UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | March 10 to March 16, 2025

Report

(FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and create a broad understanding of the topic.)

• World Air Quality Report, 2024 

— According to the World Air Quality Report for 2024 released by IQAir, Delhi is the world’s most polluted national capital for the sixth straight year.

— The most polluted city in the world is Byrnihat on the border of Assam and Meghalaya.

— The five most polluted countries were Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo, and India.

— Only seven countries in the world met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for annual average PM2.5 levels. These are Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand.

— The WHO has recommended an average annual limit of 5 µg/m³ for PM2.5 concentrations. By the way, in the 2022 UPSC Prelims, a question was asked on the WHO Air Quality Guidelines—make sure to check it out towards the end.

— PM 2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter of diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, which is around 3 per cent the diameter of a human hair. It causes respiratory problems and reduces visibility. PM 2.5 particles can only be detected with the help of an electron microscope because they are so small.

— Do you know about the government initiatives and programs for combating air pollution in India?

 

International

• India-Mauritius

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Mauritius’ highest civilian honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, making him the first Indian recipient of the prestigious accolade.

— PM Modi was on a two-day State visit to the island country where he was the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day Celebrations on March 12.

— PM Modi noted that Mauritius stands at the junction of India’s Vision SAGAR, its Neighbourhood First approach, and its commitment to the Global South. He also outlined the vision for the Global South—MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. These are the key International Relations terminology that you could use while discussing the India-Mauritius relationship.

— The Indian government announced new projects worth 500 million Mauritian rupees (about Rs 100 crore). It will also build the new Parliament building in Mauritius.

• Here is something for you: In one of the editorial articles of the Indian Express, a former Foreign Secretary has proposed that India should follow a Gaga diplomacy to rewrite the script on what a rising power can do in a polarised world. Read the article here.

Telangana has only one Unesco World Heritage Site at Ramappa temple, inscribed in 2021, and now the Mudumal menhirs is one step closer to achieving a second inscription for the state. (Credits: Special Arrangement/KP Rao)

• Tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites

— Six properties have been added to India’s Tentative List by Unesco’s World Heritage Centre in 2025.

— These are Mudumal Menhirs of Telangana, Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh, Ashokan Edict Sites in multiple states, Chausath Yogini Temples in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, Gupta Temples in multiple states, and the Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

— The term ‘menhir’ is derived from the Brittonic “maen” meaning “stone”, and “hîr” meaning “long”, and entered the archaeological lexicon in the late 18th century.

 

Polity

• Lakhpati Didi scheme

—  On the occasion of International Women’s Day, while addressing the  ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government has set a target of  “making three crore Lakhpati Didis in the next five years”. He further said that the first step in the development of society and the country is the respect for women.

— The Lakhpati Didi scheme was launched by the Union government in 2023 and recognises women members of SHGs, who have an annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh from agriculture, animal husbandry, and small industries, as ‘Lakhpati Didis’.

— The scheme aims to empower women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through a comprehensive approach. This includes fostering collective unity among women, enhancing the strength of their federations, and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills for livelihood improvement.

— Did you know that there is a Central Sector Scheme for women’s SHGs to equip them with drone technology? Try recalling that scheme and connecting it with this initiative to develop a comprehensive understanding of SHGs and the government’s efforts in empowering them.

• Income Tax Bill, 2025

— The Income-tax Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha last month. Once passed by Parliament, it will become a law coming into effect from April 1, 2026.

— The Bill has defined the virtual digital space as “any digital realm that allows users to interact, communicate and perform activities” through computer technology. It include email servers, social media accounts, online investment, trading and banking accounts, remote or cloud servers, and digital application platforms.

— Virtual digital assets such as cryptocurrencies have been included in the definition of property to be counted as a capital asset of the assessee along with existing categories of immovable property.

• Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project

— During the ongoing Rajya Sabha session Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said that the government has not received any information about objections to the Great Nicobar Infrastructure project.

— The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) infrastructure project was conceived by NITI Aayog and launched in 2021. It is implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).

— The key plans include the construction of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport with a peak hour capacity to handle 4,000 passengers, a township, and a gas and solar-based power plant spread across 16,610 hectares.

• PM-ABHIM

— The Delhi government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), under which the government will operationalise Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (U-AAMs) in the city.

— PM-ABHIM is a central government scheme that aims to strengthen public health infrastructure to respond to future pandemics and outbreaks.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

• Creative economy

— The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the government has decided to set up a fund of $1 billion for the country’s creative economy.

— According to the United Nations, “The creative economy (also known as the orange economy) is an evolving concept based on the contribution and potential of creative assets to contribute to economic growth and development. It embraces economic, cultural and social aspects interacting with technology, intellectual property and tourism.”

 

Defence

• Dharma Guardian

— India and Japan’s 6th  joint military exercise successfully concluded at the East Fuji training area in Japan.

— It is an annual event conducted alternatively in India and Japan. The 5th Dharma Guardian exercise was held in Rajasthan, in 2024.

— Both countries have shared commitment towards regional security, peace, and stability with a common vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. This exercise underscores this commitment.

— Don’t take these military exercises lightly. In Prelims 2024, UPSC has asked a question about Mitra Shakti. Do you know which two countries participate in Exercise Mitra Shakti?

• Maritime Security Belt 2025

— China, Iran, and Russia conducted a joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz with the intention of deepening “military trust and pragmatic cooperation”. The drill marked the fifth year the three countries took part in the drills.

— The Strait of Hormuz is the waterway that separates Iran and Oman, linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Strait is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

 

Environment

Before the NBWL meeting, Modi went on an early-morning safari at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. (Photo: ANI)

• National Board of Wildlife 

— On the occasion of the World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired his first-ever meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

— The present-day National Board for Wildlife was created in 2003 after amending The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It basically restructured the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL), established in 1952.

— The NBWL is the country’s apex body on matters of framing wildlife policy, conservation of wildlife and forests, and giving recommendations to set up new national parks and sanctuaries.

— The NBWL consists of 47 members with the Prime Minister as its chairperson and the Union Environment minister as its vice-chairperson.

— The standing committee of NBWL reviews the projects situated on forest lands inside and around national parks and sanctuaries. The standing committee’s decisions are recommendatory, which the environment ministry can overrule.

Science and Technology

• CAR-T cell therapy

— The clinical trial results of India’s first CAR T-cell therapy, published in The Lancet, show that it worked for nearly 73 per cent of patients.

— CAR-T cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is an immunotherapy-based cancer treatment that uses the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer.

— The CAR-T cell therapy starts by collecting a patient’s T-cells through a process called apheresis, which separates these cells from the blood. These T-cells are then sent to a lab where scientists modify them to add special receptors called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs).

— These receptors help the T-cells find and kill cancer cells. This modification process takes a few weeks. Afterward, the modified T-cells are grown in large numbers before the modified T-cells are given back to the patient’s bloodstream.

A photo of a Blood Moon. (Image credit: theminer3746/Pixabay)

• Blood Moon

— A rare ‘blood moon’ total lunar eclipse was witnessed across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, the Pacific, and parts of the United States.

— It is a lunar eclipse which happens when the moon is fully in the Earth’s shadow, and some light from the planet’s sunrise and sunset falls on the surface of the moon. Since these light waves usually stretch out, they give the moon a deep reddish colour, justifying the name Blood Moon.

• Dioxins and furans

— The second trial incineration run of hazardous waste brought from Union Carbide Bhopal factory ended on 8th March at Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.

— During the first trial incineration emissions of seven pollutants and gases – Particulate matter, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Flouride, Hydrogen Chloride, and Total Organic Carbon – were monitored and all were found within prescribed standards.

— The emission analysis of toxic chemicals dioxins and furans is yet to be completed. Long-term low-level exposure to dioxin and furans may lead to the impairment of the immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, reproductive functions, and even cancer.

• Enzyme Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO)

— Tropic, the UK-based biotech company, has developed a new genetically engineered banana that has a longer shelf-life and does not brown as much. This is achieved by disabling the production of PPO.

— Bananas even after being harvested produce ethylene. It is linked to the production of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO).

— It is this enzyme that makes bananas turn brown. PPO coming in contact with oxygen breaks down the yellow pigment in bananas to a brown hue.

• Starlink

— Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has struck key business deals with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms, setting the stage for the long-anticipated entry of its satellite internet service, Starlink, into the country’s lucrative telecom market.

— Unlike traditional satellite providers, which often struggle with speed and latency, Starlink uses its fleet of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that can communicate with one another to deliver high-speed internet with low latency.

