Daily Current Affairs 2025  

03/12/2025

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CA-03/12/2025

1. Bonda Tribe
2. Bitra Island
3. Cold wave
4. PM Internship Scheme
5. Spiral galaxy
6. Yamuna River: Ammonia and Microplastic Pollution Concerns
7. Chaolung Sukapha
8. GI tags-Tamilnadu
9. National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

• The Bonda Tribe, also known as Bondo, Bondo Poraja, Bhonda, or Remo, is a Munda ethnic group
• It is one of India's 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), residing in the isolated hills of Malkangiri district, Odisha, near the borders of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.?

• Population: Around 12,000 (2011 census), divided into Upper Bonda (more isolated, ~6,700) and Lower Bonda (~17,000).?
• Ethnicity: Munda group, Austroasiatic origins; one of India's oldest tribes and 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).?
• Language: Remo (means "people"), from Munda branch of Austroasiatic family.?
• Society: Matriarchal; women marry younger men (5-10 years junior), hold authority in family decisions.?
• Attire: Women wear short "ringa" cloth, heavy jewelry; men wear loincloths, carry bows/arrows.?
• Livelihood: Shifting cultivation (millet, pulses), hunting, foraging, handicrafts, barter.?
• Religion: Animism; worship nature, ancestors; festivals like Maghyatra with dances, sacrifices.?
• Challenges: Low literacy (~6%), health issues, land loss, alcoholism; culture preserved despite pressures.?

• Location: Bitra Island lies in the Amindivi subgroup of Lakshadweep, Union Territory of India, at coordinates 11°36′N, 72°11′E, approximately 483 km west of Kochi.?
• Size: Smallest inhabited island with land area of 0.105 sq km, length 0.57 km, width 0.28 km at broadest point; features large lagoon of 45.61 sq km.?
• Population: 271 as per 2011 census; residents mainly rely on fishing and coconut cultivation.?
• History: Former seabird breeding ground until 1835; first permanent settler around 1945 was a woman from Chetlat with her son.?
• Culture: Hosts shrine of Malik Mulla, an Arab saint believed buried here, serving as a pilgrimage site.?
• Strategic Role: Key location in Arabian Sea for national security; recent plans for defense use amid resident opposition.?

• A cold wave is a rapid and significant drop in air temperature over a short period, often measured as a departure from normal temperatures, affecting large areas.?
• In India, the IMD declares it when plains minimum temperature drops to ≤10°C or is 4.5–6.5°C below normal.?

• Cold, dense polar or Arctic air masses form in high latitudes (e.g., northern Canada, Siberia) under strong high-pressure centers during winter.?
• Upper-level jet stream amplifies into a ridge-trough pattern, creating "waves" that steer cold air equatorward.?
• Cold air moves southward due to density (sinking toward warmer air) and upper-level winds; subsidence and convergence strengthen surface highs.?
• Clear skies, light winds, snow cover, and cyclones enhance cooling via radiation and advection.?

• Cold waves form due to northwesterly winds from the Himalayas carrying dry, cold air southward, intensified by high-pressure ridges over northwest Asia and clear skies enhancing radiative cooling.?
• Snowfall in the Himalayas and subsidence of cold air contribute, while western disturbances temporarily alleviate them.?
• These events cause health issues like hypothermia and frostbite, agricultural damage to crops, livestock stress, and transport disruptions from fog.?
• Northern states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan see the highest frequency (6-8 days annually on average).?

• Low Acceptance Rates: Only 20-30% of shortlisted candidates accept offers due to better private sector opportunities and no guaranteed job post-internship.??
• High Dropout Rates: Around 20-41% of joined interns quit early, often from mismatched tasks, lack of mentorship, or logistical issues like accommodation.??
• Inadequate Stipend: Rs 5,000 monthly plus one-time aid fails to cover relocation and city living costs, especially in Tier-1 areas.?
• Long Duration: 12-month commitment clashes with studies, exams, or shorter private internships.??
• Location Constraints: Postings far from home (beyond 5-10 km preferred) deter rural or semi-urban candidates.?
• Role Mismatches: Assignments don't align with skills, interests, or sectors like IT, limiting appeal.?
• Low Budget Utilization: Despite Rs 10,831 crore allocation, only minimal funds used due to poor participation.??
• Limited Industry Engagement: Few companies participate fully, especially PSUs, with regional disparities in opportunities.?

• Overview: The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme (PMIS), launched in 2024, aims to provide 1 crore internships over 5 years to youth in India's top 500 companies across 25 sectors like pharma, auto, IT, and energy, bridging the gap between academics and industry skills.?
• Objectives: Offers 12-month hands-on training for real-world exposure, skill development, and employability enhancement through mentorship and practical work.?
• Eligibility: Indian citizens aged 21-24 years with at least secondary education (Class 12, ITI, diploma, or degree); family income below ?8 lakh/year; no full-time job/study; excludes premier institutes (IIT/IIM), professional degrees (CA/MBBS), or govt-employed family.?
• Financial Support: Monthly stipend of ?5,000 (govt: ?4,500 via DBT; company: ?500 from CSR); one-time ?6,000 joining grant; insurance under PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Suraksha Bima Yojana.?
• Application: Register on official portal (pminternship.mca.gov.in); companies post opportunities; selection based on merit.?

• Alaknanda Galaxy Discovery: Indian researchers from Pune discovered Alaknanda, a grand-design spiral galaxy resembling the Milky Way, existing ~1 billion years after the Big Bang using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).?
• It features two well-defined spiral arms around a bright central bulge, spanning 30,000 light-years, with 10 billion solar masses in stars and star formation at 63 solar masses/year—20-30 times the Milky Way's rate.?
• Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics on December 3, 2025; challenges theories as early galaxies were expected to be chaotic, not structured.?

• Indicates early universe was more mature, with efficient gas accretion and disk settling forming spirals sooner than models predict.?
• Future JWST and ALMA observations will analyze gas/star kinematics to determine if disk is "cold" (orderly) or "hot" (turbulent), revealing arm formation mechanisms.?

• Untreated Sewage: A major contributor to the Yamuna's pollution is the discharge of a large volume of untreated domestic sewage. In Delhi alone, approximately 238 million gallons of untreated sewage enter the river daily. This sewage carries harmful chemicals and pollutants.
• Industrial Effluents: Various industries release effluents into the river, further degrading water quality.
• Solid Waste: The riverbanks have become dumping grounds for plastic, religious offerings, and municipal waste. A significant amount of garbage is regularly removed from the Yamuna, highlighting the scale of this problem.
• Microplastics: A recent study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has identified microplastic contamination as a growing concern in the Yamuna, with multiple hotspots identified along the Delhi stretch.
• Ammonia: Ammonia levels in the Yamuna have been alarmingly high, often exceeding safe limits. This pollution can disrupt water supply as treatment plants have capacity limitations for ammonia-laden water.

• Ecological Damage: Severe decline in the river's dissolved oxygen levels, creating "dead zones" incapable of supporting aquatic life.
• Health Concerns: Poses risks to public health, as it is a source of water for millions. Elevated ammonia levels, in particular, can disrupt water treatment processes and impact drinking water supply.
• Frothing: Surfactants from detergents entering the river unchecked, along with other pollutants, contribute to the visible frothing observed in the Yamuna.

• Action Plans: The Delhi government has launched comprehensive action plans, including a 45-point plan with a significant budget, aimed at overhauling water infrastructure, upgrading sewerage networks, and treating drains.
• STP Upgradation: There is a focus on constructing and upgrading Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to prevent untreated sewage from entering the river.
• Monitoring and Research: Studies are being conducted to identify pollution hotspots and monitor water quality. TERI's recent study has provided a roadmap for tackling microplastics and other pollutants, emphasizing the need for integrated action on sewage, industries, and waste management.
• Inter-state Cooperation: Addressing the pollution requires collaborative efforts between states, particularly concerning issues like ammonia discharge.

• Chaolung Sukapha, also known as Siu-Ka-Pha, was a 13th-century Tai prince from Mong Mao (present-day Myanmar-China border) who founded the Ahom kingdom in 1228 AD.?
• He led around 9,000 followers, including nobles, soldiers, and priests, crossing the Patkai hills via Pangsau Pass to reach Brahmaputra Valley in December 1228.?
• Established temporary capitals before settling Charaideo as permanent capital in 1253, introducing wet-rice cultivation, embankments, and the paik labor system.?
• Promoted assimilation by marrying local chiefs' daughters and integrating Morans, Borahis, and other tribes without conflict.?
• By his death in 1268 at age 79, his kingdom spanned Brahmaputra west to Naga Hills east, and Burhidihing north to Dikhow south; succeeded by son Suteuphaa.?

• Woraiyur cotton sari: Features Chola-era motifs like diamond shapes, pearl beads, and zari stripes on the border.?
• Thooyamalli rice: A traditional variety rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, mainly grown in Kancheepuram, ideal for biriyani and pulao.?
• Ambasamudram choppu saman: Wooden toys from Ambasamudram, known as choppu samaan.?
• Namakkal makkal pathirangal (soapstone cookware): Durable utensils from Namakkal soapstone, resistant to acidic foods like tamarind dishes.?
• Kavindapadi nattu sakkarai (country sugar/jaggery powder): Golden-brown sugar from sugarcane fields fed by the Lower Bhavani canal.?

• NCPOR is India's premier autonomous Research and Development institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, tasked with coordinating polar and ocean research, including the Indian Antarctic Programme.? 
• NCPOR, formerly NCAOR, was set up on May 25, 1998, in Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, spanning 147,660 sq. mts on a plateau.
• It leads multidisciplinary research in polar sciences, Southern Ocean climate variability, geoscientific surveys of India's EEZ, gas hydrates, and multi-metal sulfides.
• NCPOR maintains Antarctic stations Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2011), Arctic base Himadri, and participates in the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).?

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