Current Affairs 18 July 2025

Content :

1. Temple entry cannot be denied based on caste in a country governed by rule of law: Madras HC
2. How is China leading the green energy sector?
3. Akash Prime successfully tested in Ladakh by Army
4. Navigating nutrition information in the era of social media
5. Behavioural Nudges for Healthy Eating

Temple entry cannot be denied based on caste in a country governed by rule of law: Madras HC

Core Judgment

• Justice Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court upheld the right of Scheduled Castes (SCs) to freely enter and worship at Puthukudi Ayyanar Temple in Udayarpalayam taluk (Ariyalur district).
• Directed Ariyalur Superintendent of Police and Udayarpalayam Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to:
  • Ensure unrestricted temple access to all castes, including during annual festivals.
  • Take legal action against those enforcing caste-based restrictions.

Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice , Fundamental Rights)

Key Judicial Observations

• “If anyone is restricted from entering a temple based on caste or sect, it amounts to an actionable wrong/offence.”
• Law enforcement agencies must actively prevent caste-based exclusion and ensure public order.
• Any attempt to deny entry violates the constitutional values of equality and dignity.

Legal & Constitutional Context

• Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorization Act, 1947: Enacted post the Self-Respect Movement, ensures access to temples for all Hindus irrespective of caste.
• Article 17: Abolishes untouchability in all forms — denying temple entry amounts to its practical perpetuation.
• Article 25(2)(b): State can open public religious institutions to all classes and sections of Hindus.
• Reinforces constitutional morality over majoritarian social practices (as per Navtej Singh Johar & Indian Young Lawyers Assn. v. State of Kerala).

Social & Historical Value Additions

• Scheduled Caste villagers had contributed financially to temple renovation, yet were barred from entry.
• Dominant caste group demolished SC-installed statues and attempted to rebuild temple to assert control.
• Echoes the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25) and Guruvayur Satyagraha, part of the broader anti-caste temple reform movement.

Why It Matters

• Sends a strong judicial signal against caste apartheid in religious spaces.
• Demonstrates judicial activism in defending marginalized communities.
• Reasserts the duty of the State to uphold secularism, dignity, and equality in religious matters.

How is China leading the green energy sector?

Context : Global Leadership in 2024

• China installed more wind turbines and solar panels than the rest of the world combined.
• Invested $940 billion in 2024 alone into renewables (up from $10.7 billion in 2006).
• Dominates supply chains for:
  • Polysilicon (solar)
  • Lithium (batteries)
  • Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries

Relevance : GS 3(Energy and Environment)

Crisis as Catalyst

• Skyrocketing air pollution, energy insecurity, and heavy coal reliance (especially in early 2000s) triggered action.
• Public health emergencies led to public pressure and policy urgency.

State-Led Strategy

• Strong role of Five-Year Plans and laws:
  • Renewable Energy Law (2005): Grid guarantees + price incentives.
  • 11th Five-Year Plan (2006–2010): Made clean energy a national strategic priority.

Role of SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises)

• Core actors: State Grid, Huaneng, Genertec.
• Advantages:
  • Deep state backing, low-interest loans, political cover.
  • Scale and speed in infrastructure development unmatched by private players.
  • Represent 55% of global renewable energy investment (Bloomberg).
• Deployed at home and globally via BRI (Africa, Latin America, Asia).

Global Strategy: Clean Energy as Diplomacy

• Belt and Road Initiative used to export:
  • Solar panels
  • Hydropower dams
  • Wind farms
• Result: A 61-country green energy footprint.
• Clean tech has become a tool of Chinese statecraft.

Challenges and Lessons

Bottlenecks

• Grid absorption lag in mid-2010s — especially in Inner Mongolia, Gansu.
• Resulted in 20%+ wind energy curtailment in some provinces.

Subsidy Missteps

• Inefficient overexpansion due to poorly regulated SOE subsidies.
• Led to redundancy and wastage.
• Reforms: More focus on efficiency, ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission lines.

Next Frontier: Tech and Geopolitics

• Focus areas:
  • AI-powered smart grids
  • Green hydrogen
  • Thorium-based nuclear energy
• China aims to set global standards in next-gen energy.

China’s Model vs The West:

Akash Prime successfully tested in Ladakh by Army

Context :

• Akash Prime, an indigenously developed surface-to-air missile (SAM), was successfully tested in eastern Ladakh at 15,000+ ft altitude.
• Achieved two direct hits on fast-moving aerial targets, validating its efficacy in high-altitude, low-oxygen conditions.
• Trials were conducted by Army Air Defence Corps in collaboration with DRDO scientists.

Relevance : GS 3(Defence , Internal Security)

Operational Significance

• Strengthens India’s layered air defence, especially near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Akash system is part of India’s medium-range defence platform — crucial for defending high-value targets against UAVs, aircraft, and missiles.
• Will form part of the 3rd and 4th Akash regiments in the Indian Army’s arsenal.

Complementary Missile Trials

• Prithvi-II and Agni-I, part of India’s nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missile arsenal, were successfully test-fired from Chandipur, Odisha.
• Tests were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
• Validated both technical and operational parameters, reinforcing India’s credible minimum deterrence.

