Current Affairs 20 August 2025

Content

1. Saltwater Crocodile Population Recovery in Sundarbans
2. Karnataka’s gig workers’ welfare bill
3. White-collar as well as blue-collar workers embrace AI to future-proof careers: report
4. Breaking down the Chinese wall
5. The complex web of factors behind India’s persistent stunting crisis
6. India’s Youth as a Response to U.S. Tariffs
7. The Derozio effect: a brief, disruptive moment in 19th century colonial Calcutta
8. Govt. set to introduce Bill to ban real money gaming firms
9. Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025
10. Africa’s objection to the Mercator world map projection

Saltwater Crocodile Population Recovery in Sundarbans

Basic Context

• Species: Crocodylus porosus – largest reptile in crocodilian order
• Study Authority: West Bengal Forest Department
• Location: Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR)
• Ecological Role: Hypercarnivorous apex predators, ecosystem cleaners feeding on carcasses
• Distribution: Odisha and West Bengal mangroves, Andaman & Nicobar coastal areas

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Population Assessment Results (2025)

Direct Sighting Data

• Total Recorded: 213 direct observations
• Demographic Breakdown:
  • Adults: 125 individuals (58.7%)
  • Juveniles: 88 individuals (41.3%)
  • Hatchlings: 23 individuals (10.8%)
• Population Estimate Range: 220-242 individuals
• Encounter Rate: 0.18 per kilometer (1 crocodile per 5.5 km of surveyed area)

Dramatic Year-over-Year Growth (2024 vs 2025)

Key Significance

• Hatchling Boom: Most critical indicator – “sighting of hatchlings is very rare and difficult in Sundarbans terrain”
• Healthy Age Structure: Growth across all demographic classes indicates sustainable population recovery
• Breeding Success: Dramatic hatchling increase suggests effective protection of nesting sites

Survey Methodology

• Technical Approach: Systematic surveys, GPS mapping, habitat characterization
• Classification Method: Length-based demographic categorization
• Data Quality: Conservative approach using only confirmed direct sightings
• Challenges: Dense mangrove terrain, cryptic species behavior, tidal variations

Conservation History and Success Factors

Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (1976-Present)

• Location: South 24 Parganas district
• Duration: 49 years of sustained conservation effort
• Government Commitment: “Successive governments made significant efforts”
• Approach: Breeding facility combined with habitat protection

Long-term Impact

• Multi-decade Success: Nearly 50 years proving conservation persistence
• Research-based Management: Annual monitoring enabling adaptive strategies
• Habitat Security: Sundarbans reserve providing comprehensive protection

Ecological and Conservation Significance

Ecosystem Health Indicator

• Apex Predator Recovery: Reflects overall ecosystem stability
• Food Web Balance: Controls prey populations, maintains biodiversity
• Water Quality: Scavenging role prevents disease spread
• Mangrove Protection: Success demonstrates habitat preservation effectiveness

Conservation Model Success

• Population Viability: Strong recruitment across age classes
• Habitat Quality: Ecosystem supporting increased carrying capacity
• Scientific Validation: Research-based approach proving effective strategies

Current Challenges and Future Priorities

Ongoing Threats

• Climate Change: Sea level rise, changing salinity affecting habitat
• Human Pressure: Fishing activities, coastal development
• Habitat Degradation: Pollution, mangrove destruction
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Potential conflicts with fishing communities

Conservation Priorities

• Continued Monitoring: Annual surveys for population trend tracking
• Nesting Site Protection: Ensure safe breeding areas from disturbance
• Habitat Enhancement: Maintain prey base and water quality
• Community Engagement: Local awareness and conflict resolution programs

Broader Implications

Regional Conservation Leadership

• Model Project: Demonstrates effective long-term conservation planning
• Policy Effectiveness: Multi-generational government commitment showing results
• Scientific Approach: Combining field research with conservation action
• Replication Potential: Methodology applicable to other endangered species

Global Significance

• Apex Predator Conservation: Rare success story for large predator recovery
• Mangrove Ecosystem: Conservation in world’s largest mangrove system
• Climate Resilience: Population growth despite environmental pressures
• Conservation Science: Research-based approach providing global model

