Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 26-08-2025

Chalk9 Gene Identified for Rice Chalkiness: Scientists discovered the Chalk9 gene controlling chalkiness, a trait causing brittle, opaque grains that reduce milling yield and commercial value.

• Why: Chalkiness lowers rice quality. Identifying Chalk9 provides a direct target to reduce this trait.

Mechanism of Chalkiness: Chalk9, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, tags the protein OsEBP89 for degradation. OsEBP89 regulates genes (Wx and SSP) involved in starch synthesis and storage.

• Why: Controlling OsEBP89 levels via Chalk9 directly influences starch accumulation, impacting grain translucency and brittleness.

Breeding for Improved Quality: Rice varieties with the low-chalkiness version (Chalk9-L) have become more common since the 1990s due to breeding efforts aimed at reducing chalkiness.

• Why: This shows a historical shift towards prioritizing grain quality through genetic selection and offers a straightforward method for breeders to introduce Chalk9-L.

Other Key Genetic Determinants:

• Pi54, Pi9: Confer blast disease resistance, crucial for durable disease tolerance.
• BADH2: Regulates aroma, a marker for premium fragrant rice.
• Sd1: Controls semi-dwarfing, key to the Green Revolution’s yield boost.
• Saltol QTL: Provides salt tolerance at the seedling stage, vital for coastal and saline areas.
• Why: These genes highlight the broader genetic basis of rice quality and resilience, essential for food security and agricultural advancement.

Rice’s Importance in India: Rice is a staple food, grown on 25% of cropped area, with India as the second-largest producer and largest exporter.

• Why: Understanding rice genetics is critical for India’s agricultural economy and food supply.

Nepal Joins International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Nepal has officially become a member of the IBCA by signing the Framework Agreement.

• Why in News: This signifies Nepal’s commitment to global big cat conservation efforts.

IBCA Overview: An India-led global coalition of over 90 countries focused on conserving seven big cat species and their habitats.

• Why in News: Highlights the growing international cooperation for wildlife protection.

Nepal’s Conservation Success: Nepal has significantly increased its tiger population, tripling it from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022.

• Why in News: Demonstrates Nepal’s capability and dedication to conservation, making it a valuable partner for the IBCA.

IBCA Objectives: The alliance aims to curb illegal wildlife trade, conserve habitats, mobilize resources, and mitigate climate change impacts on big cats.

• Why in News: Nepal’s membership supports these crucial conservation goals.

Focus Species: The IBCA covers Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.

• Why in News: Nepal’s participation directly contributes to the conservation of species like the tiger and potentially snow leopards, which inhabit its region.

Supreme Court Collegium Recommended Elevations: The Collegium, led by CJI B.R. Gavai, recommended Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi for elevation to the Supreme Court.

• Why News: This is the operational aspect of the Collegium system, showing recent activity in judicial appointments at the highest level.

Collegium System Appoints Higher Judiciary: Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court are appointed through this system, not directly by the President.

• Why News: Highlights the unique mechanism for judicial appointments in India, distinguishing it from direct executive appointment.

Unwritten Constitutional Basis: The term “collegium” is not in the Constitution but was established through Supreme Court judgments.

• Why News: Emphasizes the judicial creation and evolution of a critical institutional process.

Evolution of the Collegium:

• First Judges Case (1981): Allowed the CJI’s recommendation to be refused for valid reasons.
• Second Judges Case (1993): Established the Collegium as an institutional opinion of the CJI and two senior-most judges, meaning “consultation” is “concurrence.”
• Third Judges Case (1998): Expanded the Collegium to a five-member body (CJI + four senior-most judges).
• Why News: Shows the historical development and increasing scope of the Collegium’s power and composition, demonstrating its dynamic nature.

ICMR Initiative: India expands wastewater surveillance to 50 cities, monitoring 10 viruses over six months, aiming for an early-warning system.

Purpose: To detect early signs of infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, polio, influenza, and other viral threats, including those causing fever, diarrhea, encephalitis, and respiratory distress.

Wastewater Surveillance Explained: Collects and tests sewage samples for pathogens (viruses, bacteria) using Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE).

