Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 21st February 2025

 

 National News 

Google opens new office Ananta in Bengaluru 

• Google has officially opened Ananta, its newest and one of its biggest campuses globally, in Bengaluru. 
• Situated in Mahadevapura, the campus marks another step in the company’s long-standing presence in India. 
• Ananta is designed to support teams working across various Google services, and with the launch of this large office space, Google now has over 10,000 employees across multiple locations in India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Mumbai, and Pune. 
• The Ananta campus, meaning limitless in Sanskrit, spans 1.6 million square feet and can accommodate over 5,000 employees. Various Google teams working on Android, Search, Pay, Cloud, Maps, Play, and DeepMind, among others, will operate from this new space.

 9th Asia Economic Dialogue organised in Pune 

• The 9th Asia Economic Dialogue has been organised in Pune, Maharashtra. The Asia Economic Dialogue is External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship ‘Track 1.5 Dialogue’ on Geoeconomics. 
• The theme of the Dialogue is “Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation.” 
• The Dialogue explored key contemporary topics in geo-economics, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, economic imperatives of Cyber Security, and facets of Blue Economy in Indian Ocean Region and beyond. It also aims to address the complexities of economic fragmentation and identify actionable pathways for resilience and resurgence. 

Meesho launches ‘creator marketplace’ to ramp up influencer-driven traffic 

• Meesho has introduced a ‘creator marketplace platform’ to strengthen its influencer-driven content commerce strategy after seeing success with over 14 million influencer-driven purchases in the past year.
•  The company is collaborating with content creators who reflect diverse lifestyles, aiming to provide a personalized shopping experience tailored for the Indian market.
•  Meesho’s influencer-driven approach has led to nearly 10 times growth in categories such as women’s Western wear, jewellery, footwear, home décor, kidswear, and beauty products. 
• Meesho is committed to supporting both large and micro creators across metro and tier-2+ cities by providing tools and resources to thrive in the evolving digital commerce landscape. 

Govt removes caste, income restrictions for free coaching under PM-CARES 

• The government has introduced an updated scheme to provide high-quality coaching to children covered under the PM CARES scheme along with students from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). 
• Originally launched during the Sixth Five-Year Plan, the free coaching scheme has undergone multiple revisions over the years to enhance its effectiveness. The latest update extends its benefits to PM CARES beneficiaries, removing caste and income-related restrictions for these students. 
• Under the scheme, students will receive coaching for a wide range of competitive examinations, according to the guidelines of the updated scheme. These include Civil Services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions, as well as officer-grade recruitment tests for banks, insurance companies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs). 
• Additionally, the scheme covers entrance exams for premier institutions in fields such as engineering (IIT-JEE), medicine (NEET), management (CAT), and law (CLAT). Students aspiring for international studies will also receive coaching for standardized tests like GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, and SAT. Furthermore, coaching will be provided for defence-related examinations such as those for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS).
• Among these, 70 per cent of the seats will be allocated to SC students, while 30 per cent will be reserved for OBC students. Additionally, 30 per cent of the total seats in each category will be reserved for female candidates. If there are not enough female applicants in any category, the remaining seats will be filled by male candidates from the same category. 
• In the case of PM CARES beneficiaries, there will be no limit on the number of students admitted under the scheme. In the case of PM CARES beneficiaries, there will be no limit on the number of students admitted under the scheme. 
• To be eligible for the scheme, SC and OBC students must come from families with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh or less. Applicants must also have scored at least 50 per cent in their previous board examinations to qualify. 
• The selection process will be conducted online, with Central Universities empanelled under the scheme reviewing applications and preparing a merit-based shortlist. However, students covered under the PM CARES scheme will not be subject to the selection process and will be granted direct admission. 
• The government will fully cover the coaching fees for students, which will range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 75,000, depending on the course. Additionally, students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 for up to 12 months to assist with their expenses. 
• To further support candidates who pass the mains stage of Civil Services and State Services exams, an additional Rs 15,000 will be provided to help them prepare for interviews. 
• The implementation of the scheme will be overseen by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) in collaboration with Central Universities. Coaching centres under this initiative will operate under the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE). 

