Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 3rd May 2025

Pangolin Trafficking Declined:

Global trafficking of pangolin scales has sharply declined since 2020, primarily due to COVID-19-related disruptions, sustained law enforcement actions, and evolving smuggling tactics, according to the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) report.

• There are 8 species of pangolins: 4 in Africa (Black-bellied, White-bellied, Giant Ground, Temminck’s Ground) and 4 in Asia (Indian, Chinese, Sunda, Philippine pangolins).
• Pangolins live in tropical forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, and are found close to human settlements. The Indian pangolin is common across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
• They feed primarily on ants and termites, contributing to pest control and soil aeration, making them crucial for ecosystem balance.
• They are heavily targeted for illegal trade in Asia, where their scales are used in traditional medicine and meat is considered a delicacy. Additionally, habitat loss has worsened their decline.
• Conservation Status:
  • Indian pangolin is Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
  • The Chinese pangolin is listed as Critically Endangered.
  • Both are protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • All 8 species are listed in CITES Appendix I, prohibiting international commercial trade.

Kendu Leaves : In News

Eight Gram Sabhas in Boipariguda block of Koraput district, Odisha have collected over 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves and are awaiting government notification to deregulate the trade.

• In the Koraput district of Odisha, eight Gram Sabhas from Boipariguda block, including villages like Kalatha Jodi, Kupuli Guda, and Badali Beda, have collectively harvested more than 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves during the 2025 season.
• These tribal communities are seeking to independently manage and sell kendu leaves under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
• The Kendu Leaf, also called “Green Gold of Odisha”, is one of the most vital Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) in the region. In other parts of India, it is known as the Tendu Leaf.
• It is nationalised, like Bamboo and Sal seed, meaning its collection and trade are regulated by the government.
• Used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes); also holds medicinal value.
• Key Producer States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Odisha is the third-largest producer after MP and Chhattisgarh.
• Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognises rights of forest-dwelling communities to collect, use, and sell minor forest produce (MFP) like kendu leaves.
• 2012 Amendment to FRA:
  • Empowers communities to process, store, transport, and sell MFP without paying royalties or seeking permission.
  • Transit permits must be issued by the Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC).
• Under FRA, Transit Permits must be issued by the Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC). State laws like the Odisha Kendu Leaf (Control of Trade) Act cannot override the FRA, as its provisions hold legal supremacy.

The Arabian Desert and Green Arabia Hypothesis:

A recent study published in Nature presents evidence of recurring humid periods in the Arabian Desert, currently the largest expanse of dunes on Earth.

Green Arabia Discoveries:

• Speleothems (Stalagmites & Stalactites): Found deep within caves in the Arabian Peninsula, these mineral deposits form only with consistent rainfall, vegetation, and soil.
• Their existence points to multiple “green phases” in the region over the last 8 million years.
• Uranium dating: Used to accurately determine the age of speleothem formations, providing one of the oldest continuous climate records for Arabia.
• Oxygen isotope analysis: Helped estimate past rainfall levels and periods of humidity, confirming that Arabia was not always a desert.
• Archaeological evidence: In the Baynunah Formation (UAE), fossils dating back 7 million years show the presence of: Hippos, Elephants, Giraffes & Primates.
• These fossils indicate that Green Arabia served as a migratory route for animals and hominids.
• Arabian Desert spans around 900,000 square miles, making it the second-largest desert in the world (after the Sahara).
• Located across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen, and Oman, and stretches into Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait.
• Composed of three main deserts:
  • Rub’al-Khali– the largest dune desert.
  • Ad-Dhana Desert – central corridor.
  • An-Nafud Desert – northern zone.
• The region is hyper-arid, with less than 33 mm of annual rainfall.
• Extreme temperature variations: above 50°C during the day, dropping sharply at night.
• Frequent sandstorms, including seasonal Shamals and whirlwinds called Dust Devils, reduce visibility and affect human movement.

Mt. Makalu : New Study

The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully scaled Mt. Makalu — the world’s fifth highest peak, the China-border guarding force said recently.

• Mt. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,485 meters (27,838 ft) above sea level.
• It is located in the Mahalangur range of the Nepal Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet.
• It lies 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Mount Everest.
• The mountain lies in the Makalu Barun National Park and is known for its perfect pyramid shape with four sharp ridges.
• Makalu I and Makalu II are the two notable subsidiary peaks of Makalu lying 3 km north-northwest of the main summit.
• At the base of Mt. Makalu, there lies a natural wonder: the Barun Valley.
• This valley facilitates stunning elevated waterfalls falling inside the deep gorges, diverse species of flora and fauna with rich cultures of ethnic communities like Sherpa and Kirat.
• Makalu is one of the harder eight-thousanders and is considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.
• Makalu expeditions are difficult because the mountain is notorious for its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges that make the climbing Makalu very open to the elements.
• The final ascent of the summit pyramid involves technical rock climbing.
• Makalu was first summited on 15 May 1955 by a French team including Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy, led by Jean Franco, two years after the first ascent of Everest (the highest mountain in the world).

Operation Kagar:

Telangana Chief Minister recently said there should be a national-level debate on Operation Kagar.

