Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 12-05-2025

Recovery in Punjab, India: A fully intact, Chinese-made PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile was found in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. This is noteworthy due to ongoing India-Pakistan tensions.

PL-15 Definition: The PL-15 (“Thunderbolt-15”) is a long-range, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed and manufactured in China.

Range: The domestic Chinese PL-15 has a range of 200-300 km. The export version, PL-15E, has a declared range of 145 km (but could be operationally 100-120 km).

Speed: The PL-15 can reach speeds exceeding Mach 5, attributed to its dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor.

Warhead: It carries a 20-25 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead designed to destroy maneuvering aerial targets.

Guidance System: Employs inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, a two-way datalink, and an AESA-based active radar seeker for accuracy and resistance to jamming.

Baglihar Dam Gates Opened: India opened multiple gates at the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project Dam on the Chenab River in Ramban to regulate water flow following heavy rainfall.

Timing & Context: This action follows earlier gate openings and occurs amidst rising tensions with Pakistan and discussions surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty.

Indus Waters Treaty: The Chenab River is governed by the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which divides water usage rights between India and Pakistan. Pakistan heavily relies on this river system for irrigation.

Tensions & Ceasefire Violations: Recent events include cross-border firings, attempted air assaults by Pakistan, and explosions in Srinagar, raising concerns about ceasefire violations after a bilateral understanding to halt military operations.

India’s Response: India has retaliated to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and placed the Indus Waters Treaty in a state of suspension following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Chenab River Basics: The Chenab River, formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers, is a major tributary of the Indus River and a vital water source for both India and Pakistan.

Baglihar Dam as Flashpoint: The Baglihar Dam project has been a previous point of contention between India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty framework.

Recent Developments: Earlier Centre had opened two gates at the Ramban-based dam—just days after having shut them—to manage water discharge to Pakistan.

Social Impact Assessment for Great Nicobar Development: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is seeking financial bids for a social impact assessment related to land acquisition for a new arterial road. This road is part of the larger Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project.

Great Nicobar Island Location: It is the southernmost island in the Nicobar archipelago, separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.

Island Characteristics: It covers 1044 sq. km, is sparsely populated, and is covered by dense tropical rainforests (over 85%). It has over 100 km of beaches with coral reefs. Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, is located here. Mount Thullier is its highest peak.

Indigenous Tribes: The Shompen and Nicobarese tribes inhabit the island. Approximately 200 Shompen reside on Great Nicobar.

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: The island is home to the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site, highlighting its ecological significance.

Biodiversity Hotspot: The island boasts diverse flora (650 species) and fauna, including endemic and endangered species like the Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, and Reticulated Python.

Controversial Development Project: The Holistic Development Project includes plans for a shipping terminal, airport, power plants, and housing, raising concerns about the impact on the environment and indigenous communities.

US President’s Freeze on Foreign Aid: Donald Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funding sparks discussions on foreign aid’s impact on India.

USAID’s Role in India: From 1951, evolved from food aid to infrastructure, WASH, renewable energy, disaster management, and health. In 2023-24, funded USD 750 million in projects.

Impact of Freeze on India: Potential slowdown in health initiatives (USD 79.3 million in 2024), economic development (USD 34.4 million in 2024), capacity building, and NGO operations, job losses, stalled projects, and weakened accountability.

Evolution of India’s Relationship with Aid: Shift from early dependence to self-reliance, FDI focus post-1990s, and transition to donor status. Concerns over sovereignty, policy interference, internal security, and cultural imperialism.

India’s Concerns and Solutions: Balances strategic partnerships, geopolitical neutrality, South-South cooperation, transparency, and accountability in foreign aid.

Ambivalent Indian Attitude: India has had mixed reactions to foreign aid, from welcoming to hostile. Western nations no longer view India as needing aid.

Decline in Official Aid: Official development assistance declined after 1970, with a post-1990 shift towards FDI and global cooperation. Private aid to NGOs is also declining.

Impact on NGOs: Decline in aid affects NGOs involved in development work. External aid has been decreasing due to stringent government regulations (FCRA).

Drawbacks and Benefits: Foreign aid brought in new ideas but also government regulations created restriction on NGO. It played a valuable role for NGOs by offering flexibility in use, capacity building, and promoting watchdog role.

Consequences of Aid Cessation: Cessation of aid could lead to unemployment in the voluntary sector, unfinished projects, slowed social sector development, and reduced correction of government overreach.

Public Intrusion: Increasing public trespassing into Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary’s (BWS) eco-sensitive zone is raising concerns among conservationists.

Illegal Activities: Visitors are engaging in activities like picnics, cooking non-vegetarian food, and recreational activities within the protected forest area, including bathing under the Vajrapoha waterfalls and taking selfies in restricted areas.

Police Involvement: An earlier incident involved police personnel allegedly entering the sanctuary without permission, lighting a fire, cooking food, and holding a booze party. No action was taken against those involved.

Lack of Enforcement: Despite a strict entry ban and directives from the forest minister, trespassing continues, pointing to a lapse in forest surveillance.

Access Routes: Locals claim most visitors access the site through Jamboti village.

