Important News - 2025-06-07
07 June 2025
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Schemes (2)
Nadda Launches Initiatives to Promote Healthy Eating on World Food Safety Day 2025
On World Food Safety Day 2025, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, urged every Indian to reduce salt and oil consumption by 10%. The event, organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, focused on the theme ‘Stop obesity by eating safe and healthy.’ Nadda highlighted alarming statistics from an ICMR study, which reported a 39.6% increase in urban obesity and a 23.1% increase in rural areas between 2008 and 2020. He warned that nearly a third of India’s population could be obese by 2050, emphasizing the dangers of ultra-processed food and sedentary lifestyles. Nadda stressed the importance of reviving traditional millet-based diets and promoting safe, nutritious, and balanced food to build a ‘Viksit Bharat.’ He also launched four initiatives to encourage healthy eating habits. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of School Education and Literacy, discussed the integration of food awareness into NCERT textbooks, including chapters on food safety and well-being from class 3 onwards, supported by the Eat Right activity book. Additional measures include promoting millets in midday meals and introducing the Sugar Board in CBSE schools to help students monitor their daily sugar intake. The event also highlighted the growing competition among states, with several Chief Ministers and State Health Ministries rolling out localized versions of the ‘Eat Right’ campaign, including awareness drives in schools, millet-based meal promotions, and public health audits.
Finance Ministry Eases Procurement Norms for Scientific Equipment, Bypassing GEM
The Finance Ministry, on June 5, 2025, rolled back restrictions on the procurement of scientific equipment, addressing long-standing complaints from scientists about sub-standard equipment hampering research. The new circular allows affiliated scientific institutions to bypass the Government e-marketplace (GEM), a Commerce Ministry initiative promoting made-in-India equipment. Previously, all government purchases, including scientific equipment, had to be made through GEM, often leading to delays and compromises in research quality. The updated norms now permit Directors of select institutes and Vice-Chancellors or Chancellors of universities to approve non-GEM procurement of scientific equipment and consumables. Additionally, the circular raised the ceiling for global tender enquiries (GTE) to ₹200 crore, previously requiring clearance from departmental Secretaries. The procurement limits for goods without quotations were also doubled, from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, and for Purchase Committees, from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh. These changes aim to reduce delays, enhance autonomy, and empower research institutions to innovate faster. The revisions are applicable to institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Atomic Energy and Space, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, and educational institutions conducting postgraduate research. Science Minister Jitendra Singh hailed this as a "landmark" step, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the transformative reform.
Politics (4)
Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu Confident in PM Modi’s Approach to Delimitation Issue
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ability to address the concerns of southern States regarding delimitation, which could reduce their parliamentary representation if based solely on population. Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is a key member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), emphasized that Modi would work collaboratively to ensure fairness in the delimitation process. Naidu recalled his role in the 2001 Constitutional amendment, which postponed the inter-State redistribution of parliamentary seats until 2026. He highlighted the demographic shifts, noting that southern States have controlled population growth, while northern States have seen higher population increases. Naidu stressed the need for fair delimitation and called for population growth management in southern India to address aging populations and migration trends. He clarified that discussions on delimitation with the Prime Minister have not yet occurred but would take place at an appropriate time. The next delimitation exercise is expected after the first Census post-2026, with the Census likely concluding by early 2027.
Assam Government to Fast-Track Deportation of Illegal Immigrants Using 1950 Order
The Assam Government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on June 7, 2025, that it may expedite the deportation of illegal immigrants by bypassing the lengthy legal process. Instead of referring cases to the quasi-judicial Foreigners Tribunal (FT) or courts, the government plans to utilize the Immigrants Expulsion Order of 1950, which allows District Commissioners to issue immediate deportation orders. This decision follows a Supreme Court observation that the 1950 order remains valid. The move aims to address the backlog caused by the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update. Assam has 100 FTs, established since 2005, to adjudicate citizenship cases. The government has already deported numerous individuals, except those with ongoing court cases, and plans to increase the pace of deportations. However, the process has faced criticism from minority organizations and rights activists, particularly after 14 Bengali-speaking Muslims were deported to Bangladesh on May 28, 2025, and subsequently returned to Assam. The Supreme Court also dismissed a petition challenging the government’s deportation measures on June 2, 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs has urged Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification for over 2,000 pending cases.
