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01 May 2025 UPSC Current Affairs - Daily News Headlines
IMPORTANT LINKS
On May 1, 2025, India witnessed significant developments across various sectors. There are new talks about a spying software called Pegasus. People are worried it might be used to watch others without their permission. This raises big questions about privacy and national safety. The United States has put India on a Priority Watch List for not protecting ideas like inventions, books, or music properly (called intellectual property). There is a warning about locust swarms. These are large groups of insects that can destroy crops. This is a big problem for farmers and can lead to less food in some areas. These events show that India is dealing with many different challenges—from keeping people safe and protecting their ideas, to saving crops and food supplies.
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.
Daily UPSC Current Affairs 01-05-2025
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:
Pegasus Spyware
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance)
In News:
- On April 23, 2025, the Supreme Court heard petitions related to the alleged use of Pegasus spyware by the Government of India to surveil journalists, activists, and citizens.
- The Bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, questioned whether using Pegasus for national security purposes was inherently wrong.
- SC indicated it would allow individuals to know if their phones were hacked, provided it doesn’t compromise national security.
Know more about the Latest Cyber Security Threats!
What is Pegasus?
What is Spyware?
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Details Related to Pegasus and India
- In 2021, an international consortium (including The Wire, The Guardian, Washington Post) alleged that Pegasus was used to target over 300 Indian mobile numbers, including:
- Journalists, Activists, Politicians, Lawyers and Former and current judges.
- The Indian government neither confirmed nor denied purchasing Pegasus, citing national security.
- The Supreme Court constituted a technical committee in October 2021 to examine:
- Whether Pegasus was used
- If citizen devices were hacked
- Legal framework for surveillance in India
Know more about the Hermit Spyware!
India on IPR Priority Watch List
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: International Relations
In News:
- The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2025 Special 301 Report, again placing India on the Priority Watch List for inadequate intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement.
- This marks continued criticism despite India’s efforts to strengthen its IP regime.
- The report particularly highlights issues with:
- Patent law interpretation
- IP enforcement infrastructure
- Protection of trade secrets and copyrights
- Custom duties on IP-intensive goods
What is the IPR Watch List?
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Know more about the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)!
Reasons for Keeping India on the Watch List
- Patent Concerns:
- Ambiguity in Indian Patents Act, particularly around:
- Section 3(d): Restricts patents for minor modifications of existing drugs.
- Compulsory licensing provisions.
- Enforcement Issues:
- Weak enforcement mechanisms, especially for:
- Copyright protection (e.g., piracy, unauthorized photocopying, illegal video game sharing).
- Signal theft by cable operators.
- Inadequate action against commercial-scale IP infringements.
- Trade Secrets Protection:
- Lack of a dedicated legal framework to safeguard trade secrets.
- Companies face uncertainty and legal limitations in redressal.
- High Tariffs:
- India imposes high import duties on IP-intensive goods, including:
- ICT products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, solar equipment, and capital goods.
- Technological Protection Measures:
- Weak laws for preventing the circumvention of digital rights management (DRM) technologies.
Know more about the National IPR Policy!
What are IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)?
Types of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
Governance of IPR
Global Level
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Locust Swarms
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS Paper III (Environment)
In News:
- A new model developed by researchers at the Max Planck Institute and University of Konstanz suggests that locusts make complex decisions based on visual perception, overturning the earlier particle-like movement theory.
- This finding can improve early warning systems and locust swarm predictions, especially in the context of climate change.
- It comes in the aftermath of the 2019–2022 locust outbreaks, which were the worst in decades across East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
What are Locust Swarms?
Reasons for Locust Swarms
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Know more about the Invasive Alien Species!
Canada
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
In News:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mark Carney on becoming the new Prime Minister of Canada and acknowledged shared democratic values and rule of law.
Details Related to Canada
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Know more about the India Canada Relations!
Monthly Current Affairs Compilation
UPSC Daily Current Affairs FAQs
What is Pegasus spyware and why is it in the news again?
Pegasus is a spying software that can secretly access phones. It's in the news again because people are worried it might be used to watch citizens without their knowledge.
Why has the US put India on the Priority Watch List?
The US says India is not doing enough to protect ideas like inventions, books, and music, which may affect trade between the two countries.
What is intellectual property and why is it important?
Intellectual property means ideas or creations like books, songs, or inventions. It’s important because it protects the rights of people who create new things.
What are locust swarms and why are they dangerous?
Locust swarms are large groups of insects that eat crops quickly. They can cause big losses for farmers and reduce food supply.