Union Health Ministry launches Intensified Special NCD Screening Drive to ensure 100% coverage of all individuals 

• In view of the escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched an Intensified Special NCD Screening Campaign. 
• Running from 20th February to 31st March 2025, this ambitious initiative aims to achieve 100% screening of all individuals aged 30 years and above for prevalent NCDs, including Diabetes Hypertension, and three common cancers—Oral, Breast, and Cervical. 
• The campaign will be executed across Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and various healthcare facilities nationwide, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). 
• The Intensified Screening Campaign aims to achieve the following- 
• 100% Screening Coverage– The campaign aims to ensure early detection and timely intervention for NCDs. 
• Improved Linkage to Care– By establishing structured treatment and follow-up protocols, the campaign seeks to reduce complications associated with NCDs. 
• Better Health Outcomes– The initiative is expected to lower healthcare costs and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals across the nation. 

Pilots could get weekly rest of 48 hours from July 1: DGCA affidavit 

• The weekly rest for pilots could be raised from 36 hours to 48 hours with effect from July 1, and revised night flying hours "rolled out' from November 1, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a detailed scheme for implementing relaxed duty norms for cockpit crew submitted before the Delhi High Court on Thursday. 
• The liberalised norms governing duty and rest periods for pilots to com-bat concerns over rising fatigue levels were an-nounced in January 2024, and were to be implement-ed from June 1, 2024. But they were put on hold after stiff opposition from air-lines, forcing pilots' unions to approach the court. After several rounds of court ordered mediation held by the DGCA between Air India and the pilot bodies, the regulator agreed to a phased implementation. 
• "Out of 22 clauses, 15 clauses would be implemented from 01.07.2025 and the remaining 7 claus-es would be rolled out from 01.11.2025," said the affidavit before the Delhi High Court signed by the DGCA's Assistant Director 
• (Operations), Himanshu Srivastava. The next hearing is on Monday. 
• Key among the provi-sions recommended for implementation from July 1 is the weekly rest period of "continuous 48 hours". Night duty will be during the hours between midnight and 6am instead of the present midnight to 5 a.m. As airlines are allowed to assign pilots only to two consecutive nights of flying, this provision will bring down the time of night flying. Further, the DGCA has capped the number of night landings a pilot can do to two. 
• Pilots have been demanding the scrapping of two consecutive nights of flying, introduced in April 2019, as night duties dis-rupt the natural sleep-wake cycle, cause fatigue and impact alertness le-vels. They say that in the recent past, due to in-creased international fly-ing, the quantum of night flying has increased exponentially. 
• The DGCA has used the term "roll-out" and not implementation for the set of rules delayed until Novem-ber 1, sources in pilots' unions said, indicating that the regulator could be planning a staggered enfor-cement. Airlines have strongly opposed the DGCA's proposal for res-tricting night flying. IndiGo had said in a submission to the DGCA in December that expanding the definition of night flying would have "a severe operational impact" and it should the-refore remain unchanged. 
• Air India said it would implement the new defini-tion after the regulator brought a modern, data-based fatigue risk management system.

 International news 

India and Saudi Arabia formed new media partnership as Waves 2025 summit approaches. 

• A landmark series of strategic meetings in Saudi Arabia has been concluded by a high-level Indian delegation. 
• This has resulted in strengthening bilateral media partnerships and creating momentum for India’s upcoming World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025). 
• Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi led the delegation, which met with key Saudi media leaders during the “Future of Media” Exhibition (FOMEX) in Riyadh. 
• The delegation also engaged in discussions with Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), and Assistant Minister of Media Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Maghlouth, focusing on expanding bilateral media cooperation.
•  Scheduled for May 1-4 at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, WAVES 2025 is being positioned as a transformative event in India’s digital entertainment landscape. 
• The summit will showcase cutting-edge advancements in animation, gaming, visual effects, augmented reality, and virtual production. 

