Current Affairs – September 23, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – Solar System} Extreme Nuclear Transients (ENT) **

• Context (TH): Astronomers identified Extreme Nuclear Transients as the universe’s most powerful explosions since the Big Bang, surpassing gamma-ray bursts.

About Extreme Nuclear Transients (ENT)

• Extreme nuclear transients are rare cosmic explosions that occur when supermassive black holes entirely tear apart massive stars.
• Formation: Stars at least three times heavier than the Sun, approaching galactic-centre black holes, get stretched, spaghettified, and emit intense radiation.
• Energy Scale: ENTs usually release more total energy than most gamma-ray bursts, roughly equal to hundreds of Suns radiating over a year.
• Sustained Emission: ENTs shine for decades as the gas from the torn star spirals into the black hole, heating up and emitting continuous radiation.
• Magnitude: These are the most intense explosions observed since the Big Bang, surpassing supernovae and tidal disruption events.
• Scientific Relevance: Observing ENTs enables astronomers to uncover hidden black holes and gain insights into galaxy formation in the early universe.

Read More > Stellar Evolution or Life Cycle of a Star

{GS2 – MoPNG – Schemes} Additional LPG Connections Under PMUY

• Context (TH): Union Government approved 25 lakh additional Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), expanding coverage to 10.58 crore households.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• PMUY, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, is a Central Sector Scheme that provides deposit-free LPG connections to women in poor households.
• Objective: Ensure availability of clean cooking fuels, lower indoor air pollution, and safeguard the health of women and children.
• Phases & Targets: Phase I (2016–2019) achieved 8 crore connections; Phase II (Ujjwala 2.0, 2021–22) added 1.6 crore, with further extensions till 2024.
• Eligibility: Adult women without an LPG connection; priority for women from BPL, SC/ST, Antyodaya, SECC-listed households, forest dwellers, migrants (self-declaration), and island residents.

Key Achievements

• Coverage: Over 10.33 crore LPG connections had been distributed under PMUY by March 2025.
• Continuous Usage: More than 238 crore subsidised cylinder refills were availed in nine years.
• Distributor Expansion: The LPG distributor network grew 83% by 2024, enhancing rural access.

Read More > Black Carbon & Role of PMUY

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} UP to Curb Caste-Based Practices

• Context (TH): The Uttar Pradesh government prohibited caste-based rallies, caste glorification, and caste signboards in public spaces, following a directive from the Allahabad High Court.

• Exception: Crimes covered by the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, continue to be exempt as caste identification is essential for establishing targeted offences.

{GS2 – IR – India-US} H-1B Visa Fee Hike **

• Context (TH): The U.S. administration imposed a one-time $100k H-1B visa fee under the Presidential Proclamation to restrict skilled migration and protect domestic employment.

• The surcharge applies only to new H-1B petitions starting September 2025, excluding current visa holders and renewals, with potential waivers for sectors like healthcare, defence, & critical technology.

Factors Behind the Increasing H-1B Fee

• Political Pressure: Immigration as a top voter concern increased from 2.1% (2012) to 14.6% (2024), fuelling protectionist policies under MAGA narratives.
• Fiscal Target: The $100,000 surcharge aims to generate more than $100 billion for the U.S. Treasury, allocated for tax cuts and debt reduction.
• Labour Protection: H-1B workers earned an average of $66,000 annually, significantly below the U.S. median, which increases welfare reliance and worsens wage suppression.
• National Security: H-1B misuse for visa fraud and money laundering undermines economic integrity and hampers domestic law enforcement effectiveness.
• Skill Realignment: Foreign STEM workers more than doubled from 2000 to 2019, while U.S. STEM jobs increased by only 44.5%, reducing opportunities for domestic talent.

Implications of the Rising Fee for India

Positive Implications

• Talent Retention: The high fee discourages U.S. migration, prompting Indian STEM graduates to remain in the country and boost local AI and semiconductor innovation.
• Industry Evolution: Indian IT firms will be compelled to move from onsite staffing to offshore delivery, Global Capability Centres, and product-led models.
• Strategic Leverage: Reducing dependence on H-1B visas boosts India’s leverage in trade talks and increases independence in global technology supply chains.

Negative Implications

• Export Slowdown: Emkay forecasts India’s IT export growth may drop below 4% in FY26, weakening traditional outsourcing-based revenue models.
• Humanitarian Disruption: The sudden announcement caused panic, stranded workers overseas, and separated families, exposing weaknesses in consular and expatriate support.
• Project Constraints: The high fee inhibits Indian firms from sending employees on short-term U.S. assignments, damaging client trust, knowledge sharing, and project continuity.

