KARNATAKA

• The Karnataka government has declared sudden deaths, especially due to heart attacks in individuals below 45 years, as a notifiable condition. All such non-hospital deaths must be reported and autopsy is mandatory. This decision follows expert recommendations to launch a cardiac surveillance program, maintain a national registry, and conduct annual heart screenings for students (15+), government staff, and private employees. Post-COVID, heart attacks rose by 4–5%, driven by lifestyle changes, not by COVID vaccines.
• Bengaluru has constituted a new Disaster Management Authority under the BBMP, headed by its chief commissioner. This seven-member body, including key civic and emergency officials, is tasked with preparing and updating a comprehensive disaster management plan every two years. Its responsibilities include identifying vulnerable areas, implementing preventive measures, and engaging NGOs, aiming for a proactive and coordinated response to potential disasters in the city.

POLITY

• Census 2027 will be India’s first fully digital census, conducted in two phases—House-listing in April 2026 and Population Enumeration in February 2027. It introduces self-enumeration via a web portal, with mobile app-based data collection in multiple languages. Enumerators will upload data directly, ensuring faster processing. Reference dates vary by region, and caste data will be collected. A three-tier training model will prepare 34 lakh personnel. States must finalize boundaries by Dec 31, 2026. This marks India’s 16th census.

SCHEMES

• Himachal Pradesh has become the first Indian state to implement Aadhaar-based facial authentication (FaceAuth) for ration distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Launched by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance, the system replaces OTPs and fingerprints with face recognition via a smartphone app used by fair price shop owners. It aims to improve reliability, reduce verification time, and enhance access to services in remote areas, marking a significant step toward digital inclusion and governance reforms.
• On July 7, 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government ratified the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) Declaration aiming to establish Amaravati as a global quantum technology hub by 2035. The initiative targets $1 billion in investments by 2029, starting with India’s largest open quantum testbed, QChipIN. Key developments include IBM’s Quantum System Two by 2026, indigenous quantum hardware exports worth ₹5,000 crore by 2030, and formation of the Global Quantum Collaboration Council for international partnerships.

INTERNATIONAL

• At the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir that killed 26 people. The Rio Declaration denounced all forms of terrorism, urged zero tolerance, and backed UN-led conventions. PM Modi called the attack a direct blow to India’s soul and demanded sanctions on terror supporters. India proposed BRICS reforms, scientific cooperation, resilient supply chains, and equitable AI. The declaration also supported UNSC reforms for better global representation.

MISCELLANEOUS

• NITI Aayog, in collaboration with MoDoNER and UNDP, released the second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District SDG Index 2023–24 on 7th July 2025, assessing 121 districts across 8 NE states. Hnahthial (Mizoram) topped the index with 43 points, while Longding (Arunachal Pradesh) ranked lowest. 85% of districts improved, with Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura achieving ‘Front Runner’ status. The index supports data-driven governance and aims to accelerate SDG progress by 2030.