UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (22TH FEBRUARY 2025)

Sexual Equality Must be a Part of School Syllabus

Syllabus: GS1/ Society

Context

• The Supreme Court recently emphasized that sexual equality, along with moral and ethical training on respectful behavior towards women, must be integrated into the school curriculum.

Need for Sexual Equality

• Address Deep-Rooted Patriarchy: India continues to grapple with gender biases that limit opportunities for women in various fields. 
• Economic Participation: Gender disparity in education and employment contributes to lower economic growth.
  • Gender Gap in Education: As per NFHS-5, 70.3% of females are literate, compared to 84.7% of males. 
  • Labor Force Participation: In India, only around 37% of women aged 15 years and above participate in the workforce (compared to about 73% of men).
• Constitutional Mandate: Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution uphold gender equality, and integrating it into education aligns with these principles.
• Gender-Based Violence: Educating children on gender equality from an early age can help reduce incidents of gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination.

Challenges to Achieving Sexual Equality

• Deep-Rooted Patriarchy: Societal norms and traditional biases reinforce gender stereotypes, limiting opportunities for women.
• Educational Gaps: Lack of gender-sensitive curricula and inadequate teacher training hinder effective implementation of gender equality education.
• Workplace Disparities: Wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and gendered career preferences continue to perpetuate inequality.
• Violence Against Women: Sexual harassment, domestic violence, and crimes against women persist despite legal frameworks aimed at protection and justice.
• Digital and Media Influence: Objectification of women in media and unchecked cyber abuse contribute to gender biases.

Global Efforts Towards Sexual Equality

• United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995): The resolution adopted by the United Nations in 1995 outlines key commitments for gender equality worldwide.
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Encourages policy reforms and legal protection against gender discrimination.

National Efforts Towards Sexual Equality

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Promotes awareness and education of the girl child to combat gender biases.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Recognizes gender inclusion as a key priority and promotes sensitization programs.
• Nirbhaya Fund: Supports initiatives to ensure women’s safety and security.
• Digital Literacy Programme for Women: It is part of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and empowers women to access e-governance services and financial platforms, helping them participate in the digital economy.
• One Stop Centre Scheme (Sakhi Centres), aims to facilitate women affected by violence with a range of integrated services under one roof such as Police facilitation, medical aid, legal aid and legal counseling, psycho-social counseling, temporary shelter, etc.

Concluding remarks

• Integrating sexual equality into school education is crucial for fostering a just and equitable society. 
• Implementing a well-structured and effective gender-sensitization curriculum can be a transformative step toward a more progressive and inclusive India.

World Day of Social Justice

Syllabus: GS2/Social Justice

Context

• World Day of Social Justice is observed annually on February 20th by the United Nations.

About

• Established by UNGA: It was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during the 62nd session on November 26, 2007. 
• Focus: On addressing poverty, exclusion, unemployment, and promoting solidarity, equality, and opportunity.
• Role of ILO: The International Labour Organization (ILO) promotes social justice through the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008) and the Decent Work Agenda.
• Aligned with UN Initiatives: Aligned with the UN’s mission, including the Social Protection Floor launched in 2009, ensuring basic social guarantees for all.

Evolution of Social Justice in India

• World Day of Social Justice (2009): India has observed this day since 2009, symbolizing its commitment to social justice.
• Independence Movement Influence: Social justice in India has roots in the struggle for independence, which laid the groundwork for equality, dignity, and justice.
• Constitutional Foundation: The Indian Constitution is the cornerstone of social justice, ensuring equality, dignity, and justice for all, especially marginalized communities.
• Key Constitutional Provisions: 
  • Preamble: Ensures social, economic, and political justice, guarantees equality, and promotes fraternity for national unity.
  • Fundamental Rights (Part III):
    • Article 23: Prohibits human trafficking and forced labor.
    • Article 24: Bans child labor in hazardous occupations.
• Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV):
  • Article 37: Highlights the importance of DPSPs in governance.
  • Article 38: Directs the State to reduce inequalities.
  • Article 39: Promotes equal livelihood, fair wages, and protection from exploitation.
  • Article 39A: Guarantees free legal aid.
  • Article 46: Focuses on education and economic upliftment for SCs, STs, and weaker sections.
• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: In 1985-86, the Ministry of Welfare was bifurcated into the Department of Women & Child Development and the Department of Welfare, incorporating divisions from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Law.
  • It was later renamed the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in May 1998.
  • Key focus Areas: education, economic support, rehabilitation, and empowerment.
  • Targeted Community Welfare: Focuses on uplifting SCs, OBCs, senior citizens, victims of substance abuse, transgender persons, DNTs, and EWS through policies and initiatives promoting equity and inclusion.
• Union Budget 2025-26: Allocation of Rs 13,611 crores for MoSJE, reflecting a 6% increase for welfare schemes aimed at empowering marginalized communities.