Trade deal 'possible' with China: Trump 

• U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that a trade deal was "possible" with China a key target in the U.S. leader's tariffs policy. 
• In 2020, the U.S. had already agreed to "a great trade deal with China" and a new deal was "possible", Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. 
• One month into his second term in office, Mr. Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike targeting China and neighbours Canada and Mexico, and the European Union and using levies as his main policy tool for lowering the massive U.S. trade deficit. At the beginning of February, he slapped additional customs duties of 10% on all products imported from China. 
• Beijing's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that China and the U.S. "should resolve their concerns through dialogue and con-sultation based on equality and mutual respect". 
• "Trade and tariff wars have no winners and only serve to damage the interests of people all over the world," Ministry Spokes-man Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing. 

State news 

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented a Rs 3.70 trillion budget for the financial year 2025-26. 

• Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented the budget on the second day of the budget session. 
• The budget outlay of Rs 3,70,250 crore for 2025-26 indicates an increase of Rs 37,785 crore, or 11.3 per cent. 
• The state government proposed a tax relief of Rs 148 crore in the form of a reduction in stamp duty on mortgage deeds and on motor vehicle tax on electric vehicles. 
• Viksit Gujarat Fund with a corpus of Rs 50,000 crore has been proposed. 
• To convert Gujarat into a developed and prosperous state, six growth hubs, including Surat Economic Region will be developed. 
• 12 new high-speed corridors of 1,367 kilometres will be developed under the 'Garvi Gujarat High Speed Corridor' project. 
• Two greenfield expressways will be developed in Gujarat - the 'Namo Shakti Expressway' connecting Banaskantha to Saurashtra's coastal areas, and the 'Somnath-Dwarka Expressway' from Ahmedabad to Rajkot. 
• The state government also announced that it will establish the Gujarat Reforms Commission to bring necessary reforms in the administrative procedures and integrate new technologies. 

Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the budget of ₹8.09 lakh crore for FY 2025-26. 

• This is the biggest budget of the Uttar Pradesh government till date. 
• The budget is focused on research & development and Information Technology. 
• This is the ninth consecutive budget of the government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
•  22% of the Budget has been allocated for development purposes, 13% for education, 11% for agriculture and related services, and 6% for health. 
• The total Budget outlay for the financial year 2025-26 is 9.8% higher than the Budget outlay for FY25. 
• The State Government will develop an Artificial Intelligence City and set up a park for technological research in Cyber Security. 
• 49.86 lakh smartphones/tablets have been given under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana. 
• Meritorious female students will receive scooters under the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Yojana. 
• Under the Mukhya Mantri Gramodyog Rojgar Yojna, bank loans will be provided to 800 beneficiaries, and new enterprises will be established to provide employment to 16,000 people. 
• Rs 509 crore for solar pump installations under PM Kusum Yojana while Rs 124 crore has been allocated for promoting natural farming across all districts. 
• About 20.5 per cent of the budget will be spent on capital expenditure. 
• Rs 461 crore has been allocated for the Defense Industrial Corridor project along the Bundelkhand Expressway. 

U.P. eyes infrastructure, technology boost with 8-lakh-crore budget 

• The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday presented the budget for 2025-26 with an outlay of 8.09 lakh crore. Focused on infrastructure, women, and religious tourism, the budget also laid stress on technological advancements. 
• "The budget of *8,08,736 crore, the biggest ever in U.P., offers a perfect road map for balanced development of the State. This year's budget is almost 9.8% higher than the previous one. Out of the total, 22% has been al-located for development purposes, 13% for educa-tion, 11% for agriculture and related services, and 6% for health," said State Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, who presented the budget. 
• The government has al-so proposed the construc-tion of four new express-ways with an allocation of ₹900 crore. In the field of education, the government has proposed the development of primary schools as smart schools, with an allocation of ₹300 crore. 
• The budget also allocated over ₹400 crore under the Chief Minister's Tourist Places Development Scheme, with 150 crore set aside for developing tourism infrastructure in Ayodhya. "Our budget focuses on the commitment of the double-engine government to expand the economy and the Prime Minister's vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sab-ka Vikas, and Sabka Prayas," said Mr. Aditya nath at a press conference. 
• 'Second last budget' 
• However, the Opposition criticised the budget, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav calling it the "second last budget" of the BJP government. 
• Mr. Yadav said the budget lacks vision for Uttar Pradesh and fails to address the needs of the youth, farmers, and poor. 
• BSP chief Mayawati said the budget lacks the intention and policy road map to eliminate inflation, poverty, unemployment, and rural distress. "It is aimed at appeasing the well-off middle class," she said. 

