Current Affairs – July 24, 2025

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections} Election Commission’s Stance on Voter Identity Proof

Context (Bar&Bench): The Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Supreme Court that Aadhaar and ration cards cannot serve as valid proof of voter eligibility.

Key Highlights

Constitutional Basis: In its affidavit, the ECI stated that Aadhaar & ration cards do not meet the eligibility criteria under Article 326, which stipulates that only Indian citizens above 18 years are entitled to vote.
- Citing cases like Rani Mistri v. State of West Bengal, the ECI reaffirmed that Aadhaar does not confer citizenship or domicile rights, reinforcing its constitutional stance.
Identity, Not Citizenship: The Election Commission clarified that while Aadhaar can serve as proof of identity, it cannot establish citizenship.
- Aadhaar cards issued after January 2024 carry a disclaimer stating “Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship”, reinforcing the importance of including only eligible citizens in electoral rolls.
Ration Cards: Ration cards are issued by the State under the National Food Security Act, but are unreliable due to the circulation of fake or temporary cards.

Why Aadhaar Is Still Being Collected

Though not valid proof of citizenship, Aadhaar is still collected during Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
This is permitted under Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, inserted by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021.
The law allows linking Aadhaar with voter records to verify identity and prevent duplication.
Submission is voluntary and not mandatory for voter registration.

Significance for Electoral Governance

Citizenship-Based Rights: By distinguishing identity from citizenship, the ECI upholds the principle of universal adult suffrage linked solely to Indian citizenship.
Electoral Misuse: Excluding welfare-based documents like ration cards helps prevent their misuse in elections due to weak citizenship verification.
Inclusion and Integrity: While Aadhaar aids identification, restricting its use maintains a balance between ease of access and democratic legitimacy.

Way Forward

Core Documents: Widely disseminate the list of 11 accepted documents to avoid confusion over Aadhaar and ration card use.
Public Awareness: Conduct targeted outreach in vulnerable areas to inform citizens of their rights and document requirements.
Field Officials: Train Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to assist voters who may lack documentation, ensuring last-mile inclusion.
Offline Support: Provide robust non-digital alternatives to prevent exclusion due to digital illiteracy or access barriers.
Grievance Redressal: Establish clear, time-bound redress mechanisms for complaints regarding exclusion or document-related issues.

{GS3 – IE – Productivity} Remote Work Paradox

Context (TH): The 2024–25 Global Survey on Work Trends highlights a remote work paradox: rising demand for flexibility is stalled by cultural, managerial, and infrastructure barriers, particularly in India.

Current WFH Landscape in India (Forbes & Unispace, 2024)

Remote Workforce: 12.7% of full-time employees in India work fully remotely.
Hybrid Model: 28.2% of employees follow a hybrid work model.
Future Projection: 60–90 million Indians are expected to work remotely by 2025.
Company-Level Trends: 16% of companies in India operate fully remote.
Satisfaction with Hybrid: 97% of employees & 98% of employers report satisfaction with hybrid work.

Argument in Favour of WFH

Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours support mental health and offer better personal time.
Greater Autonomy: WFH boosts morale by offering freedom and control over one’s schedule.
Higher Efficiency: Reduced commute time and fewer office distractions lead to increased productivity.
Job Satisfaction: Personalised work environments and flexibility lead to higher contentment.
Inclusivity: WFH empowers women, caregivers, & persons with disabilities to participate in the workforce.

Argument Against WFH

Health Risk: Poor ergonomic setups increase physical ailments such as backaches, eye strain & joint pains, more so than office-bound counterparts.
Falling Team Spirit: Collaboration, creativity, & spontaneous problem-solving decline with limited interaction.
Monitoring Challenges: Managers struggle with oversight & ensuring output in remote settings.
Digital Fatigue: Isolation, blurred boundaries and constant digital connection are intensifying mental stress among remote workers.
Declining Innovation: Lack of informal exchanges & collective brainstorming weakens innovation.

{GS3 – Agri – Sustainability} Doubling Farmers’ Income

Context (PIB): The Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) mission, announced in the Union Budget 2016–17, aims to double real farm income by FY 2024–25, marking 75 years of India’s independence.

