Art and Culture 

Margamkali - The Hindu 

Nearly 2,500 women and girls, aged between three and 82, dance during a mega Margam Kali organised by the Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in Idukki.

• About: Margam Kali is a traditional Christian group dance form popular in Kerala, particularly among the Syrian Christian community.
• Evolution: It is believed to have its roots in Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s native martial art, which influenced its rhythm and agility.
• Etymology: The term "Margam" means "the way" or "path", referring to the path shown by Jesus Christ, especially as taught by St. Thomas the Apostle.
• Group Formation: The dance is performed by 12 members representing the 12 Apostles of Christ, forming a circle around a lit lamp (Vilakku) symbolizing Jesus.
• Performance Style: The leader, known as Asan, sings verses narrating Christian themes, while the rest join in the chorus. No musical instruments are used.
• Themes: The lyrics often recount the arrival of St. Thomas in India and his miracles in Malankara (present-day Kerala).
• Songs: The performance is accompanied by Margam Kali Pattu, which includes around 4000 lines composed in various meters.
• Costume:
  • Men: White dhoti with a turban adorned with a peacock feather.
  • Women: Traditional Christian attire known as Chattayum Mundum.
• Occasions: Commonly performed during Christian weddings, church festivals, and community gatherings, especially in Kottayam and Thrissur districts

Polity 

It is not a court’s duty to tell media to delete or take down content, says SC - The Hindu 

The Supreme Court ruled that courts should not instruct the media to delete or take down content. The verdict came in the context of a challenge to a Delhi High Court order directing the takedown of a Wikipedia page on ANI (Asian News International)

Background of the Case

• A defamation dispute was ongoing between ANI and the Wikimedia Foundation. A Single Judge of the Delhi High Court had made certain comments during proceedings.
• A Division Bench of the High Court directed Wikimedia to remove content within 36 hours, citing:
  • Alleged contempt of court
  • Violation of the sub-judice principle
  • The Supreme Court Bench (Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan) overturned the High Court’s order.

Key Highlights of the Supreme Court Judgment

• Media Freedom Upheld: SC held that it is not the court’s duty to tell media: “delete this, take that down.” Courts must not be seen to stifle the freedom of speech and expression.
• Democracy & Institutions: Both the judiciary and media are foundational pillars of democracy.
• Limits on Contempt: Contempt is valid only if the content scandalises the court or affects judicial authority.
• Takedown Order Disproportionate: SC termed the Delhi HC takedown direction as “disproportionate” and set it aside.
• Permissible Restrictions by Court:
  • Preventive Injunctions can be issued only if:
    • There is reasonable ground to believe that publication would impair:
    • Administration of justice or
    • Right to fair trial
  • The danger must be imminent and real.
• On Sub Judice Matters: Media may debate ongoing cases, but must do so objectively and constructively.
• On Postponement Orders: Courts may order postponement of publication only when:
  • It is necessary to prevent real and substantial risk to fairness of trial.
  • It meets the tests of necessity and proportionality.

Contempt of Court

• Definition: Contempt of court is a legal tool to protect judicial institutions from unwarranted criticism, motivated attacks, and actions that lower its authority or hinder the administration of justice.
• Objective: Ensures respect for judicial authority and prevents obstruction to justice delivery.
• Constitutional & Statutory Basis
  • Article 19(2): Permits “contempt of court” as a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression.
  • Article 129: Empowers the Supreme Court to punish for its own contempt.
  • Article 215: Grants the same power to High Courts.
  • Contempt of Courts Act, 1971: Provides the statutory framework for contempt proceedings in India.
• Types of Contempt of Court
  • Civil Contempt: Wilful disobedience to any court judgment, decree, order, writ, or breach of an undertaking given to a court.
  • Criminal Contempt: Publication or acts that scandalise or lower the authority of any court, or interfere with judicial proceedings, or obstruct the administration of justice.
• What is Not Contempt?
  • Fair and accurate reporting of court proceedings.
  • Fair criticism of a judicial order after disposal of the case.
  • These are considered acceptable and do not amount to contempt.
• Punishment Provisions:  As per Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 Imprisonment up to 6 months, or Fine up to ₹2,000, or Both.
• 2006 Amendment:
  • Introduced “truth and good faith” as a valid defence.
  • Punishment applies only if the act substantially interferes or tends to interfere with the due course of justice.

