Daily Current Affairs 2025  

07/08/2025

WhatsApp Email Facebook Share

Daily News

Why in news?
Recently, in Bihar, the SIR process attracted significant attention because about 6.5 million names were removed from the voter list, triggering political debates and legal challenges.
 
What is SIR ?
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an election-related process carried out to conduct an extensive and detailed revision of the electoral roll (voter list).
The main goal of SIR is to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and up-to-date status of the voter list, especially ahead of major elections.

Key Points About SIR:
 

• Purpose: SIR aims to remove outdated, duplicate, deceased, or migrated voters' names from the list and add new eligible voters.
• Public Participation: After the draft list is released, citizens and political parties can file objections regarding inclusions or deletions. These objections must be addressed before the final list is published.
• Outcome: Results in a more accurate and purified electoral roll at both assembly and booth levels.

 
Need for Special Intensive Revision
 
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is needed to ensure the accuracy, inclusiveness, and integrity of the electoral roll (voter list) before major elections or when significant errors, outdated records, or demographic changes have occurred.
 
Key reasons for SIR include:
 

• Removing ineligible or duplicate voters: Over time, voter lists accumulate names of people who have died, moved away, or are registered at multiple places. SIR identifies and deletes these entries to prevent fraud and uphold the principle of "one person, one vote".
• Including newly eligible or previously omitted voters: SIR adds names of new voters (such as those who recently turned 18) and inserts those who may have been missed in earlier revisions, ensuring inclusive participation.
• Updating for migration and demographic shifts: With urbanization, migration, and shifting populations, many people change constituencies. SIR helps align the voter list with actual, current residents.
• Correcting errors and aligning with constituency boundaries: It fixes mistakes, addresses incorrect entries, and updates the list according to any changes in constituency borders or administrative units.
• Building public trust and transparency: By cleaning the rolls and allowing public objections to the draft list, SIR increases faith in the electoral process and reduces suspicions of bias or manipulation.
• Legal and logistical readiness for elections: The Election Commission is legally mandated to maintain error-free voter rolls to support fair and transparent elections and comply with constitutional and legislative standards.

 
How does SIR improve the accuracy of voter identification data?
 
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) improves the accuracy of voter identification data through systematic, direct verification and robust cleansing of the electoral rolls.
 
Key mechanisms by which SIR enhances accuracy include:
 

• Door-to-door verification: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conduct household visits to verify the identity, current address, and eligibility of each voter, eliminating duplicate entries and ensuring only eligible individuals are registered.
• Correction and error removal: The process identifies and removes outdated, duplicate, deceased, or migrated voters, minimizing fraud and upholding the one-person-one-vote principle.
• Inclusion of missing eligible voters: SIR ensures that newly eligible and previously omitted citizens (such as new adults, migrants, or marginalized groups) are included by comprehensive household surveys.
• Standardized forms and documentation: Forms such as 6, 7, 8, and 6B manage new entries, objections, corrections, and voluntary Aadhaar-voter ID linkage, offering a transparent and precise update process.
• Public participation and transparency: After draft lists are published, citizens can examine, object to, or correct entries, increasing accountability and encouraging accuracy.
• Use of technology: Integration of digital verification tools, mobile apps, and voluntary Aadhaar-voter ID linkage helps reduce duplicates and strengthens data integrity, while maintaining voter privacy.
• Oversight and review: Electoral Registration Officers and independent observers supervise the process, addressing grievances and ensuring compliance with established standards.
• Special inclusive measures: Specific outreach, such as camps for marginalized groups and multilingual helplines, help ensure harder-to-reach populations are accurately enumerated.

 
How might SIR influence electoral fairness in border states like Bihar?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can significantly influence electoral fairness in border states like Bihar in several ways:
 
Risks of Disenfranchisement and Political Impact
 

• However, the SIR in Bihar has raised concerns over potential disenfranchisement of millions of genuine voters, especially marginalized groups such as migrants, the poor, minorities, and those lacking formal documentation. The requirement for documentary proof of residence or birth has excluded a large number of people who may not have such documents due to socioeconomic challenges. This raises the risk of unfair exclusion from the electoral process, which can influence election outcomes, especially in constituencies with narrow margins.

 
Allegations of Targeted Disenfranchisement
 

• There are fears that the SIR process, intentionally or unintentionally, may disproportionately impact voters from communities less likely to support the ruling party, potentially altering the political landscape. The thorough re-verification and document demands are viewed by some as a form of political engineering that could skew electoral fairness.

