I.              DNA Identification in Air India Crash: The Role of Genetic Testing in Identifying Victims

In the aftermath of the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, authorities are relying on DNA testing to identify the remains of those who perished. DNA samples have been collected from relatives of the victims, leading to some successful matches. Since each person’s DNA is distinct—except for identical twins—it is considered the most dependable method for identifying individuals, especially in cases involving severe trauma or mass casualties where visual identification isn't possible.

Understanding DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the genetic blueprint found in nearly all living organisms. It holds the instructions needed for an organism’s growth, functioning, and reproduction.

Structure and Components

DNA consists of two intertwined strands forming a double helix, made up of repeating units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide includes a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), or Guanine (G). The sequence of these bases encodes genetic information.

Where DNA Is Found

Most DNA resides in the cell nucleus (nuclear DNA), while a smaller amount is located in the mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA). Nuclear DNA is unique to each person, whereas mtDNA is inherited solely from the mother and exists in multiple copies within each cell.

Functions of DNA

DNA governs cell activities by directing protein production and is responsible for transmitting hereditary traits from one generation to the next.

Challenges in DNA Identification After Disasters

• Decomposition and Damage: In accidents, remains can be severely damaged, making DNA extraction more difficult.
• Contamination: DNA samples may get contaminated by external materials, complicating analysis.
• Resource Demands: Identifying victims through DNA can be time-intensive and resource-heavy, particularly after large-scale disasters.

Collecting and Preserving DNA Post-Crash

• Optimal Conditions: DNA stays intact longer in cool, dry environments. Samples should be frozen at -20°C or preserved in 95% ethanol, especially soft tissues which degrade faster than hard tissues like bones or teeth.
• Preferred Sources: Bones and teeth are often used in forensic investigations due to their durability and resistance to decomposition.
• Collection Timeline: Gathering remains for DNA analysis can span several weeks. For instance, after 9/11, DNA collection took about 10 months due to the scale of devastation.

The Need for Reference DNA

To match unidentified remains, DNA from close biological relatives is crucial. Parents and children share 50% of their DNA with the deceased, making them ideal sources for comparison.

Techniques Used in DNA-Based Identification

• Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Analysis: This method looks at repeating DNA segments that differ among individuals. Analyzing at least 15 STR regions provides high accuracy. STRs are part of nuclear DNA, so this method requires relatively intact nuclear material.
• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis: When nuclear DNA is too damaged, mtDNA can be used due to its abundance in cells. Since mtDNA is maternally inherited, matches can be made using samples from the victim’s maternal relatives (e.g., mother, siblings, maternal aunts/uncles).
• Y-Chromosome STR Analysis: This approach focuses on the Y chromosome, which is passed from father to son. It’s helpful for identifying male victims by comparing DNA with male relatives in the paternal line, such as brothers or uncles.
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Analysis: When DNA is extensively degraded, SNP analysis can be employed. It detects single base changes in the DNA sequence. While less precise than STR analysis, it can still help when matched with DNA from personal items like toothbrushes or hairbrushes.

II.            MGNREGS Budget Cap: Centre’s Justification and Legal Pushback

For the first time, the Union Finance Ministry has imposed a spending cap on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), restricting expenditure to 60% of its allocated budget for the first half of FY 2025–26. Traditionally exempt due to its demand-driven nature, MGNREGS is now subject to the Monthly and Quarterly Expenditure Plan (MEP/QEP), a financial control system introduced in 2017.

What Is MEP/QEP?

MEP/QEP is a budgeting tool used by government departments to manage and track their spending over the fiscal year. It helps regulate cash flow, monitor expenditures, and ensure that spending aligns with budget allocations.

Why the Finance Ministry Imposed a Cap

Recurring Budget Overruns: Historically, over 70% of the MGNREGS budget is spent by September, forcing the government to approve supplementary funds by December — which are typically depleted by January.

Rising Pending Dues: Over the past five years, pending payments at the end of each fiscal year have ranged between ₹15,000 crore and ₹25,000 crore. On average, 20% of the next year's budget goes toward clearing these outstanding dues.

Objective
By implementing the cap under MEP/QEP, the ministry aims to smooth out cash flow and prevent the early exhaustion of funds, minimizing the need for additional allocations later in the year.