Defence news 

Infiltration has 'gone down substantially' after change of Bangladesh regime: BSF 

• Infiltration along the Bangladesh border has "gone down substantially" after the political developments in the neighbouring country in August 2024, Border Security Force (BSF) chief Daljit Singh Chawdhary said on Thursday. He also said the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) stood shoulder to shoulder with the BSF to maintain peace and tranquillity throughout the "crisis" period. 
• After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 3, 2024, the BSF and BGB held their Director General-level talks for the first time from February 16 to 20. The meeting ended with the signing of a joint record of discussions. 
• The BGB Director-General, Major General Ashra-fuzzaman Siddiqui, said that reports of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country were an exaggera-tion and that the law and order incidents were part of a political problem. 
• Responding to a question by The Hindu on the issue, he said, "To be honest, such attacks on minorities per se did not happen. 
• The substantiation of that was the recently held Durga Puja. For example, the law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh were very precisely and strictly tasked by the government so that the Hindu community could celebrate the festival. To elaborate on this, BGB jurisdiction is within 8 km of the International Boundary, we have several puja mandaps where BGB personnel provide security. Overall, the law and order situation was not about minorities, it may be some kind of pol-itical problem." 
• The border-guarding forces of India and Bangladesh agreed to share real-time information and investigation reports on human traffickers to ensure effective border management without deaths on either side, a statement by the BSF said. The BSF and BGB will also begin joint inspections of areas to resolve the issues of fencing. 
• The BSF had also raised the issue of attacks on its personnel at the meeting. 

MOD signs two contracts worth ₹1,917 crore 

• The Defence Ministry on Thursday signed two contracts worth ₹1,917.47 crore for the procurement of 149 software defined radios (SDR) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and 1,868 rough terrain forklift trucks (RTFLT) for the three Services. 
• The contract for SDRs is at a total cost of ₹1,220.12 crore. "Induction of SDRS marks the transition to multi-band, multimode and multi role radios of the future," the Ministry said. The contract for RTFLTs is at a total cost of ₹697.35 crore. It is a critical equipment which will assist in various combat and logistics support tasks by avoiding manual handling of an enormous number of stores thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of the three Services. 

Banking and Financial 

India’s GDP growth rate to slow to 6.4% in 2025: Moody’s Analytics 

• India’s growth is anticipated to decelerate to 6.4% in 2025 from 6.6% in 2024, due to new US tariffs and weaker global demand affecting exports, according to Moody’s Analytics. 
• In its report titled ‘Asia-Pacific Outlook: Chaos Ahead’, Moody’s Analytics said growth across the Asia-Pacific economy will slow in 2025 as trade tensions, policy shifts, and, uneven recoveries knock the region’s fortunes. 
• As per its APAC forecast, India’s GDP is expected to grow 6.4 percent both in 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.

 Updated GDP List

• RBI –6.6% (FY25), 6.7% (FY26) 
• Deloitte – 6.5-6.8 (FY25) 
• FICCI – 6.4% (FY25) 
• UN – 6.6% (CY25); 6.7% (CY26)
• SBI – 6.3% (FY25)
• NSO – 6.4% (FY25)

Appointment

 Govt extends Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran’s term until March 2027

•  India’s Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran’s term has been extended by two years until March 2027. 
• Nageswaran was appointed to the position in 2022 and has also served as a part-time member of the economic advisory council to the prime minister from 2019 to 2021. 
• Nageswaran authored India’s annual economic survey in January that projected GDP growth at 6.3 per cent-6.8 per cent in the next fiscal year that starts on April 1. 

The tenure of CEA Anantha Nageswaran extended by the government till March 2027. 

• On February 20, 2025, the tenure of Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran was extended by the government for two years till March 2027. 
• The tenure of Mr. Nageswaran on a contract basis up to March 31, 2027, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by PM Narendra Modi.
•  On January 28, 2022, Mr. Nageswaran assumed charge as CEA for a three-year term, succeeding Krishnamurthy Subramanian, who had served in the role for three years.
•  The Office of the Chief Economic Adviser is responsible for advising the government on various economic policies and preparing the draft Economic Survey, which is tabled in Parliament a day before the Union Budget. 

