Current Affairs – June 24, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Sites} India’s First Epigraphic Reference to Halley’s Comet

• Context (TH): A 1456 CE copper plate inscription dated Śaka 1378 (1456 CE) from Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, Srisailam, provides India’s first epigraphical reference to Halley’s Comet.

About Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, Srisailam

• It is also referred to as Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple and Dakshina Kailasa.
• Location: Situated in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, on the Nallamala Hills beside the Krishna River.
• Deities: Shiva as Mallikarjuna Swamy and Parvati as Bhramaramba Devi, both considered Swayambhu.
• Sacred Status: Only temple in India that is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
• Architecture: Constructed in Dravidian style, with tall gopurams and ornate mandapas.
• Ecological Setting: Lies in the Eastern Ghats, near the Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

Credit: Srisailadevasthanam

Swayambhu: A deity form believed to have self-manifested naturally, not man-made. Jyotirlinga: One of 12 sacred sites where Shiva appeared as a pillar of divine light. Shakti Peetha: A shrine where Goddess Sati’s body parts are believed to have fallen.

Historical Development

• Satavahana Period: Mentioned in the Nasik inscription of Vasisthiputra Pulumavi (1st century CE).
• Chalukya and Kakatiya Era: Patronage continued between the 7^th and 13^th centuries.
• Reddy Period: Pathways and mandapas built by Prolaya Vema and Anavema Reddy.
• Vijayanagara Phase: Major expansions by Harihara I, including the Mukha Mandapa.
• Qutb Shahi Rule: Temple continued to receive endowments and support.

About Halley’s Comet

• Orbital Period: Appears every ~76 years; last seen in 1986, next due in 2061.
• Named After: Edmond Halley, who predicted its return in 1705.
• Origin: Believed to originate from Oort Cloud, with its orbit shortened due to gravitational perturbations.
• Orbit Nature: Follows a highly elliptical, retrograde orbit, opposite to planetary motion.
• Visibility: Appears as a bright naked-eye object with a glowing tail during close approaches.
• Historical Mentions: Tracked since 240 BCE in Babylonian and Chinese records.

Comet: An icy celestial body that forms a glowing tail near the Sun due to sublimation. Retrograde Orbit: An orbit that moves opposite to the planetary direction around the Sun.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} South Asia’s Economic Integration Gap

• Context (TH) : Despite sharing cultural, historical, and geographic proximity, South Asia remains one of the least economically integrated regions in the world.

• Intra-regional trade continues to suffer from political tensions, trust deficits, and inefficient trade infrastructure hindering both economic growth and regional stability.

South Asia’s Low Integration: Statistics

• Trade Performance: Intra-regional trade under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) accounts for just 5–7% of South Asia’s total international trade.
  • This pales in comparison to 45% in the EU, 22% in ASEAN, and 25% in NAFTA.
• Trade Potential Unexploited: Current SAARC trade stands at around $23 billion, against an estimated potential of $67–172 billion, indicating that over 86% of trade capacity remains unrealised.
• GDP and Market Size Gap: Despite comprising 25% of the world’s population, the region’s combined GDP is only $5 trillion, compared to $18 trillion for the EU (5.8% of global population) and $24.8 trillion for NAFTA.

Issues in Trade Integration

• Political and Security Challenges: Frequent border disputes, terrorism, and bilateral tensions (especially between India and Pakistan) have led to a sharp decline in trade.
  • India-Pakistan trade fell from $2.41 billion (2018) to $1.2 billion (2024).
• High Trade Costs: Intra-SAARC trade costs are at a staggering 114% of the value of goods, compared to 76% within ASEAN and 109% with distant partners like the U.S.
  • E.g. it is 20% more expensive to trade between India and Pakistan than between India and Brazil, despite Brazil being 22 times farther.
• Weak Implementation of SAFTA: Although SAFTA was intended to liberalise trade, inefficiencies in governance and lack of trust have kept trade far from being truly “free.”

Economic Implications

• Declining Trade-to-GDP Ratio: South Asia’s trade-to-GDP ratio dropped from 47.3% (2022) to 42.94% (2024), indicating reduced openness.
• Widening Trade Deficit: The subregional trade deficit ballooned from $204 billion (2015) to $339 billion (2022) due to faster import growth over exports.
• Stifled Innovation and Investment: Low trade flows restrict economies of scale, innovation capacity, and foreign direct investment, limiting the region’s global competitiveness.

