1. Polity: Supreme Court Addresses Electoral Reforms
Subject: National
- The Supreme Court of India, on July 19, 2025, issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding a plea for stricter verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to enhance electoral transparency.
- The court emphasized the need for robust mechanisms to address public concerns about EVM tampering, aligning with the principle of free and fair elections.
- A bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the ECI to submit a detailed affidavit on VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) implementation by August 2025.
- The plea also seeks mandatory cross-verification of at least 50% of VVPAT slips to ensure voter confidence in the electoral process.
- Concept: Article 324 of the Constitution grants the ECI superintendence, direction, and control over elections, underscoring its role in ensuring electoral integrity.
- This development follows the ECI’s recent SOP ensuring EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) delivery within 15 days, announced on June 19, 2025.
- The court’s intervention reflects growing public discourse on electoral reforms and the need for technological accountability in democratic processes.
2. National Issues: Tamil Nadu’s Push for Mekedatu Project Dialogue
Subject: State (Tamil Nadu)
- Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister urged the central government to mediate discussions with Karnataka on the contentious Mekedatu dam project, highlighting inter-state water disputes.
- The project involves constructing a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura, Karnataka, close to Tamil Nadu, with a capacity of 66,000 TMC to supply drinking water to Bengaluru.
- Tamil Nadu raised concerns about potential impacts on its water share from the Cauvery River, critical for its agricultural economy.
- The state government emphasized cooperative federalism, urging a fair resolution to protect farmers’ interests in the Cauvery delta region.
- Concept: Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, governs the resolution of water-sharing conflicts, with tribunals like the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal playing a key role.
- Tamil Nadu’s proactive stance follows Karnataka’s willingness to discuss the project, as noted in recent statements by its Chief Minister.
- The issue underscores the need for equitable resource sharing and diplomatic negotiations to resolve inter-state tensions.
3. International: India Strengthens Ties with UAE via Golden Visa Scheme
Subject: International Relations
- On July 19, 2025, India welcomed the UAE’s new nomination-based Golden Visa scheme, offering lifetime residency to Indian nationals without property or business investment.
- The scheme, with a one-time fee of AED 1,00,000 (approx. ₹23.3 lakh), enhances India-UAE people-to-people ties, benefiting skilled Indian professionals and their families.
- The initiative aligns with India’s growing diplomatic and economic engagement with the UAE, a key partner in trade and energy security.
- Indian officials noted that the scheme could boost remittances and diaspora contributions to India’s economy, with over 3.5 million Indians residing in the UAE.
- Concept: Bilateral agreements and diaspora policies strengthen India’s global influence, as seen in frameworks like the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
- The move comes amid India’s broader diplomatic campaign, including high-level engagements post the Pakistan conflict, to bolster international support.
- This development is expected to deepen strategic cooperation in trade, defence, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
4. Economy: RBI Signals Continued Economic Support
Subject: Economy
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on July 19, 2025, hinted at maintaining its accommodative monetary policy stance to support economic growth amid global uncertainties.
- Following a 25-basis-point repo rate cut in June 2025, the RBI is focusing on balancing inflation control with growth, with inflation projected to remain below 4.5% in Q2 2025.
- The central bank emphasized strengthening the rupee to mitigate the impact of India’s trade deficit, which stood at $18.78 billion in June 2025.
- Initiatives like the GoIStats App, launched by MoSPI on June 30, 2025, are aiding real-time economic data access to inform policy decisions.
- Concept: Monetary policy, under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934, aims to maintain price stability while supporting economic growth.
- The RBI’s measures align with India’s projected record wheat and rice production for 2025, expected to stabilize food prices and boost rural incomes.
- These efforts reflect India’s strategy to navigate global economic headwinds, including US-China trade tensions impacting commodity markets.
5. Defence: India Advances Indigenous Drone Manufacturing
Subject: Defence
- On July 19, 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved a ₹10,000 crore proposal for indigenous drone production, strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence technology.
- The approval includes manufacturing nano drones, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) drones, and hand-launched UAVs at a new facility in Navi Mumbai by Vimananu Ltd and CYGR.
- This follows Sagar Defence Engineering’s successful 1,500-km autonomous surface vessel journey from Mumbai to Thoothukudi, supported by the Indian Navy.
- The initiative aligns with the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, emphasizing 100% indigenous sourcing to reduce import dependency.
- Concept: The Make in India initiative and Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020 promote indigenous defence manufacturing to enhance national security.
- The DAC’s decision is part of a broader ₹1.05 lakh crore acquisition plan, including Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QR-SAM) and Light Combat Helicopters (Prachand).
- These developments bolster India’s defence capabilities amid regional tensions and support its $20 million defence export contract.
