The New deep sea mining rules lack consensus despite meetings of ISA.

About ISA

• Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica.
• About: It is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1994 Agreement).
  • Through ISA States, Parties to UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind as a whole.
• Mandate: To ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities.
• Members: 170 (Including India)

Election commission of India stated that  its powers under Article 324 provide it with plenary authority to supervise and direct all aspects of elections, including the preparation of electoral rolls.

• Article 324(1): The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State, President and Vice-President. 
  • To be registered as a voter at any such election, the requirement of Indian citizenship is prescribed under Article 326. 
• Article 326: Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above (adult franchise),  can vote, unless disqualified under the Constitution or any law.

The mobile application “Meri Panchayat” has been awarded with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award.

Meri Panchayat App

• Aim: The m-Governance Platform for Panchayats of India” to empower over 25 lakh elected representatives across 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats, transforming rural governance through digital inclusion and transparency.
• Ministry: Initiative of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and National Informatics Centre (NIC) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Benefits: 
  • Access of Real-time Panchayat budgets,
  • Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) 
  • Weather forecasting at Gram Panchayat level
  • Social audit tools, fund utilization data, and 
  • grievance redressal with geo-tagged and geo-fenced features

Bharat NCX 2025 had been officially inaugurated.

About National Cybersecurity Exercise (Bharat NCX 2025)

• Conducted by National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).
• Objectives: Strengthen national cyber resilience and readiness. Simulate real-world cyberattacks.
• Key Features: Live-Fire Cyber Simulations, AI-Integrated Cyber Defence Training

The Union Minister announced the extension of MOVCDNER by one year for Assam.

About MOVCDNER

• It was launched during 2015-16.
• Aim: to harness the immense potential of organic farming in the North Eastern states of India. 
• Implementation: across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, 
• Objective: develop certified organic production in a value chain mode, ensuring a seamless connection between organic growers and consumers.
• Coverage: This program covers everything from providing organic seeds and certification to setting up facilities for collecting, processing, and marketing organic products.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has updated the National List of Essential Diagnostics (NLED)

About National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL)

• The first NEDL was released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2019.
• Purpose: It enumerates minimum essential diagnostic tests that should be available at various levels of health facilities such as Village level, Sub-Health Centres / Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), etc.
• Revised NEDL list includes rapid diagnostic tests for sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, Hepatitis B and syphilis at the sub-centre level.
  • It also recommends collecting samples for dengue testing at the sub-centre level. 

Dark patterns tricks are trapping users on OTT platforms  in unwanted subscriptions, hidden charges, despite government guidelines.

About Dark patterns

• Dark patterns involve using design and choice architecture to deceive, coerce, or influence consumers into making choices that are not in their best interest. 
  • Dark patterns encompass a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertisement, bait and switch, false urgency etc.
• In 2023, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notification: Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, identifying 13 specific manipulative design tactics as unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Parliament has passed the Bills of Lading Bill 2025.

About Bills of Lading Bill 2025

• It aims to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents. 
• It will replace the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856. 
• A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. 
  • It contains details including the type, quantity, condition, and destination of goods being carried.