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Current Affairs – March 05, 2025
{GS1 – A&C – Religion} Mandala System
- Context (IE): The concept of Mandala shaped Indian political, religious, and artistic thought & influenced governance in Southeast Asian kingdoms.
Concept of Mandala
- Literally meaning “circle” or “centre” in Sanskrit, mandala is a circular geometric configuration, representing interconnected systems in spiritual, artistic, and political domains.
- Origins: Prevalent in Buddhism (1st century BCE India), the Mandala spread via the Silk Road to East Asia by the 6th century, while Hinduism featured it in the Rig Veda (1500–500 BCE).
- Symbolism: Represents shifting influence in governance, art, and architecture, with mandala entry symbolising the cosmic transformation from suffering to joy.
Depictions of the Mandala system
- It depicted a Chakravartin ruler governing expanding territories through trade and warfare.
Rajamandala Theory
- Introduced in Kautilya’s Arthashastra (300 BCE), depicting a kingdom as concentric circles of power.
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Layers of Influence:
- King at Center: Controls the core territory, collecting rent.
- Taxed Regions: Protected by the king in return for taxes.
- Tributary States: Pay tribute under the king’s indirect control.
- Enemies: Located beyond the tributary states, subject to hostility or alliances.
- Allied States: Enemies of the king’s enemies, used strategically.
Hinduism
- Temple Designs: Major temples at the centre, surrounded by smaller shrines in concentric patterns.
- Tantric Influence: Found in Odisha, representing spiritual and cosmic realms.
Buddhism
- Stupas: Circular paths (pradakshina) around central relics. Chakra symbolising influence.
- Borobudur Temple (Java, 900 AD) and Emperor Ashoka integrating Buddhist principles of governance in expansion, were inspired by mandala principles.
Jainism
- Sam-sharana Mandala: Tirthankaras in circular assemblies preaching to audiences sitting concentrically.
Modern Indian Art
- Deep-rooted in ancient philosophy, the mandala continues to appear in thangka paintings.
- Central in Tantric and Neo-Tantric spiritual movements, influencing contemporary Indian artists.
Evolution from Mandala to Islamic Governance
- Mandala System: Hierarchical yet fluid, with tributary relationships and shifting power dynamics.
- Iqta System (Islamic Rule): Sultans granted land (iqta) for military service, maintaining centralised control, unlike the flexible Mandala system.
- Mughal Adaptation: Akbar briefly revived circular governance through his Diwan-e-Khas, where he sat centrally on a lotus throne.
{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Amendment Rules, 2025
- Context (PIB): The government has amended Aadhaar rules to allow private entities to use Aadhaar authentication for delivering services, enhancing governance, innovation, and public welfare.
Key Highlights
- Issued by: Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
- Legal Basis: Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act, 2016 allows its use for subsidies and benefits funded by the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Amendment: Expands Aadhaar authentication beyond govt entities to enhance governance, drive innovation, and improve service accessibility through Aadhaar-enabled systems across multiple sectors.
Amendments Under the 2025 Rules
- Expansion to Pvt Entities: Allows non-govt entities to use Aadhaar authentication for service delivery.
- Sectoral Inclusion: Extends authentication use to e-commerce, healthcare, travel, tourism & hospitality.
- Secure Transactions: Ensures trusted and seamless interactions between service providers and users.
- Privacy Compliance: Aadhaar authentication data cannot be stored beyond six months, adhering to Supreme Court guidelines.
{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Aadhaar Good Governance Portal
- Context (BS): The central govt has launched the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal.
About the Portal
- Launched by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Legal Basis: Aligned with the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2025, under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
- Purpose: Streamline the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests to support good governance, improve service delivery, and enhance ease of living.
- Open to govt and private entities. Supports face authentication and simplifies KYC verification.
Benefits Across Various Sectors
- Healthcare: Facilitates faster and more secure patient identification, improving treatment efficiency.
- Education: Simplifies student authentication for admissions and examinations, ensuring accuracy.
