Current Affairs – July 29, 2025

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Silver Economy and India’s Ageing Care

• Context (FE): By 2050, over 20% of India’s population will be elderly, straining healthcare due to high end-of-life costs and limited geriatric infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

Key Challenges in Geriatric Healthcare in India

• Urban-Rural Divide: 70% of the elderly live in rural areas, but they travel 28+ km for care, compared to 10 km for urban elderly (Lancet, 2024).
• High Healthcare Costs: India faced 14% medical inflation in 2024, the highest in Asia, making chronic care unaffordable for many seniors.
• Workforce Shortage: Barely 200 geriatricians serve 120 million elderly Indians, even as older adults account for 60% of ICU admissions, exposing a stark mismatch.
• Public System Underfunding: Health spending stagnates at 1.2–1.9% of GDP, resulting in limited elderly-focused services and coverage.

Opportunities and Policy Innovations

• Private Sector: Private players are expanding geriatric care through preventive services, home care, and telehealth.
• Public Schemes: Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY now covers seniors above 70, offering ₹5 lakh in free annual care at public & private hospitals.
  • Schemes like National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke (NPCDCS)are helping manage the burden of NCDs.
• Primary Healthcare: Promotes home-based primary healthcare and mobility support through mobile medical vans, digital health platforms.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for integrated and accessible geriatric care.
• Increase Public Health Spending beyond 2% of GDP to build elderly-specific infrastructure.
• Integrate Transport Services into healthcare systems to bridge rural-urban access gaps.
• Boosting investment in geriatrics as a medical specialisation is critical.

Read More > Senior Citizens in India

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} SOFI Report & India’s Nutritional Crisis

• Context (DTE): The UN’s SOFI 2025 report highlights persistent child wasting, stunting, and high anaemia in India, despite a reduction in undernourishment.

Key Findings

• The SOFI report highlights India’s triple burden of malnutrition, threatening SDG-2 and human capital.

Report on Wasting

• India’s Burden: India has the highest wasting rate at 18.7%, affecting 21 million children.
  • NFHS-5 data shows 19.3% of Indian children under-5 are wasted, including 7.7% severely wasted.
• Global Pattern: Wasting declined globally from 7.4% (2012) to 6.6% (2024).
• Regional Trend: South Asia continues to report the highest regional burden of wasting.

Report on Stunting

• India’s Burden: SOFI 2025 reports 37.4 million stunted children under five.
  • Stunting prevalence in India is 35.5% among children under five according to NFHS-5.
• Regional Disparity: India’s rate is far higher than the South Asian average of 21.8%.
• Mixed Progress: India is “on course” by trend, but remains a global hotspot for stunting.
• Global Pattern: Child stunting prevalence declined from 26.4% in 2012 to 23.2% in 2024

Report on Anaemia

• Women’s Burden: Over 53.7% of Indian women aged 15-49 are anaemic, totalling 203 million.
  • NFHS-5 shows, 57% of Indian women aged 15-49 & 67% of Indian children under-5 are anaemic.
• Global Standing: India ranks fourth globally and has the highest burden in Asia.
• Global Trend: Anaemia prevalence declined, but the absolute number rose due to population growth.

Report on Undernourishment

• India’s Burden: SOFI 2025 estimates 172 million Indians are undernourished, down from 243 million.
  • India contributes 12% of the world’s total undernourished population.
• Regional Standing: India has Asia’s largest undernourished population & ranks 7^th in prevalence rate.
  • India’s undernourishment rate declined from 21% to 16.6% since 2004.
• Global Pattern: Global undernourishment declined, but progress slowed due to inflation and shocks.

Reasons for Malnutrition in India

• Maternal Undernutrition: Inadequate maternal diets cause fetal growth restriction and early stunting.
• Feeding Practices: Lack of breastfeeding and delayed weaning increase childhood malnutrition risk.
• Infection Burden: Diarrhoea, worms, and respiratory infections impair nutrient uptake and immunity.
• Sanitation Gaps: Open defecation and unsafe water heighten disease-linked nutrient losses.
• Dietary Deficiency: Cereal-dominant diets lack protein, iron, and essential micronutrients.
• Early Pregnancy: Adolescent mothers face higher risk of undernutrition and poor fetal outcomes.
• Social Inequality: Poverty, gender gaps, and food insecurity limit diet adequacy.
• Health Service Gaps: Weak counselling, supplementation, and follow-up delay early detection and care.

