Current Affairs – June 14, 2025

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA)

• Context (PIB): India participates in the 2^nd session of IALA Council as Vice President in Nice, France.
• India will host the 3^rd General Assembly (2025) and 21^st IALA Conference (2027) in Mumbai.

• IALA is an intergovernmental technical body responsible for standardizing and enhancing marine aids to navigation (AtoN) to ensure maritime safety and efficiency globally.
• It was established in 1957 as a non-governmental body and became an intergovernmental organization in 2024.
• Headquarters:  Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.
• Members: 200 members, 80 of which are national authorities and 60 are commercial firms.
  • India has been a founding member of the organisation and a Council member since 1980.

Objectives of IALA

• To develop international standards and technical guidance for marine navigation aids.
• To promote safety of navigation, protection of marine environment, & global harmonization of practices.
• To support capacity building in member states through training, technology sharing, & advisory services.

Functions

• Sets global norms for buoys, beacons, lighthouses, and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).
• Works on IoT-enabled navigation, Maritime Service Registry, and digital AtoN development.
• Focuses on the preservation of historical lighthouses.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – PwDs} Census and PwDs

• Context (IE): India’s 2027 Census must address the chronic undercounting of Persons with Disabilities.

Undercounting of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

Historical Undercounting

• 1872 Census recorded only 67,000 PwDs out of 180 million due to vague terms like “infirmities”.
• 1881–1931 Censuses cited regressive causes (climate, widowhood) & suffered from poor definitions, training & stigma.
• 1941 Census dropped disability enumeration entirely due to cost and inaccuracy concerns.

Post-Independence Reforms

• 1981 Census: Reintroduced under UN pressure, but included only 3 types (blind, dumb, crippled).
• 1991 Census: Disability question dropped again due to lack of preparedness & clarity.
• 2001 Census: After civil society advocacy, 5 categories (seeing, hearing, speech, movement, mental) included leading to 2% PwDs (21 million).
• 2011 Census: Expanded to 8 categories leading to 2.2% PwDs (26.8 million).

2027 Census

• Aims to include 21 types of disabilities as per the RPwD act, 2016.
• Seeks to address past gaps through improved training, clarity in definitions & stigma-free data collection.

Policy Framework

• PwD Act, 1995: First comprehensive law recognizing rights, equal opportunities & full participation of PwDs. Marked a shift from welfare to a rights-based approach.
• RPwD Act, 2016: Expands the scope to 21 recognized disabilities (from 7 earlier). Aligns with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Significance

• Policy Implementation: It weakens the foundation of disability welfare schemes, impacting budgets, reservations, education access & job quotas.
• Social Justice: The Census is not just a statistical exercise; it affirms the visibility & dignity of PwDs in a democratic society.
• Accountability: Attitudinal bias, administrative neglect & technical gaps are key reasons for exclusion reflecting a need for political & bureaucratic will.

Challenges in PwDs inclusion in census

• Conceptual Misunderstanding: Many wrongly assume a disability certificate is mandatory, while the Census relies on self-declaration.
• Categorisation Confusion: There’s often no clear distinction between age-related vs. lifelong or temporary vs. permanent disabilities.
• Stigma: Social stigma discourages disclosure, especially among women, Dalits, Adivasis & those with psychosocial disabilities.
• Lack of Medical Verification: Without cross-checks, data risks both under and over reporting. In colonial times, leprosy was often confused with skin conditions.
• Training Deficits: Enumerators often lack awareness or empathy.

Way Forward

• Clear Guidelines: All 21 disabilities under the RPwD Act, 2016 must be clearly defined.
• Awareness Campaigns: Launch targeted media & grassroots outreach to inform citizens that no disability certificate is required, but self-reporting is valid.
• Sensitivity Training: Equip enumerators with stigma-free, inclusive language, especially for cases involving mental, developmental, and multiple disabilities.
• Testing & Supervision: Conduct field trials of census forms and ensure real-time monitoring of the enumeration process to minimise errors, confusion & misreporting.
• Intersectional Inclusion: Address added layers of discrimination faced by PwDs among SC/ST communities, women & others facing social exclusion.

Read also> Disabled friendly infrastructure

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} AI & Women’s Employment

• Context (IE): Women remain underrepresented in the AI workforce despite high STEM graduation rates.

Women in the AI Industry

• Global Scenario: Women constitute only 22% of the AI workforce globally (WEF, 2022).
• India-specific Data: Despite 43% of STEM graduates being women, only 14% hold STEM jobs. 81% of women in tech report bias in performance evaluations.
• Tech Industry Trends: Only 10–15% of AI specialists at Google & Meta are women.
  • Just 13.83% of AI research papers are authored by women (Nesta Report).

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a group of academic fields essential for innovation and tech-driven careers.

How is AI Empowering Women in Workforce?

• Job Potential: Data annotation, chatbot training & AI testing are emerging low-barrier job roles.
  • MeitY Report (2025) estimates that India will require 1 million AI professionals by 2026, offering a huge window for women’s inclusion.
• Remote & Flexible Work: AI enables remote and gig-based work, especially valuable for women facing mobility or caregiving constraints.
• Domestic Automation: AI-powered smart tools can reduce unpaid domestic work, freeing time for economic participation.
• Inclusive workplace: Digital upskilling programmes, AI-driven mentorship contribute to the creation of professional environments conducive to women.

Gendered Risks of AI

• Under–representation: Despite 43% of STEM graduates in India being women, only 26% work in AI roles (UNESCO), reflecting systemic exclusion and lack of leadership opportunities.
• Automation Risk: ILO reports 10% of women’s jobs are vulnerable to AI compared to 3.5% for men.
  • Women are concentrated in low-skill sectors—52% in agriculture & 21% in elementary roles in India, making them vulnerable to displacement as digitisation grows.
• Bias in AI Systems: Gendered voice assistants, biased facial recognition & unfair credit scoring reflect male-centric datasets, reinforcing workplace discrimination.
• Time Poverty: Women spend 201 more minutes/day on unpaid domestic work, limiting their access to AI upskilling & workforce participation.

Government Initiatives for Gender-Inclusive AI

• KIRAN Scheme: Supports women scientists’ return to R&D careers through fellowships and grants.
• WISE-KIRAN (Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN) scheme: Support women at various stages of their scientific careers.
• WISE-PhD and WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF): Encourages women to pursue research in basic and applied sciences.
• Vigyan Jyoti Program: Encourages female students to pursue higher education and careers in STEM.
• Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence (CURIE) Program: Empowers exclusive women’s universities by supporting research facilities in basic and applied sciences.
• #AIforAll Strategy: Promotes inclusive AI development.
• WE-Hub Hyderabad: Trained 700+ girls (13–17 yrs) in AI, empowers women entrepreneurs in tech space.

Way Forward

• Enhance Women’s Role: Promote women in leadership, close pay gaps, and support roles in AI ethics, governance, and R&D.
• Education & Skilling: Launch AI-focused scholarships, mentorships, and rural skilling programs for women. Revamp STEM curricula to reduce gender bias.
• Labour & Security Policies: Ensure flexible work, income continuity & legal safeguards against AI-led job losses. Introduce conditional cash transfers, subsidised pensions for low-skill displaced workers.
• Technology for unpaid work: Use AI to reduce unpaid domestic workload (e.g., smart home tech), enabling greater female economic participation, especially in agriculture and informal sectors.

{GS3 – Agri – Fertilisers} Biostimulants

• Context (TH): Centre has notified 34 biostimulants to boost bio-input manufacturing.

What are Biostimulants?

• Biostimulants are natural or biologically derived substances that enhance plant growth and resilience, especially under stress conditions like drought, heat or pests.
• Unlike traditional fertilizers (which provide direct nutrients like N, P, K), biostimulants improve nutrient uptake efficiency & boost plant metabolism.
• Objective: Improve crop quality, yield & stress tolerance with reduced chemical input dependency.
• Category of biostimulants: Biological (Seaweed Extracts), Organic (Humic, Fulvic Acid), Protein based compounds (Amino Acid Blends), bio-chemicals (Antioxidants, Anti-transpirants), etc.
• Regulated by: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985.
  • In 2021, biostimulants were officially added as a distinct category of Agri-inputs.

Significance

• Enhances nutrient use efficiency, boosts plant health and yield.
• Help crops tolerate abiotic stresses, making them vital for climate-smart farming.

Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) 1985 Issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the quality, pricing & distribution of fertilizers in India. It: Ensures that fertilizers meet minimum quality standards to protect farmers and crops. Prevents sale of substandard or adulterated fertilizers that degrade soil health & crop productivity. Regulates: Nutrient content (N – Nitrogen, P – Phosphorus, K – Potassium) Physical properties (e.g., color, granule size, texture) Impurity levels & harmful substances

{GS3 – Envi – CC} ‘Real Feel’ Temperature

• Context (BS): Delhi is suffering from an intense heatwave, with temperatures rising above 45°C and the ‘real feel’ or heat index reaching a scorching 51.9°C.

• A heat index of 51.9 degrees Celsius falls under the ‘extreme danger’ category, where heat stroke and exhaustion are very likely with prolonged exposure or physical activity.

What is ‘Real Feel’ Temperature?

• Often referred to as the heat index, the real feel temperature is a calculated value that combines actual air temperature with relative humidity to indicate how hot it feels to the human body.
• The ‘Real feel’ temperature fluctuates throughout the day based on temperature and humidity.
• When humidity is high, sweat evaporates less efficiently, making it harder for the body to cool itself and making the air feel much hotter. In contrast, dry air allows faster evaporation, slightly reducing heat stress.

Difference Between Actual Temperature and Real Feel’ Temperature

Factors	Actual Temperature	Real Feel Temperature
Definition	The temperature measured by a thermometer.	A perceived temperature combining various factors.
Influencing Factors	Air temperature only	Air temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation
Human Perception	Not relevant	Highly relevant
Forecasting Use	Standard meteorological report	Used for creating more accurate public advisories

Is ‘Real Feel’ Temperature Officially Tracked in India?

• Although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) acknowledges the heat index as a helpful indicator, it is not officially used in India’s weather bulletins.
• Other countries, including the US and Japan, use real feel metrics and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to assess heat stress, incorporating factors such as solar radiation and wind speed.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Role of AI in Combating Climate Change

• Context (IE): AI offers scalable solutions to fight climate change by boosting efficiency, cutting emissions & modernising energy systems.

AI: A Solution to Climate Change

• Climate Prediction: AI enhances climate simulations & extreme weather forecasting, such as heatwaves & floods, enabling early warnings & disaster preparedness. E.g. Google’s AI-based Flood Forecasting System covers India & Bangladesh.
• Renewable Energy Optimization: AI optimizes smart grid performance & integrates renewable sources by balancing supply-demand in real time.
• Resource Management: AI monitors soil, water & forest conditions, enabling precision agriculture & early intervention for resource sustainability.
  • Project Drawdown’s use of AI for regenerative farming enhances carbon sequestration.
• Biodiversity Conservation: E.g. Google’s AI Coral Reef Monitoring detects coral bleaching via underwater imagery for timely marine conservation.
• Smart Recycling System: AI-driven robotics technologies automate waste segregation & improve recycling efficiency with over 90% accuracy.
• Disaster Management: The integration of AI with IoT enables real-time tracking of deforestation, wildfires & air quality. E.g. IBM’s Green Horizons in China use AI to forecast pollution.
• Emission Control:
  • Smart Grids: Handle renewable integration & demand response.
  • AI in Transport: Google Maps uses AI to suggest fuel-efficient routes.
  • Industrial Efficiency: AI can cut emissions via predictive maintenance & process optimization.

Challenges

• Carbon Footprint: Training large AI models consumes vast energy emitting CO₂ equivalent to five cars lifetime emissions.
• Data Center emissions: AI-driven data centers consume 1–1.3% of global electricity and may reach 2–3% by 2026 (IEA). Google alone reported a 17% rise in electricity use due to AI expansion.
• Water Stress: AI data centers generate heat requiring energy-intensive cooling, often with large water usage.
• Ethical Risks: AI systems trained on biased data can lead to inequitable climate decisions, while automation may displace workers in sectors like waste management & agriculture.
• Digital Divide: Uneven access to AI may marginalize developing nations from reaping climate-tech benefits, risking technological inequality in environmental action.

Government Initiatives

• India’s Responsible AI Framework: Drafted by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the framework promotes ethical, inclusive & environmentally sustainable AI for development and governance.
• EU AI Act (2024): Classifies AI systems by risk category & mandates sustainability, transparency & human oversight.
• UNESCO’s AI Ethics Recommendation (2021): 1^st global standard on AI ethics emphasizing environmental sustainability, energy efficiency & climate-conscious AI deployment.

Way Forward

• Promote Green AI: Encourage energy-efficient AI techniques like model pruning & quantization for a shift to low-carbon cloud computing infrastructure.
• Transparent Monitoring: Mandate carbon footprint disclosures by AI developers & integrate AI impact within ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) frameworks.
• Decarbonize AI Infrastructure: Transition data centers to renewable energy sources.
• Cooperation: Promote collaborative research among climate scientists, ecologists & technologists.
• Regulatory Oversight: Implement Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for large-scale AI projects & introduce carbon scoring mechanisms for high-impact AI models.

{GS3 – Envi – RE} India’s Just Energy Transition & Reliance on Coal

• Context (IE): India’s climate goals & energy security demand a shift to renewables.

Coal Consumption Pattern in India

• Coal supplies ~55% of India’s primary energy. Around 70% of coal goes to thermal power include steel (8%) & cement (5%).
• India is the 2^nd largest coal producer & 3^rd largest importer.
• Installed Capacity: Of India’s ~402 GW total capacity, 205 GW (51%) is coal-based, despite rapid growth in renewables like Solar (72 GW) & Wind (44 GW) energy.

Issues with dependence on coal

• Supply-Demand Mismatch: COVID-19 disruptions led to coal mining halts, causing fuel shortages & electricity generation crises across multiple states.
• Pollution Hazards: Coal combustion is a major contributor to air pollution, causing over 800,000 premature deaths annually worldwide (WHO estimate).
• Economic Burden: High transmission losses, aging thermal plants & dependence on imported coal increase operational & financial costs.

Benefits of Just Energy Transition

• NDC Compliance: Aids in achieving India’s target of 40% installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, reducing carbon emissions.
• Cost Efficiency: Solar and wind offer low maintenance and zero fuel costs, along with lower transmission losses via decentralized generation.
• Health Benefits: India sees ~670,000 deaths/year from ambient air pollution; a clean energy shift reduces this burden.
• Energy security: Strengthens domestic manufacturing (solar modules, turbines, batteries), reduces oil and coal imports.

NDC is a non-binding climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. It describes a country’s national policies or decisions toward reaching net-zero emissions.

Challenges in Coal Phase-out

• Geographic Dependence: Coal-dependent economies like Jharkhand, Odisha & Chhattisgarh, accounting for 68% of India’s coal reserves, could simply collapse in case of a hurried transition.
• Employment Impact: Over 3.7 lakh PSU coal workers face livelihood risks due to the closure of mines.
• Technological Gaps: Renewables are intermittent, and India’s grid lacks full integration capabilities (e.g., for battery storage or smart grids).
• Regulatory Barriers: Slow land acquisition & complex clearance processes delay solar/wind project implementation.
• Risk of Stranded Assets: Over ₹1 lakh crore in coal plants risk becoming non-performing amid falling utilization and rising renewable share.

Economic Cost of Transition

• Financial issues: Coal sector contributes over Rs 70,000 cr annually to the central and state government through royalties, GST & other levies. 40% of Railways freight revenue depend on coal transport.
• Impact on Coal-Belt Economies: Coal-dependent districts may suffer developmental shocks, needing fiscal and employment support.

Government initiatives for Just transition

• National Solar Mission (NSM): Launched in 2010 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), it aims to achieve 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022 (extended to 280 GW by 2030) and position India as a global solar leader.
• PM-KUSUM Scheme: Promotes the use of solar-powered irrigation pumps among farmers. It helps reduce diesel dependence, lower input costs, and allows farmers to sell surplus electricity to the grid.
• Green Energy Corridor: To develop dedicated transmission infrastructure for renewable energy. It ensures the evacuation of power from solar and wind-rich states to demand centers.
• Solar Parks Scheme: Provides pre-identified land, grid connectivity, and permits to solar developers. It reduces procedural delays and attracts private investment, targeting the creation of 50 solar parks.

Way Forward

• Accelerate Renewable Deployment: TERI suggests 90% of power must come from renewables by 2050 to meet climate goals.
• Boost Energy Efficiency: Promote carbon-neutral zones like Ladakh, & energy-efficient building codes.
• Leverage Public & Private Finance: Use District Mineral Foundation (₹4,000 crore) and CSR funds in coal districts for skilling and green projects.
• Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing: Incentivize solar module, battery, and inverter production to cut import reliance.
• Unified Transition Framework: Appoint a central nodal agency to align state, centre, industry, and community interests.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Statins Can Reduce Sepsis Deaths

• Context (TH): Study finds Statins, which are drugs that help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, could bring down death rate by nearly 40% in patients with sepsis.

• The study found that supplementary treatment of hospitalised patients having sepsis with statins could boost their chances of survival.
• Additionally, statin use was associated with decreased ICU mortality and reduced in-hospital mortality.

What are Statins?

• Statins are medications that lower cholesterol levels by blocking an enzyme in the liver that helps produce cholesterol.
• Statins have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidative and antithrombotic properties.
• They may help mitigate excessive inflammatory response, restore endothelial function, and show potential antimicrobial activities.

Endothelial Function Endothelial Function refers to the role and performance of the endothelium, which is the thin layer of cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels. Key Functions of Endothelial: Regulates Vascular Tone: Releases nitric oxide to relax blood vessels and maintain blood pressure. Maintains Blood Fluidity: Prevents unnecessary clotting by producing anticoagulant and fibrinolytic substances. Controls Inflammation: Regulates immune cell movement & response during infections or injury.

About Sepsis

• Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection, causing organ dysfunction.
• The body’s reaction causes damage to its own tissues and organs and it can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death.
• Cause: Usually caused by bacterial infections but may be the result of other infections such as viruses, parasites or fungi.
• Symptoms: Fever, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion and body pain.
• Treatment: Requires medical care, including use of antimicrobials, intravenous fluids and other measures.
• Prevention: Can be prevented by treating infections early and through good hygiene.

{Species – Mammal – NT} Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)

• Context (IE): A Eurasian otter has been spotted in Kashmir for the first time in 30 years.

• The Eurasian otter, also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and the Maghreb.

Credits: IE

• Distribution: Found across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, including northern, northeast, and southern India. In India, found along the Tamirabharani River in TN.

• Habitat: Inhabits rivers, lakes, streams, swamps, marshes, and coastal areas; found in cold hills and mountain streams in India.
• Physical Features: Sleek brown fur with a paler underside, a long body, a thick tail, and short legs.
• Adaptations: Webbed feet, dense fur trapping air for insulation. Ability to close ears & nose underwater.
• Behavior: Has acute sight, smell & hearing; whiskers (vibrissae) help detect prey. Solitary & elusive; uses high-pitched whistles between mother & cubs, twittering sounds in play, cat-like noises when fighting.
• Keystone and Indicator Species: Play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: NT. | WPA, 1972: Schedule I | CITES: Appendix I.

{Species – Misc} Monotremes and AMHY gene

• Context (DTE): Australian Researchers have identified the AMHY gene as the sex-determining gene in monotremes.

  

  Echidna (Left), Platypus (Right)

  Credits: TOI

About Monotremes

• Habitat: Endemic to Australia and New Guinea; includes the platypus and four echidna species.
• Reproduction: Only living mammals that lay eggs; females incubate soft-shelled eggs in burrows (platypus) or pouches (echidna). No nipples—milk is secreted from mammary skin patches.
• Anatomical Features: Possess a cloaca (single opening for excretion and reproduction); have reptile-like traits—low body temperature (~30–32°C), sprawling gait, and shoulder girdle structure.
• Feeding Habits:
  • Platypus: Carnivorous; uses electroreception to detect underwater prey like insect larvae, worms, and small crustaceans.
  • Echidnas: Insectivorous; use strong claws and long sticky tongues to feed on ants, termites, and worms. Roll into spiny balls for defence and are adapted for digging.

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN red list.

• Evolutionary Significance: Represent a transitional link between reptiles and mammals, retaining primitive traits while exhibiting mammalian features like warm-bloodedness and milk production.

AMHY (Anti-Müllerian Hormone Y-linked) is a Y-linked gene in monotremes that triggers male sex development through hormonal action, unlike the SRY gene in other mammals, which acts via DNA-binding. It evolved around 100 million years ago and represents the first known hormone-based sex-determining system in mammals, resembling mechanisms found in fish and amphibians.