Daily Current Affairs- 29th June 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 29th June 2025

Issue Birth Certificate Before Discharge of Baby, Registrar General of India Tells States

In the News: In mid‑June 2025, the Registrar General of India (RGI), part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued a directive (dated 12 June 2025) asking all States to ensure that birth certificates are issued before mothers and newborns are discharged from hospitals—especially government-run facilities, which account for over 50% of institutional births in India .

Key Points:

• Immediate Issuance Mandate: The RGI emphasized that certificates should be provided as soon as registration is complete, and in any case no later than seven days, in electronic or physical format.
• Focus on Public Facilities: The letter highlights that government hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres—which are also registration units—must be sensitized to the urgency of issuing certificates promptly.
• Civil Registration System (CRS) Enhancements: To streamline the process, the RGI pointed to recent measures such as amendments to the RBD Act, updates to State rules, and deployment of a centralized CRS portal.
• Legal Basis & Digital Mandates: Under Section 12 of the RBD Act, 1969, amended in 2023, all births must be registered via the central portal, and the resulting digital certificate is the official proof of birth from 1 October 2023. Birth registration is free if done within 21 days under the amended law.
• Escalating Importance of Birth Certificates: Digital birth certificates have become the sole valid document for essential services such as school admission, government employment, marriage registration, driving licences, passports, and more.
• Addressing Registration Gaps: RGI noted that historically around 10% of births weren’t registered. A previous advisory in March 2025 directed hospitals to notify births/deaths within 21 days—a legal requirement.
• Registration Coverage & Governance Goals: Civil registration in India rose from around 86% in 2014 to over 96% in 2024. These measures support national efforts like integrating data with NPR, electoral rolls, ration cards, and meeting UN SDG targets for universal legal identity 

India’s Coastline Grows by 3,500 km After Precise Mapping

In the News: The Survey of India (SoI) and National Hydrographic Office (NHO) announced that India’s total coastline has been revised to 11,098 km—an increase of approximately 3,582 km (nearly 48%)—not due to any expansion of territory, but because of updated, more accurate mapping techniques. 

Key Points:

• Old vs. New Figures: Before: Around 7,516 km, based on 1970s data using a coarse 1:4,500,000 scale. Now: 11,098 km (mainland 7,870 km + islands 3,228 km), using a detailed 1:250,000 scale and including previously unmapped offshore islands.
• Why the Length Increased: Higher-resolution mapping “ruler” captures more bends, inlets, and curves. Modern GIS, LIDAR, drone imagery, and satellite data have replaced manual methods.
• Coastline Paradox: Coastlines lack a fixed length; the smaller the measurement unit, the longer the coastline appears—a phenomenon called the coastline paradox.
• Island Count Updated: Revised to include 1,298 offshore and 91 inshore islands, totaling 1,389—standardized after reconciling earlier counts (1,382 vs. 1,334).
• Precision achieved by switching from old-scale mapping (1:4.5 million) to high-resolution (1:250,000), leveraging advanced technologies like GIS, drone and satellite imaging.
• Task carried out jointly by Survey of India, National Hydrographic Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Maritime Security Coordinator. 

India Rejects Arbitration Court Ruling Under Indus Waters Treaty

In the News: India formally rejected a supplemental ruling by the Hague-based Court of Arbitration (CoA) convened under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. The ruling pertained to India’s Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denounced the court as “illegally constituted,” labeling the CoA’s action a “charade at Pakistan’s behest,” and declared its rulings null and void .