Guided by the Ashok Dalwai Committee (2018), it targets a 10.4% CAGR in income through a centrally sponsored, multi-ministerial Jan-Andolan approach.

Seven Pillars for Doubling Farmers’ Income

The Dalwai Committee outlined seven key areas to drive comprehensive agricultural income growth.

Crop Productivity: Achieve a 1.3x increase in yield through precision farming and better seed quality.
Livestock Productivity: Raise livestock share in agricultural GVA from 30% to 40% via genetic upgrades.
Resource Efficiency: Reduce input costs by 20–30% using micro-irrigation and ICT-led practices.
Remunerative Prices: Maintain MSP margins between 50% and 85% based on the A2+FL cost formula.
Cropping Intensity: Raise gross cropped index from 1.42 to 1.50 by FY25 through irrigation expansion.
Diversification: Shift 20% of farm area to high-value crops like horticulture and oilseeds.
Non-Farm Shift: Transition 8–10% surplus labour into allied sectors and processing value chains.

The A2+FL cost formula combines actual paid-out expenses (A2) with the estimated value of unpaid family labour (FL), forming the basis for determining MSP.
The Gross Cropped Area Index measures the ratio of total cropped area to net sown area, indicating the intensity of cropping and land-use efficiency.

Steps Taken to Achieve Objectives

Crop Productivity

MIDH Implementation: Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) funds nurseries and fertigation pilots.
Soil Health Cards: Over 254 million cards issued; third soil testing cycle underway in 2024.
Seed Hub Network: 158 breeder seed hubs promote climate-resilient varieties of pulses and millets.

Livestock Productivity

Gokul Mission Expansion: Rashtriya Gokul Mission scales IVF, semen sorting, and breed improvement.
Disease Control Funding: National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) allocated ₹13,343 crore for FMD eradication.
Dairy Infra Push: Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund offers concessional loans for chilling, processing units.

Resource Efficiency

Micro-Irrigation Subsidy: PMKSY–PDMC provides a 55% subsidy for drip and sprinkler irrigation to smallholders.
Solar Pump Deployment: PM–KUSUM installed 5.16 lakh solar pumps toward a 30.8 GW target.
Groundwater Management: Atal Bhujal Yojana supports aquifer plans in 81 blocks with a ₹6,000 crore outlay.

Remunerative Prices

MSP Reform: 1.5x A2+FL pricing formula adopted for Kharif and Rabi crops since FY19.
Price Support: PM–AASHA provides price-deficiency payments and procurement support for pulses and oilseeds.
Digital Trade: e-NAM 2.0 connects 1,473 mandis with logistics, warehousing, & payment integration.

Cropping Intensity

Canal Modernisation: Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) revived 99 irrigation projects covering 19.54 lakh ha since 2017.
Crop Substitution: The Sahi Fasal campaign promotes millet and pulse demonstrations at 472 sites.
Water Harvesting: 4.84 lakh farm ponds constructed under PDMC for groundwater recharge.

Diversification

CDP Demonstrations: Crop Diversification Programme showcases paddy alternatives across 7.2 lakh ha.
Millet Promotion: Millets Mission broadens MSP coverage and export potential in FY 2024.
Oilseed Strategy: National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds aims for 69.7 MT output by FY31.

Non-Farm Shift

Infrastructure Loans: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund offers 3% interest subvention up to ₹2 crore.
Agri-Startup Ecosystem: 621 startups incubated with ₹728 cr. grant under Innovation Fund (2020–24).
Rural Skilling: 7.16 lakh youth trained in agro-processing, beekeeping, dairy, and fisheries by 2024.

Achievements in Doubling Farmers’ Income

Dairy Leadership: India contributes 24.76% of global milk output, retaining the global top rank.
Diversification Gains: Horticulture production (352.2 MT) exceeded foodgrain in 2023–24 estimates.
Income Growth: NSO data show a 59% nominal increase in farm household income from FY13 to FY19.
Input Efficiency: Drip irrigation saved 40–50% water and reduced fertiliser use by 25–28%.
Digital Market Access: e-NAM enabled ₹80,262 crore trade; 1,473 mandis integrated nationwide.
Infrastructure Push: ₹91,856 crore mobilised via Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for 92,393 projects.
Rural Skilling: 7.16 lakh youth certified under Skill India in dairy, fisheries, and beekeeping.
Export Success: Millet exports touched ₹6,700 crore in FY24, doubling since FY22.
FPO Expansion: 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) formed under CSS by April 2025, boosting farmer bargaining power.