Key Success Factors

• Long-term Commitment: 49-year sustained effort across multiple governments
• Scientific Foundation: Research-based monitoring and adaptive management
• Habitat Protection: Large-scale reserve providing comprehensive security
• Breeding Support: Captive breeding supplementing wild population recovery
• Systematic Monitoring: Annual assessments enabling evidence-based decisions

Karnataka’s gig workers’ welfare bill

• The gig economy in India is expanding rapidly, driven by digital platforms like ride-hailing, food delivery, and e-commerce logistics.
• Karnataka, with around 4 lakh gig workers, has become the first state to pass a comprehensive law for gig worker social security.
• Bill Name: Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025
• Objective: Protect gig worker rights, establish welfare mechanisms, and regulate platform aggregators

Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Labour Laws)

Key Financial Provisions

• Welfare Fee Structure: 1-5% levy on worker payouts per transaction, varying by aggregator category
• Funding Sources: Worker contributions, state government grants, central government aid
• Current Worker Economics: Many earn only ₹1,800 working 16-hour days, highlighting income vulnerability

Institutional Structure

• Welfare Board: New entity to oversee worker registration and welfare scheme implementation
• Registration System: Mandatory enrollment for both workers and platform aggregators
• Dispute Resolution: Formal mechanisms to address worker-platform conflicts
• Fund Management: Dedicated Gig Worker’s Social Security and Welfare Fund

Market Context & Scale

• National Projection: NITI Aayog estimates 23.5 million gig workers by 2029-30
• State Numbers: Currently 400,000 gig workers in Karnataka
• Registration Gap: Only 10,500 workers registered so far, indicating massive underenrollment
• Growth Trend: Rising gig economy participation in urban and semi-urban areas

Worker Welfare Focus Areas

• Health Concerns: Addresses pollution exposure and physical strain from two-wheeler usage
• Income Security: Aims to provide financial stability for irregular earnings
• Working Conditions: Establishes standards for reasonable work environments
• Social Security: Creates safety net for workers lacking traditional employment benefits

Platform Obligations

• Mandatory Registration: All aggregator platforms must register with authorities
• Fee Compliance: Must collect and remit welfare fees on worker transactions
• Worker Support: Share responsibility for ensuring welfare scheme participation
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to new labor standards and reporting requirements

Implementation Challenges

• Enforcement Mechanisms: Need robust systems to ensure platform compliance
• Worker Awareness: Massive outreach required given low current registration rates
• Fee Collection: Monitoring transaction-based contributions across multiple platforms
• Interstate Coordination: Managing workers operating across state boundaries

Broader Implications

• Policy Precedent: Karnataka becomes early adopter of comprehensive gig worker legislation
• Economic Impact: May influence platform business models and pricing structures
• Worker Rights: Significant step toward formalizing India’s growing informal economy
• Regulatory Model: Could serve as template for other states facing similar challenges

White-collar as well as blue-collar workers embrace AI to future-proof careers: report

AI Adoption Among Indian Workers

• Paradigm Shift: Indian workforce moving from AI-as-threat to AI-as-opportunity mindset, with 43% expressing confidence in future technology use
• Cross-Sector Penetration: AI integration transcending traditional white-collar boundaries, with 20% of blue-collar workers already using generative AI tools
• Proactive Adaptation: Workers driving technology adoption independently rather than waiting for organizational mandates, indicating bottom-up transformation
• Skills-Employment Nexus: One-third expressing job security concerns without technological adaptation, making AI literacy survival imperative rather than competitive advantage
• Demographic Leadership: Mid-career professionals (35-54 years) showing highest confidence at 49%, challenging assumptions about digital native advantages
• Policy-Reality Gap: High worker enthusiasm contrasting with limited institutional training infrastructure, exposing governance adaptation challenges

Relevance : GS 3(Technology , Employment)

Governance & Policy Implications

• Skill Development Crisis: 56% mid-career professionals demanding more training exposes gaps in current government skilling programs
• Digital Divide Risk: AI adoption creating new inequality between trained and untrained workforce segments
• Labor Law Evolution: Traditional employment categories becoming obsolete as blue-collar workers use sophisticated AI tools
• Public-Private Coordination: Indeed’s private sector leadership in skill assessment highlights government’s reactive rather than proactive approach