 
Legal and Constitutional Controversies

 

• The SIR has been subject to legal scrutiny, with the Supreme Court examining whether the Election Commission’s actions overreach its powers, such as conducting mass citizenship re-verifications beyond its mandate. The process has sparked debates about the balance between safeguarding electoral rolls and protecting voters’ constitutional rights.

 
Operational Challenges and Administrative Capacity
 

• The massive scale and tight timelines of SIR create administrative challenges that can lead to errors, confusion, and incomplete verifications, further threatening the fairness of the process.

 
What legal provisions empower ECI to conduct SIR and ensure transparency?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is empowered to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls through a combination of constitutional provisions and statutory laws designed to ensure transparency, accuracy, and fairness in elections.
 
Key legal provisions empowering and regulating the SIR process include:
 
Article 324 of the Constitution of India
 

• This article vests the ECI with the superintendence, direction, and control of elections in India, including the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. It grants the Commission broad powers to act independently to ensure free and fair elections.

 
Article 326 of the Constitution
 

• Guarantees universal adult suffrage by allowing every Indian citizen aged 18 or above (subject to disqualifications by law) to vote. This underpins the ECI’s mandate to maintain an accurate electoral roll inclusive of all eligible voters.

 
Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950
 

• Section 15: Mandates that electoral rolls be prepared “under the superintendence, direction and control” of the ECI.
• Section 16: Defines qualifications and disqualifications for voter registration, including citizenship requirements.
• Section 21(3): Empowers the ECI to conduct revisions of electoral rolls “in such manner as it thinks fit,” including special revisions at any time with recorded reasons. This section is the direct statutory basis for conducting SIR exercises.
• Section 23 and Section 24: Provide mechanisms for verification of electoral eligibility by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and appeal procedures for objections.

 
Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
 

• These rules provide detailed procedures for preparation, updating, and revision of electoral rolls, including summary and special intensive revisions.

 
Supreme Court Judgments and Judicial Precedents
 

• The Supreme Court has upheld the ECI’s broad powers under Article 324 to ensure free and fair elections, including the authority to revise electoral rolls comprehensively. In the Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner case (1977), the Court recognized the ECI’s discretion and limited judicial interference during elections.
• The judiciary has emphasized the need for transparency, natural justice, and prompt resolution of objections while allowing the ECI to act practically and swiftly.

 
Transparency Measures Mandated by ECI Guidelines
 

• During SIR, house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) is conducted with public participation and political party involvement through Booth Level Agents (BLAs).
• Documents supporting inclusion or deletion of names are uploaded on secure electronic platforms (e.g., ECINET), accessible only to authorized officials to balance transparency with privacy.
• Draft electoral rolls and objections are published for public scrutiny, with mechanisms to file claims and appeals ensuring accountable roll revision.

 
What role do Supreme Court rulings play in confirming ECI’s powers for SIR?

The Supreme Court rulings play a crucial role in confirming and upholding the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) powers to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Here’s how the Supreme Court contributes to reinforcing the ECI’s authority for SIR:
 
Judicial Endorsement of ECI’s Broad Powers

• The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional mandate under Article 324, which empowers the ECI with superintendence, direction, and control over elections, including electoral roll revisions. This broad discretionary power is essential for conducting comprehensive exercises like SIR.

 
Balancing ECI’s Authority and Voter Rights

• Through various judgments, such as in the Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner case (1977), the Court has recognized the ECI’s discretion in electoral matters while ensuring it does not overstep legal limits or infringe on voters’ constitutional rights. The Court encourages that the ECI’s processes be transparent, fair, and inclusive.

 
Ensuring Transparency and Due Process

• The Supreme Court mandates the ECI to follow due process, including publishing drafts, allowing objections, resolving grievances promptly, and making reasons for name deletions public. This oversight ensures SIR is conducted with accountability and avoids arbitrary or discriminatory exclusion of voters.

 
Preventing Judicial Overreach into Election Management

• The Court typically restrains itself from interfering unnecessarily with the ECI’s technical and administrative decisions during elections unless there is clear violation of law or rights. This judicial deference helps ECI execute critical tasks like SIR efficiently and without undue delay.

 
Addressing Disputes and Legal Challenges

• When challenges arise concerning the conduct or scope of SIR, the Supreme Court adjudicates those matters to clarify the lawful extent of ECI’s powers. Its rulings set precedents that guide future election-related revisions and ensure uniform standards.