Current Financial Picture (FY 2025–26)

• Budget: ₹86,000 crore
• Funds Released So Far: 28%
• Outstanding Dues from FY 2024–25: ₹19,200 crore
• Outstanding Dues in FY 2025–26 (as of June 12): ₹3,262 crore

This means that nearly half the current year’s budget may be consumed by clearing previous dues.

Problems With the Spending Cap

Disregard for Variable Rural Demand: MGNREGS demand fluctuates with seasons and agricultural cycles, peaking during April–June and post-Kharif (September). Unpredictable weather patterns, like delayed monsoons or droughts, can cause sudden spikes in demand.

Example: In 2023, below-normal rainfall led to a 20% increase in job demand during July–August. Karnataka exhausted over 70% of its funds within six months due to a severe drought.

The rigid cap doesn't allow flexibility for such emergencies, undermining MGNREGS’s role as a rural safety net.

Legal and Constitutional Concerns

Not Just a Welfare Scheme—A Legal Guarantee: Unlike discretionary schemes such as PM-KISAN, MGNREGS is a legally mandated program under the MGNREGA Act, 2005. It guarantees rural households the right to employment on demand.

Limiting funds directly restricts the state's capacity to fulfil this legal obligation, contradicting the very purpose of the Act.

Judicial Precedents:

Indian courts have repeatedly emphasized that lack of funds is not an acceptable reason for failing to meet statutory or constitutional duties.

• Swaraj Abhiyan v Union of India (2016)
• Municipal Council, Ratlam v Vardhichand (1980)
• Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v State of West Bengal (1996)

These judgments uphold the principle that financial constraints cannot override legally guaranteed entitlements.

Uncertainty and Legal Risks

No Guidance on What Happens After 60% Cap Is Reached: The government has not clarified the course of action if the cap is hit early. Two potential outcomes raise concerns:

• States might refuse to provide jobs, even if there is legitimate demand.
• Workers may continue working but face indefinite wage delays.

Both outcomes would violate legal provisions of the Act.

Risk of Violating Key Rights

• Section 3: Guarantees a job within 15 days of application.
• Schedule II, Para 29: Ensures wage payment within 15 days of completing work.

Systemic Challenges Already Exist

MGNREGS already suffers from wage delays, non-payment of unemployment allowances, and inadequate compensation for late payments — issues acknowledged by the Supreme Court. The new cap could worsen these problems.

Conclusion: Weakening a Rights-Based Safety Net

While the Finance Ministry’s goal is to better manage fiscal outflows, the cap undermines the core mission of MGNREGA — to provide timely, legally guaranteed employment and wages to rural populations facing economic distress. The move may ease budgetary pressures but risks breaching both the letter and spirit of a law designed to protect the vulnerable

III.          SEZ Rules Eased to Boost Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing in India

In a major policy move aimed at bolstering domestic semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, the Indian government has relaxed several provisions under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Rules, 2006. These changes, notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in June 2025, are designed to support India’s goal of technological self-reliance and reduced import dependency—especially in the wake of post-pandemic supply chain vulnerabilities and rising global demand for digital infrastructure.

Why Semiconductors and Electronics Matter

Semiconductors are at the heart of modern digital technologies, enabling devices like smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and smart home products. As technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) become mainstream, the importance of secure and reliable access to semiconductors has grown—both economically and strategically.

India's reliance on imports, exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed the risks of depending heavily on foreign supply chains, especially as China accounted for roughly 35% of global semiconductor output in 2021. The new SEZ reforms are part of India’s broader effort to localize this critical industry.

Key Amendments to SEZ Rules

The recent updates focus on reducing regulatory constraints and incentivizing high-tech, capital-intensive investments in the semiconductor and electronics sectors.

