Current Affairs – April 02, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Religion} Gounsa Temple Destroyed by Wildfires

Context (APN): Gounsa Temple in South Korea was severely damaged by unprecedented wildfires.

Source: APN

Gounsa Temple

Gounsa Temple, meaning “Solitary Cloud Temple,” was built in 681 A.D. during the Shilla dynasty.
The temple housing a stone Buddha statue built in the 8^th century is nestled at the foot of Deungun Mountain in Uiseong, southeastern South Korea.
Cultural Significance: While it doesn’t house structures from the Shilla period, it is home to several renowned cultural assets built in later periods.
Joseon Dynasty Pavilions: Gaunru Pavilion (1668) and Yeonsujeon Pavilion (1904), both designated national treasures, are protected cultural heritage with state maintenance.

Role of Gounsa Temple in Buddhism

Monastic Community: Gounsa Temple serves as the headquarters of the 16^th District of the Jogye-jong Order, Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
Post-War Reconstruction: After the Imjin War, the temple underwent significant reconstruction starting in 1695, preserving its spiritual and cultural importance.

Jogye Order of Buddhism

Origin & Type: A Mahayana Buddhist order established in the late Shilla period (9^th century) and the “Nine Mountain Schools” (Seonjong Gusan), which were influenced by Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China.
Largest Order: It is the largest and most influential Buddhist order in South Korea.
Philosophy & Practices: Blends direct Seon (Zen) meditation with sutra-based teachings (textual Buddhist study) and Pure Land practices (devotional chanting for rebirth in a blissful realm).
3 Principal Tenets: To directly point to one’s mind; to see into one’s own true nature and become a Buddha; and to propagate the dharma to save all beings.

Imjin War (1592-1598): A series of two Japanese invasions of Korea, with the first in 1592 (Imjin War) & the second in 1597 (Changyu War), ending in 1598 with Japan’s withdrawal after a military stalemate.

Also refer to Eightfold Path of Buddhism.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

Context (IE): Concerns have been raised over Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, 2023, citing threats to transparency under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

Background: Enacted in response to the Supreme Court’s recognition of privacy as a fundamental right in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017).
The Act aims to regulate the processing of digital personal data while balancing individual privacy rights with lawful data processing needs.
Applicability: Covers all entities processing digital personal data within India and those offering goods/services to individuals in India from outside.

Key Provisions

Definitions: Defines Data Principal (individual whose data is collected), Data Fiduciary (entity processing data), Personal Data (identifiable individual data), Processing (data handling operations).
Individual Consent: Explicit consent is mandatory for data processing; individuals can withdraw consent anytime. Guardians must provide consent for minors under 18.
Right to Erase & Nominate: Individuals can request correction, deletion or delinking of misleading/irrelevant personal data; Can nominate someone to exercise these rights in case of death/incapacity.
Language Accessibility: Information regarding data collection and processing must be provided in a language understandable to the data principal.
Data Localisation: Critical personal data must be stored and processed only within India.
Sensitive Personal Data: Includes financial, health, biometric, caste, religious & sexual orientation data.
Cross-Border Data Transfer: Govt will notify countries where data fiduciaries can transfer personal data after assessment.
Obligations of Data Fiduciaries: Ensures data accuracy, security, and proper disposal.
Additional Obligations for Significant Data Fiduciaries: Certain entities handling large volumes or sensitive data must take extra precautions, including appointing a Data Protection Officer and an independent Data Auditor.
Data Protection Board of India (DPBI): To monitor compliance, handle breaches, and impose penalties.
Financial Penalties: Non-compliance can result in penalties up to ₹500 crore, which will be deposited in a Data Protection Fund to support DPBI activities.
Exemptions: Govt entities can process data without consent for law enforcement, public welfare, and emergencies. Exemptions also apply to legal enforcement, security, research, and archiving.

Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act

Amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Amendment Despite Niti Aayog’s Opposition: Niti Aayog had flagged that by removing the public interest clause would weaken the RTI Act.

