UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 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 3 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September (2025)
• Ageing Dams in India
Ageing Dams in India
GS Paper 1/3:
• Technology-Driven Disaster Management Strategy
Technology-Driven Disaster Management Strategy
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Jungle Warfare School
Jungle Warfare School
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Sarnath
Sarnath
• National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025
National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025
• De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)
De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)
• EVMs to Have Colour Photos of Candidates
EVMs to Have Colour Photos of Candidates
• Periyar Tiger Reserve
Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Meta Display Smart Glasses
Meta Display Smart Glasses
Mapping:
• Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025
#### GS Paper 3:
Ageing Dams in India
Syllabus: Infrastructure
Source: TH
Context: India faces an ageing dam challenge — over 1,065 dams are 50–100 years old and 224 are 100+ years old (2023 data).
• Experts warn that many dams are nearing the end of their design life, raising safety, irrigation, and hydropower
About Ageing Dams in India:
History of Dams in India:
• Pre-Independence: Kallanai (2nd century CE) is one of the world’s oldest functioning dams, built for irrigation; Mettur (1934) and Nizam Sagar (1931) were among the earliest large modern reservoirs.
• Colonial Era: British built Krishna and Godavari anicuts to boost canal irrigation; conceptualised Damodar Valley Corporation on the Tennessee Valley model.
• Post-Independence Era: Bhakra-Nangal (1963), Hirakud (1957), Rihand, Tungabhadra and Koyna dams symbolised Nehru’s “temples of modern India,” fueling Green Revolution.
• 1951–1971 Expansion: India started work on 418 large dams in two decades, marking a massive nation-building push for irrigation, power, and flood control.
• Modern Era: Shift to multipurpose projects integrating irrigation, power, tourism, navigation, and inland fisheries for holistic water resource development.
• Current Phase: Focus on rehabilitation, modernization, and climate resilience to extend lifespan and ensure safety of ageing infrastructure.
Laws & Policies for Dams in India:
• Dam Safety Act, 2021: Provides a legal framework for dam surveillance, operation, and maintenance; establishes NDSA, National Committee on Dam Safety, and State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs).
• Mandatory Inspections: Requires pre- and post-monsoon inspections, Emergency Action Plans, and inundation maps to prevent disasters and ensure preparedness.
• Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP I–III): Covers 736 dams across 19 States with World Bank & AIIB funding for structural strengthening, gate replacement, monitoring equipment, and staff training.
• Central Water Commission (CWC) Guidelines: Issue technical protocols for periodic safety reviews, risk assessment, and remedial action to maintain dam health.
• No Formal Decommissioning Policy: India currently focuses on extending lifespan; lacks a structured framework to safely retire obsolete or unsafe dams.
Challenges to Dams in India:
• Ageing Infrastructure: Over 4,200 dams will cross the 50-year mark by 2050, raising risks of structural fatigue and safety lapses. Old spillway designs are inadequate to handle present-day floods, increasing overtopping risk.
• Over 4,200 dams will cross the 50-year mark by 2050, raising risks of structural fatigue and safety lapses.
• Old spillway designs are inadequate to handle present-day floods, increasing overtopping risk.
• Sedimentation & Loss of Capacity: Bhakra, Hirakud, and Lower Bhavani lost 20–30% storage due to siltation. Reduced live storage hits irrigation potential, hydro generation, and drinking water supply.
• Bhakra, Hirakud, and Lower Bhavani lost 20–30% storage due to siltation.
• Reduced live storage hits irrigation potential, hydro generation, and drinking water supply.
• Climate Change & Extreme Events: Cloudbursts, GLOFs (Sikkim 2023), and intense monsoons strain ageing dams. Flood routing capacities often lag behind probable maximum flood estimates.
• Cloudbursts, GLOFs (Sikkim 2023), and intense monsoons strain ageing dams.
• Flood routing capacities often lag behind probable maximum flood estimates.