Karnataka HC Urges MoRTH to Amend Motor Vehicles Act for Toll Collection Clarity
The Karnataka High Court has advised the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to review and amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to address discrepancies in vehicle classification during toll collection. The issue arose due to inconsistencies between the MV Act and the National Highways Act, 1956, particularly concerning the classification of buses. Justice M. Nagaprasanna issued this directive while dismissing a petition filed by the Karavali Bus Owners’ Association and private bus owners from Udupi. The petitioners had challenged the additional toll charges levied on their buses due to a mismatch in vehicle classification. The court highlighted that the MV Act lacks clear definitions for vehicles weighing between 7,500 kg and 12,000 kg, leading to disputes. The petitioners had registered their vehicles as 'minibus' in the FASTag system, but the Regional Transport Office (RTO) classified them as 'bus' based on seating capacity. The court upheld the toll authorities' decision to recover the differential amount, noting that toll collection is governed by the National Highways Act and its fee collection rules, not the MV Act.
BRS Leader Defends Kaleshwaram Project Against Congress Allegations
Senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former irrigation minister T. Harish Rao accused the Congress party of spreading misinformation about the Kaleshwaram project. Rao defended the project's change of location, increased costs, and its positive impact on Telangana's agriculture. He presented a detailed PowerPoint demonstration at the BRS party office, attended by senior leaders including working president K.T. Rama Rao. Rao countered Congress's claims that increased paddy and foodgrain production this year were unrelated to the Kaleshwaram project, asserting that water was drawn from the Mid Manair reservoir and Yellampally through the Kaleshwaram network. He also highlighted the project's unique design, which draws water from three different points using multiple barrages and pump-houses. Rao explained that the BRS government had to seek alternatives due to Maharashtra's opposition to the inter-State agreement and environmental concerns, which were previously unresolved by the Congress government. He also justified the cost increase by citing expanded water storage facilities and higher land acquisition costs, comparing it to the Pranahita-Chevella project.
Festivals (1)
Pre-Events Announced for 11th Malabar River Festival in Kozhikode
The pre-events for the 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival will be held across nine local bodies in Kozhikode, Kerala, to pave the way for the main event. These events, decided during a meeting chaired by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh on June 6, 2025, include cultural, sports, and adventure activities such as rain walks, swimming, mud football, farm tours, kabaddi, shuttle badminton, and volleyball. The pre-events will take place in eight upland grama panchayats and Mukkam municipality, concluding by July 20. Additionally, local kayaking competitions will be organized to encourage participation, with training provided at the International Kayaking Academy and other regional centers. The selection trials for the national kayaking team will be held on July 24, attracting kayakers from across the country to Kodenchery. The Malabar River Festival, organized by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society and the District Tourism Promotion Council, with support from the Department of Tourism and the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, will be held in the rivers Iruvazhinji and Chalipuzha from July 24 to 27, 2025.
Defence (1)
NIA Files Chargesheet Against Goldy Brar in Gurugram Club Blasts Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against five individuals, including Canada-based designated terrorist Satinderjit Singh, commonly known as Goldy Brar, in connection with the 2024 twin bomb attacks at clubs in Gurugram, Haryana. The other accused named in the chargesheet are Sachin Taliyan, Ankit, Bhawish, and U.S.-based Randeep Singh, also known as Randeep Malik. The NIA has invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. While Goldy Brar and Randeep Malik remain at large, the other three have been arrested. The NIA's investigation revealed that the accused were involved in a conspiracy to bomb the Warehouse Club and the Human Club in Sector 29, Gurugram, on December 10, 2024. The attacks were allegedly orchestrated by the proscribed terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) as part of a broader plan to spread communal disharmony and disrupt peace in Haryana and neighboring regions. The NIA stated that the group is part of a 'terror syndicate' engaged in extortion, raising funds for terror activities, procuring arms and explosives, and promoting terror to threaten the country's integrity, security, and sovereignty.
