Daily Current Affairs – 24 July 2025

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Today's edition features key updates including National Sports Governance Bill, GST Regime Progressive, ICJ delivers landmark decision on Tackling Climate Change, ethanol blending in petrol, Chikungunya, National Crisis Management Committee, Henley Passport Index 2025 and more…

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National Sports Governance Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

1. The National Sports Governance Bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to reform and modernize the governance of sports in India.

2. The Bill aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for improved regulation of sports bodies across the country.

3. Its primary goals include enhancing sports performance, resolving internal disputes, and reducing litigation involving sports federations.

Key Features of the Bill:

1. The Bill provides for the creation of National Sports Bodies (NSBs) for each recognised sport in India.

2. These NSBs will serve as governing authorities for their respective sports disciplines.

3. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) will act as the sole governing body for Olympic sports in India.

4. The National Paralympic Committee (NPC) will be the exclusive authority for Paralympic sports.

5. Additional bodies include the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and Regional Sports Federations (RSFs) for various levels of sports administration.

National Sports Board (NSB):

1. The Bill proposes the establishment of a National Sports Board, which will oversee the recognition and functioning of sports organisations.

2. The Board will have the authority to grant recognition to any sports organisation as a National Sports Body.

3. The Chairperson and Members of the Board will be appointed by the Central Government.

4. They must possess special knowledge or practical experience in areas such as public administration, sports governance, or sports law.

5. The Board will maintain a register of recognised National Sports Bodies.

6. It may also constitute ad hoc administrative bodies or issue directions to any NSB as required.

7. It will collaborate with international and national sports bodies to develop sports and promote athlete welfare.

8. The Board is empowered to issue guidelines to ensure compliance with international Olympic standards and best practices.

Other Institutional Mechanisms:

1. A National Sports Election Panel will be created to ensure free and fair elections for the Executive Committees and Athletes Committees of NSBs.

2. The Bill also proposes the establishment of a National Sports Tribunal for speedy resolution of sports-related disputes.

3. The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, who will be either a Supreme Court Judge or a Chief Justice of a High Court, and two expert members.

4. These members must have expertise in sports, public administration, or law.

5. The Tribunal will formulate its own procedures, allowing for efficient resolution of cases.

6. Its expenses will be funded by the Consolidated Fund of India, which is the government’s main public account.

7. Civil courts will have no jurisdiction over matters falling under the Tribunal’s purview.

Ethics and Athlete Protection:

1. Every recognised National Sports Body must formulate a Code of Ethics, aligned with international best practices.

2. The Bill mandates the adoption of a Safe Sports Policy, ensuring the protection of vulnerable groups, such as women and minor athletes.

3. It also requires a grievance redressal mechanism to address complaints and promote a safe sporting environment.

National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) Study calls GST Regime Progressive

1. A new study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) has assessed India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as progressive.

   • In India, consumption taxes account for over 62% of the total tax revenue, which is more than income and property taxes combined.

   • Since GST contributes to nearly half of this consumption tax revenue, understanding its burden on different income groups is essential.

2. The NIPFP study finds that the GST regime is progressive, meaning higher-income groups bear a larger share of the tax burden.

3. A progressive tax is one where the tax rate or burden increases with rising income or consumption levels.

4. In rural areas, the bottom 50% of the population pays 31% of the GST burden, while the top 20% pays 37%.

5. In urban areas, the bottom 50% pays 29%, while the top 20% bears 41% of the GST burden.

   • This finding directly contradicts the 2023 Oxfam report, which claimed that the poor paid two-thirds of GST.

6. The study also highlights that multiple tax slabs under GST play a role in making the regime more equitable.

   • Essential goods and services, such as healthcare and education, are taxed at lower rates or fully exempted.

   • Exempt items include basic necessities like food, which helps in reducing the burden on lower-income groups.

7. The study cautions that increasing tax rates on items currently in the 5–12% GST slab may disproportionately affect the lower consumption classes.

   • These lower consumption classes are individuals or households with limited disposable income and basic consumption patterns.

