Daily Current Affairs 2025  

05/12/2025

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CA-05/12/2025

1. National Horticulture Board (NHB)
2. World Soil Day 2025
3. Fighter aircraft escape system
4. S-500 Prometheus air defense system
5. Invasive alien species
6. Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025
7. Nuclear power plants in India
8. India's High Density Network (HDN) 

• NHB aims to develop hi-tech commercial horticulture clusters, modern post-harvest infrastructure like cold chains, and quality planting material through nurseries and accreditation.
• It promotes technologies such as Bharat GAP certification, farm mechanization, and market development for fresh produce while supporting R&D for storage protocols and long-distance transport.

• Cluster Development Programme (CDP): Supports high-value multi-commodity and peri-urban vegetable clusters via Expressions of Interest (EOI) and project appraisals.
• Clean Plant Program (CPP), National Nursery Portal, and Bharat GAP Certification: Focus on disease-free plants, nursery accreditation, and quality standards.
• Integrated Cold Chain Platform (ICAP): Facilitates cold storage availability and infrastructure.

• The International Union of Soil Sciences proposed the day in 2002, selecting December 5 to honor the birthday of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a soil advocate.
• The FAO endorsed it in 2013, and the UN General Assembly officially recognized it in 2014, establishing it under the Global Soil Partnership.
• It promotes sustainable soil management to combat erosion, pollution, salinization, and biodiversity loss, which threaten over 3.2 billion people and global food security.
• Healthy soils support carbon sequestration, water filtration, nutrient cycling, and resilient agrifood systems amid climate challenges.?

• Developed by DRDO: The fighter aircraft escape system, also known as an ejection system, is an indigenous technology led by DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh, in collaboration with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Recent High-Speed Test: Successfully tested on a rocket-sled at precisely 800 km/h using the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility, simulating extreme combat conditions with a dual-sled setup and phased rocket motors.
• Key Validated Components: Confirms three critical elements—canopy severance (cutting the canopy in milliseconds for safe passage), precise ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery using an instrumented anthropomorphic test dummy.
• Technological Features: Includes zero-zero capability (ejection from zero speed/altitude), smart sequencing valves to prevent collisions in twin-seat aircraft, and canopy fragilisation for rapid severance under high G-forces.

• This breakthrough positions India among elite nations with advanced in-house dynamic ejection testing, boosting pilot safety for jets like Tejas Mk2, TEDBF, and AMCA.
• It supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by cutting costs up to 30% per unit and enhancing operational readiness. Future steps include aircraft integration, further trials, and mass production.

• Russian next-generation surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, known as S-500 Prometheus or 55R6M Triumfator-M, developed by Almaz-Antey.
• Designed to intercept ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons (up to Mach 20 or 7 km/s), stealth aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and low Earth orbit satellites.
• Range up to 600 km for anti-aircraft and 500 km for anti-ballistic missile defense; altitude up to 200 km into near-space.
• Can detect targets at 2,000 km (ballistic) or 800 km (airborne) and engage up to 10 hypersonic targets simultaneously with hit-to-kill interceptors like 77N6-N and 40N6M.
• Features advanced radars (91N6A(M), 96L6) and mobile components on BAZ trucks for rapid deployment.

Feature	S-400	S-500
Air Defense Range	Up to 400 km	Up to 500-600 km
Max Altitude	~30-180 km	Up to 200 km
Targets Engaged	6-80 simultaneously	10 hypersonic/100 tracked
Response Time	9-10 seconds	3-4 seconds
Primary Threats	Aircraft, cruise missiles	Hypersonic, ICBMs, satellites

• Enhances layered air defense beyond S-400 (already operational and proven in Operation Sindoor against Pakistani threats), countering China's hypersonic DF-21D/DF-26 and Pakistan's missiles.
• Russia offered joint production, technology transfer, and co-production under G2G deal to align with Make in India, potentially allowing India to export and bypass sanctions.
• Strengthens deterrence amid regional tensions; no confirmed procurement yet, as India prioritizes more S-400s, but interest persists post-S-400 success.

• Invasions threaten biodiversity by suppressing native plants, impacting over 100,000 square kilometers of tiger habitat and 11,700 square kilometers of wild herbivore ranges by 2022.
  They cause economic losses of $127.3 billion in India from 1960-2020, block access to pastures and water, and harm livelihoods through respiratory issues from species like Prosopis juliflora.

