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Daily Archives: July 16, 2025

News In Short-16-07-2025

In News

  • The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Thiru K. Kamaraj Ji on his birth anniversary.

    • Thiru K. Kamaraj

  • Kumaraswami Kamaraj was born in Tamil Nadu on July 15, 1903. 
  • His early life was shaped by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and meeting Mahatma Gandhi, which inspired him to join the freedom movement.
  • He became active in the Indian National Congress, participating in non-cooperation and Salt Satyagraha movements.
  • He was elected unopposed to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1937 and re-elected in 1946.

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    Confined Field Trials on GM Maize 

    Context

  • The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has approved confined field trials of two varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for the 2025 Kharif season.

    • What are GM crops?

  • Crops that have undergone genetic engineering processes to alter their DNA are referred to as genetically modified crops.
  • This alteration is done to introduce desirable traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides, improved nutritional content, or increased yield.
  • The process of creating GM crops typically involves: identification of desired traits, isolation of genes, insertion into crop genome, and expression of the trait.
  • The techniques used in GM crops are: gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, agrobacterium etc.

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    Black Hole Merger

    In News

  • Scientists have detected signals from the largest black hole merger ever observed, marking a breakthrough in the study of the universe’s most powerful cosmic collisions.

    • About

  • The event, named GW231123, was detected on November 23, 2023, by the global network of gravitational wave detectors, including LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA.
  • The merger involved two black holes with masses of 100 and 140 times the mass of our Sun, creating a final black hole of 225 solar masses — making it one of the heaviest black hole mergers ever detected.

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    STPI Aims to Spread IT Sector Growth Nationwide

    Context

  • The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), is repositioning itself to drive the next wave of inclusive and innovation-driven IT growth across the country, especially targeting Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

    • Way Ahead

  • India’s global leadership in IT has so far been driven largely by service exports, which, while significant, offer limited value addition in the long term. 
  • To remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape, the country must now pivot towards a robust software product-based economy. 
  • The National Policy on Software Products (NPSP) 2019 rightly emphasises this transition by advocating for indigenous innovation and IP-led growth.

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    The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

    Context

  • The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for June 2025 has been released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

    • Major Highlights

  • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among persons of age 15 years and above was 54.2 % during June 2025 as compared to 54.8% during May, 2025. 
  • LFPR in rural areas was 56.1% and LFPR in urban areas was 50.4%.
  • Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 53.3% during June, 2025.
  • WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 46.8% with the overall WPR at the country level observed as 51.2%.

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    India’s Strategic Push for Global Capability Centers

    Context

  • India is working on comprehensive policy interventions to accelerate the growth of Global Capability Centers (GCCs).

    • What are Global Capability Centers (GCCs)?

  • These are offshore units established by multinational corporations to manage a wide range of business functions like software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and customer experience management.
  • These are wholly owned subsidiaries of global firms, offering strategic control and alignment with corporate goals.
  • GCCs have evolved from cost-saving BPO units to strategic innovation hubs driving digital transformation, AI, and R&D.
  • They differ from traditional outsourcing by focusing on value creation, innovation, and digital transformation.

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    10 Years of Skill India Mission

    Context

  • Skill India Mission completed ten years.

    • About Skill India Mission (SIM)

  • Launched on 15 July 2015, World Youth Skills Day, the Skill India Mission provides skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres and institutes under various schemes.
  • In February 2025, the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26, merging Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme into a single Central Sector Scheme.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)- Offers short-term skill training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for youth nationwide, including rural areas.
  • National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)- Promotes apprenticeship with financial support for stipends, providing both basic and on-the-job training. 

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    Union Government Report on Protection of Civil Rights Act (PCR Act) 1955

    Context

  • The Union government’s 2022 annual report on the implementation of Protection of Civil Rights Act (PCR Act) 1955, has been made public by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

    • Challenges Highlighted by the 2022 Report

  • Underreporting: Low case numbers may reflect lack of awareness, fear of retaliation, reluctance to use the law, or preference for the SC/ST Act, rather than actual reduction in untouchability practices.
  • High Pendency and Poor Conviction Rates: In 2022, 1,242 cases under the PCR Act were pending trial in courts.
  • The pendency rate in courts remains above 97%, indicating sluggish judicial processing.
  • Ineffective Enforcement: The very high rate of acquittals and pendency signals gaps in investigation, evidence collection, witness/victim protection, and judicial processes.

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    Supreme Court on Free Speech on Social Media

    In News

  • The Supreme Court of India expressed concern over the increasing abuse of the right to free speech, particularly on social media, and stressed the need for self-restraint and regulation.  

    • SC Observations

  • The Court reiterated that freedom of speech and expression is integral to a civilised society and cannot be “trampled upon on flimsy and fanciful grounds.”
  • The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the right to freedom of speech (Article 19) must be balanced against the right to life and dignity (Article 21). In the event of conflict, dignity prevails over unfettered speech.
  • The Court has stressed that citizens must exercise self-restraint online and highlighted that endless litigation due to offensive posts is clogging the legal system. It warned that unless people regulate themselves, State intervention may become necessary.

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    Contesting the Future of Forest Governance

    In a recent development, the Chhattisgarh forest department issued—and later withdrew—a letter claiming itself as the nodal agency for implementing Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 highlights a critical and ongoing struggle in India’s forest governance.

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