Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 30-07-2025

Unique Carbonate Chemistry: Ladakh’s hot springs, especially in Puga Valley, rapidly form calcium carbonate (travertine). This process preserves crucial organic molecules like amino acids and fatty acids, key to understanding the origin of life.

Real-World Prebiotic Reactor: The extreme conditions (high UV, temperature fluctuations) in Ladakh’s hot springs mimic early Earth and Mars, making them an ideal natural laboratory to study how life might have begun.

Extremophile Insights: Microbes found in these springs produce protective substances, offering clues to life’s adaptability and survival in harsh environments, relevant for astrobiology.

Astrobiological Significance for Mars: Similarities to Martian hydrothermal systems make Ladakh’s springs valuable for space science. They help guide missions by ISRO and NASA in searching for biosignatures on Mars by identifying how and where to look.

New Directions in Research: The findings support new research avenues in astrobiology, synthetic biology, and Mars exploration, enhancing India’s contribution to the search for extraterrestrial life.

Empirical Evidence for Carbonate Role: The study provides empirical evidence that natural travertine from Puga Hot Spring can trap and preserve prebiotic organic molecules, highlighting calcium carbonate as a potential natural template for origin-of-life chemistry.

Preservation Mechanism: The research reveals how organic molecules are preserved and potentially triggered by travertine formation in environments with high UV, relevant to early Earth conditions.

Two Consecutive Successful Flight-Tests: DRDO conducted back-to-back tests of the Pralay missile from Odisha’s coast on July 28 & 29, 2025. Why it’s news: Demonstrates reliability and successful validation of the missile system.

User Evaluation Trials: Tests were part of validating the missile’s maximum and minimum range capabilities. Why it’s news: Indicates the missile is progressing towards operational deployment by the Indian Armed Forces.

Pin-Point Accuracy: The missiles precisely followed trajectories and met all test objectives with high accuracy. Why it’s news: Highlights the effectiveness of its advanced guidance and navigation systems.

Indigenously Developed: Pralay is a solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile developed by DRDO labs with industry collaboration. Why it’s news: Showcases India’s growing indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities.

Key Features: Short-range (150-500 km), 500-1000 kg payload, can carry multiple warheads, and harder to intercept due to lower altitude flight and in-flight maneuvers. Why it’s news: Details the missile’s offensive capabilities and strategic advantages.

Armed Forces Boost: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated the missile will provide a technological boost to the armed forces. Why it’s news: Emphasizes the strategic importance of Pralay for national security.

Induction Soon: DRDO Chairman indicated successful Phase 1 tests pave the way for near-future induction. Why it’s news: Signals the missile’s operational readiness and impending deployment.

• Why it’s news: The SPUN Atlas reveals over 90% of critical mycorrhizal fungi areas are outside protected zones, highlighting a significant oversight in conservation efforts.

• Why it’s news: They aid plants in absorbing essential nutrients like phosphorus and sequester approximately 13 billion tonnes of CO2 annually (one-third of global fossil fuel emissions), vital for mitigating climate change.

• Why it’s news: Despite forming symbiotic relationships with over 80% of plant species and constituting up to 30% of soil microbial biomass, the fungal component of soil remains poorly understood.

• Why it’s news: The FAO’s Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOBSOB) launch at COP15 signifies a growing recognition of the importance of soil organisms and the need to integrate their protection into environmental policies.

• Carbon Sequestration: Store significantly more carbon (up to 394 tonnes/hectare) than terrestrial forests, locking it in soil for millennia, aiding climate change mitigation.
• Coastal Protection: Act as natural “bio-shields,” reducing wave energy and flood depths against storm surges, tsunamis, and erosion.
• Biodiversity Hotspots: Support diverse terrestrial/aquatic species, including Bengal tigers, and serve as nurseries for marine life.
• Economic & Livelihood Support: Vital for coastal economies, fishing, honey collection, and supporting livelihoods through the blue economy and food security.

