UPSC Daily Current Affairs – 1 July 2025: UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains Exam

India's current affairs highlight key developments-from Hul Diwas commemorating tribal resistance, to debates on secularism in the Constitution, biodiversity discoveries, and innovative poverty metrics like the Thali Index-reflecting the nation's historical legacy, environmental responsibility, and evolving socio-economic policy frameworks.

HISTORY

Hul Diwas 2024: Remembering the Santhal Rebellion

PM Modi paid tribute to Sidhu-Kanhu, leaders of the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56), during Hul Diwas (June 30).

What is Hul Diwas?

Hul Diwas, observed annually on June 30, commemorates the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) led by tribal leaders Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu against British colonial rule and exploitative landlords. It is one of India's earliest organized tribal uprisings, predating the Revolt of 1857. The rebellion emerged from grievances over land alienation, heavy taxation, and socio-economic oppression. Hul Diwas serves as a reminder of the valor and unity of tribal communities in resisting colonial exploitation and preserving their cultural identity. It holds historical and cultural significance in recognizing tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle.

About the Rebellion

• Location: Santhal Parganas, Jharkhand
• Cause: Exploitation by zamindars and British officials
• Nature: Tribal uprising predating 1857
• Key Leaders: Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, Phoolo-Jhano

Tribal Uprisings

POLITY

Secularism in the Preamble: What's the Debate?

The terms 'Secular' and 'Socialist' were added to the Preamble during the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976). Recent judgments have reignited interest in their status and significance.

What is Secularism?

Secularism in the Indian context refers to the principle of equal respect and treatment of all religions by the State, without endorsing or promoting any particular faith. Enshrined in the Preamble through the 42nd Amendment (1976), and upheld through Articles 14, 15, 25-28, secularism is a core value of the Indian Constitution. Unlike the Western model, Indian secularism allows principled intervention by the State in religious affairs to ensure constitutional morality and individual rights. The Supreme Court has reaffirmed secularism as part of the Constitution's basic structure in landmark judgments like Kesavananda Bharati (1973) and S.R. Bommai (1994).

Background

• Added during Emergency (1976) via 42nd Amendment.
• Retained even after the 44th Amendment (1978) reversed several changes.
• Recent 2024 SC judgment upheld their inclusion as part of the basic structure.

What is Secularism?

• No state religion
• Equal respect and treatment for all religions
• State can intervene in religious practices to uphold constitutional morality (e.g., temple entry reforms).

Constitutional Provisions

Important Judgments

• Kesavananda Bharati (1973): Secularism = Basic structure.
• Minerva Mills (1980): Validated 'Socialism' as constitutionally grounded.
• S.R. Bommai (1994): Government actions must uphold secularism.
• Khanna Bench (2024): Dismissed plea to remove 'secular' and 'socialist' from Preamble.

Comparison with U.S. Secularism

UPSC Angle (GS II - Polity)

• Mains Question: "Indian secularism is about equal respect rather than absolute separation." Discuss.
• Use Supreme Court cases + constitutional provisions in GS II / Ethics / Essay.

ENVIRONMENT

India Adds 1000+ New Species to Biodiversity Records

On the 110th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), India added 683 faunal and 433 floral species to its biodiversity records.

Faunal Discoveries:

• 459 species new to science
• 224 newly recorded in India
• Highest from Kerala (101), followed by Karnataka (82) and Arunachal (72)

Floral Discoveries:

• Include seed plants, fungi, lichens, and microbes
• Largest additions: Seed plants

Learning Corner

What are Megadiverse Countries?

Megadiverse countries are a group of 17 nations that collectively harbor over 70% of Earth's biological species and are known for their exceptional levels of biodiversity and endemism. India is recognized as one of these due to its rich variety of flora and fauna, with around 7-8% of the world's recorded species. The country hosts four global biodiversity hotspots-Western Ghats, Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Nicobar Islands. Being a megadiverse country places significant responsibility on India to conserve its ecosystems, enforce biodiversity laws like the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and lead global efforts in environmental sustainability.

• Megadiverse countries collectively are home to over 70% of Earth's species
• India hosts 7-8% of global biodiversity
• 4 Biodiversity Hotspots: Western Ghats, Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Nicobar Islands

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

• Estabilshed in 1916 | HQ: Kolkata | Under MoEFCC
• Tasks: Taxonomic studies, faunal surveys, conservation support

UPSC Angle (GS III - Environment)

• Biodiversity Act 2002, ZSI, CBD, and species conservation are key focus areas.
• Can be used in mains/essay answers on India's biodiversity wealth and challenges.

ECONOMY

Rethinking Poverty: From Calorie Counts to Thali Index

Context:

The release of Household Consumption Data (2023-24) by the NSO and reports by SBI and World Bank suggest a significant drop in poverty. This reignites debate over how poverty is defined and measured in India.

What is Thali Index?

The Thali Index is an innovative and region-specific tool proposed to measure the cost of a basic home-cooked meal, typically comprising essential items like rice, pulses, vegetables, and oil. Unlike traditional poverty lines based on calorie intake, the Thali Index offers a more grounded and relatable approach to poverty estimation by reflecting actual food consumption patterns and price variationsacross regions. It serves as a practical metric to assess the affordability of meals for the common citizen and has policy relevance in determining food subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments, and real-time inflation impacts on household nutrition.

Why It Matters

Traditional methods define poverty based on calorie intake (2400 kcal rural / 2100 kcal urban) - a narrow lens that ignores:

• Nutrition quality
• Health and education costs
• Regional price differences
• Urban-rural lifestyle disparities

Emerging Approach: Thali Index

What is it?: A cost estimate of a simple, home-cooked meal (veg/non-veg).

Why it's better:

• Reflects real food prices across regions.
• More relatable and grounded in daily realities.
• Captures cost-of-living changes better than abstract poverty lines.

Policy Implications

• Caution against premature subsidy withdrawal: Despite optimistic data, ground realities demand continuation of subsidies (PDS, nutrition schemes).
• Shift needed: From calorie-based poverty to livelihood- and dignity-based measurements.

Poverty Measurement in India

What is Poverty Measurement in India?

Poverty in India has traditionally been measured using household consumption expenditure surveys, focusing on minimum calorie requirements-2400 kcal in rural and 2100 kcal in urban areas. Committees like Tendulkar (2009) and Rangarajan (2014) have revised methods over time, shifting from pure calorie norms to a broader consumption-based approach that includes health and education costs. However, this method has limitations in reflecting regional price differences, non-food needs, and quality of life. New approaches like the Thali Index and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) are being advocated to assess poverty based on real-life deprivation and human development indicators.

Tendulkar Committee (2009)

• Shifted from calorie norms to actual consumption-based poverty line.
• Considered private expenditure on health, education.
• Faced criticism for low thresholds (₹33/day urban in 2011-12).

Rangarajan Committee (2014)

• Restored calorie, protein, fat norms.
• Raised the poverty line (₹47/day urban).
• Estimated poverty at 29.5% (2011-12).

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Introduced by UNDP & NITI Aayog.

Includes education, health, standard of living indicators.

UPSC Angle (GS III - Indian Economy)

• Link consumption-based poverty metrics with welfare policy.
• Use Thali Index as a case study in essays and answers on targeted subsidies, price inflation, or urban-rural disparity.