Bottlenecks in Doubling Farmers’ Income

Fragmented Holdings: An average farm size of 1.08 hectares limits mechanisation and productivity.
Irrigation Deficit: Only 18% of the potential irrigable area is under micro-irrigation technologies.
Price Distress: Harvest-time mandi prices for several key crops remain 10–33% below the MSP.
Digital Divide: Only 18% of rural households use smartphones for agronomic decision-making.
Veterinary Gaps: Eleven states still have vaccination rates below 70% for FMD, jeopardising livestock productivity.
Credit Exclusion: 41% rural households lack access to formal institutional credit (AIDIS 2023).
Climate Shocks: The 2023 drought reduced rainfed crop yields by up to 18% nationwide.
Trade Limitations: e-NAM inter-state transactions still form less than 1% of total agri-trade volume.
Monoculture Persistence: Rice–wheat systems continue to dominate despite diversification pilots in Punjab and Haryana.

FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) is a contagious viral disease in livestock that reduces milk yield, fertility, and trade value, making nationwide vaccination essential for livestock productivity.

Way Forward

FPO Scale-Up: Expand to 30,000 FPOs by 2030 using blended capital and equity infusion.
AI-Based Advisory: Deploy 100 ICAR Centres of Excellence for drone-linked crop mapping.
PM-FBY Reform: Universalise crop insurance with NDVI-based triggers and real-time payout systems.

NDVI-based triggers utilise satellite-derived vegetation indices to evaluate crop health and trigger insurance payouts under schemes such as PM-FBY.

Legal MSP Trial: Pilot price-deficiency schemes for pulses and oilseeds across 10 target states.

Blue Economy Boost: Scale cage aquaculture and seaweed parks to ₹1 lakh crore GVA by 2030.
Nutrient Subsidy Reform: Implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and nano-urea scaling by FY27.
Green Credit Market: Operationalise the Green Credit Programme for regenerative agriculture and low-methane rice by FY26.

{GS3 – Agri – Sustainability} Seaweed Cultivation in India

Context (PIB): In a significant step towards enhancing marine-based livelihoods and sustainable resource use, India has identified 384 potential sites across 24,707 hectares for seaweed cultivation.

About Seaweed

Taxonomy and Morphology

Marine Algae: Seaweeds are macroscopic marine algae found along rocky and sandy coastlines.
Colour Range: They appear in red, brown, green, or black based on pigment type.
Size Variation: Species range from tiny algae mats to giant kelp over 60 metres long.
Rootless Structure: Seaweeds lack true roots, stems, or leaves but carry out photosynthesis efficiently.

Habitat Conditions

Salinity Range: Optimal growth occurs in waters with salinity above 30 ppt.
Temperature: Preferred temperature lies between 26°C and 30°C.
Depth Requirement: A minimum water depth of 1 metre during low tide is essential.
Substrate Type: Seaweeds grow best on rocky bottoms in clear waters.
- Transparent water ensures adequate sunlight penetration for photosynthesis.
Water Movement: Mild water currents are ideal for maintaining nutrient flow and oxygen supply.
Fast Growth: Certain seaweed species can double biomass in 10–15 days under ideal conditions.

Ecological Role

Photosynthetic Output: Seaweeds generate up to 50% of the Earth’s oxygen.
Marine Food Chain: They support herbivores like molluscs, fish, and turtles.
Nutrient Cycling: Seaweeds absorb nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing eutrophication.

Uses of Seaweeds

Edible Use: Seaweeds are consumed in sushi, salads, snacks, and seaweed-based condiments.
- They are rich in iodine, fibre, vitamins, and antioxidant compounds.
Industrial Application: Seaweed compounds act as binding agents in toothpaste, jelly, and as emollients in organic cosmetics.
Fertiliser Input: Liquid extracts from seaweeds act as bio-stimulants in organic agriculture.
Pharmaceutical Use: Compounds offer anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, & heart-protective properties.
Bioenergy Source: Seaweeds are processed for bioethanol and biogas as renewable fuel alternatives.

Significance of Seaweed Cultivation

Livelihoods: Seaweed farming creates low-investment income opportunities for marine communities.
Climate Mitigation: Seaweed farms absorb dissolved CO₂ and help reduce ocean acidification.
Import Substitution: India currently imports carrageenan despite having native red seaweed varieties.
- Carrageenan: It is a phycocolloid (gel-forming compound) extracted from red seaweeds.
Marine Habitat: Seaweed beds offer shelter and breeding zones for fish and invertebrates.
Value Addition: Seaweed supports nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and bioplastic-based manufacturing.
Agriculture Linkage: Bio-stimulant use improves soil health and crop productivity in organic farming.

Tamil Nadu contributes nearly 80% of India’s seaweed output, led by the Gulf of Mannar.

Challenges for Seaweed Cultivation in India

Seed Scarcity: Limited quality planting material hinders the growth of seaweed farming.
Labour Shortage: Seasonal agricultural work reduces worker availability for seaweed activities.
Disease Threats: Epiphytes and pathogens cause major biomass losses and yield instability.
Climate Sensitivity: Seaweed species are vulnerable to rising sea temperatures and shifts in salinity.
Regulatory Delays: Lease approvals, zoning clearances, and germplasm norms cause project delays.
Red-Tide Events: Harmful algal blooms pose a seasonal risk to large-scale seaweed cultivation.

Government Initiatives for Seaweed Cultivation

PMMSY Funding: ₹195 crore was sanctioned for seaweed sector development during 2020–25.
Seaweed Park: A multipurpose seaweed park was approved in Tamil Nadu with ₹127 crore support.
Lakshadweep Cluster: The Union Territory was designated as a national seaweed farming cluster.
Centre of Excellence: ICAR–CMFRI Mandapam was declared India’s seaweed R&D hub.

Seaweed cultivation has been designated a priority activity under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to expand marine-based income diversification.

Read More > Seaweeds

{GS3 – Envi – CC} World Bank Report on Urban Climate Resilience

Context (IE | TH): World Bank, in partnership with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, released a report “Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India”, stressing urgent urban climate resilience.

Key Findings of the Report

The report highlights India’s urbanisation challenges and calls for strengthening infrastructure, financing, governance, and ULB autonomy to build urban climate resilience.

Urban Expansion and Infrastructure Needs

Population Growth: India’s urban population may double by 2050.
Housing Demand: Urban housing needs may double by 2070, requiring 144 million new homes.
Infrastructure Deficit: Over 50% of urban infrastructure planned for 2050 has yet to be built.
Capital Requirement: An estimated $2.4 trillion is needed by 2050 for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Investment Gap: India invests just 0.7% of GDP in urban infrastructure, which is below global standards.

Climate Risks and Urban Vulnerabilities

Job Exposure Risk: Cities may generate 70% of new jobs by 2030 but face increasing climate threats.
Heat Deaths: Annual heat-related deaths could more than double to 3.28 lakh by 2050.
Urban Heat Island Effect: Unplanned growth could increase core city temperatures by 3–4°C.
Flood Losses: Annual damages may increase sixfold from $5 billion in 2030 to $30 billion by 2070.

Governance and Institutional Gaps

ULB Capacity Constraints: Most ULBs lack staff, autonomy, and financing for climate-resilient projects.
Devolution Gaps: Incomplete implementation of the 74^th Amendment limits the powers of ULBs.
Urban Data Deficiency: Over 65% of cities lack real-time infrastructure and climate monitoring systems.

Recommendations of the Report

Heat & Flood Plans: Adopt stormwater norms, cool roofs, and early warning systems.
Resilient Infrastructure: Focus on climate-proof housing, waste, and transport systems.
Private Financing: Promote blended finance, green bonds, and risk-sharing tools.
Urban Finance Roadmaps: Set investment standards and improve ULB fiscal planning.
ULB Empowerment: Build ULB capacity for risk assessment and local adaptation.