Aspect of Section 8(1)(j)	Before DPDP	After DPDP
Personal Information Disclosure	Allowed if public interest justified it	Blanket exemption, no public interest test
Legislative Access Test	If not denied to Parliament, it could not be denied to citizens	Provision removed
Transparency vs. Privacy Balance	Assessed case-by-case	Exemption applied uniformly
Public Officials’ Asset Details	Could be accessed in cases of corruption	Can now be denied

Impact on the RTI Act

Transparency Reduction: Eliminates the public interest override, potentially limiting access to crucial government-related data, thus weakening public accountability.
Restricted Access to Public Officials’ Data: Privacy provisions may be misused to shield public officials from legitimate inquiries like assets, liabilities, and misconduct cases, affecting governance and trust.
Weakens Judicial Precedents: Overrules rulings that favored transparency in cases of public interest.
Broad Exemption Risks: May lead to blanket denials of legitimate information requests under RTI.

Way Forward

Periodic Review of DPDP Act: Regular assessments to ensure exemptions do not unduly restrict information access.
Clear Guidelines for Disclosure: Define criteria balancing privacy and transparency, like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Stronger Oversight Mechanisms: Implement checks to prevent misuse of exemptions, similar to the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office.
Digital Literacy & Awareness: Educate citizens on their rights under both the RTI Act and DPDP Act, following models like Australia’s Information Commissioner’s campaigns.

{GS2 – IR – India-South America} Chilean President Visits India **

Context (PIB): The Chilean president, Gabriel Boric Font, made a 5-day visit to India.

Key Outcome of Visit

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Both India and Chile have agreed to hold discussions toward a CEPA to expand trade and investment.
- The CEPA will aim at unlocking the full potential of the trade and commercial relationship between India and Chile, boosting employment, bilateral trade, and economic growth.
UNSC Reforms: Both reaffirmed their commitment to reformed multilateralism and comprehensive UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms, including expansion to reflect the geopolitical realities of 21^st century.
Antarctica Cooperation: Signed the Letter of Intent to strengthen existing Antarctic cooperation.
- It will further facilitate partnership in the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, joint initiatives and academic exchanges related to Antarctica and Antarctic policy.
Terrorism: Both countries called upon all UN member countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 and work towards eliminating terrorist safe havens and all terror financing channels.
- Both reiterated their commitment to work together in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), No Money For Terror (NMFT) and other multilateral platforms to combat terrorism.
People-to-People Engagement: Chile announced that it would grant a Multiple Entry Permit for Indian businesspersons, which will streamline the visa process.
Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Welcomed the adoption and opening for signature of the Agreement.
- It is a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Critical Minerals: Both agreed to accelerate collaboration in exploration, mining and processing along with R&D to promote investment across the entire critical mineral value chain for mutual benefit.

India-Chile Bilateral Relation

Political Relations: The diplomatic relations between India and Chile were established in 1949.
- Since then, India and Chile have signed Agreements/MoUs covering various fields of cooperation such as Science and Technology, Antarctica, Defence, Air services, Agriculture, etc.
Economic Relations: The India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was signed in 2006. The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Chile was signed in 2020.
- Indian investment in Chile is estimated to be about US$620 million, while Chilean Financial Institutions have invested more than US$ 3.2 bn in the Indian Financial sector.
- Chile is India’s 5^th largest trading partner in South America, with bilateral trade touching $3.8 Bn in 2024. In 2024, exports from India totalled $1.2 Bn, and imports from Chile amounted to $2.6 Bn.
- India’s Import from Chile: Copper ores and concentrates, unrefined copper, copper scrap, molybdenum ores and concentrates, etc. India does not import any lithium from Chile.
- India’s Exports to Chile: Motor vehicles/cars, drug formulations, chemicals, products of iron & steel, man-made yarn, cotton, etc.
Space: Chile constituted a Space Executive Committee to work on cooperation with ISRO in the areas of space exploration, R&D, training, satellite building, launch, etc.
- India launched a satellite belonging to Chile (SUCHAI-1) in 2017.
Cultural Relations: Indian culture is very popular in Chile. There are several local Yoga schools and practitioners. Chile has declared November 4 as National Yoga Day.
Indian Community: The origins of the Indian community in Chile can be traced back to 1905. Currently, it is estimated that there are around 4000 Overseas Indians living in Chile.
- The majority are from the Sindhi community, who are mainly engaged in businesses.

{GS2 – IR – North America} Geopolitical Significance of Greenland

Context (IE | APN): US Vice President’s recent visit to Greenland has reignited geopolitical debates, with former President Donald Trump reaffirming his stance on US control over Greenland.

