PMF IAS Store Sale
PMF IAS General Science Book on Amazon

Current Affairs – February 02-03, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – IG} India’s Expanding Coastline

  • Context (ToI): India’s coastline has undergone a remarkable expansion, growing by 47.6% from 7,516 km in 1970 to 11,098 km in 2023-24.

State-wise Changes

  • Gujarat experienced the most significant increase in coastline length, nearly doubling from 1,214 km to 2,340 km. It is the state with the longest coastline in India.
  • West Bengal saw the highest percentage increase, surging by 357% from 157 km to 721 km.
  • Kerala reported the smallest increase, adding just 30 km (5%) to its total coastline.
  • Tamil Nadu’s coastline has been revised to 1,068 km (previous 906 km), surpassing Andhra Pradesh’s 1,053 km and now has the second longest coastline in India.
  • Puducherry’s coastline, encompassing Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe, experienced a contraction of 4.9 km.

New Measurement Methodology for Accuracy

  • The increase in India’s coastline length is primarily attributed to an updated scientific methodology introduced by the National Maritime Security Coordinator (under the Ministry of Home Affairs).
  • Unlike previous methods that measured straight-line distances, the new approach accounts for complex coastal features such as bays, estuaries, inlets, and other geomorphological formations.
  • Earlier data from 1970, sourced from the National Hydrographic Office and Survey of India, relied on older measurement techniques (straight-line distance measurements) and technologies. The new method provides a more accurate representation of coastal geography.

Read More > Coastline of India

{GS2 – IR – Africa} M23 Rebels in Congo

  • Context (IE): M23 rebels have intensified their control in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), capturing Goma and advancing toward Bukavu, with regional implications.

M23 Rebel Group

  • M23 stands for March 23 Movement, a Tutsi-led rebel group formed after the 2009 peace agreement in Congo, which ended a previous revolt.
  • The group aims to protect Tutsi interests and demand full integration of Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration, as per the 2009 accord.
  • Ethnic Dynamics: M23 fights against Hutu militias, especially the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which includes perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Geography and Size: DRC is the second-largest country in Africa, bordered by nine countries.
  • Historical Conflict: DRC has endured several wars, with the First and Second Congo Wars claiming millions of lives, often fueled by ethnic tensions and competition for resources.
  • Home to vast natural resources, including cobalt, copper, and coltan.
  • Economic Challenges: Despite its mineral wealth, DRC remains mired in poverty, corruption, and ongoing conflict, with regions like North and South Kivu often the center of insurgencies.

Political Map of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: Mapsofworld

M23’s Economic Interests: Control of Resources

  • Coltan Mining: M23 has controlled key mining regions, like Rubaya in North Kivu, generating significant revenue through taxation of coltan production.
  • Coltan is crucial for electronics manufacturing, such as smartphones, making its control a major financial incentive for rebel groups.

Strategic Importance of Goma

  • Location: Goma is situated near the borders with Rwanda and Uganda.
  • The city hosts nearly 500,000 displaced people, further complicating the humanitarian crisis.
  • Geopolitical Significance: Goma’s proximity to Rwanda and Uganda has made it a focal point for both economic trade and military conflict.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Controlled Cannabis Cultivation

  • Context (IE | DTE): Himachal Pradesh has launched a pilot project for controlled cannabis cultivation, focusing on medicinal and industrial purposes

Cannabis

  • Cannabis is a plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family.
  • Common Terms: Marijuana (plant material), Hashish (female plants), Cannabis Oil (cannabinoid extract).
  • It is native to Central Asia.
  • It contains over 120 cannabinoids, with CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) being the most notable.

Types of Cannabis

  • Cannabis sativa: It is tall and has thin leaves. It has longer flowering cycles and is better suited for warm climates. It is known for its uplifting and energising effects.
  • Cannabis indica: It is shorter and bushier, with broad leaves. It is known for its relaxing and sedative effects. It has shorter flowering cycles and is best adapted to cooler climates.
  • Cannabis ruderalis: It is short (smallest) and produces only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis. It is highly resistant to harsh conditions.

Growing Conditions

  • Temperature: 20-30°C (68-86°F)
  • Humidity: 40-70% (varies by growth stage)
  • Light exposure: 12 (flowering stage) -18 hours (vegetative stage) daily
  • Growing season: Spring to fall in outdoor settings
  • It needs to be watered regularly (not to be overwatered)

Cannabis Growth in India

  • Natural Habitat: Found across the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan region, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
  • Regional Names: Ganzai (Telugu), Ganja (Tamil), Bangi (Kannada).

Applications

  • Medicinal: Used for chronic pain, epilepsy, anxiety.
  • Industrial: Hemp for textiles, paper, cosmetics, biofuels, and food products.

Potential of Cannabis

  • The medicinal cannabis market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2030.
  • Job Creation: Hemp farming could create up to 10 million rural jobs.
  • Medicinal Benefits: CBD can treat various health conditions like chronic pain and anxiety.
  • Industrial Benefits: Hemp provides sustainable alternatives for textiles, biofuels, food, and cosmetics.

What is Controlled Cannabis Cultivation?

  • Regulation: Focuses on cannabis varieties with less than 0.3% THC (hemp), ensuring minimal psychoactive effects.
  • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, responsible for the plant’s intoxicating effects.
  • CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, known for its therapeutic properties, including pain relief, anxiety reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Legal Framework in India

  • The cultivation of cannabis is largely prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 due to its psychoactive properties. Section 2 of the Act bans the production and sale of cannabis resin and flowers, classifying charas as a prohibited substance.
  • However, the Act allows exceptions for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation under strict state regulation.
    • Section 10: Empowers state governments to regulate, permit, or prohibit cannabis cultivation for medicinal and scientific purposes.
    • Section 14: Grants the central government authority to regulate cannabis cultivation for research and industrial uses, including fibre and seed production.

States Leading Cannabis Cultivation

  • Uttarakhand: First state to allow controlled cannabis cultivation in 2018 for industrial hemp.
  • Himachal Pradesh: Launched a pilot project in 2025 for agricultural, medicinal, and industrial use.
  • Madhya Pradesh: Proposed cannabis cultivation zones for research and medicinal use.
  • Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur are experimenting with regulated cultivation.

Challenges in Controlled Cannabis Cultivation

  • Maintaining THC Limits: Ensuring THC content remains under 0.3% is difficult.
  • Seed Availability: Sourcing appropriate seeds with controlled THC levels is challenging.
  • Cross-Pollination: Risk of hybrid plants with narcotic cannabis raising THC content.
  • Awareness & Training: Lack of trained personnel to manage regulated cultivation.
  • Infrastructure Gaps: Need for specialized labs, processing facilities, and skilled workers.

Recommendations by Himachal Pradesh Committee for Pilot Project

  • Suggested changes to the NDPS Rules, 1985, for cannabis cultivation.
  • Proposal for a state-level authority to streamline cultivation processes.
  • Collaborations with CSK HP Agriculture University and Dr. YS Parmar University for R&D.
  • Development of standardized operating procedures to ensure safe and regulated practices.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Sundarbans’ Resilience

  • Context (IE): A recent study highlights the remarkable resilience of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, in responding to environmental and anthropogenic stressors.
  • The study, titled “Resilience of Sundarban mangroves in South Asia to Weather Extremes and Anthropogenic Water Pollution,” was conducted by researchers from IIT Bombay, IISER Kolkata, and ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre.
  • The Sundarbans, located in the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers, benefit from both freshwater inflows and tidal saline waters.

Key Findings

  • Sundarbans can recover from the physiological stress caused by extreme weather events within one to two weeks.
  • They maintain stable productivity despite a decline in nutrient composition due to human-induced water pollution.
  • The study found a sharp rise in the Nitrogen/Phosphorus ratio from 16:1 to around 75:1 in 2015, with occasional tenfold spikes, indicating increased nitrates and declining phosphates due to pollution.

Link Strength and Memory

  • Mangrove ecosystems exhibit strong interconnected networks through their root systems, shared soil composition, and nutrient exchanges. They also possess ecological memory, meaning they “remember” past responses to stressors, such as cyclones, and adjust their interactions with the environment accordingly. For example, if water chemistry changes, they modify their response to surrounding hydrometeorological processes.
  • Link strength” refers to the complex network of interactions within the mangrove ecosystem, including intertwined roots, shared nutrients, and common stress factors.
  • Plant Memory: The ability to “remember” and store previous responses to stressful events for future adaptation.

Read More > Mangroves

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Construction and Demolition Waste

  • Context (IE): Mumbai is grappling with an overwhelming volume of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, production exceeding its regular solid waste generation.

What Constitutes C&D Waste?

  • C&D waste includes concrete, dust, building materials, debris, and rubble generated from construction, repair, and demolition activities. Major sources include residential remodelling, redevelopment projects, infrastructure works, and unauthorised constructions. The ongoing expansion of metro projects and large-scale concretisation further contribute to the urban area’s waste burden.

Health Risks Associated with C&D Waste

  • Untreated construction dust becomes airborne, deteriorating the city’s air quality (AQI).
  • Medical experts have linked exposure to construction dust with numerous health conditions, including:
    • Cerebrovascular disease
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • Respiratory infections
    • Cardiovascular problems
    • Various forms of cancer affecting the stomach, rectum, and oesophagus.
  • Studies indicate that lung function in South Asia is significantly lower compared to other regions globally, indicating a correlation with the prevalence of air pollution.

