Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 27-05-2025

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Ayurveda Legacy

  • Vice President commissioned statues of Charaka and Sushruta at Raj Bhavan, Goa.
  • Why News: Event celebrates and recalls the contributions of ancient Indian medical pioneers.
  • Charaka (2nd century BCE – 2nd century CE) is known as the “father of medicine,” served as royal physician of Kanishka, and authored the foundational Ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita.
  • Sushruta (7th–6th century BCE) is known as the “Father of Surgery” and “Father of Plastic Surgery,” was a disciple of Dhanvantari, and authored the Sushruta Samhita, an early text on surgery.
  • Why News: Sushruta documented over 300 surgical procedures, including plastic surgery (rhinoplasty), fracture management, and caesarean delivery, demonstrating advanced medical knowledge and practice in ancient India.
  • Why News: The commissioning highlights India’s rich medical and intellectual legacy, encouraging rediscovery of ancient roots and civilizational depth.
  • Why News: Statues are seen as motivational and inspirational centers, countering the belief that ancient Indian knowledge is regressive and emphasizing India’s position as a global soft power center in traditional medicine (like Ayurveda), recognized by WHO.
  • Why News: Encourages bringing ancient texts to life through research, innovation, and modern validation, making treasures accessible for contemporary challenges.

India #4 Economy

  • India’s GDP has surpassed USD 4 trillion, making it the world’s 4th largest economy.
  • This was announced by the NITI Aayog CEO at the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting.
  • India overtook Japan to achieve this rank.
  • The key reason highlighted is India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
  • India is projected to sustain over 6% annual growth for the next two years, driving this economic expansion.
  • This sustained growth is expected to help India’s GDP reach USD 5.58 trillion by 2028, potentially surpassing Germany to become the 3rd largest economy.
  • Earlier, the IMF had projected India would become the 4th largest economy in 2025.
  • NITI Aayog, the source of the announcement, is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, succeeding the Planning Commission.

INS Brahmaputra

  • INS Brahmaputra, an Indian Navy guided missile frigate, suffered extensive damage in a dockyard accident last year. This is news because it affects a significant naval asset’s operational status.
  • It is expected to regain seaworthiness by the end of 2025 and be fully combat-ready by mid-2026. This timeline indicates the recovery progress and future availability of the ship.
  • It is the first indigenously built ship of the Brahmaputra class, commissioned in 2000. This highlights its historical significance as an early indigenous frigate.
  • Its roles include coastal patrolling, monitoring sea routes, maritime diplomacy,
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    and counter-terrorism/anti-piracy missions. These duties show its operational importance to the Indian Navy.
  • The ship is equipped with various weapons like missiles, guns, and torpedo launchers, along with sensors and helicopter capability. These features explain its combat capabilities relevant to its diverse roles.

Oil Crisis

  • Kerala Incident: A Liberian-flagged vessel sank/listed off the Kerala coast, losing potentially hazardous cargo and diesel. Why: This event raised serious concerns about a potential oil spill and dangerous materials washing ashore, prompting emergency alerts and rescue operations due to the threat to the environment and public safety.
  • What are Oil Spills: Oil spills are the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into water bodies. Why: This is the primary environmental hazard caused by incidents like the vessel sinking, defining the type of pollution being discussed.
  • Severe Environmental Impact: Oil coats marine animals, leading to death; clogs fish gills; blocks sunlight for marine plants; and smothers habitats like coral reefs and mangroves. Why: Explains the devastating effects on biodiversity and ecosystems, highlighting the severity of potential spills.
  • Economic and Health Impact: Spills disrupt fishing and tourism, causing significant economic losses and financial burdens for cleanup. Contaminated seafood poses health risks to coastal communities. Why: Demonstrates the broader socio-economic and human health consequences beyond immediate environmental damage.
  • Cleanup Methods: Various methods like bioremediation (using bacteria), containment booms, skimmers, and sorbents are employed to remove or break down spilled oil. Why: These are the essential techniques used to respond to spills and minimize their impact.
  • Legal and Institutional Frameworks: India has laws (Merchant Shipping Act, NOS-DCP, NGT Act) and is party to international conventions (MARPOL, Bunker Oil Convention) to prevent, respond to, and ensure compensation for oil pollution. Why: These structures provide the legal and operational basis for managing and mitigating oil spill incidents.