• Reduced Land Requirement (Rule 5): The minimum land size for SEZs dedicated to semiconductors or electronic components has been reduced from 50 hectares to 10 hectares. This allows for smaller, high-value projects to benefit from SEZ perks such as tax breaks and duty-free imports without requiring vast tracts of land.
• Relaxation of Encumbrance Rules (Rule 7): SEZ land no longer needs to be entirely “encumbrance-free” if it is mortgaged or leased to government bodies. This change addresses longstanding bottlenecks due to India’s complex land ownership and title systems.
• Permission for Domestic Sales (Rule 18): Units in electronics and semiconductor SEZs can now sell goods within India (Domestic Tariff Area) by paying applicable duties. Previously, SEZs were export-focused. The amendment provides flexibility amid global trade volatility and strengthens domestic supply chains.
• New Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) Norms (Rule 53): The updated rule allows goods received or supplied on a free-of-cost basis to be factored into NFE calculations using customs valuation norms—especially useful in the semiconductor sector, which often handles high-cost prototypes and design components.

Early Impact and Industry Response

These regulatory reforms are already attracting major investments. The SEZ Board of Approval has recently approved two major projects:

• Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt. Ltd. will set up a semiconductor SEZ in Sanand, Gujarat, covering 37.64 hectares, with an investment of ₹13,000 crore.
• Hubballi Durable Goods Cluster Pvt. Ltd. (Aequs Group) plans to develop an electronics component SEZ in Dharwad, Karnataka, on 11.55 hectares, investing ₹100 crore.

These projects support broader initiatives like the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, aimed at creating a complete semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

Challenges to Implementation

Despite positive momentum, several hurdles remain:

• Talent Shortage: The semiconductor sector requires a highly skilled workforce, which India is still building at scale.
• Infrastructure Gaps: High-tech manufacturing demands stable electricity, advanced logistics, clean room facilities, and reliable water supply—all of which require significant government and private sector coordination.
• Global Competition: Countries like the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan are also offering aggressive subsidies and incentives, meaning India must stay competitive to attract global players.

Strategic Importance and Outlook

These SEZ reforms are part of a larger strategy to position India as a global hub for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing. By easing land, sales, and regulatory constraints, and combining these changes with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, India is signalling a serious intent to reshape its industrial base for the digital age.

Ultimately, the revised SEZ framework enhances India's attractiveness to global firms looking to diversify manufacturing beyond traditional markets, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a trusted alternative in the global tech supply chain.

I.              Global Education Monitoring Report

·       The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report is an annual publication by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

·       The GEM Report was launched in 2002 as the Education for All Global Monitoring Report and was renamed to its current title in 2016.

·       Its main purpose is to:

o   Track and analyze global education trends.

o   Provide policy recommendations to governments and stakeholders to enhance education systems and outcomes.

·       According to the latest GEM Report:

o   The global out-of-school population has risen to 272 million, which is over 21 million more than the previous estimate.

·       The report also highlights that:

o   By 2025, countries are expected to be off-track by 75 million learners compared to their national education targets.

II.            UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Recently, Lucknow has officially submitted its nominations for inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) to be titled “City of Gastronomy”.

• Lucknow has recently submitted its official nomination to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) under the category of “City of Gastronomy.”

About the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• The UCCN was established in 2004 to foster collaboration among cities that use creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development.
• It supports UNESCO’s broader goals, including promoting cultural diversity and helping cities build resilience to challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and urban expansion.

Objectives of UCCN

• The network seeks to harness the creative, social, and economic power of cultural industries.
• It promotes the integration of creative thinking in urban planning and encourages innovative approaches to address urban challenges.
• Member cities are expected to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Indian Cities in the UCCN

• Ten Indian cities are currently part of the network.
• Recent additions include:
• Kozhikode (Literature)
• Gwalior (Music)
• Other Indian cities previously recognized are:
• Jaipur – Crafts and Folk Arts
• Varanasi – Music
• Chennai – Music
• Mumbai – Film
• Hyderabad – Gastronomy
• Srinagar – Crafts and Folk Arts

III.          AviList

AviList Goes Live After Four Years of Development

• AviList is the first-ever unified global checklist of all known bird species worldwide.
• It was developed by the Working Group on Avian Checklists, a collaboration involving:
• BirdLife International
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• American Ornithologists’ Society
• International Ornithologists’ Union
• Avibase
• The checklist brings together diverse global views on avian classification and aims to standardize what constitutes a bird species.

Key Features of AviList

• Total entries: 11,131 species, 19,879 subspecies, 2,376 genera, 252 families and 46 orders
• It will replace existing lists, such as:
• The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) list
• The Clements Checklist
• The AviList will be updated annually to reflect new research and discoveries.

