19 July 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

1. Mangal Pandey Subtopic: First Revolt Against Colonial Rule (1857 Uprising)

   Value Addition:

   • A sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, Mangal Pandey triggered the First War of Independence by revolting over the use of greased cartridges.

   • His actions led to a broader mutiny, showcasing early resistance to British exploitation.

   • Executed in 1857, he became a martyr and symbol of India’s anti-colonial struggle.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 1: Modern Indian History – Revolt of 1857, early resistance to British rule.

   • Prelims: Date of rebellion, regiment name, cause (greased cartridges).

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2. Sanchar Mitra Scheme Subtopic: Digital Literacy, Cyber Safety and Youth Engagement

   Value Addition:

   • Empowers telecom, electronics, and cyber-security students as digital ambassadors.

   • Promotes awareness on 5G, 6G, AI, EMF, cyber fraud, and responsible mobile usage.

   • Volunteers receive hands-on training, national exposure, and project opportunities through DoT and NCA-T.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 2: Governance – Digital awareness, grassroots capacity-building.

   • GS 2: Education – Skill-based learning, experiential volunteerism.

   • Prelims: Scheme under DoT, NCA-T, EMF.
     

3. National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) Subtopic: Digital Health Claim Interoperability System

   Value Addition:

   • Unified claims platform by NHA and IRDAI under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

   • Enables real-time pre-authorization, eligibility checks, reprocessing, and payment status tracking.

   • Promotes transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in the insurance ecosystem.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 2: Health – E-governance in insurance processing.

   • GS 2: Policy – Inter-agency coordination for digital public infrastructure.

   • Prelims: ABDM, IRDAI, NHCX functions.
     

4. ‘Ordinarily Resident’ & Electoral Registration Subtopic: Legal Interpretation for Voter Eligibility

   Value Addition:

   • Section 19 and 20 of RPA, 1950 define who qualifies as ‘ordinarily resident’ for voter rolls.

   • Covers exceptions for armed forces, NRIs (Section 20A), and detainees.

   • Key judgment: Gauhati HC (1999) clarifies that ordinary residence requires habitual, continuous presence.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 2: Polity – Electoral laws, Representation of People Act.

   • Prelims: Definition clauses under RPA, NRI voting rules.
     

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5. ATLAS Telescope – 3I/ATLAS Interstellar Object Subtopic: Oldest Interstellar Comet Observed

   Value Addition:

   • 3I/ATLAS likely predates our solar system by 3+ billion years; discovered via ATLAS (Chile).

   • Travels on hyperbolic orbit, suggesting one-time passage through the solar system.

   • Its large nucleus and reddish spectral signature point to complex organic matter or water ice.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 3: Science & Tech – Astronomy, interstellar observation.

   • Prelims: ATLAS, 1I/ʻOumuamua, 2I/Borisov, comet classification.
     

6. Allographa effusosoredica – New Lichen Discovery Subtopic: Lichen Biodiversity in Western Ghats

   Value Addition:

   • Identified in Western Ghats; unique for its effuse soredia and norstictic acid composition.

   • First Indian Allographa species to be sequenced domestically.

   • Symbiotic algal partner identified as Trentepohlia, deepening our understanding of lichen-algal symbiosis.

   Subject Analysis:

   • GS 3: Environment – Endemism, bioindicators, lichen ecology.

   • Prelims: Allographa genus, soredia, photobionts.