Current Affairs – May 29, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Early Southwest Monsoon Onset 2025 **

Context (IE | IE): India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala, eight days ahead of its normal June 1 schedule, last seen in 2009.

Source: IE

Significance of Southwest Monsoon in India

Delivers over 70% of India’s annual rainfall, vital for kharif crops and water reservoirs.
Supports agriculture, hydropower generation and rural livelihoods, directly impacting the economy.
Drives India’s economic calendar and planning for farming activities.

IMD’s Criteria for Declaring Monsoon Onset

Rainfall Condition: At least 60% of 14 designated meteorological stations in southern India (e.g., Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mangalore) must record ≥2.5 mm rainfall for two consecutive days.
Wind Field Parameters: Westerly winds must dominate up to 600 hPa atmospheric pressure, with wind speeds between 15–20 knots (27–37 km/h) at 925 hPa.
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR): OLR must be below 200 W/m², indicating enhanced convection and atmospheric conditions suitable for monsoon advancement.
IMD Protocol: Monsoon onset is officially declared on the second consecutive day after all the above conditions are fulfilled.

Factors Behind Early Onset

Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)

MJO is an eastward-moving tropical atmospheric disturbance involving clouds, rainfall, winds & pressure. Discovered in 1971 by Roland Madden and Paul Julian, it completes a global cycle every 30–60 days.
Phases of MJO:
- Enhanced Convective Phase: Rising moist air leads to cloud formation and heavy rainfall.
- Suppressed Convective Phase: Sinking dry air reduces clouds and rainfall, leading to clearer skies.
Formation Mechanism
- Initiated by surface wind convergence in the tropics, causing upward motion and condensation.
- Supported by upper-level divergence, forming a dipole system that moves eastward between 30°N and 30°S.
- Regulates intra-seasonal rainfall variability and monsoon breaks, and can trigger early monsoon onset in India, as seen in 2024 and 2025.

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Key Influencing Factors

Sea surface temperature anomalies in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Zonal wind changes and atmospheric moisture levels.
Seasonal phenomena like El Niño, which can strengthen or weaken MJO.

MJO’s Role in 2025 Monsoon Onset

MJO entered Phase 4 with amplitude >1 around May 22, indicating strong activity.
This coincided with heavy rain potential and enhanced storm formation during its active phase.
Helped trigger monsoon arrival in Kerala (May 24) & Mumbai (May 26), both record-early dates.

Global Weather Influence

Modulates cyclones, jet streams and extreme weather in the U.S., Europe and Australia.
Linked to cold surges, floods and heatwaves in mid-latitudes.
Acts as a short-term climate driver, unlike seasonal ENSO.

MJO vs ENSO

MJO is a short-term, intra-seasonal climate driver.
ENSO (like El Niño) operates seasonally with broader but slower climate effects.

Other Factors

Mascarene High: A high-pressure system near the Mascarene Islands (south Indian Ocean) that strengthens cross-equatorial monsoon winds, boosting moisture flow towards the Indian coast.
Somali Jet: A strong, low-level cross-equatorial wind band forming near Mauritius and north Madagascar, crosses the Arabian Sea, aiding moisture transport to India’s west coast. This reinforces monsoon currents and enhances rainfall along the western coast and peninsular India.
- A split in the axis of the jet over the Arabian Sea, the more northern branch intersecting the west coast of India near 17°N, while the southerly branch moves eastward just south of India.
- The jet remains relatively steady from June to September before moving southward to the southern Indian Ocean during the winter.
Heat-Low over South Asia: Intense heating over northwest India and Pakistan creates a shallow low-pressure zone acting like a suction pump drawing in moist air, intensifying monsoon conditions.
Enhanced Convective Activity: Increased vertical movement of heat & moisture in the atmosphere leads to cloud formation and rainfall. A low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and a trough over Vidarbha enhanced regional convection.
- Recently observed in northern India over Haryana with systems moving southeastward, causing rain in Delhi region.
Monsoon Trough Dynamics: A seasonal elongated low-pressure belt extending from northwest India to the north Bay of Bengal. Its oscillation is a primary driver of rainfall distribution during monsoon months.
Onset Vortex and Pressure Gradient: Cyclonic system in the Arabian Sea and strong pressure gradients aid in rapid advancement and intensification of monsoon winds.

{GS2 – MoSDE – Schemes} National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

Context (IE): Recently, NSDC’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ved Mani Tewari, was terminated amid multiple complaints and governance concerns.

