Current Affairs – July 17, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Architecture} India’s Heritage Must Reflect Its Civilizational Identity

• Context (IE): The inclusion of the Maratha Military Landscapes in the UNESCO World Heritage List marks a significant step towards reclaiming and honouring India’s rich and diverse historical legacy.

• It reflects a broader effort to acknowledge unsung heroes, revive neglected heritage sites, and celebrate civilizational achievements that were sidelined during British rule and overlooked after Independence.

Decolonising the Heritage Discourse

• India’s civilizational history spans thousands of years, yet much of its historical narrative continues to reflect a colonial perspective.
• For decades, colonial historians promoted narratives of conquest and subjugation, glorifying invaders while sidelining native rulers, warriors, thinkers, and revolutionaries. Post-1947, little was done to revise this inherited narrative.

Policy Gaps in Monument Recognition

Selective Monument Status

• The graves of Afzal Khan’s wives in Bijapur, despite having no patriotic or cultural relevance, are listed as Monuments of National Importance.
• Meanwhile, the samadhi of Maharani Tarabai Bhonsle, who ruled for 30 years against the Mughals, lies neglected in Satara.

Ignored Victories and Conquests

• Baba Baghel Singh, who captured Delhi in 1783 and built seven gurdwaras, is absent from official narratives.
• The Marathas’ control of Delhi (1757–1803) is not represented in the exhibits at the Red Fort. The British took Delhi from the Marathas, not the Mughals, but a fact not acknowledged anywhere.

The Marathas conquered Delhi in 1757 under Raghunath Rao and in 1771 under Mahadaji Shinde. They controlled the Red Fort and continued to rule until 1803, when the British overpowered them in the second Anglo-Maratha War.

Overlooked Revolutionary Sites

• A British soldier’s grave from 1857 is a declared Monument of National Importance, while the historically significant Kali Paltan Augharnath temple in Meerut, a key site for revolutionaries and Punjab soldiers, has been denied the same recognition.

Neglect of Dalit and Tribal Heritage

• No monument linked to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has yet been listed. His first school in Satara and Sankalp Bhumi in Vadodara await recognition.
• The Mangarh massacre site, where over 1,500 Bhil tribals were killed in 1913, has not been granted monument status.

Spiritual and Philosophical Legacy

• The birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya in Kalady, Kerala, recommended by the Governor for national monument status, was met with silence.

Arbitrary Listings

• Monuments with unclear or negligible historical significance, such as Tota-Maina Ki Kabr or Babur Ka Bagicha, are granted protected status.
  • However, Kashmir’s ancient Hindu temples, such as Martand, Parihaspore, and Harwan, have neither been recommended for declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site nor protected.

Way Forward

• Reviewing existing Monuments of National Importance, eliminating irrelevant or illogical entries.
• Recommending new monuments that reflect India’s spiritual, revolutionary, and civilizational glory.
• Incorporating tribal, Dalit, and regional histories into the mainstream heritage policy.
• Ensuring representation from all regions, especially the neglected North-East and Jammu & Kashmir.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Children} Revisiting POCSO Through the Adolescent Rights Lens

• Context (TH): The Supreme Court’s judgment in Re: Right to Privacy of Adolescents (May 2025) has reignited the debate on the blanket criminalisation of adolescent relationships under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Brief Background of Case

POCSO Special Court

• The POCSO Special Court had sentenced the 25-year-old man to 20 years imprisonment for having a relationship with a minor girl, which eventually led to marriage and a child.

The Calcutta High Court (2022)

• It took a humanitarian approach, reversing the conviction and acknowledging the lived reality of the girl, now a mother, caregiver, and abandoned by her natal family.
• However, in doing so, the High Court also made regressive comments about adolescent girls needing to “control their urges.”

Supreme Court Intervention

• In December 2023, the SC suo motu took up the case, restored the accused’s conviction, and rejected the concepts of “non-exploitative” sexual acts with a minor and the category of “older adolescents.”
• In 2025, invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the SC chose not to sentence the man.
• The decision was based on the reality that imprisonment would further victimise the girl, who was already under severe emotional and financial distress.

About the POCSO Act, 2012

• The POCSO Act is the first comprehensive law in India dealing specifically with sexual abuse of children. It seeks to protect children from sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.
• The amendment to the POCSO Act in 2019 has enhanced punishment under various sections of the Act, including the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children.

Read More> Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Concerns with the POCSO Act

• Blanket Criminalisation: Criminalises all sexual activity under 18, even consensual adolescent relationships, ignoring age-appropriate romantic behaviour.
• No Distinction Between Consent and Exploitation: Treats all minors as incapable of consent, failing to differentiate between consensual acts and exploitative abuse, especially for ages 16–18.
• Penalising Normative Behaviour: Around 25% of POCSO cases involve consensual adolescent relationships, showing the law often punishes natural developmental behaviour.
• Harsh Impact on Marginalised Youth: Poor and rural adolescents face greater stigma, legal harassment, and institutionalisation, making the law a tool of control, not protection.

Way Forward

• Age of Consent Reform: Consider differentiating between exploitative and consensual relationships involving adolescents above 16, particularly in cases without coercion or power imbalance.
• Revisiting POCSO: Introduce provisions for judicial discretion or a “close-in-age” exception to prevent the criminalisation of adolescent romantic relationships.
• Strengthening Child Protection Systems: Enhance the implementation of rehabilitative and supportive measures under the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and ensure that adolescents are not re-victimised by institutionalisation or neglect.
• Sensitising Stakeholders: Judicial officers, police, and media must be sensitised on adolescent rights and gender-sensitive handling of such cases.

{GS3 – IE – Exports} India’s Export (Merchandise & Services) Performance

• Context (PIB): India’s exports show modest growth in Q1 (April-June 2025) as per the data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Highlights of Q1 Data

Exports

• Total Exports: India’s exports grew by 6% in the first quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year, reaching an estimated $210.31 billion.
• Merchandise Exports: Grew by just 1.92 per cent year-on-year to $112.17 billion
• Services Exports: Surged by 10.93% to $98.13 billion, helping to reduce India’s overall trade deficit by 9.4 per cent to $20.3 billion in Q1.
• Top Export Destinations: The U.S. remained India’s largest export destination. Other top destinations included the UAE, the Netherlands, China, and the UK.

The government has set a $1 trillion export target for FY26, after India’s total exports touched an all-time high of $824.9 billion in FY25.

Imports

• Total Imports: Estimated at US$230.62 billion, registering a growth of 4.38 per cent.
• Top Import Destination: China continued to be the largest source of imports, followed by the UAE, Russia, the U.S., and Iraq.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Kaziranga Releases First Grassland Bird Survey Report

• Context (TH): On July 15, 2025, Kaziranga National Park released its first-ever Grassland Bird Survey Report, marking a significant step in conserving grassland-dependent bird species of the Brahmaputra floodplains.

• Conducted from March 18 to May 25, the survey provides essential insights into the region’s rich bird biodiversity.

Key Findings

• Species Count: 43 grassland bird species were identified across Kaziranga’s three wildlife divisions, the Eastern Assam, Biswanath, and Nagaon wildlife divisions.
• Threatened Birds Recorded:
  • Critically Endangered: Bengal Florican
  • Endangered: Finn’s Weaver, Swamp Grass Babbler
  • Vulnerable (6 species): Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh Babbler, Swamp Francolin, Jerdon’s Babbler, Slender-billed Babbler, Bristled Grassbird
• Landmark Discovery: A breeding colony of Finn’s Weaver, locally known as Tukura Chorai, was found in the Kohora Range.
  • Described as a “master nest-builder”, the bird is a vital ecological indicator of grassland health.

Credit: DH

About Kaziranga National Park It lies in the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot & Brahmaputra River flows through the park. This park, which hosts 2/3rd of the world’s one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. It is recognised as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Vegetation: Alluvial grasslands and savanna woodlands, and tropical moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. Major Flora: Spear grass, elephant grass, common reed, cotton tree, and elephant apple. Major Fauna: One-Horned rhinoceros (VU), Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo (EN) and swamp deer are collectively known as the ‘Big Five’ of Kaziranga. Read More> Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, National Park

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Genetic Analysis of Rhino Horns Begins in Assam

• Context (TH): Assam’s Chief Wildlife Warden has set up a special team for collecting Rhino horn samples, and the same will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for genetic analysis.

• The Wildlife Institute of India’s genetics lab is crucial to the RhoDIS India programme, analysing rhino DNA to document profiles and add them to the DNA database.

