Current Affairs – February 13, 2025

Table of contents

{GS1 – A&C – Personalities} Sant Ravidas and the Vision of Begumpura

Context (IE): The 648th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas was recently commemorated, highlighting his teachings on social justice, equality, and the concept of Begumpura.

About Sant Ravidas

Guru Ravidas was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the saint of the Nirgunabhakti tradition and founder of the Ravidassia religion during the 15^th to 16^th century CE.
Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated yearly on Magh Purnima (full moon day of Magh month).
Guru Ravidas was born in 14th century Varanasi into an untouchable leather-working Chamar caste.
Rejected caste discrimination, gender inequality and temple-based rituals, emphasizing devotion to nirankar (formless God).
The Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, contains 41 verses of Guru Ravidass.
Guru Ravidas envisioned a society called “Begampura”, a city without grief or fear, where everyone is equal, and discrimination is not tolerated.
He is considered a spiritual Guru of Meera Bai who was the queen of Chittoor.

Key Teachings and Quotes

Equality & Brotherhood: “Jaati paati puchhe nahi koi, hari ko bhaje so hari ka hoi” (God does not ask for caste; one who worships Him belongs to Him).
Inner Purity Over Rituals: “Man changa toh kathoti mein Ganga” (If your mind is pure, even a small vessel of water is as sacred as the Ganges).
Vision of a Just Society: “Begumpura shahar ka nao” (Begumpura is a city free from sorrow & discrimination).

Begumpura: The City Without Sorrow

A utopian society free from caste hierarchy, suffering, oppression, and economic disparity.
Socialist Alignment: Resonates with Karl Marx’s vision of a classless society, though Ravidas focused on caste elimination.

Key Principles

No taxes, no rulers, and no fear of authority.
Equal access to resources and opportunities for all.
Collective welfare over individual wealth accumulation.

Ravidas’s Legacy and Relevance in Contemporary Society

Guru Ravidas’s philosophy of life is reflected in India’s constitutional values of social justice, freedom, equality and fraternity.
Inspired B.R. Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, and the Dalit movement, shaping socio-political discourse.
- Ambedkar’s Vision: Integrated Begumpura’s ideals into constitutional reforms for social democracy.
- Kanshi Ram’s Movement: Advocated proportional representation and economic justice for marginalized communities.
- Political Recognition: Delhi government declared his birth anniversary a public holiday, acknowledging his reformist impact.
Caste-based Discrimination: His vision remains crucial in fighting modern caste inequalities.
Economic Justice: Advocates wealth redistribution and fair opportunities for marginalized groups.
Humanitarian Values: Promotes social harmony, compassion, and universal brotherhood.

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Geomorphology} Earth’s Inner Core Slowing Down

Context (IE): A study confirms Earth’s inner core has slowed since 2010, challenging geological models and impacting day length.

Layers of the Earth

Earth’s Layers (Kelvinsong, from Wikimedia Commons)

Based on Physical/Mechanical Properties

Lithosphere: Rigid outermost physical layer.
Asthenosphere: Semi-fluid portion of the mantle with plastic-like flow.

Based on Chemical Composition

Crust: Outermost solid layer, composed of basalt and granite.
Mantle: Hot, dense layer between crust and core, rich in iron and magnesium.
Core: Includes the liquid outer core and solid inner core.

Earth’s Inner Core

Composition: Solid sphere primarily made of iron and nickel, surrounded by the molten outer core.
Size & Temperature: Radius of approximately 1,220 km; temperature around 5,200°C.
Properties: High thermal & electrical conductivity, contributing to Earth’s magnetic field generation.

How the Study Was Conducted

Methodology: Scientists analyzed 121 earthquakes from 1991-2023 in South Sandwich Islands & studied seismic wave behavior to infer material composition, density, and elasticity of Earth’s interior.
Additional Data Sources: Studied Soviet, French & American nuclear test records from 1971-1974.
Comparative Approach: Changes in wave patterns over time helped determine inner core’s rotational variations.

Key Findings of the Study

Inner Core Slowing Down: For the first time in decades, inner core is rotating slower than Earth’s surface.
Cause of Changes: Interaction with the turbulent molten outer core & gravitational effects from mantle.
Impact on Day Length: Could cause minute variations in Earth’s rotation, affecting global timekeeping.

Scientific Debate and Alternative Theories

Conflicting Theories: Some studies suggest the inner core rotates faster than Earth’s surface, contradicting the latest findings.
Influencing Factors: Inner core rotation is affected by Earth’s magnetic field and mantle dynamics, leading to varying interpretations.

Implications of the Study

Contradicts Previous Assumptions: Earlier believed that structural changes in the inner core happen only over geological timescales.
Independent Spin Alteration: The inner core was earlier thought to rotate independently due to mantle interactions, but new findings suggest otherwise.
Limited Daily Impact: Findings do not significantly affect everyday human life.
Scientific Importance: Enhances understanding of Earth’s interior, material properties, and core-mantle interactions.
Future Research: Provides a foundation for more accurate geophysical models and timekeeping adjustments.

Impact on Global Timekeeping

Fewer Leap Seconds Needed: Slower inner core rotation reduces the need for periodic “leap seconds” in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Climate Change Link: Earlier studies linked ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica to Earth’s changing rotation, further affecting timekeeping.

{GS1 – MIH – Personalities} Dayanand Saraswati: A Visionary of Modern India

Context (IE | IE): On February 12, 2025, India celebrates the 201st birth anniversary of Dayanand Saraswati, a prominent social reformer and philosopher who founded the Arya Samaj.

Biography

Born on February 12, 1824, in Morbi, Tankara, Gujarat as Mool Shankar to Karshanji Lalji Tiwari and Yashodabai.
In 1875, he founded Arya Samaj, sought to reform Hindu society and reject its rigid orthodox practices, focusing on social reforms based on Vedic teachings.
Arya Samaj’s mission was to eradicate ignorance, poverty, and injustice, establishing a unified Hindu society based on Vedic principles.

Philosophy and Key Teachings

Return to Vedic Principles: Dayanand’s seminal work, Satyarth Prakash, emphasized a return to the Vedas, which he believed had been distorted over time.
Monotheism and Simple Worship: He advocated for worshipping one Supreme God, rejecting idol worship and ritualistic practices.
Caste System and Untouchability: While not fully opposing caste, he called for reforms, advocating Vedic education for all castes and opposing untouchability.
Support for Women’s Rights: Dayanand was an early proponent of women’s education, opposing child marriage and promoting widow remarriage.
Economic and Social Reforms: He was a key figure in promoting cow protection, citing economic reasons for the benefits of living cows for agriculture and milk production.

Rejection of Social Inequities: Dayanand’s rejection of idolatry and social dogmas was aimed at addressing the inequities within Hindu society.
Untouchability and Women’s Rights: His efforts were instrumental in inspiring Mahatma Gandhi, who adopted his campaign against untouchability & worked to empower women by promoting education and self-respect.
Educational Contributions: After his death in 1883, his followers established Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) Schools, which played a crucial role in modern education while maintaining religious & cultural values.

Influence on Nationalism

Criticism of British Rule: His critique of British colonial rule, particularly in Satyarth Prakash, influenced the Indian nationalist movement.
Shuddhi Movement: He initiated the ‘Shuddhi’ movement, advocating for the re-conversion of Hindus who had converted to other religions back to their original faith.

Parallels with Gandhi

Abolition of Untouchability

Both Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Gandhi fought against the oppressive practice of untouchability.
Gandhi, influenced by Dayanand, adopted his campaign against untouchability, emphasizing its abolition for India’s social progress.

Swaraj (Self-Rule)

Dayanand Saraswati is credited with coining the term ‘swaraj’ (self-rule) in 1875, which was later popularized by leaders like Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.

Emphasis on Education

Both believed in the power of education for social change. Dayanand founded institutions like the DAV schools, while Gandhi focused on promoting education as a tool for nation-building and empowerment.

Reform of Caste System

While Gandhi fought for the rights of the “untouchables” (Harijans), Dayanand challenged the hereditary caste system and supported social mobility based on individual merit.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Digital Personal Data Protection Act

Context (TH): The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, delayed for 16 months, have been released for public consultation, raising concerns about their impact on privacy rights in India.

Privacy Framework in India

Puttaswamy Judgment (2017): Supreme Court upheld privacy as a fundamental right.
DPDP Act (2023): Notified but largely inoperative due to the absence of DPDP Rules.
Delayed Rules: Released after 16 months but remain inadequate in addressing privacy risks.

Key Weaknesses of DPDP Rules

Limited Protection Against Emerging Privacy Harms

Fails to regulate behavioural data collection, algorithmic surveillance, and AI-driven data usage.
Based on notice-and-consent model, ineffective due to information asymmetry between individuals and companies.

Ineffective Provisions for Data Protection

Basic Privacy Measures: Rules only mandate fundamental privacy safeguards (privacy notices, security measures, data breach reporting).
Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDFs): No clear criteria for classification or obligations to prevent algorithmic harms.
Lack of AI Regulation: No provisions to govern AI-based decision-making affecting individuals.

Misguided Approach to Children’s Data Protection

Parental Verification Requirement: Assumes universal access to ID proofs and digital literacy, worsening the digital divide.
Removal of Guardian Data Fiduciaries: Earlier drafts prohibited profiling and behavioural monitoring of children.
Targeted Advertising Exemption: Allows behavioural monitoring of children under specific conditions.

