Daily Current Affairs

September 3, 2025

Current Affairs

Rising Urban Noise Pollution

Context: Urban noise pollution has emerged as one of the neglected public health crises despite policy measures. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Legal Framework, Constitutional Provisions related to noise pollution.

Mains: Key reasons for rising noise pollution and associated challenges.

As per the World Health Organisation, safe limits in silent zones are 50 dB by day and 40 dB by night. Yet in cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru readings near sensitive institutions often reach 65 dB-70 dB.

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Existing Measures for Noise Regulation: 

  • The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 provide legal provisions for defining silent zones and regulating permissible limits.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) launched the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) in 2011 to generate real-time noise data across Indian cities.
  • State governments and local authorities are empowered to regulate loudspeakers, firecrackers, construction activities, and industrial operations.
  • Article 21 guarantees the right to life with dignity, encompassing mental and environmental well-being. 
  • Article 48A mandates proactive environmental protection. 
  • Public awareness campaigns such as “No Honking Day” in some states, have been undertaken to encourage behavioural change among citizens.

Despite the presence of policy measures, noise pollution continues to rise because enforcement has remained weak and largely symbolic.

Gaps and Challenges in Implementation: 

  • Weak enforcement of the Noise Pollution Rules and penalties for violations are rarely imposed. E.g., Noise Pollution Rules 2000 are rarely updated to reflect urban realities.
  • Lack of coordination: Multiple agencies such as traffic police, municipal bodies, and State Pollution Control Boards act in silos, which leads to a lack of coordination.
  • Fragmented Data: Data generated by the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network often remains fragmented and is not effectively linked to enforcement actions.
  • Technological bottlenecks: Sensor placement is frequently flawed, with many devices installed at heights of 25-30 feet, which leads to inaccurate readings.
  • Public apathy and normalisation of honking, drilling, and construction noise reduce civic pressure on authorities to act.
  • Urbanisation, late-night infrastructure work, and logistics-driven traffic contribute to rising noise levels despite existing restrictions.

Health, Social and Ecological Impacts

Noise pollution has severe health consequences, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stress, and disturbed sleep cycles.

  • Children exposed to high noise levels experience impaired cognitive development and reduced learning outcomes.
  • Elderly citizens and individuals with pre-existing health conditions face aggravated mental and physical health challenges.
  • Noise pollution reduces productivity, increases irritability, and lowers the overall quality of life in cities.
  • Noise disrupts animal communication systems. E.g., A 2025 University of Auckland study found that urban noise altered the sleep and song patterns of common mynas within a single night. Such disruptions signal a broader breakdown of ecological communication, which affects biodiversity and the urban environment.

In 2024, the Supreme Court of India affirmed that environmental disruptions, including excessive noise, can infringe upon the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21

Global Experiences and Best Practices: 

  • Europe: The European Environment Agency estimated in 2020 that noise pollution causes annual economic losses worth €100 billion due to its health impacts. In response, several European cities redesigned speed zones, enforced strict zoning regulations, and integrated noise mapping into urban planning.
  • Japan: Japan has introduced acoustic zoning laws and noise-mapping systems that guide urban development and reduce sound exposure in residential areas.

India, by contrast, suffers from regulatory fragmentation and institutional silence. 

Way Forward

  • Formulation of National Acoustic Policy on the lines of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to establish permissible decibel levels for different urban zones. The policy must mandate regular noise audits and empower local grievance redressal mechanisms to make enforcement citizen-centric.
  • Decentralisation of National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) to give local bodies access to real-time data and responsibility for immediate action.
  • Directly linking noise monitoring with enforcement to ensure that violations invite penalties, strict zoning compliance, and restrictions on construction activities.
  • Public awareness must be institutionalised through continuous campaigns, driver training programmes, and community initiatives. 
  • Urban planning must integrate acoustic resilience by creating noise-buffer zones, embedding green spaces, and designing infrastructure that balances speed with sonic civility.

Tackling urban noise pollution requires moving beyond token regulations towards a rights-based approach that upholds Article 21 guarantee of life with dignity.

Seas rising faster around Lakshadweep and Maldives 

Context: Recent scientific research using coral microatolls has revealed that sea-level rise (SLR) in the central Indian Ocean, particularly around the Maldives, Lakshadweep, and Chagos Archipelago is accelerating. Earlier studies suggested that significant acceleration started only in the 1990s, but new evidence shows that seas in this region have been rising since the late 1950s.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Implications of Climate Change. 

Rising Sea Levels in Indian Ocean

  • Rising sea levels are among the most visible and threatening consequences of global warming. The Indian Ocean, which is the third largest ocean basin in the world, has been experiencing sea-level rise at an accelerated pace. 
  • The Indian Ocean’s levels have been rising at around 3.3 millimetres per year, which is higher than the global average, which in turn amplifies changes in ocean dynamics and atmospheric circulation. 
  • These shifts have a direct impact on coral reefs, fisheries, and low-lying island nations such as the Maldives, Lakshadweep, and the Chagos Archipelago. 

Key Findings of the Study: 

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore studied coral microatolls in the Maldives. The study reconstructed sea-level history from 1930 to 2019, extending the existing records by nearly 90 years. The findings showed that : 

  • Sea levels rose by around 0.3 metres over the 90-year period.
  • The rate of rise has accelerated over time: it was between 1 and 1.84 mm/year from 1930 to 1959, and between 3.91 and 4.87 mm/year from 1990 to 2019. This indicates that sea-level rise in the Indian Ocean began accelerating in the late 1950s. 
  • The periods of coral growth interruption coincided with El Niño events, negative Indian Ocean Dipole events, and the 18.6-year lunar nodal cycle, all of which influence sea levels and stress corals.

Implications of Rising Sea Levels: 

  • Ecological: Coral reefs face bleaching due to reduced sunlight, warmer waters, and acidification, threatening biodiversity and marine productivity.
  • Human & Economic: Low-lying islands risk inundation; livelihoods from fisheries and tourism are endangered; flooding, erosion, and storm surges increase vulnerability.
  • Geopolitical & Security: Strategic islands like Maldives and Lakshadweep face displacement, migration, and sovereignty challenges, impacting maritime trade and security.

Way Forward

  • Strengthening Scientific Monitoring: Expanding tide gauge networks, improving satellite observations, and using natural recorders such as coral microatolls can help fill critical gaps in sea-level data, and thus improve the accuracy of climate models and projections.
  • Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Restore mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs as natural buffers.
  • Policy & Governance: Integrate sea-level rise into planning and disaster frameworks; secure climate finance and technology for island nations.
  • Resilient Infrastructure: Build climate-proof housing, elevate infrastructure, and strengthen flood protection.
  • Regional & Global Cooperation: Use IORA, UNFCCC, and regional platforms for joint monitoring, data sharing, and coordinated adaptation.

APK Scam: How Fake Apps are used for Financial Fraud

Context: APK scam is one of the fastest-growing cybercrime threats in India. The sophisticated social engineering scam is driven by malicious Android Package Kit (APK) files that stay undetected and exploit public trust in digital systems. 

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Android Package Kit (APK) Scam. Mains: Cybercrimes: Types, Challenges and Regulations. 

What is Android Package Kit (APK) Scam?

  • APK scams involve malicious files which are used to install apps on Android devices outside of the official App store. The App often has hidden malware that can steal personal data, passwords, banking information, or install spyware.
  • Rising cases: There has been a 900% jump in cyber crimes between 2021 and 2025. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has logged over 12 lakh different types of APK Scams in India since the beginning of 2025 (till date). 

How does the APK Scam work?

  • APK files on Android devices are much like .exe files on Windows computers; both are used to install Apps. These files can be exploited by fraudsters to spread malware.
  • Fraudsters build or source these Apps to mimic the appearance and language of official portals (E.g., government subsidy schemes like PM-Kisan, tax refund platforms, electricity boards, or banks asking for KYC updates). 
  • These fake Apps are often circulated through social media platforms and accompany convincing messages that urge users to act immediately. Once downloaded, the App seeks multiple permissions including access to contacts, messages, call logs, location, microphone, and notifications.
  • The App harvests data in real-time, and transmits it in encrypted bits to external servers operated by fraudsters. These bits are decoded to extract valuable information, including banking credentials, OTPs, contacts, and location coordinates etc. 
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Challenges: 

  • Google or any other intermediary does not scrutinise every application that is being hosted on their server. Fraudsters use mule accounts and shell identities to pay for hosting and publishing on search engines. 
  • Strong encryption techniques hide malicious code from detection tools. By remaining dormant during installation certain APKs can bypass antivirus softwares. 
  • Even after earlier versions are blacklisted, the same APK file is reused with minor modifications in the interface (name, logo and URL or web address of the file) thus, allowing it to bypass detection. 

Also Read: How is Cyberbullying tackled under the Law in India? 

Issue of Restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir

Context: The Supreme Court has recently sought a detailed response from the Centre on the issue of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Concept of Federalism, Constitutional Framework for Creation of States.

Mains: Issue of Restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. 

Abrogation of Article 370 

  • The abrogation of Article 370 and enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 bifurcated the State into two Union Territories:
    • Jammu & Kashmir (with legislative assembly)
    • Ladakh (without legislative assembly). 
  • The Supreme Court in 2023 upheld the abrogation, but it also directed the Union Government to restore statehood and conduct Assembly elections. 
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Constitutional Framework for Creation of States

The Constitution of India provides three processes for creating States: admission, establishment, and formation.

