14.05.25

• Uplift began ~650 million years ago.
• Himalayan-scale peaks reached ~580 million years ago.
• Crustal melting and flow ceased ~500 million years ago.

Asteroid 2024 YR4: Initially flagged as a potential Earth threat, NASA now estimates a 3.8% chance of it colliding with the Moon on December 22, 2032.

Discovery & Size: Discovered in December 2024 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. Estimated to be about 65 meters wide (size of a 10-15 story building).

Near-Earth Asteroid: It’s a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA), meaning its orbit brings it within 1.3 Astronomical Units (AU) of the Earth.

Revised Threat Assessment: Initial high alert due to potential Earth impact was lowered after more data refined the orbit calculations.

Impact Implications: A lunar collision could create a large crater (500-2000 m wide) and pose a risk to lunar missions. The impact would be far more powerful than Hiroshima.

Monitoring Efforts: Observatories constantly monitor NEAs. Automated searches identify moving objects, and models predict their orbits. Uncertainties are reduced with additional data.

Visibility Debate: Whether the impact flash will be visible from Earth is debated.

Future Observations: YR4 will pass Earth again in 2028, allowing for more data collection and refined predictions.

Preventable Disaster: Asteroid impacts are considered a preventable natural disaster with adequate monitoring and potential mitigation strategies.

RBI’s CIMS: Regulated entities must report digital lending app (DLA) details through the CIMS portal.

CIMS Purpose: Introduced by RBI for managing large data flows, analysis, dissemination, and governance. It acts as a central data warehouse.

CIMS Technology: Employs advanced technology for Big Data management, enabling data mining, text mining, visual analytics, and statistical analysis across financial, external, fiscal, corporate, real estate, and pricing sectors.

Advantages: Improves regulatory reporting efficiency for RBI and reduces the workload for regulated entities via electronic submission using cloud technology.

Benefits for RBI: Enhanced timeliness and quality of regulatory data, improved financial system monitoring, quicker response to risks, and better communication with regulated entities.

Selenium Error: Indicates a problem with locating a specific element on a webpage using Selenium automation, specifically element with CSS selector “.MainStory_storycontent__Pe3ys”. This suggests a website structure change or issue with the script.

“6% GDP Growth Trap”: India’s GDP growth has largely hovered around 6% between 2000 and 2025, needing structural reforms, tech investment, human capital development, and sustainability to surpass.

Current Growth: IMF projects 6.2% GDP growth in 2025 and 6.3% in 2026, fastest among major economies. Forex reserves are strong, infrastructure is expanding, and manufacturing capacity utilization is high. Unemployment is gradually improving.

Investment & Job Creation: Investment-to-GDP ratio has fallen, slowing growth and job creation. Employment elasticity of investment has declined due to capital-intensive sectors.

Fiscal Constraints: High interest payments on debt and a low tax-to-GDP ratio limit crucial investments. Inefficient public spending reduces policy effectiveness.

Infrastructure & Trade: High logistics costs and trade barriers limit access to global markets.

Social Weaknesses: Uneven wealth distribution, rural-urban disparities, and corruption hinder growth.

External Factors: Global uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and dependence on foreign investment impact growth.

Growth Drivers: Domestic demand, infrastructure spending, digital economy, manufacturing growth, services sector, energy transition, and fiscal/monetary stability drive growth.

Needed Steps:

• Boost private investment in labor-intensive industries.
• Reform fiscal policy to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio.
• Expand exports by strengthening trade agreements.

Conclusion: Targeted investments, trade and tax reforms, and prudent fiscal management are crucial to break the “6% growth trap” for poverty reduction and enable a larger middle class.

Why in News: Growing concerns over social media’s impact on youth identity and mental health, highlighted by a young entrepreneur’s suicide due to follower loss.

Identity Formation: Social media shifts identity formation from private reflection to public performance, driven by algorithm-based self-curation, blurring the lines between authenticity and online approval.

Mental Health Concerns: Pressure for validation and curated self-presentation contribute to anxiety, depression, and distorted self-image. The system rewards performance, not vulnerability. Filter bubbles reinforce extreme views.

Ecosystem’s Role: The entire social media ecosystem, not just influencers, is responsible for promoting unrealistic ideals and punishing vulnerability.

Child Influencers: Concerns are heightened with child influencers, where parents may push content for follower count, leading to adult scrutiny and performance pressure.

Body Image Distortion: Online trends like “thigh gaps” distort body image, causing internalized shame and eating disorders.

Extreme Trends: Trends like the “Blue Whale challenge” demonstrate the dangers of pushing boundaries without addressing underlying issues.

Parental Role: Moving from surveillance to connection is crucial; parents should understand and learn the language children use online, fostering open conversations rather than imposing fears. Recognizing Finsta accounts indicates a disconnect.

Regulation & Policy: Social media platforms should modify recommendation algorithms to prioritize educational content. Ethical design standards should be enforced to prohibit amplification of harmful content. Digital literacy programs should be integrated into school curricula.

Kendu Leaf Trade Deregulation Delayed: Eight Gram Sabhas in Odisha’s Koraput district are waiting for government deregulation of kendu leaf trade, crucial for their economic self-sufficiency under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Impact of Delay: Failure to deregulate last year resulted in an estimated Rs 36 lakh loss due to rain damage, severely impacting local tribal economies.

Economic Importance: Kendu leaves (“green gold”) are a significant Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), providing vital income for tribals, women, and widows.

FRA 2006 and Community Rights: The FRA, 2006 grants forest rights, including MFP rights, to forest-dwelling communities, allowing them to manage and sell non-timber forest produce independently.

Odisha’s Significance: Odisha is a major kendu leaf producer, contributing about 20% of India’s national output, making deregulation particularly critical for the state.

Current Situation: The Gram Sabhas are ready to manage the trade, having collected over 400,000 bundles, but await the crucial government notification to proceed.

News: Digital Banking Units (DBUs) face limited expansion and sustainability concerns despite their 2022 launch aimed at extending digital financial services to remote areas.

What are DBUs: Specialized banking hubs offering digital services through self-service, anytime access; launched in 75 remote districts in 2022.

Challenges:

• Ineffective Planning: Rushed implementation without considering local needs and digital readiness.
• High Operational Costs: RBI mandates separate infrastructure, increasing expenses, especially in low-traffic areas.
• Low Digital Literacy: Hinders DBU usage, particularly among senior citizens, in areas lacking cash counters.
• Connectivity Issues: Unstable internet and power in remote areas disrupt operations.

Enhancement Measures:

• Decentralized Expansion: Base DBU establishment on local demand and digital literacy.
• Strengthened Digital Literacy Programs: Leverage PMGDISHA and collaborate with local entities for training.
• Infrastructure Support: Improve connectivity via BharatNet and ensure backup power.
• Enhanced Customer Support: Provide human assistance for onboarding and multilingual interfaces.
• Focused Financial Products: Facilitate access to schemes like PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY, and digital loans (Mudra).

MY Bharat selects civil defence volunteers: Aims to empower youth in disaster management.

Training: Volunteers receive week-long specialized training from national and state disaster management agencies.

Goals: Build a trained force to handle disasters, accidents, and emergencies. Foster civic responsibility and equip youth with critical skills.

Need: Addresses increasing security concerns and the need for a community-based response system.

Volunteer Roles: Rescue operations, evacuation, first aid, traffic/crowd control, public safety, disaster rehabilitation, and assisting government agencies.

Registration: Individuals can register on the My Bharat portal (mybharat.gov.in).

MY Bharat Overview: Autonomous body under the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Purpose: Technology-driven platform for youth development and engagement across government initiatives.

Target Age Group: Primarily 15-29 years (10-19 years for specific adolescent programs).

Focus: Shifting youth from “passive recipients” to “active drivers” of development.

Phygital Platform: Combines physical activities with digital connectivity.

US Welcomes Afrikaner Refugees: The US Deputy Secretary of State welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees to the United States, following President Trump’s directive to prioritize resettlement for this “vulnerable group facing unjust racial discrimination.”

Accusations of Racial Bias: The US administration’s decision to welcome Afrikaners has sparked accusations of racial bias, with critics alleging selective migrant acceptance.

Afrikaner Identity: Afrikaners are a white ethnic group native to South Africa, with origins dating back to 1652 with the Dutch East India Company’s settlement. They are often called “Africa’s White Tribe” due to their long-standing presence and ethnogenesis on the continent.

Origins and Formation: The Afrikaner community evolved from Dutch, French Huguenot, German settlers, and enslaved people from India, Indonesia, Madagascar, and East Africa. A unique identity developed through interactions among these groups, marked by Afrikaans language, Calvinist values, and a self-reliant culture.

Historical Conflicts: Afrikaners, particularly the Trekboers, engaged in conflicts with indigenous communities as they moved inland. Later, they fought wars with Britain, including the Boer Wars, resulting in significant loss and displacement.

Apartheid and Inequality: The Afrikaner-led National Party implemented apartheid in 1948, which ended in 1994. Despite the end of apartheid, wealth and land ownership remain disproportionately in white hands, with significant economic disparities between white and Black South Africans.

Afrikaner Perspective: Afrikaners view themselves as having a legitimate claim to Africa, seeing it as their home and wanting their right to be there.

Sand Mining Concerns: Illegal sand mining is a major environmental issue in the Chambal River region (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh), threatening its ecosystem.

Clean River Status: The Chambal is recognized as one of India’s cleanest rivers.

Habitat for Endangered Species: It is a crucial habitat for endangered species such as gharials, Gangetic dolphins, and Indian skimmers, highlighting

National Chambal Sanctuary: A significant portion of the river is protected by the National Chambal Sanctuary, emphasizing conservation efforts.

Tributary of Yamuna: The Chambal is a tributary of the Yamuna River, and part of the Gangetic drainage system, underscoring its role in the larger river system.

Origin and Course: It originates in the Vindhya Range, flows through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, forms a boundary between them, and finally joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. This defines its geographical path.

Drainage Basin: The river and its tributaries drain the Malwa region and southeastern Rajasthan, illustrating its regional influence.

Key Tributaries: The Banas, Mej, Parbati, Kali Sindh, and Shipra rivers contribute to the Chambal’s water flow, indicating a complex hydrological network.

Major Dams: Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, and Jawahar Sagar Dam are built on the river, demonstrating its use for water management and power generation.

Hydrocarbon Exploration Project Proposed: The Union government plans hydrocarbon exploration at Wadge Bank under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has invited bids for exploration of oil and natural gas from three areas in South of Cape Comorin, covering 27,154.80 sq km.

Fishermen Opposition: Fishermen in Kanyakumari and surrounding districts (Tamil Nadu and Kerala) strongly oppose the project.

Livelihood Concerns: Fishermen fear the project will negatively impact their livelihoods by disrupting access to vital fishing grounds, potentially forcing small-scale fishers to sail longer distances.

Ecological Sensitivity: Wadge Bank is a marine area in south of Cape Comorin, rich in fishery resources and a biodiverse, ecologically sensitive zone. Concerns raised about potential harm to the environment.

Wadge Bank Importance: Wadge Bank is a submarine plateau, a rich fishing ground with high organic productivity, serving as a key feeding and breeding area for fish. It spans approximately 10,000 sq km

Lack of Consultation: Criticism that the government did not adequately consult the local fishing community before proposing the project.

Potential Environmental Impact: Hydrocarbon exploration may release pollutants into air and water, according to research.

Protests and Advocacy: Fishermen associations are raising awareness, planning protests, and submitting memorandums to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Wadge Bank’s Natural Barrier Role: Wadge Bank serves as a natural barrier protecting the region from disasters. The project could weaken this barrier.

State Government Stance: The Tamil Nadu government has not granted a no-objection certificate and is reportedly reviewing the project. No major intimation or public hearing done.

ISRO Semi-Cryogenic Engine Hot Test Successful: ISRO successfully conducted a short-duration hot test of its semi-cryogenic engine at IPRC, Mahendragiri, marking its 2nd successful hot test.

LOX-Kerosene Engine: The engine utilizes liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer and refined kerosene (RP-1) as fuel.

Higher Performance: This LOX-kerosene combination provides a higher density impulse compared to cryogenic systems (LOX-LH2), improving propulsion efficiency.

Cost-Effective & Easier Handling: Kerosene is cheaper and easier to manage than liquid hydrogen, reducing costs and simplifying operations.

Boosts Payload Capacity: The engine’s development enhances ISRO’s payload capacity.

Supports Future Launch Vehicles (NGLV): This engine is designed to power booster stages of heavy-lift launch vehicles like the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

NGLV Details: The NGLV is a cost-efficient, reusable heavy-lift rocket under development, capable of carrying up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit and designed for communication satellite launches, deep space missions, and human spaceflight.