UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 23-05-2025

One Liners 23-05-2025

History, Art and Culture

World Day for Cultural Diversity: May 21

Celebrated annually on May 21st, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development recognizes global cultural richness and the role of intercultural dialogue in fostering peace and sustainable development.

• Origin and Establishment - The United Nations proclaimed this day in 2002, following the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, to deepen understanding of cultural diversity's value.
• Aim - Rooted in the 2005 UNESCO Convention, aim includes supporting cultural governance, promoting balanced cultural exchange and artist mobility, integrating culture into sustainable development, and upholding human rights.
• Ways to Celebrate - Organizations promote inclusivity by sharing cultural resources, showcasing staff diversity, providing cultural awareness training, and engaging in interactive team-building. Leadership messaging reinforces commitment to inclusive work cultures.
• Tools and Resources - Tools like the Global Diversity Toolkit and Collaboration Catalysts aid in celebrating, promoting empathy, and navigating multicultural environments effectively.
• Significance - The day emphasizes embracing cultural differences for global cooperation and understanding.

Irula Tribe

Threat of Eviction In Tamil Nadu's Kunnapattu, many Irula families face eviction and lack legal ownership despite generations of residence, with nearly half unrecognized.

• Irula Tribe - A Dravidian ethnic group, are one of India’s oldest indigenous communities, primarily residing in the Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
•  Second largest Adivasi community - In Tamil Nadu and a "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group" (PVTG).
• Language & Beliefs - They speak Irula, related to Tamil and Kannada. Pantheistic, their main deity is Kanniamma, associated with the cobra. Their settlements are called mottas.
• Traditional Livelihoods Traditionally - Irulas are known for healing, traditional medicine, and expertly catching poisonous snakes. They also engage in cattle production and forest resource collection like honey.
• Snake Venom Expertise - Their exceptional knowledge allows them to locate and safely extract venom from snakes. The Irula Snake Catchers’ Industrial Cooperative Society produces nearly 80% of India's anti-snake venom.
• Cultural Significance  - The Irula's unique skills and deep connection to nature highlight their significant contribution to both biodiversity and traditional medicine.

Geography

Colossal Solar Storm 14,300 Years Ago

New research confirms the most powerful solar storm ever detected struck Earth approximately 14,300 years ago, underscoring the importance of ancient solar activity studies.

• Discovery & Intensity - University of Oulu researchers identified this 12,350 BC event. Using tree-ring data and radiocarbon levels, they found it was 18% stronger than the previous record and 500 times the 2005 storm.
• Solar Particle Storms - These rare events release high-energy particles, causing spikes in cosmogenic isotopes, known as Miyake events, which serve as cosmic timestamps.
• Modern Infrastructure Risk - The findings highlight potential threats from extreme solar activity to modern electrical and communication systems, emphasizing the need for robust preparedness.
• Historical Context - This storm joins other significant past events. The 1859 Carrington event is a distinct type of solar phenomenon.
• Collaborative Research - Published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, this international study advances our understanding of solar activity's impact.

Polity & Governance

SC Reinstates 3-Year Practice for Judiciary

The Supreme Court has reinstated the requirement for judicial service aspirants to have a minimum of three years of legal practice for Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts.

• Rationale for Change - This decision overturns a 2002 ruling, addressing concerns that judges without practical experience lacked necessary skills for complex legal matters, impacting judicial efficacy.
• Implementation Details - The three-year period is calculated from provisional advocate enrollment. Candidates need a certificate from a 10-year standing advocate, endorsed by a judicial officer. Law clerk experience also qualifies.
• Scope and Applicability - This requirement applies prospectively to future recruitments, not affecting ongoing processes. States and HC must amend service rules accordingly.
• Implications for Aspirants - The ruling emphasizes practical experience, potentially extending the entry timeline but aiming to enhance judicial quality.
• Pathway for Graduates - Law graduates must now engage in active legal practice or clerkships to meet the new criteria, gaining invaluable experience for future judicial roles.

Environment

New Butterfly Species Discovered in India

Arunachal Pradesh's Leparada district recently confirmed the presence of Euthalia malaccana, adding a new member to India’s butterfly family.

•  Background and Taxonomy Previously considered a subspecies of Euthalia adonia, Euthalia malaccana is now recognized as a distinct species. Its primary range was believed to be Southeast Asia, with uncertain presence in India.

• Discovery – Citizen Scientist and Expert documented five individuals in Basar, Leparada district (685m altitude) between 2023 and 2024.
• Identification Features Males exhibit a blue apical spot on forewings; females have larger ones. Reduced red spots on hindwings differentiate it from species like Euthalia lubentina.
• Significance This sighting extends Euthalia malaccana's known geographical range to India, enriching the Papilionoidea diversity record in the northeastern region.
• Citizen Science Impact The discovery underscores the vital role of citizen science in documenting rare species and aiding conservation efforts in India's ecologically rich northeastern frontier.