Kash Patel is the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 9th Director.

 

• He is the FBI's first Indian-origin Director. He is a loyalist of Donald Trump. 
• On February 20, 2025, Senate (upper chamber of the United States Congress) approved his appointment with a vote of 51-49. 
• Along with Democrats, two Republican senators opposed the appointment. 
• Two Republican senators are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. 
• In New York, Kash Patel was born to Gujarati parents. 
• With a 10-year term, the FBI director is not a position that usually changes with a new presidential administration. 
• After winning the election in November, Trump selected Patel. 
• In this way, Trump forced the resignation of Christopher Wray. 
• Christopher Wray was appointed as Director by Trump in 2017. 

Salila Pande has been appointed as the MD & CEO of SBI Card from April 1. 

• The board of SBI Cards and Payment Services has appointed Salila Pandey as Managing Director and CEO with effect from April 1, 2025. 
• Pandey's appointment will be for a term of two years. He has been nominated by the State Bank of India.
•  The board has approved the appointment of Pandey following the retirement of Abhijit Chakraborty from the services of State Bank of India with effect from March 31, 2025. 
• Pandey is the Chief General Manager at State Bank of India. 
• She joined SBI as a Probationary Officer in 1995 and has been associated with the country's largest banking group since then. 
•  SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited is a leading credit card company and payment service provider in India. 
• In May 1998, it was established as a joint venture between the State Bank of India and GE Capital. 
• It is headquartered in Gurgaon.

 Award news 

BBC has named Bhaker as the Indian Sportswoman of the Year. 

• Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker has been named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) for 2024 after a global public vote.
• The 22-year-old was honoured for her historic feat of becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals at the same Olympic Games. 
• Previously, Bhaker has won the BBC's ISWOTY Emerging Athlete of the Year award. 
• Her fellow shooter Avani Lekhara was honoured with the BBC ISWOTY Para-Sportswoman of the Year award. 
• The fifth edition of BBC ISWOTY was produced and managed by Collective Newsroom. 

Category	Winner	Achievement
BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year	Manu Bhaker	First Indian woman to win two medals at a single Olympic Games (Paris 2024)
BBC ISWOTY Para-sportswoman of the Year	Avani Lekhara	First Indian woman to win three Paralympic medals (Gold in Paris 2024, Gold & Bronze in Tokyo 2020)
BBC ISWOTY Emerging Athlete Award	Sheetal Devi	India's youngest Paralympic medallist (Bronze in Paris 2024, multiple medals at Asian Para Games & World Para Archery Championships)
BBC ISWOTY Lifetime Achievement Award	Mithali Raj	Longest-serving captain in international cricket history (led Indian women's team from 2004-2022)

 

Nita Ambani received a Governor’s Citation in Massachusetts for philanthropic contributions. 

• Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, received the distinguished governor's citation from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. 
• She has received the honour for her visionary leadership and exceptional contributions to society. 
• The citation honours Ambani's lifelong dedication to transformative impact across education, healthcare, sports, arts, culture, and women's empowerment. 

Science and Technology

 India is world’s second country to introduce digital pilot licenses.

• Electronic Personnel License for pilots has been introduced by India.
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu launched India’s Electronic Personnel License. 
• Electronic Personnel License has been launched after approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization. 
• The traditional physical licenses will be replaced by the Electronic Personnel License`. 
• Electronic Personnel License can be accessed through the eGCA Mobile Application. 
• This aim of the initiative is to increase security, transparency, and efficiency in process of pilot licensing. 
• Due to the Electronic Personnel License initiative, global employability for pilots will improve. 
• Other digital aviation initiatives launched by the government are eGCA for licensing, the Digital Sky Platform for drones, and the Electronic Flight Folder for airline operations. 

Microsoft unveiled a new quantum chip ‘Majorana 1’. 

