Today's Brief 1-2/07/2025

1 . Hul Diwas General Studies Paper-I (Mains) - Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

is an annual observance held on June 30th that commemorates the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-1856, also known as the Santhal Hul. The word "Hul" itself means "revolution."

This day holds immense significance for the Santhal tribal community and other tribal groups, particularly in regions like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, as it honors the valiant struggle led by figures such as Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, along with their sisters Phulo and Jhano.

The rebellion was a direct response to the severe exploitation faced by the Santhals at the hands of the British East India Company, local zamindars, and moneylenders.

It arose from oppressive revenue policies, exorbitant interest rates, and the systematic dispossession of tribal lands, pushing the Santhals into a cycle of debt and despair.

On June 30, 1855, a pivotal moment occurred when a large assembly of Santhals at Bhognadih in present-day Jharkhand declared their independence and pledged to fight against colonial rule and its collaborators.

While the Santhals primarily used traditional weapons like bows and arrows against the British's advanced firearms, their initial guerilla tactics proved surprisingly effective, even leading to early victories against the East India Company.

Despite their bravery, the rebellion was eventually and brutally suppressed by the British in 1856 through the enforcement of martial law, widespread destruction of villages, and mass killings.

Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, the rebellion's key leaders, were ultimately captured and executed.

However, the intensity of the Santhal uprising did force the British to acknowledge some of their flawed policies, leading to the later enactment of the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, which offered a degree of protection to the tribal communities.

2 .The GoIStats mobile application 

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)is a significant new initiative by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) under India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Launched on Statistics Day 2025 (June 29th), its primary goal is to democratize access to official government statistics, making them more user-friendly and readily available to all citizens.

The app aims to be a comprehensive data ecosystem, featuring an interactive "Key Trends" dashboard that visualizes crucial socio-economic indicators like GDP, inflation, and employment, simplifying complex data for a wider audience.

Users can also directly download datasets in CSV format from the "Products" section and benefit from advanced filtering and search capabilities for efficient data retrieval.

GoIStats prioritizes mobile-optimized data tables, engaging visual data storytelling through infographics and interactive charts with clear contextual explanations, and includes social sharing features to promote data literacy.

Emphasizing transparency, every data point and visualization includes complete source attribution, while a dedicated publication section offers instant downloads of NSO reports.

The app will provide regular updates aligned with NSO's publication calendar and features a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.

3 .Social Security in India

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations has indeed achieved a remarkable milestone in social security coverage, with the figure soaring from 19 percent in 2015 to an impressive 64.3 percent in 2025.

This represents an unprecedented 45-percentage-point surge over the past decade, a growth acknowledged by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and published on its ILOSTAT database.

This means that over 94 crore (940 million) people in India are now covered under at least one social protection benefit, positioning India as the second largest country globally in terms of social protection beneficiaries, after China.

This significant expansion is attributed to a combination of factors, including the government's sustained focus on pro-poor and labour welfare schemes, significant digital and financial inclusion initiatives, and the rationalization of labor laws.

Key schemes like Ayushman Bharat (health insurance), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (food security), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (life and accident insurance), Atal Pension Yojana (pension), and the e-Shram portal for unorganized workers have played a pivotal role in this widespread coverage.

Furthermore, the extensive reach of Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems has ensured efficient delivery of benefits, reducing leakages and delays, thereby underpinning this transformative expansion in India's social security landscape.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a unique and long-standing specialized agency of the United Nations, established in 1919 as a part of the Treaty of Versailles. Its fundamental belief is that lasting global peace can only be achieved through social justice.

What truly sets the ILO apart is its tripartite structure, which brings together governments, employers, and workers' representatives from its 187 member states.

This inclusive approach ensures that all key stakeholders have an equal voice in shaping the organization's policies and programs, from its annual International Labour Conference to its Governing Body and its operational headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The ILO's core mission revolves around promoting rights at work, fostering decent employment opportunities, enhancing social protection, and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues.

To fulfill these aims, it develops internationally recognized Conventions (binding treaties) and Recommendations (non-binding guidelines) that cover a wide range of labor topics, from working conditions to social security.

The ILO actively monitors how member states apply these standards and provides technical support to help countries improve their labor practices. In recognition of its significant contributions to peace through social justice, the ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.

4 .INS Tamal (F71) is a multi-role stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. It was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 2025, at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

This marks a significant milestone as it is the eighth multi-role stealth frigate in the Project 1135.6 series and the second of the additional follow-on Tushil class of ships. Its sister ship, INS Tushil, was commissioned in December 2024.

5 .10 years of Digital India Mission :

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

Today, July 2, 2025, marks the 10th anniversary of the Digital India initiative.

It was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 1, 2015, with the ambitious vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Over the past decade, Digital India has evolved from a government program into a "people's movement," as described by PM Modi.

It has aimed to bridge the digital divide, improve governance, foster financial inclusion, and drive economic growth through the widespread adoption of technology.

6 .RailOne app :(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management is the newly launched "super app" by Indian Railways, designed to be a one-stop solution for all passenger needs and queries related to train travel.

 It was officially launched on July 1, 2025, by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on the 40th Foundation Day of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the organization responsible for developing the app.

The primary goal of RailOne is to consolidate various existing railway services into a single, user-friendly platform, eliminating the need for passengers to use multiple apps for different purposes.

This aims to provide a more seamless and enhanced user experience.

7 .Shakti 2025: the 8th joint military exercise between the Indian and French armies.

This key defense drill recently concluded in Southern France, running from June 18 to July 1, 2025. Its primary goal was to enhance bilateral military cooperation, interoperability, and strategic defense partnership.

The exercise focused on sub-conventional operations, counter-terrorism, and urban warfare, involving a 90-member Indian contingent and French troops.

It included a high-intensity, 96-hour joint field exercise with vehicles and even fighter jets, along with training in Electronic Warfare and Counter-UAS operations.

Exercise Shakti is a vital part of the growing defense ties between India and France, building mutual trust and operational readiness.

8 .Air Headquarters : Air Marshal S Sivakumar VSM today assumed the appointment of Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA) at the Air Headquarters in New Delhi.

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