Daily Current Affairs- 26th July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 26th July 2025

Kerala HC Issues Policy for Use of AI for Judiciary Work

In the News: On July 19–20, 2025, the Kerala High Court issued a pioneering "Policy Regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in District Judiciary", marking the first time an Indian High Court has formally regulated AI use in judicial functions. The policy clearly prohibits AI tools from being used in legal reasoning or decision-making while permitting limited, supervised use for administrative support. 

Key Points

• Absolute Prohibition on AI in Adjudication: AI tools—including generative tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Deepseek—are strictly barred from being used to draft orders, judgments, findings, or reliefs. All legal reasoning must remain human-led.
• Permitted Assistive Tasks Only: Only “approved AI tools” (sanctioned by Kerala HC or the Supreme Court) may be used, and solely for non-judicial tasks like scheduling, formatting, citation lookup, or translations. Every AI-generated output must be verified by a judge or qualified person.
• Mandatory Human Supervision & Verification: Continuous oversight is required. Judges must verify all AI-generated citations, translations, or summaries. Any output with errors must be reported to the IT department of the High Court.
• Strict Confidentiality & Data Security Measures: Use of cloud-based AI services is prohibited except for pre-approved tools, to guard against privacy breaches and unauthorized data access. Sensitive case information must never be uploaded to general AI platforms.
• Comprehensive Audit Trail: Courts must maintain logs of all AI usage, detailing which tools were used and how human verification was conducted. Transparency and accountability are mandated.
• Training & Compliance Obligations: Judicial officers, clerks, interns, and staff must attend training on ethical, technical, legal, and data security aspects of AI use. Violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action.
• Scope of Application: The policy applies to all members of the District Judiciary in Kerala—including judges, clerks, interns, and support staff—regardless of whether AI tools are accessed on personal, court-owned, or third-party devices. 

Madhya Pradesh Unveils Monthly Assistance for Unemployed Youth

In the News: The Madhya Pradesh government launched a new Youth Stipend Scheme offering a ₹6,000/month stipend for women and ₹5,000/month for men. The scheme targets unemployed youth enrolled in industrial internships or skill‑development programs, and is formally integrated with the existing Ladli Behna welfare initiative, which is being expanded informally to include male beneficiaries under the label “Ladli Bhaiyo”.

 Key Points:

• Monthly Stipend by Gender: Women receive ₹6,000/month and men ₹5,000/month while participating in registered industrial internships or training programs.
• Eligibility Requirements: Age: 18–30 (approximate age bracket for youth). Unemployed and permanent resident of Madhya Pradesh. Enrolled in an approved industrial internship or skill training program in the state.
• Complement to Ladli Behna Scheme: Women under Ladli Behna will receive ₹1,500/month from Diwali 2025, with phased increases to ₹3,000/month by 2028. Male beneficiaries now included informally as “Ladli Bhaiyo” under the same incremental increase plan.
• Industrial Linkages & Infrastructure: The internships must be with industries registered under this initiative. The Acharpura Industrial Area, near Bhopal, is being developed as a hub for internships and industrial growth; ₹416 crore worth of new industrial units were announced simultaneously to this scheme to boost employment generation in the region.
• Context & Background: MP has approximately 1.5 crore youth aged 20–30. Earlier efforts like the Yuva Swabhiman Rojgar Yojana offered ₹4,000/month to urban unemployed but were discontinued due to administrative changes. The new scheme represents a broader, more inclusive and gender‑sensitive redesign. 

PM Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Gift to King Charles III

In the News: On July 24, 2025, immediately following the signing of the India‑UK Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King Charles III at Sandringham House in the United Kingdom. During the meeting, PM Modi presented the King with a sapling of Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’, commonly known as the Sonoma dove tree—or handkerchief tree. This gesture was made under India’s national environmental campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, which encourages planting a tree in tribute to one’s mother. 

Key Points

• Tree Gift & Significance: The sapling gifted was a Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’, known for its striking white bracts that flutter like handkerchiefs or doves. Unlike the typical species that may take 10–20 years to bloom, the Sonoma cultivar usually flowers within 2–3 years, symbolizing vitality and early flourishing.
• ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Initiative: Launched by PM Modi to promote environmental awareness, this campaign encourages people to plant a tree in honor of their mothers. It reflects a broader cultural and ecological vision that links familial respect with tree planting and sustainability.
• Diplomatic & Environmental Symbolism: The gesture underscores India’s commitment to sustainability while aligning with King Charles’s known passion for nature and environmental stewardship. PM Modi noted that the King’s participation in the campaign “will inspire people around the world”.
• Broader Context of UK Visit: The meeting took place at the conclusion of a historic UK visit in which India and the UK finalized a landmark Free Trade Agreement (CETA), expected to boost bilateral trade by nearly US $34 billion annually. During the visit, Modi held talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and business leaders, and discussed cooperation in areas such as Yoga, Ayurveda, Mission LIFE (Lifestyle For Environment), and climate protection.
• Planting Timeline: The sapling gifted to the King is scheduled to be planted on the Sandringham Estate in the coming autumn, signaling a long-term legacy tied to the initiative. 