- E-commerce & Aggregators: Enables secure identity verification, reducing fraud risks.
- Financial Services: Enhances accuracy in loan approvals and banking transactions.
- Workplace Management: For employee attendance, streamlining HR and administrative functions.
Key Facts About Aadhaar
- Initiated in 2009: A 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide a verifiable identity for residents of India.
- Biometric & Demographic Data: Linked to an individual’s fingerprints, iris scan & demographic details.
- Mandatory for Services: Used for various govt services & accepted by private entities for identification.
{GS2 – IR – Africa} Mission 300 *
- Context (DD): The World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB), along with key partners, have launched Mission 300.
- Objective: To provide affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
- Launched By: World Bank & AfDB in collaboration with Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People & Planet (GEAPP), Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) & Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).
- Approach: Mobilization of public-private investment for large-scale hybrid electrification.
- Social Impact: Employment generation, women-led energy enterprises & community involvement.
{GS3 – Agri – Exports} India’s Agriculture Trade Surplus Shrinking
- Context (IE): India’s agriculture trade surplus is narrowing despite steady export growth.
Current Status of Agri Trade Balance
Major Export Commodities
- Marine Products: India’s top agricultural export, but recently declined due to shifting global demand.
- Rice: Strong performance in basmati and non-basmati varieties, making India a global leader.
- Spices: India dominates in exports of chilli, cumin, turmeric, and other key spices.
- Coffee & Tobacco: Benefiting from production issues in competitor countries.
- Sugar & Wheat: Exports restricted due to domestic supply concerns.
Major Import Commodities
- Edible Oils: India remains highly dependent on imports to meet domestic demand.
- Pulses: Increased imports due to insufficient domestic production.
- Spices: India is a net importer of pepper and cardamom despite being a global leader in other spices.
- Cotton: Shifted from an exporter to an importer due to production issues and rising demand.
Key Influencing Factors
- Global Prices: Falling commodity prices affect export competitiveness.
- Trade Policies: Export restrictions on essential crops impact the trade balance.
- Climate & Supply Disruptions: Weather conditions in key producer nations affect global supply chains.
- Geopolitical Risks: Policy shifts in major importing nations influence India’s exports.
Way Forward
- Enhance Domestic Production: Reduce import dependency on key commodities.
- Balanced Trade Policies: Support exports while ensuring domestic food security.
- Infrastructure Development: Strengthen supply chains to improve global competitiveness.
- Market Diversification: Expand export destinations to reduce reliance on specific markets.
{GS3 – Envi – Air Pollution} Carbon Intensity
- Context (TH): China reduced its carbon intensity by 3.4% in 2024.
- A measure of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of output or activity.
- Common units: Tonnes of CO₂ emitted per tonne of steel produced, Grams of CO₂ emitted per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity or CO2 emissions per unit of GDP growth for national output.
- Lower carbon intensity indicates cleaner production and energy efficiency.
Why Does It Matter?
- Essential for achieving net-zero goals and limiting global warming.
- Affects energy costs, as renewable energy sources reduce overall expenses.
- Influences national policies for sustainable development and economic growth by helping to measure and manage emissions in line with climate targets.
Challenges in Reducing Carbon Intensity
- Intermittency of Renewables: Solar and wind energy depend on weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed at all times.
- Storage Issues: Renewable energy storage solutions are still developing, making reliance on fossil fuels necessary during low production periods.
- Economic Growth vs. Emission Cuts: Countries face difficulty balancing economic growth with emission reduction targets.
Global Efforts at Carbon Intensity Reduction
- China: Committed to peaking emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
- EU: Green Deal aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
- USA: Inflation Reduction Act includes major climate-focused investments.
- India: Pledges to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 with a focus on renewable energy expansion.