Objective and Organisation

Establishment: Founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit public limited company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
Objective: To catalyze private sector participation in skill development and serve as a knowledge partner to the Skill India Mission.
Operational Model: A unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Shareholding Pattern: Government holds 49% equity, private sector holds 51%.
Mandate: Upgrade vocational training infrastructure and delivery, enabling employability and entrepreneurship for youth.
Governed by a Board of Directors comprising government nominees and private sector representatives.
Responsible for policy formulation, strategic direction, financial oversight, and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

NSDC’s Role in India’s Skill Development Ecosystem

To enhance the quality and reach of vocational training.
It promotes private sector investment and innovation in skill training; Acts as a bridge between industry & govt increasing the capacity and effectiveness of India’s vocational education system.
Implements sector-specific skill development programs aligned with industry needs.
Facilitates funding and incubation for skill training providers through grants and equity.
Supports the Government of India’s flagship schemes like the Skill India Mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

Interim Management Arrangements

Pending appointment of a new CEO, a committee of key NSDC officials will manage organizational affairs.
- Committee Members Include: Chief Financial Officer (CFO); Vice President & Company Secretary; Other key managerial personnel.
- This committee jointly exercises the financial and executive powers previously held by the CEO.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – FRs} France Moves Towards Legalising Assisted Dying

Context (DTE): France’s National Assembly approved a landmark bill legalising assisted dying for adults with incurable suffering.

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Key Provisions of France’s Assisted Dying Law (2025)

Eligibility: Adults (18+) residing in France with a serious, incurable, advanced-stage illness causing constant physical or psychological suffering, and capable of making a voluntary, pressure-free request.
- Exclusions: Individuals with severe psychiatric conditions or neurodegenerative disorders.
The bill deliberately avoids terms like euthanasia/assisted suicide, framing the practice as “aid in dying.”

Euthanasia Vs. Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia: A medical professional actively administers a lethal substance to cause a patient’s death, usually through injection.
Assisted Suicide: A patient self-administers a prescribed lethal drug with medical guidance but without direct intervention.
Note: Both differ from withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in accord with accepted ethical and medical standards or “Do Not Resuscitate” orders, which are already legal in some countries.

Review & Approval Process: A multidisciplinary medical team evaluates each case over a 15-day period, followed by a mandatory 2-day reflection window.
Administration of Medication: Approved patients may self-administer the lethal medication or be assisted by a healthcare provider or a designated trusted person if physically incapable.
Medical staff may opt out via a registry; obstructing lawful requests is punishable with up to 2 years in prison and a €30,000 fine; a parallel law ensures improved palliative care access.

Global Legal Status of Assisted Dying

European Countries: Legal in Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg under strict conditions.
US & UK: Debate ongoing; UK MPs proposed a bill in 2024 requiring further scrutiny.
Judicial Recognition in India for the Right to Die with dignity (Article 21) in the Aruna Shanbaug case.

Also refer to Status of Passive Euthanasia in India; Assisted Dying Debate.

{GS3 – Agri – MSP} MSP Hiked for 14 Kharif Crops

Context (DH): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the PM, has approved an increase in the MSP for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025-26 marketing season.

The government has increased the MSP of Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for nigerseed (Rs.820 per quintal) followed by Ragi, Cotton and Sesamum.
The increase in MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26 is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average cost of production.

What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

MSP is the minimum price at which the government promises to purchase crops from farmers. It is a form of market intervention by the government to protect farmers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
MSP is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) before the sowing season.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency, along with other State Agencies, undertakes the procurement of crops.
There is neither statutory backing for these prices nor any law mandating their enforcement.
MSP is announced for 23 crops (MSP for 22 crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.

Crops for which MSP is Announced

7 Cereals: Paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi and barley.
5 Pulses: Chana, arhar/tur, urad, moong and masur.
7 Oilseeds: Rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, safflower and nigerseed.
4 Commercial Crops: Cotton, sugarcane, copra and raw jute.

{GS3 – Infra – Initiatives} Siang Dam Project

Context (IE): The proposed SUMP has triggered renewed protests in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)

The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), also known as the Upper Siang Hydropower Project is a proposed 11,000-megawatt hydropower project on the Siang River in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at being India’s largest dam.
In 2017, the government proposed to replace the planned 5,500 MW Siang Upper Stage-I and 3,750 MW Siang Upper Stage-II hydel projects with a single, multi-purpose project of higher capacity — the Upper Siang project.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) will build the project.
It would need the construction of a 300m high dam, the largest in the subcontinent when completed.
Purpose: Intended to serve as a strategic countermeasure to Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet by China which becomes the Siang in India, later forming the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Proposed Sites: Beging/Paring, Ugeng and Dite Dime in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Significance of the project

The combined installed capacity of 29 hydroelectric projects in the Siang River basin is 18,326 MW (as of Nov 2022). The proposed Upper Siang project’s installed capacity is roughly 60% of this figure.
The dam is projected as a strategic imperative to counter China‘s hydel projects on the Tsangpo.
It will act as a reservoir to counter the effects of reduced flow due to the 60,000 MW ‘super dam‘ in Tibet‘s Medog that would divert water to China‘s water-scarce northern regions.

