SC Modified Stray Dog Order

Context: The Supreme Court modified its earlier suo motu directive allowing release of sterilised, dewormed, and vaccinated stray dogs back to their original localities under Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.

Key Directives of the Supreme Court

• Release of Sterilised Dogs: Stray dogs, after sterilisation, vaccination, and deworming, must be released back into the same locality from where they were picked up.
• Exception for Rabid/Aggressive Dogs: Dogs infected or suspected of rabies, and those showing aggressive behaviour, must not be released back.
  • They will be kept in shelters/pounds after sterilisation.
• Feeding Restrictions: Stray dogs can only be fed in dedicated municipal feeding areas. Feeding on streets or public places is strictly prohibited, with penalties for violators.
• National Policy Formation: All States and Union Territories have been implemented, and stray dog-related cases from High Courts are transferred to the SC for a uniform national framework.
• Municipal Responsibility & Enforcement
  • Establish dedicated feeding zones.
  • Create helplines for reporting violations.
  • Maintain data on dog pounds, veterinarians, dog-catching staff, and vehicles.
    Obstruction of public officials will invite prosecution.
• Adoption Provision: Individuals/NGOs may adopt stray dogs after tagging; responsibility lies with adopters to ensure dogs do not return to streets.

About Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023

• Scientific Basis: Mandates release of sterilised and vaccinated dogs back to their original areas, ensuring humane and sustainable stray dog population control.
• Objectives: Prevents overcrowding in shelters, reduces rabies risk, and respects the natural habitat of stray dogs.
  • Cities like Dehradun and Lucknow have reported population decline through aggressive sterilisation drives under ABC implementation.

Aadhaar for SIR

Context: In ADR v. Election Commission of India (Bihar SIR Case) Supreme Court directed Aadhaar or any of 11 listed documents for voter inclusion claims in Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

• The poll panel had earlier released names of the 65 lakh people who were removed from the draft electoral rolls published as part of the SIR exercise.

What is SIR?

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a large-scale exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to update and verify electoral rolls before elections.
• Constitutional Provision
  • Article 324: Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • Article 326: Ensures elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies are conducted on the basis of adult suffrage.
• Legal Provision
  • Representation of the People Act, 1950: Governs preparation and revision of electoral rolls.
  • Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Prescribes the procedure for claims, objections, and verification.

Supreme Court Directive on SIR (Bihar, 2025)

• Document Requirement: Voters excluded from draft rolls may submit claims with Aadhaar or any of 11 documents recognised Under Form 6 by the Election Commission.
• Submission Mode: Claims for inclusion can be filed online or physically by September 1, 2025, ensuring accessibility in both urban and rural Bihar.
• Role of Booth Level Agents (BLAs): The Court directed 12 recognised political parties in Bihar to ensure BLAs assist excluded voters in filling and submitting claim forms.
• Accountability of Booth Level Officers (BLOs): BLOs must acknowledge receipt of physical forms, though such acknowledgement will not guarantee completeness of the form.
• Transparency in Voter List Exclusion: The EC has published booth-wise lists of 65 lakh excluded voters across Bihar’s 38 districts, with reasons for exclusion (death, shifting, duplication).
• No more extensions : The SC emphasised that objections must be filed by September 1, with the matter next listed on September 8. It refused to extend the deadline.

11 Documents Admissible  for SIR

• Identity card/Pension Payment Order
• Identity card/Certificate/Document issued in India by Govt./local authorities/Banks/Post Office/LIC/PSUs before 01.07.1987
• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• Matriculation/Educational certificate 
• Permanent Residence certificate
• Forest Right Certificate
• OBC/SC/ST or any caste certificate 
• National Register of Citizens (wherever it exists)
• Family Register prepared by State/Local authorities
• Land/house allotment certificate by Government

U.N. Declares Famine in Gaza

Context: The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such declaration in West Asia.

