Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 4th March 2025

HeroRATS for Tuberculosis Elimination:

A Tanzanian non-profit organization conducts research to train African giant pouched rats, or HeroRATS, to detect Tuberculosis (TB).

• These rats show high accuracy, especially in resource-limited areas. This research could help speed up TB detection in countries like India.
• HeroRATS have an exceptional sense of smell due to their sensitive olfactory receptors, allowing them to detect diseases like TB.
• HeroRATS undergoes a training program, learning to detect TB in sputum samples (thick mucus from lungs). They can screen 100 samples in just 20 minutes, compared to 3–4 days for traditional methods.
• Detected samples are then confirmed using Ziehl-Neelsen and fluorescent microscopy.
• Increased Detection Rates: HeroRATS doubled TB detection rates in children compared to conventional testing.
• The rats were six times more effective at detecting TB in patients with a low bacillary load compared to those with a higher concentration of bacteria.
• They outperformed traditional microscopy, which often fails in such cases.

Maple Syrup Urine Disease:

Scientists have created a new gene therapy for a debilitating genetic disorder called maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).

• Maple Syrup Urine Disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by deficiency of an enzyme complex (branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase) that is required to break down (metabolize) the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine and valine, in the body.
• It’s inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. A child is born with MSUD when both parents are carriers of the specific gene mutation and pass it on.
• The loss of this complex prevents the body from properly breaking down several amino acids, eventually leading to neurological symptoms and life-threatening brain damage.
• It is the most severe and also the most common. Symptoms usually develop within the first three days of birth.
• It is less severe than classic MSUD. Symptoms typically appear in children between 5 months and 7 years old.
• Children with intermittent MSUD develop as expected until an infection or period of stress causes symptoms to appear. People with intermittent MSUD usually tolerate higher levels of the three amino acids than those with classic MSUD.
• This type of MSUD responds to treatment using high doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine) along with a restricted diet.
• Symptoms: A sweet, syrupy smell in their pee, sweat or earwax, Lethargy (they may move slowly or appear tired or weak), Irritability or fussiness
• The main treatment for MSUD is a low-protein diet with low levels of the three amino acids.

Geological Survey of India: Anniversary

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), one of the oldest scientific organizations in the country, is set to celebrate its 175th year of geoscientific legacy.

• Geological Survey of India was set up in 1851 by Sir Thomas Oldham, primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.
• Over the years, it has grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country.
• It includes providing objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and geoscientific information of all kinds, with a focus on policy-making decisions, and commercial and socio-economic needs.
• It also emphasises systematic documentation of all geological processes, both surface and subsurface, of India and its offshore areas.
• The organisation carries out this work through geological, geophysical, & geochemical surveys using the latest and most cost-effective techniques and methodologies.
• The main functions of the GSI relate to the creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment.
• It has played a pioneering role in geological mapping, mineral exploration, disaster studies, and geoscientific research, significantly contributing to India’s industrial and economic growth
• It is headquartered in Kolkata and has six regional offices located at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata. Every state has a state unit.
• Presently, GSI is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary:

The high court recently issued notices to South Western Railway and the Directorate of Survey and Land Records (DSLR) over a PIL challenging acquisition proceedings taking place for land at Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the eastern border of the state of Goa, near the village of Mollem.
• Originally known as the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and then renamed the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary includes the Mollem National Park.
• It covers an area of 240 sq. km.
• It is also home to the famous Dudhsagar waterfall, the Devil’s Canyon, the Tambdi Surla temple, the Tambdi falls, and a number of other historic and religious sites.
• West Coast tropical evergreen forests, West Coast semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous
• Flora: Teak, bamboo, cashew, and eucalyptus trees dominate the landscape.
• Fauna: Gaur, Sambar, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Slender Tories, Jungle Cats, Malayan Giant Squirrels, Pythons, and Cobras.

Meteor Missile:

A US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B Lightning II recently flew its first-ever test missions with the Meteor air-to-air missile.

