Daily Current Affairs 2025  

23/11/2025

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CA-23/11/2025

 

 
Why in news?
Taningia silasii is a newly discovered giant deep-sea squid species, commonly called the “Indian octopus squid,” found in the Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast. 

Key points

• Taxonomic position: New giant deep-sea squid of family Octopoteuthidae, genus Taningia, named Taningia silasii.
• Discovering institution: Identified and described by scientists of ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) with collaborators.
• Uniqueness: Only the second known species of the genus Taningia, distinct from Taningia danae morphologically and genetically.
• Size: Female type specimen around 40–45 cm mantle length and about 1.5–2 kg, indicating a large deep-sea squid.
• Morphology: Has eight arms and no long tentacles, robust body, and diagnostic internal characters (gill structure, funnel–mantle locking cartilage, beak form).
• Genetic distinctness: Shows high mitochondrial DNA divergence (over 10%) from T. danae, confirming it as a separate species.
• Etymology: Named in honour of eminent Indian marine biologist Dr E. G. Silas.
• Ecological significance: Highlights hidden deep-sea biodiversity of the Arabian Sea and the need for further deep-sea exploration and conservation.

   
Why in news?
At the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, PM Modi proposed a dedicated "G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus" to bring together financial, governance, and security instruments under a unified global framework to weaken the drug-terror economy.
 
About :

• The drug-terror nexus has specific regional impacts, with terrorism in Africa and South Asia particularly influenced by proceeds from drug trafficking.
• Agencies in India and abroad are increasingly collaborating to dismantle global drug networks and reduce terror financing.
• The G20 role is critical to consolidate efforts for addressing this issue on a systemic and global scale.

Objectives:

• Curb the production and trafficking of lethal drugs such as fentanyl.
• Cut off financial flows from drug trafficking to terrorist groups.
• Strengthen international cooperation in law enforcement and intelligence sharing.
• Build integrated frameworks combining health, security, and governance responses.
• Protect vulnerable regions heavily impacted by the drug-terror nexus.

Challenges:

• Complex global networks making drug and terror finance hard to trace and dismantle.
• Cross-border nature requiring multilateral cooperation which is often slow or inconsistent.
• Diverse governance and legal frameworks that complicate unified action.
• Rapidly evolving drug production and trafficking methods outpacing law enforcement.
• Resource constraints in affected countries limiting effective countermeasures.

The proposal reflects India's broader commitment to combat drug abuse and terrorism and aligns with global efforts to enhance security and stability.
   
Why in news?
Environment Ministry has exempted most coal-fired power plants from the mandatory installation of FGD systems, reversing its 2015 directive due to factors like declining ambient sulphur dioxide (SO?) levels, the naturally low sulphur content in Indian coal, high installation costs, and vendor constraints.
 
Key Features of FGD Systems

• FGD systems typically use alkaline reagents such as lime or limestone slurry, which react chemically with sulfur dioxide in the flue gas to convert it into neutral or solid compounds like calcium sulfate (gypsum).
• Most systems consist of a two-stage approach: first removing fly ash from the flue gas, then absorbing SO2 in a scrubber tower where the gas contacts the alkaline slurry.
• Wet limestone-based scrubbers are the most common, achieving around 90-97% removal efficiency of sulfur dioxide.
• Variants include wet scrubbers, spray dryer absorbers, and dry sorbent injection systems, each having different methods and efficiencies of emission control.
• FGD systems are essential for meeting environmental emission standards by significantly reducing SO2 which causes acid rain.

The revised regulation is based on expert committee recommendations and air quality survey findings, citing that Indian SO? emission levels are often well below the national standard, and the health impact of SO? is now considered less significant for PM2.5 than previously thought.
   
Why in news?
Recently, a cryptology firm associated with IACR have to cancel an election due to losing an encryption key essential for the process. 
 
About IACR

• It is a non-profit scientific organization headquartered in Bellevue, Washington was founded in 1982, dedicated to furthering research in cryptology and related fields.

Key Activities

• Organizes flagship annual conferences: CRYPTO, Eurocrypt, and Asiacrypt.
• Sponsors area-specific workshops and conferences such as: Fast Software Encryption (FSE), Public Key Cryptography (PKC), Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems (CHES), and Theory of Cryptography Conference (TCC).
• Maintains the Cryptology ePrint Archive for swift sharing of research developments.
• Publishes the Journal of Cryptology and conference proceedings.
• Headquarters in Bellevue, Washington.

What is Cryptology?

• Cryptology is the scientific study of techniques for secure communication
• It encompassing both cryptography, which is the practice of encrypting messages to keep them secret, and cryptanalysis, the practice of analyzing and breaking encryption to recover the original message without the key.
• It broadly covers the theoretical, mathematical, and practical aspects involved in constructing and analyzing protocols to prevent unauthorized access to information
• Cryptology is foundational for secure digital communication, protecting data in applications like electronic commerce, military communications, and digital currencies.

 
Why in news?
The trilateral technology alliance between India, Australia, and Canada is called the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership was announced at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025 to enhance cooperation in critical and emerging technologies among the three democracies.
 
Key Objectives of ACITI Partnership

• Strengthen collaboration in clean energy and green technology innovation.
• Diversify and build resilient supply chains, particularly for critical minerals needed for batteries and renewable energy.
• Promote the mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve public services and citizen welfare.
• Drive collective efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions and a sustainable future.
• Complement existing bilateral initiatives by creating a trilateral framework that leverages the unique technological strengths of India, Australia, and Canada.

Significance and Strategic Importance

• This partnership marks a strategic move to deepen technological cooperation among three nations across three continents and oceans.
• Canada and Australia have advanced technological links through the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance, and India brings a large innovation ecosystem and digital market.
• The alliance aims to secure and sustain supply chains to reduce dependency on any one region and enhance technology-driven economic stability.

 
 
 
 
   
About Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in 264 hectares at adjacent to the famous Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.

• The sanctuary predominantly consists of dry deciduous forest vegetation.
• The sanctuary supports a variety of wildlife, including mammals such as jackals, Indian hares, and civets.

• It is also home to a rich diversity of birds, including migratory and resident species like partridges, sparrows, and kingfishers.
• Reptiles such as lizards and snakes are also found in this reserve.

Conservation Efforts

• The sanctuary is under the jurisdiction of the Chandigarh Forest Department, which monitors and manages its biodiversity.
• Conservation efforts focus on protecting the natural habitat from urban encroachment and pollution from the nearby city.
• Awareness programs and nature trails encourage public engagement in conservation.
• Regular monitoring of wildlife populations and habitat health is conducted to maintain ecological balance.

   
Why in news?
Recently, a deep depression over the Strait of Malacca has intensified, leading to weather alerts including heavy rain warnings for the surrounding region. This weather disturbance is being closely monitored by meteorological agencies due to its potential to develop into a cyclone.              
 
What is deep depression?

• A "deep depression" in meteorology is a type of cyclonic disturbance characterized by a low-pressure system where the maximum sustained surface wind speeds range between 28 to 33 knots (approximately 50 to 61 km/h).
• It is stronger than a regular depression, where wind speeds are lower (17 to 27 knots), but not as strong as a cyclonic storm.
• Deep depressions are intense low-pressure areas represented on weather charts with closely spaced isobars and typically bring heavy rain and strong winds.
• Such systems are important in tropical meteorology, especially over oceanic regions like the North Indian Ocean, where they can potentially intensify into cyclones under favorable conditions.
• Deep depressions are closely monitored as they can cause significant weather disturbances including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high seas that impact coastal areas and maritime activities.

 

Feature	Deep Depression	Cyclone
Wind Speed	28-33 knots (50-61 km/h)	≥34 knots (≥62 km/h)
Pressure Level	Low-pressure system, higher than cyclone	Very low-pressure system, lower than deep depression
Intensity	Moderate cyclone intensity	High intensity, can cause severe damage
Rainfall	Brings heavy rain	Can bring very heavy to torrential rainfall
Formation Stage	Pre-cyclone or intermediate stage	Developed cyclone stage
Effect on Environment	Strong winds and rain, some disruption	Strong winds, heavy rain, storm surge, widespread disruption
Monitoring	Monitored for potential intensification	Closely monitored for disaster preparedness

 
 
 
 
 
 













   
Why in news?
The 12th edition of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2025 was inaugurated recently, with the Manipur Governor emphasizing the spirit of oneness amid ongoing ethnic tensions in the state.

Key points about the Sangai Festival:

• Held annually from November 21 to 30 in Manipur.
• Named after the state animal, the rare Sangai deer.
• Showcases Manipuri culture through dance, music, crafts, sports, and cuisine.
• Promotes tourism and economic development in the state.
• Celebrated in venues including Imphal valley and Keibul Lamjao National Park.
• Includes traditional dance forms like Ras Leela and indigenous sports like Thang-Ta.
• Attracts domestic and international tourists.
• Has occasionally faced protests due to local political and ethnic conflicts.

 
Why in news?
Jamaica is currently facing an outbreak of leptospirosis following Hurricane Melissa, which struck as a Category 5 storm in late October 2025. The outbreak is linked to contaminated stagnant water caused by heavy flooding and landslides from the hurricane.

About

• Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Leptospira species, with over 500,000 cases globally each year and around 60,000 deaths.
• It mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, especially during rainy or flood seasons.
• The case fatality rate can exceed 10%, particularly in severe cases like Weil’s disease.
• It affects both humans and animals, with higher prevalence in coastal areas and among farmers.

Causes

• The bacterial infection spreads through contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with urine from infected animals such as rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
• Entry into the human body occurs through cuts, abrasions, mucous membranes, or sometimes intact skin.
• Risk factors include exposure to floodwaters, contaminated water sources, agricultural work, and poor sanitation.

Symptoms

• Early signs mimic flu: fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Conjunctival suffusion (redness of the eyes) is common.
• Severe manifestations include jaundice, kidney damage, bleeding, meningitis, and respiratory distress.
• Weil’s syndrome is the fatal form, presenting with multi-organ failure.
• Symptoms usually appear 2-30 days after exposure.

Treatment

• Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment (doxycycline or penicillin) are effective.
• Supportive care in hospitals is necessary for severe cases to manage complications like kidney failure or respiratory distress.
• Preventive antibiotic use may be recommended for high-risk individuals after exposure.

 
Why in news?
Studies reveal microplastics in natural environments are colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, posing health risks beyond ingestion. 
 
Definition and Sources

• Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, originating from the breakdown of larger plastics and from manufactured products like microbeads and synthetic fibers.
• They enter the environment from diverse sources including cosmetics, textiles, food packaging, industrial discharge, and improper waste disposal.

Environmental Impact

• Microplastics contaminate marine and terrestrial ecosystems, affecting water, soil, and air quality.
• Microplastics can carry toxic chemical additives and adsorb environmental pollutants, posing potential risks when ingested by animals and humans.

• Emerging evidence suggests that microplastics disrupt cellular membranes, cause oxidative stress, and may lead to inflammation and organ damage in humans.

 
 
 
 

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