• Seismic & Geotechnical Risks: Dams like Mullaperiyar & Koyna lie in seismically active zones; cracks & seepage are recurring concerns. Foundation erosion and piping threaten earth-fill dams’ stability.
• Dams like Mullaperiyar & Koyna lie in seismically active zones; cracks & seepage are recurring concerns.
• Foundation erosion and piping threaten earth-fill dams’ stability.
• Institutional & Governance Gaps: Inadequate data transparency and limited citizen participation. Absence of decommissioning policy and slow implementation of rehabilitation projects.
• Inadequate data transparency and limited citizen participation.
• Absence of decommissioning policy and slow implementation of rehabilitation projects.
Case Studies:
• Mullaperiyar Dam (1895): 120+ years old, inter-state safety dispute between Kerala & TN, seismic vulnerability flagged by experts.
• Hirakud Dam (1957): Lost 25% capacity and near-overtopping in 1982 prompted auxiliary spillway creation.
• Bhakra Nangal (1963): Sedimentation reduced reservoir capacity by 23%; seismic reanalysis underway.
• Tiware Dam Failure (2019): Breach killed 19 people and highlighted need for robust inspection regime.
Way Forward:
• Risk-Based Prioritisation Focus on high-consequence dams first (downstream population, economic value). Independent third-party safety audits.
• Focus on high-consequence dams first (downstream population, economic value).
• Independent third-party safety audits.
• Strengthening Infrastructure Retrofit spillways, reinforce structures per latest seismic & climate standards. Catchment area treatment to slow silt inflow.
• Retrofit spillways, reinforce structures per latest seismic & climate standards.
• Catchment area treatment to slow silt inflow.
• Decommissioning & Repurposing Develop formal policy for safe decommissioning when risk > benefit. Explore alternate water storage systems (aquifer recharge, check dams).
• Develop formal policy for safe decommissioning when risk > benefit.
• Explore alternate water storage systems (aquifer recharge, check dams).
• Community Engagement & Transparency Downstream hazard mapping, public warning systems, mock drills. Open-access dam safety database for citizen oversight.
• Downstream hazard mapping, public warning systems, mock drills.
• Open-access dam safety database for citizen oversight.
• Climate-Resilient Design Incorporate probable maximum flood (PMF), GLOF risk, glacial retreat modelling in dam management plans.
• Incorporate probable maximum flood (PMF), GLOF risk, glacial retreat modelling in dam management plans.
Conclusion:
India’s dams are both lifelines and liabilities as they age. A science-based, risk-informed, and climate-resilient approach to dam management is vital. Long-term sustainability lies not just in preserving dams, but in prioritizing safety, minimizing risks, and ensuring intergenerational water security.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025 GS Paper 1/3:
Technology-Driven Disaster Management Strategy
Syllabus: Disaster Management
Source: IE
Context: 2025 Himalayan floods in J&K, Himachal, Punjab, and Uttarakhand caused heavy loss of life and property, exposing disaster preparedness gaps.
• Experts urge a technology-driven disaster management approach for a future-ready Himalayan strategy.
About Technology-Driven Disaster Management Strategy:
Himalayan Disaster Profile:
• Geologically Fragile: Himalayas are young fold mountains, still rising, making them prone to earthquakes, landslides, and slope instability.
• Hydro-Meteorological Hazards: Frequent cloudbursts, flash floods, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) occur during monsoon due to steep slopes and heavy rainfall.
• Anthropogenic Stress: Road widening, tunneling for hydropower, deforestation, and unregulated tourism further destabilise fragile slopes.
• Climate Change Multiplier: Rising temperatures intensify rainfall variability, melting glaciers faster, increasing frequency of floods and landslides.
• High Exposure: Pilgrimage routes and towns on river floodplains and unstable hillsides put large populations and critical infrastructure at risk.
Current Disaster Management Strength:
• Institutional Setup: NDMA at national level and SDMAs, NDRF, SDRFs in states provide a structured, multi-tier disaster management mechanism.
• Rapid Response: Army, Air Force, and BRO quickly deploy rescue teams, helicopters, and bridges to restore connectivity and save lives.
