Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 18-03-2025

Calls for Deregulation: Experts and the Economic Survey 2024-25 emphasize deregulation to unlock the online gaming sector’s potential.

Challenges of Excessive Regulation: Heavy taxation (28% GST), retrospective tax demands (Rs 1.12 lakh crore), and legal uncertainties hinder growth.

Industry Self-Regulation: India’s RMG industry has collectively signed a code of ethics to establish ethical and transparent business practices.

Market Growth: India is the world’s largest gaming market (568 million gamers), projected to reach USD 8.6 billion by 2028.

Drivers of Growth: Young population, smartphone penetration, internet accessibility, localized content, booming IT sector, and digital payment adoption.

Negative Impacts: Gaming addiction, emotional and physical symptoms.

Legal and Regulatory Framework: State legislatures have power over gaming laws; IT Rules 2023 define online gaming; Prize Competitions Act 1955 regulates prize-based competitions; PGA exempts skill-based games; FDI restrictions.

Judicial Stance: Supreme Court recognizes horse race betting as skill-based.

Need for Relaxation: To foster economic growth (2-3 lakh jobs), enhance competitiveness, ensure regulatory clarity, prevent capital flight to offshore platforms, and encourage innovation.

Way Forward: Rationalizing taxation (tiered system), categorizing platforms by user base, uniform co-regulatory framework, responsible gaming awareness, and stricter data protection.

Tax Implications: The Union government’s effort to wring the online gaming sector dry is a black warrant for online gaming, as smaller startups will go bankrupt or simply shut shop and growth of illegal gambling and betting sites, which are already flourishing, typically operating offshore beyond the reach of our regulators.

Focus: Prime Minister Internship Scheme launched with a dedicated mobile app.

Target Audience: Young individuals aged 21-24 from low-income families.

Eligibility: Completion of at least 10th grade, with ITI certificates, diplomas, or graduation, and family income ≤ ₹8 lakh in 2023-24, no family member in government job. Indian citizens aged 21-24, not engaged in full-time employment or education.

Exclusion: Students from premier institutions (IITs, IIMs, etc.) and those with professional degrees (CA, MBA, MBBS, etc.).

Objective: To provide 12-month internships in top 500 companies across 24 sectors, including oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, automotive, banking and financial services.

Scale: Pilot phase targets 1.25 lakh youth with a five-year goal of reaching one crore internships.

Renewed Attention: Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy on social justice, equality, and freedom, particularly regarding caste and gender inequality, is gaining renewed focus.

Pragmatism: Influenced by John Dewey, Ambedkar used pragmatism to address real-world problems like the caste system, social injustice, and economic inequality, emphasizing action-oriented solutions. He used “force and energy” as secular terms to summate the principled and organic idea of Ambedkar. Prof. Scott R. Stroud’s work ‘The Evolution of Pragmatism in India: Ambedkar, Dewey, and the Rhetoric of Reconstruction’ is also essential for understanding the dialectics of the philosophy of pragmatism and Ambedkar.

Critique of Caste: Ambedkar strongly criticized the caste system as oppressive and unjust, advocating for a society based on reason and equality. “Annihilation of Caste” argues caste perpetuates social and economic inequality.

Legal and Constitutional Philosophy: As the architect of the Indian Constitution, Ambedkar emphasized liberty, equality, and fraternity, drawing inspiration from the French Revolution. Advocated constitutional morality, rule of law, fundamental rights, and affirmative action.

Political Philosophy: He viewed democracy as a way of life, emphasizing liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Economic Philosophy: Ambedkar advocated a middle path between capitalism and socialism, with the state playing a role in economic planning, land reforms, and labor rights.

Gender Justice: A strong advocate for gender equality, Ambedkar helped draft the Hindu Code Bill and emphasized women’s education and empowerment.

Views on Gandhism: Ambedkar was critical of Gandhism’s caste reforms, advocating legal abolition of caste.

Contemporary Relevance: His ideas continue to be relevant in social justice (reservation policies), constitutional democracy (addressing majoritarianism), education for empowerment, gender equality, and economic equality (labor rights).

Navayana Buddhism: Ambedkar reconstructed Buddhism as Navayana Buddhism, focusing on social equality and ethical living over rituals, as seen in “The Buddha and His Dhamma.”

New Plant Species Discovered: Uniyala keralensis, a new plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family, has been confirmed in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in Kerala. This confirmation came 27 years after the initial specimen was collected.

