UPSC Current Affairs
Karnataka High Court Limits Police Powers on Externment Orders
8 stories · about 3 min read · quiz and Mains question at the end
Karnataka High Court Limits Police Powers on Externment Orders
The Karnataka High Court struck down a state notification that empowered Superintendents of Police (SPs) to issue externment orders under the Police Act. The court clarified that the statute reserves this power strictly for Police Commissioners in commissionerates, District Magistrates in other regions, and specially authorized Sub-Divisional Magistrates.
Supreme Court Scrutinizes Maternity and Parental Leave Provisions
The Supreme Court reviewed provisions under the Social Security Code regarding paid maternity leave, with particular emphasis on equal protections for adoptive mothers and non-biological parents. The bench recommended that the Union Government actively consider standardized guidelines for paternity and caregiving leaves to build a comprehensive social security net.
Discrepancies Flagged in Manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA)
Economists highlighted significant divergences between National Accounts Statistics estimates of manufacturing GVA and alternative figures compiled from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE). The gap raises concerns regarding the methodology used to extrapolate formal corporate data onto the informal manufacturing sector.
C-DOT Resumes Indigenous Cell Broadcast Emergency Alert System
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) announced the full operational resumption of its indigenous cell broadcast alert system for disaster warnings. C-DOT highlighted that India is among only three global providers capable of deploying this complex software stack, enabling geo-targeted alerts during natural disasters without network congestion.
Himalayan Flood Disasters Highlight Regional Cross-Border Risks
Severe flash floods and landslides in Nepal's Rasuwa district triggered calls from disaster risk experts for institutionalized cross-border early warning networks across the Himalayan region. Experts emphasized that shared river basins and downstream Indian states require real-time hydrological data exchange to mitigate transboundary flash floods and infrastructure damage.
U.S. Military Restricts Ad-Tracking Data Amid National Security Concerns
The U.S. military curtailed commercial advertising trackers on official devices following intelligence assessments that commercially available location data sold by data brokers could compromise military personnel in operational zones. The development underlines growing global regulatory concerns over unregulated private data brokerage and surveillance capitalism.
FOSS Advocacy Highlights Public Spending on Proprietary Software
A report by the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) collective revealed that premier Indian public academic and research institutions spent over ₹134 crore on proprietary software licenses. The group advocated for adopting sovereign open-source alternatives to minimize fiscal outlays and strengthen technological self-reliance.
Push for Export Competitiveness and Diversification in Indian Textiles
The Union Ministry of Commerce highlighted shifting global tariff dynamics, urging Indian textile manufacturers to capitalize on supply chain realignments against competitors such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. The government stressed that structural domestic reforms and multi-country trade agreements are essential to mitigate external tariff risks.
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