20 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. What are the different risks and rewards of using UAVs?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Why Are UAVs Seen as Less of a Threat?

• UAVs are generally considered less dangerous than fighter jets because most of them are used for surveillance rather than combat.
• Even armed UAVs have limited capabilities compared to fighter jets.
• Since UAVs do not carry pilots, they are seen as less of a direct instrument of state power.
• The risk of human casualties is eliminated, making UAV missions more acceptable.
• Losing a UAV is financially less burdensome than losing a manned aircraft.

Examples of UAV Incidents and Reactions

• In 2019, a surveillance UAV was shot down over a strategic waterway, but there was no major military response.
• In 2023, another UAV was downed by a military force, but again, no significant retaliation followed.
• These incidents show that UAVs, even when targeted, do not escalate tensions in the same way as fighter jets.

Encouraging Risk-Taking Behavior

• Since UAV incursions do not lead to major military responses, countries are more willing to use them near foreign territories.
• UAV missions are less risky and cost-effective, making them an attractive option for surveillance and border monitoring.

Challenges for India

• UAVs are frequently used to smuggle arms and drugs across India’s western border, without official accountability.
• Using costly missiles to destroy UAVs is not a sustainable approach.
• UAVs are also being deployed near India’s eastern borders for surveillance, raising security concerns.
• India needs a cost-effective strategy to counter UAV incursions without escalating tensions.

Future Considerations

• As UAVs become an integral part of military operations, India’s defense strategy must evolve accordingly.

2. El Niño or La Niña? Murky pattern of temperature keeps confusion alive

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

Unexpected Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Patterns

• SST patterns in the tropical Pacific Ocean since early 2024 have evolved in an unusual way.
• Historically, El Niño has been linked to monsoon deficits, while La Niña is associated with above-average rainfall.
• SST patterns in the tropical Pacific Ocean since early 2024 have evolved in an unusual way.
• Initial forecasts predicted a strong La Niña for late 2024, but SST anomalies shifted unexpectedly.
• Instead of cooling in the far eastern Pacific, warm SST anomalies appeared there, while cold SST anomalies moved westward.

The Role of Climate Variability in ENSO Transition

• The ENSO Transition Mode (ETM), a natural climate variability factor, likely influenced this shift.
• ETM may have prevented La Niña from emerging in 2024, despite earlier predictions.

Uncertain Climate Predictions for 2025

• Climate forecasts for summer and fall of 2025 remain mixed.
• Some models suggest a La Niña will form, others predict a neutral year, and one even forecasts a strong El Niño.
• The 2023 monsoon remained normal despite a strong El Niño, partly due to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

Challenges in Forecasting and Climate Change Impact

• The relationship between ENSO and the Indian monsoon has changed over recent decades.
• Climate models struggle to predict future patterns due to record-high global temperatures.
• Mid-latitude climate changes, jet stream shifts, and pre-monsoon cyclones are further impacting the monsoon’s timing and intensity.

Implications for India

• Farmers remain uncertain about their crop yields, making monsoon forecasts crucial.
• The State and Union governments depend on accurate predictions to plan for possible droughts or floods.
• Climate scientists and the India Meteorological Department continue efforts to improve forecast reliability.
• Early heat waves in 2025 add further concerns about extreme weather patterns.

3. Rajasthan Tables Bill to Regulate Coaching Centres and Curb Student Suicides

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Express Network, Page – 13)

Analysis of the news:

Objective and Purpose

• The Bill aims to address the increasing commercialization of coaching institutes and create a supportive environment for students preparing for competitive exams like NEET, IIT-JEE, and CLAT.
• By setting operational guidelines and penalties, the government seeks to reduce student stress and improve overall well-being.

Need for Regulation

• Over the past two decades, Rajasthan has seen an unchecked rise in coaching centres.
• Many of these institutes operate without regulation, making misleading promises of guaranteed success.
• This creates a high-pressure environment, leading to disillusionment and mental distress among students. In extreme cases, this stress has resulted in student suicides.
• The Bill aims to protect students’ interests, provide psychological support, and establish a structured framework for coaching centres.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Mandatory Registration: All coaching centres must register within three months of the Bill’s enactment.
2. Qualification of Tutors: Tutors must have at least a graduate degree and a clean legal record.
3. Operational Standards:
   1. Minimum one square meter per student.
   1. Fire safety, first aid, and medical facilities required.
   1. Website with details on tutors, courses, fees, and success rates.
4. Student Well-Being:
   1. Weekly off and reasonable class hours (max 5 hours/day).
   1. Timely completion of courses and remedial classes.
   1. Mechanism for mental health support and stress management.
5. Fee Regulation:
   1. Pro-rata refund of fees if a student leaves midway.
   1. No fee increase during an ongoing course.

Penalties and Enforcement

• First Violation: ₹2 lakh fine.
• Second Violation: ₹5 lakh fine.
• Subsequent Violations: Cancellation of registration.

The Bill establishes a State and District-level Authority with civil court powers to monitor and enforce compliance. The state’s higher education secretary and district collectors will lead the authorities, supported by police, psychiatrists, coaching centre representatives, and parents.

Challenges and Omissions

• The Bill dropped the 16-year age limit for enrollment, which was initially included in line with the Ministry of Education’s guidelines.
• Ensuring uniform implementation and monitoring across districts could be a challenge.
• Coaching centres may resist transparency measures and fee regulations.

Conclusion

• The Bill is a comprehensive attempt to regulate the coaching industry, protect students’ mental health, and promote a balanced learning environment.
• Its success will depend on strict enforcement and cooperation from coaching centres.

4. Redefining energy storage with photo-assisted, self-charging energy storage devices

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2112812 )

New Discovery: Air-Chargeable Photo-Assisted Battery:

• Photo-Assisted Feature: This battery can also store more energy when exposed to light, combining solar energy capture with energy storage.
• No External Power Needed: Unlike regular batteries that need an external power source, this battery can recharge on its own.
• Use of Special Materials: It uses vanadium oxide (VO₂) and tungsten trioxide (WO₃), which improve energy storage and charge separation.

Sustainable Energy Solution: This innovation supports clean energy and can power self-reliant electronic devices.

Higher Energy Storage: The battery increases charge storage capacity by 170% at a low current.

Open Circuit Potential: It provides an output voltage of 1V without an external source.

Prelims Facts

1. NASA’s astronauts stranded in space for 9 months returned to earth by SpaceX ship

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 1)

Reasons for Being Stranded in Space:

• Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, for an eight-day test mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• After docking at the ISS, their Starliner capsule experienced propulsion system problems, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks.
• Due to these technical issues, NASA deemed the Starliner unsafe for their return trip.
• Consequently, Wilmore and Williams had to remain aboard the ISS, extending their mission unexpectedly.

How They Returned to Earth:

• NASA decided to bring Wilmore and Williams back using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
• They were integrated into the Crew-9 mission, which included NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
• The Crew-9 mission launched to the ISS, where Wilmore and Williams joined the crew.
• After completing their extended mission, all four astronauts boarded the Crew Dragon capsule for their return journey.
• The spacecraft successfully undocked from the ISS and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.
• They safely landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast on March 18, 2025, concluding their 286-day mission.

2. Sonic Weapons

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 19)

Analysis of the news:

What are Sonic Weapons?

• Sonic weapons, or acoustic weapons, emit highly amplified sound waves over long distances.
• They can deliver both painful audible and inaudible sounds, or act as loudspeakers.
• First used for crowd control in the 1990s, the US military deployed them in Iraq in 2004.

How Sonic Weapons Work

• Sonic weapons use transducers to convert energy into sound waves, creating a concentrated and directional sound beam.
• Police officers can control the sound’s frequency, volume, and duration, targeting specific areas or individuals.

Types of Sonic Weapons

1. Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD): Manufactured by Genasys Inc., it can project sound up to 160 dB over 8,900 metres. Sounds above 120 dB can cause hearing damage, and over 140 dB can cause pain.
2. Mosquito: Emits high-pitched sounds audible mainly to younger people (under 30) due to age-related hearing decline.
3. Infrasonic Weapon: Emits low-frequency sounds that can cause pain and disorientation. Its weaponisation remains limited.

Health Effects of Sonic Weapons

• Exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing ears), headaches, nausea, vertigo, and even bleeding from the ears.
• Earplugs can reduce noise by 20–30 dB, but may not prevent injury at high decibel levels.
• Sonic weapons pose a risk to both protesters and bystanders due to their indiscriminate nature.

3. Autopen

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 19)

Analysis of the news:

 What is an Autopen?

• An autopen is a machine that replicates signatures using real ink, allowing public figures to sign large volumes of documents.
• The concept dates back to the 19th-century polygraph, a device used by Thomas Jefferson to duplicate letters.
• Modern autopens use robotic arms to reproduce signatures accurately without direct human involvement.
• US Presidents, starting with Harry Truman, have used autopens for official and ceremonial documents. Barack Obama notably used it to sign key bills when he was not physically present.

Precedents and Legal Validity

• The use of autopens for official documents has historical precedence and is not legally contested.
• Barack Obama’s use of the autopen to sign the Patriot Act extension in 2011 and the Fiscal Cliff Bill in 2013 set modern examples of its legitimacy.
• No legal challenges have successfully overturned autopen-signed documents in the past.

Legal and Constitutional Implications

• US law does not explicitly prohibit the use of an autopen for presidential actions.
• Past court rulings and historical practices suggest that autopen-signed documents are legally binding.
• Trump’s ability to revoke previously granted pardons would likely face constitutional challenges.

check more – 19 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs