02 JUNE UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – PM IAS

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism’

Syllabus: GS1/ Personalities

In Context

• 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism’.

About

• In the post-colonial search for an indigenous philosophy of governance, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968) introduced the doctrine of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manav Darshan) in 1965. 
• This ideology aimed to balance material progress with spiritual upliftment and redefine development from an Indian civilisational perspective.

What is Integral Humanism?

• It emphasizes the balanced and integrated development of human beings, encompassing not just material well-being but also mental, intellectual, and spiritual aspects. 
• Upadhyay argued that Western ideologies tended to focus solely on material desires (Kama) and wealth (Artha), neglecting the moral duties (Dharma) and spiritual liberation (Moksha), which he considered essential for true human happiness and fulfillment.
• Upadhyay critiqued both capitalism for its unchecked individualism and potential for exploitation, and Marxist socialism for its suppression of individual liberty and its purely materialistic worldview.
• The philosophy places the human being at the core of all development models. Policies and governance should be designed to serve the well-being and dignity of every individual, ensuring a dignified life for all.
• Central to Integral Humanism are the concepts of:
  • Chiti: The inner essence, or national soul, of a civilization – its unique cultural identity and consciousness.
  • Virat: The living manifestation of national culture in societal institutions and collective life.
  • Dharma: The guiding principle of individual and collective righteousness, representing the inherent laws, duties, and ethical conduct that sustain society.

Contemporary Relevance of Integral Humanism

• Participatory Governance: Integral Humanism calls for orderly, decentralised, and value-driven governance, rooted in local traditions and customs.
• Self-Reliant Economy (Swadeshi): Emphasises decentralised development, village-centric models, and sustainable livelihoods, aligning with Gandhian ideas of Gram Swaraj.
• Antyodaya & Policy Making: Upholds the principle of ‘Sarvodaya through Antyodaya’ – upliftment of the last person in the queue. Welfare must not be a mere state policy but a moral imperative.
• Sustainable Development & Environmental Justice: Advocates deep ecological respect — balanced use of labour, resources, and capital — ensuring dignity and sustenance for future generations.
• Cultural Preservation: Calls for reviving India’s heritage, language, arts, and civilisational wisdom, not as nostalgia, but as guiding lights for future innovation.
• Global Relevance: Offers an alternative to exploitative capitalism and rigid communism. Has echoes in Global South development paradigms and Gross National Happiness (Bhutan).
• Ethical Values: Promotes compassion, restraint, and harmony over conflict or competition.
• Reflects Indian value systems — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Sarvodaya, Ahimsa.

Safeguarding Personality and Publicity Rights

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policies & Interventions; Intellectual Property Rights

Context

• Recently, the Delhi High Court has issued a ruling safeguarding the personality and publicity rights of the founder of Isha Foundation.
  • It highlights the growing concerns over AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorized use of public figures’ identities.

About the Personality and Publicity Rights

• Personality rights refer to an individual’s ability to control the commercial use of their identity. These rights are often divided into two categories:
  • Right to Privacy: Recognised under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
    • Reinforced in the landmark Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) judgment, which elevated privacy to the status of a fundamental right.
  • Right to Publicity: Prevents unauthorized commercial use of a person’s identity.
• Elements of Personality Rights are name, image, likeness, voice, and signature etc.

Concerns in Personality Rights

• Lack of Comprehensive Legal Framework: India does not have a dedicated law governing personality rights, relying instead on copyright, trademark, and privacy laws.
  • The absence of clear statutory protections makes enforcement difficult.
• AI-Generated Deepfakes & Digital Manipulation: The rise of AI has led to the creation of deepfake videos and voice clones, allowing unauthorized use of a person’s identity.
• Commercial Exploitation Without Consent: Celebrities and influencers often find their likeness used in advertisements without permission.
  • The right to publicity is meant to prevent such misuse, but enforcement is inconsistent.
• Challenges in Enforcement:
  • Jurisdictional Issues: Online violations often involve international platforms, making legal action complex.
  • Balancing Free Speech & Protection: Courts must weigh freedom of expression against personality rights, especially in satire and parody cases.
  • Rogue Websites & Social Media Violations: Websites that misuse personality rights can reappear under different names, making enforcement difficult.

