Daily Current Affairs- 5th October 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 5th October 2025

Assam–Nagaland Border Violence Sparks Major Crisis

In the News: On 2 October 2025, severe violence erupted along the Assam–Nagaland border in the B Sector of Golaghat district (Assam), when armed assailants attacked villages and set nearly 100 houses ablaze. The attack, allegedly carried out by miscreants from across the border, has triggered a major humanitarian and political crisis between the two states.

Key Points:

• Background of the Dispute: The Assam–Nagaland border dispute dates back to the colonial era when the boundary between the Naga Hills and Assam plains was poorly defined. Following Nagaland’s creation in 1963, territorial disagreements intensified, with both states claiming overlapping areas known as the Disputed Area Belt (DAB).
• Details of the October 2025 Attack: The violence broke out late at night when over 400 armed attackers reportedly entered Tengatol and nearby villages in Assam’s Golaghat district. They used firearms, grenades, and arson to destroy homes, forcing hundreds of residents to flee through forests and fields for safety.
• Casualties and Damage: Nearly 90–100 houses were torched, and several vehicles and livestock were destroyed. The attack displaced numerous families, many of whom lost identity papers, household goods, and farmlands in the blaze.
• Immediate Government Response: The Assam Police and CRPF’s 155th Battalion were deployed to restore order. Assam’s Chief Minister held an emergency meeting with the Union Home Ministry, while Nagaland officials denied state involvement but promised cooperation in investigation.
• Political and Social Repercussions: The incident has reignited long-standing tensions between communities along the inter-state border. Political leaders across the Northeast have called for the revival of dialogue mechanisms and increased central intervention to prevent further escalation.
• Humanitarian Impact: Hundreds of displaced villagers are currently sheltered in relief camps set up by the Golaghat district administration. Immediate needs include food, medical assistance, and rehabilitation for affected families.
• Historical Efforts to Resolve the Border Issue: Several committees, including the Sundaram Commission (1971), Shastri Commission (1985), and Variava Commission (1997), attempted to delineate the border, but none achieved a conclusive settlement. A status quo agreement (1979) remains in place, with the CRPF acting as a neutral force in disputed areas.

Darjeeling Disaster

In the News: On 3 October 2025, the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal were struck by a series of devastating landslides and flash floods following intense and continuous rainfall. The disaster caused extensive destruction across Mirik, Ghoom, and Darjeeling town, leading to the loss of several lives, displacement of families, and large-scale damage to roads, bridges, and tea estates. The unprecedented rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems and triggered slope collapses across the fragile Himalayan terrain.

Key Points:

• Heavy Rainfall and Trigger: The region received exceptionally high rainfall within a short period, leading to multiple landslides and floods across the hilly terrain. The Indian Meteorological Department had issued red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall in North Bengal before the disaster occurred.
• Casualties and Damage: Over 20 people lost their lives, several went missing, and hundreds were displaced. More than 90 houses and tea garden settlements were washed away or buried under debris, while key bridges such as the Dudhia bridge over the Balason River collapsed due to flood pressure.
• Affected Areas: The worst-hit regions included Mirik, Darjeeling town, Ghoom, and Lepchajagat, where roads, power lines, and water supply networks were destroyed. Connectivity to Siliguri and other plains areas was temporarily cut off due to blockages on National Highway-110.
• Relief and Rescue Operations: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police carried out large-scale rescue and evacuation operations. Relief camps were set up to provide shelter, food, and medical care to displaced families.
• Government Response: The West Bengal Government announced compensation for the families of the deceased and deployed engineers to restore road and communication networks. The Chief Minister personally reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure rapid relief and rehabilitation.
• Environmental Context: Darjeeling lies in a geologically fragile Himalayan zone prone to frequent landslides. Deforestation, unregulated construction, and poor slope management have aggravated the risk of such disasters over the years.
• Impact on Tourism and Economy: The incident severely impacted tourism and the tea industry, two pillars of Darjeeling’s economy. Tourists were stranded for several days, and many tea estates suffered soil erosion and crop loss.
• Historical Background: The region has a long history of similar natural disasters, including major landslides in 1968, 2011, and 2015, which have repeatedly exposed the vulnerability of hill towns to extreme weather.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Releases Crime in India 2023 Report

In the News: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the “Crime in India 2023” report, presenting comprehensive data on crimes recorded across India during the year 2023. The annual report, compiled under the Ministry of Home Affairs, provides statistical insights into crime trends, law and order situations, cybercrime, crime against women and children, and offences under special and local laws.

