Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- The Vice-Presidential race has been set in motion after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on July 21, 2025, prompting a contest between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led Opposition.
- Key Provisions:-
- With the NDA holding a numerical advantage, its candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan—an RSS veteran from Tamil Nadu, former two-term MP, and current Governor of Maharashtra—appears poised for victory.
- The INDIA bloc has fielded retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy, from undivided Andhra Pradesh, as a counter.
- While Radhakrishnan’s nomination fuels regional political debates in Tamil Nadu, Reddy’s has stirred similar dynamics in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- The BJP, reinforcing its ideological alignment with the RSS, aims to leverage Radhakrishnan’s elevation for electoral gains, also securing YSRCP support despite state rivalries. The Opposition sees Reddy’s candidature as a stand against Hindutva and a reinforcement of its social justice plank, hoping the contest will galvanise anti-BJP forces ahead of future political battles.
- Why in News?
- The Manipur High Court’s directive to issue fresh academic certificates to Dr. Beoncy Laishram highlights both individual justice and the broader challenges in transgender rights.
- Key Provisions:-
- Despite clear legal provisions under the Supreme Court’s NALSA judgment and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019—affirming the right to self-identify gender—bureaucratic inertia continues to obstruct implementation. In Dr. Laishram’s case, her university refused record changes, insisting on sequential corrections starting from the earliest certificate, reflecting a rigid, binary mindset.
- Such procedural barriers reduce gender identity to paperwork, ignoring its deeply personal nature. Transpersons, already facing stigma, are thus forced into prolonged legal battles for rights that are unequivocally theirs under Articles 14 and 21.
- The Court’s ruling not only resolves her case but also sets an important precedent, signalling to institutions that procedural formalism cannot override constitutional guarantees. Real change will demand both administrative reform and a cultural shift toward recognising gender as lived experience.
- Why in News?
- The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a transformative initiative to strengthen governance in tribal areas, rooted in community values and led by local leadership.
- Key Provisions:-
- Its goal is to empower tribal communities through responsive, people-centric governance while building a network of 20 lakh change leaders across 1 lakh villages, 550 districts, and 30 States/UTs.
- Key features include Adi Sewa Kendras in every tribal village, where officers and residents dedicate “Adi Sewa Samay” to address local needs and mentor youth. Governance Lab Workshops will bring together departments at state, district, and village levels to co-create solutions, supported by Tribal Village Action Plans aligned with SDGs and Vision 2030. Volunteer engagement will involve Adi Sahyogis—professionals guiding communities—and Adi Saathis—SHG members, elders, youth, and local leaders driving implementation. As part of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, the programme aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047 and complements flagship schemes, fostering empowered, self-reliant tribal governance.
- Why in News?
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced a full exemption from all customs duties on the import of raw cotton, aiming to support the domestic textile industry and stabilise raw material costs.
- Key Provisions:-
- Headquartered in New Delhi, the CBIC is a statutory body functioning under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963. Formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), it is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to the levy and collection of Customs duties, Central Excise duties, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The CBIC also oversees anti-smuggling measures and administers matters concerning Customs, Central Excise, CGST, and narcotics control.
- By waiving customs duties on raw cotton imports, the Board aims to ease supply constraints, boost manufacturing competitiveness, and support key sectors dependent on cotton, such as textiles and apparel, thereby strengthening India’s export potential.
- Why in News?
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced a full exemption from all customs duties on the import of raw cotton, aiming to support the domestic textile industry and stabilise raw material costs.
- Key Provisions:-
- Headquartered in New Delhi, the CBIC is a statutory body functioning under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963. Formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), it is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to the levy and collection of Customs duties, Central Excise duties, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The CBIC also oversees anti-smuggling measures and administers matters concerning Customs, Central Excise, CGST, and narcotics control.
- By waiving customs duties on raw cotton imports, the Board aims to ease supply constraints, boost manufacturing competitiveness, and support key sectors dependent on cotton, such as textiles and apparel, thereby strengthening India’s export potential.