Current Affairs – March 04, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Festivals} Herath Festival

• Context (HT): Herath, the Kashmiri Pandits’ celebration of Mahashivratri, holds deep religious and cultural significance with unique rituals and feasting.

Key Rituals and Traditions

• Vatuk Pooja: Main worship using a Kalash filled with water and walnuts, symbolising the four Vedas.
• Dooni-Mavas: Distribution of walnuts as sacred offerings.
• Salam: Observed a day after Shivratri, symbolising harmony between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims.
• Shankaracharya Temple: A major pilgrimage site for Herath celebrations.
• Food Traditions: Unlike typical Mahashivratri fasting, non-vegetarian food (fish & mutton) is consumed.
• ‘Herath Poshte’ is the traditional greeting exchanged during the festival.

{GS1 – A&C – Festivals} Nyokum Yullo Festival *

• Context (IE): The Nyokum Yullo festival is celebrated by the Nyishi community in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Meaning: The Word Nyokum has been derived from the combination of two words – Nyok means land (earth) and Kum means collectiveness or togetherness.

Rituals

• Worship: No idols, and the main prayer structure is yugang, which is made of bamboo, with sacrificial animals tethered beside it.
  • Nyokum goddess, goddess of prosperity, is invoked for her blessings for more production of food grains in the next harvesting season.
• Attire: Men wear a cotton eri robe, bead necklaces, and a bamboo-woven cap adorned with feathers, fur, or a hornbill beak.
  • Women dress in parej, earrings, bead necklaces, and a finely crafted bamboo headdress.
• Singing & dancing precede the main ritual, performed by the head priest (nyubh) and his attendants.
• Guests are welcomed with rice paste powder and opo (millet seed beer) served in dried gourd ladles.

  

  Credit: Arunachal24

About Nyishi Tribe

• The Nyishi are the largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India. They also live in Sonitpur and North Lakhimpur districts of Assam.
• In Nishi, their traditional language, Nyi refers to “a man”, and the word shi denotes “a being”, which, combined together, refers to a civilised human being.
• The Nyishi language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family, however, the origin is disputed.
• They trace their descent patrilineally and are divided into several clans.
• Polygyny (man has more than one wife) is prevalent among the Nyishi.
• The Nyishi believe that human beings’ can live a life of peace and prosperity on this earth only when a perfect harmony is maintained between man, God and nature.

{GS1 – MH – Personalities} Amir Khusrau *

• Context (IE): PM attended the 25^th Jahan-e-Khusrau festival in New Delhi, celebrating the legacy of Amir Khusrau, a key figure in India’s syncretic Sufi tradition.

Amir Khusrau: The ‘Indian Turk’

Credits: The Hindu

• Early Life and Heritage: Born in 1253 to a Central Asian immigrant and an Indian Muslim mother, he embodied a fusion of Turkic and Indian cultures.
• Birthplace Debate: Patiyali (Etah, Uttar Pradesh) is widely believed to be his birthplace.
• Court Patronage: Served as a court poet under five Delhi Sultans — Muizuddin Qaiqabad, Jalaluddin Khalji, Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
• Royal Honors: Jalaluddin Khalji granted him the title ‘Amir,’ and historian Ziauddin Barani documented his esteemed status.
• Praise Poetry: Excelled in royal praise poetry, a crucial tool for rulers to assert cultural legitimacy in medieval Islamic society.
• Sufi Influence: A devoted disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, he was deeply influenced by Sufism and maintained a strong spiritual connection with his master.
• Balancing Court and Khanqah: Managed to earn equal respect in the royal court and the Sufi order.
• Final Days (1325): Passed away shortly after Nizamuddin Auliya’s death, mourning with his famous lament, “Beauty sleeps on the bed… night has set over this place.”

Amir Khusrau’s Contributions

• Literary Legacy: Renowned for lyrical beauty, wordplay, and diverse themes, writing across royal eulogies, folk songs, riddles, and word games.
• Cultural Synthesis: Integrated Persian and Turkic traditions with Indian influences, shaping Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and praising Hindu philosophical thought.
• Musical Innovations: Pioneered ragas, ornate khayal music, and popularised qawwali; attributed with sitar and tabla’s invention (historically debated).
• Notable Compositions: Created timeless works like Chhaap Tilak, Zehal-e-Maskeen, and Sakal Ban Phool Rahi Sarson.

{GS1 – MH – Personalities} Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj *

• Context (IE): The eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sambhaji Maharaj, ruled from 1681 to 1689 and is known for his bravery, resistance against the Mughals, and refusal to convert.

Early Life and Ascension

• Born on May 14, 1657, to Shivaji Maharaj and Saibai Nimbalkar, at Purandar Fort, Maharashtra.
• Mughal Hostage: Sent to Aurangzeb’s court as part of the Treaty of Purandar at age nine.
• Family Conflicts: Tensions with stepmother Soyarabai, who supported Rajaram’s claim to the throne.
• Political Estrangement: Briefly joined Mughal forces under Diler Khan but returned to Maratha fold.
• Coronation: Crowned on July 20, 1680, at Raigad Fort after overcoming internal conspiracies.

Major Military Campaigns and Resistance

• Battle of Burhanpur (1681): Maratha forces successfully raided this major Mughal trade centre.
• Siege of Ramsej (1682-1688): Marathas fiercely resisted Mughal attacks for six years.
• Konkan Campaign (1683-1684): Fought against Siddis and Portuguese to secure coastal regions.
• Battle of Wai (1687): Marathas won but lost their commander-in-chief, Hambirrao Mohite.
• Defense Against Aurangzeb: Held off a strong Mughal army, preventing North India’s reoccupation.

Contributions to the Maratha Empire

• Expansion: Continued Shivaji’s policies, strengthening Maratha strongholds.
• Naval Engagements: Strengthened coastal defenses against Portuguese and Siddis.
• Religious Devotion: Earned the title “Dharamveer” for his refusal to convert to Islam.
• Maratha Administration: Followed his father’s administrative model & upheld Ashtapradhan system.

Ashtapradhan System (Council of Eight Ministers) Peshwa: Prime Minister, head of administration. Amatya: Finance Minister, managed empire’s treasury. Shurunavis: Secretary, drafted royal orders. Mantri: Interior Minister, handled intelligence. Senapati: Commander-in-Chief, led military campaigns. Sumant: Foreign Minister, managed diplomacy. Nyayadhyaksha: Chief Justice, oversaw judicial matters. Panditrao: High Priest, handled religious affairs.

Capture, Execution and legacy

• Betrayal: Captured at Sangameshwar due to an internal conspiracy. Yet, they refused to meet the conditions to surrender forts and treasures and convert to Islam.
• Torturous Execution: Publicly tortured and killed by Aurangzeb at Tulapur on March 11, 1689.
• Symbol of Resistance: Refusal to bow to Mughal rule and religious oppression.
• Maratha Strength: His struggles laid the foundation for later Maratha resurgence.

Key Battles of the Marathas Battle of Pratapgarh (1659): Marathas vs. Adilshahi forces. Battle of Surat (1664): Marathas vs. Mughal commander Inayat Khan. Battle of Purandar (1665): Marathas vs. Mughals. Battle of Salher (1672): First large-scale Maratha victory over Mughals. Battle of Sangamner (1679): Last battle of Shivaji’s reign. First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782): Ended with the Treaty of Salbai. Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805): Marked by the Treaty of Bassein and Deogaon. Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1819): Concluded with Treaties of Poona, Gwalior, and Mandasor.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Uttarakhand Land Law Amendment

• Context (IE): Uttarakhand Cabinet has approved a new draft law banning non-residents from purchasing agricultural and horticultural land in 11 districts (Except Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar).

