Daily Current Affairs

July 2, 2025

Current Affairs

Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025 

Context: The Cabinet has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, which focuses on developing India as a strong contender for excellence in international sporting events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025. 

Sports Sector in India- Govt. Initiatives and Policies

Sports is a ‘State’ subject in the Indian Constitution. 

  • 1951: India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi. 
  • 1954: Government set up the All-India Council of Sports to advise on sports matters, support federations, and fund elite athletes.
  • 1984: India unveiled its first National Sports Policy. The NSP aimed to improve infrastructure, promote mass participation, and raise standards in elite sports. It also stressed the importance of integrating sports with education, which was formalised in the 1986 National Education Policy. 
  • 2000: India created a dedicated Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 
  • 2001: A revised National Sports Policy was launched in 2001, setting clearer goals for mass participation and international excellence.
  • 2011: National Sports Development Code was introduced, aiming to regulate and professionalise National Sports Federations. It addressed governance, anti-doping, age fraud, betting, gender issues etc. but implementation remained the hurdle.
  • 2014: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) provided elite athletes with coaching, nutrition, and infrastructure support.
  • 2017: Khelo India conducted youth talent identification across schools and universities
  • 2019: Fit India Movement promoted physical activity and fitness as a public health priority.
  • 2025: NSP 2025 was announced as Khelo Bharat Niti - 2025.

National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025:

  • The new policy will replace the existing framework of National Sports Policy, 2001, with an objective to make India among the top five sporting nations by 2047. 

The policy is anchored on Five Key Pillars: 

1. Excellence on Global Stage: 

  • Strengthen sports programs from the grassroots to elite levels, including early identification and nurturing of talent.
  • Promote establishment of competitive leagues, and develop sports infrastructure in rural and urban areas.
  • Build world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support.
  • Enhance the capacity and governance of National Sports Federations.
  • Encourage the adoption of sports science, sports science, medicine, and technology to boost athletic performance.
  • Train and develop sports personnel, including coaches, technical officials, and support staff.

2. Sports for Economic Development:

NSP 2025 recognises the economic potential of sports and seeks to:

  • Promote sports tourism and attract major international events to India.
  • Strengthen sports manufacturing ecosystem, and promote startups and entrepreneurship in the sector.
  • Encourage private-sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and innovative funding initiatives.

3. Sports for Social Development:

The policy emphasises the role of sports in driving social inclusion by:

  • Promoting participation among women, economically-weaker sections, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities through focused programs.
  • Revitalising and promoting indigenous and traditional games.
  • Positioning sports as a viable career option by integrating it into education, encouraging volunteering, and facilitating dual-career pathways.
  • Engaging Indian diaspora through sports.

4. Sports as People’s Movement: 

To make sports a national movement, the policy aims to:

  • Drive mass-participation and a culture of fitness through nationwide campaigns and community-based events.
  • Launch fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces etc.
  • Enhance universal access to sports facilities.

5. Integration with Education (NEP 2020): 

In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the NSP 2025 proposes to:

  • Integrate sports into school curricula.
  • Equip educators and physical education teachers with specialised training to promote sports education and awareness.

Strategic Framework of National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025:

NSP 2025 lays down a comprehensive implementation strategy encompassing:

  • Governance: Establish a robust regulatory framework for sports governance, including legal framework.
  • Private Sector Funding & support: Develop innovative financing mechanisms and engage private sector participation through PPPs and CSR.
  • Technology & Innovation: Leverage emerging technologies, including AI and data analytics, for performance tracking, research, and program implementation.
  • National Monitoring Framework: Create a national framework with well-defined benchmarks, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and time-bound targets.
  • Model Policy for States: NSP 2025 will serve as a model for States and Union Territories, encouraging them to revise or formulate their own policies.

NSP 2025 vision document aims not just to raise India's global sporting profile but also to create a healthier, fitter, and socially inclusive society. India also needs to codify measures like the Draft National Code for Good Governance in Sports, 2017 to enforce reforms for the larger good of sport. 

What is the Border Dispute between Thailand and Cambodia?

Context: Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office after an ethics investigation over a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian leader that followed a border row. 

The leaked call has set off political turmoil in Thailand as Shinawatra faces growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the conflict.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Locations in News; Border Dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. 

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Border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia

  • Thailand and Cambodia share around 800 kilometres of land border. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. 
  • Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate.
  • The most prominent and violent conflicts broke out around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty over the area to Cambodia and that became a major irritant in relations.
  • Cambodia went back to court in 2011. The ICJ reaffirmed the ruling in 2013, a decision that rattled Thailand. Thailand does not accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ and insists on solving conflicting border claims by the existing bilateral mechanism.
  • Cambodia maintains that it has submitted the case to the ICJ, and would no longer discuss these areas under the two countries' bilateral mechanism.
  • Additionally, Thailand and Cambodia share a 26,600 square kilometre area that overlaps their maritime boundary claims. 

