The recent death of nine-year-old Venkatesh, taken as ‘collateral’ for his mother’s unpaid debt vividly illustrates the harsh realities and enduring challenges of bonded labor in India, despite its legal prohibition.
Current Landscape and Statistics
Prevalence: As of 2021, an estimated 11 million people in India were living in modern slavery, the highest number globally.
Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts: Between April 2024 and January 2025, approximately 250 bonded labourers were rescued in India. However, in the fiscal year 2023-24, only 468 bonded labourers were rehabilitated against an annual target of 1.3 million, highlighting significant gaps in implementation.
Dominant Social Groups Affected: Studies consistently show that over 80% of bonded laborers are from historically marginalized Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities, underscoring the deep-rooted social discrimination.
Dominant Social Groups Affected: Studies consistently show that over 80% of bonded laborers are from historically marginalized Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) communities, underscoring the deep-rooted social discrimination.
Russia is actively pushing for the revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format, a strategic dialogue that has been largely dormant for nearly five years.
What is the RIC format?
Initiated in the late 1990s by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, the RIC format was conceived as a strategic counterweight to Western dominance.
It facilitated over 20 ministerial-level meetings, promoting cooperation in foreign policy, economics, and security.
The format lost momentum following the 2020 Galwan Valley incident, which significantly strained India-China relations.
Recently, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs visited India and emphasized India's role as a ‘geopolitical giant’ and an ‘indispensable security actor’.
About India-New Zealand Relations
India and New Zealand established their diplomatic relations in 1952. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth, sharing democratic values and governance principles.
They collaborate on regional and global security issues, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. They emphasize freedom of navigation, maritime security, and counterterrorism efforts.
New Zealand identified India as a priority country in its ‘Opening Doors to India’ policy notified in October 2011, which was reiterated in 2015.
The Government of India has successfully met its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of GDP for the financial year 2024-25, as per provisional data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
What is the fiscal deficit?
Fiscal Deficit is defined as excess of total budget expenditure (revenue and capital) over total budget receipts (revenue and capital) excluding borrowings during a fiscal year.
Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure – (Revenue Receipts + Non-Debt Creating Capital Receipts).
The Minister of Communications announced at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 that India’s Internet user base is set to touch 1 billion by the end of FY26.
Challenges
Last-Mile Connectivity: Difficult terrain, low affordability, and lack of digital skills still limit access in remote areas.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: India needs stronger laws and greater public awareness to protect user data.
Quality of Service: Internet speed and reliability remain uneven despite wide network coverage.
Skilling: Increased digital access must be supported by basic digital literacy and training programs.
The Delhi Power Minister inaugurated a 20-MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kilokari, South Delhi .
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are large-scale batteries used to store energy from renewable sources like solar and wind for later use.
They vary in size, design, and technology, and play a crucial role in making green energy more reliable and flexible.
They can also feed excess power back to the main grid.
There are three main types: Pre-packaged battery modules (just batteries), pre-packaged systems (batteries plus components like chargers or inverters), and custom-made battery banks (individual batteries assembled with additional components).
As per the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), zoonotic outbreaks significantly increased over the years, particularly post-pandemic.
Key Findings of the Study
Prevalence of Zoonotic Outbreaks: Over 8% (583 out of 6,948) of the reported outbreaks were zoonotic (spread from animals to humans).
Peak Seasonality: Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during the months of June, July, and August.
Leading Zoonotic Diseases: Japanese encephalitis accounted for the largest share (29.5%) then Leptospirosis (18.7%) & scrub typhus (13.9%).
Geographical Distribution: The Northeast part of India contributed the highest proportion (35.8%) of zoonotic disease outbreaks followed by the southern region (31.7%) & western region (15.4%).