• It is an advanced radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
• METEOR has been developed by a group of European partners led by MBDA to meet the needs of six European nations: the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.
• It has a length of 3.65 m and a diameter of 0.178 m.
• Unlike most similar solid-fuel missiles, the Meteor is equipped with a ramjet engine, which allows for controlled flight speed, complex maneuvers, and a range of more than 100 kilometers.
• Designed for a speed greater than Mach 4, the missile has a large no-escape zone.
• Guided by an advanced active radar seeker, Meteor provides all-weather capability to engage a wide variety of targets from agile fast jets to small UAVs and cruise missiles.
• It is equipped with a two-way datalink, which allows the launch platform to provide updates on targets or re-targeting when the missile is in flight.
• The datalink is capable of transmitting information such as kinematic status. It also notifies target acquisition by the seeker.
• The missile is equipped with a blast-fragmentation warhead.

Green Sea Turtle:

The carcass of a green sea turtle washed ashore on Marina beach in Chennai recently.

• It is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle.
• Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
• They are unique among sea turtles in that they are herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae.
• This diet is what gives their fat a greenish color (not their shells), which is where their name comes from.
• Green turtles are found throughout the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters.
• These turtles are found nesting along the coastline of more than 80 countries, with the largest nesting populations found in Costa Rica and Australia.
• Similar to other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between their feeding grounds and their nesting sites, with recorded distances longer than 1,615 miles (2,600 kilometers).
• They are large in size, attaining about 120 cm in length and weighing about 136-159 kg.
• They have a comparatively small head.
• The green turtle has a smooth carapace which varies in shape, between sub-circular and heart-shaped, and in colouration between black, grey, green, brown, and yellow. The plastron (bottom shell) is yellowish-white in colour.
• The carapace is the turtle’s upper shell, made of large, hard scales called scutes.
• They do not have teeth, but their jaws have modified “beaks” suited to their particular diet.
• They do not have visible ears but have eardrums covered by skin. They hear best at low frequencies, and their sense of smell is excellent.
• Their vision underwater is good, but they are nearsighted out of water.
• Their streamlined bodies and large flippers make them remarkably adapted to life at sea.
• Lifespan: Estimated to be 60-70 years.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Endangered

Reunion Island:

At least four people died after cyclone Garance struck the French overseas territory of La Reunion recently.

• It is a French island in the Western Indian Ocean.
• It lies about 680 km east of Madagascar and 180 km southwest of Mauritius.
• It covers an area of 2,511 sq. km.
• With Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands, they form the Mascarene Archipelago.
• The island is entirely volcanic and originates on the ocean floor at a depth of 4,000 meters.
• It consists mainly of rugged mountains dissected by torrential rivers.
• It is home to the highest peak in the Indian Ocean, the Piton des Neiges, and one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, the Piton de la Fournaise.
• The capital is Saint-Denis, on the northern coast.

Pandoh Dam:

Amidst the ongoing heavy rain and snowfall in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opened the spillway gates of the Pandoh Dam recently as a precautionary measure.

• It is an embankment Dam that lies in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Constructed on Beas River, the primary purpose of Pandoh Dam is hydroelectric power generation.
• It is a concrete gravity dam, standing 76 meters (249 feet) tall.
• It was commissioned in 1977 and is located at a distance of 10 km from Manali.
• Being a part of a run-of-the-river power design, the Pandoh Dam diverts water from Beas to southwest through a channel of tunnels which are 38 km long.
• Before it is discharged into the Sutlej River, the water of the dam is used for power generation at the Dehar Power House (with a capacity of 990 MW).
• The dam has also created the Pandoh Lake, a popular tourist spot located 19 km upstream from the town of Mandi on the river Beas.
• The dam is under the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
• The road that goes over the dam is NH 21.

Blue Ghost Mission:

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully touched down on the Moon’s Mare Crisium region after a nerve-wracking powered descent.

• Blue Ghost lander, developed by Firefly Aerospace,is carrying 10 NASA payloads as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which aims to stimulate lunar commerce through private-sector competition.
• The Blue Ghost mission aims to enhance our understanding of the lunar environment.
• The lander carries a vacuum, called Lunar PlanetVac (LPV), to collect lunar soil samples and a drill capable of measuring temperatures up to 10 feet (3 meters) below the surface.
• The lander will study heat flow from the Moon’s interior, helping scientists understand its thermal evolution.
• It will analyse plume-surface interactions to improve landing techniques by examining how lunar regolith reacts to the lander’s engine plumes
• By collecting data on the Moon’s magnetic and electric fields, researchers will gain insights into its geological history.
• The lander will operate for approximately 14 Earth days, equivalent to one complete lunar day, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.

Oscars Awards 2025:

The 97th Academy Awards are now underway at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The 97th Oscars hosted by Conan O’Brien with your own Oscars printable ballot.

Oscars Awards 2025:

• Best Picture :  Anora
• Actor in a Leading Role :The Brutalist
• Actor in a Supporting Role :  Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
• Actress in a Leading Role :  Mikey Madison, “Anora”
• Actress in a Supporting Role  : Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez
• Animated Feature Film  : Flow

Bank of Baroda Achieves ISO 22301:2019 Certification:

Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading public sector banks, has been awarded the prestigious ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) certification by the British Standards Institution (BSI). This recognition underscores the bank’s strong commitment to operational resilience, business continuity planning, and risk management, ensuring uninterrupted banking services even during unforeseen disruptions.

Paytm Partners with Perplexity to Enhance AI:

Paytm has announced its partnership with Perplexity, an AI-driven answer engine. This collaboration aims to integrate AI-powered search into the Paytm app, allowing users to ask questions, explore various topics in local languages, and make informed financial decisions.Perplexity is an advanced AI-driven answer engine designed to provide real-time responses with in-line citations.

YES BANK Hosts Export Conclave 2025 in Collaboration with WTC Mumbai:

YES BANK, India’s sixth-largest private sector bank, joined forces with the World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai to host the prestigious Export Conclave 2025 at YES BANK House. The event served as a significant platform for exporters, industry leaders, and government officials to discuss emerging trade trends, challenges, and global market opportunities.

Virat Kohli Becomes Seventh Indian Cricketer to Play 300 ODIs:

Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest cricketers, has reached a historic milestone. On March 2, 2025, during the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand in Dubai, he played his 300th One Day International (ODI) match. With this achievement, Kohli became the seventh Indian and 22nd player in the world to reach this milestone.

Trump Declared English as the Official Language of the United States:

On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that English would be the official language of the country. He said that this decision would help bring unity in a nation with people from different backgrounds. The White House released an executive order stating that it was “long past time” to make English the official language of the United States

ICC Youngest Chairman, Jay Shah Honored with Icon of Excellence Award at FILA 2025:

Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been honored with the prestigious Icon of Excellence award at the 14th Edition of the Forbes India Leadership Awards (FILA 2025). This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to cricket administration, his efforts to bring new ideas into the game, and his role in making cricket more inclusive and competitive worldwide.

City Union Bank Partners with Chennai Super Kings to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card:

City Union Bank (CUB) has announced a strategic partnership with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to introduce an exclusive co-branded credit card. This collaboration aims to offer CSK fans a unique financial product that enhances their purchasing experience while allowing them to showcase their team spirit. The City Union Bank – Chennai Super Kings Co-Branded Credit Card is designed to provide customers with exciting rewards, exclusive offers, and memorable cricket-related experiences.

GST Collections Surge by 9.1% to Reach ₹1.84 Lakh Crore in February 2025:

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in February 2025 saw a significant 9.1% year-on-year growth, reaching approximately ₹1.84 lakh crore, as per official data released. This increase highlights the robustness of domestic economic activity and improved compliance measures.The total gross GST revenue collected in February 2025 comprises multiple components, each contributing to the overall surge:Central GST (CGST): ₹35,204 crore,State GST (SGST): ₹43,704 crore,Integrated GST (IGST): ₹90,870 crore (which includes ₹41,702 crore collected on imports), Compensation Cess: ₹13,868 crore

Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra Re-Elected as Chairman of Bar Council of India:

Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra has once again secured his position as the Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), marking his seventh consecutive victory. This historic win reaffirms his stronghold in the legal community and underscores the trust reposed in him by the legal fraternity. Notably, apart from being a legal luminary, Mishra also serves as a BJP Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.