Endemic to Southwest India: The species is endemic to southwest India, specifically found within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.

Distinct Features: Uniyala keralensis is a dense shrub with light purple flowers, growing 1-3m tall. It distinguishes itself from other Uniyala species by having larger leaves, longer petioles, and fewer lateral veins.

Discovery Timeline: A specimen was first collected in 1998 and was initially thought to be Vernonia multibracteata. Later taxonomic work separated Uniyala from Vernonia, and further comparison revealed the specimen to be a unique species within Uniyala.

Habitat and Population: Found on western mountain slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve at elevations of 700-1,400m. The population is estimated at approximately 5,000 individuals across four subpopulations spread over 250 km².

IUCN Status: The species is currently classified as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN Red List Criteria.

Named After Kerala: The species name, Uniyala keralensis, honors the state of Kerala. The genus Uniyala is named after plant taxonomist B.P. Uniyal.

Pi Day Celebration: Celebrated annually on March 14th (3/14) as International Day of Mathematics, honoring the mathematical constant Pi.

Significance of the Date: The date reflects the approximate value of Pi, 3.14.

Pi Explained: Pi (π) is a constant representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It’s an irrational number with infinite, non-repeating digits, roughly equal to 3.14.

Worldwide Celebrations: Events like Pi recital competitions and themed activities are held to promote interest in mathematics, theme for Pi Day 2025 is ‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’.

Historical Context: Pi has been known for nearly 4,000 years, with its symbol (π) developed in 1706.

Pi’s Uses: Essential in geometry, trigonometry, calculus, physics, engineering, architecture, and other areas.

Recent Achievement: 10-year-old Alberto Davila Aragon from Bristol, UK, set a new world record on Pi Day, recalling 280 decimal places of Pi in one minute.

• Teams will patrol “high-risk” areas daily, including at least two vulnerable spots each day.
• Women officers in plain clothes will be involved to identify and deter offenders.
• Surprise checks will be conducted on buses, and interaction with staff and passengers will take place.
• Interaction with market and residents’ welfare associations (MWAs and RWAs) to identify high-risk spots.

Peace Agreement Finalized: Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized the text of a peace agreement, aiming to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This marks a potential end to decades of hostility.

Historical Context: Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous region within Azerbaijan with a majority Armenian population, sought unification with Armenia during the Soviet Union’s collapse. This led to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994).

Shift in Control: The First Nagorno-Karabakh War resulted in Armenian-backed control of the region. However, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020) saw Azerbaijan regain significant territory.

Azerbaijan’s Full Control: A 2023 offensive led to Azerbaijan regaining full control of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the enclave’s dissolution and mass displacement of the Armenian population. Over 100,000 people, nearly the entire population, fled to Armenia.

India’s Stance: India supports a diplomatic resolution through the OSCE Minsk Group, remaining neutral in the conflict.

INSTC Implications: Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), crucial for India’s trade routes, giving India a vested interest in regional stability.

UNESCO Tentative List Inclusion: Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) in Chhattisgarh has been added to UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites under the ‘Natural’ category. This is a significant recognition.

Location: Located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

Significance: It’s the first site in Chhattisgarh to be included in this prestigious list, promising a boost to tourism both nationally and internationally. This will carve its name as attractive tourist destination.

Key Features:

• Features lush green valleys, deep ravines and waterfalls, like Tirathgarh Falls.
• Features low flatlands, gentle slopes, steep inclines, plateaus, deep gorges, valleys , and winding stream courses.
• More than 15 limestone caves, including Kotumsar, Kailash, and Dandak caves.
• Home to mixed moist deciduous forests with Sal, teak, and bamboo.
• Wildlife includes tigers, leopards, mouse deer, and various bird species.

Historical Context: Previously affected by Maoist activity; now reportedly free from it, and under a secure environment and is going to see a major boost in carving itself as an attractive tourist destination.

Importance to Locals: The park is culturally significant for the local tribes.

River: The Kanger River flows through the park, contributing to its unique landscape and attractions.

Why in News: A CSE study highlights the need for water circularity to address water scarcity and environmental degradation in India.

India’s Water Scarcity: India is water-stressed, with rapidly declining freshwater resources and a low global ranking in per capita availability. Per capita surface water availability has declined by 73% since 1950.