8. To simplify the GST structure, there is a proposal to remove the 12% GST slab.

9. Under this proposal, some items will be moved to the 5% slab, while others will shift to the 18% slab.

10. However, changes in GST rate structures can impact consumer groups differently, depending on the types of goods and services they consume.

11. The study emphasizes that policymakers must carefully consider these distributional effects while revising GST rates.

ICJ delivers landmark decision on Tackling Climate Change

1. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has delivered a landmark advisory opinion on climate change responsibilities.

2. The case focused on global legal obligations toward climate action, especially the protection of vulnerable Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

3. This initiative was led by the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu and received support from over 130 countries worldwide.

4. In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution requesting the ICJ for an advisory opinion on climate obligations.

5. An advisory opinion is a legal interpretation issued by the ICJ when requested by authorized UN bodies but is non-binding in nature.

6. The request asked the ICJ to clarify states' obligations under international law to protect the environment.

7. It also sought clarity on the legal consequences for states that fail to meet these environmental obligations.

Key Highlights of ICJ Ruling:

1. The ICJ affirmed that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right.

2. It stated that states are bound by international treaties like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

3. Hence, acting on climate change is necessary to safeguard basic human rights.

4. The court ruled that states are legally obliged to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

5. This obligation includes efforts to meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

   • Pre-industrial levels refer to global temperatures before large-scale industrial activity began in the 1800s.

   • Currently, global temperatures have already increased by 1.3°C since pre-industrial times.

6. The ICJ stated that failure to comply with climate obligations leads to legal responsibility for the state.

7. Such a state may be required to cease wrongful conduct immediately.

8. It may also need to offer guarantees of non-repetition to prevent future harm.

9. In some cases, it may be required to make full reparation, depending on the scale and impact of the violation.

10. However, some countries like the United States and Russia have opposed court-mandated emission cuts.

11. Despite opposition, the ICJ's opinion adds growing legal and diplomatic pressure on countries to act on climate change.

About the International Court of Justice (ICJ):

1. The ICJ was established in 1945 as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).

2. It is headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

3. The primary role of the ICJ is to settle legal disputes between states under international law.

4. It also provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorised UN bodies.

5. A limitation of the ICJ is that it can only hear cases submitted by states and cannot act unilaterally.

6. The court is composed of 15 judges, each elected for nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

7. ICJ judges serve in their personal capacity and do not represent their governments.

8. The ICJ is often referred to as the "World Court" because it is the only international court that settles disputes between the 193 UN member states.

Vanuatu

1. 

   Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation, has taken a significant step in global environmental advocacy by approaching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to classify environmental destruction as ecocide (a proposed international crime involving serious harm to the environment).

2. Geopolitically, Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific Ocean, forming part of Melanesia (a subregion of Oceania that includes countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands), strategically situated east of northern Australia and west of Fiji.

3. It comprises an archipelago (a group or chain of islands), and is surrounded by an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), granting Vanuatu special rights over marine resources in the surrounding waters.

4. The country features islands of volcanic origin, resulting in a mix of mountainous terrains and coastal plains, contributing to both its ecological richness and vulnerability.

5. Among its many islands, the major ones include Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate — with Efate housing the capital city, Port Vila.

India Achieves 20% Ethanol Blending in Petrol Five Years Ahead of Schedule

1. India has achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol, reaching the target five years ahead of the 2025–26 schedule.

2. This achievement is part of the country's efforts to promote cleaner, renewable fuels and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

   • Ethanol (C₂H₅OH), also known as ethyl alcohol, is a renewable biofuel derived from biomass.

   • Biomass refers to organic plant materials like sugarcane, maize, wheat, and other crops rich in starch or sugar.

   • Ethanol is produced naturally by fermentation of sugars using yeasts or through petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.

3. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was launched in 2003 to encourage the blending of ethanol with petrol.

4. Under this programme, ethanol is mixed with petrol to create a cleaner-burning fuel alternative.

5. The National Policy on Biofuels (2018), amended in 2022, advanced the 20% ethanol blending target from 2030 to 2025–26.

