Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 4th July 2025

Polar Anticyclone:

Chile and Argentina ranked among the coldest places on Earth, outside the polar regions as polar anticyclone grips region.

• Polar Anticyclone is a wind system associated with a region in which high atmospheric pressure develops over or in the vicinity of the poles.
• The polar anticyclone is strongest in the cold season of the year.
• The Siberian anticyclone is an example of a polar anticyclone, as is the high-pressure area that forms over Canada and Alaska during the winter.
• Polar anticyclones are created by the cooling of surface layers of air.
• This cooling causes the air near the surface to become denser and, at the same time, causes an inflow of air at high levels to replace the denser, sinking air.
• These processes increase the mass of air above the surface, thus creating the anticyclone.
• The weather within the central regions of these anticyclones is typically clear and quite cold.
• The strength of polar anticyclones is greatest near the Earth’s surface.
• It frequently migrate eastward and equator ward in the winter season, bringing cold waves to warmer latitudes. In the summer they provide cool, dry weather as they move toward the Equator.
• The boundary separating the cold polar air from the warmer air is called the polar front, and along this frontal surface the extratropical cyclones, or wave cyclones, form. See also front.

Ham Radio:

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla interacted with the country’s students using a ham radio from the International Space Station (ISS).

• Amateur radio, popularly known as ham radio, is a licensed radio service that relies on radio waves for establishing communication.
• Ham radio service is largely deployed for educational and knowledge purposes, for emergency or SOS communication.
• Using a dedicated frequency, a transceiver and an antenna, communication can be set up between two licensed hams by trained ham operators.
• The communication can be hyper-local, global, and in space. In India, any individual above the age of 12 is permitted to operate a ham radio.
• In India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issues these licences.
• Even though the technology to establish communications has advanced, the radio remains one of the most reliable and stable modes of communication.
• It is effective and an alternate medium of establishing communication.
• Previously, there have been instances when ham radio came to the rescue when traditional communication lines broke down, either due to man-made scenarios (like wars) or natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, and floods.
• In India, ham radio was used for making emergency contacts during the Bhuj earthquake (2001), the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), the floods of Uttarakhand (2013) and more such calamities.

Apache AH-64E Attack Helicopter:

The Indian Army is set to receive the first batch of long-awaited Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the US soon.

• Apache AH-64E Attack Helicopter is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
• It is widely used for advanced reconnaissance, precision strikes, and close air support missions globally.
• Country of Origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• It is also known as the Apache Guardian.
• The AH-64E attack helicopter is the latest version of the Apache used by the US Army.
• It is designed and equipped with open systems architecture to incorporate the latest communications, navigation, sensor, and weapon systems.
• It has greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability, and cognitive decision aiding.
• The AH-64E includes a new integrated infrared laser that allows for easier target designation and enhanced infrared imagery that blends infrared and night vision capabilities.
• Its primary armament includes the 30 mm M230 Chain Gun, which delivers high rates of fire with remarkable accuracy.
• The helicopter can carry up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, renowned for their effectiveness against armored and fortified targets.
• For additional versatility, the aircraft supports Hydra 70 unguided rockets and air-to-air missiles such as the Stinger, extending its combat engagement options across various mission profiles.
• Apache for Indian defence forces:
• The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and in 2020, Boeing signed an agreement with the Government of India for the acquisition of six more Apache helicopters for the Indian Army.

Television Rating Point : Amendment

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently proposed amendments to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies-2014 to ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country.

• Television Rating Point (TRP) is a metric used to measure the popularity and viewership of television programs.
• The more viewers a program has, the higher its TRP rating.
• It is calculated by measuring the viewership of a particular program over a period of time, usually a week.
• TRP ratings are used by broadcasters and advertisers to determine the popularity of different TV programs.
• According to the TRP of a TV channel or programme, advertisers decide where to display their advertisements, and investors will decide about the investment of the money.
• TRP is calculated by the Indian agency the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) using “BAR-O-meters”, that are installed in televisions in selected households.
• BARC India is a joint industry company founded by stakeholder bodies that represent broadcasters, advertisers, and advertising, and Media Agencies.
• BARC has installed “BAR-O-meters” in over 58,000 impanelled households.
• These gadgets record data about the channel or programme watched by the family members or selected people. This method is called the People meters.
• The data is then extrapolated to estimate the viewership of the entire population.
• Another method is known as picture matching, where the people meter records a small portion of the picture that is being watched on the TV.
• This data is collected from a set of homes in the form of pictures and later on is analysed to calculate the TRPs.
• The BARC releases weekly TRP results every Thursday ranking all TV channels and TV programmes.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals:

