World TB Day 2025: A Step Towards a TB-Free World

• World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise awareness about the global fight against tuberculosis, one of the deadliest infectious diseases.
• The theme for World TB Day 2025 is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”, emphasizing the need for global commitment, increased funding, and effective implementation of TB prevention and treatment strategies.

Key Highlights of World TB Day 2025:

Global Impact of TB:

• TB remains a significant public health challenge, with 10.8 million people falling ill and 1.25 million deaths reported globally in 2023.
• Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to affect millions, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

  India’s Fight Against TB:

• India bears the highest burden of TB globally but has set an ambitious target to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global goal of 2030.
• Initiatives like the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) focus on early detection, treatment, and prevention of TB.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides financial support to TB patients to ensure proper nutrition during treatment.

  Tuberculosis (TB):

• Cause: TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body.
• Symptoms:

  • Persistent cough lasting more than three weeks.
  • Fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

• Prevention:

  • Early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Maintaining good hygiene and improving air quality.
  • Vaccination with BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin).

    National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)

• Objective: The NTEP aims to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in India by 2025, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing TB incidence and mortality globally by 2030.
• Key Strategies:

  • Detect: Early diagnosis of TB patients using advanced diagnostic tools.
  • Treat: Prompt treatment with quality-assured drugs and regimens.
  • Prevent: Implementation of preventive measures like contact tracing and airborne infection control.
  • Build: Strengthening healthcare systems and engaging communities.

• Achievements:

  • India has developed an indigenous TB burden model for state-wise estimates.
  • The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched to provide additional support to TB patients and enhance community involvement.

• Significance:

  • India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden, making the program crucial for public health.
  • The program emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach to address social determinants of TB.

India-EU 4th Maritime Security Dialogue: Strengthening Maritime Cooperation

• The 4th India-EU Maritime Security Dialogue was held on March 21, 2025, in New Delhi.
• The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, while the EU delegation was headed by Maciej Stadejek, Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service.

Key Discussions and Outcomes:

Focus Areas:

• Sustaining a secure maritime environment conducive to inclusive growth and global well-being.
• Strengthening efforts to counter Illicit Maritime Activities (IMA).
• Protecting critical maritime infrastructure.
• Enhancing regional capability development and capacity-building activities.

  Cooperation Initiatives:

• Reviewed ongoing collaborations in the maritime domain.
• Explored avenues to reinforce international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security.

  Future Plans:

• Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue on a mutually convenient date.

  Maritime Security:

• Maritime security involves protecting the seas from threats like piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing, ensuring safe and secure trade routes.
• It is crucial for global trade, as over 80% of international trade is conducted via sea routes.

India's Economic Milestone: Doubling GDP in a Decade

• India has achieved a remarkable milestone by doubling its GDP in the last decade, growing from $2.1 trillion in 2015 to an estimated $4.3 trillion by 2025.
• This growth rate of 105% positions India as the world's fifth-largest economy, with projections to surpass Japan by 2025 and Germany by 2027.

Key Drivers of Growth:

• Structural Reforms:

  • Implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) streamlined taxation and boosted economic efficiency.
  • Initiatives like Make in India enhanced manufacturing and exports.

• Digital Transformation:

  • Expansion of the digital economy fostered innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Infrastructure Development:

  • Government-led projects improved connectivity and supported economic activities.

    Global Context:

• India’s growth rate outpaces other major economies, including China and the United States, which recorded slower GDP growth during the same period.
• This economic surge reflects India's rising influence in the global economic landscape.

  Goods and Services Tax (GST):

• Introduced: July 1, 2017.
• Purpose: To unify India's indirect tax system and eliminate cascading taxes.
• Impact: Simplified compliance, reduced tax evasion, and boosted revenue collection.

  Make in India:

• Launched: September 25, 2014.
• Objective: To transform India into a global manufacturing hub.
• Focus Areas: Automobiles, electronics, textiles, and renewable energy.

Delhi Joins National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Platform

• The Delhi Legislative Assembly has become the 28th legislature to adopt the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) platform by signing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) on March 22, 2025.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, and Shri Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)

• Objective: The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) aims to digitize legislative processes across India, fostering transparency, efficiency, and accessibility.
• Features:

  • Enables paperless legislative practices by providing real-time access to agendas, bills, and reports.
  • Supports multilingual functionalities to accommodate India’s linguistic diversity.
  • Accessible on various devices, ensuring convenience for users.
  • Environmentally sustainable, reducing paper usage significantly.

• Implementation:

  • Developed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA).
  • Adopted by 28 legislatures, including the Delhi Legislative Assembly, as part of the "One Nation, One Application" vision.

• Significance:

  • Enhances coordination among legislators and secretariat staff.
  • Empowers legislative bodies to align with modern digital governance practices.

• Accessibility:
• Hosted on Meghraj 2.0, India’s cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability and security.
• Device-agnostic platform accessible via smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

ISRO's Ambitious Goals: Moon Mission by 2040 and Space Station by 2030

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled ambitious plans to send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040 and establish an Indian Space Station by 2030.
• These announcements were made by ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan during an event at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar.

Moon Mission:

• ISRO aims to achieve a crewed lunar landing by 2040, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration journey.
• The mission will involve advanced technologies for safe landing and return.

  Space Station:

• India plans to establish its own space station by 2030, enhancing its capabilities in long-term space missions and research.
• The station will serve as a hub for scientific experiments and international collaborations.

1st Indian Film Festival in the US: Celebrating Indian Cinema

• The 1st Indian Film Festival commenced in Seattle, United States, on March 21, 2025, marking a three-day celebration of Indian cinema.
• Hosted at the Museum of Pop Culture, the festival featured excerpts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s podcast with Lex Fridman, highlighting the “Idea of India” and its cultural diversity.
• The event was attended by dignitaries like US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, King County Council Member Sarah Perry, and Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho.