The recent dispute was triggered in May 2025 after the armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia briefly fired at each other in a disputed area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, in violation of a 2000 memorandum of understanding between the two countries.  

India-France Army Exercise: Shakti 2025

Context: The eighth edition of the India-France Army exercise, ‘Shakti 2025’, that started in June has concluded in France. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Shakti 2025. 

India-France Army Exercise: Shakti 2025

  • Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial Joint Military Exercise between the Indian and French Armies. 
  • Aim: To enhance interoperability, operational coordination, and mutual understanding.
  • The 2025 edition focuses on joint operations in a sub-conventional environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with training conducted in semi-urban terrain.
  • Specialist detachments from both sides engaged in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) training, incorporating signal interception, jamming, spectrum control, and drone-neutralisation exercises.

Exercise Shakti boosts joint operational preparedness and reaffirms the shared commitment towards peace, stability, and global security. 

India-France Military Exercises: 

Exercise Varuna: 

  • Annual bilateral Naval exercise between India and France. It was first started in 1983, and named Varuna later.
  • The joint-exercise is held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea.
  • Aim: To improve Indo-French coordination on capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare and information sharing. 
  • It showcases the two nations' commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy.

Exercise FRINJEX: 

  • The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army was held in 2023.
  • Aim: To enhance inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at tactical level. 
  • The scope of the exercise involves establishment and operationalisation of a joint command post to secure an envisaged area for undertaking joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, establishing an Internally Displaced Population (IDP) camp and move of disaster relief material.

Exercise Tarang Shakti: 

  • It is a biennial multinational air combat exercise hosted by Indian Air Force. 
  • Aim: To showcase India's military capabilities and strengthen international cooperation among the participating nations. 
  • Tarang Shakti 2024 was the first edition of the exercise and the largest international air exercise hosted by India. France was one among the 11 countries that participated with military assets.  

The exercises cement defence cooperation with France which is a key aspect of the overall Indo-France Strategic Partnership.

Also Read: India – France: Strategic partners 

Enabling Voting Rights for Migrants 

Context: Under India’s election rules, eligible voters can only cast ballots in their constituencies, i.e., those working outside of their state have to return home to vote. As a result, a significant portion of the migrant population is excluded from exercising their voting rights. 

Relevance of the Topic:  Mains: Issues related to migration.

Migration is referred to as spatial mobility from one geographical unit to another which involves change in residence for a considerable period of time. 

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State of Migration in India

  • In 2021, the overall migration rate in India was 28.9%. 
  • According to Census 2011, migrants constitute 37% of India’s total population, with women accounting for 68% of the migrant population, a trend reflecting the feminisation of migration. 
  • Around  85% of migrants are Intra - state migrants.
  • A significant portion of migration in India is for marriage.
  • Around 10%, migration is for work.This number is significantly higher in certain northern and eastern States such as Bihar.
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One of the major challenges associated with Migration in India is low electoral participation of migrants. E.g., In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voter turnout in Bihar was just 56%, well below the national average of 66%. One of the biggest reasons behind this gap is the inability of migrants to return home to cast their vote.

Reasons behind Low Electoral Participation of Migrants:  

  • Around 85% of migrants are Inter-state migrants, high cost and long distances prevent return to home constituency.
  • Most migrants work in the informal sector, where lack of paid leave and daily-wage dependency hinder their ability to travel and vote.
  • Absence of local address proof prevents voter registration at destination.
  • Women migrants post-marriage often remain unregistered at new residence.
  • Low political visibility leads to exclusion from electoral outreach and campaigns.

This undermines the principle of universal adult franchise (UAF), migrants remain voiceless in shaping policies that affect them.

Mechanisms to increase Migrant Electoral Participation:  

  • Mechanisms to Facilitate Voting for Intrastate Migrants: Intra-State migrant participation can be improved by enforcing statutory holidays on polling day and arranging special transport, allowing informal workers to vote without wage loss.

Mechanisms to Facilitate Voting for Inter-State Migrants: 

  • Remote Voting Machines (RVMs): Pilot project by Election Commission of India to allow migrants to vote remotely across constituencies, though currently limited by administrative complexity and political concerns.
  • Postal Ballots: Extending postal voting, currently used for armed forces, to migrants. However the major challenge is it requires advance registration and streamlined logistics for ballot dispatch and return.
  • Switching Voting Constituencies: Allowing long-term migrants, living in a constituency for at least 6 months to register and vote in their place of work.
  • Targeted Voter Registration drives for women who migrate after marriage to ensure enrolment at their new residence.

Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages. Enabling voting by migrants is a complex task and is made more complex by the heterogeneity of migrants. Therefore, a combined approach using RVMs, postal ballots, constituency switching, and logistical support is essential to ensure inclusive voting for both inter- and intra-State migrant workers.

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