Concerns Over Government Powers

Exemptions for Government: Enables the state to bypass data protection requirements.
Broad Surveillance Powers: Allows government access to any data under the pretext of sovereignty and legal functions.
Risk of a Surveillance State: Unchecked data collection could lead to mass surveillance and privacy violations.

Erosion of Data Principal Rights

No Independent Data Protection Board: The board’s functioning is controlled by the central government, limiting its independence.
No Right to Compensation: Earlier provisions allowing individuals to seek compensation for privacy violations have been removed.
Lack of Privacy by Design: No requirement for companies to incorporate privacy safeguards from the outset.

Regulatory Gaps and Industry Benefits

Reduced Compliance Burden: Lower requirements for due diligence, data protection assessments, and privacy impact evaluations.
Weakened Fines: Despite high theoretical penalties (₹250 crore), enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.
Global Lag: Other countries are focusing on AI regulation, while India struggles with fundamental data protection.

{GS2 – IR – NA} Panama Withdraws from BRI

Context (IE): Panama has decided not to renew its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), signaling a shift in its relationship with China.

Panama Canal’s Geopolitical Importance

The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, significantly reducing travel time for ships.

Originally built and controlled by the US, the canal was transferred to Panama in 1999, following the Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1977, though the US retains military defense rights.
The canal remains a critical artery for global trade, especially for US shipping routes, amplifying its geopolitical significance.

Trump’s Claims and Concerns

US President Trump has repeatedly claimed that China is gaining control over the Panama Canal, calling for its return to US control.
Trump alleged that Panama was charging US ships unfairly and that Chinese soldiers were operating the canal. Emphasized the potential risk of China turning the Panama Canal into a “choke point” during times of geopolitical tension.

Chinese Influence in Panama

Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary company of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings, with a 25-year contract extension granted in 2021, operates two key ports (Balboa and Cristobal) at the northern and southern ends of the Panama Canal.
China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO): One of the Panama Canal’s largest users and significant in regional trade.
Chinese Investments: COSCO was also given a $3 billion contract for the Chancay Port in Peru, completed under the BRI.
Despite Chinese companies’ involvement, the canal remains operated by Panama Canal Authority, which is independent of external control.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Launched by China in 2013, the BRI aims to enhance regional connectivity and foster economic cooperation across Asia, Europe, and Africa through infrastructure projects.
BRI offers loans to participating countries, often at commercial interest rates, with accusations of debt-trapping through “predatory loans” that potentially force countries to cede key assets to China.
As of 2024, more than 140 countries have joined the BRI, covering 75% of the global population and over half of global GDP.

US Response to BRI

The US has expressed concerns about BRI’s strategic implications, particularly its potential for increasing China’s influence through infrastructure development.
The US accuses China of using economic power to extend its geopolitical reach, especially in strategic regions like Latin America and the Panama Canal.

Context (IE): University Grants Commission (UGC) has scrapped the UGC-CARE list and introduced a decentralized system for journal selection, shifting responsibility to higher education institutions (HEIs).

What was UGC-CARE?

Established: Introduced in 2018 to curb predatory journals and improve research quality, by providing a centralized, vetted list of quality journals for academic publishing.
Issues Addressed: Controlled the rise of low-quality, pay-to-publish journals that lacked peer review.

Why UGC Discontinued CARE?

Lack of Transparency: No clear reasoning for inclusion/exclusion of journals.
Slow Updates: Delayed addition of new journals and removal of predatory ones.
Career Impact: Sudden removals of journals affected faculty promotions and research funding.
Limited Coverage: Excluded reputed Indian-language journals, disadvantaging regional researchers.
Regulatory Burden: NEP 2020 criticized over-centralization in academic publishing.
Subject Bias: Inefficiencies in evaluating non-STEM (social sciences, law, humanities) journals.

New Decentralized Journal Selection Approach

Institutional Responsibility: HEIs will independently assess and approve journals.
Suggestive Parameters: UGC provides guidelines but does not enforce mandatory lists.
Academic Freedom: Researchers select journals based on discipline-specific standards.
Institutional Accountability: HEIs must prevent faculty from publishing in predatory journals.
NEP 2020 Alignment: Encourages diversity in publishing and promotes Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

UGC’s Suggested Parameters for Journal Evaluation

Editorial & Peer Review: Transparent editorial board, qualified experts, and rigorous review process.
Publication Standards: ISSN number, defined publication timelines, professional website management.
Indexing & Impact: Presence in reputable databases, impact factor, and citation metrics.
Ethical Practices: Plagiarism checks, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and clear AI-content policies.
Financial Transparency: Open disclosure of article processing charges (APCs) and funding sources.

Concerns Over the New System

Risk of Predatory Journals: Without a central list, low-quality journals may flourish.
Institutional Capacity Issues: Not all HEIs have the expertise to assess journal quality.
Uneven Standards: Lack of uniform criteria may lead to inconsistent quality control.
Need for Oversight: Some experts advocate for a regulatory mechanism to support HEIs in journal assessment.

{Prelims – PIN India} Gairsain in Uttarakhand

Context (IE): BJP’s decision to hold the budget session in Dehradun brings Gairsain into spotlight as the summer capital.

Historical Background of Gairsain

The demand for Gairsain as capital began in 1960s, led by freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali.
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) pushed for Gairsain as the capital in the 1990s, renaming it Chandranagar.
In 1992, Kashi Singh Aery, UKD MLA, proposed Gairsain as the capital.
The Ramashanker Kaushik Committee (1994) recommended Gairsain as a suitable capital.
After Uttarakhand’s formation in 2000, Dehradun was made the temporary capital due to Gairsain’s lack of infrastructure.

Political and Administrative Developments

2012: BJP CM Vijay Bahuguna held cabinet meeting in Gairsain, announced plans for assembly building.
2014: Congress began holding sessions in the Gairsain assembly building in Bhararisain.
2020: BJP declared Gairsain as the summer capital.
2020: Gairsain became a new administrative division (third commissionerate after Kumaon & Garhwal).

Arguments in Favour of Gairsain

Accessibility: Central location reduces travel times, especially for remote areas like Pithoragarh.
Representation: A hill capital ensures better attention to hill communities’ needs in policymaking.
Services: It would ensure better education, health, and transportation services for the hill regions.

Arguments Against Gairsain

High transportation costs: ₹1.95 crore spent from 2014-2017 for holding sessions in Gairsain.
Logistical Issues: Vidhan Sabha complex in Bhararisain stands at 2,380 meters above sea level, causing logistical issues.
Inefficiency: Critics argue that a permanent, functional capital would be more economical.

{Prelims – PIN World – Europe} Santorini Island

Context (DTE): Over 7,700 earthquakes hit Greece’s Santorini Island in a week, with the strongest at 5.2 magnitude, causing evacuations and tsunami fears.

About Santorini Island

Location: Santorini (Thera) is a volcanic crater island in Southern Aegean Sea, southeastern Greece.

Source: Santorini travel

Island Group: It is the southernmost island of the Cyclades, located 128 nautical miles southeast of the Greek mainland and 63 nautical miles north of Crete.
Volcanic Origin: Formed from an exploded volcano, it is part of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, with one of the few active volcanoes in Greece and Europe.
Landscape: Features sea-filled volcanic caldera, surrounded by steep, colorful cliffs on three sides.
Scenic Beauty & Culture: Known for its whitewashed houses, blue waters, dramatic views, stunning sunsets, and the ancient settlement of Thira.
1956 Amorgos Earthquake: Deadly earthquake and tsunami; 54 casualties, villages destroyed.
Tectonic Movements: Seismologists confirm ongoing quakes are tectonic rather than volcanic.
Recent Developments: Greece has declared a state of emergency on Santorini due to frequent earthquakes shaking the island and nearby Aegean islands.

{Prelims – PIN World – Asia} Lake Sapanca

Context (DTE): A study on Lake Sapanca in Turkiye highlights the impact of land use changes on water quality and stresses the need for scientific monitoring.

Key Findings

Eutrophication: High nutrient loads deplete oxygen levels, harming aquatic life.
Higher Nutrient Levels: Total nitrogen: 0.28-5.22 mg/L; Total phosphorus: 0.04-0.60 mg/L
Seasonal Variations: Pollution peaks during low-flow summer months.
Major pollution sources: agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge.
Land Use Impact: Urban and agricultural sub-basins have the highest pollution levels; Forested areas improve water quality by retaining nutrients.

About Turkiye

Turkiye shares land borders with Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria and maritime borders with Cyprus, Egypt, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.
Turkiye (WWF 2021) has been declared water-stressed due to poor water management & urbanisation.

Source: Researchgate

About Lake Sapanca

Location: Freshwater lake in Sakarya Province, Turkiye, between Gulf of İzmit & Adapazari Meadow.
Geography: Lies in a tectonic depression, running parallel to Iznik Lake, surrounded by mountains in the south and small hills in the north.
Fed by small streams from surrounding mountains, serving as a primary freshwater source for domestic and industrial use.
Catchment Area: Spans 251 km², with a diverse ecosystem supporting local biodiversity.