1. Supreme Court’s Directive on Electoral Bond Transparency
Subject: Polity/National
- The Supreme Court, on July 24, 2025, directed the Election Commission to enhance transparency in political funding by mandating real-time disclosure of electoral bond contributions.
- The ruling aims to address concerns over anonymous donations, building on the 2024 verdict declaring the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional.
- Political parties must now submit donor details to the Election Commission within 48 hours of receiving funds.
- The directive aligns with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, emphasizing the public’s right to information.
- Tamil Nadu’s political parties, including DMK and AIADMK, are expected to comply, impacting state-level campaign financing.
- The Court also urged the Centre to propose a new framework for transparent political funding by September 2025.
- Concepts: Electoral Reforms, Right to Information, Judicial Activism.
2. India-Singapore Strategic Partnership Enhanced
Subject: International/Defence
- India and Singapore signed a new defence cooperation agreement during a bilateral meet in New Delhi on July 24, 2025, focusing on joint military training.
- The agreement includes technology transfers for advanced radar systems and cybersecurity collaboration.
- Tamil Nadu’s Chennai-based defence firms are likely to benefit from joint R&D projects under this pact.
- The partnership strengthens India’s Act East Policy, enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
- Both nations agreed to conduct annual naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal starting 2026.
- Concepts: Bilateral Defence Ties, Indo-Pacific Security, Technology Transfer.
3. Tamil Nadu’s Green Energy Push with Offshore Wind Projects
Subject: Economy/Environment
- Tamil Nadu announced a ₹25,000 crore investment in offshore wind energy projects along its 1,076 km coastline, unveiled on July 24, 2025.
- The state aims to generate 5 GW of renewable energy by 2030, supporting India’s net-zero target by 2070.
- A new Offshore Wind Energy Policy was launched to attract private investors and streamline approvals.
- Tuticorin and Nagapattinam are identified as key sites for wind farm development.
- The initiative includes skill development programs for 10,000 youth in renewable energy technologies.
- Concepts: Renewable Energy, Sustainable Development, State Economic Policy.
4. India’s Economic Growth Projections Upgraded
Subject: Economy/National
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised its GDP growth projection for FY 2025–26 to 7.4% on July 24, 2025, citing robust manufacturing and services sectors.
- Tamil Nadu’s textile and IT hubs, particularly in Coimbatore and Chennai, are expected to drive this growth.
- The RBI emphasized inflation control measures, targeting a 4% retail inflation rate by Q2 2026.
- Increased foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, especially in semiconductors, were noted as growth catalysts.
- The Economic Survey 2025 highlighted Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s export-led growth strategy.
- Concepts: GDP Growth, Inflation Targeting, Export-Led Economy.
5. India’s Role in G20 Climate Finance Framework
Subject: International/Environment
- India played a key role in shaping the G20’s Climate Finance Framework during a virtual meeting on July 24, 2025, advocating for equitable funding for developing nations.
- The framework prioritizes grants over loans to support climate adaptation in vulnerable regions like Tamil Nadu’s coastal areas.
- India proposed a $1 trillion annual climate fund, with contributions from developed nations.
- Tamil Nadu’s coastal restoration projects, such as mangrove rehabilitation in Pichavaram, were cited as scalable models.
- The initiative aligns with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and COP30 goals.
- Concepts: Climate Finance, Global South Advocacy, Sustainable Development Goals.
