CURRENT CONTEXT : 4th July 2025 marked the 123rd Punyatithi (Death Anniversary) of Swami Vivekananda, the revered spiritual leader and nationalist thinker.

 ABOUT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

• Born as Narendranath Datta on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta.
• Disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa who transformed his spiritual outlook.
• Took the name Vivekananda in 1893 on advice of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri.
• Attained Mahasamadhi on 4 July 1902 at Belur Math, West Bengal.

CONTRIBUTIONS

• Spread Vedanta, Hinduism & Yoga in the West.
• Advocated universal brotherhood, service to humanity, and spiritual nationalism.
• Inspired Indian freedom fighters with the slogan:
  “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.”

CHICAGO SPEECH – 1893

• Delivered a speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago.
• Opened with “Sisters and brothers of America” – received standing ovation.
• Introduced Vedantic philosophy and Hindu thought to the West.

PATHS TO LIBERATION

• Proposed four Yogic paths to attain Moksha:
• Raja Yoga: Meditation and control of the mind
• Karma Yoga: Selfless service
• Jnana Yoga: Path of knowledge
• Bhakti Yoga: Path of devotion

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

• Founded in 1897 to spread his Guru’s message.
• Focus areas: Education, healthcare, relief work, and spirituality.
• Motto: “Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha” (For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world)

Current Context: On 2 July 2025, during his historic visit—the first by an Indian PM in over 30 years—PM Modi was conferred the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana by President Mahama.

About the Honour

• Award Details: Officer rank within the Order of the Star of Ghana, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours; insignia includes a silver medallion with a tricolour ribbon (red, yellow, green) .
• Reason for Award: Recognises PM Modi’s “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership”; dedicated to India’s youth, cultural diversity, and growing India–Ghana friendship.
• Diplomatic Steps Announced: India pledged to:
• Double ITEC & ICCR scholarships for Ghana, establish a Skill Development Centre.
• Support Ghana’s ‘Feed Ghana’ programme, extend UPI, Jan Aushadhi, and health/vaccine collaboration.
• Target to double bilateral trade in 5 years.

Current Context: As of mid‑2025, Reliance Jio has surpassed US-based T‑Mobile to become the world’s largest Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider, based on subscriber count.

About Jio’s Fwa Milestone

• Subscriber count: Over 88 million FWA users in May 2025, compared to T‑Mobile’s 6.85 million in March 2025.
• Recent growth: Added ~1.03 million subscribers in May; previously 5.85 million users reported mid‑May.
• Network coverage: Jio’s 5G network now covers over 98% of India’s population, fueling rapid FWA expansion even in remote areas.

Current Context: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched C‑FLOOD on 2 July 2025 in New Delhi. It provides two-day inundation forecasts at village level.

ABOUT C‑FLOOD

• Agencies Involved: Developed by C-DAC Pune, Central Water Commission (CWC), and NRSC—under the National Hydrology Project and the National Supercomputing Mission.
• Coverage: Initial focus on the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi basins, with plans to include other river systems.
• Features & Functionality:
• Offers 2-day advance flood forecasts through maps and water-level predictions up to village-level.
• Integrates national and regional flood models into a unified decision‑support system.
• Based on 2-D hydrodynamic modelling using HPC at C‑DAC Pune and NRSC models.
• Government Directives:
  • Portal to be integrated with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response (NDEM)
  • Emphasis on satellite validation, ground-truthing, widespread awareness, and continuous technical enhancement

Current Context: India hosted the first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue aboard the MV Empress at Chennai Port on 30 June 2025, continuing in Mamallapuram. Delegates from all ten ASEAN nations plus Timor-Leste participated.