• It is a large-scale counterinsurgency initiative launched by the Indian government in 2024, aimed at dismantling the Maoist (Naxalite) insurgency, particularly in the “Red Corridor” spanning Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and neighbouring states.
• Under this operation, around 1 lakh paramilitary troops, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), its elite CoBRA units, District Reserve Guards (DRG), and state police, have been deployed in the left-wing terrorism-affected areas.
• These security personnel are equipped with modern technology like drones for information gathering, AI for intelligence gathering, and satellite imagery, among others.
• The primary goal of Operation Kagar is to eradicate Maoist influence by March 2026.
• Operation Kagar, which roughly means ‘Final Mission’, follows a four-part plan:
  • Establishing forward operating bases deep in Maoist territory.
  • Building hundreds of fortified police stations in reclaimed areas.
  • Gathering intelligence through high-tech monitoring.
  • Pushing a “generous surrender policy” that has seen thousands of Naxalites lay down arms in the past decade.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd.:

Reliance NU Suntech recently signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India, to develop and commission Asia’s largest single-location integrated solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project.

• Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is the leading Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) dedicated to the development and expansion of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity in India.
• It is the only CPSU dedicated to the renewable energy
• SECI was incorporated in 2011 as a not-for-profit company (Sec. 25 of the Companies Act, 1956) and converted to a commercial company in 2015 (Sec. 3 of the Companies Act, 2013).
• It was established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I CPSU.
• SECI serves as an implementing agency for the development of Solar, Wind, and Hybrid Projects as part of fulfilling the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• To achieve this, SECI releases tenders for selection of Renewable Energy (RE) developers for the establishment of projects on a pan-India or state-specific basis.
• The selection process for successful bidders is conducted through a tariff-based competitive e-bidding procedure.
• Once selected, SECI enters into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the chosen bidders for the procurement of power from these projects.
• SECI is a Category-I (highest) Power Trading Licensee for trading power on a pan-India basis.
• It is the intermediary power procurer for projects being set up through SECI tenders.
• It procures power from successful developers under its tenders and sells it to buying entities (i.e. DISCOMs) through long term PPAs and PSAs, respectively.
• SECI is a premier trader of renewable energy power in the country.
• Providing Consultancy Services to other entities: SECI also offers Project Management Consultancy in the Renewable Energy sector to Public Sector/Government entities, including Feasibility Studies, Bid process Management, Construction Monitoring and Management, Commissioning, etc.

Depot Darpan Portal:

The government recently said it will soon launch the Depot Darpan portal and mobile application, with an objective to ensure that the food storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards.

• Depot Darpan Portal is an initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
• Conceived by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Depot Darpan will digitise the operations of 2,278 grain depots managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), and various state agencies.
• Objective is to ensure that the food storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards.
• It enables depot managers to evaluate infrastructure, operational, and financial performance on a near real-time basis.
• Depot Managers upload geo-tagged inputs of the infrastructure available in their depot, generating automated ratings and action points for timely improvements.
• The system ensures 100% validation by the supervisory officers and random third-party audits.
• Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a star rating based on the composite scoring from both parameters.
• Depot Darpan is uniquely integrated with smart warehousing technologies, creating a seamless digital monitoring ecosystem that includes: CCTV Surveillance and IoT sensors.

World Press Freedom Day 2025:

May 3, 2025, marks the observance of World Press Freedom Day, a globally recognized occasion that honors the critical role of a free, independent, and pluralistic media in a democratic society. Celebrated annually since 1993, the day highlights the growing challenges faced by journalists worldwide from censorship to violence and calls on governments, civil society, and citizens to protect press freedom as a fundamental human right. The occasion emphasizes the public’s right to accurate information and the vital role journalists play in upholding transparency, accountability, and democracy.

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari Appointed Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force:

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari PVSM AVSM VM officially assumed the position of Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF). A highly decorated officer with over three decades of distinguished service, Air Marshal Tiwari brings with him deep operational expertise, flight testing credentials, and strategic leadership experience crucial for steering the Indian Air Force into the future.

Lakkundi Group of Monuments Proposed for UNESCO Tentative List:

The ancient group of temples and monuments in Lakkundi and surrounding areas in Karnataka, built during the Kalyana Chalukya period (10th–12th century CE), are being finalised for inclusion in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites. The State government has partnered with INTACH to prepare and refine the proposal, aiming to secure international recognition for these architectural marvels.

Indigenous Dhruv Helicopter Cleared for Military Use After Crash Probe:

The Army and Air Force variants of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), have been officially cleared for operations. This decision comes after a three-month grounding prompted by a fatal crash of an Indian Coast Guard Dhruv in January 2025. Based on the Defect Investigation Committee’s recommendations, HAL and defence users have now prepared a time-bound plan to safely resume operations.The HAL Dhruv helicopters, temporarily grounded since January 5, 2025, due to a crash in Porbandar, Gujarat, have been cleared for flying. The clearance follows the Defect Investigation (DI) Committee’s analysis and coincides with operational requirements following the Pahalgam terror attack.

India Champions Global Chemical & Waste Governance at BRS COPs 2025:

India reaffirmed its leadership in environmental governance at the BRS COPs 2025 in Geneva. Led by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the Indian delegation advocated for sound management of chemicals and wastes, access to finance and technology for developing countries, and pushed for action on plastic pollution. The conference theme, “Make visible the invisible”, highlights global concern over the unseen hazards of chemical mismanagement.

Sujata Chaturvedi Appointed As A UPSC Board Member:

Ms. Sujata Chaturvedi, an accomplished civil servant with over three decades of experience, has joined the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as a Member. With a rich professional background spanning both state and central government roles—including as Secretary in the Department of Sports—her appointment is seen as a significant addition to the Commission’s expertise.