Oil Crisis

Frontier to Frontrunner

  • Prime Minister declared the Northeast (NER) is transitioning from a “frontier” to a “frontrunner” in India’s growth journey at the “Rising Northeast: The Investor Summit”.
  • Why it’s emerging as a frontrunner:
    • Strategic Importance: Acts as a gateway to Southeast Asia for trade (Act East Policy, connectivity projects like Trilateral Highway, Kaladan).
    • Economic Potential: Vast resources in bio-economy, renewable energy (hydropower, solar), agro-industries (tea, bamboo), eco-tourism.
    • Human Capital: High literacy, English proficiency, strengths in sports.
    • Infrastructure Push: Significant Central funding, highways, rail, airports, gas grid, digital connectivity (BharatNet), key projects like Sela Tunnel, and new investments like a semiconductor plant in Assam.
    • National Security: Plays a frontline role sharing long borders, Siliguri Corridor is a vital lifeline.
  • Challenges to becoming a frontrunner:
    • Historical & Current Conflicts: Decades of insurgency, cross-border infiltration, recent ethnic violence (Manipur), identity politics, fear of “outsiders” and demand for ILP hindering investment.
    • Economic Issues: Agricultural distress (low productivity, middlemen), employment gaps despite literacy, low tourism footfall due to poor connectivity/marketing, dependency on Central funds, limited industrial base due to logistics.
    • Geographical & Environmental: Difficult terrain, vulnerability to natural disasters (floods, landslides), climate change impacts.
    • Social Issues: Drug trafficking vulnerability, rising addiction, inter-state border disputes, local protests against large projects (hydropower).
  • How to make it a frontrunner:
    • Promote sustainable tourism and cultural economy (eco-tourism, festivals).
    • Develop tailored human capital through education and skill centers.
    • Support organic agriculture (market access, incentives, branding).
    • Deepen industrialization with targeted clusters and Border Economic Zones.
    • Strengthen all-weather infrastructure and digital connectivity.
    • Address insurgency and ethnic conflicts through reconciliation, inclusive governance, and socio-economic development initiatives.

Kilauea

  • Lava fountains reaching over 1,000 feet erupted: Why? This signifies a significant, dramatic display of activity from the volcano.
  • New eruption event started on December 23, 2024 (and this is the 23rd event since then): Why? It indicates ongoing, frequent activity following a specific period and highlights the volcano’s persistent unrest.
  • Lava flows are covering the floor of the HalemaÊ»umaÊ»u crater: Why? This pinpoints the location of the current activity within the volcano’s summit caldera.
  • Eruptions typically feature low-explosivity fountaining and are often contained within the summit caldera: Why? This explains the usual behavior of Kilauea, characteristic of its shield volcano type, and why large lava fountains are possible without widespread destruction.
  • The eruption is producing high levels of volcanic gas that can form vog: Why? Volcanic gas (vog) poses a potential health risk and affects air quality, crops, and animals downwind, making it a key concern for local populations.
  • Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting continuously since 1983: Why? This provides context for the volcano’s constant attention and the long-term nature of its activity.
  • It is a shield volcano built by fluid basalt lava flows: Why? This explains its broad, gentle shape and why eruptions are typically non-explosive unless water is involved, focusing instead on lava fountaining and flows.

ICMR Sickle Cell Stigma Scale

  • Key Point: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) developed the ICMR-SCD Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI).
    Why: This is the country’s first tool specifically designed to measure and address the stigma faced by Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients and their caregivers in India.

  • Key Point: The ISSSI has two parts: ISSSI-Pt for patients and ISSSI-Cg for caregivers.
    Why: Stigma affects both those with the disease and those who care for them, requiring tailored measurement for each group.

  • Key Point: The scale assesses stigma across 5 areas: familial/reproductive, disclosure, illness burden, discrimination, and healthcare stigma.
    Why: Stigma related to SCD in India is multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive tool to capture its various dimensions.

  • Key Point: The scale was developed and validated across 6 SCD-endemic districts in India and is culturally grounded.
    Why: Existing global scales were unsuitable due to India’s unique phenotypic, socio-cultural, and contextual differences, necessitating a locally relevant and robust tool reflecting India’s diversity.

  • Key Point: The ISSSI is psychometrically robust, validated, and reliable.
    Why: This ensures the scale is suitable for clinical use, research, and evaluating the impact of interventions or policies, like the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.

  • Key Point: India has the world’s second-largest SCD burden.
    Why: Despite high prevalence, especially in tribal communities, research on SCD and its non-clinical aspects like stigma was limited, highlighting the urgent need for tools like the ISSSI to understand and address the full impact of the disease.

