Current Affairs Exam

Event: Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft experienced GPS spoofing while delivering aid to Myanmar under “Operation Brahma” after an earthquake in late March 2025.

GPS Spoofing Defined: A cyberattack that uses false GPS signals to mislead an aircraft’s navigation systems. It can overpower weak satellite signals, causing receivers to display incorrect location data.

Risk Factors: GPS spoofing can lead to hijacking, misdirection of aircraft, disruption of military operations, and potential friendly fire incidents.

IAF Response: The IAF acknowledged the potential for degraded GPS availability, as indicated by a “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) issued by Mandalay International Airport. They asserted that their crews are trained to handle such situations and that all missions were completed safely and as planned.

Extent: Reportedly, a majority of the six military transport aircraft deployed experienced GPS spoofing. Five landed in Yangon and Nay-Pyi-Daw on March 29-30, and one went to Mandalay on April 1.

Mitigation Measures: Potential countermeasures include using multi-constellation systems, advanced signal processing, and anti-spoofing devices.

Significant Drop in US Visa Issuance: US F-1 student visas issued to Indian nationals sharply dropped by 30% in February 2025 compared to February 2024. This is disproportionately larger than the global average and other major countries like China.

Increased Visa Revocations: Indian nationals accounted for 50% of international students whose US visas were revoked in early 2025. The “Catch and Revoke” program is flagged as a factor, raising concerns about fairness.

Longer Visa Wait Times: Indian students face significantly longer visa wait times (58 days in Delhi) compared to East Asian capitals.

Australian Scrutiny: Australia has increased visa scrutiny for applicants from specific Indian states, leading to fears of profiling.

Impact on India’s Soft Power: The visa issues weaken India’s global presence and influence in key fields.

Risk to Demographic Dividend: Curbs hinder educational opportunities for India’s large youth population.

Potential Decline in Remittances: Stricter norms could reduce student migration and remittances to India.

Legal and Financial Hardship: Students facing revocation must undergo complex legal procedures to restore their SEVIS status

Human Capital Drain and Redirection: Shift towards hubs like Nordic countries and South Korea, impacting talent flow.

Domestic Higher Education Pressure: Strain on Indian institutions due to increased demand as international options narrow.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Leverage diplomatic instruments
• Overseas Education Protection Fund (OEPF)
• Enhance domestic higher education
• Digital student registry for tracking and support
• Regulate education consultancies

Increased Visa Denials: In 2024, 41% of student visa applications were denied, compared to the 22.1% of all other types of visa applications that were denied.

Theme for 2025: “Our Power, Our Planet” – Emphasizes renewable energy and calls for tripling clean energy capacity by 2030.

Origin: The first Earth Day in 1970 was inspired by a massive oil spill in California.

Impact: Led to significant environmental legislation in the US, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Global Event: Became a global event in 1990, involving 200 million people across 141 countries.

Significance: Offers an opportunity to celebrate green initiatives and ongoing environmental protection efforts worldwide.

Activities: People globally unite, organize events, and raise awareness about environmental threats.

Mantis Shrimp’s Striking Appendage as Natural Metamaterial: New research shows the mantis shrimp’s hammer-like limb (dactyl club) functions as a natural phononic metamaterial, challenging the notion that such materials are exclusive to lab creation.

Dual Mechanical Advantage: The club both withstands forceful impacts and controls energy propagation, providing protection from recoil.

Hierarchical Structure: The club’s design includes a hydroxyapatite surface for dispersing impact, spring-like tendons for shock absorption, and biopolymer fibers in a periodic pattern for reducing damage from repeated strikes.

Phononic Bandgap Discovery: The study revealed the internal arrangement of the microstructure serves as phononic bandgap which prevents energy waves of certain frequencies from passing through.

How the Mantis Shrimp Strikes:

• Releases energy from spring-like structures.
• Displaces water creating low-pressure zones.
• Bubble implosions create a second blow from heat and shockwaves.

Impact on Material Science: The findings confirm that nature has evolved metamaterials, altering scientists’ understanding of biological material design.

Potential Applications: The research could inspire the development of synthetic sound-filtering materials for protective gear, methods for reducing blast-related injuries, and energy-harvesting applications based on trapping and converting mechanical energy.

Ecological and Scientific Significance: Mantis shrimp are important for controlling prey populations and nutrient cycling in reef ecosystems. Their unique eye structure and club mechanism are also inspiring advancements in optical sensor technology, armor engineering, and aerospace engineering.

Supreme Court Directive: NEERI has been directed by the Supreme Court to assess the impact of nearby glass industries on the Taj Mahal in Agra. This highlights NEERI’s role as a trusted environmental assessor for significant national concerns.

Government Research Institute: NEERI is a research institute established and funded by the Government of India. This underscores its credibility and responsibility in addressing environmental challenges.

Establishment and Focus: Founded in 1958 in Nagpur, NEERI initially focused on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases, industrial pollution, and occupational diseases. This demonstrates its long-standing commitment to public health and environmental protection.

Pioneer in Environmental Science: NEERI is a pioneer laboratory in environmental science and engineering.

Mission: NEERI’s primary mission is to conduct research and development in environmental management, pollution control, and sustainable development. This clarifies the institute’s core purpose.

Ministry Affiliation: NEERI operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Headquarters and Zonal Laboratories: NEERI’s headquarters are in Nagpur, with zonal laboratories in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

Organizational Expertise: NEERI possesses expertise in climate/environment, health, lab or field testing, monitoring and evaluation, policy development, research, standards, technology, and fuel R&D.

ETS Defined: An Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a market-based regulatory tool to reduce air pollution by incentivizing emission reductions through tradable permits. It sets a cap on total emissions.

How it works: Industries receive/purchase emission permits (“allowances”). Cleaner industries can sell excess permits to those exceeding limits. Called “cap-and-trade”.

Surat ETS Significance: World’s first ETS focused on particulate pollution (not CO2) and India’s first emissions market for any pollutant. Targeted 342 industries in Surat, primarily textiles.

Surat ETS Design: A cap on total particulate matter emissions was set and later tightened. Permits were issued, mostly for free initially, with auctions for a portion. Price floor and ceiling maintained stability.

Surat ETS Results: Plants under ETS reduced emissions more than those under conventional regulation, complied with permits. Non-ETS plants often failed to meet norms.

ETS Criticism:

• Over-allocation of permits can keep prices low, hindering investment in cleaner tech.
• Lobbying can delay tightening of caps.
• Using emission intensity instead of absolute caps can be problematic.
• Markets have sometimes disproportionately affected disadvantaged communities.

ETS Aim: To address monitoring and enforcement gaps in command-and-control systems by offering flexibility and incentives for compliance.

Record Turnover: Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) achieved a turnover exceeding Rs 1.7 lakh crore in FY24-25. Why: Signifies economic growth and increasing popularity/demand for KVI products.

Statutory Body: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established in 1956. Why: Highlights its legal foundation and established role in the sector.

Under MSME Ministry: KVIC operates under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Why: Shows its connection to the government’s broader strategy for supporting small industries.

Development Mandate: KVIC plans, promotes, organizes, and implements programs for Khadi and village industries development. Why: Explains its core function and focus on rural development.

Key Objectives: Active rural community building, rural employment, saleable product production, and self-reliance for weaker sections. Why: Outlines KVIC’s social and economic goals.

Functions: Strategic raw material reserves, common service facilities, marketing support, R&D promotion, financial assistance, and quality assurance. Why: Demonstrates the wide range of activities undertaken by KVIC.

Major Schemes: PMEGP, MPDA, ISEC, Workshed Scheme, infrastructure strengthening, KRDP, SFURTI, and Honey Mission. Why: Lists key initiatives driving KVIC’s development efforts.

Why in News: PM Modi’s state visit to Saudi Arabia and participation in the 2nd India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) meeting.

Key Outcomes:

• Creation of two new Ministerial Committees under the SPC: Defence Cooperation and Tourism & Cultural Cooperation.
• Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest USD 100 billion in India across various sectors.
• MoUs signed on space, health, anti-doping, and postal cooperation.

Developed Relations:

• Diplomatic ties since 1947, elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2010, and SPC formed in 2019.
• India is Saudi Arabia’s 2nd largest trade partner, and Saudi Arabia is India’s 5th largest. Bilateral trade at USD 42.98 billion in FY24.
• Saudi Arabia was India’s 3rd largest source of crude oil and LPG in FY24.
• Joint military exercises and cultural exchange, including Haj quota for Indian pilgrims and recognition of Yoga.

Key Challenges:

• Labour welfare concerns for Indian workers in Saudi Arabia.
• Worsening trade deficit due to reliance on Saudi oil imports.
• Regional instability and Saudi-Iran rivalry pose diplomatic challenges for India.
• Saudi Arabia’s closer ties with China and Pakistan.

Areas for Strengthening Relations:

• Green energy collaboration, especially in solar and green hydrogen.
• Technology and innovation partnership in IT, AI, and FinTech.
• Enhance the Strategic Partnership through IMEC.
• Utilizing GCC Platforms for regional stability and peace efforts.