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Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

Polity

Context

• The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to introduce amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means ) Act, 2024

• It was passed in 2024 and is aimed at curbing leaks, malpractices in recruitment examinations like UPSC, SSC etc and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.
• The Act broadly defines “unfair means” to include various malpractices, such as:

1. Leaking question papers or answer keys,
2. Assisting candidates during exams (unauthorized communication, providing solutions),
3. Tampering with computer networks or resources,
4. Impersonating candidates,
5. Conducting fake examinations or issuing fake documents,
6. Tampering with documents for merit lists or ranks.

Penalties and Punishments:

Individuals:

• Imprisonment ranges from 3 to 10 years depending on the offense’s severity.
• Fines up to Rs. 1 crore for organized crimes.
• Service providers:
• Fines up to Rs. 1 crore for involvement in malpractices.
• Barring from conducting public examinations for 4 years.
• Personal liability for directors/management involved.

Organized crimes:

• Harsher penalties, with imprisonment between 5 and 10 years and a minimum fine of Rs. 1 crore
• The institution involved can face property attachment and forfeiture

Investigation: 

• All offences under the Act are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
• An officer not below the rank Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police will investigate the offences under the Act. 
• The Central Government may transfer the investigation to any Central Investigating Agency.

Radhakrishnan Panel

• Following the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, the Ministry of Education formed a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan.

NATO’s Ankara Summit

International

Context

• The 2026 NATO Summit, held in Ankara, Türkiye, reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to collective defence and strengthening Europe’s defence industrial base.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• NATO, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• Background: It was established by 12 countries from Europe and North America with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as Washington Treaty) in 1949 in Washington, D.C to provide collective security against the Soviet Union attack in the aftermath of World War II.
• Collective Defense: According to Article 5, NATO works on the principle of collective defense, where an attack on any NATO member is considered an attack on all NATO members. So far, Article 5 has been invoked once – in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
• Members: It comprises 32 member states. Sweden became the 32nd member.

UNESCO Adds West Bank, Lebanon Sites to Danger List

History & Culture

Context

• UNESCO has added Sebastia in the West Bank and five castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region, including Beaufort Castle, to both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

About

• • The World Heritage List recognises cultural, natural and mixed heritage sites of Outstanding Universal Value. 
  • The List of World Heritage in Danger includes sites threatened by armed conflict, natural disasters, uncontrolled urbanisation, pollution, climate change or neglect. Its objective is to mobilise international attention and conservation support. 

• The emergency inscription of these sites reflects concerns over the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on their conservation. 

Sebastia

• Sebastia, located near Nablus in the West Bank, is identified with the ancient city of Samaria, the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. 
• Its archaeological remains span the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods, reflecting its long historical significance. 

Mount Amel Castles

• The inscription covers five historic castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel (Jabal Amel) region, including Beaufort Castle. 
• These fortifications showcase a blend of Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk and local architectural traditions, illustrating nearly nine centuries of military and cultural history.

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

International

In News

• The 60th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)  was observed.

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) 

• Established in – 1966.

• • Objective –It is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly and works to modernise and harmonise international trade law. 
  • It convenes annually in New York and Vienna in turn to promote its work in the field of international trade law.
  • Membership – It has 70 member States

• India is a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL)

• Functions – It develops legal instruments such as conventions, model laws and legislative guides to ease international trade and business by setting common legal standards. 

• UNCITRAL is not a WTO body. The WTO is an autonomous intergovernmental organization, whereas it is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly.

SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting 2026

International

Context

• India urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to adopt a firm and principled approach against terrorism during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cholpan Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• Founded in – The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 with six members.
• Objective: To enhance regional cooperation for efforts to curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central Asian region.
• Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and the four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
• Secretariat: Beijing
• Official languages: Russian and Chinese
• Observer status: Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia
• The SCO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly since 2005. 

SOFI Report 2026

Science & Technology

News – 

• The 2026 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report was released.
• 2026 theme “Understanding and addressing the high cost of a healthy diet.”

About – 

Publishing organisations – It is jointly published by

• Food and Agriculture Organization
• International Fund for Agricultural Development
• United Nations Children’s Fund 
• World Food Programme
• World Health Organization

Key Findings of SOFI Report 2026

• Global hunger: Declined for a third consecutive year to 7.8% of the global population (645 million people). Africa surpassed Asia to have the highest absolute number of hungry people, at 309 million.
• Food security: Improved steadily across Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Africa saw its hunger rate decline (from 20.3% to 20%) for the first time in nearly a decade. 
• Dietary affordability: The average cost of a healthy diet rose to 4.28 PPP dollars per person per day in 2025. Approximately 2.69 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.
• Nutritional outcomes: 150 million children under five remain stunted. Adult obesity rose to 16.2% in 2024, and maternal anemia continues to worsen.

