- The United States has decided to withdraw from the UN cultural and education agency UNESCO.
- Financial and Structural: The US is a significant funder & its withdrawal impacts UNESCO’s budget, threatening program continuity in education, culture, and heritage conservation.
- Global Heritage and Science: UNESCO oversees World Heritage Sites, including 26 in the US (Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, etc.). US sites may lose funding for preservation and miss opportunities for new inclusions.
- Geopolitical and Diplomatic: US absence creates vacuums for other powers (notably China) to boost influence in setting global norms and priorities. Seen as a retreat from multilateralism which may embolden other states to deprioritize UN agencies. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 23-07-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 23 July, 2025
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- Recently, the Union Minister of State for Education presented in response to a written question in Parliament, highlighting student suicides in India.
- Individual vulnerabilities: Low self-esteem, impulsivity, trauma histories, history of physical or sexual abuse, and learning and intellectual disability.
- Family Pressures: Over-anxious and over-ambitious parents, dysfunctional family, criticisms, comparisons with peers and lack of support in the family, alcoholism, violence, psychological and economic problems in the family increases suicidal risk.
- Systemic flaws: One-point evaluation, media hype around results, and lack of career guidance.
- Institutional stressors: Pressure on teachers and students to achieve 100% pass rates. Read More
Suicides Cases Among Student
Context
Factors Responsible For Student Suicide
- A recent Social Audit (2022–23) by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed that over 90% of sewer deaths occurred without safety gear or or personalised protective equipment (PPE) kits.
- Lack of Alternatives: Limited access to education and job opportunities keeps people in manual scavenging.
- Caste System: Deep-seated caste-based discrimination traps many in this occupation.
- Weak Law Enforcement: Inadequate implementation of anti-manual scavenging laws.
- Inadequate Sanitary Infrastructure: Lack of modern sanitation systems necessitates manual cleaning. Read More
Manual Scavenging and Sewer Deaths in India
Context
Why Manual scavenging continues to exist in India?
- The IP filings in India in the last five years have increased by 44%, rising from 4,77,533 in 2020–21 to 6,89,991 in 2024–25.
- Intellectual Property (IP) is generally defined as the 'Product of Mind'.
- Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is the legally enforceable exclusive right granted to the owner of the intellectual property for a limited period.
- IPR rewards creativity & human endeavor which fuel the progress of humankind.
- Forms of IPR : Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications, Layout Design of Integrated Circuits, Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights, Protection of undisclosed information/ Trade Secrets. Read More
India Witnesses Surge in IP Filings Over Five Years
Context
Intellectual Property (IP) Rights
- The Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) rose by 4.3% in FY25.
- Financial inclusion supports entrepreneurship and business growth.
- It is a catalyst for achieving seven of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- It fosters economic growth and employment, promotes economic empowerment of women, and contributes to eliminating poverty.
- It helps build resilience for people and businesses vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters Read More
RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index
In News
Importance
- The report titled Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India recently released by the World Bank.
- It is prepared by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
- It studied 24 Indian cities, with a special focus on Chennai, Indore, New Delhi, Lucknow, Surat and Thiruvananthapuram. Read More
Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India Report of World Bank
In News
About the report
- Tanzania's Vision 2050 aims to tackle the climate crisis threatening the Great Ruaha River, a vital resource for agriculture and biodiversity.
- It is a major river in south-central Tanzania.
- It flows northeast through the Usangu wetlands, descends across the Usangu plains (important for agriculture and livestock), and passes through Ruaha National Park. Read More
