- GLOBAL TRADE RESILIENCE (UNCTAD)
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has stressed the importance of global cooperation amid rising protectionism and policy shifts.
- Key Factors:
- Economic Policies: While factors such as China’s stimulus measures offer support, the overall risk from protectionism remains high.
- Future Outlook: Governments and businesses must adopt balanced policies to avoid isolating trade blocs and safeguard long-term trade resilience
2. CENTRE SANCTIONS 116 NEW TOURIST SPOTS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The Centre has approved 116 new tourist destinations under various schemes like Swadesh Darshan 2.0, CBDD, and SASCI.
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Develops sustainable tourism through theme-based circuits and infrastructure support to States.
- Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): A sub-scheme under SD2.0 focusing on holistic destination development by addressing specific local challenges.
- Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Sanctioned 40 projects in 23 States with an outlay of about ₹3,295.76 crore to develop iconic tourist centres for global branding.
- Tribal Homestays Initiative: Launched under the Swadesh Darshan scheme (via Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan) to promote tribal culture and enhance tourism through community-based homestays.
3. ADITYA L1 MISSION AND FLARELESS CME OBSERVATION
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Mission Milestone:India’s Aditya-L1 mission, dedicated to solar studies, has recorded a flareless coronal mass ejection (CME)using its VELC instrument.
- Scientific Significance:The observation helps in understanding the onset of CMEs without the concurrent occurrence of solar flares.
- Future Prospects:With the sun nearing the maximum phase of Solar Cycle 25, continuous observations are expected to provide deeper insights into solar magnetic instabilities.
4. SCHOOL CLOSURE AND TRIBAL LANGUAGE RIGHTS
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The only Gondi-medium school in a Maharashtra village faces closure on grounds of non-registration under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
- Cultural Context:The school was established to promote education in the mother tongue for tribal (Adivasi) students, aligning with constitutional provisions (Article 29and Article 350A).
- Administrative Rationale:Authorities claim that non-recognition affects quality control and future academic prospects, while critics view it as a form of cultural and structural subordination.
- Broader Implications:
- Cultural Preservation:Highlights the conflict between state regulation and the need to preserve tribal languages and cultural identity.
- Social Justice:Raises important questions about the rights of minorities and the role of education in safeguarding indigenous cultures.
5. APAAR ID – A VOLUNTARY MANDATE
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The Ministry of Education has introduced the APAAR ID to digitize academic transcripts, linking it with Aadhaar for a “single source of truth.”
- Controversy:Although the program is officially voluntary, pressures on schools and district administrators suggest a de facto mandate.
- Legal and Privacy Concerns:Critics argue that enforcing APAAR without explicit legislation and informed consent could conflict with Supreme Court guidelines on the voluntary nature of Aadhaar in education and broader privacy rights.
- Digital Public Infrastructure:Reflects ongoing tensions between the drive for digital transformation and the protection of personal data and privacy
