Current Affairs Exam

Bullseye Galaxy

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 by rawan239

Discovery: International team discovered the “Bullseye Galaxy” (LEDA 1313424), a collisional ring galaxy, using Hubble and Keck observatories.
Unusual Structure: The Bullseye Galaxy has nine rings, a rarity as most ringed galaxies have only two or three. Hubble confirmed eight rings, and Keck Observatory confirmed the ninth.
Formation: Rings formed ~50 million years ago from a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy, triggering gas waves and star formation in ring patterns.
Size & Distance: Located ~534 million light-years away in Pisces, spanning 250,000 light-years (2.5x Milky Way’s size). A gas trail connects it to the colliding dwarf galaxy, separated by 130,000 light-years.
Future GLSB Galaxy? The Bullseye Galaxy might evolve into a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) galaxy, relevant for dark matter studies. Its size and hydrogen content indicate candidacy.
GLSB Significance: GLSB galaxies are diffuse, low-density galaxies with large amounts of hydrogen but low star formation, potentially filled with dark matter. They also exhibit a uniform central mass distribution, challenging standard cosmological models.
Evolutionary Link: Scientists have an opportunity to obtain the first direct observational evidence of a collisional ring galaxy turning into a
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GLSB galaxy

Nitrogen: N

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 by rawan239

Nitrogen’s dual nature: Essential for life (DNA, proteins, ATP) but excess causes environmental damage.
India’s N₂O emissions: Second largest emitter globally, posing climate risks due to N₂O’s high global warming potential (300x CO₂).
The Nitrogen Cycle: A natural process converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for plants and animals.
Haber-Bosch process: Revolutionized agriculture via synthetic fertilizers, enabling population growth, but led to excess reactive nitrogen production.
Environmental risks: Excess nitrogen (ammonia, nitrate, nitrous oxide) leads to eutrophication, soil acidification, air pollution, and N₂O emissions.
N₂O as a potent greenhouse gas: Third most significant, with emissions rising, necessitating urgent action to limit
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warming.
UN assessment: Highlights the need to cut N₂O emissions by over 40% through transforming food production and nitrogen management.
India’s agricultural practices: Green Revolution incentivized cereal production, reducing leguminous plants that naturally fix nitrogen.
Reactive nitrogen losses: About 80% of applied nitrogen fertilizer is lost to the environment, costing
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billions annually.
India’s N₂O emission sources: Primarily from agricultural soils (chemical fertilizers, especially urea, dominate).
Health impacts: Nitrogen oxide emissions contribute to air pollution, causing respiratory diseases and premature deaths.
Potential solutions: Improving nitrogen use efficiency (neem-coated urea, nano-urea), promoting organic farming, and halving urea production.
Call to action: India can significantly reduce urea production to decrease nitrous oxide and its ill effects.

JJM Funding Slashed

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 by rawan239

Funding Shortfall: The Jal Shakti Ministry requested Rs 2.79 lakh crore to complete the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), but the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) approved only Rs 1.51 lakh crore.
Burden on States: This shortfall of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore could shift the financial burden to states, especially Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
Mission Extension: The JJM, launched in 2019 to provide tap water to all rural households by December

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2024, is now proposed to be extended till December 2028 to achieve universal coverage as only 75% of target was achieved till dec 2024.
Cost Escalation Concerns: The EFC cited concerns over cost escalation, potential overestimation by states, and the need for fiscal prudence as reasons for the reduced funding.
Revised Outlay: The overall mission outlay has been reduced from Rs 9.10 lakh crore to Rs 8.68 lakh crore (2019-2028).
Increased Input Prices: The Jal Shakti Ministry attributed the increased costs to rising input prices, COVID-19, and the Ukraine war.
Justification Sought: The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) sought justification for the increased cost of providing tap water to the remaining households and questioned the time and cost overruns.
State Liabilities: The Jal Shakti Ministry highlighted that states have incurred additional liabilities and proposed a one-time settlement to address these.

Tegh Bahadur Purab

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 by rawan239

Guru Tegh Bahadur Prakash Purab observed on April 18, 2025: This day marks the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru. Prakash Purab signifies the illumination of spiritual knowledge.
Prime Minister’s Tribute: The Prime Minister paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, recognizing him as a spiritual torchbearer and an epitome of courage, compassionate service, and unwavering fight against injustice.
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Significance: Guru Tegh Bahadur, born in 1621, is revered for his teachings, bravery, and martyrdom. He contributed hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib and founded Chak-Nanki.
“Hind di Chadar”: He is known as “Hind di Chadar” (Protector of Hind) for defending religious freedom and resisting forced conversions. He was executed in 1675 by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Inspiration for Society: The Prime Minister emphasized that Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings should continue to inspire the building of a just society.
Dissemination of Information: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released information in multiple languages making information accessible to wider audience.

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India’s Anemia Challenge: Anemia, primarily due to iron deficiency, affects millions, especially women, children, and adolescents in India. NFHS-5 data shows high prevalence: 67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls are anemic. 3 in 4 Indian women have low dietary iron intake.
Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Launched in 2018, the AMB campaign aims to reduce anemia through a 6x6x6 framework: 6 interventions, 6 target groups, and 6 institutional mechanisms. It integrates with POSHAN Abhiyaan and School Health Program.
Key Interventions:
- Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation: Age-appropriate IFA is provided to vulnerable groups.
- Deworming: Biannual deworming for children and adolescents; antenatal deworming for pregnant women.
- Behavior Change Campaigns: Year-round campaigns promoting key behaviors
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  to combat anemia (Solid Body, Smart Mind).
- Anemia Testing and Treatment: Digital methods for anemia screening, especially for pregnant women and adolescents.
- Food Fortification: Mandatory fortification of foods with Iron and Folic Acid in government programs.
- Addressing Non-Nutritional Causes: Focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis in endemic areas.
Progress & Initiatives: 15.4 crore children/adolescents received Iron and Folic Acid supplements in Q2 FY 2024-25. Digital tools track real-time anemia screening and supply data.
Vulnerable Groups & Impact: Children under 5, adolescent girls, menstruating women, and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Anemia leads to impaired cognitive and motor development, decreased work capacity, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Global Context: Anemia affects hundreds of millions worldwide. The WHO has included anemia reduction in its Global Nutrition Targets and is developing a multisectoral framework for prevention and management.
India’s Commitment: India’s commitment to eliminating anemia is a global example of inclusive public health action that will help the long-term human development.