Carbon Footprint Vs. Carbon Intensity
| Aspect | Carbon Footprint | Carbon Intensity |
| Definition | Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are directly or indirectly caused by an individual, organisation, or product. | Amount of CO₂ emitted per unit of economic activity, such as GDP or energy use. |
| Scope | Comprehensive measure covering all emissions associated with production, use, and disposal of goods/services. Used to assess the environmental impact of individuals, businesses, or products. | Measures efficiency of a system, sector, or economy in terms of emissions across countries, industries, or sectors. |
| Measurement Unit | Measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) to account for all greenhouse gases. | Measured in tonnes of CO₂e per unit of GDP or per unit of energy produced/consumed. |
| Focus | Looks at absolute emissions from activities and consumption. | Focuses on relative efficiency, helping in policy planning and emission reduction. |
| Relation | Reducing carbon footprint helps lower overall carbon intensity of industries and economies. | Lowering carbon intensity contributes to reducing the global carbon footprint. |
{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Miyawaki Method at Mahakumbh 2025
- Context (IE): The Miyawaki afforestation technique has been employed at Mahakumbh 2025.
Miyawaki Technique
- Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s to restore degraded ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.
- Known as ‘Pot Plantation Method’, it involves dense planting (2-4 different types within every square meter) of native species to mimic natural forest ecosystems.
- Widely used for urban afforestation to counteract pollution and environmental degradation.
Benefits
- Rapid Growth: Up to 10 times faster than conventional methods.
- Native Species & Biodiversity: Focuses on local plant varieties, creating self-sustaining ecosystems that enhance flora and fauna diversity.
- Environmental Benefits: Absorbs high levels of CO2 & dust particles, mitigates urban pollution. Helps counter heat island effect & acts as a natural barrier against noise & dust. 30x denser growth improves oxygen levels & air quality.
- Minimal Maintenance: Requires care for only 3 years, after which the forest becomes self-sustaining.
- Land Restoration & Green Spaces: Converts barren, unproductive land into lush green forests, benefiting both urban and rural landscapes.
- Climate Resilience & Sustainability: Enhances ecosystem stability, supports soil & water conservation, improves soil fertility.
Challenges
- High Initial Costs: Requires investment in soil enhancement and planting infrastructure.
- Manpower Intensive: Needs trained personnel for proper execution in the early stages.
- Not a Universal Solution: Alone, it cannot replace large-scale afforestation or address deforestation and resource depletion.
- Urban Planning Limitations: To be complemented by sustainable development and green city planning.
{GS3 – Envi – Terms} Wallace Line *
- Context (TH): Wallace observed a sharp biodiversity shift between Asia and Australia, leading to the discovery of the Wallace Line.
What is the Wallace Line?
- Proposed by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863, it is a bio-geographical boundary separating the ecozones of Asia & Australia, marking a stark difference in species distribution across its sides.
- Runs through the Lombok Strait (Bali-Lombok) and the Makassar Strait (Borneo-Sulawesi).
- Distinct Faunal Distribution Across the Line: West of the Wallace Line (Asia) hosts tigers, elephants & orangutans, while east (Australia) features kangaroos, marsupials & cockatoos, with only birds & marine animals crossing the boundary.
Formation and Geological Influence
- Continental Drift: Australia broke away from Antarctica and moved toward Asia (~35 million years ago), forming deep-water channels that blocked land species migration.
- Pleistocene Epoch Influence: Lower sea levels exposed land bridges, but deep waters maintained the boundary.
- Sulawesi’s Unique Species Mix: Houses both Asian-origin species like anoas and Australian-origin marsupials due to its complex geological past.
Significance
- Wallace’s findings laid the foundation for biogeography, the study of species distribution.
- It ties into evolutionary theory, demonstrating how geography influences species adaptation.
- Research shows that tropical conditions in the Malay archipelago allowed Asian species to migrate south, whereas Australian species struggled to move north.
Wallace Line vs. Weber Line
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{GS3 – IE – Industry} Navratna Status for IRCTC and IRFC *
- Context (IE): The centre approved the upgradation of IRCTC and IRFC as the country’s 25th and 26th Navratna companies, respectively.
About Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
- IRCTC: Extended arm of Indian Railways and is the sole entity authorised to sell train tickets online.
