22 August 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS 1 – History, Geography, Culture

1. Topic: Moai Statues (Easter Island)

Subtopic: Climate Threat to Heritage Value Addition:

• Nearly 1,000 statues (1400–1650 AD) built by Rapa Nui people, carved from volcanic tuff.

• Represent ancestors; erected on stone platforms (ahu) which also served as tombs.

• Tallest: 33 feet; part of Polynesian cultural triangle (Hawaii–NZ–Easter Island).

• Rising sea levels may submerge them by 2080 → climate change vs heritage preservation.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 1: Art & Culture – Megalithic traditions.

• GS 3: Climate change impacts on heritage.

• Essay: “Cultural heritage as the first casualty of climate change.”

GS 2 – Governance, International Relations, Social Justice

2. Topic: Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

Subtopic: Regional Economic Bloc Value Addition:

• Established 2014; members – Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.

• Free movement of goods, services, labour, capital.

• Structure: Supreme Council (Heads of State), EEC (Moscow), Court (Minsk).

• Limitations vs EU: No single currency, weak enforcement, bilateral dispute settlements.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Regional groupings, India’s Eurasian strategy.

• Prelims: EAEU HQs, members, treaty year.

3. Topic: e-Sushrut@Clinic

Subtopic: Digital Health Ecosystem Expansion Value Addition:

• Jointly by NHA + C-DAC; lightweight HMIS for small & medium clinics.

• Cloud-based → patient record digitisation, telemedicine, pharmacy & nursing modules.

• Integrated with ABDM: access via Health Facility Registry (HFR) & HPR.

• Linked with AIIMS Clinical DSS (for diabetes, hypertension).

Subject Analysis:

• GS 2: Health governance, digital public goods.

• GS 3: Tech in healthcare.

• Prelims: ABDM, e-Sushrut features.

GS 3 – Defence, Economy, Environment, S&T, Biodiversity

4. Topic: Agni-5 IRBM

Subtopic: Nuclear Deterrence & Strategic Autonomy Value Addition:

• Nuclear-capable, 3-stage solid fuel; range 5,000+ km.

• Managed by Strategic Forces Command under Nuclear Command Authority.

• MIRV-capable → joins elite club (US, Russia, China, France).

• Part of IGMDP (Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag, Agni).

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Defence preparedness, credible deterrence.

• Prelims: Missile ranges, IGMDP missiles.

5. Topic: Gaur (Indian Bison) Decline

Subtopic: PTR, Jharkhand Conservation Crisis Value Addition:

• World’s largest wild cattle, prey base for tigers.

• Habitat: Evergreen/semi-evergreen + moist deciduous forests.

• Status: IUCN – Vulnerable; CITES Appendix I; WPA Schedule I.

• Role: Ecological balancer – vegetation control, seed dispersal.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Ecology, prey-predator balance.

• Prelims: Protection status, habitat, PTR location.

6. Topic: Antituberculosis Catalina (Moth Discovery)

Subtopic: Western Ghats Biodiversity Expansion Value Addition:

• Nocturnal moth, family Noctuidae, subspecies A. catocalina cyclica.

• First record in Western Ghats (Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary, Kerala).

• Previously seen only in NE India.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Biodiversity documentation, endemic species.

• Prelims: Sanctuary facts, moth classification.

7. Topic: Thattekad Bird Sanctuary (Kerala)

Subtopic: Biodiversity Survey Expansion Value Addition:

• Kerala’s 1st bird sanctuary (1983), along Periyar River.

• Vegetation: Evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous.

• New survey: 9 species added to checklist.

• Notable species: Ceylon Frogmouth, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Bay Owl.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Habitat protection, avian diversity.

• Prelims: Location, alternative name (Dr. Salim Ali Sanctuary).

8. Topic: Shadowdamsel Discoveries

Subtopic: Endemic Odonata Species Value Addition:

• Konkan Shadowdamsel – Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.

• Crimson Shadowdamsel – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Ecological role: Forest health & pollution indicators.

• Threats: Plantation expansion, habitat loss.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Biodiversity conservation.

• Prelims: Distinct features vs Red-spot Shadowdamsel.

9. Topic: Coal Gasification Challenge

Subtopic: NITI Aayog on Tech Incompatibility Value Addition:

• Indian coal: 30–45% ash, high alumina-silica.

• Many global gasification techs unsuitable.

• Uses of syngas: Power, fuel cells, methanol, SNG, fertilizers.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Energy security, import substitution.

• Prelims: Syngas, coal ash issues.

10. Topic: Saltwater Crocodile (Sundarbans)

Subtopic: Population Recovery

Value Addition:

• Largest reptile (5m male avg.); opportunistic apex predator.

• Distribution: E. India → SE Asia → N. Australia.

• Status: IUCN – Least Concern; India – WPA Schedule I.

• Sundarbans survey shows population increase – positive conservation sign.

Subject Analysis:

• GS 3: Conservation success, wetland biodiversity.

• Prelims: Habitat range, WPA schedule.