Wastewater Crisis: Urban India generates vast amounts of sewage, but most remains untreated, polluting water bodies and land. Wastewater generation is projected to increase substantially.

Water Governance Issues: Cities rely on distant water sources, leading to shortages and unequal access. States show poor water management. Reuse mandates are poorly enforced.

Water Circularity Defined: Recycling, reusing, and recovering resources within the water cycle to maximize value and

Benefits of Water Circularity: Reduces industrial water costs, supports irrigation, saves water in power plants, recovers valuable nutrients for fertilizer, enables groundwater recharge, and produces biogas and biofuels.

Strengthening Wastewater Reuse:

• Water credit system for incentivizing industries to adopt water-efficient practices.
• Decentralized wastewater treatment systems for local reuse.
• Mandatory treated wastewater use for industries and power plants near STPs.
• Converting unused canal networks into wastewater supply channels.
• Tax and financial incentives for wastewater recycling investments.
• Enforcement of discharge standards with regular audits and IoT-based monitoring.

Strict Warning Against Unethical Advertising: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a warning against misleading legal advertising and social media promotions. This is significant because it highlights the BCI’s role in maintaining ethical standards within the legal profession.

Statutory Body & Regulatory Authority: BCI is a statutory body created by the Parliament. It regulates and represents the Indian bar under the Advocates Act, 1961. Its regulatory function is crucial for maintaining the integrity and credibility of the legal profession.

Safeguarding Advocate Rights: A core objective of the BCI is to protect the rights, interests, and privileges of advocates across India.

Professional Conduct & Discipline: The BCI prescribes standards of professional conduct and etiquette, and it has disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar. This function is vital for ensuring lawyers adhere to professional ethics.

Legal Education Standards: The BCI sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to law schools, which ensures the quality of legal training.

All India Bar Examination (AIBE): The BCI conducts the AIBE, a certification exam for law graduates wanting to practice, ensuring a minimum standard of competency.

Welfare Schemes: The BCI funds welfare schemes for economically weaker and physically handicapped advocates. This is important for supporting disadvantaged members of the profession.

Membership: The BCI includes members elected from State Bar Councils, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General.

Addiction as a Brain Disorder: Neuroscience emphasizes addiction as a chronic brain condition, not a moral failing, affecting neural circuits related to craving, emotional regulation, and decision-making.

Key Brain Regions: A study highlights the interconnected roles of the basal ganglia (reward), extended amygdala (withdrawal), and prefrontal cortex (decision-making) in the addiction cycle.

Basal Ganglia & Reward: This region, particularly the nucleus accumbens (NAc), teaches the brain to repeat pleasurable activities, reinforced by neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

Extended Amygdala & Withdrawal: Triggers negative emotional states (anxiety, irritability) during substance withdrawal, driving continued use.

Prefrontal Cortex & Decision-Making: Impairment explains continued substance use despite awareness of harm, a hallmark of addiction.

Adolescent Vulnerability: Adolescents are at higher risk due to the late maturation of the prefrontal cortex (impulse control).

Multifactorial Causes: Addiction results from a combination of genetic predisposition, psychological factors (trauma, stress), environmental influences (peer pressure), and age of first use.

Neuroplasticity & Recovery: The brain’s ability to adapt offers hope for recovery; research focuses on understanding and supporting long-term recovery processes.

Reducing Stigma: Neurobiological research helps reduce stigma by framing addiction as a treatable health condition, promoting integration into mainstream healthcare.

Brain Awareness Week Focus: Brain Awareness Week highlights the importance of understanding brain science for preventing diseases and improving healthcare.

ECI Meeting on Electoral Reforms: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited political parties to discuss strengthening the election process, addressing concerns about electoral roll manipulation and duplicate EPIC numbers.

Legal Framework: Article 324 of the Constitution grants ECI authority over elections. The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950 and 1951, and Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, govern electoral rolls and pre-election processes.

Voting & Counting Issues:

• Concerns over EVM tampering persist, with some advocating for a return to paper ballots.
• Demands for 100% VVPAT verification exist, but the Supreme Court has directed verification of microcontrollers in 5% of EVMs if tampering is suspected.
• Allegations of manipulated electoral rolls and duplicate EPIC numbers raise concerns about voter integrity.

Campaign Process Concerns:

• Violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by star campaigners are common.
• Election expenditure limits are often exceeded by candidates, and there are no limits on party spending.
• Criminalization of politics is increasing, with a significant percentage of MPs facing criminal charges.

