Current Affairs – July 09, 2025

{GS2 – IR – Bilateral Relations} PM’s Visit to Namibia

Context (IE): PM Modi’s visit to Namibia after 30 years reflects India’s strategic outreach to the Global South, with a focus on energy security, critical minerals, and strengthening bilateral partnerships.

About Namibia

Capital: Windhoek.
Location: Southwestern coast of the African continent. Tropic of Capricorn passes through it.
Bordering countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola.
Environment: It is home to the Kalahari desert, marshlands, savannas, mountains, and river valleys.
Key Rivers: Okavango and Zambezi on the northern border and the Orange on the southern.
Namibia is the world’s 3^rd largest uranium producer, contributing 10-11% of global output.
Namibia is one of the most significant sources of Lithium, Zinc, and Rare earth elements.

India-Namibia Relations

Historical Background

India supported Namibia’s freedom struggle, raising the issue at the UNGA as early as 1946.
Following its independence in 1990, India’s Observer Mission evolved into a High Commission; Namibia established its mission in New Delhi in 1994.
The last Indian PM to visit was Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998, post-nuclear tests.

Bilateral Relations

Trade: Reached $654 million in 2023 (178% growth), with Indian exports valued at $418 million.
Investments: ~$800 million invested by India, largely in zinc and diamond processing.
Energy Security: Namibia is one of the most significant sources of Lithium, Zinc, and Rare earth elements, which can enable India’s smooth energy transition.
Capacity-building: Training of officials, military personnel and cricketers through MEA’s ITEC program.
Vaccine Maithri: 30,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines were donated to Namibia in 2021.
Cheetah Reintroduction: The World’s first successful intercontinental translocation of Cheetahs from Namibia to India was carried out in 2024.
Security: Namibia supports India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UNSC.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} BRICS 2025 Rio Summit

Context (PIB): The XVII BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio, hosted by Brazil, marked a key moment in global multilateralism, with the Rio Declaration calling for a just, multipolar world under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”

Key Highlights

Expansion and Inclusion: Indonesia inducted as a full BRICS member and eleven partner nations were also added. It signals BRICS’ evolution into a broader Global South platform, boosting diplomatic reach and normative influence.
Reforming Global Governance: Called for restructuring of UN, IMF, and World Bank to reflect current global realities. China and Russia reaffirmed support for India and Brazil’s permanent UNSC membership.
AI Governance: BRICS Leaders’ Statement on Artificial Intelligence promoted ethical, inclusive development and capacity-building in Global South.
Climate Finance: Declaration on Climate Finance called for concessional, predictable, and accessible funds from developed nations, launch of a BRICS Climate Research Platform.
- India pledged support for COP30 in Brazil and offered to host COP33 in 2028.
Global Trade, Finance, and Economic Sovereignty: Demanded quota reforms in IMF and equity in World Bank shareholding for EMDEs. Strengthened the New Development Bank (NDB) for local currency lending and climate financing.
Innovative Economic Tools: Launched BRICS Multilateral Guarantees (BMG) to de-risk investments and BRICS Cross-Border Payments Platform for financial sovereignty.
Human Development: Launched Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.

Way Forward

Institutional Capacity Building: Strengthen secretariats and working groups within BRICS for implementation.
Global South Solidarity: Coordinate positions in global forums like the WTO, IMF, COP, and UNGA.
Economic Resilience: Develop alternatives to Western payment systems, credit rating agencies, and development finance.
Human-Centric Development: Deepen cooperation in public health, education, and technology transfer to close development gaps.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Admiralty Suit

Context (IE): The Kerala government has filed an ‘Admiralty suit’ against Mediterranean Shipping Company, which operated MSC Akiteta II.

Maritime Law in India

Maritime disputes are governed under ‘The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017’. The law replaced the colonial-era Admiralty Court Act, 1861, and the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890.

Other laws dealing with environmental damage

The Environmental Protection Act 1986, under the principle of ‘polluter pays’ and CPCB guidelines.
The Merchant Shipping Act 1958 makes the ship owners liable for oil pollution.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) can also be approached to seek environmental compensation.
- In 2016, the Tribunal ordered a Panama-based shipping company to pay Rs 100 crore in damages for an oil spill after its vessel M V Rak sank off the Mumbai coast in 2011.

The Admiralty Act 2017

It provides for a compensation mechanism for various damages.
- The act empowered all the High Courts of states that share a maritime border in India. Previously, the colonial laws empowered only the High Courts of Bombay, Kolkata, and Madras.
- Admiralty suits may be instituted for maritime claims including damages to vessels, disputes over ownership and agreements, loss of life, wage-related matters, and environmental harm.
Jurisdiction: The limit of territorial waters is up to 12 nautical miles from the nearest point of a low-water line along the coast. This also includes the seabed, subsoil (the layer of soil under the topsoil on the surface), and airspace above it.
Jurisdiction over a person: Courts may exercise admiralty jurisdiction against a person concerning maritime claims.
- Courts will not entertain action against a person until any case against them concerning the same incident in any court outside India has ended.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} Television Rating Point (TRP)

Context (NDT): The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting proposed amendments to the 2014 TRP Guidelines to reform India’s television audience measurement system.

About TRP

TRP is a numerical measure indicating the proportion of viewers watching a particular TV show.
It helps broadcasters and producers assess the popularity and impact of their content.

How TRP Is Calculated

Nodal Agency: TRP ratings are provided by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
Instrument: BARC installs BAR-O-Meters in around 58,000 households to monitor TV viewership. Devices such as smart TVs, OTT platforms, and mobile apps are not tracked.
- People Meters: The meter logs who is watching using individual button inputs.
- Content Matching: It identifies programmes by matching signals with broadcast fingerprints.
Data Frequency: TRP data is published weekly on Thursdays, ranking TV channels and programs.

Proposed Amendments

The draft amendments aim to boost competition, modernise technology, and improve transparency by:
- Clause 1.4: Replaces activity bans with a simpler clause barring roles that create conflicts of interest.
- Clause 1.5: Removing the need for new agencies to register with both the Ministry and BARC.
- Clause 1.7: Allowing broadcaster and advertiser investment in TRP agencies, with safeguards.

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC): It is India’s sole authorised agency for TV audience measurement, established as an industry-led self-regulatory body.
Broadcasting Signature: It is a unique audio–video pattern used by people meters to identify programmes through signal matching.

Context (TH): In a major policy move, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has notified the 2025 Faculty Regulations to ease eligibility norms and boost medical education infrastructure, supporting the Centre’s plan to add 75,000 MBBS and PG seats over five years.

Key Reforms 2025 Regulations

Teaching Designation: Non-teaching government hospitals with 220+ beds can now be designated as teaching institutions.
Faculty Eligibility (Clinical):
- Associate Professors: Must have 10 years of specialist experience.
- Assistant Professors: Require 2 years of specialist experience without mandatory senior residency.
Age Relaxation: Upper age limit for Senior Residents in preclinical/paraclinical departments (e.g., Anatomy, Biochemistry) increased to 50 years.
Super-Specialty Mobility: Faculty with super-specialty qualifications working in broad specialty departments can now be formally re-designated under their super-specialty.
Inclusion of Non-MBBS Faculty: M.Sc./Ph.D. holders are now permitted in Microbiology and Pharmacology, in addition to existing inclusion in Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry.
Cadre Expansion: Senior consultants with 3 years of teaching experience in NBEMS-recognised institutions are eligible for Professor posts.

Context (IE): The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, formerly known as the National Achievement Survey (NAS) assessed 21.15 lakh students in Classes 3, 6, and 9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024.

The 2024 survey was aligned with the stages of the National Education Policy 2020 and evaluated students in Grades 3, 6, and 9.

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Key Findings

Top Performers

Class 3: Punjab (80 marks); Himachal Pradesh (74) and Kerala (73).
Class 6: Punjab and Kerala are joint top performers with 67 marks each.
Class 9: Punjab (57 marks) ranked first followed by Kerala and Chandigarh.

Low-Performing Districts (by Grade)

Grade 3: Sahebganj (Jharkhand), Reasi and Rajouri (Jammu & Kashmir).
Grade 6: North Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and South West Garo Hills (Meghalaya).
Grade 9: Shi Yomi (Arunachal Pradesh), North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills (Meghalaya).

Key Concerns

Learning levels have yet to bounce back to pre-COVID levels: Class 3 students recorded an average national score of 64% in language in 2024, a 2% increase from 62% in 2021, but lower than the 2017 score of 66.7%.
- In Maths, the national average score in 2024 was 60% above the 57% recorded in 2021, but below 63% scored in 2017.
Poor Comprehension: Class 3 students scored the lowest (60%) in reading short stories and comprehending their meaning.
Classes 6 and 9: The national average score is less than 50% in all subjects in which they were assessed, except for language.
Overall Decline: Scores declined steadily from Grade 3 to 9, with the sharpest drop in Math and Science.
Gender Gap: Girls outperformed boys in Language and Social Science; boys showed parity in science.
Urban-Rural Divide: Urban students performed better across most subjects and stages.

PARAKH

PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) is a national assessment centre established under India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
It operates under the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) and is also referred to as Rashtriya Shiksha Sarvekshan Kendra.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Capacity Development in Competency-Based Assessment
- Large-Scale Achievement Survey
- Equivalence of School Boards
- Holistic Progress Cards for the Foundational, Preparational, Middle and Secondary Stages.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} 11^th India Maize Summit

Context (ANI): The 11^th India Maize Summit was recently convened in New Delhi by FICCI and the Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR).

About Maize

Maize, known as “Queen of Cereals,” is cultivated for food, livestock feed, ethanol, and industrial uses.
Climatic Needs:
- Temperature: Between 21-27°C
- Rainfall: About 60–90 cm
- Soil: Well-drained, nitrogen-rich loamy soils
Primarily cultivated during Kharif season, with some areas also grown in the Rabi season under irrigation.

Production and Usage in India

Production Growth: Maize production increased at a CAGR of about 4.89% from 2012-13 to 2022–23.
Global Standing: India ranks 5^th in global maize production and 4th in total cultivated area.
Leading States: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the leading producers.
Yield: India’s average yield is below the global average.
Import Dependence: India became a net importer of maize because of increasing demand for maize-based ethanol.

Read More > Maize Revolution

About Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR)

It is headquartered in Ludhiana, Punjab, and functions as a specialised maize research institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
It focuses on the development of high-yielding maize hybrids, climate-resilient varieties, and farmer-oriented cultivation technologies.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Woolah Tea

Context (TH): Woolah Tea, an Assamese bagless tea brand, received a 20-year patent for its compressed whole leaf dip method.

It uses a bundle of Eti Koli Duti Paat (one bud, two leaves) tied with natural string, preventing microplastic leaching from plastic tea bags.

Credit: TH

Eti Koli Duti Paat is the Assamese method of plucking one bud with two young leaves, as the youngest parts are the richest in essential oils and antioxidants.

{GS3 – Agri – Tech} Genetic Technology in Indian Agriculture: Missed Opportunities

Context (IE): India’s agricultural future critically depends on adopting and scaling genetic technologies such as genetically modified (GM) crops. While other nations have moved ahead, India’s biotech growth has stalled due to regulatory, political, and institutional hurdles.

Global Scenario: GM Crop Adoption

Since 1996, the world has rapidly adopted GM crops.
As of 2023, 76 countries cultivate GM crops, over 200 million hectares are under GM cultivation.
The U.S., Brazil, and Argentina lead GM exports.
- India, despite early momentum, is now under pressure (e.g., U.S. trade talks) to open its markets to GM products.

Overview of India’s GM Policy

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): Apex body responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and approving all activities related to GMOs, including GM crops, works under the MoEFCC.
Present Approvals: Only Bt cotton is legally permitted for commercial use, while other GM crops, such as Bt brinjal and HT cotton, remain unapproved.
Adoption Level: Over 90% of India’s cotton cultivation area used Bt cotton during peak years.

Case of BT Cotton in India

Introduced in 2002, Bt cotton, now covers over 90% of India’s cotton area, boosted cotton production by 193% by 2013–14.
- States like Gujarat achieved an 8% growth rate in cotton production, and led India to become the second-largest producer of cotton.
Post-2015 setbacks:
- Yield fell from 566 kg/ha (2013) to 436 kg/ha (2022).
- Resurgence of pests like the pink bollworm.
- Next-gen GM variants like HT-Bt cotton banned, despite their use in other countries.

Credit: IE

About HT-Bt cotton

It combines two traits—Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for insect resistance and HT (Herbicide Tolerance) for weed control by allowing farmers to spray glyphosate.
It has not been officially approved by India’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), but covers 15–25% of the area due to illegal seed use.

Why Did India Fail to Keep Pace with the World?

Regulatory Paralysis: No commercial release of any GM food crop since Bt cotton (2002). Bt brinjal (approved 2009) and GM mustard (DMH-11) (approved 2022) are still not commercially cultivated.
Restrictive Policies: Seed Price Control Order (2015) caps prices and royalties, disincentivising innovation, mandatory tech transfers reduce private R&D incentives.
Activist Opposition & Legal Uncertainty: Persistent court cases and public resistance to GM crops; the government has often yielded to non-scientific activism.
Fragmented Governance: Lack of coordination between GEAC, Ministry of Agriculture, and States. Regulatory delays discourage both foreign & domestic investment.
Illegal Cultivation Without Oversight: HT-Bt cotton grown illegally in ~15–25% of cotton areas. No biosafety assessment or traceability in these cases.

Implications

India, once a leader in biotech adoption, lost ground to countries like Bangladesh (adopted Bt brinjal).
Cotton exports declined sharply since 2011–12. By 2024–25, India became a net importer of cotton (~₹0.4 billion).
India’s resistance to GM is now a sticking point in trade negotiations, especially with developed countries.

India’s Reluctance to Import GM Crops: Key Concerns & Constraints

Health Concerns: Fears of allergic reactions and long-term unknown health impacts persist among consumers.
Environmental Risks: GM crops may lead to biodiversity loss and the emergence of pesticide resistance.
Economic Impact: High GM seed costs have contributed to farmer debt and rural distress.
Corporate Control: The dominance of multinationals like Monsanto raises concerns about farmer autonomy over seed; further, it can lead to IPR issues, e.g. the Pepsi case (Potato PV-2027).

Suggestive Measures

Promote integrated pest management (IPM) through scientific monitoring and farmer training.
Ensure mandatory non-Bt zones to delay the buildup of resistance.
Encourage the development of climate-resilient cotton varieties by Indian institutes.
Develop transparent and science-based GM approval systems.
Offer financial incentives and crop insurance to compensate for biotech-related risks.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Climate-Induced Displacement in India’s Coastal Regions

Context (TH): Climate change is having a significant impact on the social and economic well-being of India’s coastal communities.

Key Reasons for Displacement

Sea-level rise: Due to a surge in coastal water levels caused by climate anomalies, e.g., Coastal community relocation in Satabhaya, Odisha.
Coastal degradation: In Karnataka’s Honnavar taluk, traditional fishing communities face displacement as ports, tourism projects, and mangrove destruction accelerate coastal degradation.
Flooding: Coastal flooding during monsoon rainfall has been a common phenomenon in areas such as Tamil Nadu (Nagapattinam), Gujarat (Kutch), and Kerala.
Infrastructure: Industrial expansion and port development have accelerated coastal degradation. Mangrove forests, dunes, and wetlands that traditionally protected coastal communities have been deliberately cleared.
Weaponisation of Climate Change: Narrative of voluntary retreat from ecologically sensitive areas like coasts as part of climate action, without any strategy.

Legal Lacunae

Lack of proper legal backup with the communities, with little or no access to it. e.g., labour laws, the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, etc.
Climate migrants are protected under Art 21 with the right to life, but don’t get reference in any laws like the Disaster Management Act, Environmental Protection Act, etc.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plans recognise vulnerabilities but lack a strategy to rehabilitate displaced people and integrate them into the formal economy.
The CRZ Notification, 2019, aims to streamline clearances and promote sustainable coastal management, but has prioritised tourism and industrial development over the rights of coastal communities.
The legal principle of ‘informed consent,’ as outlined in environmental laws, is often violated.
Lack of legal amendments to incorporate judicial observations has denied complete justice.
- M.C. Mehta Case: SC acknowledged and recognised the intrinsic link between the environment and fundamental rights (Article 21).

Consequences

Social impact: Displaced communities are denied a dignified life without basic amenities such as drinking water, education, and shelter. Women and children are more vulnerable to social challenges such as prostitution, illiteracy, hunger, etc.
Economic impact: The displaced people are absorbed into the informal economy, where they work as construction workers and guards, often with low pay, and also face bonded labour in coastal urban areas, such as Mumbai and Chennai.
Intimidation: Activists who fight for their rights face criminalisation, surveillance, & life threats very often.

Way forward

Legal recognition of climate migrants on par with labour migrants in various laws, like labour codes, to regulate the informal economy.
Rights-based approach promising education, food, shelter, etc.
Revisit the CRZ notification to prioritise community rights over commercial interests.
Need to address vulnerabilities created by climate displacement to achieve SDG 8.7- eliminate bonded labour.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Melting Glaciers & Volcanic Eruptions

Context (IE): A recent study connecting glacial melt to more frequent and explosive volcanic eruptions was presented at the Goldschmidt Conference.

West Antarctica, with about 100 volcanoes beneath ice, is the most vulnerable, followed by Chile, Russia, Alaska, Iceland, and New Zealand.

Goldschmidt Conference: Held in 2025 in Prague and co-organised by US and European geochemical bodies, it is the world’s largest geochemistry meeting.

Deglaciation and Volcanism

The link between melting glaciers and volcanism was first proposed in the 1970s.
Vicious Cycle: Warming melts glaciers, leading to more eruptions that release greenhouse gases, causing further warming and ice melt.

Mechanism: How Glacial Melt Triggers Volcanism

Melting Ice and Gas Expansion: As glaciers melt, pressure on volcanoes decreases, allowing gases to expand and trigger powerful eruptions.
Ice Loss and Magma Rise: Less ice reduces ground weight and lowers the melting point of mantle rocks, which helps magma formation and rise.
Rainfall and Steam Blasts: Rising magma heats the crust; more rain enters cracks, turns to steam, and triggers sudden explosions.

Evidence of Glacial Melt Triggering Volcanism

Iceland Evidence: Glacial melt after the last Ice Age caused a 30–50 times surge in Icelandic eruptions.
Global Trend: Volcanism rose 2–6 times globally following major deglaciation phases.
Chilean Case: Dormant Mocho-Choshuenco erupted violently (~13,000 years ago) after glacial retreat.

{Prelims – PIN World – Africa} Sea Level Rise in Sierra Leone

Context (TH): Coastal communities in Sierra Leone are facing severe devastation due to rising sea levels, which are driven by climate change.

The Nyangai and Plantain Islands, part of Sierra Leone’s Turtle Islands, were once home to thousands of residents but are now rapidly shrinking due to rising sea levels.
Environmental experts estimate that the entire Turtle Islands archipelago could vanish within the next 10 to 15 years.

About Sierra Leone

Location: Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa. | Capital: Freetown
Bordering Countries/Water Bodies: Sierra Leone is bordered on the north and east by Guinea, on the south by Liberia, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Climate: The climate is tropical, characterised by the alternation of rainy and dry seasons. Conditions are generally hot and humid.
- The dry season is characterised by the harmattan, a hot, dry wind that blows from the Sahara.
Vegetation: It is dominated by savanna vegetation and mangroves along the coastline.
Internal conflict weakened the country from the late 1980s onward, culminating in a brutal civil war that took place from 1991 to 2002.

The trade in illicit gems, known as “blood diamonds” for their role in funding conflicts, perpetuated the civil war.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} MALE Drones

Context (TH): The government has fast-tracked the procurement of indigenously developed MALE drones for surveillance purposes.

MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones are UAVs designed to fly at medium altitudes for extended durations.
Operating Range: They fly at 10,000-35,000 feet and can remain airborne for up to 30 hours.
Functions: They are used for surveillance, combat roles, and ISR missions.
Examples: Indian MALE drones include TAPAS, Rustom, and Archer, developed by DRDO-ADE.

Credit: Wikipedia

**{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV)**

Context (TH): A man died from a rare rabies-like infection caused by the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which was transmitted via a bat bite.

ABLV is a rare RNA virus from the Lyssavirus genus, found exclusively in Australia, and it is closely related to the rabies virus.
Host Species: Flying foxes, fruit bats, and insect-feeding Microbats (e.g. yellow-bellied sheathtail).
- ABLV in flying foxes and microbats varies genetically but results in the same disease.

Transmission: It is transmitted via bat saliva through bites, scratches, or contact with eyes, nose, mouth.
Symptom: Symptoms start with flu-like illness and can progress to paralysis, delirium, coma, and death.
Prevention: This includes getting pre-exposure rabies vaccination and avoiding bats.
Treatment: Currently, there is no effective treatment once symptoms appear.