Current Affairs – April 01, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Festivals} Sarhul Festival

Context (IE): Sarhul festival was celebrated in Jharkhand and the larger Chhotanagpur region.

Key Features

Sarhul: 3-day festival celebrated by the Oraon, the Munda and the Ho tribes of the Jharkhand.
Sarhul, literally “worship of the Sal tree”, is among the most revered Adivasi festivals.
- Sal trees (Shorea robusta) are seen as the abode of Sarna Maa, the deity protecting the village from inclement natural forces.
Celebrated Every Year: In the 1^st month of the Hindu calendar, on the 3^rd day of the moon or the fortnight of ‘Chaitra, ‘ Sarhul marks the advent of the “Phaagun” (spring season).
Marks Beginning of New Year: Only after this festival do new agricultural activities like sowing of seeds, etc., take place.

Rituals

1^st Day: The village’s pahan (priest), who observes a rigorous fast, fetches water for the ceremonies, and houses and Sarna Sthals are cleaned.
2^nd Day: The deity is presented with Sal flowers, and a rooster is sacrificed.
- Holy water is then sprinkled across the village, with performances of traditional songs and dances such as Jadur, Gena and Por Jadur.
3^rd Day: The final day is marked by a grand community feast in which people share handia (rice beer) and enjoy a variety of delicacies.

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Geomorphology} Earthquake in Myanmar *

Context (IE): A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, followed by at least six aftershocks, struck central Myanmar, claiming over 2000 lives.

The quake’s epicentre was located 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.

What Caused the Earthquake?

Strike-Slip Faulting: The Myanmar earthquake took place due to the “strike-slip faulting” between the Indian and Eurasian plates, meaning these two plates rubbed sideways against each other.
Sagaing Fault: The quake took place on the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through the centre of Myanmar and is prone to earthquakes.
- The Sagaing fault marks the tectonic plate boundary between the Indian plate to the west and the Eurasian plate to the east.
Movement of Indian Plate: It is moving north along the fault compared to the Eurasian plate.

What is Fault?

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other.
- This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. During an earthquake, rock on one side of the fault suddenly slips with respect to the other.
Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Most faults produce repeated displacements over geologic time.

Types of Faults

Credit: Wikipedia

Normal Fault: A geological fault where the hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall due to extensional forces. They are typically associated with divergent plate boundaries.
- E.g., Rio Grande Rift (USA), East African Rift Valley, etc.
Reverse (thrust) Fault: A geological fault where the hanging wall has moved upward relative to the footwall due to compressional forces. E.g., Himalayan Thrust Fault, the San Gabriel Fault (California), etc.
- When the dip angle is shallow, a reverse fault is often described as a thrust fault.
- Typically associated with convergent plates where one plate is being subducted under another.
Strike-Slip Fault: A fault on which 2 blocks slide past one another. E.g., San Andreas Fault (California).
- Left-lateral strike-slip fault: Displacement of far block is to the left when viewed from either side.
- Right-lateral strike-slip fault: Displacement of far block is to right when viewed from either side.

Measuring Earthquake

The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock.

Measuring Magnitude

It relates to the energy released during the quake, and it is expressed in numbers from 0 to 10.
It is a quantitative measure of the scale of an earthquake.

Richter Scale

The Richter magnitude scale is the most common standard of measurement for earthquakes.
It was invented in 1935 by Charles F. Richter. It is used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake, that is, the amount of energy released during an earthquake.
The Richter Scale was traditionally used but is now largely replaced by Mw for stronger quakes.

Moment Magnitude (Mw)

The modern scale measures a quantity called “moment magnitude” (denoted as Mw), which is based on variables such as the area of the rupture in a fault and the size of the seismic waves.

Measuring Intensity

The intensity scale takes into account the visible damage caused by the event.
It is a qualitative measure of the shaking at a given location.

Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale and MSK Scale

These readings are based on factors such as how people perceive the shaking.
- The same earthquake will have different intensity readings at various places; the farther one moves away from the epicentre, the less intense the shaking.
Both classify earthquakes from I (least perceptible) to XII (most severe).

Read More> Earthquake and Tectonic Plates and Their Interactions.