Needed Reforms:

• Voting/Counting: Scientific VVPAT matching, totaliser machines to protect voter anonymity, and Aadhaar-EPIC linking to prevent fake voters.
• Campaign: Stricter MCC enforcement, revoking ‘Star Campaigner’ status for violations, and capping party expenditure.
• Criminalization: Enforce SC directives on declaring criminal records and fast-tracking MP/MLA trials.

Committee Recommendations: Vohra Committee (criminal-politician nexus), Law Commission (disqualify politicians upon charge framing), 2nd ARC (state funding to curb illegitimate money).

Way Forward: Strengthen ECI powers, address criminalization of politics, ensure electoral transparency (RTI for political parties), and promote voter awareness.

Recent Sighting: A rare caracal has been spotted in Rajasthan’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, generating excitement among wildlife enthusiasts. This marks the first photographic record of the caracal in the reserve, captured via a camera trap.

Critically Endangered Status: The caracal is classified as critically endangered in India, with a population of fewer than 50 individuals, primarily found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Conservation Threats: Key threats to the caracal population include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.

Physical Characteristics: The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat with a slender body, long legs, and a short tail. They have tawny or reddish-brown fur with black markings on the face, ears, and tail. They are known for their ability to leap high to catch birds.

Habitat and Distribution: Caracals inhabit grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and forests in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and India.

RBI Wins Digital Transformation Award: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was awarded the UK’s Digital Transformation Award 2025, showcasing its successful tech initiatives.

Sarthi Initiative: Launched in January 2023, Sarthi digitized RBI’s internal workflows. This improved record management, data analysis, and secure document sharing. The initiative included online training (Sarthi Pathshala) and support from “Sarthi mitras”.

Pravaah Initiative: Introduced in May 2024, Pravaah enables external users to submit regulatory applications digitally. It seamlessly integrates with Sarthi for efficient processing.

Benefits of Pravaah: Pravaah provides real-time tracking and analytics for applicants and RBI managers, replacing slow paper-based systems. It has led to an 80% increase in monthly applications.

Impact: The digital transformation, supported by robust cybersecurity, has significantly enhanced transparency and efficiency within the RBI.

Bodo Accord Implementation: Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated 82% of the 2020 Bodo Accord’s conditions have been met, with the remainder to be fulfilled in two years.

Background: The Bodo issue in Assam involves ethnic and political aspirations for a separate state of Bodoland, leading to insurgency and multiple peace accords.

Bodo Community: The Bodos are Assam’s largest tribal community (5-6% of the population), historically dominant in parts of the region.

Timeline of the Bodo Movement: A series of accords and attempts to resolve the Bodo issue. Early demands for a separate state, armed conflicts, and two previous accords led to the formation of autonomous councils.

2020 Accord: This accord brought peace with four NDFB factions, increasing the BTC’s powers and resolving cases against militants.

Financial Aid: Rs 287 crore has been spent on rehabilitating 4,881 NDFB members (90% funded by the Centre).

Recognition and Tribute: A Delhi road will be renamed after Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma. His bust will also be unveiled in Delhi.

Political Context: The Congress party initially criticized the accord, but Shah highlighted its positive impact on peace and development.

Upcoming Elections: Elections for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) are scheduled this year.

Status: A unified front of BJP and United People’s Party Liberal is in power.

Critical Condition: The River Betwa, once a life source, is now “gasping, groaning, almost gone” due to neglect and human actions.

Historical and Cultural Significance: The Betwa, known as Vetravati in ancient texts, holds deep religious and historical importance, mentioned in the Vedas and revered in the Mahabharata. It is considered the “Ganga of Madhya Pradesh.”

Geographic Information: The river originates in Jhiri village, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and empties into the Yamuna River.

Cause of Decline: The river’s decline is attributed to multiple factors including drying of origin, illegal borings, deforestation, sand mining, unchecked construction, and the dumping of pollutants.

Impact: The river’s demise impacts farmers, communities, and the region’s heritage, threatening centuries of history and life. The catchment areas that once stored water have been consumed by concrete and the forests that protected it has been cut.

Government Response: Official responses include promises of action, but concerns exist regarding the lack of immediate and effective measures.

Ken-Betwa Link Project: The project aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa for irrigation and drinking purposes, highlighting the recognition of the river’s water scarcity and significance.