JULY 25,2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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Anti-Cheating in Public Exams Act, 2024 Following widespread public outrage over paper leaks in competitive entrance tests like NEET-UG, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 What It Is? » The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 is central legislation passed by Parliament to curb paper leaks, cheating, and organized malpractices in national recruitment and entrance examinations. Target Examination Authorities: Applies directly to public examinations conducted by scheduled central bodies, including: » Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) » Staff Selection Commission (SSC) » Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) » National Testing Agency (NTA) » Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) » Central Government Departments and their attached offices. Aim: To deter organized syndicates, cheating networks, and rogue service providers from compromising examination integrity, ensuring a transparent, merit-based selection process for millions of students and job aspirants across India. Key Features of the Act: » Comprehensive Definition of Unfair Means: Explicitly penalizes unauthorized access or leakage of question papers/answer keys, assisting candidates, tampering with computer networks, falsifying merit lists, and running fake exam portals/admit card scams for monetary gain. » Penalties for Individual Offenses: Individuals or accomplices indulging in unfair means face imprisonment ranging between 3 and 5 years, alongside a fine of up to ₹10 lakh. » Strict Liability for Service Providers: IT and infrastructure vendors supporting exam boards face fines up to ₹1 crore, recovery of full examination costs, and a 4-year ban from conducting public examinations if found guilty of security breaches or unauthorized exam center relocations. » Personal Management Liability: Directors, senior managers, or persons-in-charge of service providers who consent to or connive in cheating schemes are held personally liable, facing 3 to 10 years imprisonment and a ₹1 crore fine. » Stringent Punishments for Organised Crimes: Defines organized syndicates committing paper leaks as organized crime, punishable with 5 to 10 years imprisonment (with proposed amendments pushing maximum sentences higher) and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore. » Property Attachment: Institutions or commercial coaching centers found guilty of organized cheating face property attachment, forfeiture, and full cost recovery for re-conducting cancelled exams. » Cognizable and Non-Bailable Status: All offenses under the Act are cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. » Senior Investigation Cadre: Investigations must be conducted by police officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), with provisions to transfer cases directly to central agencies like the CBI. |
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Artificial Intelligence in Punjab Education Punjab has become the first Indian state to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mainstream subject from Classes I to XII under the Sarbat.AI initiative. Artificial Intelligence as Mainstream Subject What It Is? » Punjab has launched Sarbat.AI, India’s first statewide initiative to make Artificial Intelligence (AI) a mainstream school subject from Classes I to XII. The programme integrates AI into the school curriculum to equip students with future-ready digital and technological skills. » Aim: To build an AI-literate, innovation-driven, and ethically responsible student community by providing equitable access to AI education and preparing learners for the future digital economy. Key Features » Phased Implementation: Phase I covers Classes VIII–XII through the Computer Science curriculum, followed by Classes I–VII with age-appropriate AI education. » Global Standards-Based Curriculum: Designed using best practices from Singapore, Finland, the UAE, and the US, aligned with UNESCO’s Ethical AI Framework. » Technology-Driven Learning: Uses live online classes, recorded lectures, project-based learning, continuous assessments, and a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS). » Large-Scale Capacity Building: Will benefit 25,172 schools and 31.5 lakh students, with 12,424 Computer Science teachers initially trained and over 2 lakh teachers to be progressively upskilled. Significance » Future-Ready Workforce: Equips students with AI, innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital skills required for emerging industries and the knowledge economy. » Leadership in School Education: Positions Punjab as a national leader in AI-enabled education while promoting inclusive access to advanced technologies across urban and rural schools. |
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Chandipura Encephalitis Virus Nine deaths, including two young girls from Rajasthan receiving treatment in Gujarat, have been confirmed due to the Chandipura virus (CHPV) outbreak. The Chandipura Virus (CHPV) What It Is? » The Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an acute vector-borne pathogen belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family (the same family as the rabies-causing Lyssavirus). It is transmitted to humans via insect bites and causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)—a rapid, life-threatening inflammation of active brain tissues. History & Endemic Regions: » Discovery: First isolated in 1965 from human serum samples during an outbreak of dengue/chikungunya-like fever in Chandipura village, Maharashtra, India. » Major Outbreaks: Caused major child mortality outbreaks in 2003–2004 across Maharashtra, Northern Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, with case fatality rates (CFR) ranging from 55% to 78%. » Geographic Endemicity: Endemic to central and western India (particularly rural, tribal, and peripheral regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh) where sandfly breeding conditions thrive. Key Features of CHPV Infection: » Vector Transmission Channels: Spread primarily through the bites of infected female Phlebotomine sandflies (Phlebotomus papatasi) and select mosquito species (Aedes aegypti). The virus resides in the salivary glands of these vectors. » Extreme Susceptibility in Children: Almost exclusively targets children below 15 years of age, whose developing central nervous systems are highly vulnerable to viral encephalitis. » Rapid Clinical Progression: Characterized by an unusually rapid progression. Onset begins with sudden high fever, severe headache, body ache, and vomiting, escalating within hours to seizures, altered sensorium, brain inflammation, and potential mortality within 24 to 48 hours of hospital admission. » Monsoon & Environmental Correlation: Outbreak cycles peak during the monsoon season due to increased sandfly breeding in cracked mud walls, cattle sheds, and unpaved (kutcha) rural housing structures. » Non-Contagious Nature: Does not transmit directly from human to human through respiratory droplets or physical contact. Treatment and Prevention: » No Specific Antiviral or Vaccine: There is currently no approved antiviral drug or preventive vaccine available for Chandipura virus infection. » Supportive & Symptomatic Care: Treatment relies strictly on emergency supportive care in intensive care units (ICUs). |
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Gender and Employment in India
Economist highlights that India’s economic objective of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 cannot be achieved without structurally increasing women’s work participation. Women’s Work Participation in India » Women’s work participation in India refers to the proportion of the female working-age population engaged in paid, productive employment across formal and informal sectors. Historically low by international standards, India’s female Work Participation Rate (WPR) has experienced a U-shaped structural curve, declining as rural women withdrew from manual agricultural work without a corresponding absorption into formal non-farm or manufacturing jobs. Key Data and Statistics on Women’s Employment: » Growth Multiplier Potential: A 10-percentage-point increase in India’s female WPR could add nearly 2 percentage points directly to national GDP growth. » Rising Rate of Inactive Youth: The number of young women (aged 15–29) neither looking for work nor in education grew from under 70 million prior to 2004 to over 100 million by 2018. » Distress-Driven Re-entry into Farms: The post-2020 rise in female participation was largely driven by rural economic distress, forcing women into unpaid family labor (UFL) in agriculture. » North-South Industrial Disparity: Tamil Nadu, possessing just 5%–6% of the national population, hosts over 40% of India’s female factory workforce due to strong garment, electronics, and hostel infrastructure. Reasons Behind Low and Distress-Driven Female Participation: » Capital-Intensive Economic Growth: Recent GDP growth has concentrated in high-skill, capital-intensive sectors like finance and IT, which do not absorb large volumes of workers. » Decline of Labor-Intensive Manufacturing: Key labor-absorbing sectors like textiles, food processing, and garments experienced absolute drops in employment between 2013 and 2019. » Mechanization and Agricultural Shift: Farm mechanization reduced the demand for rural manual labor, while shrinking non-farm alternatives left educated young women without suitable jobs. » Social Norms and Safety Constraints: Entrenched gender expectations, limited physical mobility, and a lack of safe housing and transport facilities restrict young women’s entry into formal urban jobs. Significance of Increasing Female Workforce Participation » Expanding Aggregate National Output: Raising female participation increases the overall labor supply, expanding the economy’s productive capacity and total economic output. » Boosting Household Incomes and Savings: Transitioning women into paid employment directly increases household earnings, stimulating consumer demand and private savings. » Intergenerational Human Capital Gains: Higher female earnings translate directly into improved child nutrition, health, and educational attainment, building long-term national human capital. » Enhancing Workplace Productivity and Innovation: Gender-diverse workforce environments increase workplace efficiency, creativity, and competitive capability across industries. Way Forward: » Targeting Labor-Intensive Industrial Policy: Provide direct policy support to labor-absorbing sectors like garments, footwear, food processing, and light electronics assembly. » Replicating Women-Enabling Infrastructure: Expand female literacy, dedicated working-women hostels, and safe public transportation networks modeled on Tamil Nadu’s industrial clusters. » Investing in Public Health and Basic Education: Direct state investments into healthcare and universal public education across Hindi-belt states to eliminate high malnutrition and stunting rates. » Transitioning Women Out of Unpaid Agriculture: Create formal, non-farm wage employment opportunities to shift rural women away from unremunerated family farm labor. Conclusion: India cannot achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) while excluding half of its population from formal, productive work. Addressing the ongoing job crisis requires shifting economic policy toward labor-intensive manufacturing and providing supportive social infrastructure for women workers. Ultimately, enabling educated young women to move from unpaid domestic roles into formal employment will serve as the single strongest engine for sustained, long-term national growth. |
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Global Water Insights for Mining
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) released its Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset, revealing that nearly two-thirds of global mining and metals processing facilities face high physical water risk.
The Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset Report What it is? » The Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset report represents the first comprehensive, cross-commodity analysis evaluating the mining sector’s exposure to physical water risks worldwide. Developed by ICMM in collaboration with research partners, the report overlays point-location data from 12,000 mining and metals facilities across 148 countries/regions with primary water risk datasets. Key Findings in the Report: » Most Common Threat (Baseline Water Stress): 38% of all facilities operate in catchments experiencing high/extremely high water stress or arid conditions. Over 70% of these stressed facilities are also exposed to high baseline water depletion (27% of global facilities). » Extreme Drought Concentrations: 27% of global sites face high drought risk. In Africa and the Middle East, this exposure reaches 81%. In countries like Zambia, Ghana, and Uzbekistan, 100% of mining facilities face high drought risk, while South Africa stands at 96%. » Elevated Flood Risk in Refining: While global flood exposure sits at 14%, specific processing stages face far higher hazards—notably steel production (27%), alumina refining (27%), molybdenum (25%), and aluminium smelting (24%). » Interannual Unpredictability in Oceania: 16% of global facilities experience high year-to-year water supply variability. Oceania exhibits extreme exposure, with 74% of its facilities (and 79% in Australia) subjected to severe supply fluctuations. » Compound Risk Hotspots (Convergence of 3+ Risks): 5% of global facilities face high risk across three or more physical indicators simultaneously. These compound clusters concentrate in Chile, Peru, the Western United States, southern Africa, northern China, central India, and western Australia. » Vulnerability of Critical Energy Transition Minerals: Key clean energy transition commodities face above-average risk profiles. Example: Platinum Group Elements (74% drought risk), Manganese (21% compound exposure), and Copper (9% compound exposure) operate in highly vulnerable catchments. » Chile’s Dual Pressure: Chile—the world’s top copper producer and a major lithium supplier—sees 86% of its facilities facing high baseline water stress and high interannual variability concurrently. How Mining Impacts Water Resources? » Massive Volumetric Withdrawals: Extractive processes require large volumes of water for mineral processing, dust suppression, slurry transport, and equipment cooling, competing directly with local communities. » Depletion of Local Aquifers: Intensive groundwater pumping for mine dewatering lowers regional water tables, causing long-term consumptive loss where water is not returned to the local basin. » Effluent and Tailings Contamination Risks: Tailings storage facilities and unmanaged mine drainage can release heavy metals and chemical processing agents into surrounding river catchments. » Modification of Hydrological Flows: Surface infrastructure, pit excavation, and land clearing alter natural catchment run-off patterns, increasing local vulnerability to soil erosion and flash flooding. Implications of Water Risk in Mining: » A Binding Constraint on the Clean Energy Transition: Water shortages threaten to create supply bottlenecks for essential transition minerals like copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earths, slowing solar, wind, and EV battery production. » Supply Chain Disruptions and Price Volatility: Extreme weather events—such as intense droughts forcing operational halts or floods destroying pit infrastructure—lead to production losses and global metal price spikes. » Heightened Social Conflict and Loss of License to Operate: Operating in water-stressed catchments intensifies local competition between mining companies, agricultural farmers, and rural communities, sparking social unrest. » Financial and Asset Stranding Risks: Unmanaged water risks can result in regulatory fines, increased capital expenditures for alternative water sourcing, or stranded assets. Recommendations: » Adopting Integrated Catchment-Based Water Stewardship: Shift from isolated, site-level water management to collaborative catchment-scale frameworks that account for local communities, agriculture, and ecosystem needs. » Integrating Long-Term Water Risk into Energy Policy: Governments and investors must factor water availability constraints into strategic planning for critical mineral supply chains and renewable energy targets. » Investing in Low-Quality and Alternative Water Technologies: Scale up operational recycling technologies, closed-loop processing systems, and seawater usage (such as direct ocean water piping used at Chile’s Minera Centinela) to preserve freshwater sources. » Implementing Proactive Forward-Looking Land & Water Planning: National regulators should establish clear water allocation priorities and environmental flow thresholds before issuing new mining concessions in high-stress basins. » Strengthening Granular, Facility-Level Water Data Transparency: Improve public reporting on facility water withdrawals, consumption, and discharge metrics to enable accurate site-level risk benchmarks. Conclusion: The ICMM report demonstrates that physical water hazards pose an immediate operational threat to global mining infrastructure rather than a distant concern. Because two-thirds of processing facilities operate in vulnerable catchments, unmanaged water stress directly threatens the supply chains powering renewable energy technologies. Ultimately, securing the critical minerals required for global sustainability requires moving from reactive water management toward integrated, catchment-based water stewardship. |
