Current Affairs – April 22, 2025

{GS2 – Governance – Civil Services} Civil Services Day *

• Context (IE): PM addressed the Nation’s Civil Servants on 17^th Civil Services Day.

• Every year on April 21, the Government of India commemorates National Civil Services Day to acknowledge and celebrate our civil servants’ exceptional efforts in public service.
• PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented for outstanding service and contributions of civil servants on the day.
• 1^st Civil Services Day: Officially marked in 2006, the celebration’s roots go back to April 21, 1947.
• April 21, 1947: On this day, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, addressed a group of probationers at Metcalfe House, Delhi.
  • It was during this address, he famously referred to civil servants as the “steel frame of India”, underlining their crucial role in the nation’s governance and unity.

Evolution of Civil Services in India

Early Civil Service – The East India Company Era

• Lord Cornwallis: He is regarded as the “Father of Civil Services in India” for introducing key reforms.
• Charter Act of 1793: Institutionalised Covenanted Civil Services, bringing structure and pension provisions for employees.
• Recruitment: Until the mid-19^th century, East India Company Directors nominated civil servants, forming an elite European administrative class.
• Training: In 1800, Lord Wellesley established the College of Fort William in Calcutta for civil servant training. However, by 1806, it was replaced by the East India College at Haileybury, England.
  • Training at Haileybury included subjects like Law, Political Economy, and Indian Languages.

Demand for Reforms

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy: He was the 1^st Indian to formally demand reforms in the civil services.
• Demand for Indians in Civil Services: In 1832, during his evidence before the British Parliament, he asserted that qualified Indians should be allowed to serve in administrative positions.

Transition to Competitive Exams – Macaulay’s Reforms (1853–1859)

• Charter Act of 1853: Abolished the patronage system & introduced open competitive examinations.
  • Reformers like Sir Charles Trevelyan and Robert Lowe supported this merit-based recruitment.
• Macaulay Committee Report (1855) Recommendations:
  • Replacing nomination with competitive exams.
  • Preference for university graduates (especially from Oxford or Cambridge).
  • Focus on general education, rather than legal or vocational training.
• Civil Service Commission: Established in London (1854), and the 1^st competitive ICS exam was held in 1855 in London.
• Eligibility: The age limit was set between 18 and 25, and the syllabus was Eurocentric, disadvantaging Indian candidates.

Entry of Indians into ICS

• Indian Civil Services Act of 1861: Allowed limited Indian participation, mainly in uncovenanted posts.
  • Indians had to reside in India for 7+ years and clear local language exams.
• Satyendranath Tagore: Became the 1^st Indian to clear the ICS exam in 1864.

ICS Exams in India – Post World War I

• Simultaneous Exams: The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms led to the simultaneous exams in India.
  • From 1922, ICS exams were conducted in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and later in Delhi. London exams continued alongside.
• Public Service Commission: It was set up on 1 October 1926. The Government of India Act, 1935 led to the creation of a Federal Public Service Commission and provincial commissions, bringing partial administrative autonomy.

Post-Independence Developments

• 1947: After Independence, the ICSs were restructured as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
• 1950: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) replaced the Federal PSC and became the central body for recruiting All India Services and Central Services.

{GS2 – IR – India-China} Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

• Context (IE): Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended since 2020, is set to resume soon.
• The yatra’s revival signals improving India-China relations post-2020 border tensions.

About Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

• Lake Mansarovar (Mapam Yumtso) is a high-altitude freshwater lake near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
• Managed by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for Indian citizens aged 18-70.
• Official routes include Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim), and direct flights between India and Tibet are planned to ease travel.

Yatra Routes

Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand)

• Altitude: 5,115 metres at India-Tibet-Nepal trijunction.

• Features: Ancient trade/pilgrimage route; most direct (50 km from border to Mansarovar).
• Operational: Since 1981; managed by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN).

Nathu La Pass (Sikkim)

• Altitude: 4,310 metres on Sikkim-Tibet border.
• Features: Historic motorable route; 1,500 km to Mansarovar.
• Ease: Senior-friendly; operational since 2015 via Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation.

International Routes (via Nepal) Kerung Route

• Entry: Kathmandu to Kerung border (drive/helicopter).
• Route: Kathmandu → Kerung → Kyirong → Saga → Mansarovar → Darchen.

Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

Geographical Significance

• Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the area is the source of major Asian rivers: Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali.
• The high-altitude landscape (over 4,500 meters) showcases unique Himalayan geography and ecology.
• Proximity to the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China highlights its strategic and hydrological importance.