Fishing Violations: People are fishing in the Mahadayi River at Krishnapur village, also within the sanctuary’s jurisdiction.

Forest Department Response: The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) states that no illegal entry has been officially reported near Vajrapoha or Bhimgad, and that tourists are being turned away at the Chapoli checkpost. An FIR was filed in January.

Internal Route Usage: The DCF says the recent viral videos appear to involve relatives of residents from Chapoli village who used an internal route to access the falls. The matter is under investigation.

Why it matters: These intrusions threaten BWS’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity. BWS is a critical habitat including the only known breeding site of Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat, diverse avifauna, and the Vajrapoha Waterfalls, a part of the Mahadayi River’s catchment area. Eco-Sensitive Zones are established to protect such areas from harmful human activities.

CCI Regulation: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has notified the Determination of Cost of Production Regulations, 2025 to regulate predatory pricing, especially targeting e-commerce and quick commerce.

Predatory Pricing Definition: Defined as pricing below cost to eliminate competition, followed by price increases to gain monopoly power. Covered under the Competition Act, 2002.

Regulation Changes: Replaces 2009 rules. Removes market value as a benchmark. Redefines total cost to include depreciation and exclude financing overheads.

Sector Agnostic Approach: A case-by-case approach suited for dynamic digital markets, avoids sector-specific definitions of cost.

Cost Determination: Cost is assumed to be ‘average variable cost’ (total variable cost divided by total output). Total variable cost is total cost minus fixed cost and overheads attributable to the product.

Purpose of Regulation: To ensure fair competition by preventing companies from pricing goods or services below cost with the intent to reduce competition and eliminate competitors.

Earth’s Magnetic Field: Acts as a shield against cosmic/solar radiation, generated by molten iron movement in the outer core.

Magnetic Reversals vs. Excursions: Reversals are long-term pole swaps (>100,000 years), while excursions are temporary flips, occurring more frequently.

Soundtracks of Earth’s Magnetism: Scientists created audio representations of magnetic field fluctuations, including the Laschamps excursion (41,000 years ago) and working on Brunhes-Matuyama reversal (780,000 years ago).

Cause of Fluctuations: Turbulent fluid dynamics in the outer core, influenced by Earth’s rotation and inner core heat.

Weakening Field: The magnetic field has weakened by 10% in the last 200 years, potentially vanishing in 1,500-1,600 years if the rate continues.

Pole Drifting: The North Magnetic Pole drifts rapidly (35 km/year) towards Siberia, while the South Pole shifts slowly (5 km/year), indicating core turbulence.

Irregularity: Reversals/excursions lack periodicity, making them hard to predict.

Impact Debated: The impact of excursions (e.g., Laschamps) on climate and life is debated, with conflicting study results.

Reversal Duration: Brunhes-Matuyama reversal took at least 22,000

Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: The Yatra, suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 and LAC tensions, will restart in June-August 2025. It was paused for six years after the last pilgrimage was flagged off.

Significance: It’s a key measure signaling a restoration of ties between India and China, after the discussions between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping.

Operational Routes: Two routes will be used: Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). Lipulekh is shorter but involves trekking; Nathu La is motorable.

Pilgrim Numbers: Around 750 pilgrims will participate, with batches traveling via each route.

Selection Process: Pilgrims will be chosen through a computer-generated, gender-balanced process.

Cost and Duration: The Lipulekh route costs about ₹1.74 lakh, Nathu La ₹2.83 lakh. Both trips last about three weeks.

Geopolitical context: The Yatra connects to the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) and indicates a potential easing of tensions. The resumption of the Yatra was negotiated in high-level meetings and the logistics were discussed through the Working Mechanism for Coordination and Consultation at the India-China Border (WMCC).

Raika Identity: The Raika (also known as Rabari) are an indigenous pastoralist community primarily found in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly around Kumbhalgarh.

Camel Herding: They are traditionally camel herders, especially of the Marwari camel, and this is central to their cultural identity and livelihood. Camel rearing viewed as sacred duty, with many viewing it as a divine command from Lord Shiva, making them cultural stewards of the Thar Desert.

Traditional Knowledge: The Raikas possess extensive traditional knowledge of pasture cycles, animal health, and biodiversity crucial for sustaining Rajasthan’s fragile arid ecology.

Ecological Role: Their historical migratory grazing routes enabled camels to feed on medicinal desert shrubs, contributing to both animal health and ecosystem balance.

Disappearing Tradition: Despite their historical importance, camel herding among the Raika is a rapidly disappearing tradition.

Rising NPAs: India’s microfinance sector faces stress with gross NPAs surging to 16% by March 2025, nearly double the 8.8% in 2024, raising concerns about sustainability.

Cyclical Crisis & Structural Issues: While microfinance has historically seen crises every 3-5 years, the current situation is exacerbated by an economic slowdown, natural disasters, and election-related disruptions, affecting borrowers’ repayment capacity.

Over-Leveraging: MFIs’ rapid expansion has led to lending to already indebted borrowers, focusing on volume over borrower financial health, resulting in an over-leveraged customer base.

