Daily Current Affairs – 1 July 2025

Welcome to your one-stop destination for crisp, reliable, and exam-relevant Daily Current Affairs. The PRESS Pad delivers daily updates and smart summaries that go beyond the headlines and align perfectly with the evolving pattern of UPSC and other state-level examinations.

Today's edition features key updates including FFD4, A World of Debt Report 2025, NIF Progress Report 2025, RBI’s Biannual Financial Stability Report (FSR), Digital India Mission, India’s Evolving Carbon Market Framework, Wilmington Declaration, QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission, Altermagnets, Disaster Alert Systems, Mahabodhi temple, Santhal Rebellion, WaveX, Reservation in Supreme Court, Andaman Sea and more…

Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).

Seven-Point Strategy to Mobilise Private Capital for Sustainable Development

Announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), UN, Seville, Spain

1. Strengthen domestic financial markets – Enhance the banking system to channel credit efficiently.

2. Deepen capital markets – Expand debt and equity markets to raise funds for infrastructure and industrial growth.(Capital markets = platforms like stock exchanges where businesses raise long-term funds)

3. Address perceived risks via institutional reforms – Build investor confidence by reforming governance structures.

4. Establish independent regulators – Ensure transparent and accountable oversight.

5. Promote ease of doing business – Simplify regulatory processes and reduce red tape.

6. Launch well-prepared project pipeline – Create investment-ready and de-risked projects to attract private players.(De-risked = projects with reduced uncertainties, making them safer for investment)

7. Ensure project scale – Offer large-scale opportunities to mobilize significant capital flows.

8. Scale up blended finance – Combine public, private, and concessional finance to spread investment risk.(Blended finance = strategic use of public funds to attract private investment)

9. Use innovative instruments – Leverage tools like sovereign green bonds and impact investment funds.(Green bonds = debt issued to fund environmentally friendly projects; Impact investment = investments that deliver social or environmental benefits alongside financial returns)

10. Role of MDBs and DFIs – Strengthen support from Multilateral Development Banks and Development Finance Institutions to co-finance sustainable initiatives.(MDBs/DFIs = institutions that provide financial and technical support to developing countries)

11. Reform international credit rating systems – Adapt methods to better reflect the long-term resilience of Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).(Resilience = ability to recover from shocks like climate events or financial crises)

12. Unlock grassroots capital – Improve access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially at the local level.

13. Support underserved groups – Target rural communities and women-led MSMEs for inclusive growth.

Why Private Capital is Crucial for Sustainable Development

1. Catalytic force – Private investment drives productivity, innovation, and demand across sectors.

2. Bridging the finance gap – UNCTAD estimates a US$2.5 trillion annual shortfall in critical areas like education, healthcare, and climate action.(UNCTAD = United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)

3. Promotes inclusion – Expands financial access to underrepresented groups, ensuring no one is left behind.

United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) released A World of Debt Report 2025

1. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released the “A World of Debt Report 2025”, warning of a dramatic surge in global public debt (GPD), worsened by recent cascading crises such as pandemics, conflicts, and climate shocks.

2. As per the report, global public debt reached a historic high of $102 trillion in 2024, raising alarm over its unsustainable growth trajectory.

3. If current trends continue unchecked, GPD could rise to 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade, posing serious risks to economic stability, especially in the Global South.

4. Although developing countries hold less than one-third of the debt—around $31 trillion—their debt levels have grown twice as fast as those in developed countries since 2010, reflecting a growing disparity in global finance.

5. Within developing regions, Asia and Oceania account for 24% of global public debt, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (5%), and Africa (just 2%), underlining uneven distribution and vulnerability.

6. The crisis is deepened by high borrowing costs faced by developing countries, which are 2 to 4 times higher than those of advanced economies like the United States.

7. As a result, a record 61 developing countries are now allocating 10% or more of their government revenues just to interest payments, squeezing fiscal space for development.

8. This mounting debt burden is leading to widening development financing gaps, falling aid inflows, and serious constraints on essential public investments in education, health, and infrastructure.

9. Despite the risks, public debt—when well-managed—remains a vital tool to finance development expenditure, complement domestic savings, provide foreign exchange, and stimulate growth or counter economic downturns.

10. To address the crisis, the UN Secretary-General’s Expert Group on Public Debt has recommended a mix of multilateral, cooperative, and national-level reforms for sustainable debt management.

11. Key multilateral reforms include: institutionalising debt service pauses during global crises, reforming the G20 Common Framework (a mechanism for sovereign debt restructuring), and rechanneling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust to support vulnerable nations.

12. On the international cooperation front, the report urges the creation of a shared global information hub that can offer technical assistance and promote the use of innovative financial instruments like debt swaps and sustainability-linked bonds.

13. At the national level, countries must strengthen institutional capacities to tackle liquidity risks (short-term cash shortfalls), manage currency mismatches, improve the quality of investment pipelines, and maximize the development impact of debt-for-development swaps.

National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025

Released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

1. NIF is India’s official framework to track progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. It provides data-backed monitoring at the national level, reflecting India’s SDG commitment.

Key Progress Under SDG Goals

SDG 2 – Zero Hunger

• Agricultural productivity improved significantly over the years.

• ncome per agricultural worker rose from ₹61,247 (2015–16) to ₹94,110 (2024–25).(Agricultural productivity = Output per worker, key for rural income and food security)

SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation

• Access to safe drinking water in rural areas rose from 94.57% to 99.62% between 2015–16 and 2024–25.

• This marks near-universal coverage in rural water access, improving health and sanitation.

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

• Renewable energy share in installed capacity increased from 16.02% to 22.13% (2015–2025).

• Per capita renewable energy generation surged from 64.04 to 156.31 watts (2014–15 to 2024–25).(Watts per capita = energy generated per person; reflects access and sustainability)

SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Social protection coverage jumped from 22% in 2016 to 64.3% in 2025.(Social protection = pensions, insurance, welfare schemes protecting vulnerable populations)

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Emission intensity of GDP reduced by 36% from 2005 to 2020.(Emission intensity = emissions per unit of GDP; lower value shows greener growth)

SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality

• Gini coefficient of household expenditure declined in both rural and urban areas.(Gini = measure of inequality; 0 = perfect equality, 1 = perfect inequality)

• Rural Gini fell from 0.283 (2011–12) to 0.237 (2023–24), and

• Urban Gini dropped from 0.363 to 0.284 during the same period.

  
  

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

• Waste processing rate improved sharply from 17.97% (2015–16) to 80.7% (2024–25).(Reflects progress in solid waste management and sustainable urban planning)

SDG 15 – Life on Land

• Forest cover expanded from 21.34% (2015) to 21.76% (2023), supporting biodiversity.

Read More: Release of SDG Publications on 19th Statistics Day

Key Areas of Concern Highlighted

1. Adolescent birth rate among girls is on the rise – a concern for health and gender equity.

2. Road accident fatalities have increased, raising alarms on transport safety.

3. Issuance of Soil Health Cards declined, affecting informed agricultural practices.

4. Primary government expenditure (as % of originally approved budget) has reduced,

5. Raising issues in public spending efficiency and implementation.

RBI’s Biannual Financial Stability Report (FSR)

What is the FSR?

1. The Financial Stability Report (FSR) presents the financial system’s risk assessment by the FSDC Sub-Committee.

2. The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was set up in 2010.

3. Chaired by the Finance Minister, it includes RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDA heads.

4. Its key role: Ensure financial stability and regulator coordination.

India: A Key Driver of Global Growth

1. India remains a global growth driver, backed by solid internal demand.

2. Real GDP projected at 6.5% for 2025–26, reflecting strong domestic fundamentals.

3. Domestic demand acts as a buffer against global shocks.

Robust Banking and Financial System

1. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) show strong performance.

2. Gross NPA (GNPA) at 2.3% and Net NPA (NNPA) at 0.5% – multi-decade lows.

   • (NPA: Non-Performing Assets – loans where repayments are overdue)

3. Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) hits a record 17.3% by 2025.