Key Concerns Over Siang Dam

Displacement & Loss of Livelihood: Large-scale submergence of villages and agricultural lands threatens the displacement of tribal communities dependent on paddy and pineapple cultivation.
Environmental Impact: Project is located in ecologically fragile Siang valley, part of Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, raising concerns over deforestation, wildlife disruption & ecological degradation.
Violation of Tribal Rights: The project risks undermining customary land rights and community governance systems enshrined under the Fifth and Sixth Schedule protections.
Cultural & Social Disruption: Potential inundation of culturally significant lands and ancestral villages threatens the sociocultural identity of indigenous Adi communities.
Lack of Free, Prior & Informed Consent (FPIC): Locals were neither consulted nor informed before forceful initiation of surveys and deployment of paramilitary forces.
Opaque Governance & Lack of Transparency: Absence of credible and inclusive stakeholder engagement erodes public trust in state agencies and project implementers.

Siang River

Origin: Near Mount Kailash in Tibet, flows as Tsangpo.
It traverses over 1,000 km eastward before forming a horseshoe bend around the towering Namcha Barwa peak and enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang.
- Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) breaks through the Himalayas in great gorges (including Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon) and enters into Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as Dihang or Siang.
Further downstream, in Assam, the river becomes the mighty Brahmaputra.

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{GS3 – S&T – AI} Dark Factories *

Context (TH): Business services and manufacturing are rapidly transitioning to autonomous operations, driven by Generative AI and Agentic AI systems, paving the way for ‘dark factories’.

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems designed to act autonomously with goal-oriented behaviour, making decisions and taking actions without constant human intervention. Unlike traditional AI, which responds only when prompted, agentic AI can initiate tasks, adapt to new situations, and operate proactively, similar to an agent working independently within an environment.

What are Dark Factories?

Also called lights-out factories. These operate without any human presence, even in total darkness.
Utilise robots, AI systems, IoT, and other advanced technologies to streamline the entire production.
Part of Industry 4.0, and may lead to Industry 5.0, where machines handle not just physical but also intelligent tasks.

Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution, focusing on smart factories with automated production facilitated by AI, IoT, and cyber-physical systems, which require minimal human input. Industry 5.0 builds on collaboration between humans and machines, combining human creativity and ethics with machine precision to enable personalised, sustainable, and responsible manufacturing practices.

Advantages of Dark Factories

Enable 24×7 uninterrupted operations, boosting efficiency and product quality without human fatigue.
Cut costs by eliminating wages, lighting, and climate control expenses, while reducing manual errors.
Support environmental sustainability through energy-efficient robots and reduced material waste, aiding India’s green manufacturing goals.
Address skilled labour shortages, especially in hazardous or precision-reliant sectors, by substituting humans with autonomous systems.
Enhance India’s global competitiveness by aligning with advanced manufacturing models in countries like Singapore and contributing to initiatives such as Make in India 2.0 and Digital India.

Challenges of Dark Factories

Risk large-scale job displacement, particularly among low-skilled workers, requiring extensive reskilling efforts under schemes like Skill India Mission.
High upfront investment costs in robotics, AI, and digital infrastructure can limit adoption, especially among MSMEs, which need policy support.
Increased vulnerability to cybersecurity threats, data breaches, and technical failures demands strong cyber laws and resilient IT infrastructure.
Regulatory and ethical frameworks are lagging behind the rapid adoption of AI, creating challenges in accountability and autonomous decision-making.
Overdependence on automation risks total production halts during system failures, emphasizing the continued necessity of human oversight in critical situations.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence – Aircraft} Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

Context (ET): India has cleared its ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, a 5^th generation stealth fighter jet project.

Led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), it is designed to produce medium-weight, deep-penetration, stealth aircraft that will operate alongside the existing Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.
- ADA was established in Bangalore in 1984 under the Department of Defence Research and Development of the Ministry of Defence, to oversee India’s Light Combat Aircraft programme.
Together, they will form the core of India’s aerial strike power in the coming decades.

Key Features

The AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth multi-role fighter, engineered for both deep penetration strike missions and air dominance roles.
The jet can carry up to four long-range air-to-air missiles and several precision-guided munitions internally, with a total payload of 1,500 kg.

Technological Specifications

Stealth Technology: Internal weapons bay and low radar cross-section help reduce detectability.
AI-Enabled: An electronic pilot utilises artificial intelligence for real-time decision-making support.
Sensor Fusion: Integrates inputs from multiple onboard sensors for unified situational awareness.
Netcentric Warfare: Secure and real-time data links allow the AMCA to operate seamlessly with other manned and unmanned platforms.
Supercruise Capability: Enables sustained supersonic speeds without afterburners, reducing fuel usage and thermal visibility.
Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM): Monitors structural and system health to enable predictive maintenance and reduce downtime.

Execution Model

Prototypes Development: The programme will 1^st see the development of prototypes and then the serial production of AMCA jets.
Development of Fighter Jets: In the 1^st batch, 120 fighter jets are expected to be ordered, with deliveries expected to start by 2035.
Public Private Participation: The execution model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis.
- They can bid either independently or as joint ventures or as consortia. The entity or bidder should be an Indian company compliant with the laws and regulations of the country.

5^th Generation Fighter Jet In Other Countries

The US has two such fighters – F35 and F22; it’s working on 6^th gen jets
China has two 5^th gen fighters – J20 and J35; has conducted 1^st flights of at least two 6^th gen jets.
Russia has Su-57, which has taken part in combat operations.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence – Missiles} Invar Missile

Context (N18): The Ministry of Defence is finalising a deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to procure 500 Invar anti-tank guided missiles.

Invar is a laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) designed for launch from tank platforms, especially the T-90 main battle tank.
Developed by Russia’s Rosoboronexport; Produced under license in India by Bharat Dynamics Limited.
Part of India’s effort to strengthen armoured warfare capability and boost firepower precision.
Actively deployed by Indian Army frontline armoured units, particularly along sensitive western and northern borders.

Technical Specifications

Guidance System: Semi-automatic laser beam riding with high jamming immunity.
Warhead: Tandem-charge capable of penetrating Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
Target Capability: High Hit-and-Kill probability for both stationary and mobile targets moving up to 70 kmph with high accuracy.
Performance Metrics: 5 km maximum range, 17.6-second flight time.
Physical Specs: 125 mm caliber | Missile: 695 mm & 17.2 kg | Throwing device: 395 mm & 7.1 kg.

{Prelims – Festivals} Sikari Utsav

Context (TH): Sikari Utsav highlights the need to balance cultural practices with ecological responsibility.

Sikari Utsav is a regional hunting festival celebrated in southwest West Bengal during the dry season (March-May), notably in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum districts.
The festival involves thousands of participants hunting small wildlife such as wild boars and hares, impacting biodiversity and forest ecosystems.
Since the 1980s, Joint Forest Management Committee in West Bengal has fostered community collaboration with the State Forest Department to sustainably manage vast, accessible forests yet these areas still face pressures from both sustainable and exploitative use near human settlements.

Challenges Posed by Sikari Utsav

Environmental Impact: The festival coincides with peak forest fire season, worsening ecological damage.
Resource Strain: The Forest Department is under-resourced and overwhelmed by the sheer number of hunters, limiting enforcement of conservation laws.
Cultural Justification: Hunting is defended as a traditional celebration linked to archery and shooting heritage, complicating conservation messaging.
Biodiversity Threat: Ritualistic hunting contributes to wildlife depletion and threatens ecological balance, undermining decades of restoration efforts.

{Prelims – In News} Unique Wrinkle Patterns

Context (TH): Study has found that fingertip wrinkle patterns formed after prolonged water exposure are unique and consistent, much like fingerprints.

Credit: TH

Key Finding of the Study

Individual-Specific Patterns: Wrinkles formed after immersing hands in 40°C water for 30 minutes were consistent across multiple tests, demonstrating personal uniqueness and repeatability of patterns.
Neurovascular Mechanism: Wrinkling is caused by nerve-induced vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), not skin swelling. This mechanism likely evolved to improve grip in wet conditions.
Three-Dimensional Biometric: Unlike two-dimensional flat fingerprints, wrinkle patterns are three-dimensional, featuring groove-like ridges and troughs, which offer a distinct biometric dimension.
Linked to Blood Vessel Distribution: The wrinkle pattern may be influenced by the unique distribution of blood vessels in each individual.
No Direct Link with Fingerprints: There is no direct relationship between fingerprints and wrinkle patterns, confirming that wrinkles can serve as an independent biometric marker.

Biometric identification is the process of recognising or verifying an individual’s identity based on their unique biological or behavioural characteristics.

Significance of Study

Alternative Biometric Tool: Can supplement or replace fingerprints in cases where they are damaged, erased, or unreadable.
Forensic and Disaster Use: Offers a tool for identifying cadavers in water-related disasters (e.g., floods, tsunamis) where fingerprints degrade.
Digital Governance Applications: Could enhance biometric reliability in services such as Aadhaar authentication, e-KYC, and other identity-based governance mechanisms.
Curiosity-Driven Discovery: The research stemmed from a student’s question, showcasing the power of curiosity-led innovation.
Scope for Further Research: Encourages deeper study into wrinkle-biometric mapping, technology development, and policy integration.