• Lantana camara: Invades forests like Kanha Tiger Reserve, reducing native plants and herbivore forage, potentially impacting tigers.
• Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Chokes rivers and lakes, depleting oxygen and harming fisheries.
• Prosopis juliflora: Spreads in arid areas, outcompeting natives.
• African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): Dominates waterways, threatening native fish.
• Parthenium hysterophorus (Congress grass): Infests farmlands, causing allergies.

• Kerala's forest department launched a mission in November 2025 to eradicate invasive plants.

• Experts urge a national strategy with rapid detection, risk assessment, ecosystem restoration, and public awareness to counter this escalating threat.

• Establish a national invasive species alert and early warning cell for coordinated surveillance and rapid response.
• Develop a unified national policy and legislation specifically for invasive alien species, defining roles across ministries and imposing penalties.
• Strengthen border biosecurity with strict quarantine, risk assessments, and regulations on imports of plants and animals.
• Prioritize integrated management using mechanical, chemical, and biological controls, followed by native species restoration.
• Launch public awareness campaigns and train locals for community-led monitoring, removal, and habitat rehabilitation.

• Levy of Cess: Imposes a cess on owners of machines or manufacturing processes producing specified demerit goods like pan masala, tobacco, and aerated drinks, replacing the GST compensation cess on these items.
• Cess Calculation: Monthly basis per machine, varying by pouch weight and speed—e.g., Rs 1.01 crore for ≤500 pouches/min (≤2.5g), Rs 25.47 crore for >2,000 pouches/min (>10g); manual factories pay Rs 11 lakh annually.
• Self-Assessment and Returns: Producers file monthly returns by the 20th, self-assess and pay cess; annual returns due by December 31.
• Audits and Adjustments: Commissioner can audit within 3 years (5 for fraud); demands recovery with 18% interest; government may enhance rates up to double for public interest.
• Inspections and Powers: Officers (Joint Commissioner+) can enter premises, inspect, search, seize on evasion suspicion; mandatory records maintained for 5 years.
• Penalties and Offences: Rs 10,000 or evaded amount (higher) for non-payment/false returns; Rs 1 lakh for abetment; 1-5 years jail + fine for fraud >Rs 1 crore.
• Appeals Mechanism: Three-tier: Appellate authority (within 3 months), GST Appellate Tribunal, High Court (substantial question of law).
• Fund Utilization: Proceeds to Health Security and National Security Fund for public health (e.g., disease control) and security expenditures; states share for health schemes.

Plant Name	State	Capacity (MW)
Tarapur Atomic Power Station	Maharashtra	1,400
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (Rawatbhata)	Rajasthan	1,180
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant	Tamil Nadu	2,000
Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant	Karnataka	880
Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant	Gujarat	1,140
Kalpakkam (Madras) Atomic Power Station	Tamil Nadu	440
Narora Atomic Power Station	Uttar Pradesh	440

• India's High-Density Network (HDN) consists of seven key passenger-freight rail corridors spanning 11,051 km, or about 16% of the total Indian Railways network, yet handling 41% of all rail traffic.
• These corridors face severe congestion, with 95% operating above 80% capacity utilization—ideal levels are 70-80%—leading to delays and inefficiencies.
• Impact: This congestion leads to delays in both passenger and freight services, affecting overall efficiency and reliability of the railway network.
• Network Coverage: The HDN comprises 11,051 route-kilometers (approx. 15.97% of the total network) and is divided into 237 sections.

• Line Expansion: This is considered the most critical measure for decongestion. It involves doubling, tripling, quadrupling, and even adding more lines to existing routes. For instance, the recent approval for a third and fourth rail line on the Badlapur–Karjat stretch in Maharashtra is part of this effort.
• Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs): The operational Eastern DFC and the nearly complete Western DFC are crucial for diverting freight traffic away from the HDN, thereby freeing up capacity for passenger trains.
• Upgrading Speed Potential: Efforts are underway to upgrade the speed potential of major corridors like the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and Golden Diagonal (GD) to 130 kmph and specific routes like New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Kolkata to 160 kmph.
• Electrification: Indian Railways has made significant progress in electrifying its broad gauge network, with plans to achieve complete electrification.

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