Current Context: India celebrates Independence Day annually on 15 August to mark freedom from British rule in 1947.

ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY

• Historical Importance: India achieved independence on 15 August 1947 through the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
• Anniversary Count: 2025 marks the 79th Independence Day (counting from 1947 as the first).
• Celebration Traditions: Flag hoisting at Red Fort, Prime Minister’s address to the nation, 21-gun salute, national anthem, and aerial displays.

2025 Highlights:

• Prime Minister Modi delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech.
• Women Self-Help Groups in Varanasi produced over 4.76 lakh flags under Har Ghar Tiranga, combining patriotism with women’s empowerment.

Current Context : Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from a small village in Dharwad district, Karnataka, has won the prestigious Equator Initiative Award for their work in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and biodiversity conservation.

ABOUT UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE AWARD

• Presented by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Equator Initiative.
• Frequency: Biennially (once every two years).
• Purpose:
  • Recognise and honour outstanding Indigenous Peoples and local community initiatives.
  • Support efforts addressing land degradation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood improvement.
• Reputation: Known as the “Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation”.

ABOUT BIBI FATIMA WOMEN’S SELF-HELP GROUP (SHG)

• Location: Dharwad district, Karnataka, India.
• Key Initiatives:
  • Introduced millet-based mixed cropping on rainfed farms.
  • Promoted climate-resilient farming systems.
  • Practised livestock rearing and horticulture.
  • Popularised millets for nutrition and sustainability.

Current Context : The Lok Sabha passed two bills aiming to simplify and modernise India’s income tax framework.

ABOUT INCOME-TAX BILL, 2025

• Purpose: Replace the complex 1961 Act with simplified provisions.
• Key Features:
  • Broadened deductions (family pension, gratuity).
  • Separate Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) and Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT)s
  • AMT exemption for LLPs with only capital gains income and no deductions claimed.
  • Electronic payment mandate for professionals with receipts above ₹50 crore.
  • Updated definitions for capital asset, micro and small enterprises, beneficial owner.

ABOUT TAXATION LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025

• Purpose: Amend Income-tax Act, 1961 and Finance Act, 2025.
• Reforms:
  • Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) with tax exemptions.
  • Direct tax relief to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Streamlined rules for pending search case assessments

Current Context : The Union Health Secretary launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index to benchmark and improve state drug regulatory systems.

ABOUT SHRESTH

• Developer: Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• Coverage:
  • 27 indices for manufacturing states.
  • 23 indices for distribution-focused states.
• Themes: Human Resources, Infrastructure, Licensing, Surveillance, Responsiveness.
• Significance:
  • Data-driven monthly scoring.
  • Helps states achieve drug safety and quality assurance.

Current Context : The government approved four more semiconductor manufacturing projects in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

ABOUT ISM

• Launched: 2021 under Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
• Outlay: ₹76,000 crore under the Semicon India Programme.
• Aim: Develop a robust semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• Functions:
  • Acts as nodal agency for semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design.
  • Provides financial support and facilitates technology transfer.
• Key Schemes:
  • Semiconductor Fabs.
  • Display Fabs.
  • Compound Semiconductors/Silicon Photonics/Sensors Fab and ATMP/OSAT.
  • Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.

Current Context : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has reported that as of 2023-24, the Central Government has failed to transfer ₹3.69 lakh crore worth of cess collections to their designated funds.

ABOUT CESS

• Definition: A cess is a tax on tax levied for a specific purpose until the required funds are collected. Examples: Swachh Bharat Cess for cleanliness drives
• Key Features:
  • Paid by the public, added to their basic tax liability
  • Imposed over and above existing taxes
• Difference from Regular Taxes:
  • Collection & Use:
    • Taxes like income tax → kept in Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and used for any purpose
    • Cess → first credited to CFI, but used only for the specified purpose after parliamentary approval
  • Revenue Sharing:
    • Taxes must be shared with states
    • Cess proceeds may or may not be shared with states

Current Context : The Trump administration has recently proposed shutting down NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO)program.

About OCO PROGRAM

• Purpose: Dedicated Earth remote sensing satellites to observe atmospheric CO₂ from space and improve understanding of climate change.
• Missions Timeline:
  • OCO-1: Failed after launch (Feb 2009)
  • OCO-2: Launched (July 2014), based on original OCO design to minimize cost and time
  • OCO-3: Installed on International Space Station (ISS) in 2019 for enhanced atmospheric CO₂ observations
• Significance:
  • Provides high-resolution maps of plant growth globally
  • Applications in agriculture, drought monitoring, rangeland management, and forest mapping
  • Used by the US Department of Agriculture and private agricultural consulting companies for crop yield forecasts and drought tracking

Current Context : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved an investment proposal worth ₹8,146.21 crore for the construction of the 700 MW Tato-II Hydro Electric Project in Shi Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh.

ABOUT TATO-II HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

• Location: Siyom River, Shi Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh
• Type: Run-of-river hydroelectric project
• Capacity: Total 700 MW (4 turbines × 175 MW each)
• Hydro Reservoir Capacity: 56 million cubic meters
• Expected Annual Generation: 2,738.06 million units of energy
• Benefits:
  • Improves power supply in Arunachal Pradesh
  • Helps balance the national grid
• State Benefits:
  • 12% free power to Arunachal Pradesh
  • Additional 1% for Local Area Development Fund (LADF)
• Implementation: Joint venture between NEEPCO and Government of Arunachal Pradesh

Current Context : The book Why the Constitution Matters by former Chief Justice of India, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, has been unveiled. The book will be published by Penguin Random House by the end of August 2025.

 ABOUT THE BOOK

• Author: Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud
• Notable Position: 50th Chief Justice of India (November 2022 – November 2024).
• Publisher: Penguin Random House
• Theme: Explores the importance of the Constitution through landmark judgments.
• Key Judgments Discussed : Right to Privacy, Decriminalization of homosexuality, Gender equality in the armed forces.

ABOUT JUSTICE D.Y. CHANDRACHUD

• Predecessor: Justice Uday Umesh Lalit (49th CJI).
• Successors: Justice Sanjay Khanna (51st CJI) and Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai (52nd CJI).
• Contribution: Known for progressive and inclusive interpretation of constitutional rights.

Current Context : The Chandigarh Administration closed the floodgate at Sukhna Lake after water levels receded.

ABOUT SUKHNA LAKE

• Type: Artificial lake.
• Location: Chandigarh, foothills of Shivalik Hills.
• Created: 1958 by damming Sukhna Choe (seasonal stream).
• Area: Originally 188 ha; currently around 1.5 sq.km. due to siltation.
• Depth: Originally 18 ft; now 8 ft 6 in.
• Length:52 km; Width: 1.49 km.
• Surroundings: Golf course (south), Nek Chand Rock Garden (west).
• Status: National Wetland; part of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.