Key Initiatives by the Government of India

• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY): It merges 3 schemes for skill development, income generation, and infrastructure in SC-dominated villages.
  • Three Components: Adarsh Gram development, Grants-in-Aid for socio-economic projects and Hostel construction in higher education institutions.
• Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools (SRESHTA):
  • Provides financial assistance for SC students in classes 9-12 in high-quality residential schools.
  • Supports CBSE/State Board-affiliated private schools and NGOs/VOs running residential/non-residential schools and hostels.
  • Aims to bridge service gaps and promote socio-economic upliftment of SC communities.
• Purple Fests (Festival of Inclusion):
  • Organized by DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment since 2023.
  • In 2024, over 10,000 Divyangjan and their escorts participated.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA, 2020): Aims to make India drug-free by targeting 272 high-risk districts.
  • Follows a three-pronged approach: supply reduction (NCB), demand reduction (MoSJ&E), and treatment (Health Dept).
  • Reached 13.57 crore people, including 4.42 crore youth and 2.71 crore women, with participation from 3.85 lakh educational institutions.
• PM-DAKSH Yojana (2021):
  • Aims to enhance skill levels of marginalized communities (SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, Safai Karamcharis) for economic empowerment.
  • Provides free short-term and long-term training with a ₹450.25 crore budget (2021-26).
  • Ensures at least 70% placement in wage/self-employment, targeting individuals aged 18-45.
• SMILE Scheme:
  • Focuses on the rehabilitation of transgender individuals and people engaged in begging.
  • Aims to create a “Begging-free India” through surveys, awareness campaigns, shelter homes, skills training, alternative livelihoods, and SHG formation.
  • Active in 81 cities, with plans to expand to 50 more cities.
• NAMASTE Scheme (2023-24):
  • A joint initiative by MoSJ&E and MoHUA to ensure safety, dignity, and livelihood for sanitation workers in urban India.
  • Integrates the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) and expands coverage to waste pickers from FY 2024-25.

Ragging Deaths in India

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• Ragging remains a deeply entrenched issue in India’s higher education institutions, despite Supreme Court guidelines and University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations aiming to curb it.

What is Ragging?

• Ragging is any act of physical or psychological abuse usually by senior students toward juniors under the pretext of initiation or camaraderie. 
• It ranges from verbal abuse and forced tasks to extreme physical torture and sexual exploitation.

Menace of Ragging in Education institutions

• According to records accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 78 deaths have been attributed to ragging from 2012 to 2023. 
• The UGC’s dedicated helpline has logged over 8,000 complaints in the past decade, with cases rising by 208% between 2012 and 2022.

Government Steps to Curb Ragging

• Supreme Court Guidelines: In 2009, the Supreme Court of India ordered the implementation of a ragging prevention program. The program included the following steps:
  • Anti-ragging helpline: A toll-free helpline or call center to be set up.
  • Regulations: Directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to frame regulations to curb ragging in higher education institutions.
  • Anti-ragging committee: Mandated the UGC to constitute an Anti-Ragging Committee and an Anti-Ragging Squad.
• In a landmark verdict, the Vishwa Jagriti Mission v. Central Government & Others, 2001, the Supreme Court made ragging a punishable offense and mandated strict institutional measures.
• Role of NGOs: Organizations like Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) actively track cases and push for legal action against institutions.
• UGC Anti-Ragging Regulations (2009): UGC established a 24×7 anti-ragging helpline and mandated annual affidavits from students and parents against ragging.
  • It allowed UGC to withdraw funding from non-compliant institutions.
• Raghavan Committee in 2007 was constituted by the Supreme Court of India to address the menace of ragging in educational institutions.
  • The committee recommended treating ragging as a punishable criminal offense under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Reasons for Persisting Ragging