Internet Shutdowns in India

Polity

News – 

• The Union government suspended mobile internet across parts of Central Delhi during the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest.

Extent of Internet Shutdowns in India

• • India ranked 2nd globally with 65 shutdowns in 2025, mainly during protests, conflicts, communal violence, and religious holidays.

• Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur historically recorded frequent, prolonged shutdowns.

Legal and Statutory Framework

• Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, govern internet shutdowns.
• The 2024 Rules require that every suspension order must specify the reasons, set a precise duration, and define the affected geographic area.
• Grounds: Emergencies, sovereignty threats, security concerns, risks to foreign relations, public disorder, or incitement to offences.
• Competent Authority: Union or State Home Secretaries can issue shutdown orders, with Joint Secretaries authorised only in urgent emergencies.
• Duration Limit: The 2024 Rules limit shutdowns to 15 days and require a Review Committee to assess each order within five days. 

Judicial Safeguards

• Anuradha Bhasin v. UoI (2020): SC protected online speech under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g), declaring indefinite shutdowns impermissible. Shutdowns must be necessary, proportional, and used as a last resort.
• Faheema Shirin v. State of Kerala (2019): Kerala High Court declared the Right to the Internet a fundamental right under Article 21.

GREAT Scheme

Government Schemes

News- 

• The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the GREAT scheme under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

About

• Fullform – Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles.
• Objective: To support India’s technical textiles start-up ecosystem by helping innovators, scientists, and technologists turn novel ideas and prototypes into commercial products.
• Funding Support: Grant-in-aid up to ₹50 lakh per start-up over 18 months to commercialise prototypes. 
• Priority Areas: High-performance fibres, smart textiles, artificial intelligence/IoT integration, and biodegradable or sustainable materials.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be incubated at a recognised incubator to qualify. They must invest at least 10% of the funding amount in the project.

India’s First eVTOL Aircraft 

Science & Technology

Context – 

• The ePlane Company, a deep-tech startup incubated at IIT Madras, unveiled India’s first full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prototype, e200X (PT-01).

eVTOL 

• It uses electric propulsion, reducing noise, costs, and energy use, enabling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) for fast, sustainable urban air transport.
• It carries one pilot with two passengers or up to 200 kg cargo and has a 110 km range for urban and regional mobility.
• It is designed to take off and land on standard rooftops or helipads without requiring long runways.

Moldova

International

News – 

• President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Chișinău, marking the first-ever state visit by an Indian Head of State to Moldova.

Moldova 

• Capital – Chișinău
• It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe
• Bordered by –  Romania to the west and to the north, east, and south by Ukraine. 
• Rivers: Dniester (Nistru) is the longest river in Moldova; the Prut River forms its western border.

North Macedonia

International

News – 

• President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Skopje, marking the first visit by an Indian President to North Macedonia.

North Macedonia 

• • Capital: Skopje
  • It is a landlocked, mountainous country in the south-central Balkan Peninsula of Southeast Europe. 
  • It borders Kosovo and Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west.
  • The country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and officially adopted the name ‘North Macedonia’ in 2019.
  • North Macedonia is an official candidate for European Union membership and joined NATO in 2020.
• Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe.

Gor Boli

Polity

News – 

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs recently informed Parliament about continuing demands to include Gor Boli in the Eighth Schedule.

Gor Boli

• It is also called Lambadi

• It is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly by the Banjara community across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
• It lacks a standardised native script and is generally written in Devanagari, Telugu or Kannada scripts.

Eight Schedule

• The Eighth Schedule of the IC, as provided for in Articles 344(1) and 351, lists India’s scheduled languages.
• It originally listed 14 languages; three constitutional amendments increased the number to 22.
• The 21st Amendment Act, 1967 added Sindhi, the 71st Amendment Act, 1992 added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali, and the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003 added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali.
• There is no fixed criterion for including a language in the Eighth Schedule as per the Ashok Pahwa Committee (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra Committee (2003).
• Inclusion in the schedule ensures state support for the language’s literary development, permits its use in parliament, and allows all-India exams to be conducted in that language.

PM-YASASVI Scheme

Government Scheme

News – 

• The Government of India reaffirmed its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged students through the PM-YASASVI scheme.

About – 

• Full form – Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)

• Implementation – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Objective: Provide financial assistance and residential infrastructure to students from disadvantaged communities, removing geographic and financial barriers to quality education.
• Beneficiaries: OBC, Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) students with an annual family income below ₹2.50 lakh.
• Scholarship: Funds students at different stages of their academic lifecycle:

1. Pre-Matric Scholarship: ₹4,000 per annum for Class 9 and 10 students enrolled full-time in Government Schools.
2. Post-Matric Scholarship: ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 annual allowance for post-matriculation courses, varying by course group tier.
3. Top Class School Education: Up to ₹75,000 per annum for Class 9-10 and up to ₹1,25,000 for Class 11–12, covering tuition, hostel, and institutional charges.
4. Top Class College Education: Full tuition reimbursement up to ₹2 lakh per annum in private institutions, along with ₹3,000 monthly living expenses, ₹5,000 book allowance, and a one-time ₹45,000 laptop grant.
5. Hostel Construction: ₹3.00 lakh to ₹3.50 lakh per seat for residential hostels, prioritising rural pockets and areas with low literacy rates.
6. A minimum of 30% of total slots is reserved for girl students and 5% for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

SMILE Scheme

Government Scheme

News – 

• The SMILE scheme rehabilitated over 10,200 individuals engaged in begging across 216 cities.

