Important News - 2025-07-14
14 July 2025
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Heritage (1)
Karnataka Suspends DCF Chakrapani Over Tiger Deaths in M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
The Karnataka State government has suspended Chakrapani Y., Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of the M.M. Hills Wildlife Division, following allegations of dereliction of duty and negligence in the unnatural death of five tigers—a mother and her cubs—in the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district on June 26, 2024. Earlier, on July 4, Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre had ordered the suspension of Assistant Conservator of Forests Gajanana Hegde and Range Forest Officer-cum-Surveyor Madesh, while recommending Chakrapani's suspension. All three officers were initially sent on compulsory leave on June 30. The suspension of Chakrapani, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, was formalized on July 8, 2024, based on a high-level inquiry committee report. The suspension order, issued under Rule 3(1) of the All India Service (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, mandates that Chakrapani remain at his headquarters without written permission from the state government and receive subsistence allowance as per Rule 4.
Politics (5)
Tejasvi Surya Opposes Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project, Calls It a Scam
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has strongly opposed the proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru, labeling it a 'loot of public money' and a 'Congress job scam.' Addressing the media at the BJP State office on Monday, he vowed that the BJP would block the project, which is estimated to cost ₹18,500 crore. Surya criticized the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and feasibility study for the 18-km tunnel road from Hebbal to Dairy Circle, alleging irregularities. He pointed out that the project exclusively caters to cars, with no provisions for buses, autos, or two-wheelers, and accused the Congress government of corruption. Additionally, Surya highlighted the incomplete status of over 20 flyovers and the stalled suburban railway network, emphasizing the need to protect public funds and ensure accountability.
Congress Faces Internal Dissent Over P.J. Kurien’s Criticism of Youth Congress Leadership
The Indian National Congress is currently grappling with internal dissent following veteran leader P.J. Kurien's critical remarks about the Youth Congress leadership. On Monday, Kurien openly criticized the Youth Congress for lacking grassroots presence compared to its political rivals, the CPI(M)-affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students Federation of India (SFI). He particularly highlighted the absence of young Congress leaders in his constituency of Kottayam. Kurien’s comments, which praised Chandy Oommen, MLA, as an exception, sparked concerns within the party about potential personality clashes and ego conflicts among young leaders. While Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan defended the Youth Congress, citing their efforts against the LDF government, some senior leaders like Ramesh Chennithala supported Kurien’s perspective, viewing it as constructive criticism. The party now faces the challenge of addressing these internal divisions while maintaining unity.
Telangana Congress Government Takes Steps to Secure Krishna and Godavari Waters
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka of Telangana criticized the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for spreading misinformation and failing to secure the state’s rightful share of Krishna and Godavari river waters. He emphasized the Congress government’s commitment to addressing water resource mismanagement under the previous BRS administration. Vikramarka highlighted the adverse impact of projects like the Rayalaseema Lift between Jurala and Srisailam, which has caused severe water shortages in Khammam and Nalgonda districts. The Congress government is prioritizing the completion of irrigation projects such as Palamuru-Ranga Reddy, Nettempadu, Bheema, Koilsagar, and the Narayanpet-Kodangal lift irrigation scheme. Additionally, the government is implementing pro-farmer policies, including Rythu Bharosa, farm loan waivers, and 24-hour free power supply to the agricultural sector, aiming to transform Telangana into a granary and seed bank for the nation.
KSU Protests at Higher Education Minister’s Residence Over KEAM Exam Controversy
On Monday, activists from the Kerala Students Union (KSU) organized a protest march to the official residence of Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, demanding her resignation over the KEAM engineering entrance exam controversy. The protest was inaugurated by senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. During the demonstration, the activists clashed with the police as they attempted to breach the barricades set up outside the minister's residence. The police used water cannons multiple times to disperse the crowd, and the protesters also burned an effigy. KSU State president Aloshious Xavier warned that the protests would intensify if the Minister does not address their demands.
Telangana Jagruthi Leaders Protest at Women’s Commission Over Derogatory Remarks Against K. Kavitha
On Monday, a delegation of Telangana Jagruthi leaders staged a protest in front of the Telangana State Women’s Commission in Hyderabad, demanding strict action against MLC Teenmar Mallanna for making derogatory remarks about Jagruthi president and MLC K. Kavitha. The leaders, including M. Madhavi, D. Suchitra, Sandhya Reddy, S. Laxmi, Ravathi Rao, Uma, and Afroze Shaheen, expressed disappointment over the absence of Commission Chairperson Nerella Sharada, despite prior notification. The Commission Secretary also reportedly refused to accept their complaint, citing the unavailability of the chairperson. Despite these hurdles, some Commission members present at the time eventually accepted the complaint and assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken. The Jagruthi leaders further alleged that they were denied entry into the Commission premises for nearly two hours, criticizing the Chairperson and Secretary’s discouraging attitude in addressing issues of women’s dignity.
World Affairs (2)
Marine Experts Advocate Coordinated Efforts to Curb Illegal Shark Fishing and Trade
Marine experts have emphasized the need for coordinated action and heightened awareness to combat illegal shark fishing and trade. On July 14, an interactive workshop and panel discussion were organized by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to address this issue. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration among various agencies to ensure the conservation of protected species, particularly in light of India’s recent expansion of the list of sharks and rays protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Participants identified gaps in monitoring and enforcement and proposed solutions such as habitat mapping, public awareness campaigns, gear modification, demarcation of conserved areas, AI-supported shark recognition devices, and an identification manual. Shaik Khader Rahman, Chief Commissioner of CGST & Customs, stressed the importance of joint training exercises and real-time communication channels among Customs, Fisheries officers, Coastal police, researchers, and Forest and Wildlife departments for effective enforcement.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Completes Seven Microgravity Experiments on ISS
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments during his 18-day mission. These experiments, conducted as part of the Ax-4 research complement, included studies on Indian strains of Tardigrades, Myogenesis, Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds, and the Voyager Display. The research was proposed by Indian Principal Investigators (PIs) from various national R&D laboratories and academic institutions. Group Captain Shukla, the first Indian to reach space in 41 years, also interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engaged with students in India via ham radio. The Dragon spacecraft is returning to Earth with over 580 pounds of cargo, including data from more than 60 international experiments. This mission marks a significant milestone for India's space research efforts.
Schemes (2)
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin Launches Ungaludan Stalin Programme on July 15
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will launch the Ungaludan Stalin programme on July 15, 2024, in Chidambaram, Cuddalore district. This initiative aims to bring government services directly to citizens’ homes, eliminating the need for them to visit government offices. A total of 10,000 camps will be organized across urban and rural areas, with 43 services from 13 departments in urban areas and 46 services from 15 departments in rural areas. Over 1 lakh volunteers will assist in the programme, which will run until November 2024. A dedicated portal will be launched to display the schedule of these camps. Additionally, the Mudhalvarin Mugavari programme, launched in 2021, has received over 1.05 crore petitions, with 1.01 crore resolved by June 30, 2024. Similarly, the Makkaludan Mudhalvar programme, started in 2023, has addressed 95% of the 21.86 lakh petitions received.
Chittoor Mango Farmers to Receive ₹120 Crore Subsidy
On Monday, Collector Sumit Kumar announced that the State government has allocated ₹120 crore as a subsidy for mango farmers in Chittoor district. The subsidy, amounting to ₹4 per kg, is intended for farmers who supplied Totapuri mangoes to pulp industries. During a meeting with Agriculture and Horticulture officials, the Collector reviewed the subsidy disbursal status and emphasized the need for ground-level verification of farmer and crop data. He instructed officials to coordinate with field staff to ensure accurate details of IFSC codes, e-crop registration, and the quantity of mangoes supplied. As of the second week of July, over 3 lakh metric tonnes of Totapuri mangoes had been procured, primarily from Kuppam and Palamaner areas, with procurement expected to continue for the next 15 days.
Awards (1)
Narsapuram Crochet Lace Wins ‘One District One Product’ Award and Gains GI Tag
On March 1, 2024, the Narsapuram crochet lace craft from Andhra Pradesh was officially registered in the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry, marking its unique origin across 19 mandals in West Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts. The GI tag was jointly applied for by the West Godavari District Alankriti Lace Manufacturing Mahila Mutual Aided Co-operative Societies’ Federation Limited (Alankriti Federation), the Narsapuram All India Crochet Lace Exporters Association, and the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (APHDC). In a recent development, West Godavari District Collector Chadalavada Nagarani received the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) award for this craft from the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, during an award ceremony held in Delhi. Ms. Nagarani emphasized that the craft’s design and development would be prioritized to create employment opportunities for women in the Godavari region.
Miscellaneous (1)
SSUS Seeks Police Protection to Enforce Campus Discipline Amid Protests
The Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS) authorities have requested police protection to enforce disciplinary rules on its main campus in Kalady, Kerala. This comes in response to ongoing student protests against the implementation of new regulations, including the decision to close the main gate after 11 p.m. In a letter dated July 11, 2025, the Registrar-in-charge informed the District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) that protesting students had gathered in front of the gate, preventing its closure. The letter also highlighted concerns about outsiders supporting the protests and staying in campus hostels. The university sought police assistance to ensure the safety of officials and enforce the new rules. These rules, recommended by a Syndicate sub-committee to maintain discipline and create a drug-free campus, were implemented on July 1, 2025, with three amendments made following discussions with teaching and non-teaching staff. On July 7, 2025, the Syndicate decided to establish hostel monitoring and discipline committees to further enforce these regulations.
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