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Indian Bitter Root Farmers in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh have pioneered a sustainable, stolon-based cultivation and harvesting model for Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa). Kutki - Picrorhiza kurroa What It Is? » Kutki (botanical name: Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex. Benth; also known in Ayurveda as Katuki or Katukarohini) is a high-value, creeping perennial medicinal herb. Derived from the Greek word Picros (bitter) and Rhiza (root), it is famous for its intense bitter taste and therapeutic properties. Native Habitat and Distribution: » Habitat Elevation: Native to the cold, alpine, and sub-alpine regions of the Himalayas at altitudes ranging between 2,700 and 4,500 meters above sea level. » Preferred Micro-climate: Thrives on moist, rocky, north-west facing slopes with well-drained, porous sandy-clay soil that allows its rhizomes to spread horizontally. » Geographic Spread: Distributed across the Himalayan belt of India (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim), as well as Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Tibet, Western China, and Northern Myanmar. Conservation Status: » IUCN Red List: Categorized as Endangered due to severe population decline caused by overexploitation and destructive wild harvesting. » CITES Status: Listed in Appendix II, which permits international trade only under strictly regulated export permits. Key Morphological Features: » Medicinal Stolon vs.Non-Medicinal Fibrous Root: The active drug component resides in the stolon—a specialized horizontal stem that creeps along the soil and bears nodes—rather than the fibrous roots, which carry no medicinal value. » Perennial Growth Habit: Forms low-growing mats via creeping underground rhizomes and aerial stolons, bearing a whorl of serrated leaves and white to pale purple flowers. » Potent Bioactive Phytochemicals: Rich in iridoid glycosides—specifically Picroside I and Picroside II—alongside cucurbitacins, acetophenones, apocyanin, and ferulic acid. » Non-Destructive Harvesting Breakthrough: Under the new scientific model, farmers harvest only the lateral creeping stolons, leaving the mother rhizome intact in the soil to continually regenerate, converting Kutki into a multi-year perennial crop. Significance: » Kutki is a renowned Ayurvedic liver tonic used for hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver disorders. It promotes bile flow and is a key ingredient in Arogyavardhani Vati. » Helps manage chronic fever, diabetes, asthma, cough, digestive disorders, and inflammatory skin diseases by balancing Pitta and Kapha doshas. |
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Kusha LR-SAM Weapon System The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. LR-SAM What It Is? » Project Kusha is India’s indigenously developed, long-range air defence missile system. Often dubbed India’s indigenous answer to the Russian S-400 Triumf, it is a fully automated, scalable surface-to-air missile ecosystem designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy aerial threats at standoff distances. Developing Organisation: » R&D Lead: Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with public and private defense industry partners. » Testing Oversight: Monitored and validated under the Ministry of Defence from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha. » Aim: To build a scalable, multi-layered national air defence shield—aligning with the vision of the integrated “Sudarshan Chakra” national air umbrella—to protect critical civilian and strategic assets while eliminating reliance on foreign air defence imports. Key Features of Project Kusha: » Three-Tiered Interceptor Family: Comprises three distinct missile variants tailored for tiered engagement envelopes:
» Wide Altitude and Operational Envelope: Designed to neutralize fast-moving targets across various altitudes, spanning low-flying cruise missiles to high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. » Fully Integrated Indigenous Subsystems: Includes locally developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, command and control centers, automated battle management software, and high-precision missile seekers. » High Interception Success Rate: Engineered to perform hit-to-kill and proximity-detonation interceptions against complex electronic target profiles and saturation attacks. |
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Rajya Sabha Procedural Tools Disagreements frequently arise between the Opposition and the Union Government over how urgent public issues should be raised in Parliament. » In the Rajya Sabha, these disputes center on whether discussions should take place under Rule 176 (Short-Duration Discussion) or Rule 267 (Suspension of Rules). Rajya Sabha Rule 176 and Rule 267 » Rule 267 allows a member to move a motion to suspend the listed business of the day to immediately discuss a matter of urgent public importance.
