Daily Current Affairs 2025  

07/11/2025

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CA-07/11/2025

• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary has recently come alive with the arrival of thousands of migratory birds, marking the start of the annual nesting season as of November 2025.
• Over 20 species, including open-billed storks, white ibis, grey herons, little cormorants, darters, and night herons, have arrived and begun nesting.

• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in India, located in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu
• The sanctuary covers about 74 acres (30 hectares) and is a designated Ramsar wetland site since 2022.
• Over 40,000 birds, including more than 20 migratory species, visit annually, making it a major hub for birdwatching and ecotourism.
• Notable species include open-billed storks, white ibis, grey herons, darters, egrets, pelicans, spoonbills, and various ducks and moorhens.
• The birds nest on the branches of submerged trees, especially barringtonia, which provide sturdy perching spots above the water.

• The area was protected by local communities as early as the 18th century due to the agricultural benefits from bird guano.
• It was officially declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1936 and is considered a pioneering example of community-driven conservation in India.
• The sanctuary’s tank is replenished by the Valayaputhur lake and can hold up to 20 feet of water, supporting ideal nesting and feeding conditions for birds.

• The Baliyatra Festival is a major annual event celebrated in Cuttack, Odisha, primarily on Kartika Purnima (the full moon day of November) and lasts for about seven days.
• It commemorates the ancient maritime and trade links Odisha had with Bali and other Southeast Asian regions. 

• Baliyatra, meaning "Voyage to Bali," commemorates the ancient maritime tradition of the Kalinga region (modern-day Odisha), dating back over 2,000 years.
• Cuttack became the major center for this festival due to its strategic location.
• The festival evolved from the maritime ritual of sending off boats into a grand cultural event, recognizing the prosperity and connections of ancient Kalinga through sea voyages.
• The sailors carried valuable goods like spices, silk, cardamom, pepper, camphor, gold, and jewelry, establishing trade routes and cultural ties with Southeast Asia.

• Baliyatra is celebrated with a large open-air fair, considered one of Asia's largest, held on the banks of the Mahanadi River at Cuttack, usually lasting about a week from Kartik Purnima.
• A key ritual is the "Boita Bandana," where women make miniature boats from paper or banana leaf (sholapith), place lighted lamps inside, and float them on the river.
• The festival involves grand fairs, cultural programs, music, dance, elaborate rides, and colorful celebrations that showcase Odisha’s art, culture, cuisine, textiles, and maritime heritage.
• Baliyatra reflects the rich cultural and religious ties between Odisha and Bali, including influences on Balinese Hinduism and shared festivals.

• "Vande Mataram" was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on 7th November 1875, during the auspicious day of Akshaya Navami.
• It was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of his novel Anandamath in 1882.
• Vande Mataram, as a political slogan, was first used on 7 August 1905
• The song is written in a blend of Sanskrit and Bengali and became a powerful symbol of patriotism and resistance during India’s freedom struggle.
• Rabindranath Tagore set the tune to music and first sang it publicly at the 1896 Congress Session in Calcutta.
• "Vande Mataram" was adopted as India’s National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.
• The song evokes the image of the motherland as Maa Bharati and inspired the freedom movement with its unifying message.

• Also known as the Oriental White Ibis, Indian White Ibis, and Black-Necked Ibis,
• These are called wader birds due to their adaptability to a wide variety of aquatic environments
• Scientific name: Threskiornis melanocephalus
• Size: 65–76 cm in length
• Appearance: White body, black bare head and neck, black down-curved beak and legs
• Habitat: Diverse wetlands and agricultural landscapes
• Range: South and Southeast Asia (India to Japan)
• Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN), protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act
• Behavior: Forages widely, nests in heronries during monsoon, mostly silent except grunts
• Population trend: Stable or increasing in India, declining in some Southeast Asian countries

• Under the Ministry of Textiles’ NTTM, NITRA has developed three indigenous thermal testing instruments — Convective, Radiant, and Contact Heat Testers.
• These are cost-effective alternatives to imported equipment assess heat resistance of protective textiles used in firefighting, industrial safety, and defense applications.

• NTTM is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, launched in 2020 to promote and accelerate the technical textiles sector, positioning India as a global leader in this field.

• The mission aims to strengthen India’s position in technical textiles through focused research, innovation, market development, export promotion, and skill development.

• Technical textiles are specialty fabrics designed primarily for functional use, not aesthetics.
• They are used across diverse sectors such as agriculture, medical, automotive, construction, sports, industrial production, safety, and environmental protection.

• Research, Innovation, and Development: Focused on fundamental and application-based R&D in specialty fibers, machinery, and functional textiles.
• Promotion and Market Development: Activities to increase penetration and awareness of technical textiles within India.
• Export Promotion: Steps to boost exports and achieve global competitiveness; technical textile exports are targeted to rise annually during the mission’s tenure.
• Education, Training, and Skill Development: Programs to build a skilled workforce and facilitate adoption by industries.

• Technical textiles support advanced defense solutions (e.g., bulletproof jackets, protective materials), enhance productivity in agriculture and healthcare, and contribute to environmental protection.
• The mission is vital for disaster management, infrastructure, and modernizing industries through “Make in India” initiatives.

• Topics included governance improvements, climate resilience, disease prevention, equitable access, and small-scale water supply management.
• A new programme of work for 2026-2028 was to be adopted focusing on sustainable, resilient water infrastructure.
• Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to join the UN Water Convention in 2025, highlighting regional water cooperation challenges.
• The Convention aims to manage transboundary waters sustainably to promote peace, security, and development.
• Preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference to be held in the UAE are ongoing, with emphasis on mainstreaming water into global governance.

