Current Affairs – May 13, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Festivals} Chithirai Festival

• Context (LI | ETV): Lord Kallazhagar’s symbolic entry into the Vaigai River marked the climax of Madurai’s iconic Chithirai Festival.

• It is a month-long Tamil festival celebrating the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi & Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva), followed by Lord Kallazhagar’s journey from Alagar Temple to the Vaigai River.
• The Chithirai Car Festival, also referred to as Chithirai Thiruvizha or Meenakshi Kalyanam, is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai or Panguni months (March-April).
• It is celebrated at the Rock Fort’s Thayumanavar Swamy Temple. The last days of the festivals are celebrated in Alagar Hills in Madurai.
  • Thayumanavar Temple, or Rockfort Temple, in Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Thayumanavar, an incarnation of Shiva, built by Pallava king Mahendravarman I.
  • The festival begins with the flag hoisting at the temple, and different days are dedicated to different incidents related to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity and his consort.
  • According to the inscriptions on the temple walls, the first car festival was reportedly introduced in Madurai 700 years ago, during the reign of King Veerapandian.
• Divided Into Two Halves: first 15 days for Goddess Meenakshi, next 15 for Lord Kallazhagar (Vishnu).
• Encompasses Two Major Religious Narratives: It symbolizes the unity of Saivaites and Vaishnavites, as it glorifies both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Alagar Temple

• Known as “Southern Tirupati” or Azhagar Kovil, it is located at the base of Alagar Hills, Madurai, and is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu.
• Historical References: Cited in Silappadikaram and Alvar hymns.
• Architecture:
  • Enclosed in fort walls, has 6 corridors & features Nayaka-style sculpted mandapam pillars.
  • It was during the rule of King Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251-1270 A.D) vimana of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum was beautified with gold plates.
• There are inscriptions dating back to King Ashoka’s rule. It is said that the great Jain monk Ajjanandi had resided here along with his disciples.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Also known as Meenakshi Amman temple, it is located in Madurai on the Southern bank of river Vaigai. The temple is dedicated to Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi (Parvathi). Architecture: Built in Dravidian style, this temple was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The temple, in its present form, was constructed in the 1600s. Viswanatha Nayak, the first Nayak King of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.), took the initiative to rebuild the structure. The restoration was carried out under the supervision of Ariyanatha Mudaliar, the Prime Minister of the Nayak Dynasty and the founder of the Poligar System. King Thirumalai Nayak (circa 1623-1659) played an important role in the temple’s construction. He built various complexes inside and outside the temple. It is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. The temple has 14 gopurams, including two magnificent Thanga (golden) Gopurams. One of the temple’s halls is famous as the “Ayiramkaal Mandapam” or “Hall of 1,000 Pillars”, though only 985 of them exist today.

Vaigai River

• It is a 258 km long river that originates in the Western Ghats (Varushanad Hills).
• Route: Flows through Pandya Nadu, ends in Palk Strait near Pamban Bridge.
• Historical Role: Lifeline of ancient Madurai, capital of Pandya kingdom; featured in Sangam literature.

{GS1 – Geo – HG} India’s Demographic Shifts **

• Context (TH): Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021 Report confirms India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remained constant at 2.0 in 2021.

Total Fertility Rate

• The total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman would have at the end of her reproductive years, expressed as births per woman.

How is the Total Fertility Rate calculated?

• TFR is directly calculated as the sum of age-specific fertility rates (usually referring to women aged 15 to 49), or five times the sum if data are given in five-year age groups.
• An age- or age-group-specific fertility rate is calculated as the ratio of annual births to women at a given age or age group to the population of women at the same age or age group in the same year for a given country, territory, or geographic area.

What is the Replacement Fertility Rate?

• Replacement level fertility is the total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration.
• A total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 is the replacement rate, which means that a population can replace itself from one generation to the next without external migration.

