Context

The Registrar General of India (RGI) asked States to take steps towards achieving universal registration of births and deaths. 

About

Following the directives of the Supreme Court, all government hospitals have been declared ‘registrars’ of births and deaths.

If the event has taken place in a hospital, a medical officer in charge is required to report it under Section 8 (1) (B) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

Hospitals have to report the event within 21 days. 

The RBD Act, 1969, which was amended in 2023, makes online registration of births and deaths compulsory on the RGI portal.

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Context

India is celebrating its second National Space Day on August 23, 2025 with the theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities”.

Challenges in India’s Space Sector

Competition and Global Market Share: To achieve this ambitious goal of 8% of the global market share, Indian space companies must compete effectively on the international stage. 

Private Sector Participation: While the private sector has shown interest, there’s a need for more substantial investment and commitment.

Technology Development and Innovation: Developing cutting-edge technologies, such as reusable launch vehicles, miniaturized satellites, and advanced propulsion systems, requires substantial investment and research. 

Regulatory Framework and Licensing: Navigating licensing processes, export controls, and compliance can be complex. 

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Context

With Onam round the corner, customers are insistent on authentic ethnic wear called Chendamangalam handloom.

Major Challenges Faced by the Industry

Declining Number of Weavers: Younger generations moving away due to low income, lack of social security, and absence of modern skill training.

Traditional weavers are aging, leading to a shrinking workforce.

Economic Distress: Rising cost of raw materials (cotton, silk, dyes) but low selling prices due to middlemen exploitation.

Competition from Powerlooms & Mills: Mass-produced, machine-made fabrics are cheaper, faster to produce, and dominate markets.

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Context

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen recently stressed that migration has been a major source of global progress, enabling exchange of knowledge, culture, and values.

Way Ahead

Humane & Inclusive Policies: Recognise migration as a right and opportunity, not a threat.

Safeguard voting rights (Amartya Sen’s concern on SIR).

Strengthen Social Protection: Universal portability of PDS, health, education.

Legal protection for informal workers.

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Context

The Parliament has passed five key bills in the just-concluded Monsoon Session, which overhauled colonial-era maritime laws and will boost the Blue Economy.

India’s Maritime Sector

Strategic Position: Located along the world's busiest shipping routes, India is a key trading hub and a rising global power.

India’s Maritime Sector Overview: Handles 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value, with port infrastructure critical to the economy.

Cargo Traffic Growth: Coastal cargo traffic surged by 119% from 2014-2024, with a target of 230 million tonnes by 2030.

Surge in Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise exports rose to USD 451 billion in FY23, up from USD 417 billion in FY22.

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Context

The Kerala High Court became the first in India to publish a set of guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the district judiciary.

Global Best Practices

European Union: The EU AI Act (2024) classifies judicial AI as “high-risk”, requiring rigorous oversight, human accountability, and safeguards against bias. This reflects the EU’s broader approach of prioritising rights and ethics over speed of adoption.

Singapore: Its judiciary follows a strict human-in-the-loop model where AI assists in tasks like research and document review but never replaces judicial reasoning. Singapore also runs judicial innovation labs to test AI tools before adoption.

China: It has established “smart courts”, where AI assists in case filing, judgment recommendations, and even drafting opinions. 

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Recently, during India’s Independence Day address, the Prime Minister urged the nation to shed its dependency and embrace technological sovereignty to lead in deep-tech innovation — spanning artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and space technology.

संदर्भ 

भारत के रजिस्ट्रार जनरल (RGI) ने राज्यों से जन्म और मृत्यु के सार्वभौमिक पंजीकरण की दिशा में कदम उठाने का आग्रह किया है।

परिचय 

सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के निर्देशों के अनुसार, सभी सरकारी अस्पतालों को जन्म और मृत्यु के ‘रजिस्ट्रार’ घोषित किया गया है।

यदि घटना अस्पताल में हुई है, तो संबंधित चिकित्सा अधिकारी को इसे जन्म और मृत्यु पंजीकरण अधिनियम, 1969 की धारा 8 (1) (B) के अंतर्गत रिपोर्ट करना अनिवार्य है। 

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संदर्भ 

भारत 23 अगस्त 2025 को अपना द्वितीय राष्ट्रीय अंतरिक्ष दिवस मना रहा है, जिसका विषय है: “आर्यभट्ट से गगनयान: प्राचीन ज्ञान से अनंत संभावनाएं”।

भारत का अंतरिक्ष क्षेत्र 

भारत के अंतरिक्ष क्षेत्र को दशकों की निरंतर निवेश नीति से लाभ मिला है, विगत दशक में $13 बिलियन का निवेश हुआ, जिससे लगभग $60 बिलियन का GDP योगदान प्राप्त हुआ।

अंतरिक्ष क्षेत्र की संभावनाएं निर्यात क्षमता और निवेश: वर्तमान में भारत की अंतरिक्ष सेवाओं में निर्यात बाजार हिस्सेदारी ₹2,400 करोड़ ($0.3 बिलियन) है। इसमें ₹88,000 करोड़ ($11 बिलियन) तक वृद्धि करने का लक्ष्य है।

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संदर्भ 

ओणम के पास आने के साथ ही ग्राहक प्रामाणिक पारंपरिक परिधान की मांग कर रहे हैं, जिसे चेंदमंगलम हैंडलूम कहा जाता है।

चेंदमंगलम हैंडलूम उद्योग 

सांस्कृतिक महत्व: चेंदमंगलम (एर्नाकुलम, केरल) अपने पारंपरिक हैंडलूम उत्पादों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है, जिनकी ओणम के दौरान विशेष रूप से मांग होती है।

बुनाई क्षेत्र में संकट: 1980 के दशक में ~5,000 बुनकरों की संख्या घटकर अब ~500 रह गई है (जो 5 सहकारी समितियों में फैले हुए हैं)। 

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