Religious and Cultural Significance

• Sacred to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva; taking a dip in Mansarovar is said to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit.
• Buddhists associate the site with spiritual enlightenment and consider it the earthly residence of Buddha in his Sambhogakaya form (In Mahayana Buddhism, the Sambhogakaya is the “body of enjoyment” or “celestial body” of a Buddha).
• For Jains, Kailash (Ashtapada) is the moksha (liberation) location of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhdev.
• The Bon religion reveres Kailash as the spiritual centre and abode of the sky goddess Sipaimen.
• The yatra symbolises India’s ancient spiritual traditions and cultural ties with Tibet and Central Asia.
• Annual participation by pilgrims from India, Nepal, and Tibet fosters cross-border cultural exchange and people-to-people contact.
• Rituals like the parikrama (circumambulation) of Mount Kailash and the holy dip in Mansarovar are central to the pilgrimage experience.

Strategic and Geopolitical Significance

• Diplomatic thaw: Resumption acts as a confidence-building measure post-2020 Galwan clashes, reflecting progress in India-China disengagement at Depsang/Demchok.
• Border infrastructure: Border Road Organisation’s Lipulekh Link Road (2020) enhances military logistics and civilian access, reducing trekking time and bolstering India’s border management.
• Economic pragmatism: Driven by shared concerns over US tariffs and global trade shifts, revival aids bilateral trade and local economies.
• Transborder cooperation: Includes hydrological data sharing (Brahmaputra/Indus) and plans for direct India-China flights, easing mobility.
• Soft power: Pilgrimage fosters people-to-people ties, counters Chinese narratives in Tibet, and reinforces India’s civilisational links.
• High-level diplomacy: Follows Modi-Xi talks (Kazan 2024) and WMCC meetings (2025), aiming to stabilise relations amid strategic competition.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Initiatives} HEALD Initiative

• Context (BS): The Home Minister unveiled the HEALD Initiative on World Liver Day to address India’s growing burden of liver diseases.

• HEALD stands for Healthy Liver Education and Alcohol-associated Liver Disease Prevention.
• With its core principle, “Behind every failed liver lies a missed opportunity”, it aims to prevent such losses through proactive care.
• First nationwide Integrated Health Strategy combining liver health, mental health, and alcohol-use disorder treatment with education and policy reforms.
• Launched By: Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.
• Integrated Liver Habilitation (LiHAB) Centre: India’s first such centre was inaugurated alongside HEALD to offer comprehensive liver rehabilitation.
• Multi-sectoral Collaboration: Combines public education, early screening, psychological and medical treatment of alcohol use disorder, and liver disease management to reduce stigma around alcohol dependence and promote early intervention.
• Comprehensive and Scalable Model: Focuses on prevention, early screening, psychological care, and long-term liver disease management with a sustainable and people-centered approach.

• Interconnectedness with Other Diseases: Fatty liver precedes conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, making liver health central to broader public health outcomes.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Earth Day

• Context (WEF): Recently, Earth Day was celebrated on 22^nd April.

• Theme 2025: ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, calling on people worldwide to unite behind renewable energy and triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.
• Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
• The 1^st Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when a United States (US) senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues.
• Earth Day went beyond the US in 1990 and became the largest environmental movement on Earth.

{GS3 – IS – Initiatives} Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System

• Context (IE): The government is deploying an electronic surveillance system along its border with Pakistan under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).

• CIBMS is a modern, technology-driven system introduced by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs to enhance surveillance and security along India’s borders.
• It was formulated in July 2016 after the Pathankot Air Force Station attack.

Key Components of CIBMS

• Electronic Surveillance: Deployment of high-tech sensors, radars, thermal imagers, and infrared cameras to detect movements along the border.​
• Smart Fencing (BOLD-QIT): Integration of smart fences equipped with sensors and cameras that alert control centres in real-time. This system was inaugurated along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam’s Dhubri district in March 2019.
  • The system includes various technologies such as microwave communication, optical fibre cables, day-and-night surveillance cameras, and an intrusion detection system.
• Command & Control System: A centralised control room processes inputs from various devices, facilitating quick decision-making and response.​
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Using drones for aerial surveillance.​
• Underground & Water Sensors: Installation of sensors to detect tunneling or infiltration attempts beneath the ground or through water bodies.​

Need of High Technology for Border Management

• Rising Security Threats: Terrorism, infiltration, smuggling, and illegal migration are becoming more sophisticated. Traditional methods (manual patrolling, barbed wire fencing) are insufficient to detect or prevent modern threats.
• Difficult Terrain and Weather Conditions: Long & complex borders with countries like Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal. These borders include mountains, rivers, deserts, forests, and marshy lands.
  • High-tech systems like thermal cameras, radars, and night vision devices ensure round-the-clock surveillance, even in low visibility.
• Reduction of Human Risk and Burden: It minimises soldiers’ risks by using unmanned systems like drones and ground sensors in high-risk zones.
• Coordination: Modern systems allow better communication and coordination between BSF, ITBP, coastal guards, and other forces. Data can be shared across agencies for quick, informed decisions.