- Established: In 1999, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways, IRCTC has played a crucial role in railway catering, tourism, and online ticketing.
- Ownership: The Ministry of Railways currently holds a 62.40% stake in IRCTC.
- Listed on both National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 2019.
About Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)
- IRFC: Established in December 1986 as the dedicated financing arm of Indian Railways.
- Primary Function: Raise extra-budgetary resources through market borrowings at competitive rates.
- It mobilizes funds through taxable and tax-free bonds, term loans from banks and financial institutions (FIs), as well as External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs).
- Ownership: The Ministry of Railways holds an 86.36% stake in IRFC.
- Listing on Stock Exhange: In January 2021, it was listed on the NSE and BSE.
Also Read > Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna CPSEs
{GS3 – Infra – Transportation} Braesse’s Paradox *
- Context (DTE): Bengaluru’s large-scale road expansion projects spark debate about Braesse’s paradox.
- It refers to a counterintuitive phenomenon in urban transport planning where increasing road capacity to alleviate congestion can worsen the situation.
- It is named after German engineer Karl Braesse.
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How it worsens the Traffick Situation?
- Adding more lanes or roads often triggers induced demand, attracting more vehicles and ultimately worsening congestion.
- Instead of providing long-term relief, these expansions encourage increased traffic, frequently leading to congestion levels that are just as bad—or even worse—over time.
- It is particularly significant for cities like Bengaluru, where traffic congestion has become a critical issue.
- Bengaluru is ranked as 3rd slowest city globally, according to TomTom Traffic Index 2024, released by Tom Tom, a Dutch location technology firm.
{GS3 – S&T – Space} Why is Mars Red?
- Context (ToI | DH): Study suggests Mars’ red colour resulted from a wetter past, not due to iron rusting in dry conditions.
Presence of Ferrihydrite
- Ferrihydrite Presence: Mars’ red dust primarily consists of ferrihydrite, an iron mineral, the formation of which requires water and oxygen, reinforcing theories that Mars once had liquid water.
- Distribution: Found abundantly in dust and likely embedded in Martian rock formations.
Mars
- Fourth planet from the Sun and second-smallest (half of Earth’s size) in the solar system.
- Orbit and Rotation: One Martian day (Sol) has 24.6 hours; One Martian year has 687 Earth days. Seasons last longer due to its elliptical orbit.
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Surface and Geology:
- Covered with craters, valleys, volcanoes & canyons.
- Valles Marineris: A canyon system 10 times larger than the Grand Canyon.
- Olympus Mons: The largest volcano in the solar system (3x taller than Mt. Everest).
- Evidence of ancient rivers, lakes & massive floods. Ice caps exist at the poles, indicating the presence of frozen water.
- Moons: Two small, irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and Deimos, likely captured asteroids. Phobos may disintegrate in 50 million years, potentially forming a ring.
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Atmosphere:
- Very thin, composed mostly of CO₂, nitrogen, and argon.
- Extreme temperatures (-153°C to 20°C). Frequent, long-lasting dust storms.
- Magnetosphere: No global magnetic field, exposing the surface to high radiation levels, but traces suggest existence 4 billion years ago.
- Exploration History: Among the most studied planets.
Important Mars Missions
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{Prelims – In News} Sunset Anxiety
- Context (IE): Sunset anxiety is more prevalent than previously believed.
- Sunset anxiety is a non-clinical term describing the unease or distress experienced as the sun sets. It can evoke emotions such as regret, emptiness, remorse, hollowness etc.
- Unlike general anxiety, which is linked to ongoing stressors or mental health conditions, sunset anxiety is specifically triggered by the transition from day to night.
- It may stem from deeper psychological associations with this daily shift.
- Disruptions in the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock regulating sleep-wake cycles) can also intensify these feelings, making the transition from daylight to darkness more unsettling.
{Species – Mammals} Narwhals (Monodon monoceros)
- Context (DTE): For the first time, scientists have captured footage of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) using their iconic tusks for hunting, providing crucial insights into their behaviour.
