Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 13-05-2025

Maharana Pratap Jayanti: Observed on May 9th, 2025.

Prime Minister’s Tribute: Shri Narendra Modi paid respects to Maharana Pratap, acknowledging his courage and valor in defending the motherland.

Birth and Lineage: Born on May 9, 1540, in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. He was the 13th King of Mewar and son of Udai Singh II, the founder of Udaipur.

Battle of Haldighati: Fought on June 18, 1576, against Raja Man Singh (Akbar’s General). Though brave, Maharana Pratap was defeated.

Regaining Mewar: After 1579, he regained Western Mewar and established his capital at Chavand.

Death and Succession: Died on January 19, 1597. His son, Amar Singh, succeeded him.

Inspiration: Maharana Pratap’s life and bravery continue to inspire generations, serving as a guide for courage and patriotism.

Taiwan Live-Fire Exercise: Taiwan recently conducted its first live-fire exercise using the American-supplied HIMARS. This is noteworthy as it signals Taiwan’s increased defense capabilities and readiness in a region with heightened geopolitical tensions.

What is HIMARS? It’s a lightweight, wheeled, multiple rocket launcher system capable of launching precision-guided rockets and tactical missiles. This makes it highly versatile for various combat scenarios.

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Corporation (USA). This highlights the US’s role as a key provider of advanced military technology.

Targets: Designed to engage artillery, air defense systems, trucks, light armor, and troop concentrations. This illustrates HIMARS’ effectiveness against a wide range of enemy assets.

Key Features:

• Air-transportable and mounted on a 5-ton FMTV. This provides rapid deployment and maneuverability.
• Carries either 6 rockets (43-mile range) or 1 ATACMS missile (200-mile range). This emphasizes its ability to strike both near and far targets.
• Quick firing time (less than 20 seconds to prepare, 45 seconds to fire all 6 rockets). This allows for shoot-and-scoot tactics, minimizing vulnerability.
• Equipped with Increased Crew Protection cabin. This protects the crew from various battlefield hazards.

High Mobility: Designed to quickly relocate after firing, reducing the risk of counter-attack. This highlights its survivability in a dynamic combat environment.

NSO Survey on Private Sector Capex: The National Statistics Office (NSO) released its first survey estimating private corporate capital expenditure (capex) trends over five financial years (2021-22 to 2025-26).The survey was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025.

Capex Growth and Projected Decline: Overall capex rose by 66.3% between FY22 and FY25. However, a 25.5% decline is projected for FY26, indicating cautious planning after a strong capex cycle in FY25.The highest capex was seen in 2024-25 at Rs 6.56 lakh crore.

Investment Purpose: In FY25, 49.6% of enterprises invested for income generation, 30.1% for upgradation, and 2.8% for diversification.

Sectoral Distribution: Manufacturing received the highest capex share (43.8%), followed by Information & Communication (15.6%) and Transportation & Storage (14%).

Asset Allocation: 53.1% of total capex in FY25 was directed towards machinery & equipment, 22% to capital work-in-progress, and 9.7% to buildings and structures.

Growth in Gross Fixed Assets (GFA): Average GFA per enterprise grew by 27.5% from Rs 3,279.4 crore in FY23 to Rs 4,183.3 crore in FY24. The highest GFA was in Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply, followed by Manufacturing.

Challenges: The projected decline in FY26 is attributed to high borrowing costs, weak demand, geopolitical uncertainties, lack of greenfield projects, and structural bottlenecks (land acquisition, labour reforms).

Cautious Approach: Data for 2025-26 should be interpreted with caution, given the conservative approach shown by responding enterprises in reporting

National Technology Day 2025 Theme: “YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration.”

• Why: YANTRA symbolizes India’s scientific heritage, innovation, systems, synergy, and scalable solutions. Yugantar signifies India’s shift towards global tech leadership.

Observed on: May 11th, 2025.

• Why: Commemorates the successful nuclear tests (Operation Shakti) and the first flight of Hansa-3 aircraft on May 11th, 1998.

Declared in 1999: By then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

• Why: To honor India’s scientific and technological achievements.

Focus of 2025 Celebrations: Advancing deep-tech, precision engineering, and transformative R&D.

• Why: To accelerate India’s technological progress in key sectors.

Key Participants: Policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, academic institutions, and startup founders.

• Why: To foster collaboration between science, industry, and society for technological advancement.

Organized by: Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Why: TDB-DST plays a crucial role in promoting and funding technological innovation.

Significance: Reinforces the partnership between science, society, and industry.

• Why: To translate scientific discoveries into practical applications that benefit society.

IMDEX Asia 2025 Overview: A premier biennial maritime and defence exhibition held in Singapore since 1997, serving as a global platform for navies and maritime industries in the Asia-Pacific.

Key Features: Includes the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) for strategic dialogue and the Maritime Information Sharing Exercise (MARISX) to improve maritime security coordination.

Indian Participation: INS Kiltan, an indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette, is participating, reaffirming India’s strategic presence and strengthening naval ties.

INS Kiltan Significance: This is India’s first major warship with a carbon fiber composite superstructure.

• Participated in the war and named after an island.

India-Singapore Partnership: The visit underscores the robust maritime partnership between India and Singapore.

Activities and Objectives: The ship’s crew will engage in bilateral/multilateral activities to strengthen naval cooperation, enhance interoperability, and promote mutual understanding. These include professional exchanges, guided tours, and cross-deck visits.

Focus: Highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to regional security, stability, and the longstanding friendship between India and Singapore.

Microbial ‘Phosphorus Gatekeeping’ Discovered: Soil microbes (fungi and bacteria) control phosphorus (P) cycling in soil, regulating its availability to plants. Study in Cooloola, Australia (700,000-year-old system).

Phosphorus is Crucial: Essential for all life; involved in energy metabolism (ATP), cell membranes, photosynthesis, and genetics (DNA/RNA). Often limiting in old/weathered soils.

Microbial Adaptations to P Scarcity: Microbes adapt via lipid replacement, lipid accumulation and optimizing phosphorus use efficiency in metabolism.

Competition and Facilitation for Plants: Microbes compete with plants for P, but also recycle and make P more accessible over time, aiding plant growth in the long run.

Microbial Control Over P Availability: Microbes control P release, uptake, and storage in the soil.

NCLAT Dismissed Insolvency Petition Against PepsiCo India: NCLAT rejected an insolvency petition by SNJ Synthetics, reinforcing that IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) should not be used merely for debt recovery, especially when only disputed interest claims are involved.

Upheld NCLT Order: NCLAT supported the prior decision of the Chandigarh bench of NCLT, which had also dismissed SNJ Synthetics’ plea.

Disputed Interest Claim: The principal debt owed by PepsiCo had been repaid, leaving only a disputed interest claim. NCLAT ruled that initiating CIRP (corporate insolvency resolution process) based solely on a contested interest component was not justified.

IBC’s Purpose: NCLAT emphasized that IBC aims to rejuvenate and revive companies facing genuine insolvency, not to push them into “corporate death” for debt recovery.

SNJ Synthetics’ Claim: SNJ Synthetics initially claimed ₹1.96 crore, including principal and interest. After the principal was settled, they pursued only the interest claim, which NCLT found potentially below the minimum threshold and based on an unsigned agreement.

NCLAT Rationale: NCLAT’s decision confirms the appropriate use of IBC and prevents it from being misused as a tool for simple debt recovery, especially over disputed amounts.

NCLAT Overview: NCLAT is a quasi-judicial body established under the Companies Act, 2013 to hear appeals against NCLT, IBBI, CCI and NFRA orders. It ensures corporate dispute resolution, transparency, and efficiency in insolvency and corporate governance.

Man-Animal Conflict: Four people were injured in a bear attack within the Kawardha range of Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary while collecting tendu leaves. This highlights the ongoing issue of human-wildlife interaction in the area.

Location: Situated in the Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh, the sanctuary is part of the Maikal range of the Satpura hills.

Name Origin: The sanctuary derives its name from the ancient Bhoramdeo Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) located nearby, often called the “Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh”.

Area: Covers approximately 352 sq.km.

Ecological Significance: Part of the crucial Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor, facilitating wildlife movement between Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) and Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh).

Terrain: Features undulating hills, dense forests, and numerous streams.

Rivers: Origin of the Fen and Sankari rivers.

Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, including Saaj, Sal, Tendu, and Nilgiri trees.

Fauna: Home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer, and diverse bird species.

• Launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Aims to provide legal ownership of residential properties in rural areas using drone and GIS technology.
• Has issued property cards to 24.4 million households in 1.6 lakh villages as of April 2025.
• Unlocking land value worth USD 1.162 trillion.

• A GIS-based platform for rural governance and planning.
• Integrates geospatial data with existing schemes for effective decision-making.

• Why: Underscores the significance of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in India’s defense strategy.

• Why: Highlights India’s growing defense capabilities and the system’s role in providing a swift kinetic response.

• Why: Targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan, sending a message of zero tolerance against terrorism.

• Why: Reinforces India’s commitment to counter-terrorism efforts and protect its interests.

• Why: Enhances multi-domain warfare readiness and ensures deterrence against adversaries.

• Why: Bolsters India’s defense capabilities and promotes indigenous defense production.

• Why: Promotes self-reliance in defense manufacturing and strengthens regional industrial capabilities.

India-China Engagement: India is actively engaging with the Chinese government to address export restrictions imposed on germanium.

Critical Mineral: Germanium is crucial for manufacturing semiconductors, fiber optic cables, and solar panels.

Export Restrictions Impact: China’s export restrictions are causing issues for Indian electronics manufacturers and other industries.

Source of Grievances: The Indian embassy in Beijing confirmed that germanium export restrictions were a source of concern raised by Indian industry players.

Not a Rare Earth Element: Germanium is not classified as a Rare Earth Element (REE), but China holds a significant production share.

Import Dependence: India is entirely reliant on imports for its germanium needs, as it does not produce any domestically.

Trade Route: India is importing germanium through the UAE, leading to increased costs.

Fiber Optic Use: Germanium oxide is essential in manufacturing fiber optic cables.

Broader Restrictions: China is reportedly imposing export curbs and travel restrictions impacting other projects, such as those involving Foxconn.

NHRC Seeks Report: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested an Action Taken Report from Odisha’s Chief Secretary regarding the poor living conditions and lack of basic amenities for over 10,000 Dongria Kondh families. This highlights concerns about the community’s well-being and rights.

PVTG Status: The Dongria Kondh are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), signifying their specific vulnerabilities and need for targeted support.

Niyamgiri Hills: They inhabit the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha’s Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. This region is central to their identity, culture, and livelihood.

Cultural Significance: The Niyamgiri hills and forests hold deep religious and cultural significance for the Dongria Kondh. They consider the hilltops supreme deities and trace their ancestry to Niyam Raja.

Jharnia protectors of Streams: They are protectors of streams.

Unique Identity: They have distinctive jewellery, tattoos, and hairstyles, showcasing their unique cultural identity.

Livelihood: Their economy relies on collecting Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and horticulture (podu cultivation). The forest is their primary source of survival.

Language: They speak “Kuyi” and “Kuvi,” languages distinct from the state’s official language, Odia, further isolating them.

Concerns Highlighted: The NHRC’s action emphasizes the urgent need to address the Dongria Kondh’s precarious living conditions and ensure they have access to basic necessities and protection of rights.

ORNL Develops New Visualisation Technique: Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have created a technique to visualise ferroelectric domain wall dynamics in unprecedented detail using Scanning Oscillator Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (SO-PFM). This allows observation of both slow and abrupt movements of domain walls under rapidly fluctuating electric fields.

Ferroelectricity Explained: Ferroelectricity is a property where materials exhibit spontaneous electric polarisation, reversible by an external electric field. Electric dipoles align spontaneously in domains, similar to magnetic domains in ferromagnetism. Examples include barium titanate and Rochelle salt. This polarization vanishes above the Curie temperature.

Domain Walls’ Unique Properties: Domain walls, the boundaries between differently polarised regions, can exhibit electrical or magnetic properties distinct from surrounding domains. Some may become conductive or magnetically active even when the bulk material is not, making them suitable for nanoelectronic components.

Significance of New Technique: Traditional methods only provided static snapshots of domain walls. The new SO-PFM method creates dynamic visualisations, allowing researchers to understand how domain walls evolve and how much energy is required to move them.

Applications of Ferroelectric Materials: Used in non-volatile memory devices, sensors, actuators, capacitors, and energy storage technologies.

Ferroelectricity vs. Piezoelectricity: All ferroelectric materials are piezoelectric, but not all piezoelectric materials are ferroelectric. The key difference is switchable polarisation in ferroelectrics.