Legal & Constitutional Provisions.

• Copyright Act, 1957: It grants performers rights over their work, ensuring that their image and voice are not used without permission.
• Trade Marks Act, 1999: It allows individuals to trademark their name or likeness, preventing unauthorized commercial use.
• Tort of Passing Off: It prevents misleading commercial use of a person’s identity, ensuring that their reputation is not exploited.
• Advisories, guidelines, and IT rules: Though India lacks specific legislation for Artificial Intelligence (AI) , IT rules govern the advancement of AI, Generative AI, and Large Language Models (LLMs).

Judicial Precedents

• Jackie Shroff Case (2024): Delhi HC restrained unauthorised use of his persona by AI chatbots and e-commerce platforms.
• Krishna Kishore Singh v. Sarla A. Saraogi (2021): SC held that publicity rights are distinct from privacy rights and can outlive the individual.
• Arun Jaitley v. Network Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (2011): Delhi HC acknowledged the commercial significance of one’s name, especially in the digital space.

Global Perspective

• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recognizes personality rights as an essential part of intellectual property law.
• Many countries, including the United States and European nations, have specific statutes governing publicity rights, ensuring individuals can control how their identity is used commercially.
  • Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024 (ELVIS Act) was passed in the State of Tennessee, USA to protect musicians from unauthorised use of their voice, i.e. ‘soundalikes’.

NAKSHA Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Ministry of Rural Development launched the second phase of the NAKSHA (NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations) programme.
  • NAKSHA is implemented under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

NAKSHA 

• Phase I: Pilot Implementation and Survey Operations
  • About: It was announced in the 2024-25 Budget to standardise record-keeping, simplify processes and bring transparency in land transactions.
  • Coverage: Initiated across 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 26 states and 3 Union Territories, targeting cities with an area less than 35 sq km and a population under 2 lakhs. Cover the entire urban area in the country within a period of 5 years.  
  • Technological Integration: Employed aerial surveys, drone technology, and Web-GIS platforms for high-precision mapping.
• Phase II: Capacity Building and Skill Enhancement
  • Under this training programme, 304 ULB-level and district officers have been nominated from 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). 
  • These officers will undergo hands-on training in leveraging modern geospatial technologies for effective urban property surveys.
  • The training aims to equip ULB officers and field staff with the technical and practical skills required to oversee high-accuracy land surveys under the NAKSHA programme. 

Why India Needs a NAKSHA-like Programme for Land Management?

• Fragmented Land Records System: India has a state-specific, inconsistent system of land record-keeping, often using outdated manual records causing ownership disputes, legal uncertainty for buyers, investors, and institutions.
• Land Disputes and Litigation: Over 66% of civil cases in Indian courts are land/property-related. Lack of digitised, tamper-proof land maps is a key cause.
• Urbanisation & Infrastructure Push: As per the 2023-24 Economic Survey, nearly 40% of India’s population is expected to be living in urban areas by 2030. Streamlining land and property record systems is essential for the planned development of cities.
• Boost to Agrarian Reforms: Digitised khasra maps linked with land records can support: easy credit access, crop insurance schemes, PM-KISAN & other DBT initiatives. 
• Disaster Risk and Climate Resilience: A geotagged mapping system helps in climate resilience planning. 

Drone Warfare: Ukraine Drone Attack on Russia

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• Under its ‘Operation Spider’s Web’, Ukraine launched first-person view (FPV) drone attacks on five airbases across Russia.

First-person View Drones

• FPV or first-person view drones are smaller in size and have cameras built in on the front, which sends live video to the operator. 
• This enables precise flying and manoeuvrability by the operator from a remote location, almost like an aircraft. 
• These drones used Russian mobile-telephone networks to relay their footage back to Ukraine.

Recent Use of Drones 

• In the early years of the 21st century, most drone strikes were carried out by the US military in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya, using air-to-surface missiles against ground targets.
• Drone warfare has since been adopted by countries like Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, as well as by non-state actors such as the Houthis.
• India, too, has employed drones in recent operations, including the Operation Sindoor and retaliatory strikes against Pakistan.

What is Drone Warfare?  

• Drone warfare refers to a mode of warfare employing unmanned or remotely controlled devices. 
  • Such drones have the capability of staying in the air, on land, at sea level, or underwater. 
  • The drones may be operated by manual control, and others may utilise auto-pilot systems on their missions.
• Remotely Piloted Aircraft System: It refers to a set of components that include the drone, its ground-based control system.
  • The US, UK, Israel, China, India, Russia, and Turkey, have produced combat drones, or UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles).
  • These are employed in targeted attacks, frequently in locations difficult to access by conventional forces.
• AI: The second stage of drone application is artificial intelligence. AI drones can navigate on their own, detect targets, and even operate in “swarm” groups.

Evolution of UAVs

• In the 1960s, British Commonwealth artillery regiments started developing drones for target identification and extending their range.
• The past two decades saw the US set the trend world-wide with using drones for its counterterrorism action in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen with precision attacks minimising personnel risks.
• It was the Ukraine war that saw a turning point.
  • Russian and Ukrainian forces both used small drones on a massive scale for real-time intelligence and direct attacks.
• By 2023, small drones had evolved to accommodate multiple payloads – from infrared detectors to electronic warfare equipment.

Significance of Use of Drones in Warfare

• Targeted Strikes: Drones allow militaries to carry out highly targeted attacks, minimizing collateral damage.
• Lower Risk to Personnel: Since drones are unmanned, they eliminate the risk to pilots and reduce the need for boots on the ground.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Drones are cheaper to manufacture, operate, and maintain compared to manned aircraft.
• Real-Time Surveillance and Intelligence: Drones provide continuous, real-time imagery and intelligence gathering, essential for both offensive and defensive operations.
• Strategic Advantage in Asymmetric Warfare: Drones are especially useful against non-state actors and terrorist groups, who may not be reachable by conventional military means.

Way Ahead

• The fact that Ukraine was able to destroy such a large number of Russia’s aircraft deep inside Russia territory demonstrates the effectiveness of such deep-strike programmes and taking the possibilities of drone warfare to another level.
• As technology advances, drones will increasingly be utilised for military and civilian missions.
• Rise of autonomous and AI-driven systems could further revolutionize military doctrine.

Source: IE

Pharma Freebies Under Scrutiny

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/GS4/Ethics

Context

• The Centre has asked pharma companies for details of expenditure on marketing in the last one year.

About

• The Union government is keeping a close watch on the marketing practice of pharmaceutical companies amid reports of these companies continuing to offer a range of freebies to doctors.
• The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) is being implemented to check unethical marketing practices.
• The details sought by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) have to be submitted by 31 July, failing which action will be taken against them.

The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP)

• The UCPMP was introduced in 2024 with an objective to bring about transparency and ensure ethical conduct in the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies.
• Prohibition of Inducements: Companies are barred from offering gifts, monetary benefits, or hospitality to healthcare professionals or their families. 
• Restrictions on Travel and Hospitality: Providing travel facilities or hospitality is prohibited unless the healthcare professional is a speaker at a Continuing Medical Education (CME) event. Even then, events cannot be held in foreign locations. 
• Accountability and Transparency: Pharmaceutical companies must self-declare adherence to the code and disclose expenditures related to conferences, seminars, and workshops. 
• Enforcement Mechanism: An Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) is established within each association to address violations.
  • Penalties include public reprimand, recovery of benefits given, issuance of corrective statements, and potential legal action.

What are Freebies?

• Freebies also referred to as the “Doctors’ Commission” where pharma companies give out gifts, in cash or kind, to medical professionals to prescribe their brand of drug.

Key concerns associated with this relationship 

• Conflict of Interest: Doctors are expected to make medical decisions based on the best interests of patients, and financial or material benefits compromise this objectivity.
• Patient Trust and Confidence: Patients rely on the expertise and unbiased judgment of their doctors, and any perception of undue influence from pharmaceutical companies can undermine this trust.
• Economic Impact on Healthcare Costs: If doctors are influenced to prescribe more expensive medications due to relationships with pharmaceutical companies, it contributes to higher healthcare costs.
• Professional Ethics and Integrity: Medical professionals are expected to adhere to ethical standards that prioritize patient welfare.
  • Accepting gifts or benefits from pharmaceutical companies is perceived as a breach of professional ethics and integrity.