— It can provide a practical solution for broadband in geographically isolated areas in India, where the traditional ways to deliver the Internet — fibre-optic cables or wireless networks — are scarce or unavailable.

• Neural networks

— There is a series of explainers explaining the jargon of Artificial Intelligence and this week it is about Neural networks. Click here to read the previous explainer.

— Neural networks, also known as artificial neural networks (ANNs), are a method that teaches computers to process data. They are a subset of machine learning (ML), and mimic the way the human brain works.

— A typical neural network has three layers of artificial neurons which are called nodes. First, there is an inner layer which receives the data. Then, there is an inner or hidden layer which takes input from the input layer and processes it further. Finally, there is the output layer which gives the result of all the data processing by the neural network.

 

Persons in News

(Just FYI: Noting historical personalities’ anniversaries aids UPSC prep. UPSC often includes such personalities in questions, so revisiting their lives refreshes your static syllabus.)

Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney addresses supporters in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

• Mark Carney

— Former central banker Mark Carney on March 9 won the leadership election for Canada’s Liberal Party, with 86 percent of the vote. He will now take over as Canada’s Prime Minister, following Justin Trudeau’s resignation in January.

— Unlike in Australia and Britain, where prime ministers are chosen by legislators and can be removed very quickly, the heads of political parties in Canada are chosen by members in special contests. The new head of the Liberal Party becomes the prime minister.

— In 2022, there was a question in UPSC Mains on critically examining the procedure of electing the presidents of India and France. Therefore, it is important to know about the election procedure in Canada as well. Click here to know in detail.

 

Places in News

(Just FYI: The location of the place is important, considering that UPSC has asked several questions about places that were in the news, such as Aleppo and Kirkuk, in the 2018 UPSC Prelims. The best way to remember them is to plot them on a world map.)

Jaffar Express route map

• Balochistan

— Jaffar Express, which was headed to Peshawar from Quetta, was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

— The train was targeted between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar in the Bolan area of Kachhi district.

— The BLA is a Baloch ethnonationalist group that emerged in the early 2000s with the aim of achieving independence for Balochistan. It was banned by Pakistan in 2006, and designated as a global terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019.

— The BLA said it was “fidayeen” or suicide squad unit Majeed Brigade that led the hijack of the Jaffar Express.

— Balochistan is the largest but least populated of Pakistan’s four provinces – Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has oil reserves and abundant natural resources, but the ethnic Baloch are Pakistan’s poorest and most under-represented people.

— After Partition, Balochistan remained independent until March 1948 as part of a friendship treaty with the new state of Pakistan. The Khan of Kalat, the main tribal leader signed the instrument of accession, but the sentiment in favour of Baloch independence remained alive

Sports

(Just FYI: With the unpredictability of the UPSC examinations and questions like the ICC World Test Championship question 2021, you can’t be sure of anything. It is wise to know what it is and not go into too much detail.)

• World Para-Athletics Grand Prix

— India hosted the first-ever World Para-Athletics Grand Prix from 11th March to 13th March.

— The World Grand Prix is one of the most important events of the Para-Athletics calendar as it serves as the platform for para-athletes to get themselves classified in the right sports class. Once classification is done, the para-athlete is eligible to play in the international tournaments.

— The tournament will also serve as the dry run for the World Para Athletics Championships scheduled from 27th September to 5th October 2025 in India.

 

Terms making buzz

— Pig butchering scams: Pig butchering is a type of scam that makes investors believe they are getting high returns on their investments by making up numbers. Scammers often use social engineering techniques to prevent the user from withdrawing their pseudo profit and encourage users to keep on investing more and more money.

 

Test Your Knowledge

(Note: The best way to remember facts for UPSC and other competitive exams is to recall them through MCQs. Try to solve the following questions on your own.)

(1). In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. The 24-hour mean of should not exceed and annual mean of  should not exceed

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements, given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

 

(2) The Strait of Hormuz is located between

(a) Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

(2) Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea

(c) Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean

(d) Hudson Bay and the Labrador Sea

 

(3) Consider the following pairs:

Previous Articles

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | March 3 to March 9, 2025

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | February 24 to March 2, 2025

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | February 17 To February 23, 2025

UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | February 10 to February 16, 2025

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