   • (CRAR: Key indicator of bank’s capital adequacy; higher is better)

Healthy Corporate Sector Indicators

1. Large borrower GNPA ratio fell from 3.8% (Sept 2023) to 1.9% (Mar 2025).

2. Indicates strong credit discipline and better asset quality among corporates.

Easing Inflation Trends

1. CPI inflation (Consumer Price Index) eased to 2.8% in May 2025, lowest in 6 years.

2. Imported inflation likely to ease as global growth slows, reducing commodity and oil prices.

3. However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain a source of uncertainty.

Global Macrofinancial Risks on the Rise

1. Emerging markets face heightened risks from:

   • Global trade tensions

   • Geopolitical conflicts

   • Rising global public debt

   • Spillover effects from advanced economies

2. US economic policy uncertainty leads to tighter financial conditions and market volatility.

3. Climate-related risks threaten business continuity via physical hazards like floods, droughts.

4. Global economic resilience being tested by policy and trade uncertainties.

Key Regulatory Initiatives: Global & Domestic

Global Level

1. Basel Committee on Banking Supervision reviewing Basel III norms for banking sector impact.

   • (Basel III: Global regulatory framework for stronger bank capital & liquidity standards)

2. IOSCO (International Organization of Securities Commissions) working to strengthen global market regulation.

3. FSB (Financial Stability Board) promotes cyber resilience via the FIRE Framework.

   • (FIRE: Framework for Information Resilience – manages cyber/operational risks including third-party exposure)

Domestic Level

1. Promotion of rupee use in cross-border transactions, supporting currency internationalisation.

2. Implementation of revised Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms.

   • (LCR: Ensures banks hold enough high-quality liquid assets to survive 30-day stress)

3. Launch of RBI Digital Lending Guidelines 2025 to ensure transparency and consumer protection in digital credit.

Digital India Mission: 10-Year Milestone (2015–2025)

Mission Overview

1. Launched in 2015 to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

2. It’s an umbrella programme covering multiple Ministries/Departments.

3. MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) coordinates overall implementation.

   
   

Three Vision Areas of Digital India

1. Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen

• High-speed internet as a basic utility service.

• Cradle-to-grave digital identity (Aadhaar) to ensure continuous access to services.

• Mobile phones and bank accounts for every citizen to enable digital inclusion.

• Easy access to Common Service Centres (CSCs)—single-point access to government services.

• Shareable private space on a public cloud for storing documents securely.

• Ensuring safe and secure cyber-space for all users.

2. Governance and Services on Demand

• Seamless integration across departments for unified service delivery.

• Real-time service availability on online/mobile platforms for ease of access.

• Use of cloud platforms to deliver entitlements like subsidies or certificates.

• Digitally transformed services improving Ease of Doing Business.

• Promoting electronic and cashless financial transactions (e.g. UPI).

• Use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for informed policy-making.

3. Digital Empowerment of Citizens

• Targeting universal digital literacy through education and training.

• Making digital resources universally accessible for all, including marginalized groups.

• Cloud access to documents/certificates like marksheets, PAN, etc.

• Availability of content and services in Indian languages to break language barriers.

• Collaborative digital platforms to boost participative governance (e.g., MyGov).

• Portability of entitlements across states via cloud infrastructure.

Major Achievements Under Digital India (2015–2025)

1. Digital Economy Growth

• Contributed 11.74% to GDP in 2022–23, projected to reach 13.42% in 2024–25.

• India now ranks 3rd globally in terms of digital economy size (as per 2024 report).

2. Connectivity & Infrastructure

• Internet connections jumped from 25.15 crore (2014) to 96.96 crore (2024).

• BharatNet connected 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats with high-speed fibre internet.

• BharatNet: Government’s flagship rural broadband project.

3. Digital Finance & Financial Inclusion

• India contributed 49% of global real-time digital payments in 2023.

• UPI (Unified Payments Interface) now active in 7+ countries, boosting global fintech presence.

• Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) saved ₹3.48 lakh crore by removing fake/duplicate beneficiaries.

4. Strategic Tech Advancements

• IndiaAI Mission promotes AI innovation in governance, health, and agriculture.

• India Semiconductor Mission—6 major projects approved to boost chip manufacturing.

• SEMICON INDIA 2025: Flagship initiative to position India as global semiconductor hub.

5. E-Governance Transformation

• Karmayogi Bharat - iGOT platform trains civil servants for digital governance.

• UMANG App (Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance) offers access to central and state services in one app.

India’s Evolving Carbon Market Framework: From Sectoral Schemes to National Emission Targets

1. India is progressing towards a structured carbon market through the implementation of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), recently reinforced by the Draft Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025.

2. These Draft Rules, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), define GHG emission intensity (GEI) as the amount of tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emitted per unit of output/product.

3. The draft proposes legally binding emission intensity targets for over 400 industrial units, across high-emission sectors like aluminium, iron & steel, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and textiles.

4. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will play a central role by setting these sector-specific targets, focusing on intensity-based reductions rather than absolute emission caps.

5. Non-compliance with these targets will attract financial penalties under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA 1986), giving legal enforceability to the emission control mechanism.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS): India's Carbon Pricing Milestone

1. The CCTS is part of India’s compliance mechanism under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, which empowers the Central Government, in consultation with BEE, to develop a national carbon trading market.

2. The primary goal of the CCTS is to reduce GHG emissions by introducing carbon pricing—i.e., assigning a financial cost to emissions to incentivize lower carbon footprints.

3. CCTS comprises two pillars:

   • A Compliance Mechanism for Obligated Entities (industries with defined targets) who earn Carbon Credit Certificates for outperforming their emission targets.

   • A Voluntary Offset Mechanism for other sectors to register projects that reduce, remove, or avoid emissions in return for certified credits.

4. BEE serves as the Scheme Administrator, while the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) acts as the Regulator for carbon credit trading, ensuring proper market oversight.

5. As a foundational step, CCTS contributes to building a full-fledged Indian Carbon Market, aligning with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

India’s Experience with Market-Based Emission Reduction Mechanisms

1. Over the past decade, India has piloted four market-based mechanisms to reduce energy use and emissions, forming the base for the current CCTS.

2. The Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme, launched by BEE, targets Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) reduction in energy-intensive industries such as steel, cement, aluminium, and power generation.

3. Under PAT, industries achieving more than their energy efficiency targets receive Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), which are tradable and incentivize further improvements.

4. Complementing this, the Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) mechanism helps entities meet their Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs) by purchasing RECs, thus separating renewable generation from its environmental attributes.

5. Unlike PAT, which focuses on energy efficiency, REC trading promotes investment in renewable energy by allowing surplus green power to be monetized and counted toward RPO targets.

India's Emerging Emissions Trading Approach: Performance-Based Systems

1. India is now moving toward a Rate-Based Emissions Trading System (ETS), as reflected in the CCTS design, where emission limits are set per unit of output rather than an absolute emissions cap.

2. This intensity-based approach gives industries performance benchmarks—like emissions per tonne of steel or cement—thus promoting efficiency over fixed limits.

3. Unlike cap-and-trade systems (which impose an absolute limit on total emissions), India's ETS model enables economic growth while lowering the carbon intensity of production.

International Market Linkage: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

1. India has also engaged in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol (1997), allowing industrialized countries to invest in emission-reducing projects in developing nations.

2. These projects generate Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which are internationally tradable credits and serve dual purposes: enabling climate finance flows and promoting sustainable development in host countries.

Recognition & Outlook

1. The World Bank’s “State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025” report acknowledges India’s pivotal role in shaping the future of global carbon markets and climate finance architecture.

2. With the rollout of CCTS and its associated emission intensity rules, India is laying the groundwork for a robust, transparent, and scalable carbon market, enhancing its credibility on the global climate stage.

Wilmington Declaration

1. Under the Wilmington Declaration (2024)—issued by QUAD leaders in Wilmington, USA—the four member nations (India, Japan, the U.S., and Australia) have reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, grounded in rule of law, democracy, and territorial integrity.

2. In line with this vision, the QUAD has launched the first-ever 'QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission', involving the Coast Guards of all four nations, marking a milestone in operational collaboration.

3. This mission aims to deepen maritime cooperation, bolster interoperability (the ability of forces to operate together effectively), and enhance maritime security across the Indo-Pacific—a strategically vital region stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

4. It also directly supports India’s maritime doctrine SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), which emphasizes collective security, regional stability, and inclusive economic development in the maritime domain.

5. Alongside this mission, several other major initiatives were also launched under the Wilmington Declaration to widen the QUAD’s cooperative footprint:

   • QUAD Cancer Moonshot, focused on the elimination of cervical cancer, represents a public health partnership leveraging joint medical expertise and resources.

