Current Affairs – April 05, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Paintings} Major Indian Painting Styles *

• Context (IE): The recent viral Ghibli art trend has triggered a discussion on India’s rich and timeless painting traditions.

Also Read> Pattachitra Art.

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Haboob Dust Storm

• Context (NDTV): A massive haboob dust storm engulfed Dallas, Texas, underscoring the growing challenges posed by extreme weather phenomena.

  

  Credits: CNN

What is a Haboob?

• A haboob is an intense dust storm, forming a massive wall of dust and debris driven by strong winds.
• Can grow up to 5,000 feet tall and span over 100 km in width; lasts for several hours.
• Wind Speeds: Ranges between 35–100 km/h with sudden onset and minimal warning.

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Formation

• Thunderstorm Downdrafts: Typically triggered by thunderstorms, strong downdrafts lift dust and sand as cold air displaces dry silt and clay in arid conditions.
• Wind Reversal: Wind shifts direction abruptly, pushing dust & debris outward; forms a rolling dust wall.
• Virga Effect: Rain evaporates before reaching the ground, cooling air further & accelerating wind speeds.
• Mud Storms: In severe cases, rain mixes with dust, leading to muddy conditions.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 **

• Context (IE): The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, renamed as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill, has been passed in Parliament.

• Initially introduced last year, the Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
• It seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the administration of waqf properties in India.

Key Provisions of Bill

• Retention of ‘Waqf by user’ Properties: ‘Waqf by user” properties registered on or before the law’s commencement will retain their status unless disputed or designated as government property.
  • “Waqf by user” doctrine in Islamic legal traditions recognises properties as religious or charitable endowments based on their uninterrupted communal use, even without formal documentation.
• Inclusion of ‘Non-Muslims’: The new Bill retains provisions allowing non-Muslims to be appointed to key waqf institutions, including the Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunals.
  • It empowers the Centre to nominate 3 Members of Parliament – 2 from the Lok Sabha and one from the Rajya Sabha to the Central Waqf Council without mandating that they be Muslims.
  • Similarly, the Bill permits the appointment of a non-Muslim Chief Executive Officer and mandates that State governments appoint at least two non-Muslim members to the Waqf Boards.
• Waqf Tribunal: Each tribunal will comprise a district judge, a joint secretary-level officer from the State government, and an expert in Muslim law and jurisprudence.
  • Tribunals constituted before the Act’s enactment will continue to function until the tenure of their chairperson and members expires.
• Surveys by Senior Government Officers: The Bill mandates that senior officers above the rank of district collectors conduct surveys, particularly in cases where government ownership is disputed.
  • Bill designates these senior government officers as the final arbiters in such matters, replacing the waqf tribunals prescribed under the 1995 Act.
  • It also stipulates that a disputed property cannot be classified as waqf until the officer’s final report.
• Registration Portal: The Bill mandates that all information regarding waqf properties must be uploaded to a designated portal within 6 months of the law’s enactment.
  • Any new Waqf property registrations must be submitted to the respective Waqf Boards exclusively through this portal.
• Application of Limitation Act: The Bill seeks to repeal Section 107 of the 1995 Act, which had rendered the Limitation Act, 1963 (1963 Act), inapplicable to waqf properties.
  • The 1963 Act imposes a statutory bar on initiating legal proceedings after a prescribed period.
  • Section 107 effectively exempts waqf boards from the 12-year limitation period for reclaiming encroached properties.
• Judicial review: The new Bill retains provisions enabling judicial intervention in waqf disputes by removing the finality of waqf tribunal decisions.
  • Aggrieved parties can appeal directly to the HC within 90 days of receiving the tribunal’s order.

Read More> Waqf Property and its Governance.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Education} Age Norms for Class 1 admissions

• Context (TH): Kerala has raised the minimum age for Class 1 admission to 6 years.

Legal and Policy Framework

• RTE Act 2009 & Rules 2012: Mandates 6 years as the minimum age for Class 1 as of June 1.
• NEP 2020: Proposes a new 5+3+3+4 structure integrating Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from age 3, with formal schooling starting at 6.
• Union Government Push: Continues to urge States/UTs to align the admission age uniformly at 6 years.

Scientific Rationale in Favour

• Early Brain Development: Over 85% of brain growth occurs before age 6, making ECCE critical. ECCE must be learning-through-play based, not a push into Class 1-level academics.
• Milestone Readiness: Cognitive, social, emotional devpt necessary for formal learning stabilises ~6 yrs.
• Expert Consensus: Developmental milestones, like attention span, memory, motor and sensory development, mature ~6, ensuring better adaptability to structured schooling.
• Psychiatric Risk: Younger children in a mixed-age classroom show higher chances of ADHD-like symptoms and emotional distress due to maturity gaps.

Concerns

• Career Timeline Concerns: Parents worry that delayed entry will postpone competitive exam eligibility, government job timelines, and retirement benefits.
• Manipulations: Earlier trends included tweaking birth certificates to fast-track careers.
• Admission Pressure: Conflicting norms between boards and private schools fuel parental anxiety.
• Preschool Pipeline: Children finishing UKG at age 5 face enrollment delays if Class 1 is pushed to 6 years.

Core Challenges in Implementation

• Dual Systems Within States: CBSE vs State Board norms vary, confusing first-time parents.
• Policy-Practice Mismatch: Preschool age structures and curricula remain unregulated and misaligned with formal schooling.
• Admission Blockages: In Karnataka alone, 5–6 lakh children face barriers to transitioning to Class 1 due to misaligned pre-KG timelines.

Variations and Ground-Level Practices

• Kerala: Adopted the 6-yr norm citing international best practices.
• Karnataka: Initially made 6 years mandatory from 2023-24 but deferred to 2025-26 due to public opposition. Current admissions see fresh demands for relaxation.
• Maharashtra: Enforces age checks under RTE; most children start Class 1 at 6 yrs.
• Tamil Nadu: Private preschools admit children as young as 1.5 years; Class 1 starts at 5.5 years, creating a mismatch with formal norms.
• Preschool Practices: Many preschools teach Class 1-level content in UKG, bypassing ECCE intent and readiness considerations.

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Way Forward

• Uniform Age Norms Across Boards: States must synchronise criteria between CBSE, State Boards, and private institutions.
• Advance Public Awareness Drives: Govts must initiate timely, clear outreach to parents & schools.
• Regulation of Pre-School: Align curriculum & admission age of pre-school with ECCE norms under NEP.
• Streamlined Digital Admissions: Strengthen online age verification & transparency under RTE.
• Inclusive Planning: Stakeholders, including educators, health experts and parent bodies, must be consulted to ensure child-centric decisions.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Issues} Fluoride Contamination

• Context (IE): Excess fluoride in the groundwater of Sonbhadra district is severely impacting health.

Fluoride

• Nature: Naturally occurring, non-biodegradable mineral found in rocks, soil, air and water.
• Safe Limit: WHO prescribes 1.5 mg/L as the upper limit in drinking water; Bureau of Indian Standards prescribes 1.0 mg/L as desirable and 1.5 mg/L
• Geological Cause of Toxicity: High granite deposits leach fluoride into groundwater.
• Prevents tooth decay in small quantities; Excess intake leads to fluorosis affecting bones, joints & teeth.

Fluorosis

• A chronic, non-fatal disease caused by prolonged consumption of fluoride-contaminated water.
• Symptoms in Adults: Joint pain, bone deformities, muscle weakness, immobility.
• Symptoms in Children: Yellow-stained teeth, early signs of skeletal fluorosis.
• Health Advisories: Boiling groundwater is discouraged as it increases fluoride concentration; lemon and tamarind are suggested to reduce fluoride absorption.

Government Action and Institutional Measures

• Jal Jeevan Mission (2019): Centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Jal Shakti; targets tap water access to all households.
  • Har Ghar Jal Yojana: Implemented under the Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure safe drinking water.
• Water Testing: ‘Jal Sakhis’ test water at the village level; results uploaded via mobile app.

Also refer to the State of Groundwater in India.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Elderly} Senior Citizens Act, 2007

• Context (IE): The SC rejected a suit filed by a senior couple to evict their son from their home by invoking the Senior Citizens Act.

• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (commonly referred to as the Senior Citizens Act) is an Indian law designed to ensure the well-being of elderly citizens.

Key Provisions of the Act

• Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens: Children (biological, adopted, or stepchildren) and legal heirs are obligated to provide maintenance. If a person is unable to maintain themselves, they can seek financial support from their children or relatives.
• Tribunal for Maintenance: Senior citizens can file complaints with a tribunal for maintenance if their children neglect or refuse to support them.
  • The tribunal can order children to pay a monthly allowance (up to ₹10,000). The Act also provides for senior citizens/parents to appeal the decisions of the Maintenance Tribunal.
• Fast-track Disposal of Cases: The tribunal is required to resolve cases within 90 days.
• Protection of Senior Citizens’ Property: If a senior citizen transfers property to a relative with the condition of being cared for but is later neglected, the transfer can be legally revoked.
• Old Age Homes: Directs state governments to establish and maintain old age homes in every district.
• Abandonment: Punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 months or a fine of up to Rs 5,000 or both.

Read More> India’s Elderly Population.

{GS3 – IS – Issues} Dabba Calling

• Context (IE): Dabba Calling posing a major problem for police in various states in India.

• “Dabba Calling” enables criminals to make untraceable calls using illegal exchanges, thus bypassing traditional law enforcement surveillance.
• It involves a 3-step process.
  • 1^st an extortion call is placed via the internet. Then, the gang leader is dialled on a 2^nd phone.
  • Finally, both phones are placed side by side on speaker mode, allowing the kingpin to do the talking while evading detection.
• It is suspected to be used by foreign-based gangsters such as Goldy Brar.

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{GS3 – IS – Issues} Mundi-Cut Passport Scam

• Context (IE | IE): The Police recently arrested six people involved in a “mundi-cut” passport scam.

What is a Mundi-Cut Passport?

• A fraudulent passport where the original photo is cut out and replaced with another person’s image.
• Used to bypass immigration checks and enable illegal travel.
• Often involves passports of individuals who legally hold visas to target countries.

Also refer to Evolution of Passports and Types of Indian Passports; H1B Visa Program of the US

{Prelims – In News} 1^st Roman Aqueduct Discovered in Slovakia

• Context (IDR): Archaeologists have uncovered a Roman aqueduct in Slovakia.

• The Roman aqueduct was a channel to transport fresh water to highly populated areas.
• At 100 feet in length, the aqueduct was constructed using Roman bricks known as tegulae and stone, with a gradual slope designed to carry water to a nearby structure.
• Archaeologists suggest that this structure could have been a bathhouse for Roman soldiers, though its exact location remains undetermined.

{Prelims – PIN India} North Sentinel Island *

• Context (TH): A U.S. national was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the prohibited tribal reserve area of North Sentinel Island.

• Location: One of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
• Inhabitants: Home to the Sentinelese, one of the last uncontacted tribes in the world.
• Prohibition: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation 1956 prohibits travel to the island.

Credit: The Sun

About Sentinelese

• They are believed to number only about 150 and are designated as a particularly vulnerable tribal group. They are a nomadic, hunter-gatherer people.
• They vigorously reject all contact with outsiders. They are hostile to outsiders and have killed people who approached or landed on the island.

Other Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Read More> Andaman and Nicobar Islands.