13 August 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS 1 – History, Geography, Culture

1. Topic: Wallacean Hominids

Subtopic: Early Human Settlement in Wallacea Value Addition:

• Discovery of stone tools in Sulawesi, Indonesia, predates Homo sapiens arrival.

• Suggests ancient hominins adapted to island ecology, possibly via maritime dispersal.

• Wallacea’s biodiversity and geological isolation shaped unique human and faunal evolution.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 1: Prehistoric archaeology, human migration patterns.

• Prelims: Wallacea location, Alfred Russel Wallace’s contributions, difference between hominid & hominin.

GS 2 – Governance, Law, Health, Sports

2. Topic: National Sports Governance Bill, 2025

Subtopic: Reforming Sports Administration in India Value Addition:

• Creates National Sports Board (NSB) as statutory regulator (like SEBI) with oversight of all federations including BCCI.

• Establishes National Sports Tribunal with powers of a civil court for dispute resolution.

• Ensures transparency via RTI coverage, Safe Sports Policy, Code of Ethics, election panel for fair polls.

• Removes tenure caps, raises age limit to 75 for administrators.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Sports governance reforms, transparency, institutional accountability.

• Prelims: NSB powers, NST structure, RTI applicability to sports bodies.

3. Topic: National Medical Register (NMR)

Subtopic: Centralised Medical Practitioner Database Value Addition:

• Voluntary registration under NMC Act, 2019 for verified credentials.

• Links practitioner details to Aadhaar; provides public access to verified non-sensitive info.

• Ensures dynamic updates through State Medical Councils for transparency.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Health governance, digital registries.

• Prelims: NMR purpose, NMC functions, Section 31 provisions.

4. Topic: National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Subtopic: Strengthening NADA’s Autonomy Value Addition:

• Central govt gains authority over appeal panel creation; oversight by National Board removed.

• Direct CAS appeals allowed in international-level cases.

• Incorporates WADA Code into Indian law; mandates WADA accreditation for all testing labs.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Sports law, compliance with global anti-doping standards.

• Prelims: NADA vs WADA roles, CAS jurisdiction.

5. Topic: SC Directions on Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR

Subtopic: Public Health & Animal Welfare Regulation Value Addition:

• Mandates capture, vaccination, shelter creation, and helpline setup.

• Balances Article 21 (human life) with Article 51A(g) (animal compassion).

• Recognises rabies burden—India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Municipal governance, constitutional duties, animal law.

• Prelims: Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023; judicial interpretations on stray animals.

GS 3 – Economy, Finance, Environment

6. Topic: Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA)

Subtopic: Rupee-Denominated Trade Mechanism Value Addition:

• RBI allows surplus rupee balances to be invested in G-Secs and T-bills.

• Promotes rupee internationalisation and reduces forex dependency.

• Operates with market-determined exchange rates and domestic currency settlements.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: External sector, trade finance.

• Prelims: SRVA structure, role in bilateral trade.

Facts for Prelims

7. Topic: UNDP Equator Initiative Award

Subtopic: Community-Led Biodiversity Conservation Value Addition:

• Karnataka’s Bibi Fatima Women’s SHG honoured for sustainable rural entrepreneurship.

• Award focuses on women & youth leadership for nature-based climate action.

• Considered the “Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation.”

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Biodiversity-linked livelihoods, SDGs.

• Prelims: Award frequency, eligibility, prize amount.