Way Forward

• Depoliticise Trade Dialogue: Bilateral issues should not overshadow regional economic cooperation. Trade talks must be delinked from political tensions.
• Regional Value Chains (RVCs): Encourage cross-border sectoral linkages in textiles, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals where complementarities already exist.
• Invest in Connectivity: Improve Road, rail, and digital connectivity to reduce transaction costs and enable smoother flow of goods and services.
• Rebuild Trust Through Track-II Diplomacy: Use academic, cultural, and industry forums to rebuild trust and generate political will for economic cooperation.

{GS2 – MoRD – Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Context (IE): The MoRD has mandated the use of QR codes on roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to enhance rural road maintenance.

• QR codes will be positioned on the maintenance boards for each road. Citizens can submit geo-tagged images of road issues. Feedback is incorporated into the Performance evaluation scoring.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Launched in 2000. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
• Objective: Provide all-weather connectivity to unconnected rural habitations.
• Eligibility: Habitats with population ≥500 (plains), ≥250 (hills/North Eastern/tribal), ≥100 (LWE-affected areas).
• Funding Pattern:
  • Initial phase: 100% central funding.
  • Since 2015–16: 60:40 (Centre: State); 90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan states.

Implementation and Governance

• Implementation: National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) provides technical support and maintains platforms like eMARG.
  • Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) handle planning and operations at state level.
• Fund management: District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) manage district-level finances.
• Contractor’s obligation: The contractor must upkeep the roads for 5 years following construction.
• Independent audits: National Level Monitors (NLMs) conduct quality checks.
• Monitoring: Progress is tracked using eMARG, a mobile-cum-web platform for submitting maintenance bills and verifying road quality via geo-tagged photos.

NRIDA: An autonomous MoRD body that sets guidelines, monitors progress and manages digital systems for PMGSY. Rural road maintenance is a state subject, supported by central schemes.

Phases of PMGSY

• Phase I (2000–2022): Covered 1.35 lakh habitations with 3.68 lakh km of all-weather roads.
• Phase II (2013–2022): Upgraded 50,000 km of rural roads; included RCPLWEA for LWE districts.
• Phase III (2019–2025): Upgrading 1.25 lakh km to connect markets, schools, and hospitals.
• Phase IV (2024–2029): Targeting 62,500 km and 25,000 habitations using cold mix and waste plastic, creating 40 crore workdays.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism-Affected Areas (RCPLWEA): Aims to enhance connectivity in 44 LWE-affected districts by constructing 5,411 km of roads and 126 bridges.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Rising Imports

• Context (IE): India is facing a dual challenge in agricultural sector, rising dependence on imported pulses and edible oils, & falling returns for domestic farmers cultivating crops like soyabean & moong.
• This trend not only undermines self-reliance in essential food commodities but also raises critical questions about the sustainability and resilience of India’s agri-economy in the long term.

Alarming Rise in Imports: Statistics

• Pulses Imports: In 2024–25, India imported 7.3 million tonnes (mt) of pulses worth $5.5 billion, breaking previous records set in 2016–17. The surge comes after a sharp dip in imports over the last five years, driven by earlier gains in domestic production.
• Vegetable Oil imports: Edible oil imports hit 16.4 mt in 2024–25, double the volume a decade ago.
  • India now depends on imports for over 60% of its vegetable oil consumption.

Factors Responsible

• Weather shocks: El Niño-induced drought in 2023–24 led to a dip in pulses production from 27.3 mt (2021–22) to 24.2 mt, causing inflation and triggering duty cuts on imports.
• Government procurement apathy: Despite an MSP of ₹8,682 per quintal for moong, farmers are forced to sell at ₹6,000 due to poor procurement.
  • Farmers growing pulses & oilseeds lack the assured procurement available to rice & wheat growers.
• Policy moves encouraging imports: In May 2025, the Centre cut basic customs duty on crude palm, soyabean, and sunflower oils from 20% to 10%, slashing the total tariff from 27.5% to 16.5%.