Centre issues NOTAM, closes 24 airports for civilian flights till May 15 - The Hindu 

Following Pakistan’s targeting of civilian installations in India on May 8, the Civil Aviation Ministry extended the closure of airports.

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)

• About: A Notice to Airmen or Notice to Air Mission contains crucial information for flight operations, regarding the establishment, condition, or change in aeronautical facilities, services, procedures, or hazards.
• Purpose
  • Timely Information: Provides information that is essential for flight operations personnel, especially pilots, to ensure safety.
  • Types of Updates: Includes changes in airspace, airports, equipment, and potential hazards affecting aircraft operations.
• Reasons for Issuing NOTAMs
  • Hazards: Air-shows, parachute jumps, glider/micro-light flying.
  • Special Flights: Flights involving important individuals (e.g., heads of state).
  • Infrastructure Changes: Closed runways, taxiways, and unserviceable radio navigational aids.
  • Military Exercises: Airspace restrictions due to military activities.
  • Obstructions: Unserviceable lights on tall structures or temporary erection of obstacles (e.g., cranes) near airfields.
• Risks of Non-Compliance: Failure to review NOTAMs before flight increases the risk of accidents and compromises the safety of flight operations.

World Affairs

India abstains from IMF vote to give more funds to Pak., flags its ‘poor track record’  - The Hindu 

India abstained from a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) vote to disburse over $2.3 billion to Pakistan. The abstention was based on concerns over Pakistan’s poor implementation record and the potential misuse of IMF funds, including for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

India and IMF on this decision

• The IMF Executive Board met to:
  • Approve disbursement of $1 billion from the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
  • Extend an additional $1.3 billion loan under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) to Pakistan.
• India flagged that:
  • Pakistan has been a prolonged borrower of the IMF.
  • Out of 35 years since 1989, Pakistan received IMF disbursements in 28 years.
  • Since 2019, Pakistan has availed 4 IMF programmes, yet failed to stabilize its macroeconomic situation.
  • Had earlier programmes succeeded, Pakistan wouldn’t need another bailout.
• Pakistan’s Borrowing History with IMF: Since 1958, Pakistan has availed 24 loan arrangements with the IMF. The current $1.3 billion RSF would be the 25th IMF programme.

About International Monetary Fund (IMF) 

• Established: 1945 under the Bretton Woods Agreement to promote international economic cooperation and stability.
• Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA.
• Key Functions: Economic surveillance, technical assistance, and financial lending to stabilize economies.
• Sources of Funding: Member quotas and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
• Major Loan Instruments:
  • Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for long-term economic reforms.
  • Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for climate and economic resilience.
  • Stand-by Arrangements (SBA) for short-term crises.
• Conditionalities: Loans often require structural reforms like fiscal consolidation, deregulation, and privatization (SAPs).
   

Environment 

‘Single-use food, beverage packaging forms 84% of Himalayan plastic waste - The Hindu 

The Zero Waste Himalaya Alliance released a report during the Zero Waste Himalaya Network Meet held in Bir, Himachal Pradesh (April 2024). The report highlights that 70% of plastics collected across the Himalayan belt are non-recyclable, and 84% of the waste comprises single-use food and beverage packaging. The findings are part of the alliance’s flagship movement — The Himalayan Cleanup (THC) — one of the largest anti-plastic drives in the Indian Himalayan region since 2018.

Key Findings of the Study

• Plastic Waste in the Himalayan Belt:
  • 84% of the plastic waste in the region is from single-use food and beverage packaging.
  • The waste is primarily generated from tourism and local consumption.
• Non-recyclable Plastics:
  • 70% of the plastics collected from across the Himalayan belt (from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh) is non-recyclable.
  • This indicates a severe challenge for waste management and recycling in the region.
• The Himalayan Cleanup (THC) Movement:
  • The Himalayan Cleanup initiative, led by Zero Waste Himalaya (Gangtok, Sikkim) and Integrated Mountain Initiative (Dehradun, Uttarakhand), has been active since 2018.
  • THC has become one of the biggest movements against plastic pollution in the Indian Himalayan region.
  • Data from past years indicate a growing waste crisis, exacerbated by ineffective waste management systems.
• Data from THC and Audit:
  • In 2018, THC conducted a massive waste collection exercise across 250+ sites in the Himalayan region.
  • The findings revealed that Sikkim generated the highest volume of waste among the nine Himalayan states.
  • Other notable waste-generating areas included Darjeeling (West Bengal), which accounted for 36,180 items across 37 sites.

