1. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT):

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT): The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, state that appeals from the DPB's decisions will be filed in digital form before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and it must dispose of appeals within six months.

• Criticism: Concerns have been raised regarding the Union government’s discretion to appoint members to the Data Protection Board (DPB), which has quasi-judicial functions. This raises issues about the separation of powers and the independence of the DPB.
• About Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT): Established in 2000 by amending the TRAI Act of 1997.

o Set up to adjudicate disputes and handle appeals to protect the interests of service providers and consumers in the telecom sector while promoting its orderly growth.

• Composition: Consists of a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Eligibility of Chairperson: Must be or have been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
• Powers: Exercises jurisdiction over matters related to Telecom, Broadcasting, IT, and Airport tariffs under: TRAI Act, 1997, Information Technology Act, 2008, and Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
• Jurisdiction: Original and Appellate Jurisdiction over Telecom, Broadcasting, and Airport tariff matters and appellate Jurisdiction only for Cyber matters.

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2. United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT)

United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT): The recent extradition cases in UK & US have once again highlighted the issue of India’s claim as a professed defender of human rights and need of enacting a comprehensive law against torture and ratify the UNCAT.

• About United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT): It was adopted in 1984, aims to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment globally.
• Obligation: States must take measures to prevent torture and avoid sending individuals to countries where they may face torture.
• Legal Status: The absolute prohibition against torture is a principle of customary international law.

o Concerns: Reports indicate endemic custodial torture in India — 1,731 deaths in custody in 2019 (NHRC report).

• Judiciary's Stand:

o Supreme Court: Expanded interpretation of Article 21 affirms torture as a violation of dignity and privacy (D.K. Basu, Puttaswamy cases).

o Judicial Inaction: Despite recommendations from the Rajya Sabha Select Committee (2010) and the Law Commission (273rd Report, 2017) for a comprehensive anti-torture law, the government has yet to act.

o International Commitments: India has ratified treaties like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), making its refusal to ratify UNCAT contradictory.

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3. Hmar and Zomi Tribe

Hmar and Zomi Tribe: The Hmar and Zomi tribal leaders in Manipur have agreed to cooperate for restoring peace in Churachandpur after recent clashes.

• About Hmar Tribe: They are the ethnic group, part of the larger Chin-Kuki-Mizo ethnic group.

o Constitutional Status: Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

o Habitat: Found in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam (North Cachar Hills), Tripura, Meghalaya, and parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

o Origin: Trace ancestry from Sinlung (disputed), migrated from China to Burma before settling in Northeast India.

o Physical Features: Belong to the Mongoloid stock, characterized by short stature, straight black hair, and dark brown eyes.

o Language: Speak the Hmar dialect, part of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo language family.

o Festivals: Sikpui Ruoi, celebrated post-harvest with dances and music, symbolizing community bonding.

o Occupation: Practice slash-and-burn agriculture (jhum).

• About Zomi Tribe: They are the ethnic Group, belong to the larger Zo ethnic group, encompassing Mizo, Kuki, and Chin communities.

  o Habitat: Reside in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, and extend into Burma (Chin State, Sagaing division) and Bangladesh (Chittagong Hills).

  o Origin: Settled for centuries in the mountainous regions between India and Myanmar.

  o Physical Features: Exhibit Tibeto-Burman traits, with short height, straight black hair, and brown eyes.

  o Language: Speak a dialect of the Kukish language within the Kuki-Chin linguistic family.

  o Festivals: Chapchar Kut, celebrated after jhum clearing with traditional dances and feasts.

  o Culture: Known for their vibrant traditions, distinctive customs, rich folklore, and communal harmony.

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4. Yemen

Yemen: The U.S. launched airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting Houthi bases, Missile defenses, and Houthi leaders.

• About Geopolitical Importance of Yemen:

o Borders: North - Saudi Arabia & East (Oman)

o Coastline & Strategic Importance: Surrounded by the Red Sea (West), Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Guardafui Channel (South).

o Controls the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime passage connecting the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aden.

o The strait is essential for global oil trade and international shipping.

