6 February 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Question for the AI age: do machines and humans learn the same way?

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

AI’s Rapid Advancement

• AI has evolved from simple data categorization to performing highly complex tasks.
• In 2024, smartphones were introduced with built-in AI models.
• Five of the seven winners of the 2024 science Nobel Prizes were recognized for AI-related contributions.

How Humans Learn

• Machines can quickly analyze large datasets and predict patterns but struggle with understanding human motives.
• Human intelligence evolved to care for offspring, requiring an understanding of intentions.
• Learning in humans involves both immediate survival needs and adapting to changing environments.
• Unlike machines, human learning is continuous and shaped by real-world interactions.

The Role of Curiosity in Human Learning

• Unlike AI, children are naturally curious and learn by exploring their surroundings.
• Human learning involves multiple senses, making it richer than AI learning.
• AI models rely on pre-fed data, whereas humans acquire knowledge through direct experiences.

Efficiency of Human Learning

• Humans require significantly less data to learn effectively.
• AlphaZero, an AI model, played 40 million chess games to achieve mastery, while humans need only tens of thousands.
• Humans quickly adapt knowledge from one area to another, a skill AI struggles with.
• Human brains process information more slowly than AI networks but make faster decisions using generalization.

AI’s Contribution to Understanding Human Learning

• AI models help neuroscientists explore how the brain stores and retrieves memories.
• The success of AI has challenged previous beliefs about human learning processes.
• AI research is advancing symbolic and connectionist models of human cognition.
• Despite AI’s progress, human learning remains unique and distinct.

2. What is the SC directive on sacred groves?

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

Supreme Court’s Order on Sacred Groves

• On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the Forest Department of Rajasthan to map sacred groves.
• Sacred groves will be classified as ‘forests’ and notified as ‘community reserves’ under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972.
• This decision moves the control from community management to forest officials for conservation.
• This clashes with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, which supports community rights over forest lands.
• Rajasthan has around 25,000 sacred groves, covering six lakh hectares of land.

Background of the Case

• In the 1990s, the Supreme Court defined ‘forest land’ to include any land recorded as forest by the government.
• In 2004, the Rajasthan government identified some sacred groves as ‘deemed forests’ based on a narrow criterion.
• The Supreme Court disagreed, insisting on a broader definition of forest land.
• In 2018, the Court directed Rajasthan to follow this broader definition.

What are Sacred Groves?

• Sacred groves are patches of forest managed by local communities through traditions and beliefs.
• They are protected by customs, with no resource extraction allowed except for medicinal plants.
• Sacred groves are biodiversity hotspots and often linked to temples, shrines, or pilgrimage sites.
• India has 1 to 10 lakh sacred groves, the highest in the world.
• They help control floods, droughts, and soil erosion, and support local wildlife.

What are Community Reserves?

• The WLPA 2002 introduced ‘community reserves’ as a type of protected area.
• These reserves are set up by communities to conserve wildlife and habitats.
• Rules in community reserves prevent activities like poaching, fire-setting, and habitat destruction.
• A management committee oversees the reserve, with local community members and officials.

Conflict with the Forest Rights Act (FRA)

• Sacred groves are considered ‘community forest resources’ under the FRA.
• The FRA gives gram sabhas (village councils) the right to manage these resources.
• Under FRA, sacred groves fall under the control of local communities, not the Forest or Wildlife Department.
• By classifying them as community reserves, the Forest Department’s control conflicts with community rights.

Conclusion

• The Supreme Court’s decision to classify sacred groves as community reserves may clash with the FRA.
• This creates a conflict between modern conservation methods and traditional community management of sacred groves.

3. Trump or BRICS? The quandary for Africa’s governments

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)

The U.S. Trade Policies and Africa’s Dilemma

• President Donald Trump’s trade approach, including tariffs, creates a situation where countries must choose between supporting the U.S. or aligning with China and the BRICS nations.
• African countries, rich in minerals, face a dilemma.
• They want to develop their resources but also wish to stay neutral in this global divide.

Africa’s Mineral Wealth

• Africa holds significant global mineral reserves.
• This includes 20% of the world’s copper, 50% of manganese and cobalt, 90% of platinum group metals, and valuable reserves of lithium, uranium, gold, and rare earths.
• These resources will be highly important in the future, especially with the energy transition and increasing global demand for these minerals.

Challenges in Resource Development

• Despite its wealth, Africa faces many challenges in resource development.
• Issues like political instability, corruption, poor infrastructure, lack of capital, and weak legal frameworks make long-term investment difficult.
• As global demand for minerals grows, Africa will likely have more power in determining how its resources are used. However, finding the right partners remains a key challenge.

Western Investments vs. China’s Approach

• Western countries, especially the U.S., offer capital, expertise, and experience in mining.
• But Trump’s tariffs and threats to cut aid make working with the U.S. harder for African nations.
• Trump’s “winner-takes-all” approach to global relations makes it more difficult for African countries to get mutually beneficial deals with the U.S.

Africa’s Growing Independence in Resource Management

• South Africa’s Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe suggested that Africa should withhold minerals from the U.S. if aid is reduced. He argued that Africa should not be treated as a beggar.
• This reflects a desire for Africa to take control of its resources and use them to drive industrialization and development, rather than follow the dictates of external powers.

China’s Role and Its Impact on Africa

• China has been heavily investing in Africa’s mining sector.
• However, China prefers to use its own workforce and processes. It also exports raw ores to process them in China, limiting the benefits for African countries.
• There is potential for African nations to introduce laws that require foreign companies to process minerals locally. This could ensure that Africa benefits more from its resources.

Conclusion

• Africa’s mineral-rich resources position it as a key player in global trade.
• The continent must strategically choose between Western and China-led trade blocs to secure sustainable economic development.

4. Trump’s Middle East Plan: Radical Proposals for Gaza, Renewed Pressure on Iran, and Regional Uncertainty

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained – Page No. – 17)

Analysis of the news:

Implications for Palestine and Gaza

• Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza challenges established international norms and UN resolutions supporting Palestinian self-determination.
• His assertion that Gazans do not wish to return contradicts on-ground evidence of displaced residents returning despite severe destruction.
• The idea of turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” mirrors previous proposals that disregard Palestinian rights and historical grievances.

US “Ownership” of Gaza: A New Diplomatic Stance

• Trump’s language of the US “owning” Gaza reflects a transactional real-estate perspective rather than a diplomatic or humanitarian approach.
• This marks a departure from his earlier “Peace to Prosperity” plan, which at least nominally considered a Palestinian state, albeit with severe restrictions.
• The proposal aligns closely with Israeli interests, particularly those of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, which seeks territorial expansion and the eradication of Hamas.

Resistance from Jordan and Egypt

• Both Jordan and Egypt have consistently rejected any plans to resettle Palestinians, citing national security, demographic risks, and political stability.
• Jordan, already hosting a significant Palestinian population, views forced migration as a direct threat, with officials calling it a “declaration of war.”
• Similarly, Egypt fears political backlash and internal instability, given its history with the Muslim Brotherhood and its delicate regional position.

Maximum Pressure on Iran: Strategic and Economic Ramifications

• Trump’s reimposition of sanctions and designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization signal a return to aggressive US policies toward Iran.
• However, this approach contradicts the recent warming of Gulf-Iran relations, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE engaging in economic and military cooperation with Tehran.
• Renewed US sanctions could disrupt these regional alignments, potentially straining emerging diplomatic ties.

Uncertain Future for US Middle East Policy

• Trump’s rhetoric introduces unpredictability into an already volatile region. His stance on the two-state solution remains unclear, and his proposals for Gaza challenge international legal norms.
• Additionally, his policies on Iran may disrupt the current regional balance, as Gulf states are increasingly seeking diplomatic solutions rather than confrontation.
• The broader implications of these shifts will depend on whether these proposals materialize into concrete US policy or remain political rhetoric.

Conclusion:

• Trump’s proposals mark a significant shift in U.S. Middle East policy, risking regional instability, undermining international law, and complicating diplomatic efforts, while facing strong resistance from key Arab states.