About ASEAN‑INDIA cruise dialogue

• Host & Location: Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (MoPSW) in Chennai and Mamallapuram.
• Attendance: Delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
• Objectives:
• Strengthen maritime cooperation and cruise connectivity under Sagar Mala, aiming for 1 million cruise passengers by 2029.
• Develop an integrated cruise network between Indian and ASEAN ports with real‑time tracking, modern terminals, and regulatory alignment.
• Promote sustainable tourism, cultural exchange, and economic growth via the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

About ASEAN

• Established: 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; total of 10 member states.
• Headquarters: ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Objective: Promote peace, regional cooperation, economic growth, social progress, cultural development .

Population & Economy: ~600 million people; 4th largest global economy with a combined GDP (PPP) > US $3 trillion.

Current Context: Karnataka introduced Mis-Information & fake news (prohibition) bill, proposing up to 7 years’ imprisonment and fines of ₹10 lakh for spreading fake news.

The proposal includes new regulatory bodies and special courts, and has sparked debate over its vagueness and potential impact on free speech.

About Bill

Definition of Offences:

• Fake news: Fabricated content, distorted media, misquoted facts—penalty up to 7 years jail + ₹10 lakh fine.
• Misinformation: Reckless false statements—punishable by 2–5 years imprisonment.
• Other offences include abetment (2-year jail), content disrespecting Sanatan or superstition.

AUTHORITY & ENFORCEMENT

• Regulatory Authority: Six-member body chaired by Minister for Kannada & Culture; includes MLAs, bureaucrats, platform reps.
• Special Courts: To enforce corrections, disable content, and prosecute offenders—FIRs are cognisable, non-bailable .

Current Context: The Union Government renamed National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)  as the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development and announced a new Regional Centre in Ranchi.

About Institute

• History: Established on 28 Feb 1966 as NIPCCD, functions as the apex body for training, research, and policy support in WCD.
• Objectives : Capacity Building: Regional training for frontline WCD staff; advanced diplomas in child guidance, counselling.
• Ministry : Women and Child Development
• Headquarter : Delhi

 About Savitribai Phule

• Born: 3 January 1831, Naigaon, Maharashtra; India’s first female teacher in a formal school.
• Achievements: Co-founded first girl’s school in Pune (1848); pioneer in female education and social reform .
• Social Activism: Advocated against caste/gender inequality; member of Satya Shodhak Samaj .

Current Context: From mid-July 2025, Tamil Nadu has launched a pilot scheme delivering essentials to senior citizens (70+) and PwDs in Chennai and nine other districts.

About Mobile PDS shops

• Concept: Vehicles carrying essentials (rice, wheat, sugar, oils, pulses), equipped with weighing machines and biometric/palm-reader ID systems.
• Beneficiaries: Over 15 lakh ration cardholders, including PHH and NPHH families aged above 70 or with disabilities.
• Coverage: Pilot across Chennai and districts like Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, and Dindigul—urban to rural/coastal regions .

Current Context: On 1 July 2025, Pakistan took over the monthly rotating presidency of the UN Security Council during its 2024–2025 non-permanent term.

ABOUT UNSC PRESIDENCY

• Rotation Mechanism: Follows English alphabetical order, rotating monthly among members (Rule 18, UN Charter).
• Pakistan’s Role: Chaired by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad; first high-level debate scheduled for 22 July, focusing on peace and multilateralism.

About UN security Council

• Mandate: One of the six principal organs of the UN, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Powers include peacekeeping, sanctions, and authorizing military action (UN Charter, Chapter V)..
• Composition: 15 members—5 permanent (China, France, Russia, UK, US with veto power) and 10 non‑permanent elected for two-year terms.
• Headquarters: New York City
• Rotation: Presidency rotates monthly in English alphabetical order (e.g., Pakistan in July) .

Observed on 2 July

• Aim : To pay tribute to reporters, writers, commentators, and photographers who shape global sports narrative.
• Theme : “Championing Fair Play: Reporting with Integrity and Impact”.
• History & Origin: First celebrated in 1994 to mark the 70th anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), established on 2 July 1924 during the Paris Olympics.
• AIPS (Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive): Founded in Paris by Frantz Reichel and Victor Boin.