• Lack of Stringent Implementation: The Supreme Court issued anti-ragging guidelines 15 years ago, but they have largely remained on paper.
  • UGC regulations mandate action against colleges that fail to prevent ragging, but the regulatory body has not invoked these provisions since the helpline’s establishment in 2009.
• Unaccountable System: Victims often struggle with an ad hoc, non-transparent process where complaints are not adequately addressed.
• Institutional Inaction: Despite the mandate for Anti-Ragging Squads and surprise inspections, the UGC does not maintain any record of actions taken. 
• Low Compliance: UGC guidelines require students to submit anti-ragging affidavits annually, yet RTI data shows that only 4.49% of students have done so in the past decade.
• Failure in Legal Enforcement: Institutions are required to file an FIR within 24 hours of a ragging complaint, but UGC does not track compliance with this directive.

Way Ahead

• Strict Enforcement of Guidelines: Authorities must ensure full implementation of Supreme Court and UGC regulations, holding institutions accountable for lapses.
• Technology-Based Solutions: Expanded CCTV surveillance in campuses to deter ragging incidents.
  • Secure online portals and ID-based dashboards to enable anonymous reporting by victims.
• Legal Clarity: There is need for amendments in laws to ensure strict penalization of offenders, including faculty or management complicit in ignoring complaints.

India, China Worked hard to Protect G-20

Syllabus: GS 2/IR 

In News

• The External Affairs Minister of India emphasized that India and China worked hard to preserve the G-20 as an institution amid global polarization.

About

• India and China discussed bilateral developments, particularly the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, discussing the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, trans-border river talks, flight connectivity, and facilitating travel.

Inception of the G20

• It was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis (1997-1998) as an informal forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.
• Initially focused on macroeconomic issues, but has expanded to include trade, climate change, health, agriculture, energy, and anti-corruption.
• Membership: Comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK, and US.
  • Also includes two regional bodies: the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).
• Presidency: The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat.
  • The G20 Presidency rotates annually, and each country within a regional group takes a turn hosting the Presidency.

Role of India in G20 

• The G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023, showcased India’s capacity as G20 president to create a platform for global discussions and reach a consensus through the Leaders’ Declaration.
  • India placed inclusivity at the forefront, ensuring public concerns were heard through 11 Engagement Groups representing diverse segments like youth, women, private sector, and civil society.
• India’s G20 presidency advocated  for Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) – “no poverty” – aligning with global development goals.
• India represents the Global South in G20, advocating for developing nations and addressing their challenges.

Importance 

• India’s economic strength and diverse representation enable it to contribute to policies benefiting emerging economies.
• The G20 forum helps India attract foreign investments,spurring job creation, technological advancement, and infrastructure development.
• India’s G20 leadership reflects its commitment to inclusivity and economic strength, aiming for tangible outcomes like increased investments, job opportunities, income growth, and poverty reduction.

Challenges 

• India faces challenges in navigating relations between major powers like the US, China, and Russia.
• India’s rapid industrialization and development pose challenges in balancing economic growth with climate goals.
• The divide between developed and developing countries remains a challenge.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• India’s G20 participation elevates its global profile and strengthens its leadership in international affairs.
• Despite challenges, India’s G20 role offers significant opportunities to drive global change, promote growth, and represent developing nations.
• India’s global ascent, under G20 leadership, extends benefits to ordinary citizens, farmers, factory workers, and the urban middle class, ensuring equitable global prosperity.

Violation and Misuse of the FEMA

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy & Interventions; Statutory Body; GS3/Security Issues

Context

• Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued an adjudication order imposing a penalty of over ₹3.44 crore on BBC World Service India (BBC WS India) for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) of 1999.
  • BBC WS India, classified as a 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) company, was found to be in violation of Indian regulations that mandate a cap of 26% FDI for digital media entities under the government approval route.

About the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999

• It was enacted to replace the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973, which was considered too restrictive.
• It was enacted in response to India’s economic liberalization in the 1990s and aimed to ensure compliance with global financial norms, and to facilitate external trade and payments while ensuring the orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are the primary regulators enforcing FEMA.

