Daily Current Affairs- 5th July 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 5th July 2026

Government Notice to Meta over Child Sexual Abuse Material in Instagram Ads

In the News: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a stern notice to Meta after reports alleged that paid Instagram advertisements were facilitating access to child sexual exploitation and abuse material. Meta has been asked to remove such content and give a detailed response within seven days. The matter is linked to platform accountability, online child safety and intermediary due diligence under Indian law.

Key Points:

• Notice by MeitY: The notice was issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the nodal ministry for digital governance and intermediary regulation in India. It asked Meta to explain how such advertisements were approved and what safeguards will be adopted to prevent recurrence.
• Legal Provisions Involved: The government indicated possible action under the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Section 67B of the IT Act deals with electronic material involving children in sexually explicit act
•  Intermediary Responsibility: The issue is significant because the alleged material appeared through paid advertisements, not merely user-generated content. This raises questions about advertisement approval systems, algorithmic recommendation and commercial responsibility of platforms.
• Child Safety Framework: The case brings focus to stronger content moderation, takedown mechanisms and reporting duties of digital platforms. It also reflects the growing legal scrutiny of social media companies in cases involving child protection and harmful online content.

Manipur SIR: 19.34 lakh voters in draft electoral roll, says CEO

In the News: Manipur published its draft electoral roll after the first enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision. Chief Electoral Officer Arun Kumar Sinha said forms were collected and digitised for 19,34,399 electors, which is 92.42% of the pre-draft electorate. The exercise took place amid ethnic conflict, displacement and poor connectivity in several hill areas.

Key Points:

• Draft Roll Figures: The draft roll contains 19,34,399 voters, including 9,40,446 male electors, 9,93,660 female electors and 293 third-gender electors. The total number of polling stations in the state has been reported as 3,041.
• Uncollected Forms: Forms for 1,58,677 electors could not be collected. The reasons included death, permanent migration, duplication, untraceability and refusal to submit enumeration forms.
• Claims and Objections: Eligible persons left out of the draft roll can apply through Form 6. Objections may be filed through Form 7, while corrections and shifting requests can be made through Form 8.
• Timeline: Claims and objections can be filed from July 5 to August 4. The notice phase and disposal of claims will continue till September 2, and the final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on September 6.

Madhya Pradesh CM, Scindia lay foundation stone for Adani Group’s defence manufacturing unit

In the News: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone for Adani Defence and Aerospace’s ₹2,500-crore missile manufacturing facility in Shivpuri. The project has been described as South Asia’s largest private-sector missile ecosystem. It is expected to add a major defence manufacturing base to the Shivpuri-Guna region.

Key Points:

• Location and Investment: The facility will come up in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh with an estimated investment of ₹2,500 crore. It is expected to generate employment and expand the state’s industrial base.
• Manufacturing Scope: The proposed unit will manufacture ammunition, sophisticated weapons, mission-ready missiles and high-tech defence equipment. It will also combine system integration with production of critical materials at one location.
• Private Sector Role: The plant represents a major private-sector entry into advanced defence manufacturing. It is designed to support multiple missile programmes through automated production systems and benchmarked safety standards.
• Strategic Supply Chain: The project aims to reduce gaps in India’s defence supply chain by bringing missile system integration and critical material production together. It is also intended to serve the Indian Armed Forces and selected international partners.

The right to belong beyond official documentation

In the News: The debate over whether an Indian passport is conclusive proof of citizenship has revived questions about identity, citizenship and documentation. The discussion gained attention after the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that a passport is primarily a travel document, not a standalone citizenship document. The issue is important because citizenship determines political rights, legal protection and a person’s formal membership of the state.

