KARNATAKA NEWS

• The Karnataka State Film Awards 2021 recognized excellence in Kannada cinema across multiple categories. Doddahatti Boregowda won Best Film, while 777 Charlie and Bisilu Kudure secured second and third places. Yuvarathnaa was named Best Popular Film. Acting honors went to Rakshit Shetty, Archana Jois, and supporting actors Pramod and Umashree. Technical awards highlighted Raghu K M, Imtiyaz Sultan, and others. Special categories included Nada Peda Asha (regional language) and Bhairavi (special jury award).

POLITY NEWS

• India is promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to tackle a backlog of over 4.57 crore pending cases. Anchored in Article 39A, Section 89 of CPC, and the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, ADR includes mediation, pre-litigation mediation, and Lok Adalats, offering faster, cost-effective, and socially inclusive justice. It reduces court delays, protects social relationships, and aligns with India’s civilisational ethos, supporting judicial reforms and improving per capita justice delivery, especially in states with high case backlogs.

SCHEMES

• The Government launched the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to boost agriculture in 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts across 29 states/UTs, led by Uttar Pradesh (12). The scheme aims to enhance productivity, promote crop diversification, improve storage, irrigation, and credit access. Districts were chosen for low productivity, moderate cropping intensity, and poor credit access. Implemented via convergence of 36 schemes from 11 departments, monitored by 100 Central Nodal Officers, with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled youth-focused initiatives worth ₹62,000 crore at the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh in New Delhi. Key announcements include PM–SETU, upgrading 1,000 ITIs with modern machinery and global-standard training; establishment of a Skill University named after Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur to promote vocational excellence; and launch of 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs in Navodaya and Eklavya schools across 34 States/UTs. These initiatives aim to strengthen education, skilling, and entrepreneurship, fostering an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

ECONOMY

• The RBI kept repo rate unchanged at 5.5% with a neutral stance, while unveiling reforms to deepen financial markets and internationalise the rupee. Key steps include allowing banks to finance M&As, extend rupee loans to neighbouring countries, and invest idle balances in Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) into corporate bonds. Lending caps for large borrowers were eased, and infrastructure financing made cheaper. These moves aim to enhance liquidity, strengthen rupee credibility, and boost India’s global financial influence.

ENVIRONMENT

• The Philippines will host Southeast Asia’s first coral larvae cryobank at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute. The initiative, part of a regional network, aims to freeze coral larvae at –196°C using vitrification to safeguard biodiversity and restore reefs. Located within the Coral Triangle, home to 75% of global coral species and supporting 120+ million people, this cryobank acts as a genetic insurance policy against reef collapse amid threats like bleaching, climate change, and pollution.
• Severe droughts in Peru, Amazon fires, and Ecuador’s hydroelectric struggles are linked to disrupted “flying rivers”—a term coined by Carlos Nobre (2006) describing atmospheric water vapor transported inland by trade winds. Amazon trees pump soil water into the air, sustaining regional rainfall. Deforestation, climate change, and land-use changes are weakening these systems, risking a rainforest-to-savanna shift. The Amazon, holding 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon and 10% of global species, is crucial for biodiversity, agriculture, and climate stability.
• The NCRB 2023 Accidental Deaths and Suicides report recorded 6,444 deaths from natural forces, led by lightning (2,560 deaths; 39.7%). Snake bites killed 10,144 people, while animal attacks caused 1,739 deaths. Odisha (1,351), Uttar Pradesh (852), and Madhya Pradesh (789) reported the most casualties. Lightning-prone states include MP, Bihar, Odisha, UP, and Jharkhand. Though overall natural force deaths fell 20% from 2022, fatalities due to heat stroke (+10%) and cold exposure (+1.8%)
• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will launch the National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI) to address India’s declining camel population, now just 2.52 lakh (2019), concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Drafted with FAO inputs, the policy aims at conservation, sustainable breeding, transport, e-markets, and awareness campaigns (e.g., World Camel Day, June 22). Linked with the National Livestock Mission (NLM), it involves multiple ministries to restore the economic, cultural, and ecological roles of camels in desert ecosystems.
• The Union Home Ministry has approved Phase-2 of the Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP) to strengthen disaster resilience in 11 cities including Jaipur, Guwahati, Patna, and Vishakhapatnam. Implemented under National Disaster Management Fund (NDMF) with 90:10 Centre–State funding, it combines structural measures (drainage upgrades, flood walls, erosion control, interlinking water bodies) and non-structural measures (early warning systems, real-time monitoring, capacity building). The programme seeks to mitigate urban flood risks, safeguard lives, and promote sustainable urban development.

SCIENCE AND TECH

• The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell (USA), and Shimon Sakaguchi (Japan) for discovering regulatory T-cells (Tregs) — the immune system’s “security guards” that prevent autoimmune attacks. Sakaguchi’s 1995 breakthrough showed Tregs maintain peripheral immune tolerance, while Brunkow and Ramsdell (2001) identified the Foxp3 gene mutation linked to autoimmunity. Their work transformed immunology, advancing treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and transplant complications, and laid the foundation for clinical therapies worldwide.

DEFENCE

• The Indian Navy commissioned INS Androth, its second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at Visakhapatnam, marking a boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat. With 80% indigenous content, the 77-metre, 1,500-tonne vessel is equipped with advanced sensors, communication systems, and waterjet propulsion for agility in shallow waters. Designed for anti-submarine, coastal defence, surveillance, and rescue operations, INS Androth enhances India’s littoral security. Named after Androth Island in Lakshadweep, it follows INS Arnala and strengthens India’s naval indigenisation drive.
• The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshar, a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), at Karaikal, Puducherry. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited with 60% indigenous content, Akshar is the second in the Adamya-class FPV series. Displacing 320 tonnes, it features 3,000 KW diesel engines, controllable pitch propellers, advanced automation systems, a top speed of 27 knots, and endurance of 1,500 nautical miles. Deployed under Coast Guard Region (East), it will enhance coastal surveillance, rescue, anti-smuggling, and environmental protection along India’s eastern seaboard.