• Technology Use: Drones, Doppler radars, IMD’s nowcasting, and satellite links help in real-time monitoring and quick dissemination of alerts.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Civil administration, armed forces, paramilitary, and disaster forces conduct joint operations ensuring efficiency.
• Community Participation: Local volunteers, panchayats, and NGOs help in evacuation, relief distribution, and first response before formal teams arrive.
Gaps & Challenges:
• Predictive Weakness: Current forecasting cannot provide hyper-local warnings for cloudbursts or GLOFs with high accuracy, reducing lead time.
• Infrastructure Stress: Unplanned construction, road cutting, and encroachments increase hazard exposure and amplify disaster impacts.
• Public Awareness Deficit: Many people ignore SMS alerts or do not know evacuation routes, leading to preventable casualties.
• Institutional Limitations: State Disaster Management Authorities often lack trained manpower, updated plans, and adequate funding.
• Post-Disaster Recovery Issues: Roads and bridges are rebuilt without slope stabilisation, and compensation delays prolong rehabilitation.
Role of Technology in Reducing Disasters:
• GIS & Remote Sensing: Map hazard-prone areas to guide land-use planning, zoning, and infrastructure development.
• AI-Based Forecasting: Use machine learning to analyse rainfall patterns and predict flash floods or debris flow events in advance.
• 24×7 Monitoring: Install continuous sensors for glacial lakes, soil moisture, and Doppler radar to give early warnings of slope failure.
• Drone Surveillance: Monitor vulnerable slopes, deliver supplies, and provide live imagery for decision-makers during disasters.
• Digital Communication: Mass alerts through mobile apps, SMS, sirens, and public announcement systems ensure timely evacuation.
Community & Governance Role:
• Aapda Mitra Training: Build a trained pool of community volunteers who act as first responders in villages and towns.
• Strict Regulation: Enforce construction bans in ecologically sensitive areas and ensure compliance with seismic and safety codes.
• Mock Drills: Conduct regular drills on pilgrim routes and schools to familiarise people with evacuation procedures.
• Decentralised Plans: Strengthen District Disaster Management Authorities with resources and autonomy for localised action.
Way Ahead:
• Preventive Focus: Integrate hazard mapping into urban planning, hydropower projects, and tourism development to avoid high-risk zones.
• Tech Upgrade: Adopt IoT-based sensors, AI prediction models, and blockchain-enabled transparent relief tracking systems.
• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Build bio-engineered retaining walls, climate-proof roads, and slope stabilisation structures.
• Capacity Building: Train disaster professionals, allocate dedicated funds to SDMAs, and promote local disaster literacy.
• Public Engagement: Make disaster preparedness part of civic education and encourage citizens to treat readiness as a duty.
Conclusion:
The Himalayan floods of 2025 are a wake-up call. Disaster management must move from reactive relief to proactive risk reduction, powered by technology and local participation. A resilient, tech-enabled, citizen-aware system is key to safeguarding lives and livelihoods in India’s fragile mountain ecosystems.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Jungle Warfare School
Context: The government will set up a new Jungle Warfare School at Karreguta Hills, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) — a former Maoist stronghold — to train CRPF, DRG, CoBRA, and state police forces.
About Jungle Warfare School:
What They Are?
• Specialized military/police training institutions designed to teach troops survival, mobility, and combat skills in dense forest and hilly terrains.
• Provide counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training with focus on asymmetric warfare in jungle environments.
• To enhance operational effectiveness of security forces in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected regions.
• Train personnel in terrain-specific warfare tactics such as ambushes, cave interventions, and guerrilla counter-strategies.
Key Features:
• Realistic Training Environment: Built in actual operational setting (Karreguta Hills) with caves, waterfalls, narrow valleys.
• Multi-Force Participation: CRPF, COBRA, STF, DRG, and state police personnel trained together.
• Modules cover jungle navigation, survival skills, counter-ambush and cave-clearing operations, night ops, intel gathering, and IED detection.
Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:
• GS-3 (Internal Security):
• Shows state capacity building through specialized training for LWE-affected regions. Strengthens understanding of counter-insurgency tactics and inter-agency coordination.
• Shows state capacity building through specialized training for LWE-affected regions.
• Strengthens understanding of counter-insurgency tactics and inter-agency coordination.
• GS-4 (Ethics):
• Case study on ethical conduct of forces and minimizing collateral damage. Illustrates civil–military cooperation and community engagement in conflict zones.
• Case study on ethical conduct of forces and minimizing collateral damage.
• Illustrates civil–military cooperation and community engagement in conflict zones.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP):
Source: IE
Context: India has officially nominated Sarnath for the UNESCO World Heritage List (2025-26 cycle), potentially ending its 27-year wait on the tentative list.
• The ASI will also install a new plaque crediting Babu Jagat Singh (1787-88) for bringing Sarnath’s archaeological importance to light, correcting earlier attribution to the British.
About Sarnath:
What is Sarnath?
• Sarnath is one of the four holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites (along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagara), located ~10 km northeast of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• It is revered as the place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana Sutta), marking the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha.
Origin & Early History:
• Known as Mrigadava/Rishipatana in Buddhist texts.
• Its association with Buddha was solidified by Emperor Ashoka (268–232 BCE) who erected the famous Lion Capital Pillar (now India’s National Emblem) and built stupas and monasteries.
• The Dhamek Stupa marks the spot of Buddha’s sermon, while monastic remains (vihara ruins) attest to early community life.
Patronage & Flourishing Period:
• Ashokan Era: Patronage turned Sarnath into a major Buddhist pilgrimage centre.
• Kushana & Gupta Dynasties (1st–6th CE): Expanded and refurbished structures, built new monasteries, making Sarnath a thriving monastic hub.
• Survived and flourished until 12th century CE.
Decline & Destruction:
• Sarnath was sacked and burned around 12th century CE.
• Some historians attribute destruction to Qutb-ud-din Aibek’s invasion (1193 CE), others to a brahmanical takeover attempt followed by Islamic raids.
• Monks fled, and the site fell into ruin for nearly seven centuries.
Modern Rediscovery:
• 1787-88: Jagat Singh’s workers unearthed Buddha images while digging for construction material.
• 1799: Jonathan Duncan reported findings, triggering British interest.
• 1835-36: Alexander Cunningham conclusively identified Sarnath as Buddha’s sermon site.
• 1904-05: Friedrich Oertel’s scientific excavations yielded 476 artefacts & 41 inscriptions.
Key Features Today:
• Dhamek Stupa – cylindrical stone stupa marking sermon site.
• Ashokan Pillar & Lion Capital – now India’s national emblem.
• Archaeological Museum – houses relics, inscriptions, sculptures (e.g., seated Buddha in Dharmachakra Mudra).
National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025
Source: News on Air
Context: MNRE launched the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025) to accelerate exploration and deployment of geothermal energy resources.
About National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025:
What It Is?
• A comprehensive framework issued by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) to harness India’s 10 GW geothermal potential, integrate it with renewable energy goals, and build a public-private ecosystem for sustainable development.
Launched By: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Objectives:
• Research & Innovation: Improve geothermal exploration, drilling, reservoir management, cost-effective power generation, and direct-use tech.
• Collaboration: Work with ministries, research institutes, global geothermal agencies, and oil/gas sector.
• Decarbonization: Promote geothermal for space heating/cooling, industry, agriculture, and tourism.
• Infrastructure Utilization: Repurpose abandoned oil & gas wells for geothermal production.
Key Features:
• Vision & Goals:
• Make geothermal a major pillar of India’s renewable energy mix. Enhance energy security and support Net Zero by 2070.
• Make geothermal a major pillar of India’s renewable energy mix.
• Enhance energy security and support Net Zero by 2070.