Impact on Farmers

• Unviable Cultivation: Falling mandi prices for pulses & oilseeds make cultivation economically unviable.
• Sowing Disincentive: Farmers are disincentivised from sowing soyabean and other oilseeds in the upcoming kharif season, risking a further drop in domestic production.
• Threat from Cheap Imports: The Soyabean Processors Association of India has warned that cheaper imports could flood the market, harming farmer incomes and rural livelihoods.

Implications

• Inflation Moderation: While CPI inflation in pulses has cooled (down to -8.2% in May 2025), the fall in farmer prices is a red flag for rural distress.
• Vegetable Oil Inflation: Remains high at 17.9% (May 2025), despite falling global prices, highlighting domestic supply bottlenecks.
• Strategic Vulnerability: High import dependence in essential foods risks food security and weakens India’s negotiation capacity in global markets.

Way Forward

• Strengthen MSP Procurement: Provide institutional support for oilseeds and pulses, similar to rice and wheat, ensuring fair prices to farmers.
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promote drought-tolerant, short-duration pulse and oilseed varieties to safeguard against erratic weather.
• Boost Domestic Processing Capacity: Increase investments in oil extraction and pulse milling to make domestic production competitive.
• Review Import Duty Structure Periodically: Maintain a balance between controlling food inflation and protecting farmers interests.
• Promote Diversification of Crops: Incentivise farmers to grow pulses and oilseeds through subsidies, extension services, and assured marketing.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} State of the Climate in Asia 2024 Report

• Context (TH): World Meteorological Organisation released “State of the Climate in Asia 2024” Report.

• State of the Climate in Asia 2024 was published by the WMO with inputs from NMHSs and UN agencies.
• Purpose: Tracks key climate indicators to guide regional resilience and adaptation.
• Baselines: Compares trends using 1991–2020 (regional) and 1850–1900 (pre-industrial).
• Sources used: Based on six datasets, including ERA5, NOAA, and GISTEMP.

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS): National agencies that monitor and forecast weather and water conditions. ERA5: Global reanalysis dataset by ECMWF reconstructing hourly climate data since 1940. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): US agency providing ocean, weather, and climate data. GISTEMP: NASA’s global surface temperature dataset from the Goddard Institute.

Key Findings of the Report

• Rising temperature: 2024 was the warmest year on record, surpassing 2023’s 1.45°C. The 1991–2024 warming rate was double that of 1961–1990.
  • 2015–2024 were all in the top 10 warmest years.
• Global Sea Surface Temperature: Rose 0.22–0.26°C/decade, nearly double global pace. Sea level rise in Asia outpaced the global average.
• Marine heatwaves: 15 million km² of Asian seas saw heatwaves in 2024. Northern Indian Ocean, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea were the worst hit.
• Glacier loss: 23 of 24 monitored Himalayan and Tian Shan glaciers lost mass, driven by low snow and extreme summer heat.
• Uneven climate trends: Short, intense rainfall and expanding droughts are increasing. Cyclones are becoming stronger, off-season, and more frequent.
• Factors responsible for warming in Asia: Rapid urban growth, deforestation, presence of large landmass (absorbs more heat), reliance on coal, and snowmelt.

{GS3 – IE – Development} India’s Economy Amid Global Shifts

• Context (TH): With global trade wars, shifting tariffs, and geopolitical tensions disrupting markets and supply chains, India is under increasing external pressure.

Global Challenges: Key Concerns

• Trade Uncertainty: Trade wars and tariff revisions are resurfacing, particularly from the U.S., India’s largest export partner. This increases pressure on export-driven sectors like apparel, gems & jewellery, pharma, electronics, and auto components.
• Tariff-Related Risks: Reciprocal tariffs by the U.S., though still uncertain, could severely impact MSMEs dependent on the American market. Fluctuating trade policies make it difficult for exporters to plan new orders or enter long-term contracts.
• Threat of Dumping: Surplus production from China & ASEAN countries may be redirected to India due to global demand mismatches, raising the risk of dumping & unfair competition for domestic producers.

India’s Strategic Response

Strategic Trade Negotiations

• India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA): Early conclusion of a BTA could secure zero tariffs on priority sectors while protecting domestic interests.
  • Addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and exploring mutual recognition agreements will enhance bilateral trust and trade flows.
• Expanding FTAs: With the UK FTA nearing completion, India must expedite deals with the EU, Australia, and other partners. These will broaden market access & reduce overdependence on limited geographies.

Domestic Economic Resilience

• Trade Remedial Measures: A strong anti-dumping framework is essential to protect Indian industries from predatory pricing practices by surplus-exporting countries.
• Public Capital Expenditure: Continued government spending on infrastructure will sustain domestic growth momentum and attract private investments in a weak global demand environment.

• Monetary Policy Support: With inflation stable, accommodative monetary policy, potentially through rate cuts, will spur consumption and investment.

Predatory pricing is a strategy where a dominant company temporarily sells goods or services below cost to drive out competitors and establish a monopoly.

Investment & Industrial Strategy

• Anchor Foreign Investments: Global firms seeking China+1 alternatives can be encouraged to establish manufacturing bases in India, especially in sectors like electronics, semiconductors, and green tech.
• Expand PLI Schemes: Fast-tracking next-generation reforms and widening the scope of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes (e.g., to IoT, wearables, and EV battery components) will drive manufacturing and job creation.

Way Forward

• Industry Re-strategization: Industry needs to re-strategize amidst rising costs, disrupted supply networks, and asymmetric information
• Mitigate Short-Term Disruptions: With proactive diplomacy and smart trade agreements, India can shield itself from immediate global economic shocks.
• Long-Term Competitiveness: Through sustained public investment and structural reforms, India can strengthen its role in global value chains.

Also read > India’s Global Integration

{GS3 – IE – Trade} India’s Trade Strategy Needs a China Reset

• Context (IE): With a slew of bilateral trade agreements (BTAs) in motion and the ambition to position India as a global manufacturing hub, one key piece remains missing- a coherent China strategy.

• As India embarks on its third term of economic governance under the current administration, trade has taken centre stage in its policy agenda.

Trade Push and Its Limitations

• Suboptimal Growth: India’s average GDP growth between 2014–2025 remains at 6.2%, despite macroeconomic reforms and PLI schemes, falling short of the double-digit growth target.
• Shift Toward Trade-Led Growth: The government is prioritising trade agreements sealing a deal with the UK and advancing negotiations with the U.S. and EU to drive exports and economic expansion.
• Regional Disconnect: India remains largely disconnected from the East and Southeast Asian production networks, especially those dominated by China, which are central to global manufacturing.
• China Strategy Gap: Without a clear and pragmatic China strategy, trade agreements alone may fall short of delivering deep integration into global value chains.

The Apple Example Apple’s India Footprint: Apple’s growing presence in India is often cited as a model for the country’s manufacturing ambitions. PLI Boost: Due to the PLI scheme and Apple’s own strategy to diversify away from China, India now contributes significantly to its global supply. However: In 2023, Apple had 156 suppliers in China, compared to only 14 in India. Even with recent additions, South and East Asia, particularly China, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, continue to dominate global component manufacturing. Value Chain Integration: If India wants to capture more of the value chain in electronics or other sectors, it must ensure the seamless flow of components and attract more global suppliers to set up within the country.

China’s Centrality in India’s Trade

• RCEP Exit: India opted out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019 due to concerns over China’s market dominance.
• Widening Deficit: Despite the exit, India’s trade deficit with China rose sharply from $53.5 billion in 2018–19 to $99.2 billion in 2024–25.
• Inescapable Dependence: Disengaging from China has proven ineffective, as trade ties have deepened mirroring trends seen even in countries like the U.S.
• Rare Earths Vulnerability: China controls 90% of global rare earth processing, crucial for EVs, solar, and defence; its export curbs are already impacting India’s green manufacturing goals.
• Race for Rare Earths: Even the U.S. seeks rare earth assurances from China, underscoring India’s urgent need to address this strategic gap.

Why India Needs a China Strategy?

• Align Trade with Geopolitics: A credible trade strategy must reflect geopolitical and supply chain realities, especially China’s central role in global production.
• Clarify China Policy: India must strike a balance between strategic caution and economic engagement to define a consistent approach toward China.
• Reconsider Regional Platforms: Re-evaluating participation in multilateral trade blocs like RCEP and CPTPP could help India access deeper Asian value chains.
• Strengthen Investor Confidence: Clear policies, stable trade relations, and robust infrastructure are crucial for attracting long-term foreign investment.
• Close the Certainty Gap: Without a defined China strategy, India risks losing investor interest to more predictable markets like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} INS Nilgiri

• Context (TH):  INS Nilgiri, the first stealth frigate under the indigenously developed Project 17A, officially joined the Eastern Naval Command.

• It is a multi-role, multi-mission frigate designed for deep-sea operations in blue water.
• Anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
• Equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system and Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles (MRSAM) system; features 76mm upgraded gun and rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.
• First of seven ships in the Project 17A class. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• Integrates “integrated construction” philosophy, reducing overall build time.

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} Solar-Powered Thermal Battery

• Context (TH): Researchers at IIT Bombay have developed a solar-powered thermal battery that can store summer heat for use in the harsh Himalayan winters.

What is the Solar-Powered Thermal Battery?

• It includes –

• Solar thermal collectors – Absorb and concentrate sunlight to heat air.
• A reactor chamber filled with a salt-strontium bromide (SrBr₂).
• A small air circulation system that facilitates controlled chemical reactions for heat storage and release.

• Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) Technology: The battery is based on TCES technology, which stores heat not as sensible or latent heat but as chemical energy.
• Use of Strontium Bromide: Strontium Bromide has been chosen for its high energy density, chemical stability, non-toxicity, non-explosiveness, and environmental safety.

Strontium Bromide is a chemical compound of strontium and bromine. It is used in flares and also has some pharmaceutical uses. At room temperature, it is a white, odourless, crystalline powder.

How Does It Work?

Energy Storage in Summer (Charging Phase)

• Solar collectors heat ambient air during summer. This hot air is passed over hydrated strontium bromide.
• The heat initiates an endothermic dehydration reaction, removing water molecules from the salt and storing solar energy chemically in the dehydrated compound.

Heat Release in Winter (Discharging Phase)

• In winter, moist air is passed through the dehydrated salt. This triggers a rehydration (exothermic) reaction, where water molecules re-enter the salt’s structure.
• The reaction releases the stored heat, which can be used for space heating during freezing Himalayan winters.

Credits: TH

Importance

• It can retain energy for several months, enabling seasonal heat storage, a game-changer for regions with high solar potential in summer and bitter cold in winter.
• Most Himalayan households rely on diesel heaters or firewood, both of which are polluting, costly, and unsustainable sources of energy. This innovation offers a clean, renewable alternative.

Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) In a TCES system, energy is stored through reversible chemical reactions, typically involving the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. The system undergoes three main phases: charging (dehydration), storing, and discharging (rehydration). TCES allows for minimal energy loss over time, making it superior to conventional heat storage for extended periods. Internationally, thermochemical storage has only been piloted in countries such as Germany. In India, practical deployment in homes is yet to be tested.

{Prelims – Festivals} Ambubachi Mela

• Context (IE): Thousands of devotees are attending the Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple in Assam.

• Ambubachi, meaning ‘water flowing’, is an annual religious festival held at Kamakhya temple in June every year. It marks the menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya. It is part of Tantric fertility worship.
• The festival is associated with fertility, onset of monsoon, and the common historical association across cultures of the Earth as a fertile woman.
• Temple remains closed during the period and farming activities are forbidden during the festival.
• It is one of the biggest congregations of eastern India.

About Kamakhya Temple

Credits: Wikipedia

• Located on Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra.
• Built in Nilachala style, blending Nagara and Mughal-influenced elements.
• One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where Sati’s yoni is believed to have fallen. The temple has a yoni stone and spring, no idol.
• Dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya or Kameswari, associated with desire and fertility.
• It is a major centre of Tantric Shaktism, especially the Kulachara tradition.
• Rebuilt in 1565 by Koch king Naranarayan after destruction, likely during Hussein Shah’s 1498 invasion.
• It has references in Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra, showing deep textual antiquity. It reflects Aryan and tribal belief systems.
• Hosts the Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival, celebrating the goddess’s menstruation.

{Prelims – PIN} Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901-1953)

• Context (TH): The Prime Minister paid tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary.

• He was an Indian barrister, educationist, politician, activist, social worker, and a minister in the state and national governments.