About – 

• Full form – Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
• It is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Objective – providing comprehensive rehabilitation and economic reintegration for transgenders and persons engaged in begging.

Key Sub-Schemes:

• • Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons: Provides scholarships from Class IX to post-graduation, Garima Grehs, PM-JAY-linked gender-reaffirmation healthcare, PM-DAKSH training and Transgender Protection Cells.
  • Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging: Advances “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” through identification and rescue, shelter with medical care and counselling along with PM-DAKSH training and documentation assistance.
  • SMILE-Beggary National Portal registers beneficiaries and tracks rehabilitation centres and their outcomes.

• Note – Indore (Madhya Pradesh) became India’s first officially declared beggar-free city in 2025.

Additional Information – PM-DAKSH 

• Full form – Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana 
• Financing –  Central Sector Scheme 
• Launched in – 2020-21 
• Launched by – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 
• Objective – It aims to enhance the competency levels of marginalized communities to secure self-employment or wage employment, boosting their socio-economic status

Fast-Track Courts (FTCs) in India

Polity

News – 

• PM announced the operationalisation of fast-track courts to address NEET examination paper leaks under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Constitutional Safeguards and Statutory Framework

• Article 14 & 21: Supreme Court affirms the right to a speedy, fair trial as part of the right to life and liberty (Article 21) and requires special courts to be based on objective classification (Article 14).
• Article 247: Empowers Parliament to establish additional courts for better administration of Union laws.
• Criminal Law Amendment, 2018: Establishes the legal basis for FTSCs and sets a two-month timeline for completing rape investigations and trials.
• POCSO Act, 2012: Sections 28 and 35 require State Governments to establish Special Courts and complete trials within one year.
• Public Examinations Act, 2024: Provides the legal basis for prosecuting organised examination fraud and for prosecuting syndicates involved in paper leaks.

Panama

International

News – 

• India and Panama held bilateral talks to deepen maritime cooperation.

Panama

• It is a country of Central America located on the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow bridge of land that connects North and South America. 
• Capital: Panama City
• Bordered by Costa Rica (west), and Colombia (east), Caribbean Sea (North) and Pacific Ocean (South).
• One of the few countries in the world that does not maintain a permanent standing army.
• Panama Canal: A 82-km artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Romania

International

News- 

• President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, visited Romania, marking the first State Visit by an Indian President to Romania in nearly three decades.
• India and Romania are set to celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2028, which will be commemorated as the “India–Romania Year of Innovation.”

Romania

• • Location: Southeastern Europe, in the Balkan region, along the western coast of the Black Sea.
  • Capital: Bucharest. 
  • Bordered by: Ukraine (north), Moldova (east), Hungary (west), Serbia (southwest), and Bulgaria (south).
  • Mountains: Carpathian Mountains (Eastern, Southern, and Western Carpathians). The highest peak in Romania is Moldoveanu Peak.
  • Major Rivers: Danube River (forms much of Romania’s southern border); Prut River (border with Moldova).

• Danube Delta, shared with Ukraine, is one of Europe’s largest wetlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Member of the European Union (EU) since 2007 and member of NATO since 2004.

Batukeshwar Dutt

History

News- 

• The nation paid tributes to Batukeshwar Dutt on his death anniversary (July 20).

About- 

• He was born in 1910 in West Bengal and raised in Kanpur

• He was a socialist revolutionary and a core member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

• He and Bhagat Singh threw smoke bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929, distributed leaflets and raised “Inquilab Zindabad”.
• During the 1929 Lahore Jail hunger strike, Dutt demanded better conditions for political prisoners.
• Released because of tuberculosis, he joined the Quit India Movement (1942) and was imprisoned again.
• He died in 1965 and was cremated at Hussainiwala, Punjab, beside Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

INS Malvan

Defense

News – 

• The Indian Navy inducted INS Malvan, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe-class.

About

• It is designed for anti-submarine warfare, sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime operations in coastal waters.
• It was built by Cochin Shipyard under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission. 
• It features over 80% indigenous equipment and technology.
• Armed with RBU 6000 rockets and DRDO torpedoes and a German-Indian sonar suite, it can play a dominant role in guarding our undersea defence.
• The first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe-class is the INS Mahe (P80)