Way Forward

• Scale GCCs: Expand Global Capability Centres in Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune to retain talent and attract more foreign investment.
• Local Hiring: Expand recruitment of U.S.-based staff to structurally decrease H-1B reliance and enhance client confidence in American markets.
• Alternative Pathways: Leverage O-1, EB-1A, and Canada/UK visa options to avoid the surcharge and secure mobility for skilled professionals.
• Policy Engagement: Negotiate waivers and establish predictable talent mobility frameworks with U.S. authorities to protect long-term bilateral technology relations.
• Domestic Innovation: Channel returning talent into R&D and product innovation to reposition India from a service exporter to a global technology creator.

{GS2 – IR – Bilateral Relations} India-Morocco Defence Cooperation

• Context (PIB): India and Morocco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation recently.

Key Features of the MoU

• Institutional Framework: Establishes a structured mechanism for long-term defence cooperation.
• Scope of Cooperation: Defence industry collaboration, joint exercises, training, and capacity building.
• Industry Linkages: Indian defence companies to provide advanced technologies, including drones and counter-drone systems, to support Morocco’s requirements.

{GS3 – IE – Urbanization} India, ADB Sign $125 Million Loan for Assam Urban Development

• Context (DDN): India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement to improve urban liveability and boost climate resilience in Assam.

About the Asian Development Bank

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was established in 1966 as a regional development bank, with its headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
• Membership: 69 members (49 from Asia-Pacific, 20 non-regional). Membership is open to UN-ESCAP member states, other UN members, or specialised agencies.
  • Türkiye became the newest member in 2025.
• Voting Power: ADB has a weighted voting system like the World Bank, where voting shares are based on ownership stakes.
  • Japan and the USA are the top shareholders, followed by China and India.

• India Role: India is a founding member, receiving 14% of commitments across major sectors.

{GS3 – Agri – Fisheries} Eco-labelling Tag for Lakshadweep Tuna Fisheries

• Context (TH): The Union Government is advocating for global eco-labelling of Lakshadweep’s traditional tuna fisheries, emphasising their low ecological impact and social benefits.

• Objective: The initiative aims to promote sustainable fishing, open high-value export markets, and increase incomes for artisanal fishers in Lakshadweep.

About Eco-Labels

• An eco-label is a certification awarded by an independent third party to products or services meeting specified environmental & sustainability standards, helping consumers identify eco-friendly products.
• It promotes the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 and SDG 14.
• India’s System: India’s Ecomark scheme, launched in 1991, is the national eco-labelling program. Updated under the Eco-mark Rules 2024, it expanded product coverage and aligned with the LiFE Mission.

About Tuna Fish

• Tuna are warm-blooded pelagic species with streamlined bodies, rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making them valuable for nutrition and trade.
• In India, tuna harvests stay below potential, but export value increased by 32% in 2023–24.
• Government Initiative: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were designated as a Tuna Cluster under PMMSY to develop processing and export infrastructure and unlock India’s potential within its EEZ.

Read More > India’s Marine Fisheries

{GS3 – Infra – Transportation} Initiatives for Logistics Sector **

• Context (PIB | PIB): On the 10^th anniversary of Make in India, the Commerce Ministry unveiled the logistics cost report, LDB 2.0, and LEADS 2025 to enhance global competitiveness in the logistics industry.

Report on Assessment of Logistics Cost

• Hybrid approach: Released by the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), it combines national surveys with secondary data to provide precise logistics cost assessments.
• Policy basis: It fulfils the mandate of the National Logistics Policy (2022) to create a uniform framework, using European Union and United States practices as benchmarks.
• Granular insights: The report analyses freight cost per tonne-kilometre across different transport methods, demonstrating how multi-modal logistics reduces transport costs.

Key Findings of the Report

• GDP share: Logistics costs are estimated at 7.97% of GDP, correcting earlier inconsistent assertions of 13-14% from external studies.
• Trend shift: In the last five years, the rise in logistics expenses has decelerated, reflecting efficiency improvements from freight corridors and connectivity reforms.

Logistics Data Bank (LDB) 2.0

• Logistics Tracking: Published by DPIIT and developed by NICDC Logistics Data Services, LDB 2.0 facilitates real-time monitoring of India’s logistics network.
• High Seas: Exporters are now able to track containers on the high seas, enhancing coordination and increasing India’s dependability in global supply chains.
• Domestic visibility: It leverages the Unified Logistics Interface Platform along with real-time heat maps to monitor shipments across various modes and pinpoint regional distribution gaps.

Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025

• State benchmarking: Released by DPIIT, LEADS 2025 evaluates states and union territories on logistics efficiency, showcasing best practices and key deficiencies.
• Corridor focus: It assesses five to seven freight corridors by measuring truck speeds, journey times, and waiting periods to guide improvements.
• Digital tools: Section-wise speed monitoring and real-time dashboards offer insights for policymaking, traffic management, and infrastructure planning.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} World’s 1^st Functioning AI-designed Viral Genome **

• Context (IE): Researchers at Stanford University have created the world’s first AI-designed viral genome that can infect and kill bacteria.

About the AI-Designed Viral Genome

• Researchers used a genomic AI model called Evo, trained on nearly two million viral genomes, to generate thousands of candidate genomes.
• Test Virus: Bacteriophage ΦX174, a virus infecting E. coli, was used for its small, compact genome.
  • It was the first genome fully sequenced in 1977 and synthesised from scratch in 2003, serving as a benchmark for AI-driven genome design.
• Achievement: Scientists used AI to design bacteriophages that can target and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, showing AI’s biomedical potential.
• Significance: The experiment marks a shift from reading DNA (sequencing) and building DNA (synthesis) to designing DNA with AI, signalling a new phase in biotechnology.

Opportunities of AI in Biotechnology

• Healthcare Advancement: It can accelerate vaccine and drug development while providing personalised treatments based on genetic profiles and deeper gene-level insights.
• Alternative Therapy: AI-designed bacteriophages can target and eliminate drug-resistant bacteria such as E. coli, providing an alternative when antibiotics are ineffective.
• Research Expansion: It drives breakthroughs across industry, agriculture, and medicine; for example, DeepMind’s AlphaFold solved the long-standing protein structure puzzle.
• Bioeconomy Potential: AI-assisted design of biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and engineered microbes supports sustainable development by promoting SDG 7 (Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Risks of Using AI in Biotechnology

• Biosecurity Threats: Poses dual-use risks of deliberate misuse as bioweapons and accidental biosafety failures that could trigger ecological or health crises.
• Regulatory Vacuum: Global AI-biotech governance is underdeveloped, lacking ethical clarity and dedicated WHO or UN biosafety frameworks.
• Equity and Privacy: AI in healthcare risks misuse of sensitive patient data and may widen inequities between urban and rural populations.
• Accountability Gap: Excessive dependence on AI reduces human oversight, increasing risks of undetected errors and unintended consequences.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Indian Navy’s Shipbuilding Programme *

• Context (TH): The Indian Navy is undertaking its largest indigenous shipbuilding programme with 54 vessels under construction, central to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

• Expansion Timeline: All 54 vessels will be inducted by 2030, raising India’s fleet strength to over 200 by 2035 and nearly 230 by 2037.
• Indigenisation Drive: Under Atmanirbhar Bharat, the programme moves India from buying warships abroad to building them domestically, boosting autonomy and generating large-scale employment.

{Prelims – MoSJE – Initiatives} Sign Language Day 2025 *

• Context (PIB): The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is celebrating Sign Language Day 2025 under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on 23^rd September in New Delhi.

• The United Nations General Assembly designated September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages in 2017 to raise awareness about the importance of sign language for deaf people.
• The 2025 theme, “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights,” emphasises the importance of sign language in achieving human rights, equality, inclusion, and dignity for Deaf communities.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} BSF School of Drone Warfare *

• Context (HT): BSF launched its School of Drone Warfare at Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, to enhance aerial threat readiness in sensitive border areas.

• Objective: The school aims to train about 500 personnel each year as “drone warriors” (officers who plan operations) and “drone commandos” (jawans who execute them on the ground).
• Key Features: Curriculum includes piloting, surveillance, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) neutralisation, Radio Frequency jamming, AI-based tracking, and payload operations.
• Significance: The initiative strengthens BSF’s strategy after Operation Sindoor, where drones were used in cross-border attacks, highlighting their role in future conflicts.

Read More About Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) | Drones as the New Face of Warfare

{Prelims – Envi – Pollution} Delhi Tests ‘Smog-Eating’ Road Coatings

• Context (IE): The Delhi government will conduct a feasibility study on titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-based “smog-eating” coatings for roads and public spaces.

• The study aims to evaluate whether such coatings can reduce pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and harmful hydrocarbons.

About Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)

• It is low-cost, chemically stable, and compatible with traditional construction materials such as concrete and asphalt.
• TiO₂ can absorb UV light and trigger chemical reactions that break down pollutants like NO₂ and volatile organic compounds.
• Research shows TiO₂-based coatings can help in gaseous depollution and environmental cleaning.

Read More> Air Pollution | Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

{Prelims} One Liners

• In News – Project Vijayak (PIB): Project Vijayak of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 15^th Raising Day in Kargil, Ladakh. Mandated to connect Ladakh’s remote valleys and support the Armed Forces, it has built 1,400 km of roads and 80 bridges.