CURRENT AFFAIRS 23 August, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 23 August, 2025

1. GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT: TRIBAL FOREST RIGHTS UNRESOLVED –

• The ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar Project faces controversy as the Tribal Council alleges false certification of settled forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, enabling illegal forest diversion.

About Great Nicobar Island Project

• Launched (2021): Mega development initiative at the southern tip of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI).

Components:

• International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT)
• Greenfield International Airport (both dual use: civilian & military)
• Township Development
• 450 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) Gas and Solar-based Power Plant
• Implementing Agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
• Origin: Based on NITI Aayog report highlighting the island’s strategic location (equidistant from Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore).
• Jurisdiction: Port under Indian Navy; airport for both military and civilian purposes.

2. 130TH CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL 2025 –

• Recently, the Union Government has introduced the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025, aiming to curb criminalisation of politics.
• Parliamentary Status of the Bill: The bill, along with the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
• The JPC will scrutinise provisions, invite expert/legal opinions, and recommend changes before the Bill is taken up for passage in Parliament.

About Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth) Amendment Bill, 2025

• It seeks to provide for removal of the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister of a state, or any other Minister in the central or a state government, if he is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences. It also applies these provisions to the Union Territory (UT) of Delhi.

Background:

• Arrest and Dismissal: In 2023, Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji was arrested in an alleged money laundering case, leading Governor R. N. Ravi to dismiss him from the Cabinet.
• Reinstatement by Chief Minister: Chief Minister M. K. Stalin reinstated Balaji after the Supreme Court granted him bail, highlighting the lack of clear rules on ministerial tenure during detention.
• Judicial Intervention and Final Removal: The Supreme Court expressed concern over his reappointment, after which Balaji was finally removed in a Cabinet reshuffle.

3. KERALA BECOMES INDIA’S FIRST FULLY DIGITALLY LITERATE STATE –

• Kerala recently achieved a landmark in India’s digital journey by becoming the first fully digitally literate State. This milestone marks the successful completion of the first phase of the Digi Kerala project.
• The initiative aimed to bridge the digital divide by equipping citizens with basic digital skills. The State’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced this achievement after surveys and training across all local bodies.

Survey and Training Coverage

• The Digi Kerala project conducted surveys covering 1.5 crore people from 83.46 lakh families.
• It identified 21.88 lakh digitally illiterate individuals.
• Nearly all—21.87 lakh or 99.98%—completed training and passed evaluations.
• This vast coverage ensured no demographic was left behind.

4. INDIA’S NEW ONLINE GAMING BILL –

• The Government of India introduced Bill No. 110 of 2025, titled The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, in the Lok Sabha. Passed swiftly, the Bill marks shift from the earlier Information Technology Intermediary Rules of 2023.
• It aims to regulate online gaming but imposes a blanket ban on real money gaming formats. This move threatens the future of Indian online gaming start-ups and foreign direct investment in the sector.

5. LIPULEKH PASS DISPUTE –

• India announced the resumption of border trade with China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. Nepal objected strongly, claiming the area as its territory. India rejected Nepal’s objections citing historical evidence and long-standing trade practices since 1954.
• The dispute involves the tri-junction region of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh, which Nepal includes in its official map and constitution. India insists the claims are baseless and invites Nepal for dialogue to resolve outstanding boundary issues.
• The India-Nepal border was defined by the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, which set the Kali River as the boundary.
• Nepal claims the river’s source lies at Limpiyadhura, placing Kalapani and Lipulekh within its territory. India argues the river originates further downstream, making these areas part of Uttarakhand. Both countries rely on British-era maps to support their claims. The dispute has persisted since the 1960s without final resolution.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Which State has been declared India’s first fully digitally literate State ?

1. a) Kerala
2. b) Karnataka
3. c) Tamil Nadu
4. d) Andhra Pradesh

Q2.   Mithi River, that was recently seen in news, flows through which city ?

1. a) New Delhi
2. b) Chennai
3. c) Mumbai
4. d) Hyderabad

Q3.   National Space Day is observed every year on which day ?

1. a) August 21
2. b) August 22
3. c) August 23
4. d) August 24

Q4.   Consider the following statements regarding the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025:

1. It seeks to amend Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Constitution.
2. It mandates automatic removal of any Minister or Chief Minister upon being arrested for any criminal offence.
3. It applies to the Union, States, and the Government of NCT of Delhi.

          Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) Only 3
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: The Bill proposes amendments to Articles 75 (Union Ministers), 164 (State Ministers), and 239AA (Delhi Govt.).
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: It applies only when the arrest is for offences punishable with 5 years or more and if custody lasts for 30 consecutive days, not any offence.
• Statement 3 – Correct: The Bill applies to Union, State, and Delhi governments.

Q5.   With reference to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), consider the following statements:

1. It is a permanent committee under Article 105 of the Constitution.
2. It is formed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha and includes members from both Houses.
3. Its recommendations are binding on the Parliament in certain matters.

          Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) Only 2
3. c) Only 3
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Incorrect: The JPC is not a permanent body; it is ad hoc, formed as needed.
• Statement 2 – Correct: Formed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha, includes members from both Houses proportionally.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: Its recommendations are not binding in any matter, though they carry significant influence.

Answer Key