• Geothermal Potential:
• 381 hot springs identified by GSI; 10 geothermal provinces including Himalayas, Cambay Graben, Godavari Basin, Aravalli. Puga (Ladakh), Manikaran (HP), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) highlighted as high-potential zones.
• 381 hot springs identified by GSI; 10 geothermal provinces including Himalayas, Cambay Graben, Godavari Basin, Aravalli.
• Puga (Ladakh), Manikaran (HP), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) highlighted as high-potential zones.
• Scope of the Policy:
• Covers electricity generation, district heating/cooling, cold storage, greenhouse heating, aquaculture, tourism, desalination. Encourages hybrid systems (geothermal + solar) and mineral extraction (lithium, boron) for economic viability.
• Covers electricity generation, district heating/cooling, cold storage, greenhouse heating, aquaculture, tourism, desalination.
• Encourages hybrid systems (geothermal + solar) and mineral extraction (lithium, boron) for economic viability.
• Development Model:
• 100% FDI permitted in geothermal sector. Promotes risk-sharing mechanisms, joint ventures with oil & gas companies, and single-window clearance by states. Fiscal incentives: GST & import duty exemptions, tax holidays, accelerated depreciation, viability gap funding.
• 100% FDI permitted in geothermal sector.
• Promotes risk-sharing mechanisms, joint ventures with oil & gas companies, and single-window clearance by states.
• Fiscal incentives: GST & import duty exemptions, tax holidays, accelerated depreciation, viability gap funding.
Implementation:
• MNRE as nodal agency with inter-ministerial coordination.
• Establishment of Geothermal Centres of Excellence for R&D and pilot projects.
• Periodic progress reports and SOP-based execution for faster rollout.
De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)
Source: TH
Context: Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) members wrote to PM seeking permanent commission status, staff, funds, and financial powers.
About De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs):
Who They Are?
• De-notified Tribes (DNTs): Communities once listed under Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 by British, branded as “born criminals.”
• Nomadic Tribes (NTs): Groups practicing seasonal/continuous migration for livelihood (salt trading, animal rearing, folk entertainment).
• Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs): Follow less frequent, shorter migrations compared to nomads.
Historical Background:
• 1871-1947: Criminal Tribes Act notified ~200 communities as “criminal.”
• 1952: Act repealed; communities officially “de-notified.”
• 2008: Renke Commission listed DNTs, highlighted extreme marginalisation.
• 2017: Idate Commission identified ~1,200 DNT/NT/SNT groups (many already in SC/ST/OBC lists, 269 unclassified).
Current Status in India:
• Population: Around 10% of India’s population (~13 crore people).
• Spread: 150 DNT groups, ~500 nomadic communities across states.
Cultural & Social Character:
• Rich cultural traditions, own deities, festivals, oral literature, and dispute-resolution systems.
• Traditionally moved in groups of 5–20 families; annual camps used for reunions, marriages, cattle trade.
About Development & Welfare Board for DNT/NT/SNT (DWBDNC):
What It Is?
• Advisory & facilitative body under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for development of DNT/NT/SNT communities.
Origin:
• Constituted on 21 February 2019 by Gazette notification following Idate Commission’s recommendations.
• Intended as an alternative to a permanent commission to avoid overlap with SC/ST/OBC commissions.
Structure:
• Chairperson: Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (ex-officio).
• Members: Two nominated members with three more seats vacant.
• Also includes representatives from Tribal Affairs Ministry, Department of School Education, and officials of Social Justice Ministry.
Functions:
• Policy Advisory: Recommend legal recognition & categorisation of DNT/NT/SNT groups.
• Scheme Implementation: Oversee SEED scheme, scholarships (Dr. Ambedkar Pre/Post-Matric), hostel schemes, skill development.
• Grievance Redressal: Serve as nodal body to address community issues.
• Data & Research: Facilitate surveys, maintain updated database for evidence-based policymaking.
• Coordination: Engage with state governments for community certificates, land allocation, housing rights, and education parity.
EVMs to Have Colour Photos of Candidates
Source: NDTV
Context: Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised EVM ballot paper norms under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
• From Bihar Assembly elections onward, ballot papers will carry colour photographs of candidates, larger serial numbers, and improved design for clarity.