Economy (1)
EPACK Prefab Launches ₹56 Crore Sandwich Panel Plant in Andhra Pradesh, Aligning with Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat
EPACK Prefab Technologies Limited, a leading provider of pre-engineered and prefabricated building solutions, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art sandwich panel manufacturing facility in Mambattu, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. Spread over 2,83,660 square feet with a built-up area of 1,49,151 square feet, the plant is designed to produce energy-efficient and high-performance sandwich panels used in sectors like cold storage, food processing, clean rooms, and industrial infrastructure. The facility boosts EPACK's production capacity by 8 lakh square meters annually, increasing the company’s total sandwich panel capacity to 13.10 lakh square meters per annum. The plant features a fully automated, continuous production line, ensuring high precision, enhanced product quality, and reduced material waste. EPACK’s Managing Director & CEO, Sanjay Singhania, emphasized the facility’s alignment with national missions like Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and PM Gati Shakti. With an investment of ₹56 crore (excluding land cost), the company aims to capture a 30% to 35% market share in the prefabricated sandwich panel segment by the end of the fiscal year. The plant operates under environmental compliance with approvals from the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board and supports sustainable manufacturing through energy-efficient operations. EPACK has also been recognized by the Golden Book of Records for constructing the fastest-built industrial facility in India at this site.
Miscellaneous (3)
Activists Demand Karnataka CM to Halt Felling of 368 Trees in Bengaluru Cantonment Area
Environmental activists in Karnataka have appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene and halt the proposed felling of 368 trees in Bengaluru’s Cantonment area. The Railways, through the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), sought permission from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Forest Cell to remove these trees as part of a commercial development project. The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) invited public objections on April 25, 2025. On World Environment Day (June 5), activists, including A.T. Ramaswamy, organized a campaign with support from seers, retired officials, and environmentalists, demanding the preservation of the trees and the declaration of the area as a biodiversity park. They accused the BBMP Forest Cell of prioritizing corporate interests over public health and urban greenery. The Hindu first reported this issue in April 2025, highlighting the public notice issued by the BBMP.
Ankita Bhandari Murder Case Exposes Systemic Failures in Uttarakhand
The murder of Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar, Uttarakhand, in September 2022, has sparked widespread outrage and highlighted systemic issues in the state's policing and justice systems. Ankita was allegedly killed after refusing to provide 'extra services' to VIP customers at the resort. The case led to protests and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which eventually led to the conviction of Pulkit Arya, the resort owner and son of a former BJP leader, and his associates, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025. The case also brought to light the outdated Revenue Police system in Uttarakhand, where untrained revenue officials handle criminal investigations. Despite the court's verdict, the family of Ankita continues to face challenges, including threats and financial strain, as the convicted individuals plan to appeal the decision in the Nainital High Court. The case has reignited debates on women's safety and the need for police reform in the state.
Doctors Transferred from Kozhikode MCH to Wayanad Ahead of NMC Visit
At least 12 doctors from various departments at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kozhikode have been transferred to the Government Medical College in Wayanad on a temporary working arrangement basis. The transfer order was issued on June 4, 2024, and includes doctors from departments such as anaesthesia, ophthalmology, gynaecology, paediatrics, pharmacology, microbiology, community medicine, anatomy, and forensic medicine. This move comes ahead of a scheduled visit by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to the Wayanad medical college to assess infrastructure and faculty strength. Additionally, doctors from medical colleges in Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram have also been transferred to Wayanad, bringing the total number of transferred doctors to around 20. The transfer has raised concerns about reduced staff strength affecting academic activities and patient care, especially as the Kozhikode MCH is already grappling with a high patient load due to seasonal illnesses like leptospirosis, dengue fever, Hepatitis A, and influenza. Patients are reportedly struggling to find beds, with many forced to lie on the floor. The situation has worsened after the casualty section was shifted to the old MCH building following fire outbreaks in the accident and emergency care building, leading to further congestion and difficulties for patients and staff.
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