  • Key Point: People with SCD suffer severe symptoms and reduced quality of life.
    Why: Stigma adds a significant non-clinical burden to patients and caregivers, compounding the challenges posed by the physical symptoms of the disease and impacting their well-being and access to care.

  • Key Point: The ISSSI is now available for use by the National Mission and researchers.
    Why: This provides a critical resource for implementing and evaluating SCD management interventions and research efforts focused on eliminating SCD as a public health problem in India.

Jarosite

  • Jarosite is a natural luminescent mineral.
  • It can record the timing of ancient Martian events like dust storms, flooding, and volcanic activity.
  • Present on both Earth (e.g., Gujarat’s Kutch) and Mars.
  • It is a yellow-brown mineral rich in potassium, iron, and sulphate, found in arid, salty environments.
  • Exhibits radiation-induced luminescence, acting as a geological clock for events up to 25,000 years ago.
  • On Earth, it occurs in acid mine drainage, volcanic zones, and arid sedimentary rocks.
  • On Mars, it was detected by NASA rovers in Meridiani Planum and Gale Crater.
  • Used to date weathering processes, often with the Potassium-Argon dating method.

Semi-Transparent PSC

  • IIT Bombay researchers have developed a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) layered over a traditional silicon cell, forming a 4-terminal tandem structure.
  • This design uses an indigenous halide perovskite semiconductor on top of established silicon technology for high light absorption and efficient energy conversion.
  • The technology aims for approximately 30% power conversion efficiency, a significant increase from current ~20% efficiency.
  • Halide perovskite is highly efficient and affordable, as electronic grade materials can be produced locally with available chemical resources, reducing dependence on imports, particularly from China.
  • A major breakthrough is extending the lifespan to potentially up to 10 years, addressing a key limitation of earlier perovskite cells and improving stability under heat and low-light.
  • The 4-terminal structure allows the silicon and perovskite layers to operate independently, improving overall durability and performance.
  • Higher efficiency allows more power generation from fewer panels, crucial for land-scarce areas like India, applicable to solar farms, rooftops, and integrated photovoltaics.
  • The technology is also promising for efficient green hydrogen production, offering a cost-effective alternative to costly compound semiconductors.
  • The Maharashtra government and IIT Bombay start-up ART-PV India Pvt Ltd are working towards commercialisation, aiming for a complete commercial wafer size solution by December 2027 using indigenous equipment.

Semi-Transparent PSC

East China Sea

  • China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted aggressive military drills near Japan’s disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for the first time. Why: This escalates tensions and challenges Japanese sovereignty close to their territory.
  • The drills, involving jet and helicopter operations, occurred less than 200km from the islands administered by Japan but claimed by China. Why: Proximity signals a calculated move to assert presence in the contested zone.
  • The action challenges the US-Japan security treaty covering the Senkakus. Why: It tests US commitment and signals Beijing’s intent to challenge influence in strategic Indo-Pacific waters.
  • China maintains a near-constant presence of patrol ships in the area (record 355 days in 2024). Why: This is part of a strategy to normalize their presence and assert control over the disputed islands.
  • The East China Sea is a strategically important semi-closed sea bordered by China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, vital for global trade. Why: Activity here impacts regional stability and international commerce.

Urban Bio Boost

  • Urban biodiversity is the variety of life (plants, animals, etc.) found in cities and urban areas, including parks, wetlands, gardens, and structures. It encompasses green and blue spaces, built habitats, and wildlife corridors.
  • It is vital because it helps mitigate climate change (reducing heat island effect, sequestering carbon) and pollution (filtering air, reducing noise). Example: Frankfurt’s green belts lowered temperatures by 3.5°C.
  • Urban biodiversity provides health and well-being benefits by offering recreational spaces, reducing stress, and supporting pollinators crucial for food. Example: Green walls protect Delhi from hot winds.
  • There are economic benefits: urban trees provide ecosystem services valued at Rs 8 crore per sq. km annually, and green spaces increase property values.
  • Global commitments like the Kunming-Montreal GBF Target 12 and UN SDG Goal 11 emphasize integrating green and blue spaces into urban planning for conservation and well-being. International Day for Biological Diversity theme “Harmony with nature…” stresses this.
  • Key issues in India include rising urban sprawl leading to habitat loss (cities average 10.26% forest cover, Chennai/Hyderabad lost area 2021-23), intensified urban heat island effect stressing wildlife, loss of wetlands/water bodies due to encroachment and pollution (East Kolkata Wetlands, Chennai wetlands reduced to 15%), and pollution disrupting ecosystems.
  • Measures to strengthen it include promoting green infrastructure (parks, urban forests, green roofs) and adopting the UN Habitat’s 3-30-300 Rule for better planning.
  • Developing and using a City Biodiversity Index helps cities assess status and create conservation action plans (LBSAPs).
  • Restoring and protecting urban water bodies by managing pollution and ensuring legal protection is urgent. Example: Pallikaranai marsh restoration.
  • Decentralized greening through community efforts and house gardens boosts local biodiversity. Example: Chennai’s Koyambedu market project regenerated diverse species.
  • Integrating biodiversity into urban planning through mandatory impact assessments, city action plans, strict penalties, and enforcing conservation laws is crucial.

