate body temperature. Indigenous cattle breeds like Sahiwal and Hariana show more heat tolerance. The study highlights that heat stress also impacts fodder availability, increases pest/disease attacks, and could lead to a loss of 15 million tonnes of milk by 2050s, emphasizing the need for climate-resilient livestock management.
Climate change, specifically high temperatures and humidity, is causing a significant decline in bovine milk production in India's trans-Gangetic plains.
Lactating animals, especially buffaloes and cross-bred cattle, divert energy from milk production to regulate body temperature under heat stress.
Indigenous cattle breeds demonstrate greater heat tolerance due to adaptive traits like loose skin and efficient sweating.
Exam Points
Study published in Scientific Reports.
Data spanned over a decade, from 2004 to 2019.
High temperatures (over 38°C) and high humidity (over 70%) are critical factors.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have developed a synthetic cell capable of growth and division, a significant step in understanding the origins of life. The cell, initially a liposome, contained a protein-making system (PURE) and DNA. It "ate" by fusing with smaller feeder liposomes, producing a protein (alpha-hemolysin) that pulled in nutrients. The cell's DNA was copied by an enzyme (Phi29), and it was engineered to divide biologically by creating physical pressure from crowding proteins on its surface. This breakthrough demonstrates that cells can undergo selection, with faster-growing variants dominating the population.
Researchers have successfully developed a synthetic cell that can grow and divide.
The synthetic cell, starting as a liposome, contained a protein-making system and DNA.
It "ate" by fusing with feeder liposomes and produced a protein to pull in nutrients.
Exam Points
Developed by researchers from the University of Minnesota.
The cell used a protein-making system called PURE.
The DNA consisted of 90,000 base pairs.
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