Challenges in Waste Management

  • Recyclable materials such as steel and pipes are typically retained by developers, but materials like concrete and dust are often discarded without treatment.
  • Many individuals engage private agencies to dispose of debris at rates of Rs 200-250 per metric tonne, which often results in illegal dumping in mangroves, vacant plots, and landfill sites.
  • Low citizen participation.
  • Lack/improper segregation at the source makes the recycling process difficult.

Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016

  • The rules apply to all entities generating construction and demolition (C&D) waste, addressing indiscriminate disposal and facilitating reuse and recycling.
  • Waste generators are accountable for the collection, segregation, storage, and deposit of C&D waste. Those generating over 20 tons in a day or 300 tons per month must submit a waste management plan for approval.
  • Service providers must create a comprehensive waste management plan covering all aspects from segregation to disposal within six months of the rules’ notification.
  • Local authorities are tasked with managing C&D waste, setting up collection systems, and ensuring safe disposal, including handling contaminated waste.
  • Local authorities are encouraged to provide incentives for waste generators who actively recycle or salvage materials.
  • Regulations are in place that require the establishment of processing and recycling facilities away from sensitive areas, ensuring the scientific management of C&D waste.
  • State authorities must prepare policies and support C&D waste management, while Central Pollution Control Board will develop the operational guidelines and create standards for recycled materials.
  • The waste processing plants will be authorised by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and will monitor compliance.
  • Bureau of Indian Standards to define product codes and standards and the Indian Roads Congress to establish protocols for using C&D waste in road construction.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} CMFRI Decodes Genetic Blueprint of Indian Squid

  • Context (TH): ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has successfully decoded gene expression pattern of Indian squid, revealing significant insights into its genetic makeup.

Indian Squid

Squid

  • Scientific Classification: Specie Uroteuthis duvaucelii of the family Loliginidae, Class: Cephalopoda.
  • Habitat & Distribution: Found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea, at depths of 30-120 meters.
  • Physical Characteristics: Light pinkish-gray body with large fins, eight arms, and two tentacles; moves rapidly using jet propulsion.
  • Conservation Status: IUCN: DD

Significance of Genetic Study

  • Revealed genetic similarities with higher vertebrates, including humans.
  • Provides insights into the evolution of intelligence and brain development and offers avenues for potential applications in neuroscience and environmental science.
  • Enhances our understanding of cephalopod biology.

About CMFRI

  • Headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, it was established in 1947 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in India.
  • In 1967, it joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) family and became a leading tropical marine fisheries research institute globally.
  • Objective: Conducts research on marine fisheries, ecosystems, and aquaculture for sustainable resource management.
  • Major Contributions: Developed stock assessment models, promoted mariculture (cage farming), researched climate change impacts, and introduced biotechnological innovations in fisheries.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Suzetrigine

  • Context (IE): The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has recently approved a new non-opioid painkiller, Suzetrigine.

What are Opioids?

  • Opioids are medications derived from or designed to mimic substances naturally found in the opium poppy plant. E.g. oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
  • These drugs function by binding to opioid receptors in brain cells, blocking pain signals while simultaneously producing pleasurable sensations.
  • While highly effective for pain management, their ability to create feelings of euphoria makes them particularly susceptible to psychological dependence and addiction.

How Does Suzetrigine Work?

  • Unlike opioids, which act on the brain to numb the pain, suzetrigine interrupts pain signals before they even reach the brain (rather than simply masking the pain sensation as opioids do).
  • Suzetrigine is a prescription 50 mg pill taken every 12 hours, starting with a 100 mg initial dose. As it does not produce euphoric effects, it poses minimal addiction risk.
  • As per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opioid-related overdoses claimed 82,000 lives in 2022.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Fentanyl Seizure

  • Context (TP): Two Indian-origin individuals were charged in Canada after the seizure of 8 kg of fentanyl, potentially amounting to millions of doses.

Fentanyl

  • Fentanyl, a potent opioid agonist/synthetic opioid, was developed in the 1950s to fill a need for strong and rapid analgesia. Fentanyl was FDA-approved in 1968.
  • It is commonly used medically for pain management in chronic cancer pain or in anesthesia, but is highly addictive and dangerous in illicit forms.
  • Fentanyl is related to other opioids like morphine and oxycodone, & is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin & 100 times more potent than morphine.
  • Fentanyl’s high potency has also made it a common adulterant in illicit drugs, especially heroin.
  • Only a few grains can lead to a fatal overdose.

Trafficking

  • Fentanyl precursors are often trafficked from countries like India.
  • International trafficking networks: Canada and the U.S. report large-scale fentanyl seizures linked to transnational organized crime.

Also refer to Role of Fentanyl in Zombie Drug

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an important update!

Assured Discounts on our New Products!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Never miss an important update!