RhoDIS program: Collaboration between MoEFCC, States, WII and World-Wide Fund for Nature began in 2016.

The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros

• The greater one-horned rhino (“Indian rhino”) is the largest living rhino species, also the second largest terrestrial species after elephants.
• It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• While both the Indian Rhino and the Javan Rhino have a single horn, they differ significantly in size, habitat, and population status.
• Habitat: Found only in the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas (Terai region).
• Found in: Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Manas National Park, Assam.
• Threats: Poaching horns for medicinal properties, habitat loss, and fragmentation.
• Rhino range countries: Beyond Africa, it is found in Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal.

Credit: The Hindu

Protection Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV

Other Rhino Species

• White rhino: Near Threatened, Northern and southern Africa.
• Black rhino: Critically Endangered, Eastern and southern Africa.
• Javan rhino: ‘Sunda rhino/lesser one-horned rhino’, Critically Endangered, (Java, Indonesia).
• Sumatran rhino: Critically Endangered (Sumatra Island, Indonesia).

{GS3 – IS – Initiatives} India’s Defence Export Boom Post Operation Sindoor

• Context (WION): Following Operation Sindoor, India saw a sharp increase in demand for its defence systems, including hypersonic missiles, stealth jets, and laser weapons.

How Operation Sindoor Helped in Defence Export

• Combat Validation: Real-time use of BrahMos & Akash boosted global buyer trust in Indian platforms.
• Adversary Exposure: Chinese-import failures in Pakistan raised comparative trust in Indian systems.
• Export Outreach: India held diplomatic briefings in ~70 nations, showcasing Sindoor weapons.
• Global Visibility: Widespread media coverage increased awareness and interest in Indian systems.
• Strategic Signalling: Sindoor demonstrated a Power Projection doctrine, signalling export viability.

Trends and Key Developments in Defence Exports Record Growth: Defence exports rose from ₹686 crore (2013-14) to ₹23,622 crore (2024-25). Private Sector Share: Private companies contributed ₹15,233 crore, ~65% of the total export value. DPSU Growth: Defence PSUs saw 42.85% export growth facilitated by approval process reforms. Export Markets: India exported to ~80 countries, major importers being the USA, France, & Armenia. Product Range: Key items exported included BrahMos, Akash, UAVs, artillery, radars, and Dornier.

Reasons for Export Growth

• Private Sector Entry: Policy liberalisation enabled private firms to expand defence export production.
• Regulatory Reforms: Online authorisation, de-licensing, and faster clearances eased export approvals.
• Competitive Pricing: Low manufacturing costs and scale gave India a global cost advantage.
• G2G Agreements: Government-to-government deals enabled exports via diplomatic channels.
• Financing Support: EXIM Bank’s low-interest credit made Indian systems more affordable to buyers.
• Demand Spike: Post-Ukraine crisis budgets increased demand for affordable non-Western platforms.
• Indigenisation: ~75% of India’s capital defence budget is earmarked for domestic production.

Key Challenges in Defence Export

• IHL Compliance Gaps: India lacks a mandatory legal review of buyers’ human rights or conflict records.
• Technology Dependence: Imports of engines, sensors, and electronics restrict high-end system exports.
• Global Competition: India faces dominance of the US, Russia, France, and China in major markets.
• Regulatory Delays: Complex procurement & export approvals slow industry responsiveness.
• Industrial Gaps: Underdeveloped supply chains, weak servicing, & PSU inertia hinder competitiveness.
• Geopolitical Risks: Arms exports risk backlash in regions with diplomatic sensitivity or rival alignments.

Key Government Initiatives in Defence DPEPP Policy: The Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 outlines a roadmap to achieve ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029. Indigenization List: Phased import bans on over 5,000 items boost local production and export readiness. iDEX Scheme: Over 250 startups have received funding under iDEX to develop export-capable defence technologies. Industrial Corridors: Dedicated corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu support manufacturing clusters focused on defence exports. SP Model: The Strategic Partnership model enables Indian firms to co-develop high-end platforms with foreign manufacturers for global supply. Export Reform: Digital platforms streamlined 1,762 export approvals in FY 2024-25, marking a ~17% annual increase. Attaché Empowerment: Defence attachés abroad have been granted funds and authority to promote exports and engage international buyers.