Early Life

• He was born on July 6, 1901, in Calcutta, Bengal Province.
• His father, Ashutosh Mukherjee, was a judge of the High Court of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency.
• He earned a BA, MA, and LLB from Calcutta University and became a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn in 1927.
• He died on 23^rd June 1953 while in custody of the Jammu & Kashmir police in Srinagar.

Key Contribution

Pre-Independence

• At age 33, he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University (1934–1938).
• He entered the Bengal Legislative Council (BLC) as an Indian National Congress (INC) candidate representing Calcutta University.
• In 1937, he was elected as an independent candidate in the elections, which brought the Krishak Praja Party to power.
• He became the President of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha (1943 to 1946).
• He served as the Finance Minister of Bengal Province in 1941-42 under A.K. Fazlul Haq’s Progressive Coalition government.

He is noted for his opposition to the Quit India Movement launched in 1942.

Post Independence

• Mookerjee was elected to the Constituent Assembly from West Bengal on a Congress Party ticket.
• He served as India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s interim government in 1947. He later resigned in 1950 over the issue of the Delhi Pact with Liaquat Ali Khan.
• He founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in 1951.
• During his time in Parliament, Mookerjee was a strong opponent of Article 370. He launched a hunger strike in protest against the Union Government’s policies in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

{Prelims – Reports} Global Liveability Index 2025

• Context (IE): The Global Liveability Index 2025 was published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

• Global Liveability Index is released by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
• Purpose: Measures the quality of life in 173 cities globally to assess how comfortable or challenging it is to live in them.
• Usage: Informs policy planning and development strategy for governments, corporations and global institutions.
• Methodology & Indicators: Based on 30+ qualitative & quantitative indicators across 5 categories;
  • Stability (25%): Crime, civil unrest, terrorism.
  • Healthcare (20%): Availability, quality, accessibility.
  • Culture & Environment (25%): Climate, culture, pollution.
  • Education (10%): Public/private access & quality.
  • Infrastructure (20%): Transport, roads, housing, utilities.
• Each indicator is rated as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable. The ratings are then weighted to provide a score from 1 (intolerable) to 100 (ideal).

Key Findings

• Global average liveability score across the 173 cities was the same as last year, at 76.1 out of 100.
• Copenhagen ranked 1^st globally (98/100), ending Vienna’s three-year dominance. Vienna & Zurich tied at 2^nd place, followed by Melbourne (4^th) & Geneva (5^th).
• Overall gains witnessed in education, healthcare, & infrastructure; however, global average stability scores declined by 0.2 points amid rising geopolitical instability, civil unrest, and the global housing crisis.
• Western European cities were the most liveable; Middle East & African cities ranked among the least with Damascus being the least liveable city in the world.
  • Tripoli, Dhaka & Karachi also remained near the bottom.
• India specific findings:
  • Delhi & Mumbai ranked 141^st reflecting poor air quality, public healthcare, traffic congestion and safety issues.
  • No Indian city featured in the top 100.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Razor Blade Variant

• Context (TH): NB.1.8.1 is a Covid-19 variant from the Omicron lineage, spreading globally with a severe sore throat called the ‘razor blade’ symptom. WHO classified it as a Variant Under Monitoring.

• Also referred to as ‘Nimbus’ or ‘Razor Blade Variant’, it is a sub-lineage of Omicron, related to JN.1 family.
• Spike mutations improve ACE2 binding and increase transmission.
• Symptoms: Fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell.
• Severity: No evidence of increased severity.

Omicron: A highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant known for fast spread but lower severity. JN.1: A sub-lineage of Omicron with high immune escape ability and strong transmissibility. ACE2: A human cell protein that the virus uses to infect the body.

{Species – Discovery} Dravidogecko coonoor

• Context (TH): A new gecko species named Dravidogecko coonoor, of Dravidogecko genus, has been discovered in the Coonoor Hills of the Western Ghats.

Credits: TH

• It is endemic to Coonoor in Upper Nilgiris.
• Has a small, flattened body with granular scales. Likely nocturnal, like other Dravidogecko species.
• Found in both urban (walls, crevices) and natural areas (montane forests, plantations) & entirely outside protected areas.
• Threats: Potentially threatened due to narrow range and urban pressure.

About Genus Dravidogecko Mostly found in high elevations of Western Ghats. Occurs in high forests across five southern states. Has vertical pupils and undivided toe pads adapted to rocky and forested terrains.