Cambodia–Thailand Border Dispute & Temple‑Centric Violence

In the News: As of late July 2025, intense clashes between Cambodia and Thailand erupted along their shared border near ancient Hindu temples—including Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom—resulting in more than 30 deaths and the displacement of over 200,000 people. Ceasefire and mediation talks are now underway to de-escalate the crisis. 

Key Points:

• Temple Flashpoints:
  • Preah Vihear Temple—an 11th-century Hindu temple built on a cliff—is internationally recognized as belonging to Cambodia following a 1962 ICJ ruling. However, the surrounding territory remains contested.
  • Ta Muen Thom, another Hindu-era temple complex, lies along the Cambodia–Thailand border and is at the center of the latest skirmishes.
• Historical Roots: Ambiguities in border demarcation originated from early 20th-century colonial treaties—especially the Franco-Siamese agreements of 1904 and 1907—causing misaligned maps and unresolved sovereignty over temple-adjacent lands.
• Violence Escalation: The conflict reignited in May 2025 after a Cambodian soldier was killed; fighting intensified following a landmine explosion injuring Thai soldiers near Ta Muen Thom. Violence included artillery strikes, rockets, Thai air strikes, and claims of damage to heritage sites.
• Humanitarian Impact:
  • At least 30–35 fatalities, combining both military personnel and civilians—reportedly including children.
  • Over 200,000 people displaced, with refugees sheltering in temporary camps across Thailand and Cambodia.
• Diplomatic & External Pressure: ASEAN leadership (hosted by Malaysia), the United States (including intervention by former President Trump), and China are mediating, urging an immediate ceasefire. Talks are set in Kuala Lumpur to seek negotiated peace.

Henley Passport Index 2025 Q2

In the News: The Q2 2025 update of the Henley Passport Index, released in late July 2025, highlights major shifts in global passport rankings. Singapore retains the top position, while India makes a significant stride forward. The index ranks passports by the number of destinations holders can access visa-free or with visa-on-arrival.

Key Points:

• Top Ranked Passport: Singapore holds first place with access to 193 destinations without a prior visa. Close behind are Japan and South Korea in second place with 190 destinations each.
• European Powerhouses in Top 5: A seven-country European cluster—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—is tied for third with 189 destinations. Another seven EU nations including Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden hold fourth place with 188 destinations. New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland share fifth with 187 destinations.
• Declining Power of U.S. & UK: The United States has slipped to its lowest-ever ranking (10th place), tied with Iceland and Lithuania, accessing just 182 destinations—four fewer than last year. The United Kingdom now stands at 6th place with visa-free access to 186 destinations.
• India’s Leap in Mobility: India has climbed eight places from 85th in Q1 to 77th in Q2 2025, gaining access to 59 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, up from 57 previously. The newly added countries include the Philippines and Sri Lanka. 

India’s First Gold at FISU World University Games 2025 in Archery

In the News:, Indian archers Parneet Kaur and Kushal Dalal won India’s first-ever gold medal in archery at the FISU World University Games in Rhine‑Ruhr, Germany. They clinched the mixed team compound gold, defeating Korea 157‑154. This milestone marked India’s first archery gold at the University Games. 

Key Points:

• Event & Medal: Compound Mixed Team – Gold won by Parneet Kaur and Kushal Dalal, score 157–154 against South Korea in the final.
• Significant Performance in Team Events:
  • Men’s Compound Team: India won silver (Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Hritik Sharma) losing narrowly to Türkiye 232–231.
  • Women’s Compound Team: Bronze won by Parneet Kaur, Avneet Kaur, and Madhura Dhamangaonkar with a decisive 232‑224 win over Great Britain.
• Individual Archery Highlight: Sahil Rajesh Jadhav later clinched India’s first individual gold at the Games by winning men’s individual compound (149–148 over Ajay Scott, GBR).
• Archery Medal Tally for India at Rhine‑Ruhr 2025: 1 Gold (mixed), 1 Silver (men’s team), 1 Bronze (women’s team), plus Jadhav’s individual gold. Total archery medals: three team and one individual – adding notably to India’s overall tally at the Games. 

Geetanjali Shree Wins PEN Translates Award for ‘Once Elephants Lived Here’

In the News: On July 24–25, 2025, acclaimed Hindi‑language writer Geetanjali Shree, best known for her International Booker Prize–winning novel Tomb of Sand, was awarded the PEN Translates Award 2025 for her short‑story collection Once Elephants Lived Here, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell, under the PEN Translates × SALT collaboration. This recognition supports the forthcoming English-language publication of the work in the UK. 

Key Points:

• Award Recipient: Geetanjali Shree (Tomb of Sand) won the PEN Translates Award for her Once Elephants Lived Here, translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell.
• Program & Partnership: The award is part of English PEN’s PEN Translates programme, which offers translation grants to bring outstanding works into the UK market, supporting literary diversity. Once Elephants Lived Here was selected as part of the PEN Translates × SALT strand focused on South Asian literature.
• Translation & Publisher: The English translation is handled by translator Daisy Rockwell and will be published by Tilted Axis Press, a UK-based publisher specializing in translated works.
• Scope of Recognition: This edition of the award covers 14 literary works across 13 languages and 11 regions. Once Elephants Lived Here stands out as the sole Hindi-language entry in this year's shortlist.