10 February 2025: Daily Current Affiars Updates (UPSC)

Taranaki Maunga ; GS-1 (Geography) ▪️Why in the News: Taranaki Maunga Mountain in New Zealand has been granted legal personhood, becoming the third natural feature in the country to receive the same rights, duties, and protections as an individual.

• Mount Taranaki:

• Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont, holds two official names.

• It is situated within Egmont National Park in New Zealand

- Geological Features:

• It is classified as a stratovolcano, also referred to as a composite cone, composed of alternating layers of ash and lava flow.

• The volcano is considered one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones globally due to its near-perfect shape.

• Surrounding the volcano is a circular ring plain, formed by volcanic deposits resulting from lahars and landslides.

• The formation of Mount Taranaki is attributed to the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Australian Plate

• The magma supply is believed to originate from a greater depth compared to volcanoes in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, as the subducting slab is deeper in this region.

Article 200; GS-2 (Polity and Constitution) ▪️Why in the news: The Supreme Court recently continued to hear petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government raising questions on the scope of the Governor's powers in the legislative process which revolves around Article 200.

> Role of the Governor in the Legislative Process:

• Constitutional Authority of the Governor As the constitutional head of a state, the Governor holds a significant role in the legislative process, particularly concerning the assent of bills passed by the state legislature.

• Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 200: Article 200 of the Indian Constitution defines the Governor's authority in the process of assenting to bills. Upon receiving a bill passed by the State Legislature, the Governor has the following options:

o Grant Assent - The Governor can approve the bill, which then becomes law.

• Withhold Assent - The Governor may reject the bill, preventing it from becoming law.

• Return the Bill for Reconsideration - The Governor can send the bill back to the legislature with recommendations. However, if the legislature re-passes the bill without changes, the Governor is obligated to grant assent.

• Reserve the Bill for Presidential Assent - If the bill contradicts constitutional provisions, affects the High Court's jurisdiction, or conflicts with central laws, the Governor can reserve it for the President's consideration.

• Note: Although Article 200 states that the Governor must take a call on granting assent to a Bill "as soon as possible"

- it does not mandate a specific timeline.

Ranikhet Disease (RD); GS- 3 (Science and Tech) ▪️Why in the news: A large number of chickens in poultry farms died of

Ranikhet disease (RD), which is also known as Newcastle disease.

> Definition:

• Ranikhet Disease is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects birds, especially poultry such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks.

• It is caused by virulent avian avulavirus 1, commonly known as Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), which is also designated as Avian Paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1).

The virus attacks the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems of birds, leading to severe health complications:

• It significantly impacts egg production and fertility, causing major economic losses in the poultry industry

• The disease has high morbidity, and mortality rates can vary between 50 to 100 percent.

• While primarily an avian disease, it is a minor zoonotic infection that can affect humans, causing conjunctivitis, though the condition is generally mild and resolves on its own.

> Modes of Transmission:

• Direct contact with secretions from infected birds, particularly through faeces.

• Contaminated feed, water, equipment, premises, and human clothing serve as common sources of infection.

• The virus has the ability to survive for weeks in the environment, especially in cool temperatures, increasing the risk of outbreaks.

> Symptoms of Ranikhet Disease:

The symptoms differ depending on the age of the birds.

In young birds, early symptoms include sneezing, gasping, and lethargy During the initial phase, the disease closely resembles infectious bronchitis.

• As the infection progresses, mortality rates increase rapidly, with deaths occurring in quick succession within an affected flock.

Repo Rate; GS-3 (Economy) ▪️Why in the news: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25% recently. This move impacts banks differently based on their loan book structure and liquidity position.

> About Repo Rate:

> Definition: The interest rate that the RBI charges when commercial banks borrow money from it is called the repo rate.

> Significance: It is a crucial monetary tool used by the RBI to manage liquidity and control inflation in the economy.

• By increasing or decreasing the Repo Rate, the RBI influences interest rates and regulates the money supply in the banking system.

> Uses:

• Money Supply Management: When RBI wants to curb inflation, it raises the repo rate, and therefore the cost of borrowing. As a result, banks may reduce their borrowing and lending activities, which decreases the overall money supply in the economy. With less money available, consumer spending and investment tend to decline, which can help cool down inflation

• Credit Availability: Higher repo rates discourage consumer and business borrowing.

When banks face higher borrowing costs, they may pass on the increased interest rates to customers. Then, individuals and businesses may find it less affordable to take out loans. The reduced credit availability dampens demand and helps control inflation.

• Demand-Side Management: By adjusting the repo rate, RBI influences the demand for goods and services. When the repo rate is increased, borrowing becomes more expensive, decreasing consumer spending and investment. This helps prevent excessive demand-driven inflationary pressures in the economy.

• Managing Inflation Expectations: Repo rate adjustments also play a crucial role in shaping inflation expectations among consumers, businesses, and financial markets. A repo rate hike from the RBI signals market participants to anticipate lower future inflation rates and adjust their behavior. For example, businesses may moderate their price increases, and consumers may delay their purchases.