Key Provisions of FEMA

• Current and Capital Account Transactions: While current account transactions (trade, remittances, etc.) are generally allowed, capital account transactions (investment in foreign assets, debt instruments, etc.) require RBI approval.
• Regulation of Foreign Exchange Holdings: FEMA permits Indian residents to hold foreign exchange within specified limits but prohibits unauthorized dealings.
• Restrictions on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): FEMA governs the inflow and outflow of FDI in India through RBI and government policies.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Violators face monetary fines, asset seizures, and, in severe cases, criminal action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Penalties for Violations

• FEMA is a civil law, meaning violations result in monetary penalties, not criminal charges.
  • The ED can impose penalties up to three times the amount involved in the violation.
• Compounding of Offenses: FEMA violations can be settled through a compounding process under RBI’s supervision, avoiding prolonged litigation.

Common Violations and Misuse of FEMA

• Hawala Transactions: Hawala is an illegal remittance system used to transfer money outside the formal banking network, violating FEMA provisions.
• Round-Tripping: It involves sending funds abroad and bringing them back as FDI to take advantage of tax benefits and hide the source of income.
  • It is particularly common in tax havens like Mauritius, the Cayman Islands, and Singapore.
• Unauthorized Foreign Remittances: Many businesses and individuals violate FEMA by remitting funds abroad without RBI permission.
  • For instance, some companies invest in offshore entities without reporting to the authorities, leading to foreign exchange loss for India.
• Money Laundering Through Shell Companies: Shell companies are used to disguise illegal foreign investments.
  • FEMA violations often involve creating bogus companies abroad, routing illicit funds, and repatriating them under the guise of legitimate transactions.
• Crypto-Related Violations: With the rise of cryptocurrency, many individuals and entities use digital assets to transfer funds outside India without RBI approval, violating FEMA norms.
• Violation of Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS): An Indian resident can remit up to $250,000 per financial year for permissible foreign transactions under LRS.
  • However, many individuals misuse LRS by exceeding limits or using funds for speculative trading in foreign stock markets without proper declarations.

Challenges in Enforcing FEMA

• Difficulty in Tracking Offshore Transactions: Many violations involve complex money flows through multiple offshore accounts, making it difficult for Indian regulators to track illicit activities.
• Limited Coordination Between Agencies: While FEMA is regulated by RBI and ED, coordination with tax authorities, SEBI, and other regulatory bodies remains a challenge.
  • Multiple agencies like RBI, SEBI, and CBI also regulate forex violations, leading to bureaucratic hurdles.
• Use of New-Age Financial Instruments: The rise of digital banking, cryptocurrencies, and fintech startups has created new avenues for FEMA violations that traditional enforcement mechanisms struggle to address.
• Globalization and Tax Havens: India’s high net-worth individuals (HNIs) and corporates often use tax havens to evade FEMA regulations, requiring stronger global cooperation to tackle violations.

Recommended Reforms

• Stricter Penalties: Higher financial penalties and stringent criminal actions against offenders can deter future violations.
• Better Surveillance Mechanisms: AI and big data analytics can be used to track suspicious foreign transactions.
• Stronger International Cooperation: India should enhance collaboration with global financial regulators to track money laundering.
• Regulation of Cryptocurrencies: Clear guidelines and regulations are needed to prevent crypto-related FEMA violations.

Army to Strengthen its Air Defence Amid Drones and Security Threats

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Indian Army is moving to strengthen its air defence as evolving aerial threats, including drones and low-flying aircraft, challenge traditional defence systems.

About

• A contract for the indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system is expected to be concluded within 4-5 months.
  • QRSAM, developed by DRDO, has a range of 30 km and is a priority for the Army.
  • The Akash SAM has three regiments in service, and two regiments of the Akash-NG have been contracted, with enhanced prototypes expected for trials in 45 days.
• The rise in drone usage, especially in the Ukraine war, is challenging air defence quantification and quality of threats.

Drones

• Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft that are operated without a human pilot onboard. 
• They come in various sizes and are used for a wide range of applications, from military to civilian purposes.
• Military Applications:
  • Surveillance and Reconnaissance: Drones are widely used for gathering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) without putting human pilots at risk.
  • Targeted Strikes: Larger military drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, can carry missiles or bombs and conduct airstrikes on enemy targets.
  • Real-time Intelligence: Advanced sensors provide live battlefield data.
  • Psychological Warfare: Persistent UAV presence creates fear and deterrence.
  • Logistics and Resupply: Drones can deliver supplies to troops in remote or difficult-to-access locations.
  • Law Enforcement: Assist in crowd monitoring, surveillance, and rescue ops.
  • Precision Strikes: Laser-guided missiles ensure surgical hits, minimizing collateral damage.

