Phone Tapping and the Right to Privacy

The Madras High Court recently ruled against expanding the scope of Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which governs phone tapping. The Court emphasized that only the legislature, not the judiciary, has the power to amend such provisions. Phone tapping, or surveillance through interception of telephonic communication, is a significant concern for democratic societies as it can infringe upon the right to privacy.

India’s legal architecture permits lawful interception under public emergency or safety concerns, as outlined in the Telegraph Act and the Information Technology Act. Safeguards stem from the Supreme Court’s landmark PUCL v. Union of India (1996) case, which mandates written orders from senior-most officials and oversight by a Review Committee. In 2017, the K.S. Puttaswamy judgment further solidified privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, subject to legality, necessity, and proportionality tests.

Despite these safeguards, phone tapping remains controversial. The vague terminology like “public emergency” is susceptible to misuse, and technological advances make mass surveillance seamless and difficult to audit. The absence of a robust data protection regime amplifies these concerns. The Madras High Court’s judgment thus reinforces constitutional limits, curtails executive overreach, and underscores the judiciary’s role in protecting personal liberties in the digital age.

PM Modi’s State Visit to Ghana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Ghana marks a significant moment in India’s Africa outreach, being the first such visit by an Indian PM in over 30 years. The two countries signed multiple MoUs in sectors like culture, traditional medicine, and technology. India announced the upgradation of its relationship with Ghana to a Comprehensive Partnership and PM Modi was conferred with Ghana’s highest civilian honor—the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana.

India and Ghana share a rich historical and diplomatic legacy, including early diplomatic engagement before Ghana’s independence in 1957 and shared commitments to the Non-Aligned Movement. India is now among Ghana’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching $3 billion in 2023–24. Key sectors include gold, pharma, ICT, and agro-processing. India has also committed $450 million in concessional credit for Ghanaian development, spanning railway infrastructure, rural electrification, and healthcare.

The visit reaffirms Ghana’s role as a gateway to West Africa for India’s strategic and economic ambitions. It also lays the groundwork for collaboration on vaccine production, security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea, and expanded engagement under the South-South Cooperation framework. Ghana’s support for India at multilateral platforms like the UN and G77 further aligns with India’s diplomatic push for global leadership and an expanded UN Security Council seat.

Gig Workers Demand Minimum Wages and Social Security

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU) has reiterated demands for a legal framework to guarantee minimum wages, social security, and protections for India’s growing gig workforce. India’s gig economy—characterized by short-term, task-based employment facilitated through digital platforms—has expanded rapidly in recent years, with projections estimating over 23 million gig workers by 2029–30.

Despite their growing role in urban services, gig workers remain underrepresented in formal labor statistics and policies. The Code on Social Security (2020) recognizes gig and platform workers, but its implementation has been limited. The revised 2025 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) continues to club them under broad “self-employed” or “casual labour” categories, making policy targeting ineffective.

The government has introduced measures such as e-Shram registration and health insurance under Ayushman Bharat, but challenges persist in platform accountability, wage fairness, and pension schemes. There is an urgent need to revise survey methodologies, enforce platform transparency, and ensure coverage under existing welfare boards and the proposed Social Security Fund. As the future of work evolves, India must balance flexibility with fairness to avoid exacerbating digital-age precarity.

EU’s 2040 Target to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The European Commission has proposed a new legally binding target: a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. This step bridges the gap between the 2030 “Fit for 55” package and the 2050 goal of carbon neutrality. The EU’s move comes amidst growing pressure to intensify climate ambition and enhance regulatory certainty for industries and citizens.

The roadmap allows 3% of reductions via foreign carbon credits post-2036, and adopts a technology-neutral approach that supports nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and renewable technologies. The proposal complements the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the Horizon Europe innovation fund.

India, by contrast, has committed to reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieving 50% non-fossil capacity in electricity generation. It ranks 10th in the Climate Change Performance Index 2025 but remains dependent on coal for nearly 75% of emissions. The recent Biennial Update Report recorded a 36% drop in emissions intensity between 2005 and 2020.