Administrative Challenges

• Implementation Gaps: 70% blue-collar workers finding technology helpful, but only 20% using AI indicates poor institutional support
• Training Infrastructure: 29% preferring self-paced learning suggests inadequate formal training mechanisms
• Rural Penetration: Urban-focused AI skill development potentially excluding agricultural and rural workforce
• Inter-ministerial Coordination: AI skilling requires cooperation between IT, Labor, Education, and Rural Development ministries

Economic Transformation Patterns

• Productivity Paradox: Technology enhancing rather than replacing human capabilities challenges automation fears
• Wage Premium Evolution: AI-skilled workers commanding higher pay creates merit-based economic stratification
• Sectoral Disruption: Traditional industry boundaries blurring as manual workers adopt cognitive tools
• Demographic Dividend: Mid-career confidence (49%) suggests India’s working-age population adapting effectively

Social & Ethical Considerations

• Generational Equity: Older workers (35-54) showing higher confidence contradicts typical digital native assumptions
• Access Justice: Self-funded skill development (29% preferring self-paced programs) may disadvantage economically weaker sections
• Work Dignity: AI tools enabling blue-collar workers to perform complex tasks enhances job satisfaction and social status
• Career Mobility: Technology becoming bridge between traditional skill categories

Strategic National Implications

• Global Competitiveness: Indian workforce proactively embracing AI provides competitive advantage over resistant economies
• Innovation Ecosystem: Worker-driven technology adoption bottom-up rather than top-down policy implementation
• Human Capital Quality: 43% confidence level indicates strong foundation for advanced technological integration
• Self-Reliance: Domestic workforce capability reducing dependence on foreign technical expertise

Contemporary Relevance

• Post-Pandemic Recovery: AI skills becoming crucial for economic resilience and adaptability
• Manufacturing Renaissance: Blue-collar AI adoption supporting industrial growth objectives
• Service Sector Evolution: Customer service improvements through AI tools enhancing India’s service economy
• Startup Ecosystem: Skilled workforce supporting entrepreneurial ventures and innovation culture

Future Governance Requirements

• Regulatory Framework: Need for AI ethics guidelines protecting worker interests while enabling innovation
• Infrastructure Investment: Digital connectivity and training facilities requiring substantial public investment
• Continuous Adaptation: Governance systems must evolve rapidly to match technological change pace
• Inclusive Growth: Ensuring AI benefits reach all economic strata and geographical regions

Critical Analysis Points

• Survey Limitations: Indeed’s platform bias toward formally employed workers may miss informal sector reality
• Implementation Challenges: Gap between worker enthusiasm (43% confidence) and actual skill development infrastructure
• Sustainability Concerns: Whether current optimism translates into long-term career security remains uncertain
• Policy Lag: Government response speed insufficient for rapid technological change pace

Breaking down the Chinese wall

Contemporary Diplomatic Developments

• Thaw Indicators: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun at SCO summit signals military-level engagement resumption
• Religious Diplomacy: Kailash Manasarovar Yatra resumption demonstrates confidence-building through cultural-religious connections
• High-Level Engagement: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day India visit indicates Beijing’s commitment to bilateral dialogue
• 75-Year Milestone: Diamond jubilee of diplomatic relations providing symbolic opportunity for relationship reset

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)

Historical Foundation & Nalanda Legacy

• Civilizational Connections: Pre-modern India-China ties built on knowledge exchange rather than territorial considerations
• Buddhist Bridge: Chinese monks Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing’s journeys to India established enduring intellectual traditions
• Nalanda Philosophy: Ancient university embodied “Aa no bhadra kratavo yantu viśvata” (noble thoughts from all directions) – inclusive knowledge paradigm
• Shared Heritage: Nalanda’s significance for both civilizations creates common ground transcending modern political boundaries

Current Engagement Constraints

• Academic Restrictions: Hundreds of scholarly exchanges awaiting bureaucratic clearance, limiting intellectual cooperation
• Trade Disruptions: Economic ties stalled due to political tensions and security concerns
• Military Confrontations: Recurring border incidents creating atmosphere of suspicion and strategic mistrust
• Bureaucratic Barriers: Scholars requiring official permission for dialogue, students hesitating before academic exchanges