WBE Advantages:

• Population-wide: Captures infections from asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic individuals, providing a community-level snapshot.
• Early Detection: Identifies rising virus loads and predicts outbreaks before clinical symptoms.
• Cost-Effective: Cheaper than mass individual testing, reducing healthcare burden.
• Targeted Interventions: Pinpoints hotspots for focused public health action.
• Non-invasive: Monitors health trends without individual participation.

How it Works: Wastewater operators collect samples before treatment; labs test for viral/bacterial load, with results typically in 5-7 days.

Broader Applications: Beyond public health, it aids in identifying land-based pollution sources and protecting freshwater/marine ecosystems.

Context: Driven by the increasing emergence of pathogens due to population growth, urbanization, environmental changes, and human-animal interaction.

Integration: Complements existing surveillance systems like ILI, SARI, and IDSP.

Way Forward: Expansion to rural areas, integration with digital health platforms, capacity building, and global data sharing are crucial.

US-Sahel Relations Reset: Under Trump, the US reset relations with West African military leaders.

• Why it’s news: This signifies a shift in US foreign policy towards a transactional approach in the region.

Mutual Back-Scratching Deal: The US bartered anti-jihadist help for the Sahel’s mining riches.

• Why it’s news: It highlights the strategic and economic motivations behind US engagement in the Sahel, prioritizing resource access alongside security.

Sahel Region Overview: A vast, arid, semi-arid stretch of land in Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

• Why it’s news: Provides essential geographical context for understanding the region’s challenges and strategic importance.

Historical Crossroads and Conflict Seeds: Historically a trade crossroads, European colonization disrupted tribal boundaries, sowing seeds for current conflicts.

• Why it’s news: Explains the deep-rooted historical factors contributing to ongoing instability and conflict in the Sahel.

Global Economic Cost: Invasive Alien Species (IAS) have cost over $2.2 trillion globally between 1960-2022, with management costs potentially underestimated by 16 times.

• Why in News: A recent study highlights the massive, often hidden, economic burden of IAS.

India’s Hidden Costs: India shows a staggering 1.16 billion percent discrepancy in reported management costs, indicating gross underestimation of financial and administrative measures.

• Why in News: This highlights a significant financial drain and lack of comprehensive data collection in India.

What are IAS: Non-native organisms that establish self-sustaining populations, outcompeting native species and disrupting ecosystems. They “arrive, survive, and thrive.”

• Definition: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India).

Drivers of IAS Spread: Globalisation (trade, travel), climate change (creating favourable conditions), habitat disturbance, and deliberate human introduction for various purposes.

• Examples: African catfish, Water Hyacinth, Lantana, Parthenium hysterophorus.

Key Impacts:

• Ecological: Major driver of biodiversity loss, causing decline/extinction of native species, disrupting ecosystems.
• Economic: Substantial financial burdens on agriculture, forestry, fisheries; plants are most damaging.
• Health: Transmit diseases (malaria, Zika), cause allergies/toxicity.
• Threat Multiplier: Alter fire regimes, reduce carbon sequestration, weaken climate regulation, exacerbated by climate change.

Challenges for India: Underreporting and lack of data, resource constraints, high eradication costs, policy gaps, and weak enforcement.

• Way Forward: Strengthen data systems, allocate dedicated resources, promote community-centric solutions (biological control, participation), fortify policies and inter-agency coordination.

Management Strategies: Prevention, eradication, control, suppression, and slowing the spread. International agreements like the Ballast Water Management Convention are crucial.

• Conclusion: Requires strong institutions, integration with biodiversity-climate strategies, and community involvement.

Andhra Pradesh’s Greenfield Airport Push: The state plans to develop new airports at Srikakulam, Bhogapuram, Tuni–Annavaram, Tadepalligudem, Ongole, Dagadarthi, Kuppam, and Nagarjuna Sagar. This signifies a significant expansion of aviation infrastructure in the region.

What are Greenfield Airports? These are entirely new airports built on undeveloped land, offering a fresh start without the complexities of existing infrastructure. Pakyong Airport in Sikkim is India’s first in the Northeast.

Regulatory Framework: The Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, governs their development. Proposals require a two-stage approval process from the Ministry of Civil Aviation: Site-Clearance and then In-Principle approval.

Benefits of Greenfield Development:

• Faster Construction: Building from scratch eliminates demolition, leading to quicker and more efficient development.
• Improved Connectivity: Enhances both regional and international air travel.
• Decongestion: Alleviates pressure on already crowded urban airports.
• Economic Boost: Stimulates investment and trade in surrounding areas.
• Sustainability: Allows for the integration of eco-friendly practices, such as green energy and sustainable construction methods.

100th Anniversary Commemoration: Delhi Legislative Assembly hosted the All India Speakers’ Conference to mark 100 years since Vithalbhai Patel became President of the Central Legislative Assembly.

Vithalbhai Patel’s Significance: Celebrated as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly, marking a significant step in India’s parliamentary journey.

Early Political Career: Patel was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council (1912) and Imperial Legislative Council (1918). He later co-founded the Swaraj Party with C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru after leaving Congress.

Parliamentary Reforms: Patel played a crucial role in shaping India’s parliamentary traditions by:

• Establishing the ward and watch system for Parliament security, preserving the Speaker’s control.
• Defending Parliament’s security against British takeover attempts, upholding the Speaker’s authority.
• Creating an independent Parliament Secretariat for unbiased advice and functioning.
• Leading the establishment of a separate department for the legislative body, enhancing Speaker’s autonomy.

National Recognition: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will release a postal stamp in Patel’s honor, highlighting his lasting legacy.

Supreme Court forms SIT to probe Vantara: The Supreme Court has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former judge Justice J. Chelameswar.

• Why: To independently assess allegations and complaints of violations against Vantara.

Vantara’s Nature and Purpose: Vantara is a private, non-commercial wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre.

• Why: It’s presented as a philanthropic initiative by Reliance Foundation, led by Anant Ambani, focused on animal care and conservation, not recreation.

Location and Scale: Situated on 3,500 acres within the Jamnagar Refinery Township in Gujarat.

• Why: Highlights its significant size and private management, distinguishing it as the largest facility of its kind in India.

Facilities: Includes the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and a specialized Elephant Centre with advanced care features.

• Why: Showcases the infrastructure and resources dedicated to animal welfare and rehabilitation.

CBSE Introduces Open-Book Assessments (OBEs): CBSE will implement OBEs for Class IX from the 2026–27 academic session.

What is OBE? Students can use notes, textbooks, or approved materials. Focus shifts from memory/recall to understanding, application, and analysis.

Benefits:

• Promotes higher-order thinking (analysis, application, problem-solving).
• Reduces exam anxiety by focusing on understanding, not rote memorization.
• Encourages deeper learning through note organization and better comprehension.
• Develops resource management, information synthesis, and critical reasoning.
• Mirrors professional environments where information access and application are key.

Challenges:

• Student Readiness: Many students are accustomed to memorization and may struggle with analytical thinking and applying knowledge to new contexts.
• Teacher Preparedness: Teachers often lack training in designing higher-order questions and evaluating responses.
• Systemic/Cultural Factors: A culture that glorifies memorization, exam pressures, syllabus demands, and parental expectations perpetuate rote learning.
• Shortage of Trained Teachers: Limited opportunities for professional development hinder the adoption of effective teaching methods.

Necessary Steps:

• OBEs should complement, not replace, other assessment methods.
• Teachers need training in Bloom’s Taxonomy to design higher-order questions (analysis, evaluation, creation, problem-solving).
• Foster critical thinking through classroom debates, discussions, and collaborative projects.
• Focus on nurturing critical thinking and application, not just introducing OBEs.

Conclusion: OBEs can shift Indian education from rote learning to creativity and analysis, but require adequate teacher training and student guidance to be effective; otherwise, they risk becoming a “hollow exercise.”

Criticism of 50% Price Hike on Essential Drugs: The Parliamentary Standing Committee criticized the NPPA for allowing a 50% price increase on 11 essential drug formulations in 2024, impacting treatments for bacterial infections, asthma, and bipolar disorder.

• Why in News: This decision raises concerns about public health and the affordability of critical medicines.

Limited Justification for Price Increases: The committee found NPPA’s justifications (production costs, APIs, exchange rates) inadequate, as they didn’t sufficiently consider the impact on patient affordability.

• Why in News: Lack of affordability consideration directly affects patient access to necessary treatments.

Regulatory Gaps in Cancer Drug Pricing: A significant number of oncology medicines remain outside price control, leading to high and unaffordable prices for cancer drugs.

• Why in News: This severely restricts patient access to life-saving cancer treatments.

Recommendations for NPPA:

• Reconsider Price Hike Mechanism: NPPA should re-evaluate its process to ensure price increases are reasonable and affordable.
• Expand Price Control on Critical Drugs: Government should broaden price control, especially for oncology drugs.
• Ensure Transparency: Future price hikes need transparency and clear criteria prioritizing public welfare.
• Strengthen Oversight on Non-Essential Drugs: NPPA should monitor non-essential drugs to limit unjustified MRP increases to 10% annually.
• Regular Monitoring and Inclusion: Continue monitoring drug prices and include more medicines under price control for broader affordability.
• Why in News: These recommendations aim to improve affordability, accessibility, and regulatory oversight of medicines in India.

NPPA’s Role: NPPA is India’s independent regulator for drug pricing, ensuring availability and affordability, balancing consumer needs with industry growth.

• Why in News: NPPA’s actions directly impact the pharmaceutical landscape and public health in India, often referred to as the “Pharmacy of the World.”

Why in News: A parliamentary committee wants the fertilizer sector reclassified as ‘strategic,’ arguing its current ‘non-strategic’ status contradicts India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) goals, especially with high import dependency and food security risks.

Link to Food Security: Fertilizers are vital for agricultural productivity. High import reliance (urea 25%, phosphates 90%, potash 100%) necessitates strengthening domestic fertilizer PSUs for production, price stability, and disaster resilience.

Low PSU Market Share: PSUs contribute only ~25% of urea and ~11% of non-urea fertilizer production, with the private sector dominating. PSUs act as price stabilizers for small farmers, highlighting the need for strategic status.

Recommendations:

• Classify the sector as ‘strategic’ to attract investment and align with Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Launch a mission to upgrade PSU technology, diversify products, and adopt sustainable practices.

Fertilizer’s Role in Economy: Agriculture contributes ~16% to GDP and supports over 46% of the population. India is the 2nd largest user and 3rd largest producer globally.

Import Dependency: Despite increased domestic production, India imports significant quantities of fertilizers, particularly potash (100% imported) and DAP (60% imported).

Sustainability Push: Initiatives like ONOF (One Nation One Fertilizer), nano-fertilizers, neem-coated urea, PM-PRANAM scheme, and the Soil Health Card scheme aim for efficiency and reduced chemical reliance.

Challenges to Strategic Status: Global supply agreements reduce the need for large strategic reserves. Old PSU plants are inefficient and require modernization. Policy incoherence between ministries hinders progress.

Retired Judges Condemn Amit Shah’s Remarks: 18 retired Supreme Court and High Court judges have criticized Home Minister Amit Shah’s statements regarding the Supreme Court’s Salwa Judum judgment.

• Why in News: They believe his “prejudicial misinterpretation” could undermine the Supreme Court’s independence and deter future judges.

Salwa Judum’s Controversial History: The Salwa Judum, meaning “Peace March” or “Purification Hunt” in Gondi, was a militia formed to combat Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Chhattisgarh.

• Why in News: It was reportedly backed by the state government, allegedly forcibly recruited minors (over 12,000 according to one survey), displaced villagers, and killed those accused of collaborating with Naxalites.

Supreme Court’s Intervention: The Supreme Court ordered Chhattisgarh to stop supporting the Salwa Judum in 2008 and declared the militia illegal and unconstitutional in 2011, ordering its disbandment.

• Why in News: Despite the court’s orders, the Salwa Judum continues to operate as an auxiliary police force, highlighting ongoing legal and governance issues.

Government’s LWE Strategy: India’s strategy to counter LWE includes the SAMADHAN doctrine and Operation Green Hunt.

• Why in News: This provides broader context for the government’s approach to Naxalism, within which the Salwa Judum controversy is situated.

• Why: This is the most significant find from recent excavations, which resumed this year after a 30-year pause.

• Why: Highlights the Gulf region’s historical legacy of cultural harmony and coexistence.

• Why: Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasized this connection, stating it’s not a modern construct but a historical principle.

• Why: Provides context for the island’s role in early Christian spread and settlement in the Gulf.

• Why: Demonstrates a long history of archaeological interest and ongoing efforts to uncover the island’s past.

• Why: Allows public access to this historical site and showcases previous finds, promoting cultural heritage awareness.