Need to Strengthen Aerial Defence

• Used by adversaries: India has faced instances where drones were used to drop weapons or conduct surveillance along its borders.
  • Drones have been used to infiltrate Indian airspace, especially near critical installations, military bases, and borders, raising concerns about their potential to carry out strikes.
• Enhanced warfare tactics: Drones ability to carry loitering munitions, conduct surveillance, and disrupt enemy operations presents new challenges for air defence systems.
• Surveillance concerns: Drones are also increasingly being used for civilian purposes, such as delivery services or surveillance. However, their misuse for espionage, smuggling, or disrupting public events has raised security concerns.

India’s Efforts

• Air defence upgrades: India’s air defence systems are being modernized to address drone threats, with the introduction of smart ammunition, counter-drone systems, and new anti-aircraft guns.
  • Efforts are underway to induct advanced systems like the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) and smart ammunition.
• Technological advancements: India is developing counter-drone systems to detect, track, and neutralize threats from drones. 
• Regulation: Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for drones, to control their use in the civilian sector.
  • The new Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023 for drone pilots, effective from the 27th of September 2023.
  • The move aims to further liberalise, promote and facilitate drone operations across the country and make India a global drone hub by 2030.
• Indigenous technology: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other agencies are working on developing homegrown technologies to address the emerging drone threat.
  • This includes advanced radar systems, anti-drone weapons, and missile systems designed to counter UAVs.

Conclusion

• Drones are versatile and powerful tools used across various sectors. 
• Their growing role in both military and civilian fields has revolutionized industries, but it also presents new challenges, especially in terms of regulation and security.

NEWS IN FACTS

Jhumoir Binandini Dance

Syllabus: GS 1/Art and Culture 

In News

• More than 8,000 artists from tea garden areas across Assam will participate in a spectacular performance of the traditional Jhumoir dance.

About Jhumoir Binandini dance 

• It is a traditional folk dance performed primarily by the Adivasi tea tribes during the harvest season. 
• It is accompanied by traditional instruments like the Madal, Dhol, Taal and Flute.
• It involves performers standing in rows, holding each other’s waists and swaying rhythmically while singing couplets and clapping hands.
•  The dance is a celebration of community, culture and the rich heritage of the tea tribes.

Pro-tem Speaker

Syllabus: GS2/Polity

Context

• Arvinder Singh Lovely has been appointed as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.

About

• A Pro Tem Speaker is a temporary speaker appointed to preside over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly of a state.
  • Appointed typically during the initial phase of the first session after a general election or during special circumstances when the Speaker’s office is vacant.
• Role: Performs the functions of the Speaker, including administering the oath to newly elected members, conducting the election of the new Speaker, and ensuring smooth parliamentary proceedings in the interim.
• Appointment: The President/Governor appoints the Pro Tem Speaker, usually from among the senior-most members of the House.
• Duration: The Pro Tem Speaker serves for a very short period, generally until the new Speaker is elected.
• The Constitution does not mention the post. However, the official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ speaks about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.

USD-INR Swap Deal

Syllabus: GS 3/Economy 

In News

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to inject liquidity into the system through a $10 billion dollar-rupee buy-sell swap arrangement.

Background 

• India’s banking system faced a severe liquidity crunch in January 2025, with a deficit of Rs 3.15 lakh crore, its worst in over a decade.
• The deficit was caused by tax outflows, GST payments, and RBI forex interventions to stabilize the rupee.
• This led to higher dependence on market borrowing by banks and higher interbank call money rates.

Dollar-rupee buy-sell swap arrangement.

• It is a forex tool used by the central bank to manage currency liquidity.
• The RBI conducts a buy-sell foreign exchange swap where a bank sells US dollars to the RBI and agrees to buy the same amount after the swap period.
• The first leg of the transaction involves the sale of dollars to RBI, with rupee funds credited to the bidder’s account.
• In the reverse leg, the bank returns the rupee funds and pays a swap premium to get dollars back.

Importance 

• The swap mechanism helps stabilize the rupee by providing immediate liquidity support.
• It prevents excessive volatility in exchange rates and strengthens market confidence.
• The swap also increases the RBI’s dollar reserves to stabilize the rupee amid foreign fund outflows.
• The recent move  aims to provide a durable solution to liquidity issues, stabilize the rupee, and boost India’s foreign exchange reserves.

