Current Affairs – May 08, 2025

{GS2 – MoYAS – Initiatives} Khelo India Youth Games

• Context (TH): The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 is the 7^th edition of India’s flagship sporting event for young athletes, inaugurated by the PM in Bihar.

About the Khelo India Youth Games

• It is an annual national-level multi-sport event under the Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2018.
• Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Target Group includes youth athletes under the age of 17 and 21 years.
• The first six editions of the Games were held in Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula, Bhopal, and Chennai.

• It includes a diverse range of 29 sporting disciplines featuring both conventional Olympic sports (like athletics, swimming, football, and boxing) and indigenous Indian disciplines (such as Gatka, Yogasana).

Objectives

• Promote sports culture at the grassroots level.
• Identify and nurture talented athletes.
• Develop sports infrastructure.
• Prepare athletes for national and international events.

Key Components

• Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, and Winter Games: National-level competitions to identify emerging sports talent.
• Scholarships: Young talent identified across the country by scouts are provided with financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.
• Khelo India centres and academies: Setup of training centres across India for focused coaching.
• Infrastructure development: Upgrading and creating sports facilities across rural and urban India.
• Inclusivity in sports: Focus on gender equality, para-athletes, and indigenous sports participation.
• Fit India Movement: Promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyles among citizens.

Also Read,> Khelo India Programme, KIRTI Program.

{GS2 – Schemes – Misc} ECINET

• Context (ET): The Election Commission of India (ECI) will launch the unified digital platform ECINET.

Key Features

• ECINET will subsume existing Apps like the Voter Helpline App, Voter Turnout App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham and KYC App.

Significance

• It will offer a seamless & user-friendly interface for electors, election officials, politicians & civil society.
• ECINET will serve nearly 100 crore electors, support the electoral machinery, and eliminate the need for multiple app downloads and logins, reducing users’ complexity.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Diseases} Ozempic Could Reverse Liver Disease *

• Context (IE): An international team of researchers found that semaglutide effectively treated Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe fatty liver disease.

About MASH

• MASH is inflammation of the liver caused by excess fat cells (steatotic liver disease).
• MASH is similar to the kind of liver disease that is caused by long-term, heavy drinking. But MASH occurs in people who don’t abuse alcohol.
• MASH can get worse and cause scarring of the liver, which leads to cirrhosis.

About Semaglutide

• Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication used for long-term weight management.
• It is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus for diabetes and under the brand name Wegovy for weight management.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Diseases} Understanding Fever

• Context (TH): Fever, a common physiological response during illness, plays a crucial role in defending the body against infections.

What is Fever?

• Also known as pyrexia, refers to a temporary increase in the body’s core temperature above 38°C (100.4°F). It is a natural response triggered by infections, inflammations, or other medical conditions.
• Physiological Role: It is part of the acute phase response, the first stage of immune response initiated by the immune system to combat pathogens and support the body’s defence mechanisms.
• Types of Fever: Continuous (typhoid); intermittent (malaria); remittent, never normal (endocarditis); relapsing (borrelia); Pel-Ebstein, cyclical – fever followed by afebrile period (Hodgkin’s lymphoma); hectic/septic, with chills/sweating (sepsis, abscess).

Biological Mechanism Behind Fever

Immune System Activation

• Infection detection: White blood cells, especially monocytes, detect the presence of pathogens (bacteria, viruses).
• Cytokine release: These cells release cytokines like Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) by white blood cells (WBCs), which travel to the brain and activate the body’s defense system.

Role of the Brain in Raising Temperature

• Hypothalamus activation: It stimulates the hypothalamus, the brain’s temperature regulation centre.

• Prostaglandin production: The hypothalamus produces hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, especially PGE2, which signal the body to raise its temperature set point.
• Physiological responses:
  • Shivering: The body begins to shiver, generating heat through muscle contractions.
  • Increased metabolism: Body’s metabolism speeds up, burning energy & producing additional heat.

Also Read,> Blood | Blood Groups | Formed Elements, T– Cells & Coronavirus, Cytokine storm.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Coffee Agroforests

• Context (TH): Study shows coffee agroforests in Karnataka’s Western Ghats support native biodiversity and aid ecological restoration.