Key Points:

• Overall Crime Rate: The total number of cognizable crimes registered in India in 2023 stood at around 59.1 lakh cases, showing a marginal decline of 3.6% compared to 2022. Of these, 36.3 lakh were crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 22.8 lakh were under Special and Local Laws (SLL).
• Crimes Against Women: Crimes against women increased slightly by 4%, with over 4.6 lakh cases registered in 2023. The highest number of such cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The most reported offences included cruelty by husband or relatives, assault on women with intent to outrage modesty, and rape.
• Crimes Against Children: The report recorded over 1.6 lakh cases related to crimes against children, marking an increase of 6% from the previous year. A large proportion of these cases fell under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
• Cybercrime Surge: Cybercrime cases saw a sharp rise of 25%, with over 70,000 cases registered nationwide. Fraud, identity theft, and sexual exploitation were the leading categories of cyber offences, with Telangana, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest numbers.
• Crimes Against SCs and STs: Crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) increased by 3.5%, while crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) rose by 6.2% in 2023. Most of these cases were reported from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Economic and Corruption-Related Offences: Economic offences registered a steady rise, particularly in cases of forgery, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. Over 1.8 lakh such cases were recorded in 2023, showing a continuing upward trend since 2020.
• Crime Against Senior Citizens: More than 28,000 cases were registered involving senior citizens, with theft, cheating, and domestic violence among the leading categories. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu reported the highest numbers.
• State-wise Trends: Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of total crimes under IPC, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar. However, the crime rate per lakh population was highest in Delhi, reflecting its dense urban population and higher reporting levels.
• Safest Cities in India: Kolkata was declared the safest city in India for the fourth consecutive year, with the lowest rate of cognizable offences among all metropolitan cities. Other relatively safer metros included Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, each reporting a lower crime rate compared to the national average.
• Conviction and Pendency: The national conviction rate under IPC crimes stood at 57.2%, while court pendency remained high, with over 1.6 crore cases still under investigation or trial.

E-Waste Surge in India

In the News: India has emerged as the third-largest generator of electronic waste (e-waste) globally, producing over 2 million metric tonnes annually, notably trailing only behind China and the United States. This rise in e-waste generation reflects the country’s accelerating digital adoption, increasing consumption of electronics, and shorter device life cycles.

Key Points:

• Volume & Global Ranking: India now produces approximately 2 million metric tonnes (MT) of e-waste annually, positioning it as the third biggest e-waste generator in the world. (India is often cited as “approximately 2 MT” or “about 2 million tonnes” in reports).
• Recent Growth Trend: In 2023–24, India’s e-waste generation was about 1.75 million MT, marking a 73% increase over five years from 2019–20 (which was about 1.01 million MT). The upward trajectory suggests that the figure may cross 2 MT in near future given continued electronics consumption and upgrades.
• Informal Sector Dominance: Over 95% of India’s e-waste is managed by the informal sector, employing rudimentary and often hazardous methods of dismantling, burning, or acid leaching, which pose serious environmental and health risks.
• Recycling & Formal Processing Gap: Formal recyclers handle only a minor fraction of total e-waste. Large volumes remain uncollected or improperly disposed, which leads to loss of recoverable materials and ecological damage.
• Valuable Recoverables & Economic Potential: Discarded electronics contain precious and critical materials (like gold, silver, copper, rare-earth elements). Proper urban mining and recycling can unlock significant economic gains and reduce dependence on raw-material imports.
• Environmental & Health Risks: Improper processing releases toxic substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants) into soil, air, and waterways, causing respiratory, neurological, and developmental damage, especially for informal workers and nearby communities.
• Policy & Regulatory Framework: India’s E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 aim to strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), formalize recycling, and improve compliance. But enforcement and integration of the informal sector remain key challenges.

Government of India Invokes Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore

In the News: In late September 2025, the Government of India formally invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore in connection with the investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who reportedly drowned in Singapore in September 2025. This move enables India to seek legal cooperation from Singaporean authorities, including access to evidence, witness testimony, and other investigatory support.

Key Points:

• What is MLAT and Its Purpose: The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) is a bilateral agreement that enables cross-border cooperation between countries in criminal investigations and prosecutions. It allows one country to formally request another to provide or obtain evidence, serve judicial documents, execute searches and seizures, facilitate witness examination, and assist with asset recovery.
• Trigger for Invocation — Zubeen Garg Case: The trigger for invoking this MLAT was the death of Zubeen Garg, which occurred in Singapore on 19 September 2025. The Assam Police registered FIR 18/2025 in relation to his death, prompting authorities to seek cooperation from Singapore to gather evidence and explore all angles of investigation.
• Procedural Steps Taken:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) forwarded an official Mutual Legal Assistance request to the High Commission of India in Singapore, addressed to the First Secretary (Commerce).
• The request was to be forwarded by the High Commission to the Attorney General of Singapore, the designated Central Authority in Singapore for MLAT matters.
• Two Assam police officials were already in Singapore to coordinate and assist in the process.