{GS2 – IR – Diplomacy} Operation Brahma *

Context (IE): India’s INS Satpura and INS Savitri carried humanitarian aid to Yangon port of quake-hit (Myanmar) under ‘Operation Brahma’.

Other Rescue Operations Conducted by India in Past

Operation Ajay (2023): To repatriate its citizens from Israel and Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Operation Kaveri (2023): To evacuate its citizens from conflict-hit Sudan, where clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Operation Ganga (2022): Launched when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine.
Operation Devi Shakti (2021): To evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after its swift takeover by the Taliban.
Vande Bharat Mission (2020): To bring home thousands of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Operation Samudra Setu (2020): Launched by the Indian Navy as a part of a national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during lockdown.
Operation Raahat (2015): To evacuate Indians as well as foreign citizens from conflict-hit Yemen.
Operation Maitri (2015): Launched by the Indian Air Force when a massive earthquake hit Nepal.
Operation Safe Homecoming (2011): Organised by the Indian government, this was a mixture of air and sea-based evacuation from Libya.
Operation Sukoon (2006): To evacuate Indians, Sri Lankans & Nepalese citizens from war-hit Lebanon.

{GS2 – IR – Europe} UK’s New Tax Reform for Non-domiciled Residents

Context (FE): Laxmi Niwas Mittal, one of Britain’s wealthiest individuals, is reportedly planning to leave the UK after a major overhaul of the country’s tax regime for non-domiciled residents.

What is a Non-dom?

Non-dom is a UK resident whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. A non-dom only pays UK tax on the money they earn in the UK.
- They do not have to pay tax to the UK government on money made elsewhere in the world (unless they pay that money into a UK bank account).
Tax Savings: For wealthy individuals, this presents the opportunity for significant and entirely legal savings if they nominate a lower-tax country as their domicile.
According to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), 74,000 people claimed non-dom status in 2022-23.

UK’s New Tax Reform for Non-dom Residents

It was introduced in 2024 and aims to tighten tax rules for individuals claiming non-dom status.
Abolition of Non-dom Regime: The current tax regime for non-UK-domiciled individuals will be abolished from April 2025 and replaced with a residence-based system.
New Tax System: Newcomers to the UK can claim exemption from tax on foreign income and gains during their first 4 years of residency.
Taxation on Worldwide Income: After 4 years, Non-doms will be taxed on their worldwide income and gains, ending the previous system where they were only taxed on income brought into the country.
- Existing nom-doms would be allowed a 2-year transition period, during which they would be encouraged to bring their foreign wealth into the UK system.

Implications

The abolition of the non-dom regime could backfire economically.
Relocation of Non-dom: More than 10,000 millionaires left the UK in 2024.
Loss of Revenue and Reduction in Investment: Many non-doms are not only paying taxes on UK income but also paying significantly for local economies, property taxes, philanthropy, and luxury spending.

{GS2 – MoCoop – Initiatives} Sahkar Taxi

Context (FE): A new cooperative app-based taxi service, ‘Sahkar, ’ was launched.

Key Features of Sahkar taxi

Cooperative-based Ride-hailing Platform: Drivers can retain their full earnings.
- Drivers will be stakeholders, not just workers, with ownership through share capital contributions.
Goal: To create a fairer alternative to existing ride-hailing giants like Uber, Ola, and Rapido.
- At present, Uber and Ola dominate over 50% of the ride-hailing market.
Multi-Vehicle Registration: Sahkar Taxi will register two-wheeler, rickshaw, and four-wheeler taxis under a multi-state cooperative society (MSCS).
Commission Free Service: Unlike traditional platforms that take commissions of 20%-40% or charge subscription fees, this cooperative model will allow drivers to retain their full earnings.
Cooperative’s Initial Capital will be raised through share capital contributions from its driver-members, each purchasing shares to become stakeholders in the business.
Backed by National Cooperative Development Corporation: It will assist in planning, promotion, and financial support.
- This will include funding for setting up the platform, developing the mobile app, and providing loans to drivers for vehicle purchases.

Benefits

It will be the first cooperative to operate at a national scale. It will function like existing ride-hailing services, allowing users to book rides and deliveries via smartphones.
It will not only improve driver incomes but also offer more affordable and stable pricing for customers.