Beyond choking oceans and clogging landfills, plastics are now infiltrating our bodies through microplastic particles and a cocktail of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

• The endocrine system is made up of glands that make hormones.
• Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers.
• They carry information and instructions from one set of cells to another.
• The endocrine system influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies.
• Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are natural or man-made chemicals that interfere with the normal function of your body’s endocrine system.
• Since EDCs come from many different sources, people are exposed in several ways, including the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.
• EDCs also can enter the body through the skin.
• EDCs interfere with the way the body’s hormones work.
• Some EDCs act like “hormone mimics” and trick our body into thinking that they are hormones, while other EDCs block natural hormones from doing their job.
• There are approximately 85,000 man-made chemicals in the world, with at least 1,000 classifiable as EDCs.
• Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are common examples of EDCs found in plastic.

Roll Cloud:

A rare roll cloud appeared over Portugal’s coast recently, surprising beachgoers as strong winds hit during an ongoing extreme heatwave.

• A roll cloud is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud.
• Roll clouds usually appear to be “rolling” about a horizontal axis.
• They usually appear at an altitude of 2,000 to 7,000 meters, and continue to curl visibly.
• They are more often seen in areas with complex terrain and changeable weather—both in the mountains and on the coasts of the oceans. For example, in the Alps, around Japan, Scotland, and northern Australia.
• During severe weather, roll clouds can be confused with funnel clouds, as the roll cloud will show clear signs of rotation along the horizontal and vertical axes, like a tornado.
• Roll clouds are helpful to meteorologists because their appearance sometimes heralds bad weather—strong winds, thunderstorms, storms, or even tornadoes.
• A sharp, rapid roll of clouds can indicate a storm is about to intensify, while a smooth movement can mean calmer weather.
• Along the edge of a thunderstorm, they can serve as a precursor to more active and serious weather in the immediate future.
• An arcus cloud is a low, horizontal cloud formation that typically forms along the leading edge of a thunderstorm outflow or cold front.

Garciniakusumae:

Botanist’s discovered a new garcinia species in Assam and named it as Garciniakusumae.

• Garciniakusumae is a new tree species belonging to the genus Garcinia, commonly referred to as thoikora in
• It is a dioecious evergreen tree that can grow up to 18 metres tall, Garcinia kusumae was observed to flower from February to April, with fruit maturing between May and June.
• Morphological analysis revealed distinguishing characteristics, including up to 15 staminate flowers per fascicle, fewer stamens per flower (except in Garcinia assamica), and berries with blackish resinous exudations.
• The fruit holds local cultural and medicinal value.
• According to the study, the sun-dried pulp is used to prepare a sherbet(soft drink) with salt and sugar, consumed during hot days to prevent heat stroke and alleviate thirst.
• It is also used in curries with fish and employed as a traditional remedy for diabetes and dysentery.
• The seed aril, slightly sour and sweet, is eaten raw, often with salt, chillies, and a dash of mustard oil.

PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal:

The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal was launched.

• PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal provides open access to National and State-level data on student performance.
• This tool is expected to serve as a key resource for States/UTs to design targeted improvement plans to enhance learning outcomes and bridge skill gaps.
• PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) is a unit established within NCERT in 2023 to standardise school board assessments nationwide.
• PARAKH team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
• Objective is to fulfil the basic objectives of setting norms, standards, guidelines and implement activities related to student assessment along with other tasks as mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The mandate of PARAKH is to work on bringing the school boards across the States and the Union Territories to a common platform.
• Major areas of focus
  • Capacity Development in Competency Based Assessment
  • Large-Scale Achievement Survey
  • Equivalence of School Boards
  • Holistic Progress Cards for the Foundational, Preparational, Middle and Secondary Stages.

Gaden Phodrang Trust : In News

The 14th Dalai Lama announced that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust shall be the “sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation”.The Gaden Phodrang Trust of the Dalai Lama is a non-profit charitable organisation established by the 14th Dalai Lama to support his various religious, cultural and humanitarian initiatives. It was named after the historical Gaden Phodrang, the traditional government of Tibet led by the Dalai Lamas until 1959, The Trust continues the legacy of promoting Tibetan Buddhism, preserving Tibetan culture, and supporting education and healthcare for Tibetan communities in exile.It refers to the residential quarters of the Dalai Lama lineage from the second Dalai Lama onward at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa.