Way Forward

• Invest in R&D for engines, sensors, and avionics to ensure self-reliance and strategic autonomy.
• Streamline export approvals via a single-window digital system to enhance transparency & efficiency.
• Expand G2G outreach in Africa, ASEAN, and Latin America to build mutual trust and global cooperation.
• Strengthen MSMEs in defence corridors to promote inclusivity, job creation, and supply chain resilience.
• Promote “Brand India” at global expos to foster national pride, credibility, and goodwill.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} Denmark’s New Deepfake Protection Bill

• Context (IE): Denmark has proposed the Copyright Amendment Bill to prevent Deepfakes by granting individuals copyright over their face, voice, and appearance.

About Deepfakes Deepfakes are AI-generated synthetic media that imitate real people’s voices, faces, or actions. Common Use Cases: Deepfakes are used in pornographic content, political propaganda, impersonation, and financial scams. Rise in Deepfakes: Approximately 96% of Deepfakes are pornographic, and deepfake content doubles every six months since 2020. Threats: Deepfakes undermine democratic discourse, weaken institutional trust, facilitate identity fraud, violate privacy, and create legal and security challenges. Read more > Deepfakes Issue

About the Danish Copyright Amendment Bill

• Denmark’s new amendment bill introduces three new types of protection against deepfakes:
  • Imitation Protection: Bans sharing realistic AI recreations of a person’s face or voice without consent.
  • Performance Protection: Covers non-verbal or improvised acts beyond traditional copyright limits.
  • Artist Safeguards: Protects performers like actors and musicians from AI-driven digital mimicry.
• Universal Coverage: Extends identity rights to all individuals, not just public figures.
• Posthumous Protection: It prohibits sharing Deepfake content for 50 years after a person’s death.
• Consent Burden Rule: Content creators must show they obtained consent before publishing Deepfakes.
• Platform Liability: Hosting platforms must remove flagged content or face legal action.
• Civil Legal Recourse: Victims may pursue damages or request the removal of unlawful content.

Key Lessons for India from Denmark’s Deepfake Law

• Recognition of Digital Identity: Individuals should have enforceable rights over their face, voice, and likeness.
• Mandatory Prior Consent: The creation and publication of deepfakes must require explicit prior consent from the person concerned.
• Platform Accountability: Hosting platforms should be legally bound to remove flagged deepfake content promptly or face penalties.
• Posthumous Protection: Safeguard a person’s digital identity for up to 50 years after death to respect legacy and dignity.
• Protection for Artists: Extend legal safeguards to non-verbal expressions, such as gestures, mimicry, and performances, against AI misuse.

Way Forward

• Countries must enact standalone deepfake laws to protect digital identity.
• Legal terms like “realistic,” “likeness,” & “digital imitation” must be standardised for better enforceability.
• AI watermarking and metadata tagging should be mandated to identify content and trace its source.
• Global cooperation is key to tackling cross-border misuse of AI-generated deepfakes.
• Public awareness campaigns must educate citizens about their rights against digital impersonation.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Supreme Court Issues Directions on Handling DNA Evidence

• Context (News18): In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court acquitted a death row convict in a 2011 double murder and rape case, highlighting severe lapses in investigation and misuse of DNA evidence.

• More than overturning a wrongful conviction, the verdict demands scientific rigour in evidence handling and upholds the constitutional presumption of innocence.

Key Directions Issued by the Supreme Court

• To prevent the recurrence of such flaws, the Court issued nationwide, binding directions on DNA evidence handling, which include:

Standardised Protocol

• All DNA samples must be properly packaged and labelled with FIR number, case details, and names of responsible officers.
• Signatures of the medical officer, investigating officer, and, wherever possible, independent witnesses must be obtained.
• If witnesses are unavailable, the reason must be documented.

Timely and Secure Transportation

• DNA samples must be sent to forensic labs within 48 hours of collection.
• Any delay must be justified in the case diary.
• Preservation standards must match the biological nature of the sample.

Documentation and Storage

• DNA packages cannot be opened or resealed without prior approval of the Trial Court, based on medical expert opinion.
• A Chain of Custody Register must record every movement of the sample with countersigned entries, attached to court records.

Institutional Reform

• Directors General of Police (DGPs) to introduce standardised forms for evidence documentation.
• State Police Academies to develop dedicated forensic training modules for investigating officers.
• Supreme Court Registry to circulate the judgment to all High Courts and State Police Chiefs for implementation.