Mutual Learning Opportunities

• India’s Strengths: Democratic decentralization, open civil society engagement, digital public goods framework offer valuable lessons
• China’s Expertise: Food security initiatives, local infrastructure development, grassroots entrepreneurship models worth studying
• Collaborative Potential: Non-competitive learning areas including environment, health, culture, and social innovation
• Knowledge Diplomacy: Academic cooperation could rebuild trust while addressing practical development challenges

Strategic Limitations & Questions

• Gatekeeper States: Both governments limiting engagement possibilities through excessive control mechanisms
• Strategic Ambiguity: Unclear frameworks preventing confident, forward-looking diplomatic approaches
• Reactive Diplomacy: Relationship driven by crisis management rather than proactive partnership building
• Paranoia Persistence: Fear-based policies sustaining “Chinese wall” mentality hindering genuine engagement

The Nalanda Approach Framework

• Principled Flexibility: Holding firm on core interests while remaining open to dialogue in beneficial areas
• Disagree Without Disengagement: Maintaining communication channels despite fundamental differences on borders and regional vision
• Curiosity Over Suspicion: Approaching bilateral ties with intellectual openness rather than defensive paranoia
• Long-term Perspective: Building sustained people-to-people connections beyond immediate political considerations

Practical Implementation Steps

• Academic Infrastructure: Strengthening China studies programs and policy research capabilities in Indian institutions
• Exchange Facilitation: Streamlining bureaucratic processes for scholarly and cultural interactions
• Track-II Diplomacy: Encouraging non-governmental dialogue forums and civil society engagement
• Sectoral Cooperation: Identifying specific areas like climate change, public health where collaboration benefits both nations

Values-Based Engagement

• Śīlabhadra Model: Learning as diplomatic tool, following ancient teacher-student traditions transcending political boundaries
• Transformative Knowledge: Education and research as confidence-building measures rather than security threats
• Compassionate Diplomacy: Balancing national interests with humanitarian considerations and regional stability
• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Global family concept enabling cooperative rather than zero-sum approaches

Contemporary Relevance

• Post-COVID Cooperation: Pandemic response requiring international collaboration, particularly between major Asian powers
• Global Challenges: Climate change, economic recovery, technological governance demanding coordinated responses
• Regional Stability: South Asian and East Asian security interconnected, requiring mature bilateral management
• Civilizational Responsibility: Both nations’ global leadership roles requiring demonstration of peaceful coexistence capabilities

The complex web of factors behind India’s persistent stunting crisis

Policy Performance Gap

• Target vs Reality: POSHAN Abhiyaan aimed for 25% stunting by 2022, but 2025 data shows 37% – only 1.4% improvement from 38.4% in 2016
• Implementation Failure: Seven years of flagship nutrition program yielding negligible progress despite substantial resource allocation
• Systemic Issues: Minimal progress indicates deeper structural problems beyond program design or funding inadequacy
• Mission 25 Collapse: Ambitious government target becoming policy embarrassment highlighting execution challenges

Relevance : GS 2(Health , Governance)

Root Cause Analysis

• Maternal Health Crisis: Nearly half of stunted children already small at birth, linking stunting directly to prenatal conditions
• Teenage Pregnancy Impact: 7% of women aged 15-19 began childbearing, with adolescent mothers physiologically unprepared for pregnancy
• Educational Correlation: 46% children of uneducated mothers stunted vs 26% for mothers with 12+ years schooling
• Intergenerational Cycle: Poor maternal education perpetuating child malnutrition through inadequate care practices

Nutritional Deficiencies

• Dietary Inadequacy: Only 11% children under two meet minimum acceptable diet standards, indicating massive nutritional gaps
• Carbohydrate Dominance: Rice-heavy diets in poor households, particularly Adivasi communities, lacking protein and micronutrients
• Protein Scarcity: Dal consumption once weekly or monthly in impoverished areas, creating amino acid deficiencies
• Micronutrient Crisis: Limited access to eggs, despite some Anganwadi inclusion, perpetuating vitamin and mineral deficits

