UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 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 1 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August (2025)

• Honour Killings in India

Honour Killings in India

GS Paper 3 :

• Revival of Reefs in the Gulf of Mannar

Revival of Reefs in the Gulf of Mannar

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• Reclaiming Forests in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Reclaiming Forests in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Indian polyvalent antivenom

Indian polyvalent antivenom

• Sakura Science Programme

Sakura Science Programme

• e-coli Turned into Mercury Sensor

e-coli Turned into Mercury Sensor

Mapping:

• Mount Elbrus

Mount Elbrus

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025

#### GS Paper 1:

Honour Killings in India

Syllabus: Indian Society (Salient features, diversity, issues)

Source: The Hindu

Context: Recent caste-based killings in Tamil Nadu and other States have reignited debate on honour crimes.

• These incidents highlight how family and community structures continue to legitimise violence in the name of caste and honour.

About Honour Killing

What is Honour Killing?

• Definition: Murder committed by family or community members when individuals marry or choose partners outside caste, religion, or clan norms.

• Target: Most victims are inter-caste or inter-faith couples, particularly Dalit men with dominant-caste women.

• Underlying Belief: Families claim to “protect honour,” but in reality, it is about safeguarding social control, hierarchy, and patriarchal dominance.

Causes Behind Honour Killings

• Caste and Community Pressures Caste endogamy is central to preserving caste hierarchy. Families fear loss of “status” if marriages cross caste boundaries. Example: Inter-caste marriages involving Dalits provoke strong backlash in Tamil Nadu.

• Caste endogamy is central to preserving caste hierarchy. Families fear loss of “status” if marriages cross caste boundaries.

• Example: Inter-caste marriages involving Dalits provoke strong backlash in Tamil Nadu.

• Patriarchal Control Women’s autonomy in choosing life partners threatens male dominance. Families treat women as “bearers of family honour,” restricting their choices.

• Women’s autonomy in choosing life partners threatens male dominance. Families treat women as “bearers of family honour,” restricting their choices.

• Economic and Social Interests Marriages within caste maintain dowry systems, property rights, and business ties. Inter-caste unions are seen as threatening these advantages.

• Marriages within caste maintain dowry systems, property rights, and business ties. Inter-caste unions are seen as threatening these advantages.

• Fear of Social Boycott Families fear humiliation or expulsion from caste networks. Honour killings act as a “deterrent” to others considering similar marriages.

• Families fear humiliation or expulsion from caste networks. Honour killings act as a “deterrent” to others considering similar marriages.

• Khap and Jati Panchayats In some regions (e.g., Haryana, UP), caste councils issue diktats against inter-caste marriages. Such bodies legitimise violence and weaken formal law enforcement.

• In some regions (e.g., Haryana, UP), caste councils issue diktats against inter-caste marriages. Such bodies legitimise violence and weaken formal law enforcement.

• Weak Law Enforcement Police often avoid confronting powerful caste groups. Lack of protection for couples increases their vulnerability.

• Police often avoid confronting powerful caste groups. Lack of protection for couples increases their vulnerability.

Consequences

• Violation of Fundamental Rights Strikes at the heart of Article 21 (right to life with dignity) and Article 19 (personal liberty).

• Strikes at the heart of Article 21 (right to life with dignity) and Article 19 (personal liberty).

• Gender Injustice Women face disproportionate violence, treated as symbols of community honour.

• Women face disproportionate violence, treated as symbols of community honour.

• Perpetuation of Casteism Instead of weakening caste, honour crimes reinforce its social legitimacy.

• Instead of weakening caste, honour crimes reinforce its social legitimacy.

• Threat to Democracy and Rule of Law When parallel caste councils override constitutional courts, democracy is undermined.

• When parallel caste councils override constitutional courts, democracy is undermined.

• Psychological and Social Fear Youth face trauma, insecurity, and reluctance to marry outside caste or religion.

• Youth face trauma, insecurity, and reluctance to marry outside caste or religion.

Legal and Constitutional Safeguards

• Constitutional Provisions: Article 14: Equality before law. Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of caste, religion, sex. Article 19: Right to freedom of choice and association. Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty.

• Article 14: Equality before law.

• Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of caste, religion, sex.

• Article 19: Right to freedom of choice and association.

• Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty.

• Statutory Provisions: Indian Penal Code (now BNS): Section 103 BNS (murder/culpable homicide), Section 109 BNS (attempt to murder), Section 61 BNS (conspiracy). Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 & Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Protect right to marriage autonomy.

• Indian Penal Code (now BNS): Section 103 BNS (murder/culpable homicide), Section 109 BNS (attempt to murder), Section 61 BNS (conspiracy).

• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 & Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Protect right to marriage autonomy.

• Proposed Law: Prevention of Crimes in the Name of Honour Bill: Seeks to specifically criminalise honour killings.

• Prevention of Crimes in the Name of Honour Bill: Seeks to specifically criminalise honour killings.

Judicial Stand

• Lata Singh v. State of UP (2006): SC upheld inter-caste marriages as a valid exercise of freedom.

• Arumugam Servai v. State of Tamil Nadu (2011): SC termed khap panchayat diktats illegal and unconstitutional.

• Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018): Landmark ruling directing States to: Establish safe houses for couples. Monitor illegal caste gatherings. Punish officials who fail to prevent honour killings.

• Establish safe houses for couples.

• Monitor illegal caste gatherings.

• Punish officials who fail to prevent honour killings.

Way Forward

• Dedicated Law on Honour Crimes Enact a specific law with stringent punishments and accountability for police failure.

• Enact a specific law with stringent punishments and accountability for police failure.

• Strengthening Law Enforcement Train police to handle honour crime cases sensitively. Ensure swift trials and witness protection for couples.

• Train police to handle honour crime cases sensitively.

• Ensure swift trials and witness protection for couples.

• Community-Level Reform Engage caste and religious leaders in public campaigns against honour killings. Promote inter-caste marriages as socially beneficial.

• Engage caste and religious leaders in public campaigns against honour killings.

• Promote inter-caste marriages as socially beneficial.

• Safe Houses and Support Systems Expand government-run shelters with counselling, legal aid, and financial assistance.

• Expand government-run shelters with counselling, legal aid, and financial assistance.

• Educational and Digital Counter-Narratives Introduce awareness programmes in schools/colleges on constitutional morality. Use social media to challenge caste pride and spread stories of successful inter-caste unions.

• Introduce awareness programmes in schools/colleges on constitutional morality.

• Use social media to challenge caste pride and spread stories of successful inter-caste unions.

• Incentives for Inter-Caste Marriages Strengthen the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration by timely financial aid and social protection.

• Strengthen the Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration by timely financial aid and social protection.

Conclusion

Honour killings are not only crimes against individuals but also against the Constitution itself. They reveal caste hierarchies under siege, struggling to maintain control. The way forward lies in asserting constitutional morality, empowering youth, enforcing strict laws, and dismantling family-based caste control. A society that values freedom of choice over “family honour” will move closer to real equality and justice.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025 GS Paper 3:

Revival of Reefs in the Gulf of Mannar

Syllabus: Environment

Source: TH

Context: Coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, are witnessing revival through two decades of scientific restoration efforts.

About Revival of Reefs in the Gulf of Mannar:

Coral Reefs:

• Coral reefs are marine ecosystems formed by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals.

• Known as “rainforests of the sea”, they: Support ~25% of marine biodiversity. Protect coastlines from erosion. Provide livelihood through fisheries and eco-tourism.

• Support ~25% of marine biodiversity.

• Protect coastlines from erosion.

• Provide livelihood through fisheries and eco-tourism.

• Gulf of Mannar reefs: Spread across 21 islands, rich in Acropora, Montipora, Porites and other species.

Causes of Coral Degradation:

• Anthropogenic Causes: Coral mining (1960s–1990s). Overfishing, destructive fishing gear, pollution. Coastal development, sedimentation.

• Coral mining (1960s–1990s).

• Overfishing, destructive fishing gear, pollution.

• Coastal development, sedimentation.

• Climate Change Causes: Rising sea surface temperatures → mass bleaching (2010, 2016). Ocean acidification reducing resilience.

• Rising sea surface temperatures → mass bleaching (2010, 2016).

• Ocean acidification reducing resilience.

Coral Restoration Efforts in Gulf of Mannar:

• Led by SDMRI & Tamil Nadu Forest Department (since 2002).

• Methods: Artificial substrates – concrete frames, clay pots, cement slabs. Artificial Reef Modules – Triangular (TARs) & Perforated Trapezoidal (PTARs). 20 coral species transplanted; fast-growing Acropora showed highest survival.

• Artificial substrates – concrete frames, clay pots, cement slabs.

• Artificial Reef Modules – Triangular (TARs) & Perforated Trapezoidal (PTARs).

• 20 coral species transplanted; fast-growing Acropora showed highest survival.

• Scale: 51,183 coral fragments transplanted on 5,550 substrates. Restored ~40,000 sq. m of degraded reefs.

• 51,183 coral fragments transplanted on 5,550 substrates.

• Restored ~40,000 sq. m of degraded reefs.

Outcomes:

• Survival Rate: 55–79%, with some species showing 89% survival.

• Biodiversity: Coral recruits in TARs rose from 1.23 (2004) to 24.77 (2020).

• Fish Density: Rose from 14.5 (2006) to 310 (2020) per 250 m².

Challenges to Coral Reefs:

• Repeated bleaching due to global warming – Rising sea surface temperatures stress corals, expelling symbiotic algae and leading to large-scale mortality events.

• High cost and labour intensity of restoration – Coral transplantation and artificial reef deployment require trained divers, resources, and long-term monitoring, making it expensive.

• Dependence on fast-growing species risks genetic imbalance – Overuse of Acropora corals in restoration increases vulnerability to diseases and reduces ecosystem stability.

• Ongoing pressures – plastic pollution, coastal projects, tourism – Marine debris, unregulated coastal development, and mass tourism degrade coral habitats and disrupt natural recovery.

Way Ahead:

• Scale up restoration across Gulf of Mannar and other reef sites in India – Expand successful models to Andaman, Lakshadweep, and Lakpat reefs to cover more degraded zones.

• Train local fishing communities as reef guardians – Empowering coastal communities ensures stewardship, sustainable fishing, and long-term coral monitoring.

• Use technology – AI, drones, remote sensing for monitoring – Advanced tools enable large-scale reef mapping, bleaching alerts, and real-time tracking of coral health.

• Develop heat-resistant coral strains via assisted evolution – Breeding or genetically enhancing corals for higher thermal tolerance can reduce bleaching vulnerability.

• Strengthen global partnerships under SDG-14 & Paris Agreement – International cooperation provides funding, technology, and shared best practices for reef conservation.

Conclusion:

The revival of corals in the Gulf of Mannar proves that scientific innovation, policy support, and community participation can bring marine ecosystems back from the brink. It is a model for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. Sustained efforts will ensure that India’s reefs remain both an ecological treasure and a livelihood source.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Reclaiming Forests in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Anecdote: For nearly two decades, vast stretches of forestland inside the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh were steadily eaten away by encroachers. What once was a thriving jungle had, by 2020, turned into cleared plots and illegal settlements. The challenge before the Forest Department was immense: how to reclaim 1,800 acres of land spread across seven major habitats, while facing resistance from over 300 encroachers and even attacks on forest staff.

Varun Jain, a young forest officer, chose not to rely on force alone. He turned to technology. With the help of the National Remote Sensing Centre of ISRO, he studied satellite imagery dating back to 2008, comparing it with recent drone-mapped visuals from 2022. The evidence was stark: all settlements had come up only after 2008, which meant they were not protected under the Forest Rights Act. Armed with data and law, the department launched a carefully planned anti-encroachment drive.

It was no easy task. Forest teams faced hostility, threats, and the shadow of Maoist presence. Yet, after two years of sustained effort, they succeeded. The reclaimed 1,800 acres, valued at over ₹500 crore, are now being restored to create inviolate spaces for herbivores and carnivores. The result: reduced man-animal conflict, improved biodiversity, and lower compensation payouts for crop loss.

The initiative also spurred innovation. In 2022, the department developed its own Google Earth Engine-powered Remote Sensing Portal, powered by AI and ML, to monitor weekly changes in forest cover and identify hotspots of deforestation. This blend of courage, technology, and persistence turned a daunting battle into a success story of conservation.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• Essay:

• Environment & Development Balance: Fits essays on “Sustainable development is the key to future prosperity” or “Forests are the lungs of the Earth.” Technology for Governance: Illustrates how satellite mapping, AI, and drones strengthen environmental governance. Human–Nature Relationship: Symbolises the moral responsibility of protecting biodiversity amidst human pressures.

• Environment & Development Balance: Fits essays on “Sustainable development is the key to future prosperity” or “Forests are the lungs of the Earth.”

• Technology for Governance: Illustrates how satellite mapping, AI, and drones strengthen environmental governance.

• Human–Nature Relationship: Symbolises the moral responsibility of protecting biodiversity amidst human pressures.

• GS4: Ethics

• Integrity & Courage → Officer took bold action despite threats and resistance. Accountability & Responsibility → Used law and evidence to ensure justice. Ethical Leadership: Leadership through innovation (remote sensing portal). Persistence despite Maoist threats, showing courage of conviction.

• Integrity & Courage → Officer took bold action despite threats and resistance.

• Accountability & Responsibility → Used law and evidence to ensure justice.

• Ethical Leadership: Leadership through innovation (remote sensing portal). Persistence despite Maoist threats, showing courage of conviction.

• Leadership through innovation (remote sensing portal).

• Persistence despite Maoist threats, showing courage of conviction.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP):

Indian polyvalent antivenom

Source: TH

Context: Experts at the Assam Snake Symposium 2025 in Guwahati called for region-specific antivenoms, highlighting the ineffectiveness of the current polyvalent serum in Northeast India.

About Polyvalent Antivenom:

• What it is?

• A life-saving serum therapy used to neutralize venom from snakebites. Covers multiple snake species with a single antidote.

• A life-saving serum therapy used to neutralize venom from snakebites.

• Covers multiple snake species with a single antidote.

• Developed by:

• Indian manufacturers in collaboration with research institutes like Haffkine Institute, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, and others. Traditionally derived from the venom of the “Big Four” snakes.

• Indian manufacturers in collaboration with research institutes like Haffkine Institute, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, and others.

• Traditionally derived from the venom of the “Big Four” snakes.

• Objective:

• Provide a broad-spectrum antidote to reduce fatalities from snakebites. Ensure one treatment can be used across most of India.

• Provide a broad-spectrum antidote to reduce fatalities from snakebites.

• Ensure one treatment can be used across most of India.

• Features:

• Neutralizes venom of Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper. Widely available at government and private hospitals. Affordable compared to region-specific alternatives. Forms the backbone of India’s snakebite treatment strategy.

• Neutralizes venom of Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper.

• Widely available at government and private hospitals.

• Affordable compared to region-specific alternatives.

• Forms the backbone of India’s snakebite treatment strategy.

• Issues:

• Limited efficacy in Northeast India where other venomous species dominate. Causes delayed recovery, long-term complications, or death despite administration. Over-dependence on a one-size-fits-all approach, ignoring regional diversity of snakes.

• Limited efficacy in Northeast India where other venomous species dominate.

• Causes delayed recovery, long-term complications, or death despite administration.

• Over-dependence on a one-size-fits-all approach, ignoring regional diversity of snakes.

Sakura Science Programme

Source: PIB

Context: A group of 34 students from India has been flagged off to Japan to take part in the Sakura Science Programme 2025.

About Sakura Science Programme:

• What it is?

• A youth exchange initiative officially called the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science. Implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

• A youth exchange initiative officially called the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science.

• Implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

• Launched in:

• 2014 by Japan. India joined in 2016 and has been an active participant since.

• 2014 by Japan.

• India joined in 2016 and has been an active participant since.

• Nations Involved: Participating countries include India, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and other Asian nations.

• Objective:

• Promote scientific curiosity and global outlook among young learners. Encourage cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral ties with Japan. Provide exposure to Japan’s scientific advancements and cultural traditions. Build a network of future innovators and leaders across continents.

• Promote scientific curiosity and global outlook among young learners.

• Encourage cultural understanding and strengthen bilateral ties with Japan.

• Provide exposure to Japan’s scientific advancements and cultural traditions.

• Build a network of future innovators and leaders across continents.

• Features:

• Short-term educational visits to Japan. Students interact with scientific institutions, universities, and research centres. Provides hands-on experience in science, technology, and innovation. Exposure to Japanese culture, discipline, and environmental ethics.

• Short-term educational visits to Japan.

• Students interact with scientific institutions, universities, and research centres.

• Provides hands-on experience in science, technology, and innovation.

• Exposure to Japanese culture, discipline, and environmental ethics.

E. coli Turned into Mercury Sensor

Source: TH

Context: Researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria into a mercury sensor, capable of detecting toxic metals in water.

About E. coli Turned into Mercury Sensor:

• What it is?

• A living biosensor built using genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria. Converts the presence of mercury into an electrical signal readable by simple electronic devices.

• A living biosensor built using genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria.

• Converts the presence of mercury into an electrical signal readable by simple electronic devices.

• Developed by: Imperial College London and Zhejiang University researchers.

• To design cheap, self-powered, and programmable biosensors. Enable real-time detection of harmful compounds like heavy metals in water.

• To design cheap, self-powered, and programmable biosensors.

• Enable real-time detection of harmful compounds like heavy metals in water.

• How It Works?

• Scientists engineer E. coli bacteria to act like tiny “detectors.” When the bacteria sense mercury in water, a special protein (MerR) switches on. This switch tells the bacteria to make certain molecules (phenazines). These molecules touch an electrode and create an electric current. The stronger the mercury presence → the stronger the current. The signal can be read directly by simple electronic devices.

• Scientists engineer E. coli bacteria to act like tiny “detectors.”

• When the bacteria sense mercury in water, a special protein (MerR) switches on.

• This switch tells the bacteria to make certain molecules (phenazines).

• These molecules touch an electrode and create an electric current.

• The stronger the mercury presence → the stronger the current.

• The signal can be read directly by simple electronic devices.

• Applications:

• Water Safety: Detects toxic heavy metals like mercury in drinking water. Environmental Monitoring: Tracks pollution in rivers, lakes, and industrial discharge. Public Health: Early warning system for communities exposed to contaminated water. Low-cost Electronics: Compatible with portable devices for field use. Synthetic Biology Research: Opens pathways for programmable bioelectronics and smart diagnostics.

• Water Safety: Detects toxic heavy metals like mercury in drinking water.

• Environmental Monitoring: Tracks pollution in rivers, lakes, and industrial discharge.

• Public Health: Early warning system for communities exposed to contaminated water.

• Low-cost Electronics: Compatible with portable devices for field use.

• Synthetic Biology Research: Opens pathways for programmable bioelectronics and smart diagnostics.

Dibru–Saikhowa National Park

Source:

Context: A new peer-reviewed study (Earth Journal, 2024) found that native and invasive plants are altering grasslands in Assam’s Dibru–Saikhowa National Park.

• The park, home to India’s only feral horses and endangered grassland species, faces rapid habitat loss due to invasive growth, floods, and anthropogenic pressure.

About Dibru–Saikhowa National Park (DSNP)

• A riverine protected area in eastern Assam, located between the Brahmaputra and Dibru rivers.

• Declared a National Park in 1999 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1997.

• Area: 425 sq. km.

Key Features

• Unique Landscape: Island-like formation dominated by wetlands, grasslands, and semi-evergreen forests.

• Feral Horses: Only known habitat of around 200 wild horses, descendants of animals abandoned during World War II.

• Flora: Grassland ecosystems alongside semi-evergreen forests; now under threat from both native trees (Bombax ceiba, Lagerstroemia speciosa) and invasive species (Chromolaena, Parthenium, Mikania).

• Fauna: Critically endangered Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis). Hog deer (Axis porcinus) and swamp grass babbler (Prinia cinerascens). Rich avian diversity due to its floodplain location.

• Critically endangered Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis).

• Hog deer (Axis porcinus) and swamp grass babbler (Prinia cinerascens).

• Rich avian diversity due to its floodplain location.

• Hydrology: Subject to recurring floods of the Brahmaputra, shaping its dynamic ecosystem.

Conservation Challenges

• Habitat Loss: Grassland area shrinking due to shrubland expansion and forest degradation.

• Invasive Growth: Both native trees and exotic species altering ecosystem balance.

• Biodiversity Threat: Endemic grassland birds and ungulates face declining populations.

• Anthropogenic Pressure: Villages inside the park increase human-wildlife conflict and resource stress.

India’s First Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Plant from Used Cooking Oil

Source: Indian Express

Context: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will begin commercial production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil at its Panipat refinery by December 2025.

About Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

• Definition: SAF is a biofuel derived from renewable feedstocks like used cooking oil, ethanol, and agricultural residues.

• Chemistry: Similar to conventional Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF); can be blended and used in existing aircraft engines.

• Global Significance: Accounts for 60% of projected aviation decarbonisation; reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel.

• Compatibility: Airbus and other major aircraft makers approve up to 50% SAF blends.

Benefits of SAF

• Carbon Reduction – Cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil-based ATF.

• Compatibility – Works in existing aircraft with blends up to 50%, as certified by Airbus and others.

• Energy Security – Utilises waste streams like used cooking oil, reducing import dependency.

• Global Compliance – Helps airlines meet CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) requirements.

• Export Potential – Europe already has blending mandates, making India a potential supplier.

India’s First SAF Plant – Panipat Refinery

• Capacity: 35,000 tonnes/year by end-2025.

• Feedstock: Used cooking oil collected from hotels, restaurants, and large food businesses (e.g., Haldiram’s).

• Certification: Received ISCC CORSIA certification, allowing compliance with ICAO’s global carbon offsetting scheme.

• Potential Buyers: European airlines operating in India, given EU blending mandates.

• Future Pathways: IOC also working on alcohol-to-jet technology using ethanol.

Challenges

• High Cost: SAF is nearly three times costlier than conventional jet fuel.

• Collection of Feedstock: Easy from large hotels, but difficult from small eateries and households.

• Industry Resistance: Airlines fear fuel cost escalation.

• Scale-Up Needs: Current capacity meets initial blending target but must expand for long-term sustainability.

Arctic Reindeer Could Decline Sharply by 2100

Source: DTE

Context: A new international study warns that Arctic reindeer (caribou) populations could decline by up to 80% by 2100 due to climate change, especially in North America.

About Arctic Reindeer

What It Is

• Scientific Names: Rangifer tarandus (Eurasia: Reindeer; North America: Caribou).

• Mammal Type: Large herbivorous ungulate adapted to Arctic and sub-Arctic environments.

• Adaptations: Thick fur, wide hooves for snow, ability to feed on lichens in winter.

Habitat Distribution

• Found across the Arctic tundra and boreal forests of North America (Canada, Alaska, Greenland) and Eurasia (Scandinavia, Russia).

• Migratory herds travel hundreds of kilometers annually, making them one of the most wide-ranging terrestrial mammals.

Ecological Role

• Plant Regulation: Grazing maintains balance in tundra vegetation, preventing shrub overgrowth.

• Carbon Cycle Influence: Their feeding reduces plant dominance and indirectly regulates soil carbon release.

• Biodiversity Support: Influence plant diversity, benefiting other Arctic species like birds and small mammals.

• Human Linkages: Vital for Indigenous Arctic communities for food, clothing, and cultural practices.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

• Major threats include climate change, habitat degradation, industrial development, and over-hunting.

• North American caribou populations most at risk, with severe declines forecast without urgent mitigation.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 August 2025 Mapping:

Mount Elbrus

Source: DD News

Context: Arunachal Pradesh Governor hailed Kabak Yano for successfully scaling Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe.

About Mount Elbrus:

• What it is?

• A dormant stratovolcano and the highest peak in Europe. Recognised as part of the Seven Summits Challenge.

• A dormant stratovolcano and the highest peak in Europe.

• Recognised as part of the Seven Summits Challenge.

• Location: Situated in the Caucasus Mountains, southwestern Russia, near the Georgia border.

• Nations Spread Across: Lies entirely in Russia, but close to Georgia and the wider Caucasus region.

• Features:

• Height: 5,642 metres (18,510 feet) above sea level. Form: Twin-coned extinct volcano formed 2.5 million years ago. Glaciers: 22 glaciers cover ~138 sq km, feeding rivers like Kuban and Terek. Recognition: Among the world’s top ten most prominent peaks.

• Height: 5,642 metres (18,510 feet) above sea level.

• Form: Twin-coned extinct volcano formed 2.5 million years ago.

• Glaciers: 22 glaciers cover ~138 sq km, feeding rivers like Kuban and Terek.

• Recognition: Among the world’s top ten most prominent peaks.

About Seven Summits Challenge:

What it is?

• A prestigious mountaineering feat of climbing the highest peak in each continent.

• First proposed and completed by Richard Bass (1985).

• Represents physical endurance, mental toughness, and global adventure spirit.

Mountains Involved (Messner Version):

• Asia – Mount Everest (8,848 m)

• South America – Aconcagua (6,962 m)

• North America – Denali / Mt. McKinley (6,194 m)

• Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m)

• Europe – Mount Elbrus (5,642 m)

• Antarctica – Vinson Massif (4,892 m)

• Oceania (Australasia) – Puncak Jaya / Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m)

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