Strategic & Technological Context

• Aligns with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
• Boosts India’s preparedness in the Himalayan theatre, where aerial defence gaps exist due to terrain and weather.
• Enhances India’s conventional deterrence posture, especially amid border stand-offs with China.

About Akash Prime

• Range: ~30 km
• Altitude: Operates effectively up to 18 km
• Seeker: Equipped with indigenous active RF seeker for better target acquisition
• Improved accuracy and performance in low-temperature, low-pressure conditions.

   Prithvi-II and Agni-I

• The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the recent test launches of Prithvi-II and Agni-I were conducted under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
• The tests validated:
  • Operational readiness of India’s nuclear-capable ballistic missile systems.
  • Technical parameters ensuring the reliability of the country’s strategic deterrence architecture.
• This reinforces India’s second-strike capability under the nuclear doctrine and strengthens its credible minimum deterrence policy.

Navigating nutrition information in the era of social media

Global Wellness Economy: A Growing Trend

• Global wellness market = $1.4 trillion in 2024 (McKinsey) — reflecting rising consumer demand for science-backed, lifestyle-centric nutrition.
• Social media platforms now shape perceptions of wellness, where “health is the new status symbol” (e.g., detox water, chia seeds, collagen, magnesium, etc.).

Relevance: GS 2 ( Health & Wellness) , GS-3 (Science & Tech)

Misinformation via Social Media

• Peer-reviewed Indian study: Social media induces instant food cravings, impulsive eating, trend-following.
• South African study: Users can’t assess credibility of nutrition advice online.
• Examples:
  • Claims of “Nature’s Ozempic” (karela juice as fat-burner) lack clinical evidence.
  • Excess raw juices → bloating, kidney risk, sugar dips.
• Conclusion: Awareness ↑, but understanding ↓ — creating a “Wild West” of food advice.

Scientific Perspective: What Nutrition Really Means

• Explained by scientists and clinical nutritionists:
  • Water-soluble vitamins (C, B): Excess flushed out in urine — no ‘glow’ from extra oranges.
  • Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K): Harmful in excess.
  • Gut health, diversity of diet, hydration, and balance matter more than superfoods or supplements.
  • No food “cures” diabetes, PCOS, or obesity — it can support, not replace, medication or medical advice.

Popular Myths vs Scientific Facts

Social Media and Psychological Impact

• Creates black-and-white thinking: e.g., “carbs = bad”, “ghee = good”.
• Influences people to follow celebrity diets not suited to their own physiology or age.
• May result in nutritional deficiencies, body image anxiety, and eating disorders.

Ethical and Policy Takeaways

• Regulate misleading wellness ads on social media (Consumer Protection Act, 2019).
• Public health literacy via school curriculums and Eat Right India campaigns.
• Encourage nutrition science education in the public domain through verified sources (ICMR, NIN).

Behavioural Nudges for Healthy Eating

Relevance: GS-2 (Governance – Health Policy), GS-3 (Public Health, Nutrition)

Policy Initiative

• The Union Health Ministry has proposed “Sugar and Oil Boards” in govt buildings, schools, and offices to:
  • Display sugar and fat content in food items.
  • Act as behavioural nudges (not warning labels) to promote healthier eating habits.
• Aimed at reducing obesity and lifestyle diseases by informing, not coercing.

Rationale: The Looming Obesity Crisis

• Obesity-linked NCDs: Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
• India’s overweight/obese population projected to rise:
  • From 178 million (2020) → 449 million (2050).
• Abdominal obesity:
  • Affects 39.5% of Indians, leading to visceral fat, increasing risk of:
    • Heart attack, stroke, insulin resistance.

Science Behind the Initiative

• Sugar – A Hidden Threat
• “Added sugars” (from beverages, desserts) often lack nutrients.
• WHO: Sugar intake should be <5% of daily energy; ~6 teaspoons/day.
• Artificial sweeteners discouraged due to unclear long-term health impacts.

• Fats – The Good, Bad, and the Ultra-Processed
• Good fats: MUFA/PUFA (e.g., sunflower, olive oil, nuts).
• Bad fats:
  • Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) – butter, ghee, palm oil.
  • Trans Fats – in ultra-processed food, chips, sweets → linked to heart disease.
• ICMR Guidelines: 4–10 spoons of oil/day with a healthy mix of fats.

Implementation Efforts

• CBSE directed affiliated schools to monitor student diets and reduce junk food.
• Govt aims to institutionalize ‘Eat Right India’ messaging via subtle cues.

Behavioural Economics in Action

• Inspired by Thaler’s “nudge theory”: shaping healthier choices via soft influence, not force.
• Uses default setting, social proof, and visual cues (posters, labels) to alter food preferences.

Concerns with Ultra-Processed Foods

• Highly palatable, addictive, low in micronutrients.
• Contribute to India’s silent epidemic of “hidden hunger” – calorie-rich but nutrient-poor diets.
• Multinational food marketing increases risk of poor nutrition even among middle-income groups.