Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 25-01-2025

15th National Voters’ Day (NVD): January 25th, 2025, commemorating 75 years of the Election Commission of India (ECI). It follows the successful 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Significance: Celebrated annually since 2011 to mark the ECI’s establishment on January 25th, 1950, promoting voter awareness and participation.

Theme: “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure” emphasizes the importance of voting and pride in electoral participation.

Electorate Size: India nears 100 crore voters (99.1 crore registered), including 21.7 crore young electors (18-29). The Electoral Gender Ratio has improved to 954 in 2025 (from 948 in 2024).

Best Electoral Practices Awards: The President of India will present awards recognizing excellence in election management for District Election Officers, Superintendents of Police, and states.

Publications: The ECI Coffee Table Book “India Votes 2024: A Saga of Democracy” and the publication “Belief in the Ballot: Human Stories Shaping India’s 2024 Elections” will be presented.

Why it Matters: NVD emphasizes voter engagement, celebrates democratic participation, and acknowledges improvements in electoral processes, particularly with a growing and increasingly gender-balanced electorate. The awards highlight and encourage best practices in election management.

• Deep Sea Mining Tech & Manned Submersible
• Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services
• Deep-Sea Biodiversity Conservation
• Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration
• Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean
• Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology

DRDO Scramjet Test Success: DRDO successfully conducted a ground test of a Scramjet engine.

• Why: This demonstrates progress in India’s hypersonic missile technology.

Scramjet Engine Explained: Scramjets are air-breathing engines, advanced ramjets using supersonic airflow for combustion, enabling high speeds.

• Why: Highlights the engine’s functionality for hypersonic travel, differing from turbojets due to the absence of moving parts.

Fuel Efficiency & Design: Uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for fuel, offering better fuel efficiency, consisting of only an inlet, combustor, and nozzle.

• Why: Explains the engine’s components and highlights fuel efficiency and thrust.

Hypersonic Vehicle Key: Scramjets are crucial for hypersonic vehicles, enabling maneuverability and strategic advantages at speeds exceeding the speed of sound.

• Why: Illustrates the strategic importance of scramjets in hypersonic applications.

DRDO Achievements: Achieved stable combustion, developed indigenous endothermic scramjet fuel, and thermal barrier coating.

• Why: Details DRDO’s specific technological advancements in scramjet development, improving cooling, ignition and extreme heat protection.

Hypersonic Missile Capabilities: Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds over Mach 5, bypassing air defenses with high-speed strikes.

• Why: Emphasizes the strategic advantage of hypersonic missiles.

Global Hypersonic Race: The US, Russia, and China are also advancing hypersonic tech.

• Why: Positions India’s efforts within a global context of hypersonic weapons development.

Core Principle: When a higher court rules on a case, the lower court’s decision merges into the higher court’s ruling. This means the higher court’s order becomes the operative one.

Rationale: Avoids conflicting orders on the same issue. There can only be one enforceable order at a time.

Hierarchy of Courts: Maintains decorum by ensuring the superior court’s decision prevails.

Enforcement: The order of the superior court is enforced, replacing the lower court’s order.

Non-Statutory: The doctrine isn’t written into law but is a judicial principle ensuring discipline in lower courts.

Limited Application: Not universally applicable. Its application depends on the higher court’s jurisdiction and the specific issues being challenged.

Impact: Ensures consistency and clarity in legal outcomes when multiple court levels are involved.

Location: Rakhigarhi is located in Hisar district, Haryana, India, in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain.

• Why: This specifies the geographical location of the important archaeological site.

Significance: It’s one of the largest and oldest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization), dating back to approximately 6500 BCE.

• Why: Highlights its importance as a major urban center of the Harappan culture.

Indian Cities: Rakhigarhi and Dholavira (Gujarat) are the only two major Harappan cities within India’s current political boundaries.

• Why: Emphasizes its importance in the Indian context of Harappan sites.

Discovery: The site was first discovered in the 1960s by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• Why: Notes the initial discovery and the organization involved.

Extent: Seven archaeological mounds are spread over approximately 350 hectares.

• Why: Indicates the scale and scope of the settlement.

Occupation Periods: Primarily occupied during the Early and Mature Harappan periods, abandoned during the Late Harappan period.

• Why: Specifies the timeline of settlement and abandonment.

Findings: Excavations revealed a planned township with mud-brick and burnt-brick houses, a proper drainage system, and red ware pottery.

• Why: Lists key architectural and cultural finds.

Ritual Practices: Animal sacrificial pits and fire alters suggest ritual systems of the Harappans.

• Why: Points to insights into Harappan religious practices.

Artifacts: Cylindrical seal with Harappan characters, blades, bangles, beads, figurines, toy cart, bone points, and inscribed steatite seals were found.

• Why: Highlights the variety of artifacts discovered at the site.

Burials: Extended burials suggest a very late stage of occupation, possibly medieval times.

• Why: Notes later-period evidence at the site.

DNA Evidence: Rakhigarhi is known for yielding the only DNA evidence from the Harappan era.

• Why: Underscores a critical scientific contribution from the site.

River: Situated on the bank of the now-dry Saraswati river.

• Why: Notes the River on which the civilization was situated

First Excavator The excavation of Rakhigarhi was first conducted by Dr. V. N. Misra, an Indian archaeologist, in the early 1990s.
*Why: Mention the Archeologist who excavated for the first time and their country.

Age: Human remains date back approximately 8,000 years.
*Why: Human remains were found which dates back 8000 years.

City of Dead: Mohenjo-daro, is also known as “Mound of the Dead”
*Why: City known for dead in civilization period.

Declining TFR: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped significantly, from 6.18 in the 1950s to 1.9 in 2021, falling below the replacement level of 2.1. Projections estimate a further decline to 1.04 by 2100.

Regional Disparities: Southern states achieved replacement-level fertility rates earlier. Kerala’s aged population is projected to surpass its child population by 2036.

Driving Factors: Socio-economic factors like increased female literacy, workforce participation, women’s empowerment, changing attitudes towards marriage and parenthood, health factors such as infertility, abortion accessibility, and migration for education and jobs are major contributors.

Consequences: Rapidly aging population with a growing elderly population (projected to be 20.8% by 2050), potentially straining social welfare, healthcare, and pension systems, unlike developed nations facing similar issues with higher per capita incomes. Reduced workforce impacting productivity, potentially leading to middle-income trap.

Policy Solutions: Adapt flexible labor policies and parental benefits, make education affordable, upgrade public institutions for skills, offer subsidies, and ensure economic growth supports the aging population. Focus on maternal and child health and nutrition through existing schemes. Promote access to affordable IVF and surrogacy.

Pangsau Pass International Festival: Recently celebrated in Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting cross-border trade and cultural exchange with Myanmar.

Location and Significance: Pangsau Pass (1,136m) sits on the India-Myanmar border in the Patkai Hills, offering a relatively easy route from Assam into Myanmar.

Historical Importance: It’s believed to be the invasion route of the Ahoms in the 13th century. Also, significant during WWII as a key obstacle for General Stilwell’s forces building a land route to China.

“Hell Gate”: The pass is nicknamed “Hell Gate” due to challenging terrain in the Indo-Burma Patkai Range.

Festival Purpose: The annual festival in Nampong aims to foster trade and cultural exchange between India and Myanmar. It allows tribes from both regions to showcase their culture and traditions.

Lake of No Return: The pass provides views of the famous “Lake of No Return” located on the Myanmar side.

Successful Hydrographic Survey: The Indian Navy completed a hydrographic survey of 25,000 sq nautical miles of Mauritius. This provides Mauritius with updated nautical charts.

INS Sarvekshak’s Role: INS Sarvekshak conducted the survey, mapping the ocean floor and subsurface features. INS Sarvekshak is based at Kochi and equipped with advanced survey tools and has conducted surveys in Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and Tanzania.

Enhanced Maritime Capabilities: The survey will enhance Mauritius’ maritime infrastructure, resource management, and coastal planning.

India-Mauritius Partnership: This underscores the strong and continuing partnership between India and Mauritius, particularly in maritime development and regional cooperation.

SAGAR Initiative: The hydrographic survey aligns with India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative. The Indian Navy regularly assists countries with hydrographic surveys of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) as part of the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.

Capacity Building: India is increasing capacity-building assistance to Indian Ocean littoral states.

Hydrographic Survey Achievements: Over the past five years, the Indian Navy has conducted hydrographic surveys with friendly nations,

Defence Cooperation: India and Mauritius have strong defense cooperation including joint coastal radar surveillance and aircraft supplied by India. Mauritius has an International Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, India.

Isolated and Understudied: The Shompen are among Earth’s most isolated and least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.

Location: They inhabit the dense rainforests of Great Nicobar Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Unique Origins: Their origins differ from most Nicobarese, but both have Mongoloid ancestry.

Ecological Significance: Their habitat is a vital biological hotspot, encompassing national parks and a biosphere reserve.

Population Uncertainty: The 2011 Census estimates 229, but the exact population remains unknown due to limited contact.

Nomadic Lifestyle: They are nomadic hunter-gatherers, living in small groups and moving between forest camps.

Diet and Agriculture: Their staple food is the pandanus fruit, and they cultivate small gardens for lemon, chillies, and betel.

Distinct Language: They speak their own language with multiple mutually unintelligible dialects.

Physical Characteristics: They exhibit Mongoloid features like light brown skin and oblique eyes.

Family Structure: They live in nuclear families controlled by the eldest male. Monogamy is generally practiced, but polygamy is allowed.

Animistic Beliefs: Their belief system is primarily animistic. They worship the moon (Houou) as their goddess.

Revision of OMSS(D) Policy: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has revised the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS(D)) policy for 2024-25. This aims to improve food security and ethanol production.

Purpose of OMSS: It involves the sale of surplus food grains (wheat and rice) from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) central pool. This helps control inflation and stabilize food grain prices.

Eligible Buyers: Wheat is sold to processors, atta chalkis, and flour millers, while rice is sold to traders. States can procure grains beyond NFSA allocation without auctions.

Auction Mechanism: E-auctions are used, with minimum bid quantity of 10 MT and maximum of 100 MT for wheat. For rice, the range is 10 MT minimum and 1000 MT maximum.

Reduced Reserve Price for Rice: The central government reduced the reserve price of FCI rice under OMSS by ₹550 to ₹2,250 per quintal for states and ethanol producers.

• Reasoning: This reduction aims to increase sales, support ethanol production, and improve overall food security.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been awarded the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2025 in the Institutional Category.

The award recognizes INCOIS’s outstanding contributions to disaster management.

The award is presented annually on January 23rd, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.

The institutional category award includes a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh.

INCOIS, established in 1999, specializes in ocean-related disaster management, particularly tsunami early warnings.

INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), providing tsunami alerts within 10 minutes to India and 28 Indian Ocean countries. This rapid response capability is crucial for saving lives and mitigating damage.

UNESCO recognizes INCOIS as a Top Tsunami Service Provider, highlighting its global significance in tsunami warning systems.

INCOIS functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), New Delhi.

INCOIS developed the Search and Rescue Aided Tool (SARAT) for locating individuals or objects lost at sea.

They also created the SynOPS visualization platform for real-time data integration, aiding disaster response efforts.

INCOIS is a permanent member of the Indian delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.

“Rarest of Rare” Doctrine: The Supreme Court (SC) in Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1980), upheld the death penalty’s constitutionality but restricted its use to the “rarest of rare” cases after balancing aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

Aggravating vs. Mitigating Circumstances: These are factors considered in sentencing, especially for the death penalty. Aggravating factors may lead to a death sentence, while mitigating factors may result in a lesser punishment.

Aggravating Factors: Pre-planned and brutal murders, “exceptional depravity,” or the murder of a public servant on duty.

Mitigating Factors: Extreme mental or emotional disturbance, young or very old age of the accused, potential for reform, acting under duress, morally justified actions (as perceived by the accused), or mental inability to understand the crime’s nature.

Evolving Interpretation: Post-Bachan Singh, the SC’s application of aggravating and mitigating circumstances has varied.

Age as a Factor: The SC has shown inconsistency on considering age as a factor; 262nd Law Commission Report highlighted this inconsistency.

Nature of Offence: Machhi Singh vs. State of Punjab (1983) emphasized societal “collective conscience” being shocked as a justification, shifting focus to the crime’s nature.

Possibility of Reform: Santosh Bariyar vs State of Maharashtra (2009) necessitates clear evidence showing the convict is beyond reform.

Separate Hearing Required: Bachan Singh mandated a separate hearing post-conviction to argue against the death penalty. Dattaraya vs. State of Maharashtra (2020) showed a lack of proper hearing can result in commuting a death sentence.

Death Penalty Laws: The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (2023) prescribes the death penalty for heinous crimes.

SC Rulings: Jagmohan Singh Case (1972) upheld capital punishment’s constitutionality. Shatrughan Chauhan Case (2014) considered execution delays a factor for commutation. Manoj vs State of Maharashtra Case (2022) emphasized balancing aggravating and mitigating factors.

Law Commission: Supported the death penalty initially (35th Report, 1967) but later called for abolition for all crimes except terrorism (262nd Report, 2015).

CBDT Issues New Guidelines for Principal Purpose Test (PPT) under Double Tax Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs): Aims to prevent tax avoidance by ensuring treaty benefits are not misused.

Prospective Applicability: Guidelines apply to future investments, protecting pre-April 1, 2017 investments from retrospective scrutiny.

Exemptions for Specific Treaties (Grandfathering): Treaties with Cyprus, Mauritius, and Singapore are exempt due to prior commitments. Investments made before specified dates under these treaties will follow original treaty provisions.

Reference to Global Standards: Tax authorities should refer to BEPS Action Plan 6 and the UN Model Tax Convention for PPT application.

What is PPT?: PPT is an international tax rule that verifies if a business arrangement is genuinely commercial or designed primarily for tax avoidance. Treaty benefits can be denied if the primary purpose is tax-saving.

What are DTAAs?: DTAAs are treaties between two countries that help taxpayers avoid being taxed twice on the same income. They specify which country has the right to tax certain income.

India’s DTAA Network: India has signed 94 DTAAs with countries including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Mauritius, the USA, and the UK.

High Carbon Sequestration Rate: Mangroves and coastal wetlands sequester carbon 10 times faster than mature tropical forests.

Definition of Blue Carbon: Carbon captured and stored by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems, specifically mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. These form ‘blue carbon ecosystems’.

Effective Carbon Sinks: Blue carbon ecosystems are nature’s most efficient carbon sinks, storing more carbon per area than terrestrial forests.

Threats to Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Human activities are the primary drivers of blue carbon ecosystem loss. These include aquaculture, agriculture, mangrove exploitation, pollution, and coastal development.

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation: Blue carbon ecosystems help mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration and support adaptation through coastal protection and food security.

Blue vs. Green Carbon: Blue carbon is stored by coastal/marine ecosystems, while green carbon is stored by terrestrial ecosystems.

Benefits of Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Beyond carbon storage, these ecosystems benefit wildlife, water quality, storm surge protection, and local economies.

ISRO Launches NVS-02: India’s ISRO launched the NVS-02 satellite using the GSLV rocket.

Part of NavIC System: NVS-02 is a second-generation satellite for the NavIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) navigation system.

Replacing Existing Satellites: It’s the second of five new satellites meant to replace older ones in the NavIC constellation.

Enhanced Technology: NVS-02 includes indigenous atomic clocks for precise timekeeping, similar to NVS-01. The first one was launched on board GSLV-F12 in 2023.

Satellite Features: Weighs 2,250 kg, 3 kW power, navigation payload in L1, L5, and S bands, and a C-band ranging payload.

Atomic Clock: Features a Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard (RAFS) for accurate timing.

Long Lifespan: Designed for a 12-year lifespan and has more accurate atomic clocks.

Orbit Position: Will replace IRNSS-1E at 111.75°E in orbit.

Improved Navigation: Aims to enhance NavIC services for navigation, precision agriculture, emergency services, fleet management, and mobile location.

Global Compatibility: Includes new L1 band signals to improve NavIC’s compatibility with other global navigation systems.

Developed in India: Designed, developed, and integrated at the U R Satellite Centre (URSC).