Weakening JLG Model: The traditional Joint Liability Group model is becoming less effective due to changing borrower profiles and declining group cohesion.

Rising Regulatory Pressure: Stricter RBI norms and state government regulations against coercive recovery methods, along with loan waiver schemes, contribute to liquidity crunches and weakened repayment culture.

Importance of Microfinance: Microfinance is crucial for poverty reduction, supporting small businesses, and promoting gender equality, especially empowering women in rural areas.

Solutions: MFIs need to adopt holistic models (like the Triad Model), improve credit rating systems based on economic stability, shift towards individual credit appraisals, leverage technology for risk mitigation, revamp collection practices, and promote financial literacy.

Conclusion: The sector’s resilience depends on self-correction, regulatory discipline, and continued institutional support for long-term sustainability.

SpaceX Lawsuit: A former SpaceX employee, Douglas Altshuler, is suing the company, alleging he was fired due to his Crohn’s disease, which caused frequent bathroom use.

Crohn’s Disease: Altshuler, 58, claims he needed to use the bathroom frequently (every 35-45 minutes) due to his condition.

Company Response: Altshuler alleges SpaceX supervisors tracked his bathroom breaks, warned him about exceeding 10 minutes per visit, and rejected his request for accommodations under disability rights.

Termination: He was eventually fired for “deficient performance,” which he believes was retaliation for his condition and reporting unsafe workplace practices.

Additional Allegations: The lawsuit also accuses SpaceX of denying meal breaks, underpaying him, and exposing employees to unsafe conditions.

What is Crohn’s Disease: A chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract. Common symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and weight loss. While there’s no cure, treatments can manage symptoms.

Population Decline: Indian Grey Wolves are facing rapid population decline, particularly in areas like Kadbanwadi grassland, Maharashtra.

Threat from Feral Dogs: Free-ranging dogs pose a significant threat through disease transmission (Canine Distemper Virus, rabies, parvovirus), hybridisation, and direct attacks on wolves and their pups.

Habitat Loss: Agriculture and semi-urban expansion into grasslands contribute to habitat loss for the wolves.

Kadbanwadi Grassland: This area, spanning 2,000 hectares, supports the wolves along with other species like the Bengal fox and striped hyena. Once home to 70 wolves, recent counts show a drastic decrease to as low as 6 individuals.

Symbiotic Relationship Disrupted: The traditional symbiotic relationship between the shepherd community (Shegar Dhangar) and wolves is threatened by the rise in dog populations, which now attack livestock.

Legal Protection: The Indian Grey Wolf is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, CITES Appendix I, and is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by IUCN. However, sharp population decline warrants concern

Forest Department Challenges: Maharashtra Forest Rules allow for the removal of trespassing dogs, but officials hesitate due to animal rights concerns, making vaccination difficult.

Zoonotic Threats and Hybridisation: The human-animal-domestic dog interface raises concerns about emerging zoonotic diseases and genetic dilution through hybridisation.

Conservation Efforts: Documentaries and conservation initiatives aim to raise awareness and spark discussions about the conservation status of Indian wolves.

Human Casualities and Dog Bites: Annually, there have been over 18,000 human casualties due to rabies in India and 22 lakh dog bite cases, of which 48 resulted in deaths, were reported in the country last year.

News Context: India conducted “Operation Sindoor” after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, raising questions about its self-defense justification under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Article 51 of UN Charter: Generally prohibits force (Article 2(4)) but allows self-defense after an “armed attack.” Response must be necessary and proportional. Applies to state conduct and state-sponsored force.

ICJ’s Nicaragua v. U.S. Case: An armed attack includes non-state actors only if acting “by or on behalf of” a state. India has briefed most of UNSC members.

“Unwilling or Unable” Doctrine: Permits self-defense against non-state actors in another state’s territory if that state is unwilling or unable to act against them. Controversial; Russia and China criticize it as undermining state sovereignty.

India’s Position on Doctrine: India has conditions for using the doctrine: repeated attacks by non-state actor, host state unwilling to neutralize threat, host state actively supports/sponsors the non-state actor. India implied use of this doctrine following the Pahalgam attack, accusing Pakistan of inaction.

Semaglutide Effective for Fatty Liver Disease (MASH): A new study in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals semaglutide, used in drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, is effective in treating Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), also known as fatty liver disease.

Semaglutide Mechanism: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that mimics the action of GLP-1, lowering blood sugar, and assisting in weight loss, addressing underlying metabolic issues of MASH.

MASH Explained: MASH is fat buildup in the liver not caused by alcohol, leading to inflammation and scarring. It’s often linked to overnutrition and is part of a metabolic syndrome.

MASH Stages: MASH progresses through stages: NAFL (fat buildup), MASH (inflammation), Fibrosis (scarring), and Cirrhosis (severe scarring, potential liver failure/cancer).

Potential Treatment Option: Semaglutide could become an additional therapeutic option for MASH, important given the strong links between MASH and cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal conditions where semaglutide has shown benefits.

Current Fatty Liver Treatments: Current treatments include weight loss through diet, exercise, medication, and other drugs like Resmetirom and FGF21 drugs.