Maternal Anemia Epidemic

• Widespread Prevalence: 57% women aged 15-49 anemic, directly impacting fetal development and birth outcomes
• Child Impact: 67% children under five anemic, creating compounding malnutrition effects
• Iron Deficiency: Maternal anemia during pregnancy compromising infant growth potential from conception
• Healthcare Gap: Insufficient antenatal care and nutrition supplementation programs for pregnant women

Breastfeeding Challenges

• C-Section Disruption: Surgical deliveries increasing from 9% (2005-06) to 22% (2021), interfering with immediate breastfeeding
• Colostrum Loss: Babies missing first milk containing essential nutrients due to medical separation post-delivery
• Class Disparities: Government teachers getting six months maternity leave vs domestic workers returning within two weeks
• Exclusive Breastfeeding: Only 64% babies under six months exclusively breastfed, well below optimal standards

Sanitation & Hygiene Crisis

• Open Defecation: 19% households still practicing open defecation, contaminating groundwater and spreading infections
• Gut Health Damage: Unsafe water disrupting bacterial balance needed for nutrient absorption
• Infection-Malnutrition Cycle: Malnourished children falling sick more frequently, eating less, absorbing less nutrition
• Environmental Contamination: Poor sanitation creating disease burden preventing proper growth

Socioeconomic Determinants

• Poverty Trap: Stunting correlating with reduced cognitive abilities, educational attainment, and employment prospects
• Intergenerational Poverty: Malnourished children becoming disadvantaged adults, perpetuating family deprivation cycles
• Urban-Rural Divide: Different challenges across geographic and economic contexts requiring targeted interventions
• Caste and Community: Adivasi and marginalized communities facing disproportionate malnutrition burdens

Healthcare System Failures

• Antenatal Care Gap: Inadequate prenatal monitoring and nutrition counseling during critical fetal development period
• NICU Separation: Medical protocols inadvertently disrupting mother-child bonding and breastfeeding initiation
• Skill Deficits: Healthcare workers lacking comprehensive nutrition counseling capabilities
• Follow-up Weakness: Poor tracking of high-risk mothers and children through critical growth windows

Policy Recommendations

• Holistic Approach: Addressing maternal education, healthcare access, sanitation, and economic empowerment simultaneously
• Targeted Interventions: Special focus on teenage pregnancy prevention and adolescent girl nutrition programs
• Dietary Diversification: Expanding protein and micronutrient access through local food production and distribution systems
• Breastfeeding Support: Workplace policies enabling extended maternity leave across all employment categories

Long-term Implications

• Human Capital Loss: Stunted generation creating permanent economic disadvantage and reduced national productivity
• Healthcare Burden: Malnourished children requiring higher medical interventions throughout life
• Development Goals: Stunting crisis undermining broader sustainable development objectives and demographic dividend potential
• Global Standing: India’s malnutrition rates affecting international perception and development partnership opportunities

India’s Youth as a Response to U.S. Tariffs

Understanding the Context

• Tariff basics: Taxes levied on imports; raise the landed price of foreign goods.
• Shift in U.S. policy: Average U.S. tariffs stayed at 2–3% for two decades; in 2024, tariffs spiked under Trump administration.
• Impact on India:
  • U.S. tariffs on Indian exports fixed at 50% (with 25% penalty linked to Russian oil purchases).
  • Indian goods (e.g., textiles) become costlier ($15 vs $12 for Vietnam/Bangladesh products), hurting competitiveness.
  • Unlike China, which negotiated tariff rollbacks (145% → 30%), India and Brazil remain with some of the highest tariffs.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations ) , GS 3(Indian Economy)

Challenges for India

• Trade deficit stress: U.S. is India’s largest export destination; loss of market share deepens current account deficit.
• Employment concerns: Export-driven sectors like textiles, IT, and pharma face job losses.
• Agricultural bargaining pressure: U.S. demands greater dairy/agri market access in India, hurting Indian farmers.
• Structural weakness: India’s global export shares remain low (4.4% in textiles, 0.9% in machinery vs. China’s 36% and 25%).

Why Youth is India’s Strategic Strength

• Demographic advantage:
  • India has the world’s largest youth cohort — one in five young people globally is Indian.
  • 120 million Indians (15–29 yrs) are currently enrolled in higher education — comparable to Japan’s population.

• Brain circulation precedent:
  • Migration of Indian professionals since the 1970s boosted U.S. innovation (IIT graduates, doctors, engineers).
  • Indian diaspora (3.2 million in 2023) is highly represented in U.S. tech, academia, and entrepreneurship.

• Global comparison:
  • Youth share is declining in developed countries and China (ageing populations).
  • India’s demographic dividend window extends till ~2047.

Policy Options for India

External/Trade Policy Measures

• WTO route: Challenge unilateral U.S. tariffs as discriminatory and violative of multilateral trade rules.
• Diversify exports: Expand markets in Africa, ASEAN, EU, and Middle East to reduce U.S. dependency.
• Strategic reciprocity: Use India’s large consumer market as bargaining leverage.
• South-South coalitions: Deepen cooperation with Brazil, ASEAN, and African countries for fairer trade rules.

Domestic Economic Strengthening

• Demand-led growth: Expand domestic consumption by raising wages, incomes, and social protection.
• Innovation focus: Incentivize R&D in pharma, electronics, green tech to move up the value chain.
• Skill revolution: Vocational and technical training aligned with global industries.
• Infrastructure: Improve logistics, ports, and SEZs to cut export costs.

Youth-Centric Strategy

• Education & skilling: Massive investment in higher education, vocational skills, and digital literacy.
• Entrepreneurship ecosystem: Encourage startups in AI, biotech, and clean energy.
• Diaspora leverage: Use U.S.-based Indian professionals as lobbying and knowledge-transfer networks.
• Employment guarantee: Targeted policies for job creation in manufacturing, services, and green economy.

Future Outlook

• Short-term pain: Tariffs may cause export and job losses.
• Medium-term shield: India’s youth-driven domestic demand can offset reduced access to U.S. markets.
• Long-term opportunity:
  • With correct investments in education, health, and innovation, India can transform from low-wage exporter → high-value producer + consumer economy.
  • This dual role makes India indispensable to global growth, countering tariff-driven isolation.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. tariffs are a serious but temporary challenge.
• India’s youth bulge is the strongest bargaining chip in trade diplomacy.
• Policy focus: Skilling, innovation, and domestic demand expansion are essential to convert demographic advantage into economic power.
• The U.S. risks strategic miscalculation if it undervalues India by focusing narrowly on goods trade.

The Derozio effect: a brief, disruptive moment in 19th century colonial Calcutta

Context

• Period: 1820s–1840s, colonial Bengal (Calcutta).
• Institutional backdrop: Hindu College (est. 1817) to impart “liberal English education” to Indian elites.
• Catalyst: Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809–1831), Anglo-Portuguese poet and teacher, appointed at Hindu College (1826).

Relevance : GS 1(Modern History)

Derozio’s role

• Published poetry collections (Poems, The Fakeer of Jungheera) invoking freedom, patriotism, dignity of the enslaved.
• Used literature to stimulate rationalism, critique of tradition, and yearning for national regeneration.
• Advocated freedom of thought, women’s emancipation, and human equality.

The Derozians / Young Bengal Movement

• Formed: Academic Association (1828), debating social, political, religious issues.
• Values:
  • Rationalism, liberty, equality.
  • Opposition to caste, orthodoxy, idol worship, social conservatism.
  • Emphasis on critical enquiry, eclectic borrowing of global ideas.
• Social Acts: Encouraged widow remarriage, female education, inter-caste dining.
• Dismissal of Derozio (1831): Accused of propagating atheism; died at 22, but ideas persisted.

Political dimension

• Bengal British India Society (1843) – first political party in India, aimed at securing welfare and rights of all subjects.
• Advocacy for press freedom, legal reforms, and accountability of colonial authorities.

Exemplary figures

• Radhanath Sikdar: Brilliant mathematician; calculated Peak XV (later Everest) as world’s tallest.
  • Defied colonial authority by resisting mistreatment of Indian labourers; filed legal case against a British magistrate.
  • Embodied egalitarian spirit: “A man, and so are you.”