Single-Use Plastic (SUP)

• A plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before disposal or recycling.
• Examples of SUPs:
  • Packaging of consumer goods
  • Plastic bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics)
  • Polythene bags
  • Face masks, coffee cups, cling film
  • Trash bags, food wrappers, etc.
• Environmental Impact
  • High volume of production and consumption.
  • Difficult to recycle due to material composition (especially multi-layered packaging).

Current Landscape of Single-Use Plastics in India

• Ban on SUP Items (2021): India banned 19 specific SUP items, such as Plastic cutlery, Straws, Stirrers and Polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration However, these items represent only ~0.6 million tonnes/year, a small share of total plastic waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy (2022): Launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Focuses on: Collection targets for plastic waste and Recycling mandates for producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs)
  • Limitations: Excludes many non-recyclable plastics like multi-layered packaging from strict control.

India highlights Forest Conservation and Sustainable Forest Management achievements at the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests - PIB 

India participated in the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20) held from May 5 to 9, 2025 at the UN Headquarters, New York. India highlighted its achievements in forest conservation and sustainable forest management, and extended an invitation to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Key Highlights of India’s Participation

• Forest Conservation Achievements
  • Forest & Tree Cover: Increased to 25.17% of India’s geographical area (as per latest India State of Forest Report).
  • Major Initiatives:
    • Aravalli Green Wall: Restoration of degraded land.
    • Mangrove Cover: 7.86% increase in the last decade.
    • Green India Mission: Afforestation over 1.55 lakh hectares.
    • Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother): Over 1.4 billion seedlings planted.
• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) : India invited UN Member States to join the IBCA.
  • Launched by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
  • Established by: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC
  • Function: Global platform for conservation expertise, funding initiatives, and creating a technical knowledge repository.
  • Conservation Focus: Protect 7 major big cat species—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
  • Membership
    • Countries Involved: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, Liberia.
    • Open to: All UN member states, including range and non-range countries.

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

• Established in 2000 by UN ECOSOC to promote sustainable forest management globally.
• Holds annual sessions alternating between technical discussions (odd years) and policy dialogues (even years).
• Universal membership includes all UN Member States and specialized forest-related agencies.
• India is a founding member, playing an active role in global forest policy.
• 19th UNFF Session Declaration focused on securing political commitment to forest protection and achieving UNSPF goals.

Defence 

What are Turkish Songar drones, used by Pak to attack India? - Indian Express 

On the night of May 8–9, 2025, Pakistan attempted drone incursions at 36 military and civilian sites in India. Preliminary forensic analysis indicates the use of Turkish-made Songar drones, manufactured by Asisguard.

About Songar Drones

• Developed by: Asisguard, a Turkish defense firm.
• First launched: April 2019.
• Inducted into Turkish Armed Forces (TAF): February 2020.
• Notable feature: Turkey’s first indigenous armed unmanned aerial system (UAS).
• Design and Technical Specifications
  • Rotor Width: 140 cm.
  • Maximum Take-Off Weight: 45 kg.
  • Endurance: Up to 35 minutes without payload.
  • Range: Up to 5 km.
• Altitude:
  • Up to 3,000 m above mean sea level.
  • Up to 300 m above ground level.
• Navigation: Uses GPS and GLONASS.
• Flight Modes: Manual and autonomous, with "return to home" fail-safe.
• Safety Features: Weapons require operator authorisation before firing.
• Operational Capabilities
  • Surveillance: Equipped with pilot camera and gun-mounted camera.
  • Day and night operations: Real-time video broadcast for reconnaissance.
  • Coordination: Can operate alongside troops or other drones.
  • Stealth: Enables surprise attacks without revealing position.
•  Armament Variants of Songar Drones: As per Asisguard, five weaponized variants exist:
  • Songar 5.56×45 mm Assault Rifle:
    • NATO-standard cartridges.
    • Recoil-damping system for flight stability.
  • Songar 2×40 mm Grenade Launcher:
    • Fires two grenades 
    • Range: 400–450 m.
  • Songar 6×40 mm Drum Grenade Launcher:
    • Fires up to six grenades.
    • Similar operational range.
  • Songar 3×81 mm Mortar Gripper.
  • Songar 8×Tear/Smoke Grenade Launcher: Controlled free-fall deployment for direct target impact.