1. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS PRIVACY IN BIOMETRIC DATA COLLECTION
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark ruling today, emphasized that the Right to Privacy under Article 21 extends to biometric metadata, restricting government agencies from storing such data beyond the stipulated period without judicial oversight.
- The Bench clarified that while data collection for welfare schemes is valid, the “permanent archiving” of citizen biometrics constitutes a violation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
- In Tamil Nadu, the State Government announced a new Social Audit Framework for its ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’ scheme to ensure patient health records are encrypted and stored on local sovereign servers.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated a pilot project in Chennai for Blockchain-based Remote Voting for migrant workers, ensuring high-security standards for the upcoming local body polls.
- The Law Commission submitted a report recommending the “Constitutionalization” of the Right to Internet, suggesting it be treated as an essential service similar to water and electricity.
- Concepts: Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty; Doctrine of Proportionality – Used by courts to balance state interests with individual fundamental rights.
2. TAMIL NADU LAUNCHES INDIA’S FIRST “OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY” PILOT
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister inaugurated the country’s first Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant in Thoothukudi, aiming to harness the temperature difference between sea surface and deep water for 24/7 green power.
- The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that 100% of rural households in Tamil Nadu have now been covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission, significantly ahead of the national average.
- A new National Logistics Corridor was announced connecting the Chennai Port to the Bangalore Industrial Area, featuring automated drone delivery hubs and EV-only lanes.
- The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) ranked Coimbatore as the “Most Sustainable City” in India for its innovative solid waste management and urban forest (Miyawaki) initiatives.
- The Indian Railways introduced the first Hydrogen-Powered Vande Bharat train on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) track, aiming to eliminate carbon emissions in eco-sensitive zones.
- Concepts: Disaster Management Act, 2005 – Framework for state-level climate resilience; Net Zero 2070 – India’s commitment to climate neutrality guiding state energy policies.
3. INDIA-ASEAN MARITIME SECURITY PACT FINALIZED IN JAKARTA
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- India and ASEAN nations signed the ‘Jakarta Declaration’ today, establishing a joint maritime patrol framework to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Japanese counterpart to finalize the Bullet Train Phase-II funding and technology transfer for the Hyderabad-Chennai corridor.
- India sent its third consignment of indigenous Covax-GenNext vaccines to West African nations under the ‘Vaccine Maitri 2.0’ initiative, strengthening Global South leadership.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) praised India’s “Swayam” Portal, which provides digital education to refugee children in border states, as a global model for inclusive governance.
- India and France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Green Hydrogen Hub in North Africa to facilitate cheap solar-to-hydrogen conversion for European markets.
- Concepts: Act East Policy – Deepening economic and security ties with SE Asia; Sovereignty & UNCLOS – The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea governing international waters.
4. RBI INTRODUCES ‘OFFLINE’ CBDC FOR RURAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today launched a pilot for Offline Digital Rupee (e₹) transactions, allowing users in low-connectivity areas of rural India to trade without active internet.
- India’s Direct Tax Collections for the current fiscal year have hit a record high, growing by 18% YoY, attributed to AI-driven tax evasion detection and simplified filing for MSMEs.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued new norms for “Green Bonds” to prevent greenwashing, requiring companies to provide third-party audits on the environmental impact of their projects.
- In Tamil Nadu, the FinTech City in Chennai attracted $2 billion in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) today from a consortium of Singaporean banks, focusing on decentralized finance (DeFi).
- The Ministry of Commerce announced that India’s Agriculture Exports reached an all-time high of $65 billion, led by high-demand organic produce from the Northeast and Tamil Nadu.
- Concepts: Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – Digital form of fiat currency; Fiscal Deficit Management – Strategy to keep the gap below 4.5% of GDP by 2026.
5. BRAHMOS-II HYPERSONIC MISSILE TESTS SUCCESSFUL IN POKHRAN
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- India successfully flight-tested the BrahMos-II (K) Hypersonic cruise missile, capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 7, making it virtually undetectable by current missile defense systems.
- The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹15,000 crore deal with a Chennai-based private defense firm for the mass production of ‘Nayan’ Stealth Drones for border surveillance.
- The Indian Navy commissioned INS Arighat-II, its latest nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, significantly strengthening India’s nuclear triad and “Second Strike” capability.
- Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2026’, a joint military drill between India and Japan, concluded in the deserts of Rajasthan, focusing on counter-terrorism in urban landscapes.
- The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) announced the full operationalization of the ‘Integrated Theatre Commands’, merging Army, Navy, and Air Force assets under unified regional leadership.
- Concepts: Minimum Credible Deterrence – India’s nuclear posture; Hypersonic Technology – Travel at 5 times the speed of sound ($5 \times 343$ m/s) or more.