6. This policy supports ethanol production using multiple feedstocks such as sugarcane juice, sugar beet, cassava, damaged food grains, and rotten potatoes unfit for human consumption.

7. It also permits the use of surplus food grains for ethanol production, ensuring fair prices for farmers during excess production phases.

8. India’s ethanol production has increased significantly, from 38 crore litres in 2014 to over 660 crore litres in 2025.

9. This growth has resulted in foreign exchange savings of ₹1.36 lakh crore.

10. It has also led to approx. ₹1.2 lakh crore in payments to farmers, supporting rural incomes.

11. Additionally, ethanol blending has helped reduce about 700 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions, contributing to climate goals.

12. Several measures were implemented to boost the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).

    • In 2018, the government launched an Interest Subvention Scheme to expand ethanol production capacity.

    • Also in 2018, the GST on ethanol was reduced from 18% to 5%, making production more cost-effective.

    • In 2019, sugar and sugar syrup were approved as new feedstocks for ethanol, with a fixed remunerative price.

    • The Industries (Development and Regulation) Act (IDR Act) was amended in 2016 to clarify Centre-State roles in ensuring continuous ethanol supply.

    • In 2020, the National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC) approved the use of maize for ethanol production.

Chikungunya

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about a potential global chikungunya virus epidemic.

2. WHO has called for urgent international action to prevent the widespread transmission of this disease.

3. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease, caused by the chikungunya virus.

   • A mosquito-borne disease refers to an illness transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

4. The chikungunya virus is primarily spread by infected female mosquitoes.

5. The main mosquito species involved in transmission are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

6. These mosquito species are also known to transmit other viruses like dengue and Zika.

7. There is no specific antiviral treatment available for chikungunya as of now.

8. Treatment focuses mainly on relieving symptoms, such as joint pain, fever, and fatigue.

9. In India, the government runs the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

   • The NVBDCP is a comprehensive public health initiative targeting prevention and control of vector-borne diseases.

   • Vector-borne diseases are illnesses caused by pathogens and parasites transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes and ticks.

   • The NVBDCP addresses multiple diseases including chikungunya, dengue, malaria, and others.

National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Disaster Management National Crisis Management Committee (Procedure) Rules, 2025.

2. These rules lay down the procedural framework for the functioning of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC).

   • The NCMC is a high-level committee responsible for managing national-level disaster situations.

3. The Disaster Management Act (Amendment) Act, 2025 granted statutory status to the NCMC.

   • Statutory status means the NCMC now operates under the authority of a law passed by the Parliament, making its role legally binding.

4. The NCMC is headed by the Cabinet Secretary, the top-most civil servant in the Government of India.

5. Its members include key officials such as the Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, and other relevant senior bureaucrats.

6. The NCMC acts as the nodal body to manage major disasters with serious or national ramifications.

   • Nodal body refers to the central coordinating agency for a specific function—in this case, disaster management.

7. The NCMC has the authority to evaluate the preparedness of various agencies for any disaster or emergency situation.

8. It also plays a key role in coordinating and monitoring national disaster response efforts.

9. These functions ensure a unified and timely response across different ministries and departments during crises.

Henley Passport Index 2025

1. India's ranking in the Henley Passport Index has improved from 85th position in 2024 to 77th position in 2025.

2. This marks a notable 8-rank jump for India in global passport strength.

3. Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 destinations without needing a prior visa.

4. These visa-free destinations include countries where no pre-approved visa is required before departure.

5. The Henley Passport Index is the original and authoritative global ranking of all world passports.

6. It ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

   • A "prior visa" means a visa that must be obtained before travel, not on arrival or electronically.

7. The index uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

   • The IATA is a global trade association of airlines, which provides reliable, up-to-date travel data.

8. In the 2025 ranking, Singapore holds the top spot on the Henley Passport Index.

9. This means Singaporean passport holders enjoy the most visa-free travel access worldwide.

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