26 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. ‘Russia, Ukraine have agreed to end military action in Black Sea’

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 14)

Analysis of the news:

• The negotiations took place in Riyadh, where U.S. officials met separately with delegations from both countries over three days.
• Both sides committed to ensuring the safe navigation of commercial vessels and preventing their military use.
• The United States will explore ways to enforce a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure in both countries.
• Russia stated that the agreement would only take effect if sanctions on its agricultural sector were lifted.
• The United States pledged to help restore Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to global markets.
• Ukraine’s president acknowledged the agreement but expressed concern that lifting sanctions could weaken international pressure on Russia.

2. Search for universe’s first water could reset timeline of life’s origins

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

Discovery of Water in the Early Universe

• If confirmed, this could change current theories, indicating that life-supporting planets may have formed billions of years earlier than previously thought.

Formation of the First Stars

• The universe began with the Big Bang around 13.8 billion years ago.
• The first stars appeared a few hundred million years later, composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.
• These stars heated surrounding gas and later exploded as supernovae, setting off a cycle of new star formation.

Role of Population III Stars

• Stars are classified into three groups based on their age and metallicity.
• Population III stars were the first stars, made entirely of hydrogen and helium.
• These massive stars burned their fuel quickly and exploded as supernovae, producing oxygen and other elements.

Water Formation in Early Supernovae

• Simulations show that the first supernovae produced the conditions needed to form water between 50 million and 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
• Oxygen expelled from these explosions combined with hydrogen to create water.

Implications for the Universe

• This suggests that water was more abundant in the early universe than previously believed.
• Planets could have formed before galaxies, possibly creating conditions for life much earlier than expected.
• The study supports previous findings that water molecules remain unchanged from their origins as they reach planets.

3. Rising Temperatures Trigger Irreversible Changes in Mountain Ecosystems: UNESCO Report

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:

Impact of Rising Temperatures on Mountain Ranges

• These changes, including glacier melting, permafrost thaw, reduced snow cover, and erratic snowfall, are significantly impacting water resources, ecosystems, and human populations.

Glacier Melting: Accelerated Mass Loss

• Glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, with the last three years witnessing the largest glacial mass loss on record.
• Since 1975, glaciers have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice, equivalent to an ice block the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 metres.
• In 2024 alone, glaciers lost 450 gigatons of mass, with Scandinavia, Svalbard, and North Asia experiencing the highest losses.
• Apart from warming temperatures, glacier melt is accelerated by black carbon deposits from wildfires and dust storms, which darken ice surfaces, increase solar radiation absorption, and hasten melting.

Permafrost Thaw: A Climate Threat

Permafrost—ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years is thawing rapidly due to warming. This is problematic as:

• Carbon Release: Thawing permafrost releases trapped organic carbon, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating climate change.
  
  
• Landslides & Erosion: Permafrost stabilizes rock slopes and glacial debris. Its melting increases landslides, rockfalls, and ground instability, posing risks to infrastructure and human settlements.
  
  

Decline in Snow Cover & Erratic Snowfall

• Snow cover has been declining in almost all mountain regions, especially during spring and summer.
• Between 1979 and 2022, persistent snow cover decreased globally by 7.79%, as reported in Nature (2024).

Additionally, erratic snowfall patterns are emerging:

• The elevation where rainfall turns into snowfall is shifting upwards, reducing snow depth and duration at lower elevations.
  
  
• More precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow, leading to earlier snowmelt and shrinking snow-covered areas.
  
  

Significance of These Changes

1. Threat to Water Resources
   
   
   1. 2 billion people depend on mountain glaciers for freshwater.
      
      
   1. Melting glaciers cause erratic water flow, disrupting agriculture, drinking water supply, and hydropower generation.
      
      
2. Increased Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
   
   
   1. Melting glaciers create unstable glacial lakes, which can suddenly burst, triggering catastrophic floods.
      
      
   1. Over 12,000 deaths in the past 200 years have been attributed to GLOFs, causing massive displacement and infrastructure damage.
      