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Operation Olivia: Protecting Olive Ridley Turtles

Operation Olivia is an annual Indian Coast Guard (ICG) initiative focused on conserving Olive Ridley turtles. Recently, it achieved a record protection of 6.98 lakh nesting turtles at Odisha's Rushikulya river mouth.

• Background - Launched in the early 1980s, the operation runs from November to May, targeting vital nesting sites like Gahirmatha and Rushikulya in Odisha.
• Primary goal is - Ensuring safe nesting by minimizing threats like illegal fishing and habitat destruction, promoting community involvement, and encouraging Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
• 2025 Achievements - The ICG protected 6.98 lakh turtles, conducting over 5,387 surface and 1,768 aerial patrols, and detaining 366 illegal fishing boats.
• Community and Technology - ICG fosters TED use among fishermen and raises awareness. Collaborations, like geo-tagging turtles with Karnataka, enhance monitoring.
• Significance - Operation Olivia strengthens India's commitment to international conservation agreements (CMS, CITES) and SDG 14, showcasing effective multi-agency biodiversity conservation.

Compostable PBAT Bags in Tripura

Sustainable Alternative Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Tripura has introduced compostable bags made from PBAT, offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics (SUPs).

• PBAT Plastic - PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, serving as an eco-friendly substitute for traditional plastics.
• It's a copolymer processed - Using standard manufacturing methods.
• Properties of PBAT - It is 100% compostable, breaking down into water, CO₂, and biomass within 180 days under industrial composting. PBAT is flexible, tough, moisture-resistant, and chemically inert, offering good barrier properties.
• PBAT vs. PLA - Key Differences PBAT is a flexible copolymer, suitable for bags and packaging, with faster composting. PLA, derived from lactic acid, is rigid and brittle, used in cutlery, and degrades slower. PBAT is generally more cost-effective than PLA.
• Applications PBAT's flexibility - Makes it ideal for various applications, including bags, films, and diverse packaging solutions.
• Environmental Impact - This initiative underscores a commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting environmentally friendly alternatives.

Security

India Observes National Anti-Terrorism Day

India commemorates National Anti-Terrorism Day on May 21st, marking former PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassination by a suicide bomber on May 21, 1991, to honor him and raise terrorism awareness. It highlights terrorism's consequences and advocates for peace.

• Origin- The day was established after Objectives Key goals include educating youth about extremism, promoting non-violence, and honoring victims.
• Observance - Government bodies and schools conduct pledges, lectures, and campaigns nationwide.
• The Pledge - A national pledge reinforces India's commitment to non-violence and opposing terrorism.
• Significance - The day reaffirms India’s strong stand against all forms of violence and encourages collective responsibility for national security.

Science

Jarosite as a Martian "Natural Clock"

Study in Kachchh, Gujarat Indian researchers studied jarosite samples from Kachchh, Gujarat, a region chosen for its terrain's similarity to Mars.

• About Jarosite - Jarosite is a yellow-brown mineral of potassium, iron, and sulphate, found in arid, saline environments. The study aimed to assess its potential as a "natural clock" on Mars using luminescence.
• Scientific Methodology - Researchers analyzed six jarosite samples from Kachchh using luminescence dating. This process measures light emitted by minerals from stored natural radiation.
• Luminescence Testing - They observed four distinct luminescent emissions at various temperatures (100-350°C), even after heating to 450°C, indicating the mineral's thermal stability.
• Why Kachchh was Chosen - Kachchh's extreme aridity and salinity closely resemble Martian conditions, making it an ideal analog site for testing jarosite's behavior in extraterrestrial-like environments.
• Significance - This research offers insights into tracking geological events on Mars, crucial for understanding the Red Planet's history.

Miscellaneous

Rajiv Gandhi: India's Youngest PM Assassinated On May 21, 1991

Born August 20, 1944, in Bombay, Rajiv Gandhi was the son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi. He initially pursued a career as a pilot before entering politics.

• Ascension to PM - Following his mother Indira Gandhi's tragic death, Rajiv Gandhi became India's 7th and youngest Prime Minister in 1984.
• Domestic Reforms - He implemented the 1985 anti-defection law and the 1986 National Policy on Education, establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas for rural students.
• Technological Push - Gandhi is credited with introducing modern technology and computers to India, enhancing telecommunications through MTNL and PCOs.
• Security Initiatives - He supported Operation Black Thunder in Punjab and played a crucial role in re-capturing the Siachen Glacier area from Pakistan.
• International Diplomacy - His foreign policy included signing the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and deploying Indian troops to assist Seychelles and Maldives against coups.