Current Affairs – April 10, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Religion} Global Navkar Mahamantra Divas *

Context (IE | PIB): PM participated in Navkar Mahamantra Divas ahead of Mahavir Jayanti and endorsed the Jain philosophy for the world.

Vardhamana Mahavira

Vardhamana was born in 599 B.C. in a village called Kundagram near Vaishali (Bihar).
- Mahavir Jayanti: Celebrated on 13^th day of Chaitra month.
  - Commemorates the birth of Mahavir. He added Brahmacharya as the fifth core vow of Jainism. The other four are Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya (non-stealing), & Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness).
He was a Kshatriya prince, and his father, Siddhartha, was the head of the Jnatrika clan.
His mother, Trishala, was a Lichchhavi princess. She was the sister of Chetaka, the king of Vaishali.
At the age of 30 years, he renounced his home and became an ascetic.
After 12 years of austerity, he attained Kaivalya (perfect knowledge) at the age of 42 years on the banks of Rijupalika River. He passed away at the age of 72 years in 468 B.C. at Pavapuri in Bihar.
Titles of Vardhamana: Mahavira, meaning the great hero; Jaina or Jitendriya, meaning one who conquers all his senses; Nirgrantha, meaning one who is free from all bonds.
Considered the 24^th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism.

Relevance of Jainism in Contemporary Times

Navkar Mahamantra: The most revered chant in Jainism, offering homage to Panch Parmeshti.
- Emphasizes spiritual enlightenment, ethical living, inner transformation and Jain principles of non-violence, humility and truth-seeking.
- Wisdom in the Information Age: Jainism urges balancing knowledge with wisdom and using the Navkar Mahamantra as a moral compass to guide youth in blending technology with human values.
Relevance of Anekantavada: PM underscored Anekantavada’s role in reducing conflicts by fostering empathy and acceptance of multiple perspectives rooted in the doctrine of non-absolutism.
Mission LiFE and Jain Ideals: Promotes sustainable lifestyles as climate solutions, aligning with Jain principles of simplicity, Aparigraha and ecological restraint.
Jainism’s Relevance to Global Problems:
- Jainism offers scientific, sensitive solutions to war, terrorism, and environmental issues through its principles of interdependence, non-violence and ecological ethics.
- Embodies ethical living through Ratnatraya (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct), Daslakshan (ten virtues), Solah Karan (sixteen attributes leading to liberation) and festivals like Paryushan that foster penance, introspection and social unity.

Panch Parmeshti

Arihants: Enlightened beings with Keval Gyan who guide aspirants and embody 12 divine qualities.
Siddhas: Liberated souls who have shed all 8 karmas, attained Moksha & possess 8 pure attributes.
Acharyas: Spiritual heads who uphold Mahavrat, lead others on the path, and embody 36 virtues.
Upadhyayas: Knowledge bearers who teach Moksha path scriptures & possess 25 spiritual qualities.
Sadhus: Renunciants who advance through penance & self-discipline and reflect 27 noble qualities.

Nine Resolutions for a Harmonious Future were adopted at the event.
- Include mindful water use, planting trees in mothers’ names, community cleanliness, supporting local products, exploring India’s heritage, adopting natural farming, embracing a healthy lifestyle, practicing daily yoga and sports, and helping the poor with compassion.

{GS1 – Geo – HG} Romani People

Context (IE): International Roma Day is celebrated every year on April 8. This observance began in 1990 to commemorate the First Romani Congress, which was held on the same date in 1971.

Population and Distribution

They are often known as Gypsies (though this term is now considered derogatory).
The largest Roma populations are Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, the USA, and Brazil.
They were closely connected to the presumed aboriginal Doma community in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Haryana, and the Punjab) and the Gangetic plain and likely shared the same ancestors.

Language and Culture

They speak the Romani language, which comes from the Indo-Aryan family. Romanes has its roots in Sanskrit languages and is related to Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali.
Charlie Chaplin, Michael Caine, and Rita Hayworth claimed descent from the Roma.

The World Romani Congress works for Roma rights, and the Council of Europe has special programs to protect Roma culture and rights.

{GS2 – IR – Antarctica} Three Gorges Antarctic Eye

Context (TP): China launched a radio/millimeter-wave telescope at its Zhongshan Station in Antarctica.

A 3.2-metre aperture radio/millimeter-wave telescope built upon earlier Antarctic initiatives like the Antarctic Survey Telescopes.
Purpose: To observe neutral hydrogen and ammonia molecular spectral lines in the Milky Way to study interstellar gas dynamics and star formation processes.

Radio and Millimeter-Wave Astronomy

Involves observing celestial phenomena in radio and low-frequency millimeter bands to understand invisible cosmic processes.
Crucial for studying cold cosmic objects, interstellar clouds & early stages of star and galaxy formation.

