KARNATAKA

• Bengaluru Police is set to enhance its Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve response efficiency. Currently under testing, the AI will assist in call triaging, reducing the average 10–11 minute response time. Trained on historical emergency data, the multilingual system includes a voice assistant and will initially work alongside human operators. It aims to reduce crank calls, offer safer screening for operators, and improve accessibility through support in Indian and foreign languages.
• A Karnataka government study reveals high unemployment among ITI graduates, especially in carpentry, civil draughtsmanship, and dressmaking. Nearly one-fifth of alumni are jobless, with female unemployment at 38% vs. male at 18%. Reasons include job scarcity, field-specific difficulty, and family objections for women. Rural first job salaries (Rs 13,974) often fell below skilled minimum wage. The study recommends course relevance review every 3-4 years and ensuring minimum skilled wages for all ITI graduates.
• Tur dal prices in Kalaburagi have plummeted to Rs 6,250/quintal from Rs 12,750 in May 2024, severely impacting small farmers. This crash is attributed to the Union government’s duty-free import policy and high production in neighboring states. With government procurement at MSP (Rs 8,000/quintal) ending, farmers are forced to sell at throwaway prices. Many farmers had held back produce last year anticipating higher prices, despite good MSP, only to face a drastic market downturn this year.

POLITY

• The Union Home Ministry has nominated four new members to the Rajya Sabha: former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam, historian Dr. Meenakshi Jain, and Kerala BJP leader C. Sadanandan Master. With these nominations, all 12 Rajya Sabha nominated seats are now filled. Prime Minister Modi lauded their diverse expertise, from foreign affairs and legal to academic and courage in public life, highlighting their contributions to national discourse.

SCHEME

• Effective July 15, 2025, YouTube is revising its Partner Program (YPP) to discourage mass-produced and repetitive content, likely targeting low-effort AI-generated videos. Monetisation will now favor creators offering authentic and transformative content, while repetitive, templated uploads face demonetisation. The update follows earlier measures against non-original formats and reflects rising legal concerns over AI content. Channels producing unique commentary or storytelling remain safe, as YouTube seeks to boost quality, viewer retention, and protect ad revenue streams.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme nationwide, empowering youth as digital ambassadors. Student volunteers, or “Sanchar Mitras,” will raise public awareness on digital safety, cyber fraud, EMF radiation, and promote responsible mobile usage and digital literacy. The scheme also offers students exposure to advanced telecom technologies like 5G, 6G, AI, and cybersecurity through training and real-world engagement, building a skilled, digitally aware workforce. Outstanding performers will receive exclusive opportunities.

ENVIRONMENT

• A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, led by IISc Bengaluru and the University of Chicago, links household air pollution (HAP) from polluting cooking fuels like firewood and kerosene to cognitive decline in rural adults. The study, based on rural Karnataka data, found lower cognitive scores and reduced hippocampal volume—especially in women. Pollutants affect the brain through inflammation and direct entry, making air pollution a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment.

INTERNATIONAL

• The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), instrumental in India’s Green Revolution and co-founder of BISA with ICAR, now faces a major funding crisis after USAID, its top contributor ($83M of $211M in 2024), shut down on July 1. India’s contribution was minimal ($0.8M), despite CIMMYT’s crucial role in developing climate-resilient wheat and maize varieties. With USAID’s exit, India has a strategic opportunity to support CIMMYT and boost food security through agricultural innovation.
• A Kerala nurse sentenced to death in Yemen for a 2017 murder might be saved by ‘Diyah’ (blood money) under Islamic Sharia law. This system allows financial compensation to the victim’s family, often for unintentional crimes, or if the kin forgo ‘qisas’ (retribution). While not formally part of India’s legal system, ‘plea bargaining’ offers a similar negotiation, though with stricter limitations, excluding serious crimes and those against women/children, unlike ‘Diyah’s’ broader scope

MISCELLANEOUS

• The Tiruchendur Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tamil Nadu recently witnessed the Kumbabishekam (consecration ceremony) after 16 years, drawing thousands of devotees. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, this temple is one of the six Arupadai Veedu and the only one located on the seashore, facing the Bay of Bengal. Built in Dravidian style using red sandstone, its notable features include a 138-foot tall RajaGopuram on the west, mandapams, carved pillars, and the deity in a standing posture.
• Three more Indian freestyle wrestlers — Sachin (86kg), Sachin (92kg), Jaspooran Singh (125kg) — landed bronze medals at the Asian under-20 championships in Bishkek
• The Indian Army launched Operation Shiva to secure the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. This multi-tier security setup deploys over 8,500 troops, employing a dynamic counter-terrorism grid, corridor protection, and a robust Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) with 50+ C-UAS and Electronic Warfare systems against drone threats. Coordinated with civil administration and CAPFs, the operation also provides extensive medical aid, disaster management, and live convoy tracking to ensure the pilgrims’ safety to the sacred Amarnath Cave.
• Senior IPS officer Sonali Mishra has been named as the first woman Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She is a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Mishra’s appointment as DG, RPF, until her superannuation on October 31, 2026, said an order issued by the Personnel Ministry. She will take charge of the post from incumbent Manoj Yadava, who is due to superannuate on July 31. The RPF was constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1957. The force could enquire, arrest and prosecute the offenders involved in unlawful possession of railway property in 1966. It was given the status of “an armed force of the Union” on September 20, 1985.