SAKSHAM-3000

Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development launched high capacity SAKSHAM-3000.It is a high-capacity, compact 25.6 Tbps switch-router tailored for modern data centres. It is a state-of-the-art data centre switch-cum-router designed for next-generation digital infrastructure developed by Development of Telematics (C-DOT). It was built to power large-scale computing clusters, cloud infrastructure, 5G/6G networks and AI workloads, the device supports 32 ports of 400G and a flexible range of Ethernet speeds ranging from 1G to 400G. Its ultra-low latency, wire-speed processing, and modular CROS (C-DOT Router Operating System) operating system position it as a versatile solution for roles ranging from leaf to super-spine nodes in a CLOS network.The platform aims to address the evolving needs of large enterprises, telecom operators, and hyperscale data centres.

Custodial death in Tamil Nadu:

The custodial death in Tamil Nadu has once again brought the issue of custodial torture into the spotlight. torture refers to the infliction of physical or mental suffering on individuals held in police or other authorities. It represents a serious violation of human rights and dignity and frequently results in custodial deaths—fatalities that occur while a person is under custody.Between 2016 and 2022, Tamil Nadu (highest among southern states) reported 490 custodial deaths, while the national total stood at 11,656. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number with 2,630 deaths.In 2022, Tamil Nadu detained 2,129 people under preventive laws, accounting for half of India’s total. Scheduled Castes (SCs) faced disproportionate custodial violence, making up 38.5% of detainees despite being only 20% of the population in Tamil Nadu.

What is an AI Web Crawler?

US and UK publishers have started blocking Artificial Intelligence (AI) web crawlers to prevent unauthorised use of their content.This has renewed calls in India for consent-based copyright safeguards and fair revenue sharing, raising key concerns in digital governance, copyright enforcement, and ethical AI use.An AI web crawler is a type of automated software or bot that scans and collects content from the internet specifically to help train AI models like Large Language Models (LLMs), or to provide live information retrieval for AI assistants.

Types:

• Model Training Crawler: Extract website data to train generative AI models
• Examples: GPTBot (OpenAI), Amazonbot (Amazon), GoogleOther (Google)
• Live Retrieval Crawlers: These bots pull real-time data from websites to supplement pre-trained models during user queries, ensuring up-to-date and cited responses in AI search tools
• It is used by AI platforms like Bing, ChatGPT, etc., to stay updated.

50 Years of CITES:

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) completed 50 years on 1st July 2025. CITES, also known as the Washington Convention, was signed on 3rd March 1973 during the World Wildlife Conference and came into force on 1st July 1975. It was drafted following a 1963 resolution adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to regulate wildlife trade. The Convention now has 185 Parties, including India (a member since 1976) and the European Union. Administered by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Geneva, CITES regulates international trade in over 40,000 species of wild animals and plants, including live specimens and wildlife-derived products. The treaty aims to ensure that such trade is sustainable, legal, and traceable, supporting biodiversity, local livelihoods, and national economies in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  CITES regulates international trade through permits for export, import, re-export, and sea introduction. Each member country appoints management and scientific authorities to oversee licensing and conservation advice.
Appendices System:
Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction. Trade is highly restricted.
Appendix II: Species not endangered but need controlled trade to avoid risk.
Appendix III: Species protected by at least one country that seeks cooperation to regulate trade.

BHARAT Study: Mapping Healthy Ageing Biomarkers

The Indian Institute of Science, under the Longevity India Programme, has launched the BHARAT (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions) study to map ageing biomarkers and build a baseline for healthy ageing specific to the Indian population.Ageing varies across individuals and populations, driven by molecular, cellular, environmental, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors, meaning chronological age may not reflect true biological age.Current biomarkers and diagnostic standards are often based on Western biomarkers and cut-offs (like cholesterol, vitamin D, CRP levels), which may not be accurate or applicable to Indians, risking misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.

PM-POSHAN scheme: In news

A century after its inception in Madras, the PM-POSHAN scheme continues to combat hunger and promote education, but a new report highlights persistent ground-level challenges like fund delays, caste discrimination, and rising costs. Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana
Launched In: 2021–22 replacing the 1995 Midday Meal Scheme Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (60:40 Centre-State cost-sharing) Objective is to Provide one hot cooked meal per day to students of Classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools.

India’s first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC):

India’s first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC) at the RVC Centre, Meerut, has been officially recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).A scientifically managed, internationally recognised zone that ensures horses are free from specified equine diseases, allowing them to participate in global trade and competitions. Established at: Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre & College, Meerut Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh Recognised by: World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Established under: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Aluminium Vision Document:

Union Coal and Mines Minister unveiled the Aluminium Vision Document at the International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining in Hyderabad to position India as a global aluminium production hub by 2047. Aluminium Vision Document is a strategic policy roadmap to transform India’s aluminium industry for self-reliance, clean energy transition, and global competitiveness. Published by: Ministry of Coal and Mines, Government of India.Aim is to scale up aluminium production sustainably and make India a leading global player in green aluminium