News at a glance
| No. | Topic | GS Paper(s) | Why in News (Aug 5, 2025) |
| 1 | Bangladesh July Declaration | GS-2 (IR, Polity) | Formal recognition of 2024 uprising, roadmap for reform |
| 2 | UN Oceans Treaty Ratification | GS-3 (Environment, IR) | India formally ratifies High Seas biodiversity treaty |
| 3 | NITI Aayog CEO Resignation | GS-2 (Polity, Governance) | Sparks debate on think tank autonomy, center-state policy |
| 4 | India–Japan Digital Partnership | GS-2, GS-3 (IR, S&T) | Strategic upgrade to tech, AI, cyber security collaboration |
| 5 | Smart Regulation Task Force | GS-2, GS-3 (Policy) | Set up to overhaul regulatory burden and promote innovation |
1. Bangladesh July Declaration
Why in News:
Bangladesh’s interim government unveiled the “July Declaration” on August 5, marking one year since the 2024 mass uprising that overthrew the previous regime. The Declaration will be granted constitutional recognition.
Context & Comprehensive Details:
- Background: The 2024 July Uprising was a nationwide student and youth-led movement, ending Sheikh Hasina’s long rule following allegations of authoritarianism, corruption, and election manipulation.
- Content of the Declaration:
- Asserts commitment to free, fair, transparent elections and formation of a new government reflecting the real will of the people.
- Vows to restore rule of law, judicial independence, basic freedoms, and end state repression and impunity.
- Grants official status to martyrs and participants of the July 2024 uprising, promising benefits and legal protection to their families.
- Explicitly pledges prosecution for crimes by the former regime (state violence, disappearances, corrupt enrichment).
- Reaffirms commitment to constitutionalism: rebuilding state institutions, ensuring separation of powers, and constitutional checks and balances.
- Calls for inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient development.
- Asserts commitment to free, fair, transparent elections and formation of a new government reflecting the real will of the people.
- Significance:
- First time a South Asian democracy formally commemorates and constitutionalizes a peoples’ movement in this way.
- Seen as a critical step toward transitional justice, national healing, and youth-led democratic renewal.
- Some criticism over incomplete stakeholder consultation and uncertainties about consistent implementation.
- First time a South Asian democracy formally commemorates and constitutionalizes a peoples’ movement in this way.
2. UN Oceans Treaty — India Ratification
Why in News:
India ratified the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (“BBNJ” Oceans Treaty), joining the global push for protection of the world’s oceans outside national jurisdiction.
Context & Comprehensive Details:
- Background: The BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Treaty, adopted in 2023 under UNCLOS, addresses sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in international waters (~60% of ocean surface).
- Main Features:
- Obligates signatory states to carry out environmental impact assessments for activities in the high seas.
- Promotes fair sharing of marine genetic resources and benefits for developing countries.
- Mandates creation of marine protected areas, capacity building, and technology transfer.
- Obligates signatory states to carry out environmental impact assessments for activities in the high seas.
- India’s Position & Duties:
- India is among the first few large developing countries to ratify; seeks balance between conservation and rights to future marine resources.
- Commits to stronger marine research, and surveillance of Indian vessels in international waters.
- Ratification reinforces India’s image as a supporter of multilateral environmental agreements and enhances soft power in Indo-Pacific maritime security.
- India is among the first few large developing countries to ratify; seeks balance between conservation and rights to future marine resources.
- Significance:
- Supports SDG 14 (& the “Blue Economy” vision), adds legal force for biodiversity protection, and helps counter illegal/unreported fishing and resource exploitation.
- Supports SDG 14 (& the “Blue Economy” vision), adds legal force for biodiversity protection, and helps counter illegal/unreported fishing and resource exploitation.
3. NITI Aayog CEO Resigns
Why in News:
The CEO of NITI Aayog resigned, triggering debate about think tank autonomy, the future role of NITI, and federal-state relations in new policy making.
Context & Comprehensive Details:
- Background: NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015 as a policy think-tank to foster cooperative federalism and policy innovation.
- Recent Issues:
- Reported concerns over lack of operational autonomy, tension with central ministries, and pressure of politically sensitive reforms (e.g., farm, labour, and social sector).
- Critics cite drift toward centralization and limited empowerment of states.
- Reported concerns over lack of operational autonomy, tension with central ministries, and pressure of politically sensitive reforms (e.g., farm, labour, and social sector).
- Way Forward:
- Opportunity to reassert NITI’s original vision of fostering evidence-based, decentralized policymaking and effective center-state policy dialogue.
- Raises question of how new development models balance union priorities with state flexibility.
- Opportunity to reassert NITI’s original vision of fostering evidence-based, decentralized policymaking and effective center-state policy dialogue.
4. India–Japan: Digital Partnership Upgrade
Why in News:
India and Japan upgraded their Digital Partnership to cover AI, cyber security, 5G/6G, and semiconductor ecosystems amid global tech realignments.
Context & Comprehensive Details:
- Background: Long-standing India-Japan cooperation, now expanding from industrial corridors to emerging digital/geostrategic tech.
- New Areas:
- Joint investment and R&D in AI, advanced manufacturing, connected mobility.
- Cybersecurity frameworks and data protection protocols.
- India’s inclusion in the “Resilient Supply Chain” initiative for chip manufacturing, with major Japanese corporations investing in Indian fab units and skills development.
- Joint investment and R&D in AI, advanced manufacturing, connected mobility.
- Significance:
- Reduces dependence on single-source (China) supply, advances Atmanirbhar Bharat, and integrates India into Asian tech standards and export markets.
- Promotes technological sovereignty, startups, and high-value jobs.
- Reduces dependence on single-source (China) supply, advances Atmanirbhar Bharat, and integrates India into Asian tech standards and export markets.
5. Smart Regulation Task Force
Why in News:
The government set up a new “Smart Regulation Task Force” to overhaul obsolete or overlapping industrial/tech regulations and promote regulatory ease.
Context & Comprehensive Details:
- Background: Multiple regulatory bottlenecks stymie startups, industry, and digital innovation.
- Mandate:
- Identify and rationalize outdated, redundant, or contradictory laws.
- Recommend time-bound sunset clauses (“automatic expiry”) for non-essential regulations.
- Identify and rationalize outdated, redundant, or contradictory laws.
- Significance:
- Promotes Ease of Doing Business, harmonizes regulatory regime, reduces compliance burden.
- Seen as crucial for India’s ambition to be among the world’s top innovation-based economies.
- Promotes Ease of Doing Business, harmonizes regulatory regime, reduces compliance burden.