5. Wide gap between ‘street maths’ and ‘school maths’, shows study

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Cover Page- Page No. – 01)

Analysis of the news:

Key Findings of the Study

• Child vendors adeptly solve complex market calculations mentally but struggle with basic school mathematics, whereas schoolchildren excel in textbook-based math but fail in practical scenarios.

Methodology and Observations

Researchers studied 1,436 child vendors in Delhi and Kolkata markets and 471 school-going children. They found:

• 95%-99% of working children solved real-world transaction problems mentally and with speed.
• Only 15%-32% could correctly perform similar calculations in a school-style format.
• Schoolchildren performed well in structured tests but faltered in practical market calculations.

Causes of the Learning Gap

• Rigid Curriculum: Indian pedagogy emphasizes rote learning and algorithmic approaches over conceptual understanding.
• Lack of Integration: School mathematics remains disconnected from real-life applications, leading to ineffective learning transfer.
• Different Learning Approaches: Market children use mental shortcuts, while schoolchildren depend on multi-step written calculations.

Global Perspective

• Similar trends have been noted in other countries, such as Brazil and France, where abstract teaching methods hinder practical application.
• Singapore’s education system attempts to integrate practical and theoretical math, though its success remains debated.

Need for Curriculum Reform

To bridge the gap, Indian education must:

• Integrate real-world problem-solving in early education.
• Encourage interactive, application-based learning through activities and games.
• Shift from rote memorization to conceptual, intuitive understanding of math.

Conclusion

• The study underscores the urgency of reforming India’s mathematics curriculum to blend intuitive market skills with structured school learning, ensuring that children develop both theoretical knowledge and practical numeracy skills.

6. “Nuclear Mission” announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 will mark a transformative shift in India’s energy landscape

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2100108&reg=3&lang=1 )

Nuclear Mission:

• Introduction: The “Nuclear Mission” announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 aims to transform India’s energy sector by making nuclear power a major source of energy.
• Budget Allocation: ₹20,000 crore will be allocated for research and development (R&D) in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
• Target: The goal is to develop at least five indigenously designed SMRs by 2033.
• Private Sector Involvement: For the first time, the nuclear energy sector will open to private sector participation, promoting growth and innovation.
• Expansion Plans: India’s current nuclear power capacity of 8,180 MW will increase to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
• New Projects: Ten reactors are under construction in various states, and ten more are planned.
• Global Collaboration: A major 6 x 1208 MW nuclear power plant is planned with the USA at Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh.
• Sustainability: This mission supports India’s goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030 and contributes to the nation’s net-zero emissions by 2070.

Prelims Facts

1. An asteroid might hit earth. How worried should we be?

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

Potential Impact and Risks

• 2024 YR4 has a 1.6% chance of hitting Earth on December 22, 2032.
• Possible impact sites include parts of the Pacific Ocean, South America, Africa, South Asia, and the Arabian Sea.
• If it hits a city, it could cause significant devastation, potentially wiping out entire cities, similar to the Tunguska event in 1908.

Asteroid’s Orbit and Current Status

• The asteroid follows a four-year elliptical orbit, passing through the inner planets before heading out toward Jupiter.
• Its next close pass to Earth is in 2028.
• The risk assessment is currently low, and scientists expect the likelihood of impact to decrease over time.

Comparison with Historical Events

• The asteroid 2024 YR4 is classified as a “city killer,” similar to the 1908 Tunguska event, which flattened vast areas of Siberia.
• A collision would likely cause an airburst explosion much stronger than the Hiroshima bomb but would not leave a crater.

Conclusion

• Experts believe that there is enough time to monitor and prepare for any potential impact.

2. Iran’s currency plunges

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)

Analysis of the news:

• U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to restart the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran.
• The order includes halting Iran’s oil exports and pushing for UN sanctions.
• Trump also hinted at wanting to negotiate a deal with Iran rather than imposing full sanctions.
• Iranian officials are waiting for a message from Trump on nuclear talks.
• Ordinary Iranians are worried about the impact on their daily lives and freedom.
• Iranian state media have praised Trump’s moves, seeing them as weakening opposition groups.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) budget cuts could affect funding for Iranian activists and opposition figures.