Government Initiatives Against Malnutrition

• POSHAN Abhiyaan: Aims to reduce stunting, wasting, and anaemia through lifecycle interventions.
• ICDS Scheme: Anganwadi centres deliver food, preschool education, and basic health services.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Provides iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets, deworming, & outreach for 6 target groups.
• Food-Based Schemes: Mid-Day Meals and PDS offer fortified, diversified food to beneficiaries.
• Fortification Drive: Iron-rich rice and oil are distributed through public nutrition programmes.
• Behaviour Change: Campaigns promote hygiene, feeding practices, & nutrition awareness nationwide.
• Maternal Support: PMMVY offers conditional cash transfers for pregnant and lactating women.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Digital Search and Seizure

• Context (IE): The Parliamentary Select Committee report on the Income Tax Bill 2025 retained Clause 247, which formally authorises digital search & seizure of devices storing incriminating digital data.

About Digital Search and Seizure

• The Income Tax Bill 2025 codifies digital search powers to trace concealed income in virtual domains.
• Clause 247: Permits search of any premises, device, or digital storage suspected of concealing income.
• Clause 261: Defines computer systems to include cloud, mobile, and networked devices.
• Rationale: Codification provides clear legal backing to access digital financial evidence.
• Criticism: Vague scope and wide access may infringe privacy and personal liberty.

Safeguards under Clause 247

• Reason Recording: Officers must document reasons before initiating any search.
• Sanction Requirement: Prior approval from a senior authority is mandatory.
• Judicial Review: Courts can examine the validity of searches through writ jurisdiction.
• Wednesbury Test: Orders must satisfy standards of fairness and proportionality.

Current Legal Framework

• The Income Tax Act, 1961, allows digital search, but lacks an explicit statutory mandate.
• Section 132: Authorises seizure of digital books, electronic records, and financial data.
• Device Inclusion: Applies to cloud drives, encrypted files, and mobile storage devices.
• Explicit Recognition: The 2025 Bill makes explicit what was earlier implicit under existing provisions.

{GS2 – MoYAS – Initiatives} National Sports Governance Bill

• Context (IE): The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to replace the non-binding Sports Code, 2011, and bring all National Sports Federations (NSFs), including the BCCI, under a uniform, legally enforceable governance framework.

Key Features

• The bill introduces structural & ethical reforms to build a transparent, athlete-first sports ecosystem.
• The Bill establishes three key regulatory bodies to enforce compliance and resolve disputes.
  • National Sports Board: Apex body to recognise, regulate, & monitor National Sports Federations.
  • National Sports Tribunal: Civil court–equivalent body for resolving disputes in NSFs; appeals allowed only before the Supreme Court.
  • Election Panel: Appoints electoral officers to ensure timely, fair elections in all NSFs.
• RTI Coverage: All recognised sports bodies are deemed public authorities under the RTI Act.
• Symbol Restrictions: NSB approval required to use “India” or national symbols in identity.
• Safe Sport Policy: Federations must adopt POSH-aligned safeguards & athlete grievance mechanisms.
• Age Limits: NSF officials must be aged 25–70; extendable to 75 if internationally allowed.
• Committee Size: Executive Committees of NSFs are limited to 15 members for effective functioning.

Challenges and Implications

• Autonomy Risk: Central control over appointments may erode institutional independence.
• BCCI Pushback: BCCI may resist inclusion, citing self-funding and unique status.
• Legal Conflicts: Friction may arise between national law and global sports charters.
• Institutional Readiness: Effectiveness depends on professionalising oversight and staffing systems.
• Federal Overreach: Since sports is a State subject, central legislation may trigger jurisdictional tensions.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Thailand–Cambodia Border Disputes

• Context (IE): Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, following high-level talks in Malaysia mediated by ASEAN Chair Malaysia, and supported by both the US and China.

Thailand-Cambodia Border Disputes

• Background: Thailand-Cambodia border dispute traces back to a 1907 French-drawn map recognised by Cambodia but contested by Thailand.
  • Periodic clashes since 2008, mainly over Khmer temples like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom, last escalated significantly in 2011.
• Recent Escalation: On July 25, 2025, border clashes flared after a Thai soldier was injured by a suspected Cambodian landmine during a routine patrol near Chong Bok.
  • This triggered Cambodian rocket attacks by late evening, followed by Thai airstrikes near disputed UNESCO heritage sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom by early July 26.

{GS3 – IE – Employment} TCS Layoffs Reflect India’s Jobs Crisis

• Context (ET): Recently, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to lay off around 2% of its workforce due to skill mismatches and AI-led disruptions.

AI as a Job Creator

• Role Expansion: AI job postings in India have grown by 21% annually since 2019 (Bain & Co.).
• Job Creation: India’s AI sector is projected to add 2.3 million jobs by 2027.
• Wage Growth: AI role salaries have risen by 11% annually, driven by talent shortages.

AI as a Job Disruptor

• Mass Layoffs: TCS plans to lay off 12,000 employees in 2025.
• Worker Anxiety: 74% of Indian workers fear AI will replace their jobs (MWTI).
• Talent Mismatch: Only 15–20% of India’s workforce is currently equipped with AI skills.
• Talent Gap: By 2027, AI job demand will exceed supply by 1.1 million professionals in India.

Way Forward

• Skill Alignment: Launch nationwide AI-focused skilling initiatives with public-private collaboration.
• Curriculum Reform: Align curricula with future tech needs & promote industry-academia partnerships.
• Expand Apprenticeships: Promote internship programs like the PM Internship Scheme to reach MSMEs and Tier 2/3 cities.
• Data Integrity: Develop real-time, disaggregated job market data to inform policy and planning.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} India–UK FTA and the Textile Sector

• Context (ET): The recent India-UK Free Trade Agreement is expected to revitalise India’s textile sector.

Expected Impact of the FTA on India’s Textile Sector

• The FTA enables India to expand its UK textile exports beyond 4.9% and attain parity with competitors.
• Duty Elimination: It removes tariffs on 1,143 textile lines, increasing India’s export competitiveness.
• Targeted Coverage: 11.7% of UK textile lines liberalised, matching India’s major export segments.
• Competitive Parity: It offers price parity with duty-free competitors like Bangladesh and Cambodia.
• Market Expansion: India’s UK textile share may rise by five percentage points post-FTA.
• Employment Benefit: It favours labour-intensive exports like garments, carpets, and home textiles.

Challenges in Realising FTA Benefits

• India must address major production, input, and compliance issues to fully leverage the India–UK FTA.

• Man-Made Fibre Deficit: Limited domestic capacity constrains growth in synthetic textile exports.
• Small Enterprise Gap: MSMEs lack the capital and technology for export competitiveness.
• Input Dependency: A heavy reliance on imports raises costs and weakens supply chain resilience.
• Certification Weakness: Poor environmental compliance limits entry to regulated UK retail markets.
• Supply Constraints: Fragmented production and logistics reduce responsiveness to UK demand.

Read More > India’s Textile Industry

{Prelims – In News} Divya Deshmukh wins 2025 Women’s Chess World Cup

• Context (LM): 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup, becoming India’s 4^th female Grandmaster.

Key Highlights

• All-Indian Final: The 2025 World Cup final featured two Indian players, with Divya Deshmukh defeating Koneru Humpy, highlighting India’s growing dominance in women’s chess.
• India’s Grandmasters: Divya joins India’s top female GMs, Koneru Humpy (first), Harika Dronavalli, & R. Vaishali, as the youngest & becomes the nation’s 88^th Grandmaster.
• Historic Win: The Grandmaster (GM) title, the highest in chess, typically requires three norms and a FIDE rating of 2500+.

{Prelims – In News} Operation Mahadev

• Context (IE): Three militants, including a suspect in the April Pahalgam ambush, were killed in Operation Mahadev near Harwan forest, close to Dachigam National Park in Srinagar.

About Operation Mahadev

• It was a multi-agency kinetic strike led by the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army with CRPF & J&K Police.
• The encounter took place in Lidwas forest near Dara, between the Mahadev and Zabarwan ridges.
• The Dara-Harwan-Dachigam belt is a dense forest zone near Srinagar and Pahalgam, offering ideal concealment and high strategic sensitivity.

Significance of Operation Mahadev

• Counter-Terror Strike: Eliminated three Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, including a Pahalgam ambush suspect.
• Secured Strategic Zone: Strengthened control over sensitive Dara-Harwan-Dachigam belt near Srinagar.
• Tech-Enabled Ops: Showcased effective drone use in real-time surveillance and precision targeting.

Credit: PublicTV

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Piratula acuminata Wolf Spider & Idris Wasp Species

• Context (TH): Recently, scientists at Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new wolf spider species and four parasitoid wasp species in West Bengal.

Key Discoveries

Piratula acuminata

• Significance: First-ever record of the Piratula genus in India, part of the Lycosidae family, known as wolf spiders.
• Habitat: Found on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans.
• Biological Traits:
  • Medium-sized, ground-dwelling, agile and nocturnal predator.
  • Lacks web-building behaviour; instead ambushes prey.
  • Features include creamy-white and brown colouration & unique genital morphology.

  

  Credit: TH

Idris Wasps

• Species Identified: Idris bianor, Idris furvus, Idris hyllus, Idris longiscapus.
• Habitat: Agroecosystems and semi-natural habitats across West Bengal.
• Unique Traits:
  • These tiny wasps are parasitoids; they lay eggs inside spider egg sacs, particularly jumping spiders.
  • Display gregarious parasitism, many wasps can emerge from one egg sac.
  • They help maintain ecological balance by regulating spider populations.

Credit: TH