{GS3 – Envi – Air Pollution} Indoor Air Pollution

Context (IE): A recent study by Ahmedabad University challenges the common perception that indoor air is safer than outdoor air, revealing that indoor air quality (IAQ) can be significantly worse.

Key Findings of the Study

PM Concentration: Indoor PM (Particulate Matter) levels were found to be up to 2.5 times higher than outdoors for more than 50% of the observation period.
Pollutants: Sources of indoor pollution included routine activities like cooking, and the use of perfumes, disinfectants, room sprays, and aerosols.
Worsen Exposure: Poor ventilation in confined spaces allows pollutants to accumulate and persist, heightening exposure risks.
Marginalised Groups: Domestic workers are disproportionately exposed, spending long hours in multiple households where they have no control over air quality.

Limitations in Current Response

Indoor Spaces in Policy: India’s air pollution policies, such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), primarily address outdoor air pollution, neglecting indoor pollution despite people spending over 90% of their time indoors.
Building Norms: Current construction regulations do not mandate natural ventilation, especially in low-cost or informal housing.
Public Awareness: There is limited sensitisation about indoor pollution compared to the more visible smog-related outdoor concerns.

Read More > Indoor Air Pollution

{Prelims – PIN India} Bitra Island

Context (TH): The Lakshadweep Administration issued a notification to transfer Bitra Island to central defence agencies for strategic use under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

About Bitra Island

Bitra is Lakshadweep’s smallest inhabited island, measuring only 0.105 sq. km.
It belongs to the Amindivi subgroup and lies ~483 km from Kochi.
The island is encircled by a 45.61 sq. km lagoon, the largest in Lakshadweep.
The 2011 Census recorded 271 residents, mainly dependent on fishing and coconut farming.
It has a tropical monsoon climate with ~1600 mm of annual rainfall.

Credit: Jharkhand Mirror

Strategic Significance of Bitra Island

Sea Routes: Bitra lies near shipping routes connecting Hormuz and the Malacca Straits.
Base Expansion: It will become Lakshadweep’s 3^rd naval outpost after Kavaratti and Minicoy.
Energy Security: It helps secure India’s oil imports via the western Arabian Sea corridors.
IOR Strategy: The move supports India’s counterbalance to China in the Indian Ocean Region.

Lakshadweep currently hosts INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti and INS Jatayu in Minicoy.

Lakshadweep, India’s smallest Union Territory, comprises 36 coral islands with atolls, lagoons, and reefs in the Arabian Sea.

{Prelims – In News} Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Context (PIB): PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to pioneering nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his 169^th birth anniversary on 23 July 2025.

Tilak was born on July 23, 1856, in Ratnagiri, and died on August 1, 1920, in Bombay.
He was popularly known as Lokmanya (meaning ‘accepted by the people’), while Mahatma Gandhi called him the “Maker of Modern India” for awakening Indian national consciousness.

Key Contributions

Call for Swaraj: He coined the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright,” asserting self-rule as a national right.
Swaraj Platform: In 1916, he co-founded the Home Rule League to institutionalise self-rule demand.
Cultural Nationalism: He popularised Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Jayanti to foster patriotic feeling.
Nationalist Journalism: He launched newspapers, Kesari (Marathi) and The Mahratta (English).

Read More > Bal Gangadhar Tilak

{Prelims – In News} Chandra Shekhar Azad

Context (PIB): PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad on his birth anniversary on 23 July 2025.

Chandra Shekhar Azad

Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, as Chandra Shekhar Sitaram Tiwari.
At age 15, he was arrested during the Non-Cooperation movement (1920–21). In court, he declared his name as ‘Azad’, his father’s as ‘Swatantrata’, and his residence as ‘prison’.
Radical Shift: Disillusioned by Gandhi’s 1921 movement withdrawal, he joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), adopting a militant path.
Kakori Train Action: He participated in the 1925 train robbery led by Ram Prasad Bismil.
HSRA Formation: In 1928, at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, Azad and his comrades officially restructured the HRA into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, adopting a socialist ideology.
Martyrdom: Surrounded by police in 1931 at Alfred Park, Allahabad, he shot himself to avoid capture.