To what extent is contemporary Ifta' (issuing of fatwas) aware of today's modern developments, be they political, social, or scientific, and what are the grounds upon which a Mufti declares a Muslim intellectual to be an infidel in the current era?

Pronouncing someone a disbeliever (takfir) rests with Allah and His Messenger. No one is permitted to declare another a disbeliever except with evidence from the Quran and authentic Sunnah (definition), due to the gravity of its implications. The matter must be referred to specialized scholars to discern valid excuses, such as the presence of an impediment like ignorance, coercion, or misinterpretation, which vary according to circumstances and issues.