CURRENT AFFAIRS

Karnataka has introduced the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, proposing 1–10 years’ imprisonment, enhanced fines, and collective liability for organisations involved in hate speech or hate-related offences.

The state government argues that India lacks a clear statutory definition of hate speech, despite its frequent use in public debate — creating gaps in enforcement and leaving police dependent on scattered provisions.

A Private Member’s Bill titled the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to legally protect employees from work-related calls, messages, or emails outside designated office hours.

The Supreme Court has asked the Union Government whether its recent order allowing persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries to enter India is in conflict with the Assam Accord, particularly its fixed migration cut-off date of 24 March 1971.

Recently, India released the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR 2.0), designed for the period 2025–29. This plan comes at a time when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is affecting human health, animal health, agriculture, fisheries, the food chain, and the environment.

The Government of India has announced that the 8th Economic Census (EC) will be conducted in 2027, immediately following the two-phase Population Census scheduled for 2026–27. The new EC aims to build a modernised and unified Statistical Business Register (SBR) for improved national-level economic planning.

Five culturally significant and region-specific products from Tamil Nadu have recently been awarded the Geographical Indications (GI) Tag, strengthening their market identity, safeguarding artisan livelihoods, and promoting traditional heritage.

The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme has come under scrutiny after official data showed very low participation:

This initiative is a significant institutional effort to promote women-led enterprises in the global market. It has been launched by NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) in partnership with DP World, under their Award to Reward (ATR) program.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has proposed the formulation of a National Judicial Policy to standardise core judicial processes across courts and reduce inconsistency in judgments

Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Central Government whether a stringent law similar to the SC/ST Atrocities Act could be enacted against those who insult or ridicule persons with disabilities (PwDs). This comment was made during a hearing on a case involving derogatory comments made against persons with disabilities on social media.