• In Shade Coffee Agroforests plantations coffee is cultivated under the canopy of diverse shade trees.
• Reduced Pest Pressure: Diversifying tree cover helps reduce pest attacks in organic coffee cultivation through natural ecosystem balance.

Source: TH

• They preserve remnant natural forest patches, offering habitat continuity in fragmented landscapes.
• These systems support a high diversity of native flora and fauna, including frugivorous birds and endemic tree species.
  • Shade trees like Canarium strictum attract birds & offer culturally significant resin, supporting local livelihoods & traditions. Artocarpus hirsutus is a species endemic to the Western Ghats.

{GS3 – Envi – Laws} Access and Benefit Sharing Rules **

• Context (DTE): Centre notified new Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) rules under the 2025 Biodiversity Regulation to streamline equitable benefit-sharing from biodiversity use.

• New Regulation: Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulation, 2025 replaces the 2014 ABS Guidelines.
• Turnover-Based Slabs: No benefit sharing for turnover up to ₹5 crore; 0.2% for ₹5–50 crore, 0.4% for ₹50–250 crore and 0.6% for above ₹250 crore of annual gross ex-factory sales (excluding taxes).
  • Exemption Clause: Cultivated medicinal plants exempted from benefit-sharing obligations.
• Mandatory Reporting: All users with turnover exceeding ₹1 crore must submit annual usage details.
• Regulatory Consistency: Aligns with the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act 2023, which promoted cultivation and removed approval requirements for Indian medicine practitioners.
• High-Value Species Provision: Red sanders, sandalwood, agarwood and species listed under Section 38 of Biological Diversity Act 2002 require at least 5% benefit sharing, which may exceed 20% for commercial use.
• Blended Product Handling: Products combining cultivated and wild-sourced ingredients may be exempted from sharing if identified by MoEFCC in consultation with the Ministry of AYUSH.
• Broadened Scope: The new rules expand coverage to digital genetic data, strengthening biodiversity governance and international alignment.
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI): Explicitly brought under Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) obligations, correcting a key omission from the 2014 guidelines.
  • COP16 Framework: Multilateral mechanism adopted in Cali, Colombia, under CBD.
  • Global Obligation: Biotech, pharma, cosmetics & agriculture industries to share benefit from DSI use.
• Research and IP Compliance: Researchers and Intellectual Property applicants must follow Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) rules before pursuing intellectual property rights.
• Benefit Allocation: 10–15% of the benefits are retained by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), with the rest distributed to rightful claimants.
  • NBA is the Central authority for regulation, retention and disbursal of shared benefits.

{GS3 – IE – Exports} India’s Total Exports Jump to $825 Billion in FY25

• Context (PIB|BS): India’s total exports of goods and services touched a record high in the FY 2024–25, as per final data released by the RBI and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Export Statistics

Total Exports

• Value: $824.9 billion (₹69.11 lakh crore)
• Growth: 6.01% over FY2023–24’s $778.1 billion (₹65.18 lakh crore)

Services Exports

• Value: $387.5 billion (₹32.46 lakh crore), an all-time high
• Growth: 13.6% YoY over $341.1 billion (₹28.57 lakh crore) in FY24
• March 2025 Exports: $35.6 billion (₹2.98 lakh crore), showing an 18.6% YoY growth from March 2024
• Key contributing sectors included telecommunications, computer and information services, financial services, and travel and transport services.

Merchandise Exports

• Value: $437.42 billion
• Growth: Marginal at 0.08% YoY (from $437.07 billion in FY24)
• Non-Petroleum Exports: Rose by 6% YoY, touching a record $374.1 billion—the highest-ever non-petroleum export figure.

Key Export Commodities

• Electronic Goods: Exports surged by 32.47%, reaching $38.58 billion, driven by the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and India’s emergence as a manufacturing and exporting hub.
  • Smartphone exports alone reportedly touched $18 billion.
• Drugs & Pharmaceuticals: Exports increased by 9.39% to $30.47 billion, reinforcing India’s position as the “pharmacy of the world”.
• Engineering Goods: Exports increased by 6.74%, totalling $116.67 billion, with significant demand from the United States, UAE, Singapore, and Nepal.
• Ready-Made Garments (RMG): Exports rose by 7% to $21.35 billion during April–October FY2024–25, led by competitive pricing and diversified sourcing destinations.
• Agricultural Products: Rice exports increased by 19.73% to $12.47 billion, while tea exports grew by 11.84% to $0.92 billion.