   
Why in news?
 
Govt says over 50,000 buses, 1,800 buildings made accessible under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
 
What is Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan?
 
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Accessible India Campaign, is a flagship nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on December 3, 2015, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 
 
Aim -  Its aim is to create a universally accessible environment for persons with disabilities (PwDs) across India.
 
The campaign focuses on three critical domains for universal accessibility:
 

• Built environment accessibility: Removing barriers in physical environments like government buildings, schools, hospitals, public spaces, and workplaces by making them inclusive and accessible with features such as ramps, accessible toilets, proper signage, and more. Audits are regularly conducted to ensure adherence to accessibility standards, aligned with international norms like ISO 21542:2011.
• Transportation system accessibility: Making railways, buses, airports, taxis, and other transport modes accessible for PwDs so they can travel independently and with dignity. The campaign has ensured accessibility features in over 1,600 government buildings, 709 major railway stations, and tens of thousands of buses.
• Information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystem accessibility: Ensuring access to information through accessible government websites, public TV programs with sign language and captioning, and an increase in trained sign language interpreters. Efforts include making websites comply with WCAG 2.0 standards and enhancing digital accessibility.

 
The initiative promotes inclusive growth under the vision "Accessible India. Empowered India." It also encourages public and private organizations to contribute via CSR funds to develop accessible infrastructure. The Sugamya Bharat App was launched to address grievances, provide information, and monitor accessibility outcomes.
 
Since its launch, the campaign has marked significant achievements:
 
Key milestones achieved by Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) since its launch in 2015 include:
 
Built Environment Accessibility:

• Audited 1,671 government buildings for accessibility.
• Retrofitted 1,748 government buildings, including 1,100 central government and 648 state/UT buildings.
• Allocated ?562 crore for renovation and retrofitting of 1,314 buildings to incorporate accessibility features.

 
Transportation Accessibility:

• Made all 35 international airports and 55 out of 69 domestic airports accessible with features like ramps, accessible toilets, help desks, lifts with Braille and auditory systems.
• Made 709 railway stations accessible, with nearly 500 stations adapted by Indian Railways through installation of lifts, escalators, and other facilities.
• Thousands of buses have been upgraded to be accessible for persons with disabilities.

 
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility:

• Made 95 Central Government and 676 State government websites compliant with accessibility standards.
• Developed training programs for 10,000 web developers on accessibility standards compliance (e.g., WCAG 2.0).
• Expanded the availability of sign language interpreters and accessible TV programming including daily captioning and sign language interpretation.

 
Education and Language Accessibility:

• Trained over 1,000 individuals in Indian Sign Language through the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).

 
Media Accessibility:

• Enhanced accessibility in public broadcast media with features like sign language interpretation and captioning.

 
Other Initiatives:

• Launch of the Sugamya Bharat App, a crowdsourcing platform that empowers users to report accessibility issues in infrastructure, transport, and information systems.

• Initiatives to make 75 pilgrimage sites accessible.

• Sector-specific accessibility guidelines developed and being implemented in various government ministries.

• Ongoing training workshops for access auditors and public works officers to sustain and expand accessibility efforts.

• Significant financial commitment with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities’ budget increasing over the decade, signaling strong government support.

 
How are the campaign's objectives integrated into national disability policies after 2015?
 
Incorporation into RPwD Act Implementation:

• The RPwD Act, enacted in 2016 and operationalized from 2017, serves as the primary legal framework for disability rights in India, expanding protections and recognizing 21 types of disabilities.
• It includes enforceable provisions for accessibility in built environments, transportation, information and communication technologies, and public facilities—directly reflecting the goals of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
• Thus, the campaign’s mission of universal accessibility is embedded within the Act’s rights-based approach to disability.

 
Scheme for Implementation of RPwD Act (SIPDA):

• SIPDA, revised and expanded since January 2016, functions as an umbrella scheme providing financial assistance and coordination for activities under the RPwD Act, including the creation of barrier-free environments as modeled by Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
• This scheme supports central and state governments, autonomous bodies, and universities in implementing accessibility infrastructure, accessible websites, and awareness generation.
• By absorbing the campaign’s initiatives into SIPDA, India ensures continuity and multi-sectoral collaboration across ministries and states to advance accessibility.