      
3. Rising Sea Levels & Coastal Flooding
   
   
   1. 25–30% of global sea level rise is due to glacier melt.
      
      
   1. Between 2006 and 2016, 335 billion tonnes of ice melted annually, raising sea levels by 1 mm per year, threatening millions of coastal inhabitants.
      
      

Conclusion

• Given the widespread and irreversible impact of mountain degradation, experts stress the need for global awareness, policy changes, and resource mobilization.
• As climate change accelerates, protecting mountain ecosystems is crucial for ensuring water security, disaster resilience, and global stability.

4. Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Government Nominees in University Bodies
   
   
   1. The bill mandates government representation in key university councils—governing, executive, and academic.
      
      
   1. The governing council will have three government representatives out of 12 members.
      
      
   1. The executive council and academic council will also include government nominees in decision-making processes.
      
      
2. Multi-Campus Universities and Reservations
   
   
   1. Private universities can establish multiple campuses within Kerala.
      
      
   1. 40% of seats in each course must be reserved for permanent residents of Kerala, with further SC/ST/OBC reservations within this quota.
      
      
3. Students’ Council
   
   
   1. A students’ council headed by the Pro Vice Chancellor will include 10 elected student members, ensuring representation for SC/ST and female students.
      
      
4. Regulatory Oversight
   
   
   1. A government regulatory body will oversee private universities, focusing on teaching, research, and development.
      
      

Comparison with Other States

• Kerala was the only state without private universities, making this a significant policy shift.
  
  
• States like Gujarat (65 private universities), Rajasthan (53), and Madhya Pradesh (53) already have extensive private higher education systems.
  
  
• Some states (Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat) have overarching legislation regulating private universities, while others (Karnataka) enact separate laws for each university.
  
  
• Government control varies: Tamil Nadu mandates 35% seat reservation for state students, while Kerala’s bill stipulates 40%.
  
  

Reasons Behind the Decision

• Recommendation of the Shyam Menon Commission (2022), which emphasized making Kerala a higher education hub.
  
  
• Kerala has more private than government institutions, but many are substandard, leading students to seek education outside the state or abroad.
  
  
• Addressing brain drain and reducing dependency on foreign education were key motivators.
  
  

Shift in Left’s Stance on Private Education

• The CPI(M) historically opposed private institutions, citing concerns over commercialization and weakening public universities.
  
  
• Previously opposed private polytechnics (1980s), self-financing medical and engineering colleges (2000s), and college autonomy (2014).
  
  
• The government argues this move does not privatize education indiscriminately but aims to balance private investment while strengthening public universities.
  
  

Challenges and Criticism

• The Opposition (UDF) supports private universities but criticizes the bill for not addressing brain drain and vacant seats in existing colleges.
  
  
• Concerns over government interference in university administration through nominee representation.
  
  
• Potential risks of commercialization and decline in affordable education if regulations are not strictly enforced.
  
  

Conclusion

• The passage of the Kerala State Private Universities Bill, 2025, marks a major policy shift in the state’s approach to higher education.
• While it aims to attract investment, improve education quality, and curb brain drain, its implementation and regulatory framework will determine its long-term success.

5. NSO, India and IIMA Join hands to Strengthen Data-Driven Policy and Innovation

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114664 )

Participants and Key Discussions

• The event brought together senior officials, faculty members, students, and representatives from academic and research institutions.
• Discussions focused on how public data and new technologies can be used to address policy challenges.
• The importance of academic collaboration to improve data utilization was emphasized.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Policy

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform policy decisions.
• While AI can enhance decision-making, there is a need to ensure fairness and prevent biases that may arise from historical data patterns.
• Proper safeguards should be in place to maximize the benefits of AI for public welfare.

Enhancing India’s Data Ecosystem

• MoSPI manages a large volume of administrative data and conducts key surveys to provide macroeconomic indicators.
• Integrating this data with alternative datasets can help meet the growing demand for accurate and timely information.
• Modern technologies should be used to update legacy data and make it AI-ready.
• Academic institutions can play a key role in advancing data-driven policy initiatives.
• A major outcome of the workshop was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MoSPI and the academic institution.

Conclusion

• Engaging with academic institutions will help strengthen the statistical ecosystem and promote data-driven governance.
• This collaboration is a step toward building a more innovative, efficient, and inclusive statistical system.

6. IMPACT OF AVALANCHES

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114752 )

Agencies Involved in Avalanche Forecasting

• The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is responsible for national-level avalanche forecasting, primarily for defense users.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) provides six-hourly weather updates to enhance situational awareness.

Technologies for Avalanche Forecasting and Monitoring

• Weather Monitoring Systems:
  • 72 Snow Meteorological Observatories are operational.
  • Data is collected at three-hour intervals from snow observatories and one-hour intervals from AWS.
• Advanced Forecasting Tools:
  • AI and Machine Learning-based avalanche forecasting.
  • Doppler radars and Avalanche Early Warning Radars.
  • Process-based 3D snowpack modeling for slope stability analysis.
  • InSAR-based landslide warning technology.
  • A satellite-based forecast dissemination system for last-mile connectivity.
• Engineering Solutions:
  • Avalanche control structures and lightweight rigid structures for defense.
  • Multi-scale material properties simulation for improved forecasting.
  • The first avalanche monitoring radar in India has been installed in North Sikkim, capable of detecting avalanches within three seconds of their occurrence.

Collaboration for Accurate Forecasting

• The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences provides daily high-resolution weather forecasts.
• NCMRWF shares snow and precipitation forecasts with DGRE, which are crucial for avalanche prediction.

Disaster Management and Response

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released guidelines on landslides and snow avalanches in 2009 to help states with response and mitigation strategies.
• Key agencies like IMD, Central Water Commission, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, DGRE, Geological Survey of India, and Forest Survey of India are integrated into this system.

Rescue and Emergency Response

• The government uses advanced technologies for rescue operations, including:
  • Drone-based intelligent buried object detection systems for locating victims.
  • Helicopter deployment for rapid evacuation.
  • Disaster Management Control Rooms at state and district levels for real-time monitoring and coordination.

Conclusion

• Continued advancements in AI, weather monitoring, and early warning systems are essential to safeguarding lives in avalanche-prone regions.

7. Blue Economy

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114953 )

Climate-Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV)

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), 100 coastal villages near the shoreline have been identified as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV).
• The scheme provides need-based facilities, including:
  • Fish drying yards
  • Fish processing centers
  • Fish markets
  • Fishing jetties
  • Ice plants and cold storages
  • Emergency rescue facilities
• Climate-resilient livelihoods like aquaculture and mariculture of seaweed, ornamental fishes, and bivalves are being promoted.
• Financial assistance, nutritional support during the fishing ban period, and insurance coverage for traditional fishermen are included in the scheme.

Research and Technology Support

• The ICAR-Fisheries Research Institutes are working on improving inland and marine aquaculture through research, new technologies, and capacity-building programs.
• The Government of India provides funding for these efforts to ensure sustainable fisheries development.

Global and Regional Initiatives

India is part of global efforts to tackle marine plastic pollution through:

• Glolitter Partnership Project and Reglitter Project (by IMO and FAO).
• Focuses on reducing abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and waste from ships.

Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project

• Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and NORAD, implemented by FAO in partnership with Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO).
• Promotes the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), integrating ecological, social, and economic aspects for sustainable fisheries.

8. Boilers Bill, 2024 introduced in Lok Sabha

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114855 )

Introduction

• The new bill aims to replace the century-old Boilers Act, 1923 and introduce modern reforms for better regulation.