Key Provisions of the Amendment

• Ban on Non-Residents: Non-residents cannot purchase agricultural and horticultural land in 11 districts outside municipal limits.
• Retention of Ceiling on Land for Industries & Tourism: A 12.5-acre ceiling is reinstated for land purchases for tourism, industry, and education.
• Mandate for Land Utilization: Purchased land for commercial, industrial, cultural, and medical purposes must be used within three years, failing which ownership reverts to the government.
• Leasing Provision: Land, including agricultural and horticultural plots, can be leased for up to 30 years.
• Affidavit Requirement: Buyers must submit an affidavit stating they have not purchased more than 250 square meters of land elsewhere in the state for residential purposes.
• State Approval for Land Use: State government approval is required for land acquisition exceeding 12.5 acres in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.
• Online Monitoring Portal: A dedicated online system will track land transactions involving non-residents for transparency.

Background of Land Laws in Uttarakhand

• Governance under UP Zamindari Abolition Act (1950): Uttarakhand follows land laws inherited from Uttar Pradesh, with amendments after its statehood in 2000.
• 2003 Restrictions: First cap on non-residents’ land purchases was introduced to protect local interests.
• 2017 Amendment: Removed the 12.5-acre ceiling on land purchases for tourism, industry, and education to promote investment.

Similar Restrictions

• In Himachal Pradesh, non-agriculturists cannot buy agricultural land freely but can acquire it for industry, tourism, or horticulture with government approval.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} India launches C-3 alliance *

• Context (TH | PIB): India launches the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) at the 12^th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum to accelerate circular economy initiatives worldwide.

Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3)

• Multi-nation alliance for city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private-sector partnerships.
• Key Focus: Strengthening waste management, resource efficiency, and sustainable urban development across Asia-Pacific.
• Role: Acts as a catalyst for resource efficiency and a low-carbon economy by uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers.
• Strengthens India’s Commitment to Circular Economy: India advocates ‘Pro-Planet People (P3)’ strategy, emphasising the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R).

Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum

• Established in 2009 under the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) initiative to guide policymakers in Asia-Pacific to mainstream 3Rs and circular economy principles.
• Key themes focus on resource efficiency, sustainable waste management, a low-carbon economy, and policy support for national strategies.

Major Outcomes of the 12^th Forum

• CITIIS 2.0 agreement launched for urban sustainability.
• Jaipur Declaration (2025-2034): A non-political, non-binding commitment to resource efficiency and sustainable urban growth.
• India Pavilion: Showcases India’s best practices and achievements in circular economy.

{GS2 – IR – India-EU} EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC)

• Context (IE): Recently, the European Union and India concluded their second ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

• It is a key bilateral platform to address challenges at the confluence of trade, trusted technology, and security between the two partners.
• Established: By European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and PM Narendra Modi in 2022.

Key Outcomes

Strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity

• Committed to accelerating a human-centric digital transformation, development of advanced and trustworthy AI, semiconductors, High-Performance Computing and 6G.
• Agreed to work towards interoperability of their respective Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs).
• Both will encourage innovation and information exchange by deepening the cooperation between the European AI Office and India AI Mission.

Green and clean energy technologies

• Both sides highlighted the progress made on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, which has been instrumental in advancing our shared ambition of achieving net zero emissions.
  • The EU aims to reach this goal by 2050, while India is targeting 2070.
• EU and India will launch Joint research cooperation under the Horizon Europe program, focusing on key areas such as marine plastic litter and waste-to-renewable hydrogen.

Trade, investment and resilient value chains

• Both committed to fostering resilient and future-ready value chains and establishment of early warning systems to anticipate and mitigate disruptions in supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
• The EU and India also agreed to continue their engagement to address market access issues and exchange best practices on the screening of Foreign Direct Investments.
• Reaffirmed commitment to multilateral trading system while recognising the need to reform WTO.
• Held discussions on the implementation of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

EU-India Bilateral Trade EU is India’s largest trading partner, accounting for €124 billion (12.2% of total Indian trade) worth of trade in goods (2023). Trade in services contributed €60 billion in 2023. EU is the second-largest destination for Indian exports (17.5% of total) after the USA (17.6%). India is EU’s 9th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.2% of EU’s total trade in goods in 2023. Trade in goods between the EU and India has increased by almost 90% in the last decade.

