28 May 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates
- Avijeet Kumar
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
GS 1 – Geography, Cartography & Culture
India’s Coastline Length Revised – The Coastline Paradox Insight: India’s coastline is now officially 11,098.8 km long, revised from the decades-old 7,516.6 km figure. But this isn’t about tectonics or new territory—it’s a classic example of the “coastline paradox”, where the more detailed your measurement, the longer the boundary appears.
Value Add:
GS1 Link: Cartographic accuracy, geographical measurement, fractal geometry.
Essay & Ethics Angle: “Measurement isn’t always reality.”
Keywords: Coastline paradox, Lewis Richardson, Mandelbrot, fractals in geography, measurement resolution.
🧭 GS 2 – Governance, Policy & Federal Innovation
Tamil Nadu Space Industrial Policy Insight: Tamil Nadu becomes the first state to roll out a dedicated Space Industrial Policy aligned with Indian Space Policy 2023. Backed by IN-SPACe, it offers R&D incentives, patent subsidies, and Space Bay SEZs—ushering in a startup-led space economy.
Value Add:
GS2 Link: Co-operative federalism, innovation-driven governance.
GS3 Link: Atmanirbhar Space, Space economy, Private participation.
Keywords: IN-SPACe, Space Bay, global capability centres, Kulasekarapattinam spaceport, STIC NIT Trichy.
🧭 GS 3 – Economy, Environment, Science & Technology
Bharat Forecast System (BFS) Insight: India’s Bharat Forecast System, developed by IITM Pune, is now the world’s highest-resolution weather forecasting model (6 km). With real-time Doppler radar inputs and AI integration, it boosts precision on cyclones, flash floods, and climate anomalies.
Value Add:
GS3: Climate change resilience, disaster mitigation, AI in public infrastructure.
Ethics: Early warning = life-saving governance.
Keywords: BFS, Arka supercomputer, nowcasting, numerical weather prediction, IITM Pune, AI in weather science.
Discovery of Schistura densiclava – Meghalaya’s New Cave Fish Insight: Schistura densiclava—a new pigment-retaining, sight-enabled cave fish—breaks the stereotype of blind, pale troglobites. Found in Mawsynram, it reveals the evolutionary versatility of subterranean life and underscores Meghalaya’s biodiversity goldmine.
Value Add:
GS3: Biodiversity hotspot, cave ecology, endemic species.
Link with Ramsar sites, Northeast conservation potential.
Keywords: Schistura densiclava, troglophile fish, cave biodiversity, Mawsynram, Krem Mawjymbuin.
New Damselfly Species – Caliphaea sinuofurcata Insight: The “Bearded Bronzeback” damselfly, found in Arunachal’s misty forests, adds to India’s under-researched insect diversity. With only two species of Caliphaea known in India (last documented 165 years ago), this find reaffirms the Eastern Himalayas as a biodiversity hotspot.
Value Add:
GS3: Entomology, species documentation, citizen science.
Ethics: Conservation through exploration.
Keywords: Caliphaea genus, bearded bronzeback, endemic insects, Arunachal biodiversity.
Arhgap36 Gene Discovered in Orange Cats Insight: The Arhgap36 gene, found responsible for orange fur in cats, sits on the X chromosome and may open avenues in genetic research, pigmentation science, and even comparative medicine in humans.
Value Add:
GS3 Link: Genetics, gene editing, human-pet comparative genomics.
Ethics angle: Responsible biotech.
Keywords: Arhgap36, X-linked gene, feline genetics, pigment expression.
Minuteman III ICBM Launch by USA Insight: The US successfully test-launched a Minuteman III ICBM—the land-based arm of its nuclear triad. Deployed since the 1970s, it remains one of the fastest and most reliable missile systems with hypersonic reentry speeds and second-strike capability.
Value Add:
GS3: Strategic tech, arms race, nuclear deterrence.
IR relevance: Nuclear doctrine, arms control.
Keywords: Minuteman III, MIRV, nuclear triad, ICBM, hypersonic weapon, GBSD.
ONGC Discovery Under OALP Insight: The Suryamani and Vajramani fields discovered under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) revive interest in India’s offshore potential. By letting companies pick their blocks (vs. government auctioning), OALP liberalises India’s E&P regime.
Value Add:
GS3: Energy security, ease of doing business in hydrocarbons.
Use in Infrastructure/Industrial answer framing.
Keywords: OALP, Mumbai offshore basin, HELP policy, Suryamani field.
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