Similar Models at State Level

West Bengal’s Yatri Sathi: Managed by the state’s IT & ITeS department
Karnataka’s Namma Yatri: Built by Bengaluru’s Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union in collaboration with Juspay Technologies and Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC).

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Asbestos *

Context (IE): The Ministry of Education has banned the use of asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos: A group of naturally occurring silicate minerals composed of long, thin fibres with different shapes and colours.
- Chrysotile asbestos is the most used and commercially important type of asbestos nowadays.
Key Properties: Resistance to heat and fire, insulation capability, chemical inertness and strength.
Applications: Building and construction, shipbuilding, automobile, textiles, electronics, aerospace, mining and milling, and petrochemicals.

Health Concerns

Lung Disease: Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung disease. It can cause asbestosis, a serious, progressive, long-term, non-cancerous disease of the lungs.
Carcinogenic: Asbestos is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. It can cause Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest, abdomen and heart.

Regulation

Ban: Over 65 countries have implemented bans on its use.
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade lists 5 varieties of asbestos: actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite and tremolite.

{GS3 – S&T – Physics} Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

Context (TH | IE): The AMoRE experiment in South Korea has reported no evidence of neutrinoless double beta decay, setting stringent limits on this elusive subatomic event.

AMoRE Project

Conducted using molybdenum-100 nuclei (Mo-100) to detect evidence of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (0vßß) by observing energy differences in emitted particles.
It is a series of experiments with the 1^st phase AMoRE-Pilot operating since 2015.
Findings (2025): No evidence found, but experiment refined mass constraints for neutrinos.
Future Plans: Increasing material sample size to 100 kg of Mo-100 to improve detection chances.

Neutrinos

They are subatomic particles like electrons but with an extremely small mass and no electrical charge.
Second-most Abundant Particles in the universe after photons, produced in the Big Bang, radioactive decay, cosmic ray interactions, and nuclear fusion in stars.

Detection Challenge: Weak interaction with matter makes them difficult to observe, earning them the name “ghost particles.”

Importance of Detecting Neutrinos

Understanding the Universe: Neutrinos hold clues to the Big Bang and cosmic ray origins.
Testing the Standard Model: If neutrinos have mass, it challenges existing theories.
Research: It can contribute to developments in quantum computing and astrophysics.

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (0vßß)

Beta Decay: Process where an unstable atomic nucleus emits an electron and an anti-neutrino or a positron and a neutrino.
Double Beta Decay: Occurs when two neutrons in a nucleus convert into protons, emitting two electrons and two anti-neutrinos.
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: Hypothetical process where only two electrons are emitted, proving neutrinos are Majorana particles.

Majorana Particles and Neutrinos

Majorana particles are unique fermions that act as their own anti-particles, annihilating each other when they meet.
Significance: If neutrinos are Majorana particles, it would explain their mass and provide insights into physics beyond the Standard Model.
- Majorana 1 chip was introduced for advancing quantum computing using Majorana particles.

Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO)

It is a proposed underground research facility at 1,200 meters depth to study atmospheric neutrinos to understand their properties and interactions. It is in the Bodi hills near Theni (Tamilnadu).
Underground: To protect experiments from cosmic ray interference.
Led by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) & Indian Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IIMSc).
Funding By: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) & Department of Science & Technology (DST).

Also refer to Jiangmen Nutrino Observatory; Challenges in Nutrino and Energy Detection.

{Prelims – In News} Studio Ghibli

Context (IE): AI chatbot ChatGPT upgraded its 4o model to include native image generation capabilities, including Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation style.

What is Studio Ghibli?

Studio Ghibli is a renowned and award-winning Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo.
Meaning: The name Ghibli comes from a Libyan Arabic word referring to a hot desert wind.
Founded by: Animators & directors Miyazaki Hayao & Takahata Isao & producer Suzuki Toshio in 1985.
- Last year, Miyazaki was honoured with this year’s prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize.

Key Elements of Ghibli Art Style

It features hand-drawn, vivid frames with minimal use of computer techniques.
Their animation style is distinguished by meticulous detailing of its human figures, along with soft pastel and muted colour palettes.
For example, the Ghibli version of the Dandi March photo will look like this: