UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March (2025)

• ASHA Workers and Honorarium

ASHA Workers and Honorarium

• India Propose South-East Asia Surveillance Network

India Propose South-East Asia Surveillance Network

GS Paper 3:

• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Report

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Report

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)

North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)

• Astra Missile

Astra Missile

• Hantavirus

Hantavirus

• SpaDeX Mission

SpaDeX Mission

• Indian Rupee Symbol

Indian Rupee Symbol

Mapping:

• Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025

#### GS Paper 2 :

ASHA Workers and Honorarium

Syllabus: Governance

• •Source: IE*

Context: ASHA workers in Kerala have been on strike for over a month, demanding fair wages, formal employment status, and social security benefits.

About Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA Workers):

What is ASHA?

• A community-based health worker program under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

• ASHAs serve as the link between rural communities and the public health system.

Established In: 2005, as part of NRHM, now under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Ministry Involved: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)

• Improve maternal, newborn, and child health.

• Promote awareness and accessibility of healthcare services in rural areas.

• Enhance preventive healthcare measures at the grassroots level.

Key Functions:

• Health Monitoring & Record-Keeping: Track birth, death, and disease outbreaks.

• Maternal & Child Health Services: Ensure institutional deliveries, immunization, and nutrition support.

• Disease Control & Prevention: Implement programs for communicable & non-communicable diseases.

• Community Sanitation & Hygiene: Promote clean drinking water and hygiene practices.

• COVID-19 Response: Played a crucial role in awareness, vaccination, and disease surveillance.

ASHA Workers’ Role in India’s Development:

• Improving Maternal & Child Health: ASHA workers have been instrumental in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

E.g. India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) dropped from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20, largely due to ASHA-led institutional deliveries and antenatal care awareness.

• Strengthening Rural Healthcare: With over 10 lakh ASHA workers across India, they serve as the first point of contact for basic healthcare in rural areas, bridging the gap between communities and health facilities.

• Disease Prevention & Surveillance: ASHAs played a critical role in COVID-19 management, conducting active case surveillance, community awareness, and vaccination enrollment.

• Women Empowerment & Livelihood Generation: ASHAs, 98% of whom are women, have been empowered through income generation and leadership roles in community health.

• Enhancing Public Health Outreach: ASHAs assist in sanitation programs, menstrual hygiene awareness, and nutrition initiatives like Poshan Abhiyaan, improving overall community well-being.

Issues Surrounding ASHA Workers’ Payments:

• Low & Irregular Payments: ASHA workers receive ₹5,000–₹15,000 per month, with only a fixed honorarium and incentives per task.

• No Fixed Salary: Unlike other government health workers, ASHAs are not classified as employees, denying them minimum wages, pensions, and social security benefits.

• Inconsistent State Payments: Honorariums vary by state, leading to disparities in earnings and frequent delayed payments.

• No Job Security: Despite being the backbone of rural healthcare, ASHAs lack formal employment status.

Why the Government Did Not Opt for a Regular Salary?

• Volunteer-Based Model: ASHAs were originally designated as volunteers to keep costs low and encourage community participation.

• Financial Constraints: Providing fixed salaries and benefits would place a significant financial burden on the central and state governments.

• Decentralized Implementation: State-wise variations in payments allow flexibility but lead to wage disparities and administrative inefficiencies.

• Performance-Based Incentives: The current model encourages task-specific incentives rather than a fixed wage system.

Way Ahead:

• Grant ASHAs Worker Status: Recognize ASHAs as government employees to provide fixed salaries and benefits.

• Ensure Timely Payments: Strengthen financial mechanisms to avoid payment delays and ensure livelihood security.

• Improve Incentive Structure: Offer higher performance-linked bonuses while guaranteeing a base salary.

• Enhance Social Security: Provide pension, health insurance, and maternity benefits for long-term financial stability.

• Increase Budget Allocation: Allocate higher funds for ASHA programs under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Conclusion:

ASHA workers have been the backbone of India’s rural healthcare system for nearly two decades. However, their low wages, lack of job security, and informal status continue to be major concerns. Recognizing them as formal employees with fair wages and social security is crucial to ensuring better healthcare delivery and empowering women in the workforce.

• The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community. What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them? (UPSC-2022)

India Propose South-East Asia Surveillance Network

Syllabus: International Relation and Health

Source: NIE

Context: India has proposed the creation of a South-East Asia surveillance network to enhance multi-source collaborative surveillance for better pandemic and health emergency responses.

• The proposal will be discussed with the 11 member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region (SEARO) later this year.

Proposed Vision of the South-East Asia Surveillance Network:

• Regional Health Security: Strengthening real-time disease monitoring and early warning systems for rapid response to pandemics and epidemics.

• Cross-Border Collaboration: Improving information-sharing mechanisms among SEARO nations to control transboundary health threats.

• Integrated Surveillance System: Establishing multi-source surveillance by combining genomic data, wastewater analysis, and public health intelligence.

• One Health Approach: Addressing health challenges arising from human-animal-environment interactions, including zoonotic diseases.

• Capacity Building & Innovation: Investing in strong laboratory infrastructure, AI-based predictive surveillance, and digital health solutions.

Need to Develop the South-East Asia Surveillance Network:

• Pandemic Preparedness: COVID-19 highlighted gaps in real-time data sharing and coordinated response, making multi-source surveillance crucial.

• Climate Change & Emerging Diseases: Rising vector-borne and waterborne diseases due to climate change necessitate better monitoring and prediction models.

• Cross-Border Health Risks: Frequent disease outbreaks such as Dengue, Nipah, and Zoonotic infections demand collaborative health security frameworks.

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Monitoring: The region faces a growing threat of AMR, which requires stronger genomic surveillance and international cooperation.

• Strengthening One Health Initiatives: Unifying human, animal, and environmental health data will improve early detection and mitigation strategies.

Challenges in Implementing the South-East Asia Surveillance Network:

• Data Sharing Issues: Countries may hesitate to share sensitive health data due to privacy concerns and geopolitical tensions.

• Lack of Standardized Systems: Different surveillance frameworks across nations could lead to data inconsistency and reporting delays.

• Funding & Infrastructure Gaps: Developing advanced labs, diagnostic facilities, and digital health tools requires sustained financial investment.

• Limited Cross-Sectoral Coordination: Effective surveillance needs cooperation between health, environment, agriculture, and technology sectors, which is often lacking.

• Regulatory & Legal Barriers: Amended International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) must be uniformly adopted for seamless regional integration.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthen Regional Collaboration: Develop policy frameworks and legal agreements to ensure transparent data sharing and unified health responses.

• Enhance Digital Health & AI-Based Monitoring: Implement AI-driven disease modeling, predictive analytics, and cloud-based surveillance platforms.

• Improve Laboratory Infrastructure: Invest in high-tech diagnostic labs, genomic sequencing, and wastewater surveillance for early outbreak detection.

• Capacity Building & Training: Train public health professionals, epidemiologists, and data scientists to enhance surveillance capabilities.

• Sustainable Funding Mechanism: Establish a regional health emergency fund to support continuous research and rapid response efforts.

Conclusion:

The South-East Asia surveillance network is a crucial step toward global health security, ensuring faster response to epidemics and public health threats. However, strong political will, technological advancements, and sustainable investments are essential for its success. A collaborative, data-driven approach will help the region tackle emerging health challenges effectively.

• Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the COVID-19 pandemic. (UPSC-2020)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025 GS Paper 3:

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Syllabus: Renewable Energy

Source: DD News

Context: The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has crossed a milestone of 10 lakh solar-powered homes, with ₹4,770 crore in subsidies disbursed.

Achievements of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

• 10 Lakh Homes Powered: As of March 10, 2025, 10 lakh households have installed rooftop solar systems, reducing reliance on conventional electricity.

• 3 Lakh Applications: Over 47 lakh households have applied, showcasing high public demand and growing interest in solar energy adoption.

• ₹4,770 Crore Disbursed: Subsidies worth ₹4,770 crore have been allocated, benefiting 13 lakh households under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

• Statewise Performance: Gujarat leads with 3.51 lakh installations (41.47%), followed by Uttar Pradesh (73,602) and Kerala (65,423), highlighting regional progress.

Key Benefits:

• Reduced Electricity Bills: Households generate solar energy for self-consumption, leading to significant reductions in monthly electricity expenses.

• Government Savings: The scheme helps save ₹75,000 crore annually, reducing the government’s electricity subsidy burden and power procurement costs.

• Environmental Impact: Expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 720 million tonnes over 25 years, supporting India’s climate action goals.

• Job Creation: Generates 17 lakh direct jobs in solar installation, maintenance, and manufacturing, boosting employment in the renewable energy sector.

• Boost to Domestic Industry: Encourages ‘Make in India’ by mandating the use of domestically produced solar modules and cells, strengthening India’s renewable supply chain.

Challenges to the Scheme:

• High Initial Cost: Despite subsidies, the upfront cost of solar panel installation remains high, deterring low-income households from adoption.

• Awareness & Outreach: Many households lack awareness about the scheme’s benefits, application process, and long-term savings potential.

• Grid Integration Issues: The existing power grid lacks infrastructure to effectively manage distributed solar power generation, affecting energy distribution.

• Slow Loan Disbursement: Though 10 lakh applications were received, only 1.28 lakh loans have been disbursed, slowing financial accessibility.

• Technical Challenges: Solar power is intermittent, requiring advanced energy storage solutions and better grid connectivity for reliability.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthen Awareness Campaigns: Expand outreach through digital platforms, NGOs, and local governance to educate citizens about scheme benefits.

• Ease Financial Accessibility: Introduce zero-interest loans and faster disbursal mechanisms to encourage wider solar adoption.

• Enhance Grid Infrastructure: Invest in smart grids and energy storage solutions to ensure seamless integration of solar power into the electricity grid.

• Expand Beneficiary Base: Simplify application and subsidy processes, ensuring faster approvals and transparent tracking for applicants.

• Encourage Private Sector Participation: Provide incentives to solar companies to expand affordable solutions, making rooftop solar more accessible and cost-effective.

Conclusion:

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a landmark initiative in India’s transition to renewable energy, making solar power accessible to millions of households. With strong policy support and public participation, it can redefine India’s clean energy future.

• India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its development. Elaborate. (UPSC-2020)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Report

Context: A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources reported that only 58% of the revised ₹21,640.88 crore allocation for water projects was utilized by December 2024.

Findings and Recommendations of the Report:

Key Findings:

• Poor Fund Utilization: 40% of allocated funds remain unspent, delaying critical water projects.

• Budget Increases for Key Schemes: 2025-26 allocation rose to ₹25,276.83 crore (+18.54%) to boost groundwater management, river basin development, and the Polavaram Irrigation Project.

• Budget Cuts in Some Schemes: The National Hydrology Project’s budget dropped by 98%, and the Command Area Development scheme was cut by 39.28% due to low expenditure.

• Polavaram Irrigation Project: Received ₹5,936 crore for 2025-26, expected completion by March 2026 with an optional one-year extension.

• Brahmaputra Board Shortages: 209 out of 415 sanctioned posts are vacant, affecting flood control and drainage projects.

Key Recommendations:

• Strengthen Monitoring & Execution: Ensure faster fund utilization and state-level oversight to accelerate project completion.

• Resolve Inter-State Disputes: Fast-track approvals for river interlinking projects like Ken-Betwa to improve water security.

• Increase Rainwater Harvesting Support: Provide direct financial incentives to states for rainwater conservation efforts.

• Fill Technical Vacancies: Recruit specialists in flood control and drainage projects to enhance efficiency.

• Streamline Fund Disbursement: Address delays in Atal Bhujal Yojana and other schemes by ensuring smooth fund flow models.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 2 (Governance & Policies): Highlights public policy implementation challenges, inter-state water disputes, and Jal Shakti initiatives.

• GS Paper 3 (Environment & Infrastructure): Covers River basin management, irrigation projects, and sustainable water resource planning.

• Essay & Ethics (GS Paper 4): Showcases governance accountability, resource utilization, and infrastructure planning for sustainable development.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR)

Source: PIB

Context: Union Minister laid the foundation stone for NECTAR’s permanent campus in Shillong, aiming to boost technology-driven growth in Northeast India.

About North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR):

• What is NECTAR?

• An autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Focuses on technological applications for the development of Northeast India.

• An autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

• Focuses on technological applications for the development of Northeast India.

• Established In: 2014, under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

• Headquarters: Shillong, Meghalaya.

• Promote technological advancements for socio-economic development in Northeast India. Bridge the gap between research institutions and grassroots innovations. Encourage sustainable agricultural practices like saffron and bamboo cultivation.

• Promote technological advancements for socio-economic development in Northeast India.

• Bridge the gap between research institutions and grassroots innovations.

• Encourage sustainable agricultural practices like saffron and bamboo cultivation.

• Functions & Features: Technology Application in Agriculture: Expanding saffron cultivation in Northeast India, similar to Lavender farming in J&K. Drone Technology for Land Mapping: Supports the ‘Swamitva’ program for efficient land records management. Bamboo & Honey Production: Boosts eco-friendly industries to generate sustainable livelihoods. Infrastructure & Connectivity Enhancement: Works on scientific and technological interventions to improve rural accessibility. Skill Development & Research: Establishing a Centre of Excellence in Shillong for advanced tech training and innovation.

• Technology Application in Agriculture: Expanding saffron cultivation in Northeast India, similar to Lavender farming in J&K.

• Drone Technology for Land Mapping: Supports the ‘Swamitva’ program for efficient land records management.

• Bamboo & Honey Production: Boosts eco-friendly industries to generate sustainable livelihoods.

• Infrastructure & Connectivity Enhancement: Works on scientific and technological interventions to improve rural accessibility.

• Skill Development & Research: Establishing a Centre of Excellence in Shillong for advanced tech training and innovation.

Astra Missile

Source: DD News

Context: The Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) was successfully test-fired from the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) AF MK1 prototype off the Odisha coast.

About Astra Missile:

• What is Astra Missile?

• An advanced Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) designed for fighter aircraft. Enables aircraft to engage targets beyond 100 km without direct visual contact.

• An advanced Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) designed for fighter aircraft.

• Enables aircraft to engage targets beyond 100 km without direct visual contact.

• Developed by:

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under a ₹2,971 crore contract.

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India.

• Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under a ₹2,971 crore contract.

• Key Features: Altitude: Can engage targets at 20 km altitude. Range: Over 100 km, with high-speed precision targeting. Guidance System: Equipped with inertial navigation, mid-course updates, and active radar homing for precise hits. Speed: Capable of Mach 4.5 (4.5 times the speed of sound). Integration: Already deployed on Su-30MKI, now being integrated with LCA Tejas & MiG-29. Combat Advantage: Provides large stand-off range, reducing pilot risk from enemy air defense.

• Altitude: Can engage targets at 20 km altitude.

• Range: Over 100 km, with high-speed precision targeting.

• Guidance System: Equipped with inertial navigation, mid-course updates, and active radar homing for precise hits.

• Speed: Capable of Mach 4.5 (4.5 times the speed of sound).

• Integration: Already deployed on Su-30MKI, now being integrated with LCA Tejas & MiG-29.

• Combat Advantage: Provides large stand-off range, reducing pilot risk from enemy air defense.

• Significance:

• Strengthens India’s Air Defense: Enhances IAF’s air superiority and aerial combat effectiveness. Reduces Foreign Dependency: Eliminates the need for imported air-to-air missiles. Boosts Indigenization: Developed under Make in India, supporting India’s self-reliance in defense technology. Enhances Fighter Jet Capabilities: Enables Indian fighter jets to strike enemy aircraft at long distances.

• Strengthens India’s Air Defense: Enhances IAF’s air superiority and aerial combat effectiveness.

• Reduces Foreign Dependency: Eliminates the need for imported air-to-air missiles.

• Boosts Indigenization: Developed under Make in India, supporting India’s self-reliance in defense technology.

• Enhances Fighter Jet Capabilities: Enables Indian fighter jets to strike enemy aircraft at long distances.

Hantavirus

Source: TH

Context: The death of Betsy Hackman, wife of actor Gene Hackman, due to hantavirus infection has raised awareness about this rare but deadly virus.

• Hantavirus causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), leading to severe respiratory distress and kidney failure.

About Hantavirus:

• Caused By:

• Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family and are transmitted by infected rodents such as deer mice, rice rats, and cotton rats.

• Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family and are transmitted by infected rodents such as deer mice, rice rats, and cotton rats.

• How Does it Occur?

• Humans contract the virus through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Aerosolization occurs when contaminated materials are disturbed, making inhalation the primary mode of transmission. No human-to-human transmission has been confirmed except in Andes virus cases in South America.

• Humans contract the virus through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

• Aerosolization occurs when contaminated materials are disturbed, making inhalation the primary mode of transmission.

• No human-to-human transmission has been confirmed except in Andes virus cases in South America.

• Symptoms: Incubation Period: Symptoms appear 1-8 weeks after exposure. Initial Flu-like Symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. Severe Respiratory Phase: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and rapid fluid buildup in the lungs. Complications: Can escalate to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), internal bleeding, and kidney failure.

• Incubation Period: Symptoms appear 1-8 weeks after exposure.

• Initial Flu-like Symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness.

• Severe Respiratory Phase: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and rapid fluid buildup in the lungs.

• Complications: Can escalate to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), internal bleeding, and kidney failure.

• Treatment & Prevention: No Specific Cure: Supportive medical care is the only option. Oxygen Therapy & Ventilation: Used for patients with severe respiratory distress. Early Detection is Critical: Prompt medical intervention improves survival chances. Rodent Control Measures: Sealing homes, avoiding direct rodent contact, and proper sanitation reduce risk. High-Risk Groups: Farmers, campers, construction workers, and individuals in rodent-prone areas should exercise caution.

• No Specific Cure: Supportive medical care is the only option.

• Oxygen Therapy & Ventilation: Used for patients with severe respiratory distress.

• Early Detection is Critical: Prompt medical intervention improves survival chances.

• Rodent Control Measures: Sealing homes, avoiding direct rodent contact, and proper sanitation reduce risk.

• High-Risk Groups: Farmers, campers, construction workers, and individuals in rodent-prone areas should exercise caution.

SpaDeX Mission

Source: IT

Context: ISRO successfully undocked the two SpaDeX satellite, marking a major milestone in space docking technology.

• This achievement makes India the fourth country after the U.S., Russia, and China to demonstrate rendezvous, docking, and undocking capabilities in orbit.

About SpaDeX Mission:

• What is SpaDeX?

• A technology demonstration mission by ISRO designed to test and validate spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking operations in orbit. Crucial for future space station assembly, lunar sample return missions, and deep-space exploration.

• A technology demonstration mission by ISRO designed to test and validate spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking operations in orbit.

• Crucial for future space station assembly, lunar sample return missions, and deep-space exploration.

• Satellites Involved:

• SDX-01 (Chaser) – The active satellite responsible for docking maneuvers. SDX-02 (Target) – The passive satellite that facilitates docking.

• SDX-01 (Chaser) – The active satellite responsible for docking maneuvers.

• SDX-02 (Target) – The passive satellite that facilitates docking.

• Launched In: December 30, 2024, aboard PSLV-C60 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

• To develop and demonstrate docking, undocking, and power transfer technologies in space. Establish a foundation for future space station construction, human spaceflight, and interplanetary missions.

• To develop and demonstrate docking, undocking, and power transfer technologies in space.

• Establish a foundation for future space station construction, human spaceflight, and interplanetary missions.

• Key Features: First Indian Space Docking Demonstration: Achieved successful docking on January 16, 2025, and undocking on March 14, 2025. Orbital Operations: Performed in a 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination. Autonomous Docking: Showcased the capability of two satellites to autonomously dock and undock. Power Transfer Between Satellites: Demonstrated the transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft, critical for future modular spacecraft and in-space servicing. Monitored via Global Ground Stations: Operations tracked from Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mauritius.

• First Indian Space Docking Demonstration: Achieved successful docking on January 16, 2025, and undocking on March 14, 2025.

• Orbital Operations: Performed in a 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination.

• Autonomous Docking: Showcased the capability of two satellites to autonomously dock and undock.

• Power Transfer Between Satellites: Demonstrated the transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft, critical for future modular spacecraft and in-space servicing.

• Monitored via Global Ground Stations: Operations tracked from Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mauritius.

• Significance of the Mission:

• Paves the way for India’s Space Station: Essential for assembling, maintaining, and operating an Indian Space Station. Supports Human Spaceflight: Enables future Gaganyaan missions and lunar human exploration. Advances In-Space Robotics & Logistics: Useful for autonomous docking, fuel transfer, and orbital repairs. Enhances India’s Deep-Space Exploration: Assists in sample return missions from the Moon and Mars.

• Paves the way for India’s Space Station: Essential for assembling, maintaining, and operating an Indian Space Station.

• Supports Human Spaceflight: Enables future Gaganyaan missions and lunar human exploration.

• Advances In-Space Robotics & Logistics: Useful for autonomous docking, fuel transfer, and orbital repairs.

• Enhances India’s Deep-Space Exploration: Assists in sample return missions from the Moon and Mars.

Indian Rupee Symbol

Source: HT

Context: Tamil Nadu government replaced the official Indian Rupee symbol with the Tamil letter “Ru” in the state Budget 2025-26, sparking a political row.

About Indian Rupee Symbol:

• What It Is: The Indian Rupee (₹) symbol represents India’s economic strength and global identity in financial transactions.

• Adopted In: Officially adopted by the Government of India on July 15, 2010.

• Designed By: Udaya Kumar, a designer from IIT Bombay, selected through an open competition.

• Features of the Symbol:

• A blend of Devanagari ‘Ra’ (र) and Roman ‘R’, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity. Two parallel horizontal stripes at the top symbolize the Indian national flag and the ‘equal to’ sign (≈) representing economic stability. Distinct design ensures easy recognition in global financial systems.

• A blend of Devanagari ‘Ra’ (र) and Roman ‘R’, reflecting India’s linguistic diversity.

• Two parallel horizontal stripes at the top symbolize the Indian national flag and the ‘equal to’ sign (≈) representing economic stability.

• Distinct design ensures easy recognition in global financial systems.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025 Mapping:

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty

Source: CNN

Context: Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peace treaty after nearly four decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, marking a historic resolution in the region.

About Nagorno-Karabakh:

• Location: A landlocked mountainous region in the Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

• Political Status:

• Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic Armenians. It had an unrecognized separatist government closely linked to Armenia.

• Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic Armenians.

• It had an unrecognized separatist government closely linked to Armenia.

• Historical Conflict:

• Declared independence from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, leading to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994). In September 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control after a 24-hour military operation, forcing 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee.

• Declared independence from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, leading to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994).

• In September 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control after a 24-hour military operation, forcing 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee.

About Armenia:

• Location: A landlocked country in the South Caucasus.

• Border nations: Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran

• Capital:

• Geographic Features: Mountains: A highly mountainous country, dominated by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Highest Peak: Mount Aragats (4,090 meters). Rivers: The Aras River, forming the southern border with Turkey and Iran. Lakes: Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the region.

• Mountains: A highly mountainous country, dominated by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains.

• Highest Peak: Mount Aragats (4,090 meters).

• Rivers: The Aras River, forming the southern border with Turkey and Iran.

• Lakes: Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the region.

About Azerbaijan:

• Location: Located in eastern Transcaucasia.

• Bordered by: Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Caspian Sea.

• Capital: Baku, a major oil-rich city on the Caspian Sea coast.

• Geographic Features: Mountains: The Greater Caucasus Mountains dominate the north, with Mount Bazardüzü (4,466 meters) as the highest peak. Rivers: Major rivers include the Kura and Aras, supporting agriculture and hydroelectric power. Caspian Sea Coastline: Azerbaijan has a large coastline along the Caspian Sea, playing a crucial role in trade and energy exports.

• Mountains: The Greater Caucasus Mountains dominate the north, with Mount Bazardüzü (4,466 meters) as the highest peak.

• Rivers: Major rivers include the Kura and Aras, supporting agriculture and hydroelectric power.

• Caspian Sea Coastline: Azerbaijan has a large coastline along the Caspian Sea, playing a crucial role in trade and energy exports.

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