Key Highlights:

• Documentary Screening: A short documentary on the recently concluded Mahakumbh at Prayagraj was showcased, reflecting India’s rich cultural heritage.
• Photo Exhibit: A special exhibit titled “History of Indian Cinema” depicted the evolution of Indian cinema, showcasing iconic milestones and films.
• Film Screenings: Critically acclaimed Indian films such as English Vinglish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Raksha Bandhan were presented.

Elon Musk's X Challenges Indian Government Over IT Act Violations

• Social media platform X Corp (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit in the Karnataka High Court against the Indian government, alleging unlawful content regulation and arbitrary censorship.
• The petition challenges the government's use of Section 79 (3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, arguing that it bypasses the structured legal process outlined in Section 69A of the Act.

Key Issues Raised:

• Violation of Supreme Court Rulings: X contends that the government's actions contradict the Shreya Singhal case (2015) ruling, which mandates judicial scrutiny for content blocking under Section 69A.
• Sahyog Portal Concerns: The government’s Sahyog portal, designed to facilitate takedown requests, is criticized for enabling opaque and arbitrary censorship.
• Impact on Free Expression: X argues that the misuse of Section 79 (3)(b) threatens online freedom of expression and undermines its business model.

  Additional Information:

  Information Technology Act, 2000:

• Section 69A:

  • Empowers the government to block public access to digital content for reasons like national security and public order.
  • Requires a structured review process to prevent misuse.

• Section 79:

  • Provides legal protection to intermediaries for third-party content but mandates removal of unlawful content when notified.

    Shreya Singhal Case (2015): A Landmark Judgment on Free Speech

• Background:

  • The case arose after two young women were arrested under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 for posting comments on social media criticizing a bandh following the death of a political leader.
  • The arrests sparked widespread outrage, leading to petitions challenging the constitutionality of Section 66A.

• Key Issues:

  • Whether Section 66A, which criminalized sending "offensive" messages online, violated the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
  • Whether the provisions of Section 69A and Section 79 of the IT Act were consistent with constitutional safeguards.

• Supreme Court Judgment:

  • Section 66A was struck down as unconstitutional for being vague and overbroad, leading to potential misuse and chilling effects on free speech.
  • The court upheld Section 69A, which allows the government to block online content for reasons like national security, but emphasized that blocking orders must follow due process and be subject to judicial review.
  • Section 79, which provides legal protection to intermediaries, was upheld with safeguards to ensure takedown requests are based on court orders or government directives.

Vinod Kumar Shukla Wins Jnanpith Award

• Vinod Kumar Shukla, a renowned Hindi poet and writer from Chhattisgarh, has been awarded the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honor.
• Born on January 1, 1947, in Rajnandgaon, Shukla has been active in literary writing for nearly 50 years.
• His notable works include:

  • Poetry: "Lagbhag Jai Hind," "Woh Aadmi Chala Gaya," "Aakash Dharti Ko Khatakta Hai."
  • Novels: "Naukar Ki Kameez," "Khilega To Dekhenge," "Deewar Mein Ek Khidki."
  • Story Collections: "Peed Par Kamra," "Mahavidyalaya".

• Shukla's works have been translated into multiple languages, and he has also written books for children.
• He has previously received prestigious awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award, Raza Award, and Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Fellowship.
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai congratulated Shukla, highlighting the pride he brings to the state.

India Clinches Men's and Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025

• India wins both Men's and Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025 held in Wolverhampton, England.
• Men's team defeated England in the final match with a close score of 44-41.
• Women's team triumphed over England in the final match with a dominating score of 57-34.
• Tournament took place across various venues in the West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
• This marks the first time the tournament was hosted outside Asia.
• India also won both crowns in the inaugural edition of 2019, hosted by Malaysia.

Khelo India Para Games: Record-Breaking Achievements

• Jaspreet Kaur, a powerlifter from Punjab, set a national record by lifting 101 kg in the 45 kg category, surpassing her previous record of 100 kg.

  Athletics Highlights:

• Men's Javelin F12/F13: Gold - Ishwar Rampal Tak, Silver - Manjeet, Bronze - Akshay Kumar Meena.
• Women's Shot Put F12/F20: Gold - Khusbhoo Gill, Silver - Muthu Meena, Bronze - Ananya Bansal.

  Shooting Highlights:

• 10M Air Pistol Women SH1: Gold - Sumedha Pathak, Silver - Rubina Francis, Bronze - Anita Kumari.
• 10M Air Rifle Prone Mixed SH1: Gold - Sagar Balasaheb Katale, Silver - Mona Agarwal, Bronze - Deepak Saini.

  Archery Highlights:

• Compound Women Open: Gold - Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi, Silver - Payal Nag, Bronze - Jyoti.
• Compound Men's Open: Gold - Shyam Sundar Swami, Silver - Toman Kumar, Bronze - Rakesh Kumar.

India Qualifies for FIBA Men’s Asia Cup 2025

• India's basketball team secured a spot in the FIBA Men’s Asia Cup 2025 after a thrilling 81-77 victory against Bahrain in Manama.
• The match was held at Khalifa Sports City, with India showcasing excellent end-game skills.
• Key Performers:

  • Harsh Dagar: Scored 28 points, including 6 three-pointers, with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
  • Gurbaz Sandhu and Kanwar Sandhu: Contributed 15 points each.
  • Pranav Prince and Hafeez: Added 11 points each.

• India led 39-38 at halftime and extended their lead to 62-55 in the third quarter, maintaining it in the final quarter.
• This marks India's first win against Bahrain since 2013.
• The team will now compete in the Continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025.