On July 21st, 2025, India & the world witnessed important developments across various sectors. A breakthrough AI model BioEmu was introduced to transform protein structure prediction, the U.S. officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), validating India’s security concerns, and the Supreme Court weighed in on the legalities of feeding stray dogs, balancing compassion with public order. 

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:

BioEmu

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Science & Technology)

IN NEWS

• A new AI-powered diffusion model called BioEmu has been developed. It predicts the full range of protein conformations under biological conditions.

• The model addresses a critical challenge in structural biology by simulating the "equilibrium ensemble"—the complete set of structures a protein may naturally adopt.

• BioEmu was trained using a combination of AlphaFold-predicted protein structures, 200 milliseconds of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, and 0.5 million experimental mutant sequences.

Objectives of BioEmu

The primary objectives include overcoming the limitations of traditional, slow, and resource-heavy Molecular Dynamics simulations. BioEmu aims to enable rapid and scalable prediction of protein flexibility, large conformational shifts, and the identification of cryptic binding pockets, which are highly relevant for drug targeting. It seeks to facilitate large-scale applications in drug discovery, mutation analysis, and protein function prediction.

BioEmu’s Significance

• Scientific Relevance: BioEmu uniquely models protein dynamics, capturing their natural motion rather than providing static snapshots. It has demonstrated high accuracy, predicting 83% of large structural shifts and 70–81% of small conformational changes. The model has successfully analyzed complex proteins such as adenylate kinase and the cancer-linked Ras protein.
• Speed and Efficiency: It can generate thousands of protein conformations in minutes to hours on a single GPU, making it significantly faster and more cost-effective compared to traditional Molecular Dynamics (MD), which can take thousands of GPU-hours.
• Drug Discovery Potential: BioEmu's ability to identify cryptic pockets and flexible conformations opens new avenues in structure-based drug design by suggesting potential drug-binding sites.
• Complementary Use with MD: BioEmu serves as a complementary tool to MD. It can quickly generate a diverse set of initial conformations, which MD can then explore in greater detail, offering a hybrid model that combines rapid AI screening with detailed simulation.

Limitations

Despite its advancements, BioEmu has certain limitations. It provides static predictions and does not simulate time-evolution or detailed pathways of protein movement. Its biological context is limited; it cannot model pH changes, cell membranes, or the direct interaction with drug molecules, and it is currently restricted to single protein chains. Unlike AlphaFold, it also lacks a built-in reliability score. Therefore, it is best utilized as a hypothesis-generating tool rather than providing a definitive final answer.

TRF designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (International Relations)

IN NEWS

• The United States has formally designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) under Section 219 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224.

• This action follows the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

• TRF is identified as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is already a globally designated terror group.

Legal Effects of FTO and SDGT Designation

The designation carries significant legal consequences, including the freezing of assets within U.S. jurisdiction, criminalization of providing material support to the group, imposition of immigration restrictions and potential deportation for affiliated individuals, and mandatory blocking of financial transactions involving the designated entity by financial institutions.

Significance of FTO and SDGT Designation

• Diplomatic Endorsement: This designation validates India’s long-standing claims and evidence of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, further reinforcing India-U.S. strategic and security ties.
• Operational Disruption: It is expected to disrupt TRF's financial networks and overseas support, limiting its international travel and fundraising capabilities.
• Deterrence & Accountability: The move sends a strong message to state sponsors of terrorism and increases international pressure on Pakistan to take concrete action against LeT and its proxies.
• Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: It encourages other countries to impose similar sanctions on the group and enhances legal cooperation and intelligence sharing in counter-terrorism efforts.

Background on The Resistance Front (TRF)

TRF emerged in 2019, reportedly as a front of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), aiming to bypass the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Pakistan. It has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, including assaults on security forces between 2020–2024 and targeted killings of minorities and migrant workers. TRF extensively uses social media for radicalization, recruitment, and propaganda. It is widely considered a rebranding of LeT, lacking an independent command structure.

Systems to Designate Terrorist Organisations

• United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 Sanctions Committee: Maintains a consolidated list of individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaeda, ISIL, and their affiliates, imposing sanctions like asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes. Examples include LeT, JeM, and their leaders.
• European Union (EU) Terror List: The EU maintains its own list of persons, groups, and entities involved in terrorism, leading to asset freezes and restrictions on financial services.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF): While not a sanctioning body, FATF places countries on "Grey List" or "Black List" for deficiencies in countering terrorist financing or money laundering, exerting economic pressure for compliance.
• India’s UAPA List (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act): Under UAPA, the Indian government can designate organizations and individuals as terrorists, leading to property seizures and account freezes. LeT, JeM, TRF, and individual operatives have been listed under UAPA.

Feeding Stray Dogs: Compassion vs Public Order

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Polity)

IN NEWS

• In July 2025, the Supreme Court of India heard a petition filed by a Noida resident alleging harassment and violence for feeding stray dogs.

• The case has reignited focus on the legal rights of animal feeders, the responsibilities of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and the inherent conflict between animal welfare and public safety in urban environments.

• This comes amid increasing reports of dog bite incidents, existing legal ambiguities, and challenges in enforcing community animal care regulations.

Background of the Case

The petitioner, a woman residing in a Noida housing society, claimed that she was being targeted and harassed by the RWA President, and approximately 10 sterilized stray dogs were allegedly killed. The Allahabad High Court had earlier dismissed her plea, emphasizing that public safety must take precedence over animal feeding rights.

Key Ruling/Judgements

• Key Observations made by the Supreme Court (2025): The Court sought a balanced approach, observing that feeding of stray dogs must not interfere with public order or create nuisance. It suggested that private premises are the preferred location for feeding, not common areas like staircases or playgrounds. The Court noted that while the rights of feeders are important, so are the rights of residents, particularly vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. It affirmed that society cannot remain indifferent to the plight of animals, but clear rules are necessary for orderly coexistence.
• Supreme Court (2014) — Jallikattu Judgment: This landmark judgment interpreted Article 21 (Right to Life) to include animal life with dignity. It also reinforced citizens' fundamental duty under Article 51A(g) to show compassion towards animals.
• Bombay High Court (2023) — Sharmila Sankar Case: This ruling affirmed that Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) cannot restrict or penalize individuals for feeding dogs, and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, were deemed to have the force of law.

Legal Framework

• Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023: Notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, these rules replaced the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001.
  • Key provisions: They define dogs as "community animals," promote sterilization, vaccination, and humane care, and allow feeding in designated public spots in consultation with RWAs and district authorities.
• Rule 20 – Feeding Community Animals: This rule obligates local bodies/RWAs to set up dedicated feeding spots away from crowded/common areas and ensure cleanliness. It also mandates the formation of conflict resolution committees involving key stakeholders such as the Chief Veterinary Officer, District SPCA, local NGOs, Police, and RWA representatives.

Constitutional & Legal Dimensions

Broader Issues Involved: Compassion vs. Public Order

• Compassion for Animals: This perspective highlights the ethical and legal responsibility under Article 51A(g) to care for animals. Proponents argue that regular feeding can reduce animal aggression and hunger-driven attacks, and it is crucial for the success of Animal Birth Control (ABC) vaccination and sterilization programs.

Concerns About Public Order: This viewpoint focuses on increased reports of dog bite incidents and aggressive behavior in urban areas, raising significant health, hygiene, and safety concerns, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) often feel powerless or conflicted in managing these disputes, leading to a rise in litigation and public unrest, particularly in gated communities.