Drivers of Export Growth

• Robust services sector: Led by IT, telecom, financial, transport & travel services; strong global demand for digital services.
  • India secured the 7th-largest share in global services exports, underscoring its competitiveness in the global market.
• Policy support: Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, Make in India, Digital India, and improved Ease of Doing Business boosted exports.
  • The PLI scheme alone attracted investments of ₹1.46 lakh crore, leading to ₹4 lakh crore in exports and generating 9.5 lakh jobs.
• Market & product diversification: Expansion into new markets (Africa, Latin America) and rise in non-traditional exports (electronics, pharma, processed food).
• Infrastructure development: Projects like PM Gati Shakti and Sagarmala improved logistics efficiency and reduced costs.
• Digital & fintech growth: Enabled Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) to access global markets; streamlined payments and cross-border trade.

Also Read,> Initiatives for Export Promotion, MSME.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Weapons in News

• Context (ET): SCALP, HAMMER, Kamikaze drones were the probable weapons used in Operation Sindoor.

Credit: MBDA, Safran, ds

Storm Shadow Air-launched Long-range Precision (SCALP) Missile or “Storm Shadow”

• Type: Long-range, air-launched cruise missile.
• Manufacturer: Missile Business Development Agency (European defence company).
• Range: Over 500 km.
• Combat Use: Deployed for precision strikes against high-value, fixed targets in enemy territory, including fortified positions and critical infrastructure.
• Guidance System: Global Positioning System(GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Terrain Referenced Positioning Refinement On Map (TERPROM).
• Warhead: BROACH (penetrates bunkers and hardened facilities).
• Strategic Role: It enabled India to strike PoK infrastructure without violating the Line of Control (LoC), thus avoiding direct escalation.

Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Precision-Guided Bomb

• Type: Medium-range, air-to-ground bomb.
• Manufacturer: Safran Electronics & Defense (France).
• Range: 60-70 km (with boosters).
• Key Features: Modular design that can be equipped with GPS, infrared, and laser guidance for various targets, making it effective for both stationary and moving targets.
• Warhead: 250 kg-class; can be used for bunker busting or fragmentation.
• Strategic Role: It was crucial for targeting mobile terrorist camps in rugged PoK terrain, offering precise strike capability with minimal personnel risk.

Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze Drones)

• Type: Suicide drones that loiter and strike autonomously.
• Key Features:
  • Real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) gathering.
  • Autonomous targeting and strike capability.
  • Low radar signature, reducing detection by enemy defences.
• Variants: Indigenous (Nagastra-1, ALFA-S) and imported (Israeli Harop, SkyStriker).
• Strategic Role: Best suited for time-sensitive or fleeting targets, such as terror convoys or leadership, reducing the risk to pilots and enhancing operational secrecy.

Rafale Fighter Jet

• The Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 generation, multirole combat aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation, serving as a critical asset for the French Air Force and Navy.
• India enhanced its air combat capabilities by procuring 36 Rafales in a €7.8 billion deal signed in 2016, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2022.

Key Features

• Engines: Powered by 2 engines, enabling supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners)
• Speed: Mach 1.8 with a combat radius of 1,000 km
• Avionics: Equipped with RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare system, and Helmet Mounted Display, providing superior situational awareness and survivability

Weapons

• Air-to-Air: Meteor (Beyond Visual Range missile), MICA (short-range, all-aspect missile)
• Air-to-Ground: SCALP, HAMMER
• Anti-Ship: Exocet and Naval SCALP (for maritime strike operations)

Variants

• Rafale C: Single-seat variant for the Air Force.
• Rafale B: Twin-seat variant for training and operational flexibility.
• Rafale M: Naval variant optimised for carrier operations.

Also Read >Operation Sindoor, Long-Range Hypersonic Missile , Indigenous Defence Technology.

{GS3 – S&T – ISRO} Global Space Exploration Summit GLEX 2025

• Context (PIB|IAF): India is set to host the 12^th edition of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2025), with the theme “Reaching New Worlds: A Space Exploration Renaissance.”

Key Highlight of the Summit

• GLEX serves as a premier platform for international dialogue and collaboration in space exploration, attracting global participation.
• Organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), in partnership with:
  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • Astronautical Society of India (ASI)

International Astronautical Federation (IAF)

• Founded: 1951 with headquarters in Paris, France. Serve as the world’s leading space advocacy body.
• Members: 500+ from 78 countries (space agencies, companies, institutions)
• Vision: “A space-faring world cooperating for the benefit of humanity”.
• Motto: “Connecting @ll Space People”.
• Major Events: Organises key events like GLEX and the International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Hubble Space Telescope *

• Context (TH): NASA celebrates 35 years of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

Journey of the Hubble Space Telescope

• Lyman Spitzer envisioned a space telescope in the 1940s for unobstructed views of the universe.
• NASA and the US Congress approved the Large Space Telescope project in 1969. European Space Agency (ESA) contributed 15% of funding and gained 15% of observation time.
• Later, the HST was planned by NASA in 1979 as an astronomical observatory. Originally scheduled for 1986, it was delayed due to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and technical issues.
• Finally launched on April 24, 1990. It was named after the American astronomer Edwin Hubble, whose research in the 1920s provided the first evidence of the universe’s expansion.
• The telescope orbits approximately 547 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
• It is equipped with a 2.4-meter primary mirror and advanced scientific instruments that allow it to capture high-resolution images and spectroscopic data across the electromagnetic spectrum.
• The primary objectives of the Hubble Space Telescope are to explore the universe and to study its composition, formation, and evolution.

Source: TH

Key Instruments and Upgrades

• Initial Payloads: Included Wide-Field and Planetary Camera (WFPC), Faint Object Camera, GHRS, FOS, a high-speed photometer and three Fine Guidance Sensors.
• COSTAR Installation (1993): Corrected early mirror defect with a set of compensatory mirrors; WFPC replaced with WFPC 2.
• Instrument Replacements (1997): GHRS and FOS were replaced with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph to capture ultraviolet to infrared light frequencies.
• Data Capacity: Transmits ~150GB data per week; made 1.6 million observation of ~52,000 stellar objects.

Major Scientific Contributions

• Cosmic Expansion and Universe’s Age: Identified over 800 Cepheid variable stars in 24 galaxies to estimate the universe’s age at 13.8 billion years through luminosity and pulsation data.
• Redshift and Blueshift Insights: Analysed wavelength changes in light (redshift for moving away, blueshift for approaching) to measure cosmic motion and distances.
• Gamma-Ray Burst Discovery: Located the origin of gamma-ray bursts in star-forming galaxies low in heavier elements.
• Black Hole Evidence: Observations confirmed the presence of supermassive black holes at the centres of many galaxies.
• Dark Matter Mapping: Helped construct a 3D map of dark matter using light distortions from galaxies.
• Technological Blueprint: Served as a model for advanced telescopes like James Webb Space Telescope and upcoming missions.

Iconic Observations and Celestial Discoveries

• Tarantula Nebula (30 Doradus): Captured merging star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 170,000 light-years away.
• Butterfly Nebula Imaging: Revealed gas dynamics and stellar mechanics using near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths.
• Globular Cluster NGC 6355: Studied dense, spherical star formations in the Milky Way’s inner region, ~50,000 light-years away.

Also refer to Rate of Universe’s Expansion > Hubble Constant.

{Prelims – PIN World – Asia} Sandy Cay *

• Context (TH|TH): Tensions escalated between China and the Philippines after China claimed it had seized control of Sandy Cay Reef in the disputed South China Sea.

About Sandy Cay

• Also known as Tiexian Reef, a small sandbar located in the Spratly Islands, part of the South China Sea.
• Positioned near Thitu Island (Pag-asa), a major Philippine-administered Island, Sandy Cay lies within internationally disputed waters, claimed by China, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
• Rich in maritime resources such as fisheries, oil and gas reserves, and serves as a critical shipping lane, making it vital for both economic and military security.

Brief of South China Sea issue

• A vital maritime zone for global trade and regional security, rich in resources and strategic importance.
• China’s Nine-Dash Line claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with the territorial claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian nations.
• In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in favour of the Philippines, stating that China’s claims were without legal basis under international law, particularly about maritime entitlements.
• Despite the ruling, China continues to assert its control over the region, resulting in repeated tensions, especially around strategically important features like Sandy Cay.

Also refer > South China Sea Dispute | Nine-dash line.