 
Continued Accessibility Targets within National Frameworks:

• Although Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan was initially planned to conclude by March 2024, its objectives have been mainstreamed and sustained through the Creation of Barrier-Free Environment Scheme under SIPDA.
• This transition enshrines the campaign’s milestones—such as retrofitting public buildings, accessible transport, and web accessibility—into ongoing national disability development plans, reinforcing the campaign as part of a long-term policy commitment.

 
Alignment with International Commitments:

• As part of India’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the campaign’s integration into the RPwD Act and SIPDA supports India’s international obligations for providing equal access and non-discrimination rights for persons with disabilities.

 
 
   
Why in news?
 
India’s upcoming carbon market, expected to launch in 2026, is positioning biochar as a crucial technology to help reduce carbon dioxide levels.
 
What is Biochar?
 
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by the pyrolysis of biomass, such as wood chips, plant residues, or agricultural waste, in an oxygen-limited environment.
It is essentially a form of charcoal but designed for organic use, primarily as a soil amendment to improve soil health and fertility.
 
Key aspects of biochar include:
 

• Production: Biochar is created by heating organic biomass without oxygen (pyrolysis), which stabilizes the carbon and prevents it from quickly decomposing.

 

• Soil benefits: It enhances soil aeration, increases water and nutrient retention, reduces soil acidity, and decreases nutrient leaching. It also supports beneficial soil microbes by providing a habitat due to its porous structure.

 

• Environmental impact: Biochar can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the soil, such as nitrous oxide and methane, both potent greenhouse gases. Its stability allows it to sequester carbon in soils for hundreds to thousands of years, thus helping mitigate climate change.

 

• Uses: Besides soil amendment, biochar can be used in water treatment, land reclamation, and as an additive in animal fodder. It is noted for improving crop productivity especially in degraded soils and regions with limited water or fertilizers.

 
Biochar's significance comes from its dual role in improving soil quality and acting as a long-term carbon sink that contributes to sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation strategies.
 
How will India’s upcoming carbon market boost biochar adoption?
 
India’s upcoming carbon market, expected to launch in 2026, will significantly boost biochar adoption by creating a financial incentive for carbon removal through biochar production and use. The carbon market will enable biochar producers and users to earn carbon credits based on the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent their biochar sequesters.
 
Key ways the carbon market will drive biochar adoption include:
 
Economic incentives: Farmers and businesses involved in biochar production can generate revenue from selling carbon credits, offsetting costs and improving profitability.
 
Waste to value: The market emphasizes usage of agricultural residue (over 600 million metric tonnes annually), much of which is otherwise burnt, causing pollution. Turning this waste into biochar aligns with carbon trading goals.
 
Scaling impact: With anticipated coordinated policies, standardized carbon accounting, and monitoring frameworks, biochar projects can scale sustainably and transparently, attracting further investment.
 
Enhanced benefits: Besides carbon removal, biochar adoption through the carbon market supports sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, increasing crop yields by 10–30%, and reducing fertilizer dependency.
 
Market confidence: The carbon market framework provides credibility and a structured mechanism to monetize biochar’s environmental benefits, encouraging wider stakeholder participation including farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors.
 
In essence, India’s carbon market will help unlock the economic and environmental potential of biochar by integrating it into a formal carbon credit system, thus accelerating biochar production, application, and associated climate and agricultural benefits across the country.
 

  The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 is a significant new legislation passed by the Parliament to modernize and replace the nearly century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
 
Key objectives include:
 

• Promoting ease of doing business by simplifying the legal provisions related to sea cargo transportation, reducing complexity and litigation risks.
• Enhancing transparency, clarity, and commercial efficiency in maritime trade contracts including clear allocation of liabilities and responsibilities among carriers, consignees, and others.
• Enabling the central government with regulatory flexibility to issue directions and amend rules dynamically in response to changing trade practices.
• Aligning India’s maritime legal framework with global best practices to boost India’s competitiveness in international shipping and attract investment.
• Supporting India’s broader vision of becoming a globally trusted and future-ready maritime trade hub by shedding colonial-era legal remnants.
• Facilitating India’s participation in international trade agreements and complying with international maritime conventions.

 
Key features of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 include:
 

• It updates and replaces the outdated colonial-era law to align India’s maritime trade laws with global best practices and international maritime standards, specifically adopting the globally recognized Hague-Visby Rules.

 

• The Bill sets out clear responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities for the carriage of goods by sea from Indian ports, bringing more clarity and reducing the complexity of legal aspects in maritime trade.

 

• It grants the central government the authority to issue directions for the implementation of the Bill and to amend rules related to bills of lading, which are key shipping documents listing details about the goods carried.

 

• The legislation aims to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, enhance transparency, and improve commercial efficiency for exporters, importers, and shipping companies.

 

• It promotes ease of doing business in India’s shipping sector and supports the government's broader vision of making India a globally trusted maritime trade hub.

 

• The Bill was passed with broad bipartisan support and is part of a series of reforms to make India’s maritime sector future-ready, supporting the country’s ambitions to grow as a major economic power.

  The CCS Building refers to the Common Central Secretariat, a modern complex of 10 interconnected office buildings under construction in New Delhi as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.
It is designed to house the central government ministries and departments, consolidating offices currently scattered across older buildings like Shastri Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, and Udyog Bhavan into a single, energy-efficient campus.
 
Key points about the CCS Buildings:
 

• The project aims to enhance administrative efficiency by bringing most government ministries under one roof, replacing aging colonial-era buildings.

 

• The first CCS building, named Kartavya Bhavan, was inaugurated by P M Modi in August 2025. It accommodates important ministries including Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office.

 

• Ten CCS buildings are planned, expected to be completed by June 2027, with buildings 1, 2, and 3 nearly finished, and building 10 scheduled for completion by April 2026.

 

• The buildings are located along Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), with temporary relocation of ministries underway from their older offices for ongoing construction.

 

• The CCS project includes state-of-the-art features for energy efficiency such as heat-reducing glass, LED lights, smart power management, and sensors.

 

• The redevelopment initiative also involves creating a new Executive Enclave for the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat, and National Security Council Secretariats, along with transforming the historic North and South Blocks into museums.

 

• This transformation represents a shift of about 54,000 government personnel into modern, well-planned office spaces to facilitate better coordination and governance.

 
Thus, the CCS Building is a critical element of India's administrative modernization, designed as a cluster of new government office buildings replacing older secretariat structures in New Delhi.


  Sylheti is a distinct Eastern Indo-Aryan language with a rich history, unique script tradition, and a significant speaker base primarily in northeastern South Asia and diaspora communities, valued both for communication and cultural identity.
 

Key points about the Sylheti language include:
 

• Sylheti is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 11 million people mainly in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh, parts of India (Assam and Tripura), and diaspora communities in the UK, US, Canada, and the Middle East.

 

• It evolved from Magadhi Prakrit and has distinct phonological and grammatical features that set it apart from standard Bengali, making it not fully mutually intelligible with Bengali, though sometimes considered a dialect.

 

• Phonologically, Sylheti is tonal, which is rare among Indo-Aryan languages. It has a reduced phoneme inventory compared to Bengali, marked by loss of breathiness and aspiration contrasts and the development of tonal contrasts that distinguish word meanings.

 

• Historically, Sylheti used its own script called Sylheti Nagri, used mainly for religious and Sufi poetry. This script reflects Sylheti's phonology closely, was culturally significant, but declined by mid-20th century. Today Sylheti is mostly written using Bengali script in Bangladesh and Latin script in diaspora communities.

 

• The language carries strong Perso-Arabic vocabulary influences, introduced during the Muslim conquest of Sylhet in 1303 CE, reflecting the region's Islamic and Sufi cultural heritage.

 

• Sylheti exists in a diglossic context with Standard Bengali, often used colloquially alongside it, with Bengali used formally in education and administration.

 

• Recent linguistic work and cultural efforts focus on preserving and reviving Sylheti's unique linguistic and literary traditions, including the Sylheti Nagri script.

 
These features underline Sylheti's distinct linguistic identity within the Bengali-speaking region and its rich cultural history.


     
 
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was an arms control agreement signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union (later Russia) 
The treaty was a response to the nuclear arms race of the Cold War and sought to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict, particularly in Europe, by eliminating missiles that threatened allied countries.
 
Key points about the INF Treaty:
 

• Signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987.
• Took effect on June 1, 1988.
• Banned intermediate-range and shorter-range ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles, but not air- or sea-launched missiles.
• Included on-site inspections and verification mechanisms unprecedented at the time.

 
Features of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty are:
 

• The treaty required elimination of all nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,420 miles).
• Both parties had to destroy specific missile systems: the US dismantled Pershing II, Pershing IA and IB, and BGM-109G cruise missiles; the Soviet Union dismantled SS-20, SS-4, SS-5, SS-12, SS-23 ballistic missiles, and SSC-X-4 cruise missiles.
• The treaty banned production, possession, and flight-testing of these intermediate-range missiles and their launchers, but did not cover air- or sea-launched missiles.
• Destruction of missiles included associated equipment such as training missiles, rocket stages, launch canisters, and launchers.
• The treaty mandated destruction of 2,692 missiles within three years.
• Included extensive verification measures such as intrusive on-site inspections, exchanges of data, and national technical means like satellite monitoring.
• Provided for mutual inspections: up to 20 short-notice inspections per year initially, decreasing over time with inspections concluding in 2001.
• Each party had the right to withdraw with six months' notice if they felt extraordinary events threatened their interests.
• The INF Treaty was the first arms control agreement to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons and played a vital role in reducing Cold War nuclear tensions.
• The treaty collapsed after US accusations of Russian violations, leading the US to withdraw in 2019, followed by Russia ending its commitment in 2025, effectively ending the treaty.

 
Why did Russia officially end its commitment to the INF Treaty in 2025?
 

• Russia officially ended its commitment to the INF Treaty in 2025 because it declared that the conditions for maintaining the treaty had "disappeared" and that it no longer considers itself bound by the previous self-imposed restrictions.
• Moscow cited what it described as a "direct threat" to its security caused by the actions of Western countries, including the deployment of missile systems near Russia's borders, such as the U.S. Typhon missile launcher in the Philippines and missile tests in Australia.
• Russia characterized these developments as destabilizing missile potentials that posed significant harmful consequences for regional and global stability.
• Additionally, Russia pointed to rising political and military tensions with the U.S. and NATO, and the fact that other countries like China were not bound by the treaty, further undermining Moscow's adherence to it.
• This announcement came several years after the United States formally withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations.
• Russia had initially maintained a self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles but lifted that in 2025, effectively ending its participation in the treaty.

 

   
Why in news?
 
A major cloudburst struck Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, causing severe flash floods that led to at least five deaths and over 50 people missing.
 
How does the rapid vertical movement of moist air cause cloudbursts in Uttarakhand?
 
The rapid vertical movement of moist air causes cloudbursts in Uttarakhand primarily through a process called orographic lifting. Here's how it works:
 

• Warm, moist air from low-lying areas is forced upward suddenly when it encounters the steep slopes of the Himalayas.
• As this air rises, the atmospheric pressure decreases, causing the air to expand and cool adiabatically (without heat exchange).
• When the air cools to its dew point, the water vapor condenses into cloud droplets, forming large cumulonimbus clouds rich in moisture.
• Strong updrafts within these clouds keep water droplets and ice particles suspended, preventing precipitation initially.
• Eventually, the cloud becomes saturated and heavy with moisture. When the updrafts weaken or droplets grow large enough, the water falls rapidly as intense rainfall—a cloudburst.
• This sudden, highly localized downpour can release over 100 mm of rain in an hour, triggering flash floods and landslides.

 
Additional factors intensify this process:
 

• The steep topography accelerates the upward movement of moist air.
• Rapid vertical convection and atmospheric instability enhance cloud formation.
• Processes like Langmuir precipitation help raindrops grow quickly before falling.
• Sometimes the mixing of warm moist air with cooler air at high altitudes contributes to rapid condensation.

 
The key factors that differentiate cloudbursts from regular heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand are:
 
Rainfall Intensity and Duration:

• A cloudburst is defined as an extremely intense rainfall event where rainfall exceeds 100 millimeters (10 cm) in one hour or less over a small geographic area (typically around 20 to 30 square kilometers, sometimes as small as 1 square kilometer).
• Regular heavy rainfall may involve substantial rain but usually does not reach such high intensity in such a short period or over such a small, localized area.

Geographic and Meteorological Conditions:

• Cloudbursts predominantly occur in hilly and mountainous regions like Uttarakhand due to orographic lift, where warm, moist air quickly rises over mountains, cools down suddenly, and condenses into heavy rain.
• Regular heavy rainfall can happen over larger areas and longer periods and is not necessarily linked to rapid orographic lifting.

Suddenness and Impact:

• Cloudbursts cause sudden, localized, and very intense precipitation leading to flash floods, landslides, and significant destruction, often overwhelming local drainage capacity.
• Heavy rainfall, while it can cause flooding, usually has a less abrupt onset and affects broader regions over a longer timeframe.

Accompanying Weather Features:

• Cloudbursts often come with strong winds, lightning, and thunder due to rapid vertical cloud development (cumulonimbus clouds).
• Regular heavy rains may or may not have such violent weather phenomena.

Prediction and Monitoring Difficulty:

• Due to their localized and brief nature, cloudbursts are notoriously difficult to predict or detect in advance, whereas forecasts for heavy rainfall are generally more reliable.

   
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
 
Headquarter- Kingston, Jamaica
Members - 170, including 169 states and the European Union
 
Why in news?
New deep sea mining rules lack consensus
 
The primary points of contention include:
 

• A coalition of countries led by Chile and supported by about 37 other nations is pushing for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining until scientific understanding of environmental impacts improves.
• Consensus eludes issues such as financial mechanisms, benefit-sharing, and the adequacy of environmental safeguards.
• Several states and industry actors are eager to commence commercial mining quickly to secure critical minerals essential for technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy, while others advocate for more cautious, science-based approaches.
• The United States, not being a party to UNCLOS or ISA, has issued directives to fast-track seabed mining permits under a 1980 US law, circumventing ISA's framework. This has led to companies like The Metals Company applying directly for US permits, prompting ISA investigations.
• The ISA’s 30th session in July 2025 did not result in adoption of the Mining Code or a moratorium. The session also saw procedural disputes over rushed timelines and limits on participation by smaller delegations and civil society observers.
• Environmental groups and independent scientists warn that proceeding with deep-sea mining without robust protections risks irreversible damage to fragile ocean ecosystems.

 
 
ISA’s key functions include:
 

• Regulating deep-sea mining and exploration activities in the international seabed area by issuing licenses and contracts to private and state entities.
• Ensuring equitable sharing of financial and economic benefits derived from seabed mineral activities, especially considering developing countries and disadvantaged states.
• Protecting the marine environment by adopting rules, regulations, and procedures to prevent, reduce, and control pollution and harmful impacts from deep-sea mining.
• Promoting marine scientific research and capacity-building related to seabed resources.
• Developing a legal framework and the Mining Code for responsible and sustainable mining activities.

 
Governance of the ISA comprises:
 

• An Assembly consisting of all members, which is the supreme authority for setting policies and budgets.
• A Council of 36 elected members serving as the executive authority approving contracts and overseeing implementation.
• A Secretary-General, nominated by the Council and elected by the Assembly, serving a four-year term.

 
 
Key points about ISA in the Indian context:
 

• India has been a member of the ISA since 1995 as a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• India currently holds two active exploration contracts with ISA for the international seabed area in the Indian Ocean:
• Exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, with a contract signed in 2002 and extended until 2027.
• Exploration of polymetallic sulphides along the Indian Ocean Ridge (Carlsberg Ridge), with a contract signed in 2016 valid until 2031.
• India holds exploration rights for about 75,000 square kilometers in the Central Indian Ocean, an area allocated by ISA for exploratory mining.
• Indian research institutions like the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) are actively working on environment friendly and efficient technologies for mining and processing polymetallic nodules and other seabed minerals.

   
Why in news?
 
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) has been officially classified as a carcinogenic virus by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), putting it in the same category as hepatitis B and C viruses regarding cancer risk.

 
Key points regarding Hepatitis D and cancer risk are:
 

• HDV can only infect people already infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Co-infection with HDV and HBV significantly increases the risk of developing liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) by 2 to 6 times compared to hepatitis B infection alone.
• Around 75% of people chronically infected with HDV develop liver cirrhosis within 15 years, a precursor condition that can lead to liver cancer.
• The combined infection causes more aggressive liver disease progression, with more rapid progression to cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer, making hepatitis D the most severe form of viral hepatitis.
• Transmission occurs through blood and bodily fluids similar to HBV, and prevention is mainly through hepatitis B vaccination, which indirectly protects against hepatitis D.
• Despite hepatitis D being less common than hepatitis B alone, its high carcinogenic potential means it has a disproportionately severe impact on liver cancer burden globally.

 
Treatments for hepatitis D
 

• Bulevirtide is the only currently approved and widely used therapy with proven effectiveness and a good safety profile for chronic hepatitis D.
• It achieves viral suppression in most patients and improves liver inflammation.
• Other promising treatments are in advanced clinical trials and may soon provide additional options.
• These advances make hepatitis D a potentially manageable disease going forward, especially when combined with hepatitis B vaccination for prevention.

 

Download Pdf