• Microsoft has claimed to have engineered a new quantum chip named Majorana. It is an eight-qubit chip. 
• A new quantum chip that produces more reliable and scalable qubits than its predecessors. Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers. 
• ‘Majorana 1’ will be beneficial for the future of quantum computing. 
• Microsoft is planning to build a quantum computer somewhere between 2027-29. 
• These Majorana particles have been fabricated using topological conductors and they exist in a topological state. It is different from traditional states of matter such as solid, liquid, and gas. 
• In the last 20 years, Microsoft researchers have focused on developing topological qubits, which are said to be more stable than traditional qubits and require less error correction from the start. 
• Topoconductors are made by combining indium arsenide (a semiconductor) and aluminium (a superconductor). 

Rank and reports news 

West Bengal topped the bird count list in India. 

• Bengal recorded the highest number of species during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
• Bengal topped the list with 543 species. 1068 bird species have been recorded in India. 
• The Great Backyard Bird Count is an exercise, which was conducted between February 14 and 17. 
• The overall number of species in India has increased to 1,068 from 1036 species. 
• Darjeeling topped in the Bengal with the highest number of species. 
• In terms of checklists, South 24 Parganas emerged as the top district in the State with 513 checklists. 
• The top observer on the species list is Baharuddin Sk with 310 species observed. 

Sports 

34th ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup table tennis tournament begins in China 

• The 34th edition of the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup table tennis tournament begins in Shenzhen, China. 
• India’s men’s team is led by world No. 42 Sharath Kamal, a five-time Olympian and reigning Commonwealth Games singles champion. 
• The squad also includes world No. 60 Manav Thakkar and world No. 70 Harmeet Desai. The Indian women’s team features Paris 2024 Olympian Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Yashaswini Ghorpade. 
• The event features men’s and women’s singles competitions, with 32 players in each category. The top four semi-finalists in both events will qualify for the ITTF World Cup 2025, scheduled for April. 

Important day 

20 February – World Day of Social Justice

•  World Day of Social Justice is observed annually on February 20.
• The day highlights the need for social justice in eliminating poverty, ensuring decent work, gender equality, and access to education and healthcare. 
• Theme 2025 – Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps Of Social Justice 
• The ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization was unanimously approved by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on June 10, 2008. This is the third significant statement of principles and policies adopted by the International Labour Conference since the 1919 ratification of the ILO Constitution. 

Indian Polity 

I&B Ministry warns OTTS against 'obscene content’ 

• Warning over-the-top (OTT) streaming services against transmitting "any content that is prohibited by law", the Union Information and Broad-casting (I&B) Ministry on Thursday said they should ensure "age-based classification of content" under the Information Technolo-gy (Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. 
• The OTT platforms should enforce age-gating requirements for mature content, the Ministry said in an advisory citing com-plaints from MPs, statuto-ry organisations and the public. 
• It is unclear specifically what "obscene, pornographic and vulgar con-tent" the circular is referring to. In December 2024, the Ministry flagged some shows "promoting, glamo-rising or glorifying the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through such portrayal by the main protagonist and other actors". 
• The IT Rules have extensive regulations prescribing age ratings for content on Indian stream-ing services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Those regulations require streaming services to have a formal grievance redress system. They should be part of a three tier system, under which users who are offended by certain content can first approach the platform, then a self-regulatory body, and further an inter-departer-departmental committee of the Union government. 
• On Tuesday, a Supreme Court Bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, orally observed that the government needed to take some action on obscene content on social media.
• The present advisory has only been sent to online curated content plat-forms, the legal term for streaming platforms such as Netflix, as opposed to user generated content platforms such as YouTube. The court was hearing a case on clubbing the FIRs against Ranveer Al-lahbadia, the podcaster who has been at the centre of a storm over a joke he cracked on the YouTube show India's Got Talent. 
• Not completely banned The IT Rules do not completely ban swearing, sex or nudity; they instead require that shows and films
• that feature these along with substance abuse and violence be rated for older audiences. 
• Apart from the IT Rules, the advisory points to oth-er laws to warn streaming providers against content that features obscenity. "Attention is also invited to the provisions of the Inde-cent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act; and the In-formation Technology (IT) Act, 2000, wherein publi-cation of obscene/porno-graphic content is a pun-ishable offence," advisory reads.