About EVMs to Have Colour Photos of Candidates:
What It Is?
• A revised guideline for Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers.
• Mandates colour candidate photographs on ballot papers for the first time to enhance voter visibility and identification.
Aim of the Reform
• Improve clarity, transparency, and voter experience.
• Reduce voter confusion in constituencies with multiple candidates having similar names/symbols.
• Strengthen free and fair election principles through better ballot paper design.
Procedure & Governance:
• Governed by Rule 49B, Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 (design & printing of ballot papers).
• Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all States/UTs directed to implement revised format.
• Printing to be done at government/semi-government presses, private presses only if required capacity is unavailable — with strict safety protocols.
Key Features:
• Colour Photographs: Candidate face covers 75% of allotted space for easy recognition.
• International Numerals: Candidate/NOTA serial numbers printed in bold (size 30).
• Better Paper Quality: Pink paper for Assembly elections with specified RGB values.
• Layout Standardization: Max 15 candidates per sheet and NOTA placed after last candidate. If fewer than 16 candidates, remaining space kept blank.
• Max 15 candidates per sheet and NOTA placed after last candidate.
• If fewer than 16 candidates, remaining space kept blank.
• Uniform Font: Names printed in same bold typeface for readability.
Significance:
• Voter-Friendly: Helps first-time voters, elderly, visually weaker voters to identify candidates quickly.
• Transparency Boost: Reduces scope for impersonation/confusion in candidate identity.
• Electoral Credibility: Strengthens ECI’s commitment to fair and inclusive elections.
Periyar Tiger Reserve
Source: TH
Context: Kerala Finance Inspection Wing report flagged financial irregularities at Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) – diversion of tourism income to a “Park Welfare Fund” without government approval.
About Periyar Tiger Reserve:
What It Is?
• A protected area and Project Tiger Reserve renowned for rich biodiversity and community-based ecotourism model.
• Recognized as Best Managed Tiger Reserve (2022) by NTCA under Management Effectiveness Assessment.
• Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Western Ghats).
Location:
• Situated in: Cardamom & Pandalam Hills, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala.
• Districts Covered: Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta.
History:
• Initially declared Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (1950).
• Brought under Project Tiger in 1978 as India’s 10th Tiger Reserve.
• Developed unique Periyar Model of participatory forest management — transforming “poachers into protectors.”
Key Features:
• Flora & Fauna: Home to Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Wild Dog, and endemic species. Rich fish diversity with 7 endemic species and 3 unique endemic plant species.
• Home to Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Wild Dog, and endemic species.
• Rich fish diversity with 7 endemic species and 3 unique endemic plant species.
• Community Involvement: 81 Ecodevelopment Committees (EDCs), including Vasanthasena women’s group for sandalwood patrolling and plastic removal. Organic pepper cultivation by Urali tribes exported globally.
• 81 Ecodevelopment Committees (EDCs), including Vasanthasena women’s group for sandalwood patrolling and plastic removal.
• Organic pepper cultivation by Urali tribes exported globally.
• Tourism & Education: Interpretation Centre, Kalari & Vanasree Halls, Amphitheatre for eco-awareness. Nature Education programmes since 1989, training for schools, NGOs, media.
• Interpretation Centre, Kalari & Vanasree Halls, Amphitheatre for eco-awareness.
• Nature Education programmes since 1989, training for schools, NGOs, media.
• Innovations: M-STrIPES app for patrolling & ecological data. Dog squad (“Periyar Sniffers”), VIPER special task force for anti-poaching and rescue. Climate-resilient farming projects to support tribal livelihoods.
• M-STrIPES app for patrolling & ecological data.
• Dog squad (“Periyar Sniffers”), VIPER special task force for anti-poaching and rescue.
• Climate-resilient farming projects to support tribal livelihoods.
Meta Display Smart Glasses
Source: BT
Context: Meta launched the first Ray-Ban smart glasses with in-built AR display, showcased at the Meta Connect event 2025.