To align with global ambition, India must strengthen its carbon market, mainstream green hydrogen, improve transport electrification, and implement mandatory carbon disclosures. The EU’s action serves as both an inspiration and a challenge to emerging economies to design equitable and scalable mitigation pathways.

Custodial Deaths in India: The Ongoing Crisis

The recent custodial death in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district has reignited the debate on police brutality, institutional impunity, and the fragile state of human rights in India’s criminal justice system. Between 2016 and 2022, over 11,600 custodial deaths were reported, with Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu recording the highest numbers.

Custodial deaths violate Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution and erode public trust in law enforcement. India has signed but not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). While guidelines from the K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) and Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006) exist, compliance is sporadic. Investigations into custodial crimes are often conducted by the same agencies involved, and judicial inquiries remain toothless.

Recommendations include enacting a standalone anti-torture law, setting up independent Police Complaints Authorities, mandating CCTV surveillance in custody zones, and holding officers criminally accountable through fast-track courts. The Law Commission’s 273rd report and NHRC advisories support these reforms, but political inertia remains a barrier. Without systemic reform, custodial violence will continue to mock constitutional values and international human rights commitments.

Genome Sequencing of Ancient Egyptian DNA

Researchers have successfully sequenced the genome of an ancient Egyptian individual who lived nearly 4,800 years ago—making it the oldest and most complete DNA dataset retrieved from Egypt to date. Extracted from dental material, the sequencing sheds light on population genetics, migration, and medical anthropology in North Africa.

Genome sequencing allows researchers to determine the order of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, G) in DNA and trace evolutionary history. It helps identify inherited disorders, genetic mutations, and links to ancestral populations. This development enriches our understanding of ancient human migration patterns and supports future archaeological-genetic collaborations.

DengiAll: India’s Indigenous Dengue Vaccine

India has reached the 50% enrollment mark in Phase III clinical trials of DengiAll, its first indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine. Developed by Panacea Biotec under a license from the US NIH, DengiAll includes live attenuated versions of all four dengue serotypes.

India reports over 2 lakh dengue cases annually, making an indigenous, cost-effective vaccine critical for public health. With previous trials showing a robust immune response, and coordination led by ICMR institutes, DengiAll could transform India’s vaccine landscape if approved for commercial use. It also aligns with India’s global health diplomacy goals, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa.

C-FLOOD: India’s New Flood Forecasting Platform

The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched C-FLOOD, a village-level inundation forecasting system using high-resolution hydrodynamic modeling and real-time data from national supercomputers. Developed by CDAC Pune and the Central Water Commission, it currently covers the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi basins.

C-FLOOD is part of the National Supercomputing Mission and aims to bridge critical gaps in India’s flood early-warning systems. With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, such tech-driven interventions are essential for disaster resilience and policy readiness.

Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)

The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), launched by the DoT in May 2025, helps banks and NBFCs flag risky mobile numbers by assigning them risk levels—Medium, High, or Very High—based on data from cybercrime portals, telecom intelligence, and banking alerts.

Major UPI platforms like PhonePe and ICICI Bank have adopted the system. This initiative enhances fraud detection and reflects an advanced stage of inter-sectoral digital governance under the Digital India framework.

SPREE 2025: Expanding Social Security Access

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched SPREE 2025 to bring more employers and employees into the social security net. The scheme allows registration without penalties or retrospective dues between July and December 2025. It especially targets unregistered, contractual, and informal workers.

SPREE reflects a transition from punitive to participatory regulation in India’s labor policy. By removing administrative friction, it promotes compliance and universalizes access to healthcare and insurance benefits under the ESI Act.

NIPCCD Renamed after Savitribai Phule

The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) has been renamed as the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development, honoring one of India’s earliest women reformers.

Established in 1966, the institute functions as a training and policy research body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Its renaming symbolizes a commitment to gender equity and historically-informed policy framing in child welfare and social development.