Bharat Tech Triumph Program

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In Context

• The Bharat Tech Triumph Program is a significant initiative aimed at fostering India’s digital and online gaming industry.

Key Highlights

• Launched by: Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC), in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• Objective: To identify and showcase India’s gaming talent on the global stage.
• Significance: Provides Indian innovators a global platform to highlight their expertise.
  • Expands India’s presence in the international gaming industry.
  • Encourages technological advancements and innovations in the gaming sector.

Vulture Population Increases

Syllabus: GS 3/Environment 

In News

• Madhya Pradesh now has the highest number of vultures in India, with a population of 12,981 vultures, as per the recent state-level census.

About Vultures

• Vultures are large, social raptors that live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
• They live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics.
• There are 23 species of vultures found in the world out of which 9 species are found in India.
• Nine species and their IUCN Status: 

Importance  

• They  are nature’s efficient scavengers and play a crucial role in the ecosystem by removing carrion, such as cattle carcasses, keeping the environment clean.
• They are the primary natural animal disposal system in India. 
• A decrease in vulture population can lead to an increase in rats and feral dogs, raising the risk of disease spread.

Saturn’s Rings 

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and technology

Context

• The age and formation of the saturn rings have been a subject of ongoing debate among scientists.

About Saturn

• Saturn, is the second-largest planet in the Solar System and the 6th closest planet to the sun.
• Saturn’s rings are composed mainly of water ice, with a minor component of rocky material.
• Moons of Saturn: As of February 2025, Saturn has 146 moons, more than any other planet.
  • Titan: The largest moon of Saturn, larger than Mercury and Pluto.
  • Enceladus: Has a global ocean under an icy shell.
  • Mimas: Has a large crater that’s a quarter of the moon’s diameter.
  • Shepherd moons: Orbit in or near Saturn’s rings, using their gravity to keep the rings stable

Space Missions in Saturn’s Study

• Pioneer 11 provided the first close-up images of Saturn and its rings in 1979.
• Voyager 1 & 2 provided detailed observations of the ring system and discovered several new moons during 1980-1981.
• Cassini-Huygens was a joint mission by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to study Saturn and its moons.
  • The mission included a spacecraft called Cassini and a probe called Huygens.
  • In 2004 the Cassini spacecraft reached Saturn and the Huygens probe landed on Titan. They studied the planet, its moons, and rings until 2017.
• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): The Webb telescope continues to capture high-resolution images of Saturn’s rings, aiding in further understanding of their structure and evolution.

Vienna Convention

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Ministry of External Affairs has asked Kenya to revoke the immunity of a Kenyan diplomat’s son so that he can be prosecuted for the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl.

About

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is a key international treaty that governs the conduct of diplomacy between independent states. 
• It was adopted in 1961, and came into force in 1964. 
• It provides a framework for the functioning of diplomatic missions, the protection of diplomats, and the maintenance of peaceful relations between states.
• Privileges and Immunities:  Diplomats cannot be arrested or detained and are exempt from the jurisdiction of the host country’s courts in most cases.
  • Family members of a diplomat who live with them and are not citizens of the host country receive the same immunity as the diplomat.
  • The immunity can only be waived by the sending country.
• Responsibilities of Diplomats: 
  • While diplomats enjoy privileges, they must also respect the laws and regulations of the host country. 
  • Any actions that are inconsistent with the diplomatic purpose can lead to the recall or expulsion of the diplomat.

Time’s Women Of The Year 2025 List

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• A biologist from Assam, Purnima Devi Barman, was featured on the Time’s Women Of The Year 2025 list.

About

• Purnima Devi Barman is the only Indian woman on Time’s 2025 Women of the Year list.
  • The list includes notable women such as actress Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot, a survivor of sexual violence who became an advocate for the cause.
• In 2007, Barman’s intervened to save a tree home to greater adjutant storks in Assam, inspired by the birds’ vulnerability.
  • She found the Hargila Army, a group of 20,000 women who protect the storks’ nests and educate about their conservation.
  • The population of greater adjutant storks in Assam grew from 450 in 2007 to over 1,800 in 2023, with the bird’s conservation status improved from “endangered” to “near threatened.”
• Time’s Women of the Year is an annual recognition by Time magazine that highlights women making significant changes in the face of challenges like gender violence, climate issues, and women’s rights.