Key Findings of the SRS 2021 Report

• National TFR Status: India’s TFR remained constant at 2.0 in 2021, below the replacement level, indicating a natural deceleration in population growth.
• State-wise TFR Variations:
  • Highest TFR: Bihar at 3.0.
  • Lowest TFRs: Delhi and West Bengal at 1.4.
  • States at or below replacement level: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Haryana, and Assam.
• Age Composition Shifts (1971–2021):
  • Children (0–14 years): Declined from 41.2% to 24.8%.
  • Working-age population (15–59 years): Increased from 53.4% to 66.2%.
  • Elderly population (60+ years): Rose from 6% to 9%.
• State-wise Elderly Population (60+ years):
  • Highest: Kerala (14.4%), Tamil Nadu (12.9%), Himachal Pradesh (12.3%).
  • Lowest: Bihar (6.9%), Assam (7.0%), Delhi (7.1%).
• Mean Age at Effective Marriage (Females): Increased from 19.3 years in 1990 to 22.5 years in 2021, reflecting delayed marriages.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):
  • National MMR declined from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 93 in 2019-21.
  • Assam’s MMR dropped from 195 to 167, marking the highest reduction among states.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): National IMR decreased to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021, down from 129 in 1971. Assam’s IMR improved from 36 in 2020 to 34 in 2021.

Significance of the Findings

Positive Implications

• Population Stabilization: A TFR of 2.0 suggests India is nearing population stabilization, potentially easing pressure on environment, natural resources and public services.
• Demographic Dividend: An increased working-age population offers a window for economic growth, provided there are adequate employment opportunities and infrastructure.
• Women Empowerment: Delayed marriages & reduced fertility rates reflect higher education levels & greater autonomy among women underscoring need for focusing on continued investment in education.
• Improved Maternal and Child Health: Declines in MMR and IMR indicate better healthcare services and outcomes for mothers and children.

Emerging Challenges

• Ageing Population: Rising dependency burden, higher demand for pensions, geriatric healthcare, and social security.
• Gender Imbalance Risks: Declining fertility without tackling son preference may worsen sex ratios.
• Interstate Demographic Gaps: Uneven fertility rates may trigger migrations and regional disparities.
• Pending Census: Delay since 2011 hinders comprehensive demographic planning and policy calibration.
• Demographic Window Till 2055–56: India’s working-age population is expected to peak by 2041 (59%), offering a limited period to maximize economic gains.
• Policy Reorientation Needed: Focus must shift from population control to managing ageing, employment, and social infrastructure.

Sample Registration System (SRS)

• It is India’s largest demographic survey system designed to provide reliable annual estimates of vital rates, Birth Rate, Death Rate, IMR and TFR.
• Administered By: Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Origin: Launched on a pilot basis in 1964-65, became fully operational in 1969-70 due to the unreliability of Civil Registration System (CRS).

Structure and Methodology

• Dual Record System: Uses continuous enumeration by part-time resident enumerators and bi-annual retrospective surveys by full-time supervisors to verify data and correct omissions.
• Verbal Autopsy Component: Since 1999, SRS includes cause of death ascertainment through verbal autopsy for both urban and rural areas.
• Coverage: 8,842 sample units (as per latest round), covering ~84 lakh population ensuring national and state-level representativeness across rural and urban areas.
• Frequency: Data is collected continuously, reconciled semi-annually, and reported annually.

{GS1 – Geo – HG} Raika tribe

• Context (DTE): The Raika tribe of Rajasthan, once custodians of camel herding and desert ecology, now face a rapid decline in their traditional way of life.

• Also called Rabari community, it is an indigenous pastoralist tribe with a population of ~5 lakh primarily in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, especially in Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand district) and the Thar Desert.
• The Raikas have historically been the breeders of Rajasthan’s indigenous hardy Marwari camel, known for strength, endurance and desert adaptability.
  • They consider camel rearing a divine duty from Lord Shiva, not merely a profession.
  • Animal welfare ethics: Many Raikas refuse to sell camels for slaughter, viewing it as a sin.
• Traditional Camel Herding, livestock grazing (camels, sheep, goats) forms not only their livelihood, but also a part of their oral history, seasonal migration patterns, rituals and sacred customs.
  • Follow age-old migratory grazing routes across arid and semi-arid zones.
• Raikas possess traditional vital knowledge of desert ecology, pasture cycles, medicinal shrubs, animal health & biodiversity, which has historically sustained Rajasthan’s fragile arid ecology.

• Facing rapid decline: Reduced camel utility, shrinking grazing lands, a lack of support, and a generational shift threaten their pastoral way of life.

{GS1 – Geo – IG – Andaman} History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Context (IE): The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were recently in the news.

Ancient and Medieval History Period

• Ramayana Period: The history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the Ramayana period. In the Ramayana period, it was called as Hanuman. As time passed, this place was renamed.
• 1st Century: In the 1^st Century, this place was called ‘Agadaemon Angademan’ according to Ptolemy.
• Travellers to Islands: Arab Travellers visited in the 19^th Century, Marco Polo visited in the 13^th Century, described it as Angamanian, Friar Odoric in the 14^th Century, Caesar Fredericke in the 16^th Century.

Chola Period

• Rajendra I: He used the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a strategic naval base to launch an expedition against the Sriwijaya Empire (Indonesia).
• Mentioned in Thanjavur Inscription: The Cholas called the island Ma-Nakkavaram (“great open/naked land”), found in the Thanjavur inscription of 1050 AD.

Maratha Empire

• The islands became a temporary shipping port of the Maratha Empire and its navy in the 17^th Century. The Maratha Empire was the first to list the Andaman Islands under its territory.
• The Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre established a basic naval dominance in the islands and played a role in annexing the islands to India.

Pre-Independence

Dutch

• Danish East India Company: 1^st attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. The Nicobar Islands were turned into a Danish colony, first named New Denmark and later as Frederick’s Islands.
• Abandoned Several Times: Repeatedly abandoned due to malaria outbreaks between 1759 and 1848.

British

• Naval Base: In the 17^th Century, Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the Royal Indian Navy founded a naval base on a small island adjoining the south Andaman.
• Andaman Committee: In 1857, “The Andaman Committee” under Dr. Frederic John Mouat was set up to examine the best site for a penal settlement.
  • Captain H Man raised the Union Jack at Port Blair (renamed Sri Vijaya Puram) on 22 January 1858 (2^nd time) to establish and manage the Penal System.
• Penal Settlement: In the spring of 1858, the British Government in India started a penal settlement at South Andaman, at the same harbour (Chatham) where the 1^st colony had stood almost a century earlier. It was named Port Blair.
• Denmark’s presence in the territory ended formally on 16 October 1868 when it sold the rights to the Nicobar Islands to Britain, which made them part of British India in 1869.

Battle of Aberdeen Britishers forced the prisoners to clear the jungle, disturbing the natives. The natives began to hit back. This sparked the natives to fight against the Britishers for their freedom, which led to the 1st war called “The Battle of Aberdeen” on 17th May 1859.

During the Freedom Struggle

• Cellular Jail: Construction of the Cellular Jail at Port Blair occurred between 1896 and 1910.
• Imprisoned Freedom Fighters: Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Batukeshwar Dutt, etc.
• World War II: Japanese occupation of Port Blair occurred during the 2^nd World War (1942 to 1945).
• Provisional Indian Government: Under Subhas Chandra Bose, was established in 1943.
  • The 1^st unfurling of Tiranga on Indian soil at Port Blair in 1943 by Subhash Chandra Bose.

Post-Independence

• Union Territory: The islands remained under British control until the independence of India, when it was transferred to the government of India and installed as a Union Territory.
• Settlement of Refugees: Immediately after the Partition, the Andaman Islands were chosen as a place for resettling displaced Hindu families from East Pakistan.
  • Accordingly, large tracts of land in South and Middle Andaman were allotted to thousands of Partition refugees, often coming into conflict with local Jarawa territories.

Read More> Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

{GS1 – Geo – Solar System} Magnetic Flip Flop *

• Context (DTE): The concept of “Magnetic Flip-Flop” gained public attention with the release of soundtracks in 2022 and 2024, where scientists translated Earth’s magnetic field data into audio.
• These soundscapes sonify the planet’s magnetic activity and fluctuations over millennia, particularly highlighting the Laschamps Excursion and the Brunhes–Matuyama Reversal.

Credit: DTE

Laschamps Excursion occurred around 41,000 years ago, it was a temporary weakening of earth’s magnetic field, lasting less than 100,000 years, without a full reversal of the poles. Brunhes–Matuyama Reversal happened 780,000 years ago, it was a complete magnetic pole reversal that lasted more than 100,000 years, marking a significant geomagnetic event.

About Earth Magnetic Field

• Generated by the motion of molten iron and other metals in the liquid outer core.
• Functions as a planetary shield, protecting Earth from harmful solar wind and cosmic radiation.
• Forms a bubble called the magnetosphere, extending far into space.
• Characterised by north and south magnetic poles, which occasionally flip or shift.
• Magnetic strength varies globally, being strongest at the poles and weaker near the equator.

Current Trends and Observations

• Weakening Magnetic Field: Earth’s magnetic field has weakened by ~10% over the past 200 years.
• Pole Drift: The North Magnetic Pole is moving toward Siberia at ~35 km/year, potentially signalling deeper core dynamics shifts.
• These changes have implications for aviation, satellite operations, and navigational systems, including India’s NavIC satellite navigation system.

Magnetic Reversals and Geomagnetic Excursions

• Magnetic Reversals: A complete and long-term switch of magnetic poles (north ↔ south).
  • Occurs over geological timescales, typically lasting >100,000 years and rare in frequency. Example: Brunhes-Matuyama Reversal.
• Geomagnetic Excursions: Short-lived and partial shifts in the magnetic field.
  • Last <100,000 years, often just a few thousand years and more frequent than reversals.Example: Laschamps Excursion.
• Causes: Both phenomena are linked to fluid turbulence in the Earth’s outer core.
  • Reversals are caused by sustained flow changes in the molten iron core.
  • Excursions arise from temporary disturbances in magnetic field generation.

How Scientists Study Magnetic Flip-Flops

• Satellite Monitoring: Missions like the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm constellation monitor real-time changes in Earth’s magnetic field intensity and direction.
• Geological Evidence: Lava flows, lake/ocean sediments, and ice cores preserve data on past magnetic field behaviours.
  • Isotopes like Beryllium-10 and Carbon-14 increase during magnetic field weakening, serving as indirect indicators.

Significance

• Climate and Environment: A weakened magnetic field increases radiation penetration, which may affect ozone levels and atmospheric chemistry, thereby impacting climate systems.
• Technological Vulnerability: Heightened risk to satellites and Global Positioning System (GPS), aviation routes, electric power grids, and radio and telecommunication networks.
• Forecasting and Disaster Preparedness: Improved understanding of geomagnetic behaviour can enhance space weather prediction, which is essential for safeguarding technological infrastructure.

{GS2 – Governance – Reports} South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25

• Context (TH): The 23^rd Annual South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25, titled ‘Frontline Democracy: Media and Political Churn‘, was published.

• It is released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on behalf of the South Asia Media Solidarity Network, to mark World Press Freedom Day.
• The report reviews the state of press freedom in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

Key Findings

• The report flags several concerning trends, including a “growing trust deficit in media outlets”, “choking of independent websites” and the extreme precarity of gig workers who also have to contend with the challenges posed by AI.
• Most governments in South Asia have failed to reverse the “ever-increasing levels of impunity for crimes against journalists”.
  • Pakistan is “for all intents and purposes an authoritarian regime operating under the guise of democracy”. It witnessed the “most violent year for journalists in the country in two decades.
• On the flip side, the report noted that the media’s digital transition has also presented new opportunities, especially for “growing alternative media as a counterbalance to the stagnating legacy media”.

India Specific Findings

• The report highlights a “systemic strategy to weaken” the Indian media, including a trust deficit and the choking of independent news websites.
• Misuse of Laws: The misuse of laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), etc., is contributing to a rise in self-censorship.
• Self-Censorship: Journalists and media houses have faced legal challenges for publishing reports critical of the government, leading to self-censorship within the industry and a chilling effect.
• Targeting Media: Every authoritarian effort is being made to crush those who seek to hold power to account, crackdowns on media houses, surveillance, intimidation and harassment of journalists, filing of police cases, etc.
  • Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids are used to intimidate media outlets.
  • Government advertisements are withheld from critical media.
• Misinformation: Political IT cells actively spread misinformation and hate content.

Challenges Faced by the Media

• Growing use of AI for content creation”,
• Decline in advertisement revenue, new labour codes encouraging contract work,
• Restructuring of corporate media houses because of mergers and acquisitions,
• The worsening precarity of freelance journalism.

World Press Freedom Day

• Objective: Observed annually on May 3^rd to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom worldwide, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
• Proclaimed by: United Nations General Assembly in 1993, following a recommendation by UNESCO.
• Origin: Linked to the Windhoek Declaration (1991), a statement of press freedom principles put together by African journalists.
• Theme 2025: “Reporting In The Brave New World – The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Press Freedom And The Media.”

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Carcinogens in Personal Care Products

• Context (HT): A recent study has revealed that several personal care products like shampoos, lotions, body soaps, and eyelash glues contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

About Formaldehyde

• Colourless, strong-smelling chemical commonly used in building materials and household products.
• In many cases, formaldehyde isn’t added directly but is released over time from preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15.
• These are known as “formaldehyde releasers” and are used to extend product shelf life by preventing bacterial and mould growth.

Concerns

• It is classified as a human carcinogen by several health organisations, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
  • Carcinogen refers to any substance, agent, or exposure that can cause or promote the development of cancer in living tissue.
  • Examples are tobacco smoke, asbestos, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, etc.
• Long-term exposure, even at low levels, has been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, particularly those affecting the respiratory system.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} LICONN Technology

• Context (TH): Scientists have developed a novel brain imaging technique called LICONN for high-resolution mapping of brain cell connections.

  

  Credit: NS

About Light-microscopy Imaging of Connectivity (LICONN)

• Developed by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in collaboration with Google Research.
• A cutting-edge method to map the brain’s complex neural networks at the nanoscale, while simultaneously identifying specific molecules within those connections.
• The first light microscopy-based technique, beyond electron microscopy (EM), is capable of reconstructing brain tissue with all synaptic connections.

Synaptic connections refer to the specialised synapses—junctions through which neurons communicate with each other or with other target cells (such as muscle cells). These connections enable the transmission of electrical or chemical signals across the nervous system, forming the basis of brain function, reflexes, learning, and memory.

• Addresses a key limitation in brain imaging:
  • EM provides high structural resolution but lacks molecular identification.
  • Light Microscopy identifies specific molecules but lacks nanoscale structural resolution.
• LICONN integrates multiple technologies:
  • Standard light microscopy.
  • Hydrogel-based tissue expansion (~16 times enlargement).
  • Fluorescent staining to label proteins.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytical tools to trace neuron structures.
• Enables visualisation of sub-microscopic brain structures previously invisible with conventional light microscopes.

Applications

• Mapping complex neural circuits at the synapse level.
• Studying memory formation, cognitive functions, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Integrates neuroscience, chemistry, and AI to unlock brain architecture.
• Enables 3D visualisation and molecular phenotyping of brain tissue.
• Makes dense connectomics scalable, efficient, and widely reproducible.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence – Missile} PL-15 Missile

• Context (IT): Chinese-manufactured PL-15 missile was in the news.

Credit: GS

The JF-17 Thunder is a multi-role, light combat aircraft developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. Introduced in 2007, replacing older models like the Mirage III and F-7. It performs air-to-air, air-to-ground, and reconnaissance missions, featuring KLJ-7 radar, advanced avionics, and a top speed of Mach 1.6 with a range of 1,200 km.

About the Missile

• A long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by China.
• Plays a key role in the China’s People’s Liberations Army Force and (PLAAF) and Naval Air Force’s (PLANAF) air dominance strategy, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Speed: Exceeds Mach 5; powered by a dual-pulse solid-propellant motor, which enables sustained thrust during the terminal phase.
• Range:
  • Domestic variant range: ~200–300 km (platform and altitude-dependent).
  • Export (PL-15E) range: Official range 145 km; practical range ~100–120 km.
  • Warhead: 20–25 kg high-explosive fragmentation, optimised for manoeuvring aerial targets.
• Guidance & Accuracy:
  • Inertial navigation with BeiDou satellite corrections.
  • Two-way datalink for mid-course updates.
  • Terminal homing via AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar seeker – resistant to electronic jamming and effective in contested environments.
• Functions:
  • Targets high-value airborne assets such as AWACS, refuelling tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft.
  • Enables standoff air denial by keeping adversaries out of engagement range.
  • Enhances China’s first-strike capability in aerial combat.

AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) is an aircraft-mounted radar system used for early threat detection and airspace management. Tracks airborne and surface targets, offering situational awareness and controlling airspace during operations. Directs fighter jets, enhances command and control, and provides real-time intelligence to ground stations. Examples include the E-3 Sentry (USA), DRDO AEW&CS (India), and KJ-2000 (China).

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Civil-Military Coordination **

• Context (BS): The recent episode of conflict with Pakistan and mock drills across the country demonstrated India’s effective Civil-Military Coordination.

What is Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC)?

• Definition: The CIMIC refers to the essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in various operations, including peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.
  • Both the civil and military arms of a nation are crucial to governance, with jointness, collaboration among services, and integration, encompassing alignment between civil and military institutions.
• Primary Goal: To achieve respective objectives while upholding humanitarian principles, avoiding competition, minimizing inconsistencies, and pursuing common goals where appropriate.

Key Aspects

• Jointness: Operational cooperation across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and civilian agencies.
• Integration: Structural and procedural alignment between civilian institutions and the military for better decision-making and execution.
• Governance: In democracies like India, civil-military coordination is guided by the principle of civilian supremacy, whereas in authoritarian regimes, the military often dominates the political landscape.
  • Samuel Huntington’s 1957 all-time classic on civil-military relations advocates military autonomy under civilian control.

Importance

• Humanitarian Access: Facilitates the timely and secure delivery of aid to crisis-affected populations.
• Protection of Civilians: Ensures safety in conflict or disaster zones through collaborative arrangements.
• Security of Aid Workers: Creating a safe environment for humanitarian operations.
• Efficient Use of Resources: Leveraging the unique capabilities of both civilian and military actors.
• Building Trust: Fostering positive relationships between the military, civilian organisations & the locals.
• Disaster Response: Critical during natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, or cyclones—as seen in India’s response to the 2004 Tsunami and 2013 Uttarakhand floods.
• Peacekeeping Missions: Coordination is vital in UN peace operations where civilian administrators and military peacekeepers operate jointly.

Challenges in Civil-Military Coordination

• Differing Mandates and Principles: Humanitarian actors prioritize neutrality and impartiality, while military actors have security and political objectives.
• Trust Deficits: Historical experiences and differing organizational cultures can create mistrust.
• Competition for Resources: Scarcity of resources like transportation & infrastructure can lead to tension.
• Security Concerns: Association with the military can compromise the perceived neutrality of humanitarian actors and increase security risks.
• Information Sharing: Differences in communication protocols and security classifications can hinder effective information exchange.

Way Forward

• The civil-military coordination is a complex but essential aspect of modern crisis response.
• Effective CIMIC requires mutual understanding, respect for differing mandates, and a commitment to dialogue to ensure the best possible outcomes for affected populations.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Asteroid YR4

• Context (TH): The asteroid YR4 was in the news recently. YR4 is a near-Earth asteroid, an object orbiting the Sun. Initially, it was considered a potential threat due to its Earth-crossing orbit and size.

• Scientists used the ATLAS telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, to discover asteroid 2024 YR4 in 2024.

Physical Features

• Size: YR4 is estimated to be 65 m wide, about the size of a 10-storey building.
• Shape: Observations indicate an unusually flat, disk-like shape, resembling a hockey puck.
• Spectral analysis classifies it as an R-type or Sa-type asteroid, suggesting a rocky composition.

Impact Risk Assessment

• Initial Concerns: Early analyses in January 2025 placed 2024 YR4 at a Torino Scale level 3, indicating a 1.9% chance of Earth impact on December 22, 2032.
• Current Status: Subsequent observations have significantly reduced the risk. As of late February 2025, NASA concluded that 2024 YR4 poses no significant threat to Earth in 2032 and beyond.

{Prelims – In News} National Technology Day

• Context (PIB|TOI|PIB): National Technology Day is observed annually to honour India’s achievements in science and technology.

About National Technology Day

• The day commemorates two landmark events that took place on 11^th May 1998:
  • Successful nuclear tests under Operation Shakti at Pokhran.
  • The maiden flight of Hansa-3, an indigenously developed light trainer aircraft by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL).
• Then, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared 11^th May as National Technology Day in 1999.

National Technology Day 2025 Theme YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration” was announced by the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). YANTRA: Rooted in Indian tradition, the word signifies mechanical systems and the synergy and power of scalable innovation. Yugantar: Means a historic or epochal shift, symbolizing India’s transition from a technology importer to a global technology leader.

Significance

• Celebrates India’s progress in science, research, and innovation.
• Recognises the contribution of scientists, engineers, innovators, technocrats, industries, and startups.
• Promotes technological self-reliance, aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Encourages youth and researchers to contribute towards India’s scientific and industrial development.
• Strengthens the bond between science, society, and industry.