Rule 176: Short-Duration Discussion: » Rule 176 provides a mechanism to hold a short-duration discussion on a matter of urgent public importance without disrupting the day’s scheduled agenda.
Corresponding Provisions in the Lok Sabha: » Rule 193 (Short-Duration Discussion): The Lok Sabha equivalent of Rule 176. Allows members to raise urgent matters via written notice without a formal motion or voting. » Adjournment Motion (Rule 56): Similar in spirit to Rule 267. It interrupts the regular business of the Lok Sabha to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, involving an element of censure against the government. |
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Rasayan Development Initiative The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA – Rasayan) Scheme. The BHAVYA - Ras Ayan Scheme What It Is? » BHAVYA – Rasayan is a central sector industrial park development scheme focused on expanding India’s chemical and petrochemical manufacturing It provides capital support to build modern plug-and-play common infrastructure facilities and basic utilities for chemical manufacturing units. » Ministry: Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. » Implementation Period: 5 years, running from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. » Aim: To build an integrated, eco-friendly, and cost-competitive manufacturing ecosystem for the chemical industry, lowering logistics costs, attracting domestic and foreign direct investments (FDI), driving import substitution, and strengthening India’s role in Global Value Chains (GVCs). Key Features of the Scheme: » Total Financial Allocation: Total outlay of ₹3,030 crore, comprising ₹3,000 crore for Common Infrastructure Facilities & Basic Utilities and ₹30 crore for administrative expenditure. » Three Dedicated Chemical Parks: Sets up three world-class, specialized chemical industrial parks across participating states. » Central Grant & State Funding Pattern: The Centre will offer financial support of up to ₹1,000 crore per park, provided the concerned state government contributes a minimum matching grant of ₹500 crore. » Selection via Challenge Route: State government sites will be evaluated and chosen competitively using a Challenge Route selection framework. » Minimum Contiguous Land Norms: Participating states must provide a minimum contiguous area of 8 sq. km. (2,000 acres) of encumbrance-free land for each park. » Plug-and-Play Infrastructure & Utilities: Parks will equip industrial occupants with state-of-the-art shared facilities, including:
Significance: » Chemical clusters strengthen the domestic supply of raw materials for sectors like agriculture, textiles, and electronics, reducing import dependence. » Shared CETPs and hazardous waste facilities improve environmental compliance, lower costs for industries, reduce pollution, and support the Viksit Bharat 2047 |
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Spain: Gateway to Europe Spain declared a national emergency for the first time due to raging wildfires across Madrid and Ávila provinces that forced thousands of evacuations. Spain What It Is? » Spain (officially the Kingdom of Spain) is a sovereign transcontinental nation located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, with territories extending into the Atlantic Ocean and North Africa. » A parliamentary constitutional monarchy and major European Union member, it is historically renowned for its diverse cultural heritage, art, and maritime influence. Capital: Madrid. Location & Borders: Portugal, France and the microstate of Andorra (separated by the Pyrenees), Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory). » Coastlines: Bay of Biscay (north), Atlantic Ocean (northwest/southwest), and the Mediterranean Sea (east/southeast). » Insular & Overseas Territories: Balearic Islands (Mediterranean), Canary Islands (volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic), and the North African enclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Key Geological Features: » The Meseta Central: A massive, elevated central plateau occupying the heartland of Iberia, standing about half a mile (~700 meters) above sea level. It is split into northern and southern basins by the Sistema Central mountain chain. » The Pyrenees Mountain Wall: A rugged Alpine mountain barrier extending 430 km along the northeastern border with France, featuring high crystalline peaks like Aneto Peak (3,404 meters). » Baetic Cordillera & Mulhacén Peak: Located in the south, this range contains peninsular Spain’s highest elevation, Mulhacén Peak (3,481 meters) in the Sierra Nevada. » Volcanic Teide Peak (Canary Islands): Located on Tenerife in the Atlantic Ocean, Teide Peak (3,718 meters) is an active volcano and the highest point on all Spanish territory. » Major Drainage Networks: Crossed by expansive river systems including the Tagus (longest in Iberia), Douro, Guadiana, Guadalquivir, and the high-discharge Ebro River, which drains into the Mediterranean. Significance: » Located at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Europe, and North Africa, Spain controls the vital Strait of Gibraltar. » A leading producer of olive oil, wine, citrus fruits, and renewable energy, Spain is a key EU economy and global tourism destination. |