• Official Name: Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, commonly known as the UN Water Convention.
• Adoption and Entry into Force: Adopted in Helsinki in 1992, entered into force in 1996.
• Scope: Focuses on the sustainable management and protection of transboundary surface waters and groundwater shared by two or more countries.
• Objective: Promote cooperation among countries sharing watercourses to prevent conflicts, manage waters sustainably, and promote peace and regional integration.
• Legal Nature: It is a legally binding international treaty promoting sustainable use of shared water resources.
• Benefits: Helps prevent water-related conflicts, supports integrated water resources management (SDG 6.5), and promotes sustainable development goals linked to water.
• Parties: As of recent years, includes over 47 parties including countries from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

• India has not ratified or joined the UN Water Convention yet.
• India traditionally prefers bilateral agreements to manage shared water resources with neighbors rather than multilateral or international treaty frameworks.?
• Major bilateral agreements with India includes the Indus Waters Treaty (with Pakistan) and the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (with Bangladesh).?

• American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has been a key part of the United States' nuclear deterrent since the 1970s.

• It is a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket, which makes it easier to maintain compared to liquid-fueled missiles.
• The missile can reach speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour or Mach 23.
• It can carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs).
• Its design allows for rapid launch, within a minute of command, emphasizing quick response capabilities.
• The Minuteman III forms one leg of the US strategic nuclear triad, alongside submarine-launched and air-delivered nuclear weapons.
• It is designed to be launched only in retaliation to a nuclear attack, serving as a deterrent.
• The Minuteman III is planned to be replaced gradually by the LGM-35A Sentinel, a new generation of ICBMs, by around 2030 as part of nuclear modernization.

• GPS spoofing is a cyberattack that manipulates GPS signals by broadcasting fake or counterfeit signals to GPS receivers, causing them to compute inaccurate position, navigation, or time data.

• It is different from jamming, which blocks or disrupts signals; spoofing feeds false data, making detection and response more difficult.
• Spoofing can be performed using ground-based transmitters, software-defined radios, or even small portable devices carried near targets.
• The threat has increased with the availability of inexpensive spoofing hardware and software, and state-sponsored activities.

• Karni Mata Temple, also known as the Rat Temple, is located in Deshnoke near Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• It is dedicated to Karni Mata, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
• The temple is famous for housing around 25,000 rats (called kabbas), which are considered sacred.
• The temple’s unique tradition treats these rats as reincarnated souls of Karni Mata's devotees, and seeing white rats here is considered especially auspicious.

• The Karni Mata Temple's current structure was completed in the early 20th century under the patronage of Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.
• He commissioned the building, which is renowned for being constructed entirely of marble with architectural styles influenced by Mughal and Rajput design.
• The temple features intricate marble carvings, delicately designed silver doors depicting stories from Karni Mata's legends, and ornate embellishments using silver and gold.
• Its architecture reflects a syncretic style combining traditional Rajput and Mughal elements, with jali screens for ventilation and fine marble work that enhances its grandeur.

• The past 11 years, from 2015 to 2025, are set to be the warmest period since records began 176 years ago.
• The global mean temperature from January to August 2025 stood at about 1.42°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Greenhouse gas concentrations (CO?, methane, nitrous oxide) reached record high levels in 2024 and continue to rise in 2025, with CO? concentration increase between 2023 and 2024 being a record 3.5 ppm.
• Arctic sea ice extent after winter was the lowest on record, and Antarctic sea ice extent remained well below average throughout the year.
• Ocean heat content reached its highest recorded level in 2024, contributing to glacier ice loss.
• The global water cycle is disrupted, with unusual precipitation and river discharge anomalies, notably affecting Asian basins like the Ganges and Indus.
• Investments in clean energy now exceed those in fossil fuels by $800 billion, but political courage is still lacking.
• Early warning systems for climate hazards have significantly improved but still have gaps, with 40% of countries lacking multi-hazard early warnings.

• IBC (enacted in 2016) provides a consolidated, time-bound legal framework to resolve insolvency for corporate and individual debtors, aimed at maximizing asset value and enabling efficient debt recovery in financial distress.
• PMLA (enacted in 2002) is a penal statute aimed at preventing and controlling money laundering, confiscating proceeds of crime, and penalizing offenders who launder illicit money.

• IBC focuses on insolvency resolution or liquidation to revive viable businesses or close unviable ones, protecting creditors' interests and ensuring orderly asset distribution.
• PMLA focuses on law enforcement actions against criminal proceeds, empowering authorities like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to seize and attach assets linked to money laundering.

• The IBC imposes a moratorium on legal proceedings against the insolvent entity during resolution, but this moratorium does not automatically apply to PMLA proceedings, which can continue independently.
• The conflict arises especially when assets of a corporate debtor are attached under PMLA for alleged money laundering while insolvency resolution under IBC is underway.
• Courts have clarified that PMLA’s objective to strip illicit gains is distinct and cannot be overridden by IBC provisions. Section 32A of IBC provides immunity to resolution applicants only after plan approval and does not hinder PMLA actions before that.
• The government, acting under PMLA, is not a creditor in insolvency but a law enforcement authority aiming to recover proceeds of crime.

• The accords were signed in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 2020, with the UAE and Bahrain being the first Arab countries to officially recognize Israel since Jordan in 1994.

• A series of agreements signed in 2020 to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
• The accords are named after the biblical patriarch Abraham, symbolizing the common ancestry and brotherhood among Jews and Arabs.
• The accords consist of a general declaration and bilateral agreements specifying cooperation in diplomatic, economic, security, technological, and cultural areas.
• They aim to end radicalization and conflicts in the Middle East by fostering tolerance and dialogue.

• Provided the U.S. and other mediators a role in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East.
• Allowed countries like India to engage both Israel and Arab states diplomatically without seeming biased, thus easing geopolitical balancing in the region.

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