Key Points

• Rejection of Court’s Legitimacy: India stated it “never recognised the existence in law” of the CoA, calling its formation a “serious breach” of the Treaty. Consequently, any awards or decisions by this CoA are termed “illegal” and “per se void”.
• Context of the Supplemental Award: The CoA ruled it had jurisdiction to examine the Kishanganga and Ratle dam projects—despite India’s suspension of the Treaty following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
• India’s Abeyance of the Treaty: India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, asserting that until Pakistan unequivocally ceases terrorism support, India is not bound by Treaty obligations.
• Pakistan’s Position & CoA Stance: Pakistan requested arbitration. The CoA reaffirmed its competence to adjudicate disputes under the Treaty, including those pending via the Neutral Expert mechanism.
• Escalation Post-Pahalgam Attack: The ruling comes amid heightened tensions: India has put the Treaty on hold and Pakistan has warned against any unilateral actions involving the rivers governed by it.
• Treaty Framework: The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty delineates water-sharing via Eastern and Western rivers. It provides for a Permanent Indus Commission, Neutral Expert review for technical issues, and a Court of Arbitration for legal disputes—mutually invoked.
• India’s Mechanism Preference: India prefers the Neutral Expert route and contends that Pakistan’s approach of initiating CoA proceedings without India’s consent violates the treaty's structure 

National Statistics Day: 5 Things About P. C. Mahalanobis, Who Decoded the Stories Data Tells

In the News: India celebrates National Statistics Day on June 29, marking the birth anniversary of Prof Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893–1972), acclaimed as the “Father of Indian Statistics” for founding the modern statistical architecture that underpins national planning and policymaking.

Pioneer of Indian Statistical Institutions

• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI): Founded in Kolkata in 1931–32, ISI laid the groundwork for statistical research and education in India.
• National Sample Survey Office (NSSO): Established in 1950, revolutionizing large-scale socio‑economic data gathering.
• Central Statistical Organisation (CSO): Set up in 1951 to coordinate data of all states, later integrated into the National Statistical Office.

Inventor of Mahalanobis Distance: Introduced in 1936, this statistical metric measures distance in multivariate data, widely used for cluster analysis, pattern recognition, and outlier detection.

Architect of India’s Second Five‑Year Plan: Using statistical models and operations research, Mahalanobis crafted the “Feldman–Mahalanobis model” in 1953, directing investment into heavy industries and shaping India’s rapid industrialization. Served on the Planning Commission from 1955 to 1967, influencing economic policies and infrastructure development.

Scholar of Real‑World Applications: Initially trained in physics, Mahalanobis shifted to statistics to address practical challenges in meteorology, agriculture, anthropology, and flood control. Emphasized the use of data as a tool for scientific progress and societal welfare.

Legacy & Honours: Awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1968 for his transformative contributions to science and national planning. In 2007, the Government of India designated his birth date as National Statistics Day, honoring his role in building the country’s data foundation. 

India Launches Pilot Scheme to Tackle Human–Tiger Conflict Outside Reserves

In the News: India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change approved a pilot scheme—funded through CAMPA—to manage increasing human–tiger conflict across areas beyond formally designated tiger reserves .

Key Points:

• Scope & Funding: A one‑year pilot (2025–26), later extended to 2026–27, with an outlay of around ₹88 crore (₹88.7 crore per some sources).
• Geographical Coverage: Targets 80 forest divisions across 10 to 17 states, selected based on recurring human–tiger incidents—approximately 30% of India’s ~3,600 tigers live outside reserves.
• Administrative Backing: The National CAMPA executive committee granted in‑principle funding; oversight and implementation managed by NTCA in collaboration with State Chief Wildlife Wardens.
• Drivers Behind the Scheme: Tigers dispersing due to habitat fragmentation and population growth
• Increased livestock predation and human fatalities (382 human deaths between 2020–24, with 111 in 2022 alone).
• Monitoring & Protection: Use of camera traps, AI-enabled early warning systems, satellite collars, and strengthened patrolling.
• Capacity Building & Collaboration: Training forest staff and veterinarians; forming rapid response teams and engaging local youth civil society; partnerships with expert veterinarians.
• Prey Base Augmentation: Improving natural prey availability to reduce livestock dependency.
• Equipment & Infrastructure: Procuring rescue vehicles, cages, immobilization kits, and technology tools like GIS systems.
• Community Engagement & Awareness: Outreach programs, volunteer forest camps, early warning networks, and involvement of panchayats.
• Hotspots Identified: Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Dudhwa & Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Wayanad (Kerala), Kabini, and others.