Current Affairs – April 29, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Languages} Bengali Language

• Context (IE): The historical evolution, diversity & colonial transformation of Bengali is remarkable.

Early Development

• Bengali evolved mainly from Magadhi Prakrit, influenced by Sanskrit, Pali & Abahatta. (Magadhi Prakrit is an ancient vernacular derived from Sanskrit, forming the base of several Eastern Indo-Aryan languages).
• Influence of Islamic Rule: Turko-Afghan rule under Bakhtiyar Khilji introduced Persian and Arabic elements into Bengali vocabulary and literature. Persian became the official language, enriching Bengali with new sonic patterns and literary forms.
• Colonial Impact on Bengali: Printing press in Serampore standardized Rarhi Bengali (Nadia and Kolkata) while sidelining dialects like Barisal and Sylheti.
• Reform Efforts: Writers like Michael Madhusudan Dutt and Rabindranath Tagore championed simpler, accessible language forms.

Emergence of Hybrid Forms

• Dobhashi Bengali: A Persianised Bengali form blending folk elements, often written in Persian script, showcasing the linguistic hybridity of Arabic, Persian & Hindustani words in everyday Bengali speech.
• Sadhu Bhasha: A Sanskritised, rigid literary Bengali emerged, disconnected from daily speech, creating a social divide with education, caste prestige, and urban sophistication.

• Cholito Bhasha: A more natural, colloquial Bengali rooted in spoken traditions, gradually gained prominence in daily life.

Regional Diversification of Bengali

• Sylheti: A distinct variety marked by glottal stops and phonetic abruptness, heavily influenced by Arabic, Persian and Urdu; viewed as a ‘border song’ connecting Bengal and Assam.
• Bhati Bengali: Spoken in the deltaic southern wetlands, rooted in oral expression and local folklore.
• Radhi Bengali: Emerged in the central plains, refined through Vaishnava devotional poetry and folk songs, laying the foundation of standard colloquial Bengali.
• Munda Influence: Varieties in Bankura and Purulia show Munda linguistic imprints due to proximity to Jharkhand’s tribal populations.
• Linguistic Homogenization: Colonial censuses reduced the linguistic diversity of Bengal into a single label, “Bengali,” ignoring rich local variations like Rajbanshi, Kharia, and Kamtapuri.

Bengali Literature

• Earliest Records: The Charyapadas (pre-13^th century CE) are the oldest known Bengali literary works, written in allegorical language.
• Medieval Literature (1350–1800): Flourished with Mangalakavya (celebratory poetry), adaptations of Sanskrit epics, Padavali literature (Krishna-Radha lyrical poems), and Chaitanya’s biographies.
• Oral Traditions: Despite Persian dominance, oral Bengali genres like Puthi poetry, ballads, and devotional songs thrived in rural Bengal.

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Monsoon Forecasting in India **

• Context (IE): IMD forecasts ‘above-normal’ rainfall (105% of LPA) for the 2025 southwest monsoon, citing favorable El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions.

Early Efforts in Monsoon Forecasting

• Beginnings (1877): Systematic forecasting efforts started post-IMD’s establishment in 1875 due to the 1876-78 Great Famine, emphasizing agriculture, revenue, and public health.
• Blanford’s Contribution (1882-1885): Proposed the first monsoon forecasts, linking Himalayan snow cover with rainfall patterns in northwest India.
• Eliot’s Advancements (1889): Built on Blanford’s work, incorporating local weather, Himalayan snow, and Australian conditions, but failed to predict droughts like the 1899-1900 famine.
• Sir Gilbert Walker (1904): Introduced global atmospheric, land, and ocean parameters in forecasting, identifying 28 predictors, including the Southern Oscillation (later linked to El Niño).
  • Subregional Forecasting: Divided India into Peninsula, Northeast, and Northwest for more region-specific predictions.
  • Persistent Errors (1932-1987): Continued using Walker’s model, but predictions showed errors of 12.33 cm for the peninsula and 9.9 cm for Northwest India due to outdated parameters.
• Gowariker Model (1988)
  • Introduced power regression models using 16 atmospheric variables, shifting to nationwide forecasts instead of regional ones.
  • By 2000, 4 parameters lost relevance, leading to model revisions & regional forecast was reintroduced in 1999.
  • It failed to predict the 2002 drought, prompting a re-evaluation and the introduction of new forecasting models in 2003.
• Two-Stage Forecasting (2003): Introduced two models (8-parameter and 10-parameter) but faced failures like the 2004 drought, which led to further refinements.
• Statistical Ensemble Forecasting System (SEFS) 2007: Reduced parameters, avoided overfitting, and integrated ensemble forecasting for more accurate predictions.
  • Improved Accuracy: Decrease of forecast errors from 7.94% (1995-2006) to 5.95% (2007-2018).

Recent Improvements

• Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecasting (MMCF) System (2012): A dynamic model integrating ocean, atmosphere and land data for precise forecasts.
• Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) System (2021): Incorporating coupled global climate models (CGCMs) from global research centers, improving forecasting accuracy.
  • Error Reduction (2007-2024): Forecast error reduced, with recent April forecasts showing deviations of just 2.27% in actual rainfall (2021-2024).
• Scope for Further Improvement: There is room to enhance precision by refining dynamical models, reducing systematic errors, and improving teleconnectivity with global climate modes like ENSO.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} India Expands Continental Shelf Claim

• Context (TH): India has expanded its continental shelf claim in the Arabian Sea, modifying earlier submissions to avoid maritime disputes with Pakistan.

India’s Continental Shelf Claim

• India, through its Ministry of Earth Sciences, seeks recognition for an additional 10,000 sq. km in the Central Arabian Sea to supplement its original 2009 Sir Creek Claim submission.
• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, provided technical validation & prepared scientific data for submission.
• Claims are submitted to the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS) under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Strategic Importance of India’s Move

• Expansion of Maritime Rights: India’s anticipated total extended continental shelf could add 1.2 million sq. km, making the seabed area almost equal to its landmass of 3.274 million sq. km.
• Resource Exploration: The extension unlocks commercial mining rights for valuable minerals, polymetallic nodules, and oil reserves, boosting energy security and the blue economy.

Background of the Maritime Dispute

• Sir Creek Dispute: Sir Creek is a strip of water dividing India’s Kutch region and Pakistan’s Sindh province, historically causing maritime boundary disagreements.
  • Pakistan’s 2021 Objection to India’s 2009 claim, citing overlap of nearly 100 nautical miles near the contested border.
• 2023 CLCS Response: Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf rejected India’s full claim in the Arabian Sea but allowed resubmission of ‘partial claims’ without prejudicing boundary disputes.
• India’s Revised Submission: In April 2025, India submitted two partial claims, ensuring the uncontested Central Arabian Sea region remains part of India’s recognized shelf claim.

Overlapping Claims with Other Nations

• Oman: Some overlaps exist with Oman’s continental shelf; however, both countries agreed in 2010 that the delimitation is pending but undisputed.
• Myanmar and Sri Lanka: India’s claims of about 300,000 sq. km in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean face contests from Myanmar and Sri Lanka, to be discussed in future CLCS consultations.

Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf

• Established in 1997 under UNCLOS, headquartered at the United Nations, New York.

Mandate and Functions

• Review scientific and technical submissions by coastal states.
• Make recommendations on the legitimacy of seabed claims.
• Provide scientific support if requested.
• Remain non-prejudicial in boundary disputes between neighbouring countries.

Also refer to Coastal Zone Regulations.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Diseases} Anaemia **

• Context (BS): A study by the University of Oxford found that maternal anaemia during early pregnancy increases the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in babies by 47%.

Key Features of Anaemia

• Condition in which the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues.
• Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, cold hands and feet, and headaches.
• Not typically fatal if treated, but if left untreated or undiagnosed, it can lead to severe complications.
• Typically diagnosed through a blood test measuring haemoglobin levels, hematocrit, and RBC count.
• Treatment for anaemia varies by cause: iron-deficiency anaemia is treated with iron supplements, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies with their respective supplements, and severe cases may require blood transfusions or treatment for underlying conditions.
• More prevalent in low-income and developing countries such as Africa and Asia (50-60 % in pregnant women) due to poor nutrition, especially iron-deficient diets, and limited access to healthcare.

Different Forms of Anaemia

• Iron-deficiency anaemia: Caused by insufficient iron, leading to reduced haemoglobin production, often due to poor diet or blood loss. Can cause heart failure and other complications.
• Vitamin-deficiency anaemia: Resulting from a lack of vitamins B12 or folate, essential for red blood cell production, often due to poor nutrition or absorption issues.
• Aplastic anaemia: A rare condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough red blood cells, often linked to autoimmune diseases or chemical exposure. Can lead to life-threatening complications.
• Anaemia of chronic disease: Occurs in chronic illnesses like cancer or kidney disease, where the body’s response impairs red blood cell production.
• Sickle cell anaemia: A genetic disorder causing misshapen red blood cells that block blood flow and reduce oxygen delivery. Can reduce life expectancy.
• Thalassemia: An inherited disorder where abnormal haemoglobin is produced, causing red blood cell destruction. Can reduce life expectancy.
• Hemolytic anaemia: Characterized by the rapid destruction of red blood cells (RBC), which can result from infections or autoimmune diseases. Can lead to life-threatening complications.
• Fanconi anaemia: A rare genetic condition that causes bone marrow failure, leading to low blood cell production.

Anaemia in Pregnancy

• Anaemia during the first 100 days of pregnancy increases the risk of CHD due to insufficient iron, which is crucial for fetal development, particularly in forming the baby’s heart.
• Iron deficiency can impair oxygen delivery to the fetus, disrupting normal heart development.
• Other nutrient deficiencies, such as folate and vitamin B12, may also contribute to this link by affecting cell division and tissue growth, further hindering proper heart formation.

Anaemia in India

• Anaemia affects various demographic groups across the country. As per NFHS-5 (2019–21), anaemia affects 67.1% of children (6–59 months), 57% of women, 52.2% of pregnant women, and 25% of men aged 15–49 in India.
• States like Bihar and Ladakh report higher rates of anaemia among pregnant women, with prevalence rates of 63.1% and 78.1%, respectively.
• The primary causes include iron deficiency, poor dietary intake, and socio-economic factors such as poverty and lack of education.

Government Efforts to combat Anaemia

• Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Launched in 2018 under POSHAN Abhiyaan. Aims to reduce anaemia among children (6–59 months), adolescents (10–19 years), and women (15–49 years) by 3% annually.
  • Focuses on six interventions, including iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation, deworming, and delayed cord clamping.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission): Launched in 2018 to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
• Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme: Targets school-going adolescent girls and boys (10–19 years). Provides weekly iron and folic acid tablets and biannual deworming.
• National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI): Provides iron and folic acid supplementation across life stages, from infancy to adulthood. Focuses on high-risk groups including pregnant and lactating women.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Provides supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, and referral services for children under 6 years and pregnant/lactating women.
• Mid-Day Meal scheme: Offers nutritious meals in schools to improve child health and reduce micronutrient deficiencies, including iron.

Also refer to Mission Utkarsh.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Diseases} Zero Stage Cancer

• Context (BS): Zero stage lung cancer can be cured surgically without chemotherapy.

Key Features of Zero-Stage Cancer

• Zero-stage cancer (Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ) is the earliest form of cancer where abnormal cells are present but confined to the innermost lining of an organ—without tissue invasion or metastasis.
  • Nearly 100% survival with early treatment and prevents transition to invasive, metastatic cancer.
• Abnormal cells remain limited to epithelial surface.
• Considered a “pre-cancer” but may progress if untreated.
• Largely asymptomatic—detected via routine screening or incidental imaging
• Usually cause no symptoms or is asymptomatic.

Detection Methods

• Often found during imaging or health screening for other issues.
• Techniques:
  • Imaging: X-ray, CT, Low-Dose Computed Tomography-LDCT (especially for smokers).
  • Biopsy: Confirms cellular atypia.
  • Screening:
    • Mammogram → DCIS
    • Pap smear/HPV test → CIN 3
    • LDCT → Lung AIS (esp. in age 50–80 smokers with ≥20 pack-years)

Causes and Risk Factors

• Genetic Factors: Inherited mutations (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutations in breast). Family history increases risk.
• Environmental/Lifestyle:
  • Tobacco smoke: Lung, throat, bladder.
  • Alcohol: Liver, oral cavity.
  • Radiation: UV (skin), X-rays.
  • Chemical exposure: Asbestos, benzene, dyes.
  • Infectious Agents: HPV → Cervical (CIN 3)
    • Hepatitis B/C → Liver
    • H. pylori → Gastric lining changes
• Hormonal Imbalance: Estrogen/progesterone → Breast, uterine abnormalities
• Diet & Obesity: High-fat, low-fiber diets and obesity → chronic inflammation, cellular dysregulation.
• HPV vaccination and breast/cervical screening are key preventive tools.
• Low public awareness, unequal rural access to screening, risks of overdiagnosis, and psychological stress from a “pre-cancer” label remain key challenges in managing zero-stage cancers.

{GS3 – IE – Taxes} GST Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2025

• Context (BS): The Ministry of Finance notified the GST Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2025 for operationalization of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).

• Absence of a functional GSTAT has forced taxpayers to seek relief from HCs, escalating costs and delays.

Key Highlights

• Mandatory e-filing of Appeals: Rules make it mandatory to file all appeals online through the GSTAT portal, ensuring standardized formats and clear timelines.
• Procedure: The rules also lay down procedures for submitting affidavits, summoning documents, examining witnesses, and seeking additional evidence with the tribunal’s permission.
• Hybrid Hearings: Hearings will be public by default and conducted in hybrid mode, allowing both physical and virtual participation.
• Effective Date: Rules took effect on April 24, 2025.
• Applicability: Covers all appeals filed before the GSTAT.

GST Appellate Tribunal

• It is a quasi-judicial body established under the Central GST (CGST) Act, 2017 to resolve disputes arising between taxpayers and the tax authorities.
• It serves as the forum of appeal for taxpayers aggrieved by the decisions of the GST adjudicating authority or the first appellate authority. It is the 1^st forum of dispute resolution between Centre & States.
• The principal bench of the GSTAT is located in New Delhi.

Composition

• National Bench (New Delhi): President and one Technical Member each from Centre and States.
  • GSTAT’s first President, Justice (Retd.) Mishra was a former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
• State Benches: Two Judicial Members, a Technical Member (Centre) and a Technical Member (state).

Eligibility and Appointments

• Appointment: The President and the Judicial Members of the National Bench and the Regional Benches shall be appointed by the Government after consultation with the Chief Justice of India or his nominee.
• Eligibility: The President must have either been a Supreme Court Judge, the Chief Justice of a High Court, or a High Court Judge for at least 5 years.

Tenure

• President of the Appellate Tribunal: 3 years or until he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier and shall be eligible for reappointment.
• Judicial Member & State President: 3 yrs or until age of 65, whichever comes first. Can be reappointed.
• Technical Member (Centre or State): 5 yrs or until age of 65, whichever comes first. Can be reappointed.

Resignation

• The President, State President, or any Member can resign by sending a signed written notice to the Central or State Government, as applicable.

Powers

• The Tribunal is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 but follows the principles of natural justice and has the authority to regulate its own procedure.
• It possesses powers similar to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for matters like summoning individuals, demanding document production, and receiving evidence on affidavits.
• Orders issued by the Tribunal can be enforced as if they were court decrees, with the Tribunal having the authority to seek execution within the local jurisdiction.

{GS3 – S&T – Bio} RNA-based Antiviral | Cucumber Mosaic Virus

• Context (TH): Researchers recently reported developing an RNA-based antiviral agent that confers strong protection against Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV).

Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)

• CMV is a plant pathogenic virus in the family Bromoviridae. It infects more than 1,200 plant species, including critical food crops like cucumbers, squash, and cereals, and medicinal plants.
• Spread: It spreads through small sap-sucking insects called aphids. With nearly 90 aphid species capable of transmitting CMV, outbreaks are often difficult to contain.
• Impact: Affected plants develop a mosaic discoloration, stunted growth, and commercially unviable fruits. In India, CMV is responsible for 25-30% yield losses in banana plantations.
  • In pumpkins, cucumbers, and melons, infection rates can soar up to 70%.
• Cure: There is currently no known cure for CMV.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Eos

• Context (ET): Discovery of a massive, croissant-shaped hydrogen cloud near the Sun & Earth.

Source: ET

• It is a newly identified T-shaped, croissant-like cloud of molecular hydrogen, ~300 light-years from Earth in the interstellar medium, glowing in ultraviolet.
• Eos lies on the edge of Local Bubble, a 1,000-light-year-wide cavity formed by supernovae 10-20 MYA.
• Visibility: Not visible without specialized equipment due to its faint far-ultraviolet glow yet offering valuable insights into nearby and early universe star and planet formation.
• Size: Would span an area 40 times larger than a full moon if visible to the naked eye.
• Stability: Predicted to gradually break apart over the next six million years.
• Detection Method: Molecular hydrogen, usually hard to detect due to weak radiation, was first observed glowing solely in the far-ultraviolet spectrum using South Korea’s STSAT-1 satellite launched in 2003.

{Prelims – In News} Inostrancevia *

• Context (MC): Inostrancevia, a formidable predator, thrived after the catastrophic Great Dying.

• It was a giant, saber-toothed carnivorous therapsid having probable leathery skin, that briefly dominated ecosystems after the world’s greatest mass extinction.
• Size: Reached nearly four metres in length and weighed up to 400 kilograms.

• Predation: Fed primarily on herbivorous dicynodonts and pareiasaurs, securing its position at the top of the food chain.
• Survival Adaptation: Thrived briefly by exploiting the ecological voids created by The Great Dying.

Great Dying and Rise of Inostrancevia

• The Great Dying, or Permian-Triassic extinction event, occurred 252 million years ago and wiped out about 81% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrates, marking the most severe mass extinction in Earth’s history and the transition from Permian to Triassic Period.
• Mass Extinction: ~90% of species were wiped out due to violent volcanic eruptions across Siberian Traps.
• Aftermath: Climate shifts, ocean acidification and global oxygen loss led to ecosystem collapse and vacant ecological niches.
• Emergence: Inostrancevia surfaced as a top predator in these disrupted environments, capitalizing on the lack of competition.

{Prelims – PIN World – CA} Poás Volcano *

• Context (WION): The Poás Volcano in Costa Rica erupted blanketing nearby areas in volcanic ash.

Key Features

• Location: Central Costa Rica; within Poás Volcano National Park.
• Type: Composite stratovolcano (complex structure formed by multiple eruptive centers).
• Elevation and Area: Covers a basal area of about 400 sq. km. 2,708 meters above sea level.
• Activity:
  • Active since prehistoric times; frequent eruptions.
  • Since 2024, crater lake drying up, leading to ash emissions, gas release, and small rock explosions.

{Species – Mammals – Misc} Hyena

• Context (DTE): International Hyena Day 2025 observed on 27th April.

• The hyena is a carnivorous mammal known for its distinctive laugh-like vocalizations, strong jaws, and scavenging behavior.
• There are four distinct species of hyena. (Refer table)
• Diet: The striped hyena is predominantly a scavenger; its diet consisting mainly of carrion and human refuse. It scavenges large and medium-sized mammals, such as zebras, wildebeests etc.
• Threats: Persecution fueled by fear, superstition, and misinformation about the species; loss of habitat; human-wildlife conflict; hunting for bushmeat, traditional medicine etc.