Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 18th March 2025

Bhadra River:

Two youths from Rajasthan drowned in the Bhadra River recently.

• Bhadra River is the east-flowing river in Karnataka.
• It begins at the Western Ghats range and flows across the Deccan Plateau.
• The tributaries Somavahini, Thadabehalla, and Odirayanahalla join it.
• The river flows across the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The Bhadra meets the Tunga River at Koodli, a small town near Shivamogga.
• The combined river continues east as the Tungabhadra, a major tributary of the Krishna River.
• Tungabhadra joins Krishna at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Krishna River finally ends in the Bay of Bengal.
• The total length of Bhadra is 178 km, and it is sub-montane in character.
• Bhadra Dam is a dam built across the Bhadra River near Lakkavalli village.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis:

Despite being a rare disease globally, Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) remains a serious health concern in Uttar Pradesh due to low measles vaccination coverage.

• It is a progressive and usually fatal brain disorder related to measles (rubeola) infection.
• SSPE tends to occur several years after a person has measles, even though the person seems to have fully recovered from the illness.
• Normally, the measles virus does not cause brain damage. However, an abnormal immune response to measles or, possibly, certain variant forms of the virus may cause severe illness and even death.
• This response leads to brain inflammation (swelling and irritation) that may last for years.
• SSPE has been reported in all parts of the world, but in western countries it is a rare disease.
• Males are more often affected than females. The disease generally occurs in children and adolescents.
• The first symptoms of SSPE may be poor performance in schoolwork, forgetfulness, temper outbursts, distractibility, sleeplessness, and hallucinations.
• Sudden muscular jerks of the arms, head, or body may occur.
• Eventually, seizures may occur, together with abnormal uncontrollable muscle movement Intellect and speech continue to deteriorate.
• Later, the muscles become increasingly rigid, and swallowing may become difficult.
• The swallowing difficulty sometimes causes people to choke on their saliva, resulting in pneumonia. People may become blind.
• In the final phases, the body temperature may rise, and the blood pressure and pulse become abnormal.
• Treatment:
  • High mortality rates are associated with SSPE, and there is no cure for SSPE.
  • Treatment is generally aimed at regulating the symptoms.
  • Certain antiviral medicines and medicines that boost the immune system may be tried to slow the progression of the disease.

Kyushu Island:

The Japanese government recently announced plans to consider deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

• Kyushu Island is the southernmost and third largest of the four main islands of Japan.
• The island has a land area of 35,640 sq.km.
• It is bordered by the East China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east.
• The Eastern Channel, or Tsushima Strait, separates Kyushu from the Korean Peninsula in the northwest.
• A series of volcanic ranges, including the world’s largest active volcanic crater, Mount Aso, are located in Kyushu.
• Highest Peak: Mount Kuju (1,794 m)
• Major parts of Kyushu have a subtropical climate and heavy rainfall, which supports its subtropical vegetation.
• The Chikugo (142 km) is the island’s longest river.
• The chief cities are the northern industrial complex of Kita-Kyūshū, the commercial centre of Fukuoka and Nagasaki.
• The main crops raised on the island include rice, tea, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruit.
• Industries, concentrated in northern Kyushu, include iron and steel and chemicals.
• Saga ken (prefecture) is famous for porcelain and pottery.

End-Permian Mass Extinction:

The End-Permian Mass Extinction that killed 80% of life on Earth 250 million years ago may not have been quite so disastrous for plants, new fossils hint.

• The EPME, also known as the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event or “The Great Dying,” was the most severe extinction event in Earth’s history.
• It occurred approximately 252 million years ago and marked the transition from the Permian to the Triassic Period.
• The Triassic Period is the first period of the Mesozoic Era, lasting from 252 million to 201 million years ago.
• When the supercontinent Pangea was in the process of breaking up, all the land on Earth was still largely clustered together, with the newly formed continents separated by shallow seas.
• An enormous eruption from a volcanic system called the Siberian Traps seems to have pushed carbon dioxide levels to extremes.
• The eruption covered around 2 million square kilometers with lava and was one of the largest volcanic events in Earth’s history.
• The eruptions may have caused large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere and caused a large-scale global warming effect of more than 10°C on land and around 8°C on the ocean surface in a short period of time.
• The eruptions may have also caused acid aerosols and dust clouds to be released into the atmosphere, which blocked out the sun and prevented photosynthesis from occurring, effectively causing many food chains to collapse.
• This caused global warming and ocean acidification, leading to a massive collapse of the ocean ecosystem.
• EPME was characterized by the elimination of about 90 percent of the species on Earth, which included more than 95 percent of the marine species and 70 percent of the terrestrial species.
• In addition, more than half of all taxonomic families present at the time disappeared.
• It ranks first in severity among the five major extinction episodes that span geologic time.

Tuberculosis : Resurges Worldwide

Tuberculosis resurges worldwide as Trump’s funding cuts disrupt global treatment programs, threatening progress and increasing infection rates.

• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit.
• About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria. About 5–10% of people infected, eventually get symptoms and develop TB disease.
• Those who are infected but free of disease cannot transmit it. TB disease is usually treated with antibiotics and can be fatal without treatment.
• Symptoms: Active TB symptoms include a persistent cough lasting over two weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, chills, fever and night sweats.
• TB is preventable and curable.
• TB is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.
  Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
• Drug resistance emerges when TB medicines are used inappropriately, through incorrect prescription by health care providers, poor quality drugs, or patients stopping treatment prematurely.
• MDR-TB is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most effective first-line TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using other drugs, which tend to be more expensive and toxic.

Uniyala Keralensis:

Researchers have named the new shrub species, which is endemic to southwest India, Uniyala keralensis (family Asteraceae) after the State of Kerala.

• Uniyala keralensis is a “small to large shrub,” growing up to one to three metres in height and sporting attractive light purple florets, according to the paper.
• Uniyala keralensis has, among other things, larger leaves, fairly long petioles – the slender stalk that joins the leaf to the stem – and fewer lateral veins on the leaves.
• Flowering and fruiting occurs during August to April.
• It is found in open areas of the western mountain slopes of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR) at elevations ranging between 700 to 1,400 metres.
• The present population consists of nearly 5,000 plants of various ages in four subpopulations occupying an area of 250 square kilometres.
• Following the IUCN Red List Criteria (IUCN 2024), Uniyala keralensis is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

Public Health Education : Facing Crisis

India’s public health education sector is facing a crisis due to job scarcity, lack of standardization, and funding constraints.

• Public health education trains professionals in disease prevention, healthcare management, epidemiology, and health policies.
• Article 47 of the Indian Constitution directs the state to improve public health as a primary duty.
  Government Schemes for Public Health Education:
• National Health Mission (NHM): Strengthens public health workforce through training and skill development.
• Example: NRHM (2005) introduced non-medical public health roles.
• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): Enhances medical and public health education by establishing AIIMS-like institutions.
• National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): Promotes public health training in disease control and prevention strategies.
• Fellowship in Public Health Management (FPHM): Provides specialized training for public health leadership.
• Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): Strengthens epidemiology training for public health professionals.

CAR T-cell Therapy:

The clinical trial results of India’s first CAR T-cell therapy, published in The Lancet, show that it worked for nearly 73 percent of patients.

• CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, trains the body’s own immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells.
• This treatment is designed for specific types of blood cancer and is given to patients whose cancer has either relapsed or not responded to first-line treatment.
• For any CAR T-cell therapy, a patient’s immune T-cells are collected by filtering their blood.
• These cells are then engineered in a lab to add receptors that can bind with cancer cells. These cells are then multiplied and infused in the patient.
• Usually, the cancer cells are adept at evading the unmodified T cells.
• The treatment developed in India is meant for patients with two types of blood cancers that affect the B cells — acute lymphoblastic leukemia and large B cell lymphomas.
• A serious immune overreaction causing hyperinflammation and organ damage, seen in 12% of participants, resulting in at least one death.
• Low red blood cell count, reported in 61% of participants, causing fatigue and weakness.
• Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count, increasing the risk of bleeding, reported in 65% of patients.
• Neutropenia: Low neutrophil count, seen in 96% of participants, raising the risk of infections.

Assam Rifles: Relocation

Union Home Minister has recently announced the relocation of Assam Rifles battalions to Mizoram.

• Assam Rifles is one of the six Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that come under the MHA’s administrative control.
• It conducts counterinsurgency operations in north-eastern India and other areas where deemed necessary.
• Its operational control is with the Indian Army, with an officer of the rank of Lieutenant General commanding the force.
• The headquarters of the Director-General of Assam Rifles (DGAR) is in Shillong unlike other Central paramilitary forces, all of which have their headquarters in New Delhi.
• Assam Rifles has its origins in 1835 as a militia called the ‘Cachar Levy’ to protect British tea estates and their settlements against tribal raids.
• It later became the ‘Frontier Force’ conducting punitive expeditions across the borders of Assam.
• In 1870, the existing elements were merged into three Assam Military Police Battalions, sending over 3,000 men as part of the British Army to Europe and West Asia.

Jalanatheswarar Temple:

The Jalanatheswarar temple at Thakkolam in Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu is in a deteriorating state.

• The temple is neglected, with a collapsed wall and an overgrown tank. Its last kumbabishekam (consecration) was over 15 years ago.
• The temple was originally built in 876 AD by Pallava King Aparajitha Varman, while the 3-tiered Rajagopuram was added in 1543 AD by Vijayanagara King Veera Prathaba Sadasiva Maharayar.
• It is situated on the banks of Kosasthalai river. It holds the inscriptions and records from Pallava king Aparajita and Chola King Aditya I, detailing grants of land, gold, and goats.
• The temple showcases Dravidian-style of architecture, similar to the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur and the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai.
• The 1.5-acre temple features a 3-tiered gopuram, granite walls, and a sand-based Prithvi Lingam (Theenda Thirumeni) of Lord Shiva (as Lord Jalantheeswarar).
• The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, glorified in the Tevaram hymns by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Sambandar.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme : In News

The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023 introduced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, replaces the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme to establish the Indian Carbon Market (ICM), aligning with India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

• Carbon Credit Trading Scheme is a market-based mechanism introduced to regulate and trade carbon credits under the ICM.
• The CCTS aims to decarbonize the Indian economy by pricing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and facilitating carbon trading.
• The PAT scheme focused on energy efficiency improvements in energy-intensive industries through Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts).
• CCTS replaces PAT, shifting the focus from energy intensity to reducing GHG emission intensity, monitoring emissions per tonne of GHG equivalent.
• It issues Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC), each representing a one-tonne CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) reduction.
• CCTS introduces carbon pricing through two key mechanisms to ensure comprehensive carbon reduction efforts.
• Mandates energy-intensive industries (e.g., Aluminium, Cement, Fertilizers, Iron & Steel) to meet sector-specific GHG reduction targets. Entities exceeding targets earn CCC, those falling short must purchase credits.
• Allows voluntary participation from entities outside the compliance framework to earn carbon credits by reducing emissions.
• CCTS initially includes energy-intensive industries such as iron & steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers, petroleum refineries, pulp & paper, and textiles (account for 16% of India’s total emissions).
• The power sector (40% of India’s GHG emissions) may be included later.
• Managed by multiple government bodies, including the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the National Steering Committee for Indian Carbon Market (NSCICM).
• India aims to cut emission intensity by 45% by 2030. The CCTS drives private sector involvement, encouraging clean technologies, renewables, and carbon capture.

Quick Commerce in India:

Quick commerce (Q-commerce) has transformed urban shopping habits by enabling deliveries within minutes.While it offers convenience and brand advantages, concerns over predatory pricing, data privacy, and the displacement of traditional retailers have sparked regulatory scrutiny.Q-commerce, a subclass of e-commerce, is an on-demand delivery model where goods and services are delivered within 10 to 30 minutes of ordering.It focuses on smaller, high-demand items like groceries, stationeries, and over-the-counter medicines.Q-commerce platforms rely on dark stores (local warehouses designed solely for online fulfillment), strategically located in high-demand areas for faster dispatch.

Indian National Army’s Legacy:

A veteran of the Indian National Army (INA), celebrated his 99th birthday by laying wreaths at the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path.The veteran joined INA on 1st November 1943, at the age of 17.It was a military force formed during World War 2 to fight against British rule in India and played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence.

Bongosagar 2025 Naval Exercise:

Indian Navy’s INS Ranvir and Bangladesh Navy’s BNS Abu Ubaidah conducted the Bongosagar 2025 Naval Exercise in the Bay of Bengal, enhancing operational coordination, maritime security, and regional stability under India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative. INS Ranvir is the fourth of five Rajput-class Guided Missile Destroyers, commissioned in 1986.
SAGAR is Introduced in 2015, SAGAR is India’s foreign policy doctrine aimed at enhancing cooperation, maritime security, economic growth, and regional trust, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.

Maritime Security Belt 2025:

China, Iran, and Russia held the Maritime Security Belt 2025 naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program Gulf of Oman is a western extension of the Arabian Sea, connecting it to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. It borders Iran (north), UAE (west), and Oman (south).

India’s Infodemic: Data & Statistics

India, with 95.04 crore internet users, is facing an unprecedented rise in fake news and disinformation.214% rise in misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, with India accounting for 1 in 6 fake news pieces globally.Over 85% of urban Indians report encountering online hate speech, with 64% blaming social media (UNESCO-Ipsos survey). 38% of fake news originates from verified pages, while 70% spreads through at least one verified handle (NewsChecker report). Deepfakes influenced the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, reinforcing biases and swaying voter sentiment.

Indian Railways Freight:

Indian Railways has surpassed the previous year’s freight loading, reaching 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) in the first 11 months of FY 2024-25.Freight movement refers to the transportation of goods via rail networks, including coal, iron ore, cement, and other commodities.Target for Freight Movement: 3,000 MT by 2027 to enhance logistics capacity. Current Achievement: 1,465.371 MT (April 2024–March 2, 2025), exceeding last year’s 1,443.166 MT. Revenue Contribution: Freight accounts for 65% of Indian Railways’ total revenue.

10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue:

The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from March 17-19, 2025, focusing on global security, diplomacy, and emerging geopolitical trends.India’s flagship international conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, organized annually.
Aims to bring together global leaders, policymakers, academics, and strategic experts.Started in: 2016, as an initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Ministry Involved: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Menhir:

The Mudumal megalithic menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage Sites in 2025.A menhir is a large, upright standing stone placed by humans, often tapered at the top.The term comes from Brittonic languages, where “maen” means stone and “hîr” means long. First used in the 18th century by French antiquarian Théophile Corret de la Tour d’Auvergne.

Yemen : In News

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Houthi rebel-held areas in Yemen, resulting in 31 deaths, including civilians. Southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, strategically positioned at the entrance of the Red Sea.
Neighbouring Countries: Saudi Arabia (North) and Oman (East). Borders the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea.