- Prime Minister Modi paid a state visit to Maldives.
- Change in Power: Changes in government create uncertainty and complicate long-term cooperation projects.
- Chinese Influence: China's growing economic presence in the Maldives, evidenced by investments in infrastructure projects and debt-trap diplomacy, is perceived as a challenge to India's strategic interests in the region.
- Non-traditional threats: Piracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking remain concerns in the region, requiring continuous collaboration and intelligence sharing between India and the Maldives.
- Extremism and radicalization: The Maldives' vulnerability to religious extremism and radicalization poses a security threat that necessitates joint efforts in countering such ideologies. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 26-07-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 26 July, 2025
PDF 
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the blocking of websites and apps of at least 25 OTT platforms for allegedly providing obscene and vulgar content.
- Rapid Growth of Digital Platforms: The proliferation of OTTs, social media, and video-sharing sites has enabled easy access and dissemination of objectionable content.
- Lack of Pre-Screening on OTT Platforms: Unlike films, OTT content is not subject to prior certification, allowing creators to bypass traditional censorship.
- Inadequate Content Regulation Mechanisms: Weak enforcement in self-regulatory frameworks result in unchecked publication of obscene material.
- Anonymity and Encryption: Users often exploit encrypted apps and anonymous browsing tools to share and consume explicit content, escaping legal scrutiny. Read More
Centre Blocks 25 OTT Platforms over Obscene Content
Context
Factors causing rise in Obscenity
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has circulated Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP), 2025, for public consultation.
- NTP 2025 aims to boost telecom sector investment to ₹1 lakh crore annually, doubling telecom product exports and fostering innovation in emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum communications.
- The policy targets 100% 4G population coverage and 90% 5G coverage by 2030, alongside expanding fiberization of telecom towers and deploying one million public Wi-Fi hotspots.
- NTP 2025 proposes simplification of regulations, cost reductions, and measures to improve business environment and digital inclusion, fostering a robust ecosystem for telecom players and consumers alike. Read More
DoT Released Draft National Telecom Policy (NTP), 2025
Context
Significance of the Policy
- The Indian government is finalising a green steel procurement policy, potentially mandating that 25% of public steel purchases be low-emission "green steel."
- It refers to steel produced using low-carbon technologies, primarily by replacing coal-based blast furnaces with hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) processes or electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy.
- It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the most carbon-intensive industries globally. Read More
Public Procurement of Green Steel
In News
What is Green Steel?
- ISRO will launch three more navigation satellites, NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05, by 2026 to bolster the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
- The first batch launched in the previous decades has been successful in establishing the Personal Navigation Device (PND) services in the country.
- The NVS series is the second generation of these satellites that are progressively being deployed to further strengthen the PND ecosystem in the nation.
- Many applications based on NavIC spanning from strategic uses, tracking of shipping vessels, time synchronization, train tracking and safety of alert life dissemination are accomplished. Read More
3 Navigation Satellites to be Launched by 2026
Context
Significance
- The Committee on Estimates (2024–25) presented its Sixth Report to Parliament, highlighting India's urgent need for systemic transformation in agriculture amid rising vulnerabilities due to climate change.
- Climate Change Impacts: According to the report, crop yields are projected to decline by 4.5% to 9% in the medium term.
- 310 districts are vulnerable, with 109 categorized as 'very high risk' and 201 as 'highly vulnerable' by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
- Soil Degradation: Nearly 30% of India’s total land suffers from soil degradation due to intensive chemical-based practices.
- Overuse of urea and pesticides, alongside declining organic matter, has led to nutrient imbalance, affecting soil fertility and ecosystem services. Read More
Parliamentary Committee Charts Roadmap for Climate-Resilient and Organic Agriculture
Context
Agricultural Vulnerabilities in India
- PM Modi will inaugurate the newly extended runway and terminal building at Thoothukudi airport.
- Thoothukudi, also known as Tuticorin, is a significant port and industrial city in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India.
- It is situated on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
- Thoothukudi is known as the "Pearl City" due to its historical pearl fishing activities. It's a crucial seaport, often referred to as the "Sea Gateway of Tamil Nadu".
- The port was officially renamed V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in 2011. Read More