Greenland

Largest island on Earth, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, acting as a bridge between North America and Europe.
It is home to the northernmost point of land in the world, Kaffeklubben Island.
Home to Pituffik Space Base, vital for US missile defense operations & space monitoring in the Arctic.

Pituffik Space Base

Situated 1,200 km north of the Arctic Circle and ~1,500 km from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, it is the northernmost US military base.
Established under a 1951 US-Denmark defense agreement, critical during the Cold War.
Previously known as Thule Air Base, it was renamed in 2023 to reflect Greenlandic heritage.
Integral to the US & NATO’s missile defense, supporting ballistic missile warning against threats from Russia, China, and North Korea.
Experiences continuous daylight from May to August; Complete darkness from November to February.
Despite being locked in ice for nine months, the airfield remains operational year-round.

Governance & Polity

Under Danish control for over 300 years, integrated into Denmark in 1953.
Gained home rule in 1979 and self-governing status in 2009.
Denmark retains authority over defense, foreign affairs, and monetary policy.
NATO: As part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it plays a crucial role in NATO’s Arctic defense strategy.

Greenland’s Economic and Resource Importance

Rich in gold, nickel, cobalt, and 23 of 34 rare earth minerals such as dysprosium, praseodymium, neodymium, and terbium essential for electronics and defense.
Contains reserves of oil and natural gas, attracting global interest.
Fishing industry accounts for 90% of Greenland’s exports. Denmark provides an annual subsidy covering ~20% of Greenland’s GDP.

Environmental Changes Due to Climate Change

Impact of Warming

Greenland is warming four times faster than the global average, leading to accelerated ice melt.
Ice loss contributes significantly to global sea-level rise, increasing coastal flooding risks.
Melting ice is disrupting Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, affecting global weather patterns.
Acts as a global climate regulator; complete ice loss could cause severe climatic disruptions worldwide.

Opportunities and Risks

Arctic ice melt is unlocking access to previously unreachable resources, increasing international interest.
New shipping lanes are reshaping global trade, intensifying geopolitical competition.
Environmental concerns over resource extraction and its impact on Arctic ecosystems.

Geopolitical Competition for Greenland

Russia: Expanding Arctic military and economic activities.
China: Investing in Arctic infrastructure and rare earth mining.
European Union: Seeking to maintain Arctic stability and environmental protection.

US Interest in Greenland

Historical Context

1867: US State Department considered acquiring Greenland for strategic purposes.
1946: President Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, which was rejected.
2019: President Trump proposed buying Greenland, calling it a strategic acquisition, but Denmark dismissed the idea.
2025: Trump reiterated US interest, emphasising Greenland’s military and economic significance.

US Strategic Motivations

Military Presence: Strengthening Arctic operations and missile defense capabilities.
Resource Control: Ensuring access to rare earth minerals crucial for defense and technology industries.
Geopolitical Influence: Preventing Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic region.

{GS2 – MoE – Initiatives} Baalpan ki Kavita Initiative

Context (TP): ‘Baalpan ki Kavita’ was launched to restore & promote Indian rhymes for young children.

Objective: To provide young learners with joyful and contextually relevant learning material, helping them connect with their cultural roots while making foundational education engaging.
Ministry: Implemented by Department of School Education & Literacy under Ministry of Education.
Collaborating Platform: The initiative is run in collaboration with MyGov to invite public contributions.

Features of the Initiative

Compendium Creation: It is a national effort to compile traditional and newly composed rhymes and poems from various Indian languages and folklore.
Entries Invited Under 3 Categories: Pre-primary (ages 3-6); Grade 1 (ages 6-7); Grade 2 (ages 7-8).
Open Participation: Writers, poets, educators, parents, and students can contribute.
Languages: Submissions are accepted in all Indian languages and English.
Alignment with NEP 2020: Supports the National Education Policy’s emphasis on foundational literacy and cultural-rooted education.
Submission Types: Poets and educators can contribute to the learning resources by sending both existing folklore rhymes and newly composed poems that reflect Indian cultural ethos.

{GS2 – MoF – Initiatives} Gold Monetization Scheme *

Context (IE): The Ministry of Finance discontinued medium- and long-term deposits under the Gold Monetization Scheme.

However, short-term bank deposits, which are under the ambit of banks in the scheme, will continue at the discretion of individual banks based on the commercial viability as assessed by them.
Existing medium & long-term government deposits shall run till maturity unless prematurely withdrawn.
It is the 2^nd gold scheme to face closure by the government in recent months amid a sharp surge in gold prices. The Centre had earlier discontinued the fresh issuance of sovereign gold bonds.

Key Features

It was launched in 2015 modifying the “Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS)” and Gold Metal Loan Scheme (GML).
Objective: To mobilise gold held by the country’s households and institutions and facilitate its use for productive purposes, as well as to reduce the country’s reliance on gold imports in the long run.
3 Components of Scheme:
1. Short-term bank deposit (1-3 years)
2. Medium-term government deposit (5-7 years)
3. Long-term government deposit (12-15 years)
Interest Rates Offered: GMS allows gold depositors to earn interest on their bank deposit accounts.
- Short Term Deposits: The interest rate is decided by the banks on the basis of the prevailing international lease rates, other costs, market conditions, etc., and is borne by the banks.
- Medium and Long Term Deposits: The Interest rate was decided by the government, in consultation with the RBI and borne by the Central government.
  - The interest rate was fixed at 2.25% for medium-term bonds and 2.5% for long-term bonds.

Minimum Limit: 10 gm of raw gold (bars, coins, jewellery excluding stones and other metals).
Maximum Limit: There was no maximum limit for deposits under the scheme.
Eligible Banks: All Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
Eligibility for Depositing: Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), Proprietorship & Partnership firms, Trusts, including Mutual Funds/Exchange Traded Funds registered under SEBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations, Companies, charitable institutions, Central Government, State Government, etc.
- Joint deposit of two or more eligible depositors is allowed under the scheme.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Judiciary} Rule 36 of the BCI Rules

Context (IE): Recently, the Bar Council of India (BCI) strongly criticised a law firm for soliciting legal work on social media and digital platforms using Bollywood celebrities, citing Rule 36 of the BCI Rules.

It prohibits advocates from “soliciting work or advertising, directly or indirectly, whether by circulars, advertisements, touts, personal communications & interviews not warranted by personal relations”.
Lawyers are restricted from promoting their practice through advertisements in newspapers, social media, or digital platforms.
However, they are allowed to provide basic information about their practice, such as name, address, qualifications, and areas of specialisation, on websites, as long as it does not amount to solicitation.
While the rule was tweaked in 2008 to permit the presentation of limited information on websites, it continues to be interpreted strictly by the BCI and the courts.
- Last year, the Madras HC ordered the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu to take stringent action against online platforms listing legal services (such as Just Dial) and advocates who advertise on these platforms.

Context (TH): Recently, adulteration was in the news.

What is Adulteration?

It refers to the process of deliberately adding harmful, inferior, or non-authentic substances to an original product, usually to increase the quantity or reduce the cost.
- Adulteration can happen in food, beverages, medicines, and even cosmetics.
Adulterants: The ingredients added to adulterate a product are known as adulterants.

Types and Examples of Adulterants

Intentional Adulterants: Sand, stones, mud, talc, chalk powder, water, mineral oil and harmful colour.
Incidental Adulterants: Pesticide residues, droppings of rodents, larvae in foods.
Metallic Contaminants: Arsenic from pesticides, lead from water, effluent from industries, tin from cans.

Food Adulteration

It refers to the alteration of food quality that takes place deliberately for economic advantage.
It can be done by food substitution with inferior quality or less valued food, using artificial ripening and sweetening to increase food palatability, etc.
- Calcium carbide is a chemical used to ripen fruits artificially.

Concerns

Health Impact: It can cause short-term effects like food poisoning, digestive disorders, and allergic reactions and long-term consequences like cancer, kidney failure, liver damage, etc.
- Consumption of adulterants like metanil yellow (in turmeric) and argemone oil (in mustard oil) can cause fatal conditions like dropsy (swelling under the skin, also known as ‘oedema’ or ‘edema’).