Key Features of the Bill

• The Bill follows modern drafting practices, grouping similar provisions into six chapters for clarity.
• It defines the roles and powers of the Central and State Governments and the Central Boilers Board to avoid confusion.
• The Bill retains criminal penalties for four serious offences that could cause loss of life or property.
• Three out of seven offences have been decriminalized, ensuring faster redressal.
• Non-criminal offences will now attract fiscal penalties instead of court-imposed fines, improving the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

Focus on Safety and Modernization

• The Bill enhances worker safety by including specific provisions for those working inside boilers.
• It mandates that only qualified and competent persons can repair boilers.
• Obsolete and redundant provisions from the 1923 Act have been removed.
• New definitions have been added to make the law more precise and effective.

Conclusion

• The new Bill ensures a safer, more efficient, and industry-friendly framework for boiler regulation.

Comparison: Boilers Bill, 2024 vs. Boilers Act, 1923

Prelims Facts

1. Hues of the north

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 14)

What are Northern Lights?

• The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are a natural light display in the Earth’s polar regions.
• They occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.
• These interactions excite oxygen and nitrogen molecules, producing colorful lights in shades of green, red, blue, and purple.
• The phenomenon is most visible in high-latitude regions near the Arctic, such as Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Sweden.
• Solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, influences the intensity of the northern lights.
• The Earth’s magnetic field directs these charged particles toward the poles, creating auroral displays.
• Auroras are not harmful but serve as indicators of space weather and solar activity.
• The southern counterpart of the aurora borealis is called the aurora australis or the southern lights.

2. Collage of galaxies

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

The Euclid Observatory:

• The Euclid Observatory is a space telescope launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study dark matter and dark energy.
• It was launched on July 1, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• The observatory is designed to create a 3D map of the universe by observing billions of galaxies across 10 billion years of cosmic history.
• It operates from the second Lagrange point (L2), about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, for a stable and unobstructed view of deep space.
• Euclid uses a visible-wavelength camera and a near-infrared spectrometer to capture detailed images of distant galaxies.
• Its mission aims to help scientists understand the role of dark energy in the expansion of the universe.

3. India losing 3% of GDP to road accidents, says Nitin Gadkari

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 4)

Analysis of the news:

• India loses 3% of its GDP annually due to approximately five lakh road accidents, according to the Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
• The country records around 4,80,000 road accidents each year, resulting in 1,88,000 deaths, mostly among individuals aged 18 to 45.
• Around 10,000 children below 18 years old also lose their lives in these accidents, raising serious safety concerns.
• Poorly detailed projects are cited as a major cause of road accidents in India.
• The minister emphasized the need for better road safety measures and technology interventions to reduce accidents.
• To encourage bystanders to help accident victims, the government has introduced a ₹25,000 reward for those assisting victims.

4. Signal App

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:

Signal and Its Features

• Signal is a widely used encrypted messaging app offering secure text, voice, and video communication.
• It employs end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access messages.
• The app also includes features like automated message deletion and minimal data collection, enhancing privacy.

Security Vulnerabilities of Signal

While Signal is considered more secure than conventional messaging apps, it is not entirely immune to hacking. Security risks include:

• Desktop Syncing: Messages stored on linked desktops or laptops are vulnerable to malware attacks.
  
  
• Impersonation Attacks: Hackers, such as Russian-linked spies, have attempted to gain access by posing as trusted contacts.
  
  
• Unsuitability for Classified Data: Due to its storage risks, Signal is not accredited for classified government communications. Sensitive data should ideally be shared in Secure Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) to prevent leaks.
  
  

Use of Signal in the US Government

• Despite its risks, Signal has gained popularity among US officials, especially following Chinese cyberattacks that compromised telecommunications networks.
• Government employees across federal, state, and local levels reportedly use Signal, with some accounts registered to official government numbers.
• While convenient for quick notifications, it should not replace secure communication channels for classified information.

check more – 25 March 2025 : Daily Current Affairs