KARNATAKA ISSUES

• The Karnataka government has proposed a draft law to address the rising threat of fake news and misinformation on social media, with strict penalties including up to 7 years in jail and a ₹10 lakh fine for spreading fake news. The law aims to prohibit and penalize the spread of false or edited content, misquotation, and fabrication of statements. Special courts will be established to handle cognizable and non-bailable offenses, with fast-track trials and empowered to order correction or disabling of content. A six-member regulatory body will oversee implementation and compliance. The law seeks to ensure accountability and safeguards in the digital landscape.
• The Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka has been protected with the issuance of a final Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification by the Centre on June 4, 2025. The ESZ spans 322.695 sq km, covering 62 villages and including both revenue and forest land. The notification bans quarrying and mining within 1 km of the sanctuary boundary and promotes sustainable tourism, eco-restoration, and regulated development. This move aims to protect the area’s rich biodiversity, medicinal plants, and wildlife corridors, while also supporting traditional livelihoods. The sanctuary is known for its ecological value, including the discovery of rare species like the white-naped tit.

SOCIAL ISSUES

• Reasi is set to become the second district in Jammu and Kashmir, after Srinagar, to implement the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme. This initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aims to support marginalized groups, including transgender persons and beggars. With a total allocation of ₹365 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26, SMILE includes sub-schemes for rehabilitation, scholarships, skill development, and shelter homes like Garima Greh. It also emphasizes legal protection through Transgender Protection Cells, ensuring safety, empowerment, and holistic development for marginalized communities across the country.
• The Ministry of Education has established a nine-member panel, led by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, to examine students’ reliance on coaching centers, dummy schools, and the fairness of entrance exams. The panel will explore gaps in the current schooling system, such as rote learning and limited focus on critical thinking, that push students toward coaching. It will also assess how dummy schools and state quotas influence admissions. Additionally, the panel aims to evaluate the effectiveness of entrance exams and the role of formative assessments. Their goal is to recommend measures to improve the education system and reduce dependency on coaching for higher studies.

ENVIRONMENT

• The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), launched in March 2024 by India under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), aims to conserve seven major big cat species globally—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. India, home to over 70% of the world’s tigers, has reversed drastic tiger population declines through Project Tiger since 1973. IBCA fosters cooperation across 95 range countries, promotes anti-poaching, habitat conservation, and capacity building. With ₹150 crore allocated, 25 countries had joined by September 2024. In June 2025, India hosted the first IBCA Assembly, confirming IBCA’s HQ in India and India’s leadership in wildlife diplomacy. India was endorsed as the IBCA President(Bhupender Yadav), and SP Yadav was appointed as Director General.
• India’s Green India Mission (GIM), launched in 2014 under the NAPCC, aims to increase forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of another 5 million. Revised in 2025, it now targets ecologically vulnerable regions like the Aravallis, Himalayas, Western Ghats, and mangroves. The Aravalli Green Wall spans 8 lakh hectares across 29 districts. GIM supports afforestation, carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge, and land restoration. It aligns with India’s Paris Agreement commitments, aiming to create a 2.5–3 billion tonne CO₂ sink. To date, 11.22 million hectares have been afforested, supporting ecosystem services and sustainable rural livelihoods.
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recently released the Global Drought Outlook Report, highlighting the growing threat of droughts worldwide. It emphasizes that 40% of global land faces increasingly severe droughts, with economic costs rising by 3% to 7.5% annually. Projected losses could increase by at least 35% by 2035. Since 1980, 37% of land has experienced significant soil moisture loss, and water levels in rivers and aquifers are declining globally. Despite representing only 6% of natural disasters, droughts account for 34% of disaster-related deaths, especially impacting vulnerable regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The rising demand for agarwood has caused widespread overharvesting, putting wild populations of Aquilaria malaccensis at risk of extinction. This tree, valued for its fragrant resin, produces the aroma as a defense against mold infection. Known as Oud, Gaharu, or Agar, it is highly prized globally for its use in incense and traditional medicine. Wild agarwood takes nearly a decade to mature and is mainly found in Northeast India. Due to overharvesting, it is now classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and listed on CITES Appendix II. Conservation efforts are crucial to prevent its extinction and protect this precious resource.

SCIENCE

• 78th World Health Assembly adopted a landmark resolution recognizing skin diseases as a global public health priority, marking the first formal acknowledgment of skin health as a public health and equity issue. With 1.9 billion people affected—mostly in low- and middle-income countries like India—skin diseases remain stigmatized and underfunded. The resolution, sponsored by nations including Nigeria and Togo, aims to integrate dermatology into primary care, promote culturally competent services, and boost research on neglected conditions. This global shift, especially in regions like South Asia and Africa, positions India to lead in inclusive dermatologic care and policy reform.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Maharatna defence PSU, has secured a ₹511 crore contract to acquire and operationalize the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology from ISRO through IN-SPACe. This marks India’s first full launch vehicle technology transfer from a national agency to a private firm. SSLV, developed by ISRO, is designed for quick, cost-effective deployment of small payloads to Low Earth Orbit. HAL will build and launch two SSLV prototypes with ISRO support and eventually manage future missions independently.
• To address delays at toll plazas, the government has launched a ₹3,000 FASTag-based annual pass for private vehicles and plans to shift towards satellite-based tolling integrated with NavIC navigation. FASTag, developed by NPCI and NHAI, is a contactless toll system using passive RFID technology, auto-deducting charges via vehicle-mounted tags. Unlike barcodes, RFID doesn’t need line-of-sight. Advanced models include ANPR-FASTag for barrier-less tolling and proposed GNSS-based tolling via satellites, though privacy and tech limitations hinder rollout. NavIC, India’s GPS alternative by ISRO, uses a 7-satellite network to provide regional navigation, but faces challenges like satellite failures and limited operational coverage.
• India, under the Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, is rapidly strengthening digital infrastructure to bridge the rural-urban divide and ensure inclusive high-speed internet access. In this context, BSNL has launched Quantum 5G FWA, a SIM-less, indigenously developed Fixed Wireless Access solution offering fibre-like broadband using 5G radio. Built on BSNL’s Direct-to-Device platform, it enables auto-authentication without a physical SIM and delivers speeds up to 980 Mbps with under 10 ms latency. Soft-launched on June 18, 2025, in Hyderabad, it aims to expand to other cities by September 2025, reinforcing India’s technological self-reliance and 5G innovation leadership.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently launched NAKSHATRA, a high-performance computing (HPC) facility at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM). Designed for advanced virological and genomic research, NAKSHATRA includes 12 compute nodes, 700 cores, and 1 petabyte of storage. It supports key bioinformatics workflows and accelerates AI-driven vaccine and drug development. By reducing genome analysis time from weeks to 24–48 hours, it enhances surveillance, outbreak response, and pandemic preparedness. It also supports Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) and promotes centralised sequencing data and public health precision.
• Google marked a major milestone in its Asia-Pacific operations by opening its first Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in the region, located in Hyderabad. This is only the fourth such center worldwide and will focus on cybersecurity, AI research, and combating online fraud. It aims to enhance digital security, protect critical infrastructure, and promote responsible AI development tailored to India’s digital growth. Google’s Hyderabad office was established in 2007.
• ISRO launched the ‘Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025’ with Hack2skill as the partner, inviting students and scholars to solve space-related challenges. Launched by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, the hackathon targets undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD scholars, excluding working professionals. The event features 14 challenges directly from ISRO, encouraging innovative solutions for India’s space missions. The hackathon aims to foster creativity and problem-solving skills among young minds, contributing to India’s space research and exploration goals. Registration is open on Hack2skill’s website.
• In Kerala, a three-week-old newborn with the SMN1 gene mutation for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is receiving presymptomatic treatment with Risdiplam at SAT Hospital, marking a first in India. Prenatal genetic screening identified the mutation, allowing early intervention before symptoms appeared. SMA affects motor neurons controlling movement and muscle activity, and early treatment can minimize nerve damage and improve development prospects. The mother, an SMA patient, chose to continue the pregnancy despite the diagnosis. Kerala’s health department is providing Risdiplam free to about 100 SMA patients through its KARE initiative, highlighting a proactive approach to rare disease management.
• India has made a significant breakthrough in green hydrogen production by developing a scalable device that splits water molecules using only solar energy. Led by Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, scientists used earth-abundant materials to create a silicon-based photoanode with an innovative heterojunction architecture. The device demonstrates high efficiency, stability for over 10 hours, and can operate at large scales, such as a 25 cm² photoanode. This advancement brings us closer to affordable, large-scale solar-to-hydrogen systems, promising a cleaner energy future for industries, transportation, and homes powered by renewable sunlight.

 MISCELLANEOUS

• An inscription dated June 28, 1456 CE, discovered at Mallikarjunaswamy Temple in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, by ASI’s Epigraphy Director K. Munirathnam Reddy, reveals India’s earliest epigraphical reference to a comet, likely Halley’s Comet. Issued during King Mallikarjuna’s rule of the Vijayanagar Empire, the Sanskrit text in Nagari script mentions a celestial event (Dhumaketu) and a meteor shower, prompting a land grant to a Vedic scholar to mitigate potential disasters. This record integrates medieval astronomy with religious governance and reflects early Indian scientific awareness. The comet reference aligns with Halley’s 1456 appearance, predating modern astronomical understanding.
• India, as a major emerging economy, continues to attract global investment amidst shifting geopolitical and economic trends. According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025, India ranked 15th in global FDI inflows at $27.6 billion despite a 2% dip, while greenfield project announcements surged, placing India 4th globally. Outward FDI rose significantly to $24 billion, moving India to 18th rank globally, with strong investments in semiconductors, EVs, and basic metals. These trends highlight India’s growing role in global value chains, increased manufacturing appeal under the “Make in India” initiative, and the rising competitiveness of Indian firms in international markets.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% Government of India-owned entity under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, has been conferred the prestigious Digital Payments Award 2024-25 by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to expanding digital payments and financial inclusion across the country.