European Union (EU)

• Founded: In 1951 by 6 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands).
  • EU was officially created by Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993.
• Current Member States: 27 countries.
  • Germany has the EU’s largest population and France is the largest EU country in terms of area.
  • Malta is the smallest EU country both in terms of inhabitants and surface area.
• Elections: Held every 5 years to elect new Members of the European Parliament.
  • The European Parliament is a legislative body of EU and its only directly elected institution.
• Open Borders:  Schengen area allows people to move around without border checks since 1985.
  • All EU Member States, except for Cyprus and Ireland, are members of the Schengen area.

Other key points about EU

• Single Market: EU operates as a single market consisting of 27 EU countries and 4 non-EU countries.
• Single Currency: Launched in 1999, the euro is the official currency of 20 EU countries. These countries are known as the euro area.
• GDP: Total GDP is €17 trillion, with services contributing 72%. Germany has the largest share, followed by France and Italy.
• Trade: World’s largest exporter of manufactured goods and services accounting for around 14% of the world’s trade in goods.
  • The US is the largest destination for EU exports of goods. China is the largest origin of goods imports.
• Climate Targets: Committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
• Nobel Peace Prize 2012: Awarded to the EU for over 6 decades, contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.

{GS2 – IR – UN} The UN Security Council Resolution 1325

• Context (IE): The ‘Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South’ was held to mark the 25^th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325.

• UNSC Resolution 1325: It is a global commitment to ensuring that women and girls are more systematically and sustainably integrated into peace and security.
  • It reaffirms the critical role of women in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peacekeeping, and post-conflict reconstruction.
• Adoption: UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on 31 October 2000.
• Resolution Addresses 2 Critical Issues:
  1. The inordinate impact of violent conflict and war on women and girls.
  2. The crucial role that women should, and already do, play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
• Implementation: The Interagency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) established the Interagency Taskforce on Women, Peace and Security to implement resolution 1325.
  • The IANWGE is a network of Gender Focal Points in United Nations offices, specialised agencies, funds and programmes and is chaired by UN Women.

India’s Role in UN Peacekeeping

• India ranks among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions with 5,384 personnel, including 153 women, across 10 missions as of September 2024.
• India deployed the first all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to Liberia in 2007. Today, 20.45% of its deployed military observers and staff officers are women.

Also Read > UN Peacekeeping and India’s contribution

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections} EPIC Number Controversy

• Context (PIB | IE): Allegations of duplicate EPIC numbers are being raised.

What is EPIC?

• Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is an identification document introduced in 1993, issued under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
• It serves as a voter ID but does not grant voting rights unless the elector is listed in the electoral roll.
• It contains the voter’s name, age, residence, photo & registration officer’s signature.

How EPIC Numbers Are Allotted

• Every EPIC is issued with a unique alphanumeric number (three letters followed by seven digits).
• This number includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for each Assembly constituency.
• Since 2017, EPICs have been generated through the ERONET portal, ensuring a unique number for each new voter and preventing duplication.

ERONET (Electoral Registration Officer Network): A centralised online platform by the Election Commission of India to streamline voter registration, eliminate duplication, and maintain accurate electoral rolls by integrating state databases with a unique EPIC number.

Reasons for Duplication of EPIC Numbers

• Pre-ERONET Manual System: Before ERONET, different states used decentralised and manual methods, leading to duplication in the EPIC alphanumeric series.
• State-Specific Numbering: Some State/UT CEO offices issued EPIC numbers independently, resulting in the same number being allotted in different states.
• Lack of Centralized Database: The absence of a unified electoral roll database before ERONET allowed inconsistencies in numbering.
• Legacy Data Issues: Older voter records created before digitisation retained duplicate EPIC numbers due to non-standardized allocation processes.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} World Wildlife Day

• Context (IE): The World Wildlife Day was observed on March 3.

• Theme of World Wildlife Day 2025: ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.’
• In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3 as the UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of protecting the world’s wild animals and plants.
• This marked the day in 1973 when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.

{GS3 – Infra – Transportation} BOOT model in Parandur Airport Project

• Context (TH): Parandur Greenfield Airport project in Tamil Nadu, proposed as Chennai’s second airport, has faced opposition due to displacement & risk of Kamban Canal flooding.
• First proposed in 1998 under the BOOT model, finalising Parandur in 2022.

BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) Model of Investment

• The private entity builds the project/facility at little or no cost to the govt; owns and operates the project as a business for a fixed concession period (typically 20-30 years), after which it transfers it to the govt at a previously agreed-upon or market-price.
• Risk Transfer: Most risks related to planning, construction & operation are borne by the private partner.
• Revenue Generation: The private entity earns through tariffs or govt payments until investment recovery.
• Govt Purchase Agreement: Govt may contractually agree to purchase services from the private partner.
• Final Transfer: Ownership is transferred to the govt after the private partner recoups its investment & agreed returns.
• Common Usage: Highways, ports, and airport projects to attract private and foreign investments.

{GS3 – S&T – Physics} Bose Metal: A New Quantum State

• Context (TH): Researchers have found strong signs that niobium diselenide (NbSe2) can become a Bose metal, challenging conventional physics.

What is a Bose Metal?

• A Bose metal is an anomalous metallic state where Cooper pairs (electron pairs) form but do not condense into a superconductor.
• Its conductivity remains between zero & infinity as the temperature approaches absolute zero.

Superconductivity vs. Bose Metal

• Superconductors: Metals with infinite conductivity at low temperatures due to Cooper pair formation and phase transition.
• Bose Metals: Also form Cooper pairs but lack long-range superconducting coherence, preventing full superconductivity.

Bose Metal Behaviour in Ultra-Thin NbSe2

• Discovery in NbSe2: Ultra-thin NbSe2, a type-II superconductor, showed Cooper pair transport without full superconductivity, confirming Bose metal behaviour.
• While NbSe2 retains isolated magnetic pockets in a mixed state, stronger magnetic fields suppress superconductivity, leading to a Bose metal phase.

Significance of Bose Metal Research

• Challenges Conventional Theories: Questions the notion that metals must become either insulators or superconductors at absolute zero.
• Quantum Research: Explores phase fluctuations and quantum processes disrupting superconductivity.
• Technological Potential: Opens pathways for new quantum materials and electronic applications.
• Future Innovations: Insights into anomalous metallic states may drive advancements in superconducting and energy transmission technologies.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Blue Ghost Lunar Mission

• Context (IE): Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost is the second private mission to achieve a lunar landing.

About the Mission

• Landing Site: Mons Latreille, a volcanic formation in Mare Crisium.
• Objective: Conduct scientific research, test new technologies, and support NASA’s Artemis program.
• Will also capture a total lunar eclipse and a lunar sunset.

Significance of the Landing

• First Upright Private Moon Landing: First commercial lander to achieve a stable lunar touchdown.
• Advancing Lunar Science: Collects soil samples, studies surface heat flow & subsurface temperatures.
• Enhancing Landing Techniques: Analyzes lunar regolith response to engine plumes for better landing.
• Geological and Magnetic Studies: Examines magnetic & electric fields to understand Moon’s history.

Other Private Moon Missions

• Odysseus by Intuitive Machines (IM-1): First private Moon landing but landed sideways.
• Astrobotic Technologies’ Peregrine: Failed to reach the Moon due to technical issues.

Upcoming Missions

• Intuitive Machines IM-2: Targets the Moon’s south pole for scientific exploration.
• Hakuto-R Mission 2: Japan’s private mission with a lander and rover.