   • MAITRI (Maritime Training Initiative in the Indo-Pacific)—a capacity-building program aimed at training regional partners in maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, and legal frameworks at sea.

   • Ports of the Future Partnership, aimed at modernizing port infrastructure through digital innovation, with a strong focus on undersea cable systems—critical for global internet connectivity and data flow security.

6. Collectively, these initiatives under the Wilmington Declaration mark a strategic shift toward integrated regional engagement, blending security, development, health, and digital connectivity—reflecting the QUAD’s evolving role as a comprehensive regional partnership.

Altermagnets

1. In a significant breakthrough, scientists from the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have discovered a unique duality in a new class of magnetic materials called altermagnets, using chromium antimonide (CrSb).

2. Altermagnets are an emerging class of magnetic materials that combine properties of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, making them distinct and technologically promising.

3. In ferromagnets, atomic spins (intrinsic magnetic moments) align in the same direction, leading to strong external magnetism—like in iron or common magnets.

4. In contrast, antiferromagnets have alternating spin directions, which cancel each other out, resulting in no net external magnetism, despite strong internal ordering.

5. Altermagnets, while showing alternating spins like antiferromagnets and thus no net magnetisation, stand out because of their unique crystal symmetry that leads to strong internal spin polarisation—a property typically seen in ferromagnets.

6. This rare combination allows altermagnets to be magnetically 'invisible' externally but highly active internally, offering new possibilities for spintronics (technology that uses electron spin for information processing).

7. Among known altermagnets, CrSb (Chromium Antimonide) has shown the strongest spin-splitting, a phenomenon where electron spins separate in energy—crucial for high-efficiency spintronic devices.

8. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of magnetic materials but also opens the door to low-power, high-speed magnetic and quantum technologies, where the dual behavior of altermagnets could be game-changing.

Disaster Alert Systems

1. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has operationalised SACHET, India’s integrated disaster alert system, while also testing the Cell Broadcast (CB) system to evaluate its real-time responsiveness during emergencies.

2. SACHET is a geo-targeted SMS-based alert system developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)—an international standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for effective and interoperable disaster alerts.

3. It is now active across all 36 States and Union Territories of India, enabling authorities to send location-specific SMS warnings during natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and storms, enhancing early warning and preparedness.

4. In parallel, C-DOT is also developing the Cell Broadcast (CB) system, which complements SACHET by offering near real-time emergency alerts that are broadcast directly to all mobile phones within an affected geographic area.

5. Unlike SMS, CB alerts are much faster, do not depend on user subscriptions, and are ideal for urgent, fast-onset disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and industrial gas leaks, where every second counts.

6. Together, SACHET and CB systems represent a layered, technologically advanced national alerting framework, aimed at strengthening India’s ability to disseminate life-saving information rapidly and reliably during crises.

Mahabodhi temple

Mahabodhi Temple

1. The Supreme Court recently declined to entertain a plea challenging the Bodh Gaya Temple Complex in Bihar.

2. Temple Act, which governs the administrative and religious management of the Mahabodhi

3. The Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites, as it marks the spot where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.

4. Historically, the first temple at the site was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C., showcasing the early royal patronage of Buddhism in India.

5. The present structure of the Mahabodhi Temple dates back to the 5th–6th century CE, during the late Gupta period, a time noted for its classical art and religious architecture.

6. Architecturally, the temple features a curvilinear shikhara (tower), topped with an amalaka (ribbed circular stone disk) and a kalasha (finial)—elements commonly seen in Indian temple design.

7. However, its design is unique—it is neither purely Dravidian (southern style) nor Nagara (northern style); it is narrow like Nagara temples, but it rises vertically without the typical curvature seen in Dravida structures, giving it a hybrid and distinctive aesthetic.

8. The complex includes key sacred elements: the main temple, the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne)—believed to be the exact spot of enlightenment, the Sacred Bodhi Tree, votive stupas, and three concentric boundaries (inner, middle, and outer) that protect the holy space.

9. Due to its profound religious significance and architectural heritage, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its value to global cultural and spiritual heritage.

Santhal Rebellion

1. The 170th anniversary of the Santhal Rebellion (1855–56) is being commemorated as Hul Diwas—with "Hul" meaning revolution or uprising in the Santhali language.

2. The Santhal Rebellion was among the earliest and most significant tribal uprisings against the British colonial regime, and is often seen as a precursor and inspiration for the Revolt of 1857.

3. This historic rebellion was centered in the Damin-i-Koh region of the Rajmahal Hills in present-day Jharkhand, a forested area designated by the British for Santhal settlement.

4. It was primarily led by four Santhal brothers—Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav, along with Phulo and Jhano Murmu, who mobilized thousands to rise against British rule, corrupt zamindars (landlords), and local police oppression.

5. The root cause of the rebellion lay in the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793, a colonial land revenue policy that disrupted tribal land ownership and led to the displacement of Santhals from their traditional lands in Birbhum and Manbhum (now in West Bengal).

6. This displacement made the Santhals vulnerable to systemic exploitation by Zamindars, moneylenders, and British administrators, triggering widespread resentment and eventually, the organized uprising.

7. Though eventually suppressed, the Santhal Rebellion remains a symbol of tribal resistance, assertion of identity, and struggle for land and dignity, deeply rooted in India’s freedom movement history.

WaveX

1. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoI&B) has launched the WaveX Startup Challenge 2025, as part of its flagship startup accelerator program, WaveX, focused on fostering innovation in emerging tech domains.

2. This year’s challenge, titled BhashaSetu – Real-Time Language Tech for Bharat, is a national-level hackathon aimed at developing an AI-powered multilingual translation solution that supports at least 12 major Indian languages.

3. The term BhashaSetu (meaning “language bridge”) reflects the goal of bridging India’s linguistic diversity through real-time, inclusive language technology that enhances digital accessibility for all.

4. WaveX functions as a dedicated startup accelerator, launched under MoI&B’s broader WAVES initiative (Working towards Advancement of Visuals, Entertainment, and Speech), which supports startups in media, entertainment, and language technology sectors.

5. As an accelerator, WaveX provides startups with incubation (early-stage business support), mentorship, and integration opportunities with national platforms, empowering them to turn innovative ideas into impactful solutions.

6. Through targeted hackathons like BhashaSetu, WaveX continues to serve as a launchpad for breakthrough innovations, especially in the context of Bharat—a term often used to refer to India’s non-urban, vernacular-speaking population.

Reservation in Supreme Court

1. For the first time, the Supreme Court has introduced a formal reservation policy for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) staff in its internal administration, covering both direct appointments and promotions.

2. This policy applies to various posts such as registrars, senior personal assistants, assistant librarians, junior court assistants, and chamber attendants, ensuring greater representation of SC/ST employees in these roles.

3. Importantly, the reservation policy does not extend to judges, maintaining judicial appointments based on existing procedures.

4. Under this new framework, SC employees are entitled to a 15% quota and ST employees to a 7.5% quota in promotions, which aligns with the central government’s reservation norms aimed at affirmative action for historically marginalized communities.

5. Here, reservation refers to the constitutional provision in India that sets aside a certain percentage of government jobs and educational seats for socially disadvantaged groups like SCs and STs to promote equality and social justice.

Andaman Sea

Andaman Sea

1. The Andaman Sea, located in the northeastern Indian Ocean, recently experienced three earthquakes in a single day, reflecting its position within Seismic Zone V, the highest earthquake risk zone in India.

2. Geographically, the Andaman Sea is a semi-enclosed marginal sea, meaning it is partially surrounded by land but connected to a larger ocean.

3. It is bounded by Myanmar to the north, Thailand and Malaysia to the east, Indonesia and the Strait of Malacca to the south, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the west, making it a strategically significant water body.

4. The region is geologically active, featuring the Andaman Trench—a deep underwater trench formed by the subduction (process where one tectonic plate moves under another) of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, which explains the high seismic activity.

5. The Andaman Sea is part of the Coral Triangle, a marine area recognized for its exceptionally rich marine biodiversity, including coral reefs, fish species, and other marine life.

6. Additionally, the sea is vital for migratory birds, as it lies along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a major migratory route supporting numerous bird species during their seasonal movements.

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