Key International Antarctic Activities

Global Research Hub: Hosts 70 permanent research stations from 29 countries.
Antarctic Treaty Governance: Antarctic Treaty System mandates peaceful, research-only use of Antarctica, bans commercial resource extraction and enforces environmental protection.
India: Operates 2 active stations (Maitri & Bharti) focusing on atmospheric sciences & climate research.

{GS2 – MoAFW – Initiatives} M-CADWM Scheme

Context (ET | IE| PIB): Union Cabinet approved Modernization of Command Area Development & Water Management (M-CADWM).

Key Features and Strategies

A sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, with a ₹1,600 crore outlay for 2025–26.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Funding Model: Challenge-based funding to states to innovate and adapt designs.
Sustainability Plan:
- Irrigation Management Transfer to Water User Societies (WUS) for long-term asset maintenance.
- 5-year support for WUS Capacity Building linkages with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).

Promotes youth engagement in agriculture through the adoption of tech-based irrigation practices.

Objectives and Focus Areas

Irrigation Network Modernisation: Upgrade water delivery infrastructure from existing canals or other sources to designated clusters.
Micro-Irrigation Backbone: Create robust backend systems with underground pressurised piped irrigation up to 1 hectare from source to farmgate.
Water Use Efficiency (WUE): Enhance efficiency at the farm level through precision water distribution.
Tech Integration: Use SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems & Internet of Things for real-time water accounting & management.

Also refer to Smart Farming.

{GS3 – IE – Banking} Digital Threat Report 2024 *

Context (AV | PIB): India’s first Digital Threat Report 2024 has been released by CERT-In (MeitY), CSIRT-Fin and SISA (a Global cybersecurity firm specialising in digital forensics & cyber defense).

Coverage: Focuses on India’s banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector.

Findings

Sector-wide Risks: Critical security gaps in digital payments, data-sharing practices & cloud operations.
Advanced Threats: Rising AI-driven attacks, targeted frauds, and sophisticated adversarial tactics.
Detection Gaps: Exposes delays in incident response and lack of real-time threat detection.
Systemic Vulnerability: Highlights amplified risks due to interconnected BFSI ecosystems.
Governance Challenges: Points to compliance complexities and regulatory loopholes.
Integration Deficit: Finds weak coordination between regulators and private cybersecurity frameworks.
Awareness Shortfall: Notes limited preparedness among institutions and users.
Tactics & Intelligence: Ransomware, phishing, APTs (Advanced Persistent Threat- a long-term, targeted cyberattack where attackers stealthily access a network to steal sensitive data over time) & social engineering from global investigations.
Financial Impact: Warns of potential systemic trust erosion in India’s digital financial systems.

{GS3 – IE – Inflation} Stagflation *

Context (IE): US Federal Reserve raised concerns over stagflation risks following tariff escalations under President Trump’s “Liberation Day” policy.

What is Stagflation?

Coined by Iain Macleod, British MP, in 1965 to describe simultaneous stagnation & inflation in the UK.
It is an economic condition where stagnation (slow growth and rising unemployment) coexists with inflation (persistent price rise).
Typical Economic Cycles: Inflation usually rises with growth and falls with contraction, but stagflation disrupts this balance, creating simultaneous slowdown and inflation.
Example: Stagflation triggered by the OPEC embargo in 1973. Oil prices surged 70% by 1974, inflating production and transport costs leading to global inflation, declining growth and rising US unemployment.

Drivers Behind Stagflation

Supply Shocks: External disruptions (like oil embargoes or trade tariffs) restrict supply and raise costs.
Trade Protectionism: Tariffs inflate import prices & disrupt trade, leading to reduced efficiency & rise in domestic prices.
Weak Productivity Growth: Slows output despite rising input costs, aggravating stagnation.
Currency Depreciation: Increases import costs and fuels inflation.

Economic Risks & Policy Dilemma

Dual Threat to Economy
- Inflation: Shrinks purchasing power, affects savings, raises living costs.
- Stagnation: Slows investment, increases joblessness, and dampens incomes.
Policy Tightrope: Combating inflation (via rate hikes) may further reduce growth, while stimulating growth (via rate cuts) may worsen inflation.
Public Impact: People face high prices alongside rising unemployment & stagnant wages, worsening overall economic well-being.

Contemporary Relevance

Triggering Factor: Trump’s recent tariffs could raise import costs, disrupt supply chains & spike inflation.
Policy Concern: Higher inflation & slowing growth are dual threats amid “elevated economic uncertainty” in the US.
Institutional Caution: Major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, UBS, Bank of America, Apollo, and recently Citibank have been flagged for rising stagflation risks since early 2025.

Also refer to Inflation; Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff Imposition.

{GS3 – IE – Securities} Terms in News

Context (IE): The term “bear market” has been prominent in recent news due to declines in global stock markets, primarily triggered by tariff implementations by the U.S. administration.

Bear Market

A bear market is a period of prolonged price declines in a financial market, typically defined as a drop of 20% or more from a recent peak. This downturn is often accompanied by widespread investor pessimism, mass selling of securities and other assets, and a weakening economy.
It can be cyclical or longer term. The former lasts for several weeks or a couple of months, and the latter can last for several years or even decades.

Market Correction

Smaller and more short-term drop in stock prices.
It is a normal part of the market cycle and often happens before prices go up again.
Corrections can help the market grow in the future by fixing overvalued prices.

Bull Market

Stock prices keep on rising. People feel positive about the market. More investors start buying stocks.
These are good for the economy as they encourage investment and economic growth.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} De-Extinction of Dire Wolf *

Context (IE | IE): Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company in the U.S., has announced the birth of three genetically engineered wolf pups to revive the extinct dire wolf species after 13,000 years.

Source: DTE

The gene-edited pups are not perfect copies of the extinct dire wolves. Even with 99.5% similarity, there are still millions of small differences in their DNA.
The method is based on physical appearance (morphology), not complete genetic or evolutionary match.

How Did Scientists Bring Them Back?

Ancient DNA from fossils: Scientists used ancient DNA from dire wolf fossils to find traits like white fur & thick coats.

Gene Editing (CRISPR): Modified gray wolf DNA.
- They compared the DNA of dire wolves with modern animals like wolves, jackals, & foxes. The results showed that dire wolves share 99.5% of their DNA with gray wolves.
Cloning: Nuclear transfer into gray wolf egg cells.
Surrogacy: Domestic dogs carried the embryos.

What is De-Extinction?

The Scientific process of reviving extinct species using advanced biotechnologies.
Methods: Cloning, Genome editing, Selective breeding (“Back-breeding”)
Global Projects: Woolly Mammoth, Passenger Pigeon & Dodo, Extinct plants (Ancient varieties of fruits and grains being revived).

Dire Wolf vs. Gray Wolf

Features	Dire Wolf	Gray Wolf
Scientific Name	Aenocyon dirus	Canis lupus
Size	Larger, up to 150 pounds	Smaller, typically 60–100 pounds
Skull and Jaws	More massive skull, larger jaws	Smaller skull and jaws
Physical Build	Sturdier build with muscular legs	Leaner build with longer legs
Geographic Range	North America (Pleistocene Epoch)	Worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Asia
Social Behaviour	Likely similar to gray wolves, pack hunters	Highly social, pack-oriented hunters
Extinction Status	Extinct about 12,500 years ago	Still extant, with populations worldwide
*Note:* Dire wolves will become the *second species* to be brought back to life, only to die again. The first was the bucardo, a mountain goat from the Pyrenees, in Europe.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Biomass Mission

Context (IE): The Biomass Mission is part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Explorer Programme and is scheduled to launch aboard the Vega C rocket at the end of April 2025.

Source: ESA

Objectives

To measure forest biomass and carbon content from space.
To generate accurate 3D models of forest structures and monitor changes in biomass over time.
To enhance understanding of forests’ role in climate feedback loops.
It will also observe the movement of ice sheets in Antarctica and generate digital models of terrains covered by dense vegetation.

Key Features

P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): The first satellite to use this technology can penetrate deep into forest canopies. It is a satellite imaging technique that uses radar waves to map the Earth’s surface.
- Focuses on tropical and boreal forests, providing data on forest height and above-ground biomass.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit: Operates at altitude of 666 km, ensuring consistent lighting for measurements.
12-Metre Radar Antenna: A large foldable antenna, 12 metres in size, will be used to scan forest canopies and study the structure of ground-level biomass.
Carbon Flow Monitoring: The system will monitor how carbon is absorbed and released by forests, helping scientists better understand carbon cycles and climate feedback processes.

What is the Earth Explore programme?

It is an initiative by the ESA to advance Earth science through innovative satellite missions.
These missions focus on observing and understanding various aspects of Earth’s systems, such as the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and Earth’s interior.

{Prelims – Awards} Breakthrough Prize 2025

Context (IE): The Breakthrough Prize Foundation announced the 2025 Breakthrough Prizes winners.

It is often referred to as the “Oscars of Science” for its recognition of achievements in scientific research.
Established in 2013 by prominent figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, and Yuri Milner, it aims to celebrate scientific excellence and inspire future generations.

{Prelims – Awards} Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana Award

Context (IE): The Indian PM was awarded the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana,’.

Source: IE

It is the highest civilian honour awarded by Sri Lanka to foreign Heads of State or Government.
Instituted in 2008 by then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
It recognises individuals who have fostered strong diplomatic ties and solidarity with Sri Lanka.It consists of a silver medal adorned with Navarathna (nine Sri Lankan gems), symbolising prosperity and renewal.