Daily Current Affairs- 3rd July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd July 2025

India Plans to Build More Oil Reserves for a Safer Future

In the News: The Indian government unveiled plans to construct additional strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs) to strengthen the nation's energy security amid rising fuel demand and global geopolitical uncertainty. The expansion includes three new reserve facilities and enhancements at existing sites, aiming to bolster strategic stockpiles and move India toward International Energy Agency (IEA) membership.

Key Points:

• New Reserve Locations: Bikaner, Rajasthan:2–5.3 million tonnes of crude oil to be stored in salt caverns. Mangalore, Karnataka: Additional 1.75 million tonnes facility Bina, Madhya Pradesh: New facility with capacity yet to be determined
• Existing & Approved Facilities: Current SPR sites at Mangalore, Padur, Visakhapatnam hold 5.33 million tonnes. Approved expansions: 2.5 MMT at Padur and 4 MMT at Chandikhol (Odisha) .
• Total Expansion Scale: Combined increase of roughly 12 MMT—new 5.2–5.3 MMT at Bikaner, 1.75 MMT at Mangalore, plus additions at Padur and Chandikhol .
• Energy Security Goal: India currently maintains approximately 75 days’ worth of oil consumption; target is to reach 90 days to meet IEA admission criteria
• Strategic Rationale: Aims to buffer against global oil supply shocks, such as geopolitical conflicts or price volatility, protecting the economy and maintaining fuel availability
• Implementation Model: SPR projects will be developed via Public–Private Partnerships (PPP), with ISPRL collaborating with Engineers India Ltd and encouraging private investment for commercialisation

Union Minister C.R. Patil Launches C‑FLOOD, India’s First Unified Flood Forecasting Platform

In the News: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil inaugurated C‑FLOOD, India's first unified flood inundation forecasting platform, as part of efforts to enhance the nation’s disaster preparedness. The web-based system delivers up to 48 hours of advance flood predictions at village-level granularity.

Key Points:

• Platform Launch: Union Minister C.R. Patil officially launched C‑FLOOD on July 2, 2025, at Shram Shakti Bhawan in New Delhi.
• Collaborative Development: Developed jointly by Central Water Commission (CWC), C‑DAC Pune, and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the National Hydrology Project within the Jal Shakti Ministry and executed via the National Supercomputing Mission.
• Forecasting Capabilities: C‑FLOOD provides 48-hour advance flood inundation maps and water level forecasts down to the village level.
• Coverage Areas: Initially includes the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi river basins, with planned expansion to additional basins.
• Technology Backbone: Utilises advanced 2‑D hydrodynamic modelling: Mahanadi simulations run on HPC infrastructure at C‑DAC Pune, while NRSC processes Godavari and Tapi data.
• Disaster Management Integration: The platform integrates outputs from national and regional agencies, serving as a decision‑support tool. Agencies are instructed to integrate forecasts into the National Disaster Management Emergency Response Portal (NDEM) and enhance forecast precision via satellite validation and ground-truthing. 

Karnataka Mis‑Information and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025

In the News: The Karnataka government introduced the draft Karnataka Mis‑Information and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, which proposes sweeping measures to criminalize the dissemination of false or misleading content on digital platforms. This initiative has sparked widespread debate over its implications for free speech and constitutional rights. 

Key Points:

• Scope & Definitions: Fake News includes misquotations, manipulated audio/video, and entirely fabricated content.
• Misinformation: covers statements made “knowingly or recklessly” that are false or inaccurate. The Bill exempts satire, comedy, opinions, and artistic expression, though the concept of a “reasonable person” is used, creating ambiguity.
• Penalties: 2–5 years in prison for disseminating misinformation. Up to 7 years imprisonment plus ₹10 lakh fine for fake news. 2-year term for abetment of such offenses.
• Regulatory Body: A six-member Fake News on social media Regulatory Authority—chaired by the state Information & Broadcasting Minister, and including MLAs/MLCs, a bureaucrat, and two industry representatives—would oversee enforcement.
• Special Courts & Enforcement Mechanisms: Establishes special courts for handling cases under the law. Empowers the authority to issue Correction and Disabling Directions to platforms. Cases escalate to the police, triggering non-bailable FIRs and stringent bail restrictions 

NCB’s Operation‑MED MAX

In the News: India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) revealed Operation MED MAX, a sweeping crackdown on a global pharmaceutical drug trafficking syndicate. Coordinated with international agencies, the operation led to eight arrests in India and triggered enforcement actions across the US and Australia.