Why AviList Matters

• Clarity for Conservation: Helps scientists prioritize species conservation by removing confusion caused by multiple checklists.
• Unified Platform: Makes it easier for birders, researchers, policymakers, and conservationists to collaborate and share data.
• Better Integration: Supports the linking of various online databases and tools with consistent taxonomy.
• Enhanced Understanding: Contributes to a clearer global picture of avian diversity, distribution, and ecology.

IV.          Goan Feni

Goan Feni (Ozzo Feni) Receives Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

About Goan Feni

• Origin: A traditional spirit from Goa, India.
• Type: A strong, clear alcoholic beverage with a distinct flavour.
• Ingredients: Made through fermentation and double distillation of either:
• Cashew apples (more common)
• Coconut sap

Historical Background

• Introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 1600s during their trade expeditions to India.
• The Portuguese brought:
• Cashew trees
• Distillation techniques, which were then adopted by local communities.

Traditional Production

• Original distillers were known as bhatikars.
• Traditional equipment included earthen pots or bhatis placed over a fire.
• Modern methods now use copper pots with a coil distillation system for better efficiency and quality.

V.             Indian Rat Snake

• The State Board for Wildlife is set to meet next week to review a proposal to declare the Indian Rat Snake as the official state reptile.

About the Indian Rat Snake

• A non-venomous snake, widely seen across India.
• Known for its impressive speed and larger size compared to most other snake species in the country.
• Locally called Manja Chera and Karinchera in Kerala.

Key Characteristics

• Diet: Carnivorous—feeds on rodents, birds, and even hatchlings of venomous snakes like cobras.
• Behaviour: Diurnal (active during the day); displays both arboreal (tree-dwelling) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling) behaviour depending on its needs.
• Habitat: Occupies a wide range of environments, including:
• Forests and forest edges
• Dry tropical forests, scrublands, and savannas
• Agricultural fields, plantations, and villages

Geographical Range

• Found throughout India, including the Andaman Islands, and across South and Southeast Asia, China, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan.

Ecological Role and Importance

• Plays a crucial role in pest control, especially rodents that:
• Destroy crops such as grains and tubers
• Spread diseases in human and animal populations
• Known as the “farmer’s friend” due to its agricultural benefits.
• Holds high conservation value for maintaining ecological balance in rural and semi-urban areas.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I (offers highest protection)

VI.          Narmada River

Since the launch of the Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan by the Madhya Pradesh government, the Ghoda Pachhad River, a tributary of the Narmada, has been successfully revived in Khandwa district.

VII.        SCORES Portal

SEBI Resolves 4,493 Investor Complaints via SCORES Last Month

About SCORES Portal

• SCORES stands for SEBI Complaints Redress System.
• Launched in 2011, it is an online platform where investors can file and track complaints against:
• Listed companies
• SEBI-registered market intermediaries

How SCORES Works (Under SCORES 2.0 Framework)

• Complaints are automatically routed to the concerned entities.
• These entities must respond with an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 21 days.
• If investors are unsatisfied with the response, they can request a First Level Review within 15 days.
• During this review, complaints remain marked as pending even if an ATR has been submitted.
• If the grievance is still unresolved after the First Level Review, investors can escalate to a Second Level Review by SEBI.
• Complaints can also be closed if investors opt for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).

VIII.      G-7

The Prime Minister recently traveled to Canada to attend the G7 Summit, invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

About the G7 Grouping

• The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal coalition of seven leading advanced economies:
• Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• The European Union (EU) also participates and is represented by:
• The President of the European Council
• The President of the European Commission

History of G7

• Founded in 1975 as a response to the oil crisis.
• Russia joined in 1998, making it the G8 temporarily.
• In 2014, Russia was excluded, returning the group to the G7.
• Initially focused solely on global economic development, the G7 now addresses a wide range of global issues, including: Foreign and security policy, Trade, Climate change and Development

Governance and Functioning of the G7

• The G7 presidency rotates annually among the member countries (the EU does not hold the presidency).
• The G7 Summit is the main event, attended by: Heads of State and Government of the seven members, EU representatives and Invited States and International Organizations
• The agenda and priorities are set by the current presidency.
• Decisions are generally made by consensus.