  • Admission requires an organised political unit and is guided by international law, as was the case with Jammu and Kashmir’s accession in 1947 through the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh.
  • Establishment involves acquisition of new territories, such as the cases of Goa and Sikkim.
  • Formation refers to reorganisation of existing States under Article 3, which has expanded India’s map from 14 States in 1956 to 29 States before the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Article 3 empowers Parliament to form, alter, or rename States, but it does not authorise converting a State into a Union Territory on a permanent basis. Thus, continuing to keep Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory is against the spirit of federalism embedded in the Constitution.

Implications of Non-Restoration:

  • Denial of statehood leads to a democratic deficit, since a Union Territory places overriding powers in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor rather than the elected government.
  • It also dilutes citizens’ rights to self-governance, which is central to India’s democratic framework.
  • Continued Union control risks alienating the people of Jammu and Kashmir and may undermine long-term stability and integration.
  • From a constitutional perspective, it sets a dangerous precedent where any State could potentially be downgraded to a Union Territory, eroding the spirit of federalism.

Why Restoration of Statehood is Imperative?

  • Restoring statehood is imperative to uphold federalism, which the Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) held to be part of the Basic Structure. 
  • The Rajya Sabha under Article 83(1) ensures continuous representation of States in national decision-making , and denial of statehood disrupts this equilibrium and weakens India’s cooperative federalism.
  • It empowers the elected government and restores the principle of self-rule, thereby addressing the democratic aspirations of the people.
  • It reinforces the separation of powers by complying with the Supreme Court’s directions.
  • It helps maintain national unity with federal balance, preventing over-centralisation that could erode trust among States.

While temporary Union control may be justified on grounds of security, its prolonged continuation undermines both the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is not merely a political demand but a constitutional obligation essential for safeguarding India’s federal design.

Integrated Agriculture: Lavender Honey and Apiculture 

Context: In Kashmir’s Pulwama, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) is producing India’s first monofloral lavender honey, a kilogram of which sells for up to ₹6,000. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key facts about Lavender: Govt. Schemes to promote Integrated Agriculture.

Mains: Integrated Agriculture: Apiculture & Floriculture.

Lavender Honey

  • The product is developed under the flagship CSIR Floriculture Mission, and is poised to feed the market for functional foods and grow sustainable agriculture and rural bio-enterprise.
  • A kilogram of it sells between ₹5,000 and ₹6,000 in the global market, six times higher than the price of regular organic honey.
  • The CSIR-IIIM is in the process of filing for geographical indication (GI) for Kashmir lavender honey and upscale its production in the coming years.

About Lavender

  • Lavender is a perennial aromatic plant native to countries bordering the Mediterranean. It is a non-native species of aromatic plant in India. 
  • It is used as an ornamental plant and commercially cultivated as a culinary herb and to extract essential oils.

Benefits of cultivating Lavender: 

  • Purple Revolution: Expansion of lavender cultivation for commercial purposes (E.g., production of lavender honey, essential oils etc.) 
  • Lavender isnot susceptible to pest infestation and acts as a pest barrier due to its antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-bacterial properties.
    • The highly fragrant crop produces volatile organic compounds diffusing a strong scent that deters insects and pests by overpowering the insect’s olfactory receptors. This makes the pest unable to detect other scents (E.g., apple blossoms). 
    • Rodents attack the roots and stems of fruit-bearing trees like apples and plums. Lavender has been proven to keep away rodents. 
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CSIR-Aroma Mission: 

  • Launched in 2016, the mission focuses on cultivation of aromatic crops (lavender, rose, lemongrass, rosemary, vetiver, mint, etc.) and generating new avenues of self-livelihood and entrepreneurship.
  • Under the CSIR-Aroma Mission, lavender farmers are offered end-to-end support, including cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing.

CSIR Floriculture Mission: 

  • Launched in 2021, the mission focuses on promoting the floriculture sector in India. It includes commercial floral crops, seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing. 
  • Floriculture can give 5 times more return than the traditional crops to farmers besides having potential to provide employment to a large number of people.

Beekeeping/ Sweet Revolution

  • The scientific practice of Beekeeping (Apiculture) has the potential to promote eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture along with higher yields leading to increase in income levels of farmers. The Sweet Revolution can act as a major tool to promote socio-economic development.

Beekeeping has great potential for the small and marginal farmers, landless labourers etc. on account of following reasons:

  • Increases crop yields by 20-30% through cross pollination.
  • Additional source of income for paid pollination service.
  • Less capital Intensive and hence can be practiced by poor farmers.
  • Requires no land and can be practiced by landless labourers.
  • Other products such as bee pollen, bee-venom costlier than honey. 
  • Nutritional Security: More than a third of the global food basket is comprised of bee pollinated crops. 
  • Growing demand for honey in the overseas market and hence scope for more export earnings. 

The Government has launched the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission in 2020 to harness the potential of the Sweet Revolution. Beekeeping should be considered as an input of agriculture, which could enhance the efficacy of other inputs and accordingly training should be provided to farmers. 

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