Major Concerns Raised by the Court

• DNA Mishandling: Samples were compromised due to delay, improper packaging, and broken chain of custody.
• Post-mortem Flaws: Conducted at the crime scene without proper medical protocols, risking contamination.
• Lack of Protocol: No standardised practices were followed in forensic evidence collection, undermining trial integrity.
• Investigative Negligence: Faulty investigation, lack of independent witnesses, and non-compliance with due process.

Way Forward

• Legislative Backing: India currently lacks a comprehensive legal framework for wrongful prosecution compensation. The Court’s observations should serve as a trigger for parliamentary action.
• Capacity Enhancement: Forensic infrastructure and police training must be ramped up in line with the Court’s expectations.
• Judicial Vigilance: Lower courts must enforce these protocols strictly to avoid procedural compromise.

{Prelims – In News} Southampton University’s India Campus

• Context (PIB): The India campus of the University of Southampton was recently inaugurated in Gurugram by the Union Education Minister.

• The University of Southampton is a public research university based in the United Kingdom, ranking among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings.
• It is the first foreign university to establish a campus in India under UGC’s 2023 Regulations, aligning with NEP 2020’s internationalisation vision.
• The inauguration marks five years of implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.

The UGC Regulations 2023 were issued to enable the top 500 global universities to establish campuses in India.

Significance

• It deepens bilateral educational cooperation between India and the United Kingdom.
• It aligns with India’s goal of becoming a global knowledge hub under NEP 2020.
• Future-oriented disciplines align with India’s innovation and growth goals under NEP 2020.

{Prelims – In News} Exercise Talisman Sabre

• Context (TH): India is participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 for the first time, marking the largest edition to date with 19 nations.

About Talisman Sabre

• Exercise Talisman Sabre is a biennial multinational military exercise co-led by Australia and the USA.
• Evolution: Originally a bilateral exercise between Australia and the USA, it has now expanded to include multiple nations.
  • The exercise has been held biennially in odd-numbered years since 2005.
• Multidomain: The exercise spans land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains for joint operational training.
• Objective: Enhance military interoperability, readiness, and strengthen defence ties in the Indo-Pacific.

About the 2025 Edition

• It is the 11^th & largest edition till now, with 19 countries participating, including the USA, Japan, and France.
  • Malaysia and Vietnam are attending as observers.
• For the first time, Exercise Talisman Sabre extends outside Australia to Papua New Guinea.

Other India-Australia Military Exercises Ausindex: A biennial naval exercise focusing on maritime interoperability and anti-submarine warfare. Pitch Black: A biennial multinational air exercise focusing on joint air combat and interoperability. Austrahind: An annual ground exercise focusing on counter-insurgency and tactical coordination. Other India-USA Military Exercises Yudh Abhyas: An annual joint military exercise focusing on counter-terrorism & preparedness. Tiger Triumph: A biennial tri-service exercise enhancing coordination and disaster relief operations. Cope India: A periodic air exercise focusing on joint air combat training and interoperability. Vajra Prahar: An annual special forces exercise focusing on counter-terrorism and special operations.

{Prelims – Awards} Kalinga Ratna Award

• Context (PIB): On July 15, 2025, President D. Murmu honoured the birth anniversary of Adikabi Sarala Das and presented the Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Adikabi Sarala Das

• Often referred to as the “Adikabi” or the first poet of Odia literature, Sarala Das was a 15th-century poet and scholar credited with composing a regional retelling of the Mahabharata in Odia.
• His works made classical texts accessible to the masses & laid the foundation of the Odia literary tradition.
• His legacy is celebrated for:
  • Democratising religious and philosophical thought.
  • Promoting Odia as a language of serious literature.
  • Bridging oral and written traditions in vernacular literature.

Award Overview 2024

Kalinga Ratna Award 2024

• Institution: Conferred by Sarala Sahitya Sansad.
• Significance: Recognises outstanding contributions in the fields of literature, education, & public service.
• Recipient: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, was honoured for his pivotal role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Sarala Samman 2024

• Recipient: Shri Bijaya Nayak.
• Contribution: Acknowledged for his significant literary contributions to Odia literature, enriching the regional cultural heritage.

Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science It is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people. It was created in 1952 following a donation from Biju Patnaik, the founder president of the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.