Key Points:

• Passports Act, 1967: Under Section 6 of the Passports Act, a passport authority shall refuse a passport if the applicant is not a citizen of India. However, Section 20 allows the Central Government to issue a passport or travel document to a non-citizen if it considers it necessary in public interest.
• Citizenship Law: Indian citizenship is governed mainly by the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Act provides for acquisition of citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and incorporation of territory.
• Passport and Citizenship Distinction: A passport may be strong evidence of nationality because it is issued after official verification. Still, citizenship as a legal status is determined under citizenship law, not merely by possession of an identity or travel document.
• Burden of Proof: Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 places the burden on a person to prove that he or she is not a foreigner when such a question arises. This makes reliable root documents important in citizenship disputes.

Can the  ED attach a firms assets after it enters insolvency?

In the News: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal held that insolvency proceedings cannot be used to shield assets alleged to be proceeds of crime. The ruling came in matters involving Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd. and actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The judgment clarifies the boundary between insolvency resolution and anti-money laundering enforcement.

Key Points:

• Core Holding: NCLAT ruled that the IBC moratorium cannot prevent ED action over assets alleged to be proceeds of crime. The tribunal held that PMLA’s adjudicatory mechanism has jurisdiction over such attached assets.
• IBC and PMLA Domains: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code deals with resolution or liquidation of a corporate debtor using legitimate assets. The PMLA deals with identification, attachment and confiscation of property linked to money laundering.
• Case Background: The ruling involved Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd., which faced allegations of bank fraud and diversion of loan funds exceeding ₹1,600 crore. ED had attached company assets, and the liquidator sought release of the assets during insolvency proceedings.
• Tribunal Jurisdiction: NCLAT said that IBC tribunals are not the proper forums to challenge ED action under PMLA. Such disputes must be pursued before authorities and courts within the PMLA framework.

India needs a second home for Asiatic lions

In the News: The need for a second home for Asiatic lions has again come into focus because the world’s wild Asiatic lion population remains concentrated in Gujarat’s Saurashtra landscape. Reports and earlier expert assessments have warned that a single population in one landscape is vulnerable to disease, natural disasters and habitat-level risks. The debate is linked to long-term species survival, reintroduction and landscape-level conservation.

Key Points:

• Conservation Concern: The Supreme Court in 2013 noted the need for a second home for Asiatic lions for their long-term survival. The judgment referred to Wildlife Institute of India studies that highlighted the need for an additional natural habitat.
• Current Population: The 2025 lion estimation recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat, up from 674 in 2020. The population increase is positive, but concentration in one broad landscape remains a conservation risk.
• Possible Second Habitat: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat has been described as an emerging second home for Asiatic lions. PIB noted that after natural migration in 2023, the lion population in Barda grew to 17, including adults and cubs.
• Major Threats: A single-landscape population can be affected by epidemics, forest fires, genetic stress and human-wildlife conflict. Conservation planning therefore requires habitat expansion, prey-base management, veterinary surveillance and safe corridors.

Gaganyaan mission: ISRO successfully conducts first SOLVE ground test

In the News: ISRO successfully conducted the first ground test of the solid motor for SOLVE, a new sub-orbital test vehicle linked to the Gaganyaan programme. The test was carried out on July 3, 2026 at the Static Test Facility, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. SOLVE will support integrated parachute tests for validating the Gaganyaan Crew Module’s deceleration system.

Key Points:

• Full Form and Purpose: SOLVE stands for Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments. It is being developed as a test platform for Integrated Parachute Tests of the Gaganyaan Crew Module.
• Test Details: The first ground test of the SOLVE solid motor was successful, and ISRO said the motor performance parameters were as expected. The test took place at the Static Test Facility of SDSC, Sriharikota at 10:00 a.m. on July 3, 2026.
• Crew Module Recovery: In future test missions, the Crew Module will be carried to an altitude of 10 to 17 km and then separated from the vehicle. A sequence of 10 parachutes will reduce its velocity before splashdown in the sea.
• Technical Features: The solid stage of SOLVE is derived from the PSLV strap-on motor with modifications. These include slow burn-rate propellant, a straight nozzle and secondary injection thrust vector control.