On July 12th, 2025, India & the world witnessed important developments across various sectors. From the Supreme Court's directives on electoral reforms and the strategic discussions at the Eastern Zonal Council Meet to the ecological revival of Wular Lake, we aim to equip you with the essential knowledge and analytical insights needed to excel in your examination.

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

🗳️ Aadhaar to be used for SIR Exercise

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

📰 IN NEWS

The Supreme Court of India asked the Election Commission (EC) to consider Aadhaar, Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC), and ration cards as valid documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The directive came during hearings on petitions alleging that the SIR was flawed and risked wrongful exclusion of legitimate voters, especially due to short timelines and alleged arbitrary verification.

🔄 What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? 

SIR is a process under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, allowing the EC to revise electoral rolls outside the usual schedule, often due to specific administrative needs. It includes:

• Field verification of voter details.
• Addition, deletion, and correction of entries.
• Verification of citizenship and ordinary residency.

In Bihar, the court noted the exercise was neither summary nor truly “special”, creating ambiguity about its legal classification and scope.

🏛️ Supreme Court’s Key Observations

• The list of 11 verification documents provided by the EC was not exhaustive; hence, Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration cards should also be considered to minimise exclusions.
• Aadhaar, though not proof of citizenship, is a primary identity document used for obtaining caste, income, and residence certificates.
• As per the court: “The whole SIR exercise is about identity. Aadhaar not being included is unjustified.”
• The court refused to stay the revision but emphasized it would examine:
  • Legality of EC's authority to carry out the exercise.
  • Manner and timing of its conduct.
  • Safeguards against wrongful deletions, particularly of minorities and marginalised groups.

🤝 27th Eastern Zonal Council Meet, Ranchi

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

📰 IN NEWS

The 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting was held in Ranchi, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It was attended by representatives from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. Long-pending inter-state issues, including the Masanjore Dam, Taiyabpur Barrage, and asset division between Bihar and Jharkhand, were discussed. Union Home Minister remarked that Zonal Councils have evolved from being mere discussion forums to “engines of cooperation”, with 83% of issues resolved. The meeting also highlighted significant progress in curbing Naxalism in the region.

📜 Historical Background

The concept of Zonal Councils originated from the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), 1955. SRC emphasized the need for an institutional mechanism to:

• Promote inter-state cooperation.
• Resolve border and administrative disputes.

As a result, Zonal Councils were formally established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

🏛️ What is a Zonal Council? 

Zonal Councils are statutory advisory bodies established to promote cooperation among States and between the Centre and States in a geographically contiguous zone. There are five Zonal Councils. Additionally, the North Eastern Council (NEC), although not established under the same Act, functions similarly as a regional cooperative forum.

• Legal Basis: North Eastern Council Act, 1971 (amended in 2002 and 2018).
• NEC is a statutory advisory and coordinating body under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
• Member States: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura.
• Chairperson: Union Home Minister (designated as Chairperson).
• Vice-Chairperson: Minister of DoNER (ex-officio).

🎯 Objectives of Zonal Councils

• To ensure effective coordination between the Centre and States and among States.
• To serve as a platform for:
  • Conflict resolution on inter-state issues.
  • Discussion of common concerns such as border disputes, transport, language, and water sharing.
• To encourage balanced socio-economic development of zones.
• To promote the spirit of cooperative federalism.

📈 Recent Contributions (2014–2025)

• Rise in meetings: 63 meetings held between 2014–2025, compared to just 25 from 2004–2014.
• Resolved 83% of agenda items, indicating improved functional efficiency.
• Successfully mediated issues like:
  • Asset distribution post-state bifurcation (e.g., Bihar–Jharkhand).
  • Border management and inter-state transport.
  • Joint action on Naxal-affected zones.

🌸 Wular Lake

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Biodiversity)

📰 IN NEWS

After a gap of 30 years, lotus flowers have bloomed again in the Wular Lake of Kashmir, marking a significant ecological and cultural revival. This resurgence is the result of conservation and dredging efforts by the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA).

🗺️ Geographical Details

• Location: Bandipora district, Jammu & Kashmir; ~67 km from Srinagar.
• Type: Freshwater lake — one of the largest in Asia.
• Area: Varies seasonally, up to 200 sq km.
• Surroundings: Nestled amid the Harmukh mountain range.
• Water Source: Fed by the Jhelum River and ~25 other streams.

🌿 Ecological Importance

• It functions as a natural flood basin for the Jhelum River.
• Rich biodiversity, including endemic and migratory birds.
• Critical wetland under the Ramsar Convention since 1990.
• Major carbon sink and helps regulate hydrological balance.

⚠️ Threats to the Lake

• Excessive siltation and waste inflow from surrounding streams.
• Encroachment and unregulated urbanisation.
• Loss of livelihoods tied to aquatic vegetation, especially lotus stem harvesting.

🌼 Details about the Lotus

• Common Names: Lotus; in Kashmir, stem called Nadru.
• Plant Type: Aquatic perennial; grows in shallow lakes and ponds.
• Parts Used: Flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems (rhizomes).
• National flower of India; symbol of purity, resilience, and rebirth.

🎯 Question No. 1

Which Supreme Court case clarified that the right to vote in India is a statutory right, not a fundamental or constitutional right?

(a) Rajbala v. State of Haryana (2016)

(b) Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023)

(c) Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006)

(d) Kesavananda Bharati case (1973)

✅ Correct Answer: (c)

ℹ️ Explanation: The news explicitly states that the right to vote is a statutory right, as clarified in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006), which was upheld by the Constitution Bench.

🎯 Question No. 2

The concept of Zonal Councils originated from the recommendations of which commission?

(a) Sarkaria Commission

(b) States Reorganisation Commission (SRC)

(c) Punchhi Commission

(d) Kothari Commission

✅ Correct Answer: (b)

ℹ️ Explanation: The "Historical Background" section clearly mentions that "The concept of Zonal Councils originated from the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), 1955."

🎯 Question No. 3

Wular Lake is a critical wetland under which international convention since 1990?

(a) Convention on Biological Diversity

(b) Ramsar Convention

(c) Kyoto Protocol

(d) Paris Agreement

✅ Correct Answer: (b)

ℹ️ Explanation: Under the "Ecological Importance" section for Wular Lake, it is stated that it is a "Critical wetland under the Ramsar Convention since 1990."

🎯 Question No. 4

Which of the following documents was NOT initially included in the EC's list of 11 verification documents for SIR, but was observed by the Supreme Court to be considered?

(a) Aadhaar

(b) Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

(c) Ration cards

(d) All of the above

✅ Correct Answer: (d)

ℹ️ Explanation: The "Supreme Court’s Key Observations" section notes that "The list of 11 verification documents provided by the EC was not exhaustive; hence, Aadhaar, EPIC, and ration cards should also be considered to minimise exclusions."

🎯 Question No. 5

Which river feeds Wular Lake?

(a) Chenab River

(b) Indus River

(c) Jhelum River

(d) Ravi River

✅ Correct Answer: (c)

ℹ️ Explanation: The "Geographical Details" for Wular Lake specify that its "Water Source: Fed by the Jhelum River and ~25 other streams."