Key Points:

• Operation Initiation: Began on May 25, 2025, when NCB officers intercepted a vehicle near Delhi's Mandi House, seizing 3.7 kg of Tramadol from two B.Pharma graduates.
• Arrests in India: Eight individuals arrested across Delhi, Jaipur, Roorkee, and Udupi (Karnataka). A call-centre in Udupi coordinated 50 international consignments.
• Global Network: Syndicate spanned four continents and over ten countries, with shipments to the US, Australia, Europe (Estonia, Spain, Switzerland), and back.
• International Collaboration: NCB shared intelligence with DEA and Interpol. This led to the arrest of a major re-shipper in Alabama (Joel Hall) and seizure of 17,000+ tablets, alongside a pill factory bust in Australia.
• Modus Operandi: Used encrypted platforms (Telegram), cryptocurrency, PayPal/Western Union, premium B2B vendor profiles, anonymous drop-shipping, and hawala channels. Repeat buyers were recruited as stockists.
• Kingpin & Money Laundering: The kingpin, based in the UAE, coordinated finances and shipments. An Indian-American financier in the US has been indicted.
• Government Response: Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised NCB as a model of multi-agency coordination and affirmed the government's zero-tolerance stance on drug cartels. The US Embassy also commended India’s role. 

Jio Becomes World’s Largest Fixed Wireless Access Provider

In the News: In late June to early July 2025, analysts from ICICI Securities reported that Reliance Jio has surpassed U.S. telecom giant T-Mobile to become the world’s largest Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider by subscriber count. As of May 2025, Jio’s 5G FWA subscriber base, including unlicensed-band users, reached 6.88 million, overtaking T‑Mobile’s 6.85 million in March 2025

Key Points:

• FWA Leadership: In May 2025, Jio achieved 6.88 million 5G FWA subscribers, higher than T‑Mobile’s 6.85 million reported in March 2025 .
• Subscriber Growth: Reclassification of ~1 million unlicensed-band subscribers into FTTx brought Jio’s net FWA base to 5.9 million in May, with a monthly gain of 0.74 million
• Aggressive Expansion via AirFiber: Launched in September 2023, Jio's AirFiber offers plug‑and‑play 5G broadband at affordable plans (starting ~₹599/month), rapidly connecting households and SMEs
• Digital Inclusion: With 5G coverage across ~98% of India, FWA extends high-speed internet to remote towns and villages, supporting education, healthcare, e‑commerce, and online livelihoods
• Market Share: In India, Jio commands over 50% of total broadband (wired + wireless) market share, far outpacing Airtel’s ~31%
• Global Implication: Jio’s achievement underscores India’s rising digital infrastructure and offers a model for developing nations aiming to leapfrog fiber deployment with 5G FWA
• Momentum Towards Global Dominance: ICICI Securities projects Jio will firmly hold the title of the top FWA provider worldwide by the end of June 2025 

’PM Modi Honoured in Ghana with ‘Order of the Star’

In the News: During his first visit to Ghana by an Indian Prime Minister in over 30 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation’s second-highest civilian honour, by President John Dramani Mahama

Key Points:

• Prestigious Recognition: Modi received the Officer rank of the Order of the Star of Ghana, awarded for distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership.
• Dedication to Youth & Culture: He dedicated the honour to the aspirations of India’s youth, its rich cultural diversity, and the historical ties between India and Ghana. Modi emphasized that the award brings “new responsibility” for strengthening India–Ghana friendship
• Historic State Visit: This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over three decades, during which a state banquet was hosted at Jubilee House, Accra .
• Diplomatic Momentum: During his visit (July 2–3, 2025), Modi and President Mahama elevated bilateral ties to a “Comprehensive Partnership,” signing MoUs in areas such as cultural exchange, Ayurveda, trade standards, and ministerial dialogues.
• Development Cooperation: Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to Ghana’s youth training, digital tech, healthcare, infrastructure, defence, mining, and support for Ghana’s “Feed Ghana” agricultural initiative. India also plans to double trade and introduce UPI digital payments in Ghana .
• Global Recognition Record:This award adds to Modi’s record-setting collection of international honours—29 in total—making him the most internationally decorated Indian leader. 

⁠UN Women & the Global Gender Agenda

In the News: On the eve of landmark anniversaries—30 years since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and 25 years of UNSC Resolution 1325—UN Women sounded the alarm on a significant global rollback in gender equality. In its recent analysis, backed by data from over 150 national reports and surveys, the agency described this as a “historic and precarious moment” for women and girls worldwide .

Key Points:

• Backlash in Progress: Nearly 1 in 4 countries reported regression in women’s rights in 2024. A March 2025 global poll found a 60% increase in public concern over stagnating gender-equality gains
• Violence & Exclusion: In 2023, around 85,000 women and girls were killed—largely by intimate partners or family members. The number of women living near conflict zones surged by 50% over the past decade, now exceeding 600 million. Between 2020–23, 80% of peace negotiations excluded women
• Economic & Digital Gaps: Women earn 20% less than men and perform 5× more unpaid care work, averaging 4.2 hours/day versus men’s 1.7 .A digital divide persists—277 million fewer women accessed the internet in 2024, risking $500 billion in GDP losses over five years
• Milestone Anniversaries: Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action (1995): A blueprint addressing legal rights, health, education, violence, political participation, and more.
• UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000): Pioneering resolution mandating women’s involvement in peace processes, ending conflict‑related sexual violence, and implementing gender perspectives in security .
• UN Women’s Mandate & Reported Data: This year UN Women, marking its 15th anniversary, stressed the need to rejuvenate global commitments to gender 평 equality across its key pillars: leadership, economic empowerment, ending violence, peace and security, humanitarian action, and governance . Their 2024–25 reports spotlight the critical role of gender data in guiding investment and policy—a trackable foundation for measurable progress 

Gaden Phodrang Trust  

In the News: On the eve of his 90th birthday in early July 2025, the 14th Dalai Lama reaffirmed that the centuries‑old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. He announced that the Gaden Phodrang Trust—a non-profit established by him—will have sole authority to identify his future reincarnation, rejecting any role from China and any external interference.

Key Points:

• Succession Confirmation: The Dalai Lama confirmed his reincarnation tradition will carry on. He dispelled earlier suggestions that he might be the last and emphasized continuation.
• Authority Vesting: He stated clearly that Gaden Phodrang Trust, founded in 2011, will alone recognize his successor. The process involves consultation with heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions, keeping with established customs.
• Reincarnation Details: The next Dalai Lama may be of any gender, likely born outside China, as part of maintaining religious freedom. Formal written guidelines will be issued by the Dalai Lama in due course.
• Traditional Framework: The Gaden Phodrang Trust will follow centuries‑old Tibetan Buddhist methods—vision, signs, and consultation with High Lamas and Dharma Protectors—to identify the reincarnation. The Golden Urn ritual, once controlled by China, will not supersede this tradition.
• Geopolitical Clash: China claims the right to appoint the Dalai Lama via state-controlled rituals (e.g., Golden Urn), but the Dalai Lama’s position rebukes this claim. India’s government has backed the Dalai Lama’s stance.
• Global Reactions: The U.S., EU, UN human rights experts, and Tibetan advocates have supported the Dalai Lama’s assertion. They call for no government interference and stress religious freedom.