About Meta Display Smart Glasses:
What It Is?
• Wearable Augmented Reality (AR) device built into eyeglasses.
• Projects digital content (text, images, video) onto the lens, overlaying virtual information onto real-world view.
• Meta’s Ray-Ban Display is the first mainstream AR glasses with a built-in display since Google Glass.
How It Works?
• Micro-Display System: Projects a small, bright image onto the inside of the right lens, appearing below eye-line.
• Sensors & Cameras: Capture surroundings, enabling environment-aware overlays.
• Processors: Render AR content in real time.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth links to smartphone for data, calls, messaging.
• Controls: Touch panel on arms, voice commands, and neural wristband (detects finger gestures).
Key Features:
• Heads-Up Display (HUD): Floating text/images for calls, directions, translations.
• AI Integration: Meta AI chatbot answers questions with text + images.
• Live Interaction: Captions/translation of conversations, video calls, navigation guidance.
• Media Capture: Photo/video viewfinder with sharing to WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger.
• Battery Life: ~6 hours active use, 30 hours with charging case.
• Privacy: LED indicator when camera is active.
Applications:
• Navigation & Travel: Turn-by-turn walking directions, landmark info.
• Communication: Live captions, translations, hands-free video calls.
• Education & Training: AR overlays for real-time guidance, immersive learning.
• Enterprise Use: Field service assistance, remote collaboration.
• Fitness & Sports: Real-time pace, heart rate, data logging with Garmin integration.
• Entertainment: AR gaming, watching content on virtual screens.
Limitations:
• Battery Constraint: Limited to ~6 hours; needs frequent charging for heavy use.
• Privacy Concerns: Camera use in public raises surveillance issues.
• Connectivity Dependence: Requires constant smartphone + internet link.
• Distraction Risk: Potential for cognitive overload or unsafe use while driving.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2025 Mapping:
Machu Picchu
Source: FP
Context: Peru evacuated 1,600 tourists from Machu Picchu after protests blocked train access, demanding inclusion in the bidding process for a new bus operator.
About Machu Picchu:
What It Is?
• A 15th-century Inca citadel and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) and Peru’s most iconic tourist destination, attracting ~4,500 visitors daily.
• Known for its remarkable preservation and engineering brilliance, combining ceremonial, residential, and agricultural areas.
Location:
• Situated ~80 km northwest of Cusco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, Andes Mountains.
• Perched at 2,350 m (7,710 ft) above sea level, overlooking the Urubamba River Valley.
• Lies between two peaks – Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) and Huayna Picchu (“New Peak”).
Origin & History:
• Built during reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (c. 1438–1471) as a royal estate or retreat.
• Abandoned in the mid-16th century, likely due to Spanish conquest and lack of water.
• Rediscovered in 1911 by Yale professor Hiram Bingham, guided by local Melchor Arteaga.
Key Features:
• Urban Layout: Divided into ceremonial, agricultural, and residential sectors connected by thousands of stone-cut steps.
• Agricultural Terraces: Ingenious aqueduct system for irrigation.
• Notable Structures: Temple of the Sun – Sacred ceremonial site. Temple of the Three Windows – Features trapezoidal Inca architecture. Intihuatana Stone – A carved ceremonial sundial. Royal Tombs & Palaces – Indicate its use as a royal estate.
• Temple of the Sun – Sacred ceremonial site.
• Temple of the Three Windows – Features trapezoidal Inca architecture.
• Intihuatana Stone – A carved ceremonial sundial.
• Royal Tombs & Palaces – Indicate its use as a royal estate.
• Access: By train to Aguas Calientes + bus ride or hiking the Inca Trail (3–6 days).
Significance:
• Cultural Heritage: Symbol of Inca civilisation’s architectural and engineering mastery.
• Tourism: Peru’s most economically vital tourist site; generates major foreign exchange.
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Official Facebook Page HERE
Twitter Account HERE
Instagram Account HERE
LinkedIn: HERE