Impact & limitations

Impact

• Radical critique of social orthodoxy, caste, and colonial injustices.
• Planted seeds of political consciousness, rationalism, and human equality.
• Foreshadowed later nationalist ideas of Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore: inclusive, tolerant, eclectic.
• Inspired reformist successors: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Akshay Kumar Dutt.

Limitations

• Movement largely confined to elite, English-educated youth in Calcutta.
• Alienated orthodox Hindu society; lacked mass base.
• Short-lived: after Derozio’s death, cohesion weakened.

Legacy / Significance

• First radical intellectual movement in modern India.
• Represented India’s “first radicals” – bridging Western liberal thought with Indian reform.
• Their “idea of India”: inclusive, secular, egalitarian — a forerunner to constitutional values enshrined in 20th-century nation-building.
• Early example of civil society activism and political organisation under colonial rule.

Govt. set to introduce Bill to ban real money gaming firms

Context

• Sector: Online real money gaming (RMG), including fantasy sports (Dream11), card games (PokerBaazi), rummy, poker, etc.
• Size: Multi-billion-dollar industry with rapid growth in India.
• Recent move: Union Cabinet (19 Aug 2025) approved Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 → to be tabled in Parliament.
• Significance: Sudden, no draft Bill was made public beforehand (contrast with Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023).

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Social Issues)

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Definition of online money gaming:
  • Any game where players deposit money or stakes in expectation of winning.
  • Returns may be monetary or involve “other enrichment.”
• Prohibition:
  • Broad ban on all online money gaming (RMGs) across categories.
  • Covers fantasy sports, poker, rummy, and similar stake-based platforms.
• Scope: National-level framework (important, since states had varied regulations earlier).

Background Issues

• Industry pushback:
  • RMG platforms and industry associations have strong lobbying networks with government.
  • Opposed higher GST on RMG deposits (recent Council decision).
• Legal battles:
  • Firms obtained stays on bans at the state level (e.g., Karnataka).
  • Industry has argued for distinction between games of skill vs. games of chance.
• Government concern:
  • Addiction, financial losses, youth exploitation, and money laundering risk.
  • Consumer protection and responsible gaming.

Implications

Positive

• Protects vulnerable users from financial exploitation.
• Curtails gambling disguised as “games of skill.”
• Uniformity across India, reducing state-level inconsistencies.
• Potentially reduces litigation over regulatory gaps.

Negative / Challenges

• Huge economic impact:
  • RMG industry valued at several billion dollars; ban may hit jobs, revenues, start-up ecosystem.
  • Fantasy sports industry (with IPL tie-ins) likely to be severely impacted.
• Loss of foreign and domestic investment.
• Possibility of grey markets or underground illegal betting networks.
• Legal challenges inevitable (fundamental right to trade, Article 19(1)(g)).

Comparative / Global Context

• China: Harsh restrictions on online gaming for minors.
• US: State-wise regulation; some allow online poker, fantasy leagues.
• EU: Regulatory frameworks emphasizing responsible gaming, licensing, taxation.
• India’s move closer to prohibition model rather than regulation.

Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025

Context

• Proposed by: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha (Aug 2025).
• Objective: To disqualify/remove Central or State Ministers (including PM/CM/Council of Ministers) if detained for 30+ consecutive days on serious charges (e.g., corruption, grave offences).
• Constitutional Amendment: Seeks to amend Article 75, which governs appointment, tenure, and responsibilities of the Council of Ministers.

Relevance : GS 2(Constitution , Polity)

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Automatic removal after 30 days:
  • Any minister detained/incarcerated for 30 consecutive days in connection with corruption or serious offences shall cease to hold office.
• Definition of “serious offence”:
  • Offences attracting imprisonment of 5 years or more.
• Process of removal:
  • Removal to be formally executed by the President (for Union Ministers) on advice of the Prime Minister, effective from the 31st day of custody.
• Applicability: Central & State Ministers (includes PM, CM, Cabinet Ministers, MoS).

Constitutional Angle

• Current position (Article 75/164):
  • Ministers hold office at the “pleasure of the President/Governor” (effectively the PM/CM’s advice).
  • No automatic disqualification upon arrest/detention, unless convicted under Representation of People’s Act, 1951 (disqualification after conviction ≥ 2 years).
• Amendment impact: Creates a new ground of removal independent of conviction.

Background & Trigger

• Case of V. Senthil Balaji (Tamil Nadu, 2023):
  • DMK Minister arrested in money-laundering case; Governor dismissed him, but Supreme Court reinstated after bail.
  • Exposed legal grey area: Can an arrested/detained minister continue in Council of Ministers?
• Controversy: Political misuse of arrests vs. public morality in governance.

Significance

Positive Outcomes

• Strengthens political accountability & probity in governance.
• Prevents ministers under serious allegations from continuing in high office.
• Addresses “ethics deficit” in Indian politics; aligns with SC observations in 2014 Lily Thomas & Manoj Narula cases (on convicted MPs/ministers).
• Symbolic step toward zero tolerance for corruption.

Concerns/Challenges

• Presumption of innocence: Removal after mere detention (not conviction) may undermine fundamental rights (Article 21, Article 14).
• Scope for misuse: Political arrests/detentions could be engineered to oust ministers.
• Federal friction: Could deepen Centre–State conflicts (esp. in opposition-ruled states).
• Judicial test: Likely to face challenges in Supreme Court on grounds of basic structure doctrine (independence of executive, presumption of innocence).

Political & Legal Repercussions

• Political: May be seen as Centre’s tool to weaken opposition governments.
• Legal: Will trigger debate on “ethical governance vs. due process rights.”
• Comparative practices:
  • UK/US: Ministers usually resign voluntarily upon indictment or even serious allegations.
  • India: No codified rule till now → hence need for legal clarity.

Africa’s objection to the Mercator world map projection

Basics of Map Projections

• Problem: Earth is a sphere; projecting it on a flat surface distorts shape, size, or distance.
• Types of projections:
  • Cylindrical: e.g., Mercator (1569).
  • Equal-area: e.g., Peters, Equal Earth.
  • Conic, Azimuthal: used for specific purposes.
• Trade-off: No projection can preserve all properties (area, shape, direction, distance) simultaneously.

Relevance : GS 1(Geography)

The Mercator Projection (1569)

• Inventor: Gerardus Mercator (Flemish cartographer, mathematician).
• Purpose: Aid navigation → preserved angles and directions, crucial for sailors using straight-line (rhumb line) courses.
• Method: Projected Earth’s surface onto a cylinder → expanded distances away from equator.
• Adoption: Became standard in navigation and later in classroom atlases, textbooks, and wall maps.

The Distortion Problem

• Effect on Continents:
  • Areas near poles (e.g., Greenland, Europe, North America) appear much larger than reality.
  • Equatorial/tropical regions (e.g., Africa, South America) appear smaller than actual size.
• Example:
  • Greenland ≈ same size as Congo on Mercator, but in reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.
  • Africa appears ~2/3 its true size.
• Result: Creates a Eurocentric worldview, exaggerating the size and importance of the Global North.

Alternative Projections

• Peters Projection (1970s): Equal-area; accurately represents size but distorts shapes.
• Equal Earth Projection (2018): Supported by AU; balances area and shape, showing Africa in correct proportion.
• Gall-Peters Projection: Promoted in schools for educational equity.

African Union’s Stand

• Reason: Mercator projection symbolises colonial bias → enlarged Europe, diminished Africa.
• AU demand: Replace Mercator with Equal Earth or Peters projection for maps in UN, schools, international organisations.
• Political symbolism: Reclaim Africa’s “rightful place on the global stage.”

Broader Implications

• Historical:
  • Mercator maps used during European colonial expansion.
  • Supported “Scramble for Africa” by making the continent look smaller, less significant, and easier to partition.
• Cultural:
  • Shapes global perception → reinforces Northern dominance and Southern inferiority.
• Educational:
  • Textbooks with Mercator maps embed subconscious bias in young minds.
• Geopolitical:
  • Correcting the map is part of decolonising knowledge systems and reshaping global narratives.

Why This Matters Today

• Perception shapes power: Maps influence how societies value regions.
• Equity in representation: Giving Africa accurate size highlights its importance (2nd largest continent, vast resources, demographic dividend).
• Decolonisation movement: Fits within wider global push to challenge Eurocentric narratives in history, education, and international institutions.