03 November 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – 150th Birth Anniversary

• Subtopic: Modern Indian History & Nation-Building

• Value Addition:

  • Born 31 October 1875, Gujarat; anniversary celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).

  • Known as “Iron Man of India.”

  • Pre-Independence contributions:

    • Kheda Satyagraha (1918) and Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) — early Gandhian leader.

    • Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) — earned the title “Sardar.”

    • Congress President (1931, Karachi Session) — adopted resolutions on fundamental rights & national economic policy.

  • Post-Independence contributions:

    • Political Integration of 562 Princely States — through diplomacy & force (e.g., Junagadh plebiscite, Operation Polo in Hyderabad).

    • Managed partition chaos and refugee resettlement as India’s first Home Minister & Deputy PM.

    • Established All India Services — the “Steel Frame of India.”

• Subject Analysis:

  • Embodied administrative foresight + political firmness in post-independence governance.

  • Symbol of unity in diversity, reinforcing federal integrity.

  • Relevant for GS1 – Modern History / Freedom Struggle / Nation-Building after 1947.

2. Dogri Language

• Subtopic: Language Heritage & Cultural Identity

• Value Addition:

  • Family: Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European languages.

  • Regions: Jammu (primary), Himachal, northern Punjab, scattered elsewhere.

  • Earliest Mention: Nuh Sipihr (1317 CE) by Amir Khusrow — refers to “Duggar.”

  • Evolution: From Old Indo-Aryan → Middle Indo-Aryan (Pali/Prakrit) → Modern (10th century CE).

  • Closely related to Shaurseni Prakrit.

  • Script: Initially Takri; now Devanagari.

  • Current Issue: Declining usage among urban youth despite 8th Schedule recognition (2003).

• Subject Analysis:

  • Reflects linguistic diversity and endangered heritage in the Himalayan belt.

  • Case for preserving regional languages under NEP 2020.

  • Useful for GS1 – Indian Culture / Language & Literature.

3. 150 Years of Arya Samaj

• Subtopic: Social & Religious Reform Movements

• Value Addition:

  • Founded 1875, Bombay by Swami Dayanand Saraswati → “Back to the Vedas.”

  • Rejected idol worship, rituals, caste hierarchy, and untouchability.

  • Promoted education, rationalism, gender equality, widow remarriage.

  • Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) Society (1886): Modern education + Vedic values.

  • Influenced freedom leaders: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Ram Prasad Bismil.

  • Relevance Today:

    • Equality & rationalism → Article 51A(h) (scientific temper).

    • Women’s empowerment → Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Shakti Vandan Bill.

    • Social reform resonates with Constitutional morality & fraternity.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Arya Samaj bridged spiritual revivalism with social modernity.

  • A foundation for progressive Hindu reform & nationalist consciousness.

  • Relevant for GS1 – Social Reform Movements / 19th Century Reformers.

4. Lucknow – UNESCO “City of Gastronomy”

• Subtopic: Cultural Heritage & Global Recognition

• Value Addition:

  • Declared UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy (2025) — second Indian city after Hyderabad.

  • Recognized for Awadhi cuisine, Mughal culinary legacy, and cultural preservation.

  • Other Indian UCCN cities: Jaipur (Crafts), Gwalior (Music), Chennai (Music).

  • UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): Founded 2004; promotes creativity-led sustainable urban development.

  • Focus areas: Gastronomy, Film, Design, Literature, Music, Crafts, Media Arts.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Enhances India’s soft power through culinary diplomacy.

  • Strengthens tourism-led urban economy & cultural branding.

  • Relevant for GS1 – Culture / Heritage & UNESCO Sites.

UPSC GS – 2

5. India–US 10-Year Defence Framework Agreement

• Subtopic: Bilateral Relations & Strategic Cooperation

• Value Addition:

  • Signed at 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, Kuala Lumpur (2025).

  • Builds on prior frameworks: 2005, 2015 agreements.

  • Foundational Pacts:

    • LEMOA (2016): Base access & logistics.

    • COMCASA (2018): Secure communication.

    • BECA (2020): Geospatial data sharing.

    • SOSA (2024): Defence supply chain security.

  • Focus Areas:

    • Joint production & co-development (Make in India – Make for the World).

    • Enhanced intel-sharing (cyber & maritime).

    • Expanded military exercises (Malabar, Yudh Abhyas).

    • Indo-Pacific regional stability.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Reinforces India–US strategic alignment & defence self-reliance.

  • Central to Indo-Pacific security architecture & Quad framework.

  • Relevant for GS2 – IR / Bilateral Relations / Security Cooperation.

UPSC GS – 3

6. White Iberian Lynx

• Subtopic: Biodiversity & Conservation

• Value Addition:

  • Rare white morph of Lynx pardinus spotted in Spain — first ever.

  • IUCN Status: Vulnerable; Green Status – Largely Depleted.

  • Habitat: Mediterranean scrublands with rabbit populations.

  • CITES Appendix I: Highest trade protection.

  • Behaviour: Crepuscular; nocturnal; dependent on prey availability.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Highlights success and fragility of species recovery programmes.

  • Can be linked with India’s cheetah reintroduction context.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Biodiversity / Conservation Status.

7. SJ-100 Aircraft (India–Russia Collaboration)

• Subtopic: Technology Transfer & Civil Aviation

• Value Addition:

  • MoU between HAL (India) and United Aircraft Corporation (Russia).

  • Modern short-haul jet (Sukhoi Superjet 100) – now SJ-100.

  • Capacity: 103 passengers; range: 3,530 km.

  • Features: Fuel-efficient, low operational cost, suited for extreme climates (-55°C to +45°C).

  • Over 200 units in service worldwide.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Enhances India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

  • Symbol of Indo-Russian industrial collaboration beyond defence.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Economy / Technology / Manufacturing Sector.

8. Hemiphyllodactylus Venkatadri (New Gecko Species)

• Subtopic: Endemic Fauna & Biodiversity Discovery

• Value Addition:

  • Newly discovered slender gecko from Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, Andhra Pradesh.

  • Named after Venkatadri Hills (Tirumala Range).

  • Second such species from Andhra (after H. arakuensis).

  • Seshachalam Reserve (2010): Part of Eastern Ghats; highest peak – Tellaralla Penta.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Showcases India’s rich endemic reptile diversity.

  • Strengthens Eastern Ghats’ ecological importance in conservation policy.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Biodiversity / Protected Areas.

9. Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas)

• Subtopic: Entomology & Ecosystem Diversity

• Value Addition:

  • Found in Karwar (Karnataka); among the largest moths globally.

  • Wingspan: ~25 cm (10 inches); vivid colours & glass-like “windows.”

  • Distribution: SE Asia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Taiwan.

  • Lifespan: ~14–18 days; adults lack mouthparts.

  • Silk produced (fagara silk) – coarse and durable.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Indicator of forest ecosystem health & insect diversity.

  • Adds to India’s Lepidoptera biodiversity records.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Zoology / Conservation