- Often referred to as the ‘unicorns of the sea’, narwhals are strange and beautiful creatures.
- Habitation: Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia.
- Physical Description: Males are distinguished by their long, spiral tusks, which are actually elongated teeth with sensory capability. Some narwhals have up to two tusks, while others have none.
- Narwhals change colour as they age. Newborns are blue-grey, juveniles are blue-black, and adults are mottled grey. Old narwhals are nearly all white.
- Diet: The feed on Greenland halibut, Arctic and polar cod, squid and shrimp.
- Conservation Status: IUCN: LC
- Threats: Oil and gas development (collisions and underwater noise), climate change, pollution etc.
{Species – Mammals} Pangolin *
- Context (IE): The World Pangolin Day 2025 is celebrated on the third Saturday of February.
- They are scaly, nocturnal mammals known for their ability to curl into a ball for defence.
- Distribution: Globally, there are 8 pangolin species, four each in Africa and Asia.
- Habitat: Forests and Grasslands
- Physical Description: They are the only mammals wholly covered in scales (made up of keratin), and they use those scales to protect themselves from predators in the wild.
- Pangolins have no teeth; they pick up food with their sticky tongues.
- Diet: Insectivores primarily feed on ants and termites using their long, sticky tongues.
- Threats: Habitat Loss, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Hunting, Poaching etc.
Credit: World Wildlife Fund
Conservation Status
| Pangolin Species | Scientific Name | IUCN Status | |
|
African Species |
Black-bellied pangolin | Phataginus tetradactyla | Vulnerable |
| White-bellied pangolin | Phataginus tricuspis | Endangered | |
| Giant Ground pangolin | Smutsia gigantea | Endangered | |
| Temminck’s Ground pangolin | Smutsia temminckii | Vulnerable | |
| Species in Asia | Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata | Endangered |
| Philippine pangolin | Manis culionensis | Critically Endangered | |
| Sunda Pangolin | Manis javanica | Critically Endangered | |
| Chinese pangolin | Manis pentadactyla | Critically Endangered | |
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All pangolin species have been listed in Appendix I of CITES |
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Pangolins in India
- India is home to 2 species – the Indian pangolin and the Chinese pangolin, and both are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
Indian Pangolin
- Indian Pangolin: Large anteater covered dorsally by 11-13 rows of scales.
- Distribution: Indian Pangolin is widely distributed in India, except in arid regions, the high Himalayas and the North-East. The species also occurs in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Credit: WWF
- Physical Description: The adult male is about one-third larger than the female. Terminal scale is present on the ventral side of the tail of the Indian Pangolin, which is absent in the Chinese Pangolin.
- Habitat: Open land, grasslands and degraded habitats. They can adapt well to modified habitats.
Chinese Pangolin
- Distribution: Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and China, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam etc.
- Chinese pangolins spend the winter months in deep burrows that maintain stable temperatures.
Credit: IUCN
- Habitat: Adaptable to a wide range of habitats, including primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural fields.
- Physical Description: Distinguished from other Asian pangolins by their helmeted appearance, smaller scales than Indian pangolins, larger ear pinna, and narrowing near the distal end of the tail.
{Species – Mammals} Population Status of River Dolphins in India – 2024
- Context (IE): PM Released ‘Population Status of River Dolphins in India – 2024’, India’s First Comprehensive Riverine Dolphin Population Estimate.
About the Survey
- The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducted the first comprehensive riverine dolphin population estimation between 2021 and 2023 under the Union Environment Ministry.
- The dolphin population survey was conducted under Project Dolphin across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems.
Key Findings
- Total Population: 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in eight states.
- River wise Distribution: Estimated 3,275 dolphins in Ganga River, 2,414 in its tributaries, 584 in Brahmaputra River (main stem), and 51 in its tributaries.
- State-wise Distribution: Uttar Pradesh (2,397) recorded the highest number, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
- Indus River Dolphins: Only 3 Indus River dolphins were found, all in the Beas River, Punjab.
Also Read > Gangetic Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin.