Recommendations

• A five-member committee headed by Vinod K. Paul (2023) to the Union government upon reviewing the UCPMP made few recommendations on freebies to Doctors by Pharma.
  • The price of branded gifts to doctors  should not exceed ₹1,000 per item.
  • Prohibition on the continuous medical education (CME) workshops for doctors in foreign locations.
  • The money received by medical practitioners from pharmaceutical companies to conduct research should be taxable.
  • In the case of free drug samples, tax should be deducted at source for the company under the Income Tax (I-T) Act if their value exceeds ₹20,000 per year. 

Conclusion

• The nexus between pharmaceutical companies and doctors in India poses significant ethical challenges, leading to compromised patient care and inflated healthcare costs.
• Most of the recommendations are now partly reflected in the UCPMP 2024, and ongoing reforms, though experts continue to call for further legal enforcement and independent oversight mechanisms.
• Strengthening regulation, ensuring transparency in medical-industry relationships, and prioritizing patient welfare over profit are essential steps toward restoring integrity in healthcare delivery

Regulating India’s Virtual Digital Assets Revolution

Syllabus :GS3/Economy 

In News

• India leads in grassroots crypto adoption, with $6.6 billion invested by retail investors and 800,000 jobs expected by 2030, but faces unclear and challenging Virtual Digital Assets regulations.

What are Virtual Digital Assets? 

• They are electronically stored, transferable, or tradable digital representations of value. They include:
  •  Cryptocurrencies: Digital or virtual currencies that are secured through cryptographic techniques, making them highly resistant to counterfeiting.
  • NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): Unique digital assets, recorded on a blockchain, and tradable for money, cryptocurrencies, or other NFTs.
• VDAs can be used for payments, investments, or as representations of real-world items such as artwork, real estate, personal identities, or property rights.

Legal framework

• India’s Income Tax Bill, 2025 introduces a clear legal framework classifying Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs)—including cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)—as property and capital assets for the first time. 
• This aligns India with global practices in countries like the U.K., U.S., and Australia.
• Under the bill, gains from the sale or transfer of VDAs will be taxed under capital gains provisions, similar to real estate and stocks.
  •  This move ensures VDAs are taxed transparently and reduces their potential misuse as unregulated financial instruments.
• In March 2023, the government brought VDAs under the ambit of the ‘Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)’, ensuring that transactions involving these assets fall within its scope.

Do you know? – Global bodies like the IMF and FATF advocate for risk-based, harmonized regulation relying on compliant domestic intermediaries called Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).  – These VASPs help align the crypto industry with laws, improve oversight, and provide regulatory insights. – Indian VASPs are maturing rapidly, cooperating with authorities to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism efforts. – Following a major $230 million hack in 2024, Indian exchanges enhanced cybersecurity, created insurance funds, and established industry-wide guidelines to protect users and assets.

Challenges 

• India’s strict capital controls and regulated payment systems clash with the decentralized nature of Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs). 
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised concerns early on, banning financial institutions from crypto dealings in 2018—a ban overturned by courts in 2020. 
• The government then introduced taxation measures in 2022, including a 1% TDS on VDA transactions above ₹10,000 and a 30% capital gains tax without loss offsetting. 
• Despite these efforts, most trading shifted offshore, resulting in significant tax revenue losses (over ₹2,488 crore) and high volumes on non-compliant platforms. 
• Attempts to block these platforms have been largely ineffective, as users circumvent restrictions using VPNs and alternative access methods.

Supreme Court’s observations 

• In May 2025, the Supreme Court highlighted the lack of comprehensive crypto regulation, noting that banning crypto ignores the market’s reality, underscoring the disconnect between policy and the vibrant crypto ecosystem.

Suggestions and Way Forward 

• India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in the adoption of Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs), including cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
• And to harness the full potential of VDAs, India needs a balanced and forward-looking regulatory framework.
  • Such a framework would support innovation, protect investors, and ensure tax compliance, ultimately securing India’s position as a leader in the digital asset revolution.

MISCELLANEOUS

Western Ghats

Syllabus :GS1/Geography 

In News

• Karnataka’s Minister of Forest, Ecology, and Environment has ordered a study on the carrying capacity of the Western Ghats following landslips in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, and other areas during pre-monsoon rains.
  • Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustainably support over the long term, without degrading the environment.