Also Read> Indian Border.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence – Exercise} Exercise Desert Flag-10

• Context (PIB): Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a major multinational air combat drill held at Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE.

• Type of Exercise: Realistic simulation of aerial warfare in diverse combat scenarios.
• Participants: India, UAE (host), United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.
  • Inclusion of major NATO and Gulf nations indicates high strategic value and operational diversity.
• Indian Aircraft Deployed: MiG-29 (air superiority fighter) and Jaguar (deep strike aircraft).
  • Aimed to demonstrate India’s aerial combat strength and enhance multinational coordination through active participation in complex air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
• Focused on boosting combat readiness, interoperability, tactical knowledge-sharing and mutual trust among air forces to address global security challenges.

{GS3 – S&T – ISRO} Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress (CROP)

• Context (TH): ISRO estimated 2024–25 Rabi wheat production under its CROP framework.

About CROP Framework

• The CROP (Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress) framework, developed by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre – NRSC.
• It is a semi-automated and scalable system that uses satellite data to monitor crop sowing, growth, and harvesting in near real-time.
• It integrates multi-source remote sensing inputs to estimate crop area and production with high spatial accuracy, supporting evidence-based agricultural planning and food security.
• It aims to support timely decision-making in agriculture through space-based data.

Technology Used

• EOS-04 (RISAT-1A): SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) for monitoring under cloud cover and during night.
• EOS-06 (Oceansat-3): Atmospheric and oceanic monitoring – contributes to agro-climatic analysis.
• Resourcesat-2A: Optical sensors – provide high-resolution images for vegetation and land use mapping.
• ISRO used Vegetation Health Index (VHI) for monitoring crop health, drought stress, and overall vegetation status

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Possible Signs of Life on Exoplanet K2-18b

• Context (IE): Scientists reported the possible presence of a biomarker molecule in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, raising cautious hope about potential habitability.

About K2-18b

• It is an exoplanet (located outside our solar system) orbiting the star K2-18, ~124 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Leo.
• Discovered by Kepler Space Telescope in 2015, it is 5.2 times wider & ~9 times more massive than Earth.
• Receives a similar level of stellar radiation to what Earth receives from the Sun.
• Likely has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, suggesting potential surface habitability.

Key Atmospheric Discoveries

• Presence of two compounds, either dimethyl sulphide (DMS) or dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), in K2-18b’s atmosphere.
• Earlier, the Hubble Space Telescope found traces of water vapour in the atmosphere (2019); JWST detected carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄).
• Absence of Ammonia: In hydrogen-rich atmospheres, this combination may suggest the existence of a liquid water ocean.

Hycean World Hypothesis about K2-18b

• Hycean planets are exoplanets with vast water oceans beneath hydrogen-rich atmospheres, potentially supporting life in a unique biosphere.
• K2-18b is a leading candidate with possible atmospheric compounds like cyanide and carbon oxides and a modelled stratosphere, but may face a Venus-like runaway greenhouse effect; some scientists question the viability of liquid oceans under such extreme conditions.

DMS and Habitability Clues

• DMS as a Biomarker: On Earth, it is primarily produced by marine phytoplankton when enzymes break down dimethylsulfoniopropionate after phytoplankton die.
  • Other Sources: Produced by soil bacteria and trace amounts from volcanic eruptions.
• 2025 Detection: JWST recorded spectral signals of either DMS or its chemical sibling DMDS.
• Interpretation Caution: DMS & DMDS have overlapping signals; presence of one can’t confirm the other.

{Prelims – In News} Papal Succession After Pope Francis’ Death

• Context (IE | ET): Pope Francis passed away, prompting the start of selection process for a new Pope, with four Indian cardinals being eligible to vote.

Office of the Pope

• Holds supreme authority as Bishop of Rome, head of the Holy See and sovereign of Vatican City.
• Regarded as Christ’s representative on Earth and successor to Saint Peter.
• Elected by the College of Cardinals in a conclave, typically from among cardinals, and leads a sovereign state with global diplomatic ties.

How is the New Pope Elected?

• Sede Vacante Period: Latin for “the seat is vacant”, it is the interim period between Popes.
• College of Cardinals governs Church affairs and initiates the conclave 15-20 days after the Pope’s death.
  • Cardinals under 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel, voting in successive rounds until a two-thirds majority is reached.
  • Black smoke signals no decision, white smoke announces election; the new Pope is then introduced as “Habemus papam” from St Peter’s Basilica and declares his papal name.

Vatican City: The Papal Seat

• Smallest sovereign state in the world, and the headquarters of Roman Catholic Church situated in Rome.
  • The Holy See is the government of the Catholic Church, essentially the central administration of the church, with its seat in Vatican City.
    • It’s the body that makes decisions on faith, morals, and the church’s relationship with the world.
• Governance: Ecclesiastical monarchy ruled by the Pope.

{Species – Animal – Misc} Colossal Squid: Deep-Sea Giant of Antarctica

• Context (IE): First confirmed live footage of a juvenile colossal squid in the deep sea was released

Source: IE

• Scientific Identity: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, a cephalopod related to octopuses, cuttlefish and other squids; rarely observed and poorly understood due to its deep-sea habitat.
• Habitat Range: Inhabits cold, lightless waters of Southern Ocean near Antarctica at depths ~2,000 ft.
• Physical Features: Grows up to 14 meters and 500 kg, with the largest eyes in the animal kingdom and rotating tentacle hooks for capturing prey and defence.
• Biological Traits: Juveniles are transparent and darken with age taking on a deep red or purplish colour and developing thick, muscular arms; believed to live over a decade with slow maturation and solitary behavior.
• Ecological Role: Their size allows broader prey selection and limits predation, with sperm whales as their main predator; reproductive behaviours and whole lifespan remain largely unknown.
• Feeding Habits: Preys on large fish and squids; both predator and prey in relation to sperm whales.
• Reasons for Elusiveness: Highly sensitive to light and sound, making detection difficult; known mostly from carcasses due to deep habitat and human avoidance.
• Comparison with Giant Squid: Colossal squid are bulkier with shorter arms, found in colder Antarctic waters vs. the tropical-temperate range of giant squid (Architeuthis dux (LC)), which grow up to 13 meters.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: LC

{Species – Birds – CR} Artificial Breeding of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• Context (TOI): India has become the 1^st country to successfully breed the GIB through artificial insemination at Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park under the Bustard Recovery Programme.

About Bustard Recovery Programme

• Commenced for an initial period of 5 years (2016-21) and an extension was granted from 2021 to 2024.
• Implementation: In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC), Rajasthan and other bustard range state Forest Departments, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and NGO partners, the national conservation breeding programme.

• Objectives:
  • Conservation breeding, secure ex-situ populations of GIB, etc.
  • Applied research, to prioritise areas for conservation, characterise threats, monitor populations and habitats for assessing management effectiveness, etc.
  • Capacity building, awareness and advocacy, to improve protection, sensitise stakeholders and decision-makers on bustard conservation, public awareness, etc.

Other Measures for Conservation of GIB

• Highest Degree of Legal Protection: The GIB is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby giving it the highest degree of legal protection from hunting.
• Protected Areas: Important habitats of Great Indian Bustards are designated as National Parks/ sanctuaries for their better protection.
• Species Recovery: The GIB has been identified for conservation efforts under the ‘Species Recovery Programme’ component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme—Development of Wildlife Habitats.
• Breeding Centres: Sites for establishing conservation breeding centres for the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican birds have been identified in consultation with the Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Wildlife Institute of India.

{Species – Misc} Seven Wildlife Species Found Only in India​ *

• Context (TOI): ​Sangai Deer, Gooty Sapphire Tarantula, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Indian Purple Frog, Malabar Civet, and Namdapha Flying Squirrel are found only in India.

Sangai Deer (Rucervus eldii eldii)

Credit: IE, IUCN

• Also known as a ‘Dancing Deer,’ the Sangai is the state animal of Manipur. It is one of the three subspecies of Eld’s deer in South and Southeast Asia.
• Habitat: Floating meadows or phumdi in Loktak Lake at Keibul Lamjao National Park.
• Distribution: Once distributed throughout the Manipur State, Sangai is now restricted to the 40 sq km area park and is numbered less than 100 adult individuals in the wild.
• Physical Description: Sangai is a medium-sized deer with uniquely distinctive antlers and extremely long brow tines, which form the main beam.
• Diet: Water living plants, grasses, herbaceous plants etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered, WPA: Schedule I.
• Threats: Diseases from the livestock, inbreeding depression and poaching.

Gooty Sapphire Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

Credit: Wikipedia, IUCN

• Also known as the Gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula, blue ornamental tarantula, and peacock tarantula, it is a very large spider with long, hairy legs. Its venomous fangs kill its prey.
• It is an arboreal species and was 1^st discovered in Gooty in Andhra Pradesh.
• Habitat: Deciduous forests of Andhra Pradesh (Near Nallamalla Hills).
• Diet: Tasty flies, moths, fruit flies, mantis, etc
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered, I CITES: Appendix II.
• Threats: Hunting and Poaching, deforestation, etc.