Panchayat Index

  • Ministry of Panchayati Raj recently organised a national write-shop on rolling out Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Version 2.0. Why: This marks the preparation for implementing the latest, updated system for assessing panchayat performance nationwide for the current financial year.
  • PAI is a multi-domain and multi-sectoral index to assess the overall holistic development, performance, and progress of Panchayats. Why: It provides a standardized tool to measure the effectiveness and status of grassroots local government bodies.
  • It aims to assess progress made by Panchayats in achieving Localized SDGs (LSDGs), contributing to the attainment of SDG 2030. Why: Links local governance efforts directly to national and global sustainable development goals, highlighting its role in achieving broader targets.
  • One purpose is to identify development gaps through scores and enable evidence-based planning at the grassroots level. Why: Provides actionable data for Panchayats to understand their performance and plan targeted development initiatives effectively.
  • PAI Version 2.0 represents a major leap forward with a refined framework and sharper indicators compared to Version 1.0. Why: Indicates an improvement in the assessment methodology, aiming for better usability and reliability in evaluating panchayat development and performance.

Jinchuanloong

  • A new genus and species of eusauropod dinosaur, Jinchuanloong niedu, has been identified.
  • The discovery is based on a fossilized partial skeleton with a nearly complete skull, found in Gansu province, China.
  • It is an early-diverging member of Eusauropoda, a group of long-necked, herbivorous, quadrupedal dinosaurs.
  • Jinchuanloong niedu lived during the Middle Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago.
  • The find is significant as it represents an early member of the eusauropod lineage, which became dominant in the Middle and Late Jurassic after a global warming event.
  • Fossil sauropod skulls are relatively rare finds, making this discovery particularly valuable for understanding their evolution.

Bharat Forecast System

  • Bharat Forecast System (BFS) is India’s first indigenously developed, high-resolution weather model with a spatial resolution of 6 km x 6 km. Why: Represents a significant step towards self-reliance in core weather forecasting technology.
  • Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and will be operationalised by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Why: Brings advanced research directly into practical use for national weather services.
  • Significantly improves upon IMD’s existing models (like the adapted US-based CFS), which operate at a 12 km x 12 km resolution. Why: Reduces the area treated as uniform for forecasting from 144 sq km to 36 sq km, enabling much finer detail.
  • The improved resolution allows for more accurate detection and forecasting of localised extreme weather events such as cloudbursts and flash floods. Why: Current models struggle to capture events occurring within the larger 144 sq km analysis unit, limiting skill especially crucial given rising weather extremes.
  • Expected to enhance forecasting precision for cyclones, heavy rainfall, and monsoon variability, particularly at the district and sub-district levels. Why: Provides more relevant and actionable forecasts for specific smaller areas.
  • Has been tested in experimental mode since 2022 and is now being scaled for nationwide operational use with high-performance computing support. Why: Indicates proven performance and readiness for real-world implementation.
  • It stands out as India’s first indigenously built deterministic model framework itself, unlike current systems which are adapted or global models. Why: Marks the development of fundamental weather modelling capability within India.

Kumbakonam Vetrilai

  • Kumbakonam Vetrilai (betel leaf) was recently granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India. This is significant because it helps protect its heritage, prevent
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    misuse, ensure quality, boost potential exports, and marks Thanjavur’s first agricultural GI tag.
  • Its uniqueness stems from being grown in the fertile Cauvery river basin soil, rich in organic content. This provides its distinct taste and aroma, making it known across states and exported.
  • The leaf is dark to light green, oblong heart-shaped, and has a pungent taste.
  • It is predominantly cultivated in Kumbakonam and adjacent villages in Thanjavur district, defining the geographical area covered by the GI tag.
  • The betel leaf is a staple in South Asian households, central to preparing paan, and integral to rituals and meals in the region, highlighting its cultural importance.
  • It offers health benefits, including aiding digestion and being rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like chavicol.
  • Cultivation is labour and capital intensive, facing challenges from weather and labour shortages, which leads to farmer losses and price fluctuations, often limiting cultivation to under one acre.
  • Despite the GI tag being awarded, many cultivators were unaware of the recognition. This highlights a critical gap in leveraging the tag and the need for awareness efforts among farmers.
  • Different harvest stages like ‘maaruvethalai’ (first year) yield larger leaves with better shelf life, fetching higher prices compared to later yields.

India App Schemes

  • The 38th meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council recommended a 36% increase in stipend under NAPS and NATS, revising the range from ₹5,000–₹9,000 to ₹6,800–₹12,300. This aims to make apprenticeships more rewarding, reduce dropout rates, and attract more youth.
  • Stipends are proposed to be adjusted biennially based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to align with salary increments and cost of living changes.
  • NAPS (launched 2016) and NATS are key government schemes promoting apprenticeship training to develop skilled manpower and bridge the gap between education and employment.
  • The schemes provide financial support (partial stipend reimbursement) and incentives to establishments, encouraging them to engage apprentices and provide on-the-job training.
  • Recent recommendations focus on integrating apprenticeships with education (e.g., Degree Apprenticeship), offering flexible training modes (online/blended), expanding industry scope (NIC Code 2008), improving inclusivity for persons with disabilities, and considering location-based stipends. These reforms aim to make the system more responsive, inclusive, and aligned with industry needs.
  • Both schemes have shown significant reach, with over 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged under NAPS and over 5.23 lakh under NATS in FY 2024-25 alone, demonstrating their impact on skilling and employability across India.

Rat Temple

  • The Prime Minister recently visited, making it a point of current news interest.
  • Located in Deshnok, Rajasthan, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th-century warrior sage revered by locals.
  • Known as the ‘Temple of Rats’, it is famous for approximately 25,000 revered rats (‘kabbas’), believed to be incarnations of Karni Mata’s family members, attracting many pilgrims.
  • Legend says the rats are family members reborn after Karni Mata interceded with Yama or decreed their reincarnation cycle, making spotting a white rat particularly auspicious.
  • Karni Mata is significant to Charans and Rathore Rajputs, considered a kuldevi (tutelary deity) and royal protector, linking folk sainthood to political legitimisation of Rajput kingdoms.
  • She blessed the founders of Jodhpur and Bikaner and is said to have laid foundation stones for their forts, highlighting her historical influence on the region’s rulers.
  • The current temple structure, built in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh, features Rajputana style with Mughal influences.
  • The temple holds immense significance for the armed forces, particularly the 19 Rajput Battalion, who maintain traditions of visiting and seeking blessings, seeing Karni Mata as a symbol of courage and protection, reflecting a pre-Independence association.
  • Its relevance has grown post-Partition due to difficulties accessing the Hinglaj Mata temple in Pakistan.
  • The Karni Sena outfit derives its name from Karni Mata, indicating her continued cultural and political resonance.

Miracle Tree

  • PKM1, a variety of Moringa oleifera developed in India, has created significant global impact, especially in African countries like Senegal, Rwanda, and Madagascar. Why: Its nutrient-rich leaves and flowers help combat childhood malnutrition.
  • Moringa, often called the “tree of life,” is a vital herbal plant native to India, now grown worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions. Why: All parts are highly nutritious and suitable for nutritional or commercial use; leaves are particularly rich in minerals and vitamins used to treat malnutrition.
  • The PKM1 variety represents a major advancement for farmers in India. Why: It’s a high-yielding (20 tonnes/acre/year), annual crop propagated by seeds that starts bearing fruit quickly (6-8 months), is easier to harvest due to shorter height (6 ft), and is more resistant to storms than taller native varieties.
  • Despite PKM1’s success and international demand, farmers in Tamil Nadu are not fully capitalizing on the market. Why: Lack of post-harvest infrastructure like cold storage and solar dryers for leaves, absence of value addition processes (leaves often treated as a byproduct), and limited collective mechanisms (FPOs) for processing and export hinder their profitability.
  • Moringa requires a specific environment to thrive. Why: It grows best in tropical/subtropical areas with temperatures around 25-35°C, indirect sunlight, and well-drained, slightly acidic to alkaline soil.