• About Houthis: A Zaidi Shia sect based in northwestern Yemen, particularly in Sa’dah province.

o Origins: Emerged in the 1990s as a rebellion against then-Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s dictatorship.

• Role in the Yemen Civil War: A major faction in the ongoing war, controlling western and north-western Yemen, including the capital Sana’a.
• Other factions include: Yemeni Government (backed by Saudi Arabia and the U.S.).

o Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Ansar al-Sharia (a terrorist group in Yemen).

• Iranian Backing & Anti-Israel Position: Part of the "Axis of Resistance", an Iran-led alliance opposing Israel and the West.

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5. Acoustic or sonic weapons

Acoustic or sonic weapons: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic denied the use of a banned ‘sonic weapon’ to disperse protesters in Belgrade amid mass protests against his government over corruption and nepotism allegations.

• About Acoustic or Sonic Weapons: Devices that deliver very loud sounds over long distances.

o Can emit painful audible or inaudible sound waves.

o May also act as voice amplifiers to deliver messages or other sounds.

• History: First military use by the U.S. in 2004 during the Iraq War.
• How Do Sonic Weapons Work?

o Comprise hundreds of transducers (convert energy from one form to another) to create highly concentrated sound.

o Produces a narrow sound beam targeting specific areas.

o Controlled by police to alter frequency, level, quality, and duration of the sound.

• Types of Sonic Weapons: Long-range Acoustic Device (LRAD), Mosquito & Infrasonic Weapon.

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6. RBI’s ‘State of the Economy’ Report

RBI’s ‘State of the Economy’ Report: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its ‘State of the Economy’ report, projecting a growth rate of 6.7% in 2025-26 and highlighting robust domestic demand as a key driver of economic momentum despite global trade tensions.

• Key highlights of the Report: The Indian economy shows resilience with robust agriculture performance and improving consumption despite global challenges.

o Domestic demand, steady investment activity, policy-driven infrastructure development, and increased government spending are key growth drivers.

• Structural Strengths: Sound fiscal policies, a well-calibrated monetary framework, and digital transformation initiatives provide a strong foundation for long-term economic growth.
• Inflation and Trade Tensions: Headline CPI inflation declined to a seven-month low of 3.6% in February 2025 due to food price correction.
• External Sector: India’s external sector is supported by resilient services exports that remain less affected by global disruptions.
• Food Inflation Outlook: Commodity price volatility and weather anomalies remain potential upside risks.
• About Reserve Bank of India (RBI): It is the central bank and regulatory authority overseeing the Indian banking system. It manages the issuance, control, and supply of the Indian rupee.

  o Established in 1934 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, the RBI was formed based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, also known as the Hilton Young Commission.

  o Initially privately owned, the RBI was nationalized in 1949 and has since been under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

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7. Exercise Bongosagar

7.Exercise Bongosagar: The India-Bangladesh naval exercise 'Bongosagar 2025' and a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) were recently conducted in the Bay of Bengal.

• About Exercise Bongosagar: It is a bilateral naval exercise between India and Bangladesh.

o Aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational expertise, it covers a wide range of maritime operations.

o Initiated in 2019, the 2025 edition marks the fifth installment of this exercise.

o The latest edition saw the participation of INS Ranvir from the Indian Navy and BNS Abu Ubaidah from the Bangladesh Navy.

o It strengthened collaborative responses to maritime security challenges through improved interoperability between the two navies.

o The exercise involved diverse complex operations, such as - Surface firing and tactical manoeuvres.

ü Underway replenishment and Visit-Board-Search-Seizure (VBSS) cross boarding.

ü Communication drills and a quiz on operational topics for the Ops team and junior officers.

ü Steam past to conclude the exercise.

o The exercise provided an opportunity to enhance tactical planning, coordination, and information sharing for seamless maritime operations.

• About INS Ranvir: It is a Rajput-Class guided missile destroyer equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, most of which are indigenously developed.
• It is the fourth of the five Rajput-class destroyers built for the Indian Navy and was commissioned on 28 October 1986.

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