Western Ghats

• They are older than the Himalayas and  are a mountain range of immense global importance.
• They are known for their unique geomorphic, ecological, and climatic influence on the Indian subcontinent.
•  They affect monsoon weather patterns and moderate the tropical climate.
• They are recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biodiversity.
• They pass through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
• They are an example of Block Mountains formed as land warped into the Arabian Sea. 
• They  are a biodiversity hot spot, a biologically rich but threatened region, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. 
• They are home to exceptionally high levels of endemism and at least 325 globally threatened species, including plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. 

Do you know? The Kasturirangan Committee was tasked with suggesting a holistic approach for sustainable and equitable development and conservation of ecology in the Western Ghats – It had proposed that 37% of the total area of Western Ghats be declared Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).

Source :TH

Heavy Rainfall in NorthEast India

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

Context

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Assam and Meghalaya for heavy rainfall.

Reasons for High Rainfall in NE region: 

• Influence of the South-West Monsoon Winds: The South-West Monsoon (June to September) is the main contributor to rainfall in India.
  • When these moisture-laden winds blow from the Bay of Bengal, they directly hit the North Eastern hills and valleys.
• Orographic Rainfall (Topographic Effect): The Eastern Himalayas, including hills of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and others, act as a barrier.
  • When the monsoon winds rise over these hills, the air cools and condenses, leading to heavy rainfall.
• Proximity to the Bay of Bengal: The region is very close to the Bay of Bengal, which is a major source of moisture.

Source: IE

International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed)

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relation

In News

• China asks Nepal to join its new International mediation organisation.

About International Organisation for Mediation

• It is a China-led global initiative, formally launched on May 30, 2025, in Hong Kong.
• It is positioned as an alternative dispute resolution forum aimed at resolving international conflicts through mediation, rather than arbitration or litigation.
• At its inception, the IOMed saw participation from 33 founding member countries, many of them developing nations from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia regions where China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already been established.
• The convention promotes mediation based on key international norms: sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Why does China favor this?

• Undercut Western-led institutions: Like the International Court of Justice or Permanent Court of Arbitration, which China views as extensions of the U.S.-European influence.
• Promotes China’s model of “Asian-style diplomacy”: That emphasizes consensus, informality, and face-saving negotiations.
• Advances the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI): China’s diplomatic branding campaigns that push “multipolarity” and “civilizational harmony” as alternatives to the liberal international order.

Source: ET

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged $10 billion in financial assistance to support India’s urban development and metro rail network expansion.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• Mission: The ADB supports inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific.
• Membership: Established in 1966 with 31 members, it has expanded to 69 members, with 50 from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 from outside the region.
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Largest Shareholders (as of 31 December 2023): Japan and the USA (each 15.6%), China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).

Source: TH

SHOX Gene

Syllabus :GS 3/Science 

In News

• A recent study linked the typical 5-inch height gap between men and women with the SHOX gene.

The SHOX gene 

• It is found in the pseudoautosomal region of both the X and Y chromosomes, meaning it is present on both and not exclusive to a single sex chromosome.
• It produces a transcription factor that controls other genes and plays a vital role in skeletal development, particularly in the growth of arm and leg bones. 
• It is part of the homeobox gene family, which directs the formation of body structures during early embryonic stages. 

Latest Study 

• The SHOX gene is found on both the X and Y chromosomes, but its expression varies. 
• Women have two X chromosomes, but one is mostly inactive, which lowers their effective SHOX gene dosage. 
• Men, having one active X chromosome and a Y chromosome that also carries SHOX, receive a slightly higher gene dose, resulting in greater height. Researchers discovered that having an extra Y chromosome increases height more than an additional X chromosome.
  • This SHOX-related difference explains about 25% of the height gap between men and women, with hormones

Source :IE

Andaman & Nicobar Command

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana assumed charge as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN). 

About

• The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the first integrated theatre command in India with headquarters at Port Blair and set up in 2001. 
• It integrates the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to safeguard national interests in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region.
• It is headed by a Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), a rotational post among three services (Army, Navy, Air Force).
  • Typically held by a Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral, or Air Marshal.