Food Product	Common Adulterants	Health Impact
Milk	Starch, milk powder, urea	Cancer or acute renal failure
Tur dal, Turmeric powder, mixed spices, saffron	Metanil yellow (non-permitted colour)	Tumor and cancer
Ghee	Vanaspati or cheaper oils	Cancer or acute renal failure
Sugar and Salt	Chalk powder & white sand	Stomach disorder
Chilli powder	Sudan Red, Brick powder	Stomach disorder. Sudan dye is carcinogenic.
Fruits	Arsenic spray	Dizziness, chills, cramps, paralysis, death

Financial Loss: When consumers buy adulterated products, they may be paying for substandard goods that don’t provide the benefits they’re supposed to, leading to financial loss/wasted money as well.
Environmental Damage: For example, some industrial chemicals used in adulterating products can find their way into soil, water, and air, causing pollution and ecological damage.

Legal Measures to Prevent Food Adulteration

Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006: It’s the primary law against food adulteration in India, outlining strict regulations on manufacturing, storing, selling, and importing food items.
- It established FSSAI, regulatory body responsible for monitoring and enforcing food safety standards.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): BNS lists offences related to the adulteration of food or drink for sale.

Context (TH): AIIMS Delhi has successfully performed its 1^st total laparoscopic Whipple procedure on an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm (SPEN).

It makes her the youngest patient in the world to undergo the complex Whipple procedure entirely through a laparoscopic approach.

What is Solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasms (SPEN)?

SPEN of the pancreas are rare pancreatic tumors described by the WHO as low-grade malignant tumors.
These were previously known by various names, including solid and cystic tumors of the pancreas, Frantz tumors, solid and papillary epithelial neoplasms, Hamoudi tumors, and papillary-cystic tumors.
They tend to affect young women in the 2^nd or 3^rd decade of life and rarely affect children or men.
Symptoms: Patients may experience vague abdominal pain, a palpable mass, or be asymptomatic.
Treatment: Complete surgical removal of the tumour remains the only definitive treatment.

What is Whipple Operation?

It is also called pancreaticoduodenectomy. It’s often used to treat pancreatic cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the pancreas.
It involves removing the head of the pancreas, the 1^st part of the small intestine, gallbladder and bile duct.
It is a complex operation, and performing it laparoscopically further elevates the complexity.

Laparoscopic Operation

Minimally invasive surgical technique that uses small incisions instead of a large open cut.
In this method, surgeons insert a laparoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light) and specialised surgical instruments into the body through small incisions.
The camera provides a magnified, high-definition view of the internal organs on a screen, allowing precise surgical procedures with minimal trauma.

{Prelims – PIN India} Naini Lake Water Crisis

Context (IE): Naini Lake in Nainital has recorded a 5-year low water level, raising fears of water scarcity.

About Naini Lake

Natural freshwater crescent-shaped lake, tectonic in origin, with the deepest point reaching 89 feet.
Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand, surrounded by seven hills.
Hydrology: Fed by 26 major drains, with subsurface inflows & outflows balancing ~50% of its water.
Usage: Supplies ~76% of Nainital’s drinking water demand; supports tourism and recreation.

Key Causes of Water Depletion

Climate Change: Rising temperatures, reduced rainfall, and declining snowfall decrease water availability.
Unplanned Urbanization: Illegal constructions and concrete structures prevent groundwater recharge.
Encroachments: Expansion of hotels and homestays increases water demand, straining resources.
Pollution: Sewage, solid waste, and debris clog water bodies, reducing recharge capacity.
Siltation & Drainage Issues: Silt accumulation & failing drainage systems disrupt water flow and storage.
Impact of Sukhatal Lake: The Damaged lakebed of Sukhatal Lake has led to Naini Lake reaching zero level at least 10 times since 2000.

Zero Level: If the lake falls below the set gauge level, water extraction becomes difficult.

Sukhatal Lake

Freshwater Lake: Located in Nainital, surrounded by dense pine and oak forests.
Feeder Lake for Naini: Acts as upstream storage during monsoons, preventing erosion & silt deposition.
Previously known as Khudariya Tal, renamed Sukha Tal due to complete drainage into Naini Lake.

Dumping of construction waste has damaged its lakebed and recharge capacity.

Conservation Efforts

1993 Supreme Court Petition: Banned commercial complexes but failed to halt illegal construction.
2021 PIL on Sukhatal Lake: Raised concerns over concretization; Uttarakhand HC temporarily suspended construction in 2022.
- 2024 Revamp Approval: High Court allowed limited beautification under strict conditions.