• Land Conversion: Primarily for aquaculture, oil palm plantations, and agriculture.
• Pollution: Oil spills, industrial effluents, and plastic waste degrade water quality.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increased cyclones threaten their existence.
• Invasive Species: Disrupt native habitats and regeneration.

Mission Goal: To achieve self-sufficiency in oilseed and edible oil production by 2030-31, with a target to raise oilseed production from 39 to 69.7 million tonnes.

Why it’s News: India is a major oilseed producer but imports over 50% of its edible oil demand, making self-reliance crucial.

Key Objectives:

• Boost production of major oilseeds (mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesame).
• Enhance research for high-yield, climate-resilient varieties.
• Promote modern farming and digital technologies.
• Provide financial incentives and input subsidies.
• Strengthen post-harvest management and processing.
• Increase extraction from secondary sources (rice bran, cottonseed).

Implementation Details:

• Duration: 2024-25 to 2030-31.
• Budget: ₹10,103 crore.
• Over 600 Value Chain Clusters identified for organized support.

Support Measures:

• SATHI portal for seed supply.
• Increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) and schemes like PM-AASHA.
• Higher import duties to protect domestic producers.
• Crop insurance coverage under PMFBY.

Research & Development: ICAR developing high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties through multiple research projects and has notified 432 high-yielding varieties/hybrids over the last 11 years.

Farmer Support: Farmers in identified clusters receive free high-quality seeds, training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and advisory services.

Awareness Campaign: An Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign promotes healthier dietary guidelines for edible oils.

Why in News: China has started building a massive 60,000 MW hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River (Brahmaputra in India) in Tibet, near Arunachal Pradesh. Announced in 2021, it involves 5 cascade dams and will be three times more powerful than the Three Gorges Dam.

Key Concerns for India:

• Ecological & Seismic Risks: Located in a seismically active zone, the dam risks earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods. It could displace over 1.3 million people and may be weaponised by China for geopolitical pressure.
• Hydrological & Environmental Impact: Sudden water releases/diversions can devastate ecosystems and tribal livelihoods dependent on the Brahmaputra.
• Loss of Traditional Knowledge: Artificial flow regulation undermines indigenous flood management systems.
• Legal & Diplomatic Gaps: China’s unilateral actions ignore India’s riparian rights as it’s not a signatory to water-sharing treaties.
• Regional Water & Food Security: The dam threatens irrigation, hydropower, and flood regulation in India’s Northeast.

India’s Response:

• Siang Upper Multipurpose Project: India plans an 11.2 GW project in Arunachal Pradesh to regulate upstream flows and ensure water security.
• River Linking Projects: Plans include Manas–Sankosh–Teesta–Ganga Link and Jogighopa–Teesta–Farakka Link.
• Diplomatic Dialogue: India has raised concerns with China and seeks dialogue on water-sharing and data exchange.

Measures India Can Take:

• Accelerate Strategic Water Infrastructure: Fast-track projects like Upper Siang and expand basin storage capacity.
• Enhance Scientific & Institutional Preparedness: Conduct risk assessments and improve data modelling for timely responses.
• Implement Interlinking & Channel Diversion Plans: Operationalise interlinking projects to redirect water and create buffer systems.
• Strengthen Diplomacy & Regional Cooperation: Push for data sharing with China and collaborate with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar on water governance and disaster preparedness.

India Ranked Among More Equal Societies: The Gini Index, a measure of income/wealth inequality, positions India as relatively equal globally. This is because the index focuses solely on income distribution.

Index Limitations Highlighted: The Gini Index fails to capture crucial ground-level inequalities like urban-rural, gender, wealth, and digital disparities. Its methodology also overlooks informal sector employment, access differences, and societal norms that drive inequality.

Forms of Inequality in India:

• Wealth Inequality: A small elite holds most of the nation’s wealth, with the top 10% owning a large income share. Informal jobs and untaxed income make accurate wealth measurement difficult.
• Gender Inequality: Women’s participation in the workforce (35.9%), leadership roles (12.7%), and startup founding (7.5%) is significantly lower, influenced by patriarchal norms affecting resource allocation and inheritance.
• Digital Inequality: Access to the internet and functional computers is limited, especially in schools (53.9% and 52.7% respectively). Rural women (25%) have far less internet access than rural men (49%), impacting education during events like pollution-related school closures.

Gini Coefficient Explained: It’s a statistical measure of income/wealth inequality from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality), based on the Lorenz Curve. It’s used globally to assess income distribution but doesn’t account for non-income inequalities.

Global Hunger Decline but Recovery Incomplete: Hunger affected 673 million (8.2%) globally in 2024, a slight decrease from 2023. However, it remains above pre-Covid-19 levels, indicating slow recovery. By 2030, around 512 million may still face chronic undernourishment, mostly in Africa, necessitating major shifts in policy and food systems.

Widespread Food Insecurity: 2.3 billion people worldwide are moderately or severely food insecure. While the number unable to afford a healthy diet fell slightly, the cost of healthy diets increased due to global food price inflation exacerbated by the pandemic and Ukraine war.

Regional Hunger Disparities: Asia has the most undernourished people (323 million), followed by Africa (307 million). While some regions improved, food insecurity persists or is rising in others, particularly in Africa where over one in five face chronic hunger.

India’s Nutritional Paradox:

• Undernourishment Persists: 12% of India’s population (172 million) is undernourished, a reduction but still a significant number.
• Unaffordable Healthy Diets: 42.9% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet due to rising food costs.
• Double Burden of Malnutrition: India faces both undernutrition (high child wasting and stunting) and rising overnutrition (increased childhood overweight and adult obesity).
• High Child Wasting: India has the world’s highest child wasting rate (18.7%).
• Anaemia in Women: Over 53.7% of women aged 15-49 are anaemic, ranking India 4th globally.

Causes of India’s Paradox: Poverty, inequality, inadequate dietary diversity, high food prices, health service gaps, and the nutrition transition towards processed foods contribute to the complex nutritional challenges.

Strategies for India: Recommendations include investing in local food systems, targeted fiscal measures, promoting dietary diversity (e.g., millets, local crops), combating anaemia in women, enhancing nutrition programs like PM Poshan, ensuring food access via schemes like “One Nation, One Ration Card,” and addressing obesity through monitoring and promoting healthy lifestyles.

The Crisis: Over 271 girls rescued in Bihar, trafficked into orchestras (153) and the flesh trade (118), highlighting systemic child trafficking driven by poverty, lack of regulation, and socio-cultural exploitation.

• Why it matters: A 14-year-old girl trafficked from Chhattisgarh to Bihar for dance training was found subjected to control, violence, and rape, underscoring the brutal reality faced by victims.

What is Child Trafficking: Recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of children for exploitation (forced labour, sexual abuse, slavery), as per the UN Palermo Protocol.

• Common Forms: Sexual exploitation, forced labour, begging/petty crimes, child soldiers, child marriage, illegal adoption.

Vulnerability Factors: Family dysfunction, poverty, lack of parental care, inequality, inadequate child protection, abandonment, conflict, economic challenges, environmental disasters, and unsupervised internet use.

Bihar as a Trafficking Hub:

• Absence of Regulation: No strict oversight for orchestra groups or dance troupes, enabling trafficking networks.
• Geography: Porous border with Nepal and connectivity to other trafficking-prone states facilitate flows.
• Cultural Exploitation: Traffickers exploit aspirations for dance/stage careers, promising income and fame, especially in states like West Bengal.
• ‘Orchestra Belt’: Districts like Saran see girls as young as 12 sold to orchestras for as little as ₹10,000, forced into exploitative performances.

Systemic Failures:

• Underreporting: Many cases don’t reach police due to family complicity or fear.
• Low Conviction Rates: Despite comprehensive laws (ITPA, JJ Act, POCSO, Bonded Labour Act, Child Labour Act, BNS), enforcement is weak.
• Underfunded AHTUs: Anti-Human Trafficking Units lack resources; multi-state investigations falter due to jurisdiction issues.
• Re-victimization: Rescued girls are often returned to the same families that sold them.

Proposed Solutions (PICKET Strategy):

• Policy: Zero-tolerance policies against exploitation.
• Institutions: Dedicated units for monitoring, prosecution, and rehabilitation.
• Convergence: Inter-agency cooperation and shared digital data.
• Knowledge: Grassroots awareness and survivor-informed intelligence.
• Economy: Make trafficking financially unviable through seizures and penalties.
• Technology: Use AI, heatmaps, and tracking software for detection.

Key Measures:

• School/Community Vigilance: Monitor attendance, mandatory reporting of absences, village migration registers, parental sensitization.
• Transport Vigilance: RPF and transport staff to monitor corridors and identify suspicious activity.
• Strengthening AHTUs: Full-time, trained officers with accountability.
• Regulating Orchestras: Immediate prohibition of minors, mapping, regulation, prosecution of owners, and asset attachment.
• Labor Department Role: Mandated inspection, reporting, and action.
• Justice Mechanisms: Time-bound prosecution, long-term state-supervised rehabilitation, immediate victim compensation.
• Prosecution as Prevention: Emphasizing legal action as a critical deterrent.

Why in News: Himachal Pradesh’s recent extreme weather events (flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts) highlight India’s rising disaster risks, exacerbated by climate change. India lost over $56 billion from weather-related disasters between 2019-2023, emphasizing the need for swift risk management tools like parametric insurance.

Rising Disaster Risks in India:

• Nearly 50% of India’s 764 major natural disasters since 1900 occurred after 2000, showing increased climate volatility.
• Drought-prone areas have risen by 57% and heavy rainfall instances by 85% since 1997 and 2012 respectively.
• Up to 4.5% of India’s GDP is at risk by 2030 due to extreme heat.
• India accounts for the highest climate-related losses in South Asia (25% of Asia-Pacific losses).

What is Parametric Insurance:

• Pays out automatically when predefined parameters (e.g., rainfall, temperature) exceed set thresholds.
• Offers faster, hassle-free compensation based on verified data, unlike traditional insurance requiring loss assessment.

How it Works:

• Payouts are triggered instantly when an agreed-upon index breaches a threshold (e.g., rainfall below a level, temperature above a mark).
• Uses independently verified data from sources like IMD or NASA.

Applications:

• Pilots in Rajasthan and UP protected smallholder farmers from drought via automatic loan support.
• Nagaland adopted multi-year parametric cover for landslides and extreme rainfall.
• Used globally for droughts, floods, cyclones, and seismic activity.

Integration in Disaster Risk Reduction:

• Integrate parametric models into state disaster plans.
• Expand coverage to agriculture, renewable energy, transport, and MSMEs.
• Develop climate-linked microfinance products.
• Promote public-private partnerships.

Conclusion: Parametric insurance offers speed, trust, and financial resilience, transforming disaster response to proactive protection and ensuring financial resilience in a warming world. It’s essential climate infrastructure akin to UPI for payments.

• Negative: Short-term contracts lead to high turnover, discouraging skill development and innovation, causing a 31% lower labour productivity in Contract Labour-Intensive (CLI) enterprises compared to Regular Labour-Intensive (RLI). This gap is worse in small (36%) and medium (23%) enterprises, and labour-intensive sectors (42%). Principal-agent problems and moral hazard (shirking) also contribute.
• Positive (Limited): Capital-intensive and high-skill CLI enterprises show productivity gains (17% for capital-intensive, 20% for large high-skill CLI), but these constitute only 20% of formal manufacturing.

• Implement Labour Code on Industrial Relations, 2020: Allows direct fixed-term contracts, mandates basic benefits, but unions fear further informalisation.
• Incentivise Longer Fixed-Term Contracts: Offer social security concessions and subsidised skilling to promote stability and skill accumulation.
• Revive/Extend PMRPY: Incentivise formal job creation by covering employer EPF/EPS contributions to reduce reliance on contract labour.