• The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in Gaza Governorate (Gaza City) as of August 15, 2025.
• The IPC has previously declared famine in Somalia (2011), South Sudan(2017 & 2020) and parts of Sudan’s Darfur region(2023).

Causes of the Crisis

• 22 months of war between Israel and Hamas, leading to massive displacement.
• Severe restrictions on humanitarian and commercial supplies of food.
• Israel completely banned aid in March 2025, later allowing very limited entry in May.
• Collapse of local food systems: 98% of cropland damaged or inaccessible,Livestock decimated and fishing banned.
• Health system collapse and loss of safe drinking water access.

About The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Initiative

• IPC is a UN-backed coalition that monitors and classifies global food crises to warn of impending famines.

Definition of famine (IPC criteria)

• At least 20% of households face extreme lack of food.
• At least 30% of children under five are acutely malnourished.
• At least 2 in every 10,000 people die daily from starvation, malnutrition, or related disease.

Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

Context: Recently , India was elected Chairman of the Executive Board of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) at its 23rd General Conference in Thailand.

About Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

• AIBD is a unique intergovernmental organization promoting cooperation in electronic media across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
• Establishment: AIBD was founded in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO.
• Aim: Fostering media development, capacity building, and collaboration among member states.
• Headquarters:  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Membership: It has 92 member organizations from 45 countries.
• India’s Role
• • India is a founding member of AIBD.
  • Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, represents the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in AIBD.

About the 23rd AIBD General Conference (GC 2025)

• The 23rd General Conference and Associated Meetings were held from 19–21 August 2025 in Phuket, Thailand, chaired by Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati.
• Theme: “Media for People, Peace & Prosperity”
• Key Focus Areas
  • Promoting a vibrant and cooperative media environment in Asia-Pacific.
  • Encouraging policy exchange among member nations.
  • Enhancing resource sharing and training programs to strengthen broadcasting.
• India’s Leadership: India secured the highest votes in the election for Executive Board Chair.
  • India earlier chaired the AIBD Executive Council in 2016
  • Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, also President of AIBD General Conference, assured continued collaboration and bilateral partnerships.

Aadhaar-based Authentication Framework for Cooperative Banks

Context: Recently , UIDAI launched a new Aadhaar-based authentication framework for Cooperative Banks to boost last-mile banking and digital financial inclusion across India.

About the Framework

• The framework was developed after extensive consultations with the Ministry of Cooperation, NABARD, NPCI, and cooperative banks.
• Coverage: The framework applies to 34 State Cooperative Banks (SCBs) and 352 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).
  • All cooperative banks across India will now have access to Aadhaar-enabled services for customer authentication and digital banking.
• Operational Structure: Only State Cooperative Banks will be registered with UIDAI as Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) and eKYC User Agencies (KUAs).
  • DCCBs can utilise the Aadhaar application and IT systems of their respective SCBs.
  • This model removes the need for DCCBs to build independent IT infrastructure, reducing costs and simplifying adoption.

Benefits for Cooperative Banks

• Cooperative banks can offer biometric eKYC and face authentication, making account opening simpler, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Aadhaar-linked welfare transfers will directly reach customer accounts, strengthening DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) efficiency.
• Banks can also provide Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) and Aadhaar Payment Bridge services to improve digital transactions.

Significance for Financial Inclusion

• It aligns with the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, highlighting the role of cooperatives in inclusive development.
• The framework empowers cooperative banks to act as digital enablers in India’s financial ecosystem.
• It enhances secure, fast, and paperless banking services for underserved populations.
• By reducing operational costs and improving service delivery, the framework strengthens the role of cooperatives in inclusive and sustainable financial growth.

Cooperative Banks in India

• As per Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Cooperative Banks are financial entities established on cooperative principles, registered under the Cooperative Societies Act, and governed partly by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The RBI is the principal regulatory body for cooperative banks, supervising their activities and ensuring adherence to banking norms.
• Role: They provide credit and banking services to agriculture, rural sectors, small industries, and self-employed workers, ensuring financial inclusion at grassroots levels.

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