3. ‘Iraq restoration work brought back Mosul’s ‘identity’’

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 15)

Al-Nuri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret:

• Built over 850 years ago, this mosque was a key religious and historical site.
• The iconic leaning minaret, “Al-Hadba” or “hunchback,” was destroyed by ISIS in 2017.
• Restoration used 45,000 original bricks and traditional techniques, restoring Mosul’s cultural identity.

Al-Tahira Church:

• A significant Christian heritage site damaged during the battle to reclaim Mosul from ISIS.
• Restoration focused on preserving its architecture and cultural value.

Our Lady of the Hour Church:

• Another key Christian monument in Mosul, damaged by ISIS.
• Restoration is part of UNESCO’s broader initiative to preserve Christian heritage and cultural identity.

Heritage Houses:

• UNESCO restored 124 heritage houses in Mosul’s Old City.
• These homes represented the city’s diverse cultural and architectural legacy before their destruction.

4. Extreme Temperature Surge in the North Pole

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 17)

Analysis of the news:

Implications of Rapid Arctic Warming

• Since 1979, the Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average.
• This is alarming because the Arctic acts as Earth’s cooling system, regulating global temperatures.
• Continued warming in this region could accelerate sea-level rise and disrupt weather patterns worldwide, leading to severe climate consequences.

Causes of the Temperature Spike

• The primary driver of this unusual warming was a deep low-pressure system over Iceland, which funneled warm air from lower latitudes into the Arctic.
• Additionally, unusually high sea surface temperatures in the northeast Atlantic intensified the warming effect, pushing the daily average temperature at the North Pole to more than -1°C on February 2.

Why the Arctic Heats Faster than the Rest of the World

• While global temperatures have risen by about 1.3°C since the pre-industrial era, the Arctic has warmed 3.8 times faster than the global average.
• The main reason is the albedo effect—as Arctic ice melts, darker land and water surfaces absorb more heat instead of reflecting sunlight. Another key factor is weak convection in higher latitudes, which traps heat near the surface instead of distributing it through the atmosphere.
• These accelerating trends in Arctic warming highlight the urgent need for global climate action to mitigate further environmental and ecological disruptions.

5. India’s NavIC Navigation System

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 17)

Analysis of the news:

NavIC: India’s Indigenous Navigation System

• NavIC was conceived in 1999 after India’s military could not access the US GPS system during the Kargil war.
• The plan was to establish a seven-satellite constellation for both defense and civilian applications by 2016.
• However, as of 2025, only five of the 11 satellites launched under the ₹2,250 crore program are fully operational.

Technical Failures and Setbacks

• The IRNSS program has suffered from multiple failures, mainly due to malfunctions in the rubidium atomic clocks used for navigation.
• By 2016, all atomic clocks on IRNSS-1A had stopped working. Similar failures affected satellites 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1G, significantly reducing the system’s effectiveness.
• The failure of NVS-02 now means that six out of 11 launched satellites have been partially unsuccessful.
• Additionally, IRNSS-1H, launched in 2017 to replace 1A, failed to reach orbit due to a heat shield malfunction.

Current Operational Satellites

• As per ISRO’s 2023-24 report, five NavIC satellites—IRNSS-1B, 1C, 1F, 1I, and NVS-01—are operational.
• However, 1C is reportedly only partially functional due to aging atomic clocks.
• The newer-generation satellites (NVS-01, NVS-02) were designed with improved indigenous and foreign atomic clocks to avoid past failures.

Strategic Importance of NavIC

• NavIC provides two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (for general use) and Restricted Service (for defense applications).
• It ensures India’s strategic autonomy in navigation, particularly for military purposes, avoiding reliance on foreign systems like GPS (US), Galileo (EU), or Beidou (China).
• Despite global alternatives, an indigenous system like NavIC is crucial for national security and independent military operations.

Future of NavIC

• ISRO is working to expand NavIC adoption by integrating it into mobile phone chipsets and vehicle navigation systems.
• In December 2023, Qualcomm agreed to incorporate NavIC support in some of its chipsets.
• Despite NVS-02’s partial failure, ISRO plans to launch three more second-generation NavIC satellites—NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05—to enhance system performance and service continuity.