21 May 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

What’s New: Tulare Lake in California reappeared after 130 years due to heavy snowmelt.
Significance:
- Largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, revived after over a century.
- Snowmelt from Sierra Nevada due to climate change-induced weather extremes.
- Restoration of cultural ties for the Tachi Yokut tribe.
Value Addition:
- Use as a case study for climate adaptation and eco-restoration.
- Link to India’s own drying lakes (e.g. Chilika pre-restoration) or Ramsar Sites.
- Paper I link: Impact of human interventions on natural landscapes.

What’s New: A sculpture of an Assyrian king unearthed in Nineveh, modern-day Iraq.
Relevance:
- Capital of Neo-Assyrian Empire; home to Ishtar temple and urban planning marvels.
- Fell in 612 BCE due to internal decay and external invasions (Medes + Babylonians).
Value Addition:
- Use as a comparative example with Indian cities like Mohenjo-Daro or Pataliputra.
- Themes of rise and fall of civilizations, urbanization, architecture.

📘 GS Paper 2 – Polity & Governance

What’s New: Home Minister launched a revamped OCI portal for ease of access.
Benefits:
- Lifelong visa, parity with NRIs in education, economy (except land ownership).
Restrictions:
- No voting, constitutional posts, or government employment.
Value Addition:
- Diaspora as soft power: India has 3.2 crore diaspora, world's largest.
- Example: Voting rights debates, PIO-NRI-OCI distinctions, Migrant Welfare.

What’s New: A YouTuber arrested under OSA for espionage for Pakistan.
Background:
- Enacted in 1923, criminalizes unauthorized sharing of sensitive info.
Criticism:
- Violates Right to Fair Trial & Natural Justice (burden of proof on accused).
Value Addition:
- Debate: Replace with a modern National Security Law (recommendation: Law Commission reports).
- Mention the RTI Act vs. OSA contradiction.

What’s New: Pilot project in Delhi to auto-register FIRs for ₹10 lakh+ cyber fraud.
How it Works:
- Through 1930 helpline/NCRP → Delhi e-Crime PS → forwarded to local PS.
Value Addition:
- Link to Digital India, police reforms, Justice Verma Committee post-Nirbhaya.
- Example: Can be used in Ethics answers for responsive governance.

What’s New: ₹13.4 lakh crore in total procurement, GeMAI chatbot launched.
Relevance:
- 97% service-charge-free, 38% procurement from MSEs (vs 25% target).
Value Addition:
- Great example of good governance, transparency, inclusion.
- Link with Startup India, Women Empowerment, and Digital Governance.

What’s New: QR codes to replace barcodes for better traceability & consumer safety.
Relevance:
- QR > Barcodes (2D vs 1D), real-time inventory, counterfeit prevention.
Value Addition:
- Connect with e-commerce, consumer protection, logistics.
- India use-case: UPI adoption + Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity.

What’s New: IIED flagged GEF for not reaching indigenous communities.
Background:
- Created before Rio Earth Summit (1992), funds under 5 major environmental conventions.
Criticism:
- Disconnect between global climate finance and grassroots needs.
Value Addition:
- Use in biodiversity, desertification, or climate justice essays.
- Mention India’s role in CBD, UNCCD, and voice for climate equity.

What’s New: JNCASR develops 80% charge-in-6-min sodium battery with 3000+ cycles.
Advantages:
- Cheaper, safer, more temperature-resilient than lithium-ion.
- Sodium widely available → less geopolitical dependence.
Value Addition:
- Link with Energy Security, Green Mobility Mission, PLI Schemes.

What’s New: Over 6 lakh Olive Ridley turtles protected this season.
How:
- Indian Coast Guard patrolling, TED gear promotion, SHG involvement.
Value Addition:
- Ethics: Environmental stewardship, Community + Govt partnership.
- Link to Schedule I species, IUCN Red List (Vulnerable), CITES Appendix I.