UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 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 – 3 November (2025)
• Revisiting Restraint: India and the New Nuclear Order
Revisiting Restraint: India and the New Nuclear Order
GS Paper 3:
• Powering India’s Green Transition and Strategic Self-Reliance
Powering India’s Green Transition and Strategic Self-Reliance
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• RBI Data on Household Debt and Asset Growth
RBI Data on Household Debt and Asset Growth
• Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty
Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025
Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025
• Asian Youth Games 2025
Asian Youth Games 2025
• LVM3-M5 Launch Vehicle
LVM3-M5 Launch Vehicle
• UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
• ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
• The Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex
The Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex
Mapping:
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
Revisiting Restraint: India and the New Nuclear Order
Syllabus: International Relations
Source: IE
Context: U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement about potentially resuming nuclear testing has reignited global debates on arms control, prompting calls for India to re-evaluate its voluntary moratorium on nuclear tests amid a shifting global strategic landscape.
About Revisiting Restraint: India and the New Nuclear Order
Shifting Global Nuclear Order:
• The post–Cold War consensus on nuclear restraint is weakening as major powers modernise their arsenals.
• Russia has withdrawn from key arms-control treaties and revived test-site activity in the Arctic.
• China is rapidly expanding its nuclear stockpile, building missile silos and testing infrastructure at Lop Nur.
• The U.S., citing doubts about simulation-based reliability, is reconsidering its long-standing test moratorium.
• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) remains unratified by major powers, eroding trust in the global non-testing regime.
India’s Nuclear Testing History and Legacy:
• 1974 – Pokhran-I (“Smiling Buddha”): India’s first nuclear test marked its entry into the nuclear club for peaceful purposes.
• 1998 – Pokhran-II: India conducted five tests under Operation Shakti, validating multiple fission and fusion devices.
• Post-1998, India declared a voluntary moratorium on testing and adopted the No First Use (NFU) doctrine under credible minimum deterrence (CMD).
• This restraint earned India international legitimacy, leading to the civil nuclear deals, end of sanctions, and recognition as a responsible nuclear power.
Factors Leading to Renewed Testing Push:
• Eroding Global Restraint: Major powers’ moves toward re-testing reduce the credibility of voluntary moratoriums.
• Technological Obsolescence: India’s nuclear designs were last validated in 1998; advancements in materials and delivery systems demand revalidation.
• Regional Security Dynamics: China’s expansion and Pakistan’s tactical diversification increase pressure on India’s deterrence credibility.
• Uncertain Simulation Reliability: Computer models and subcritical tests cannot fully replace physical data.
• Strategic Signalling: Testing could reaffirm deterrence credibility and technological maturity amid shifting global alignments.
Challenges Associated with Nuclear Testing:
• Diplomatic Fallout: Testing could trigger global condemnation, sanctions, and jeopardise India’s diplomatic capital.
• Erosion of Moral Standing: India’s image as a responsible and restrained nuclear power could suffer internationally.
• Economic Costs: Renewed sanctions or trade restrictions may impact investment and technology inflows.
• Environmental Risks: Even underground tests carry radiation and ecological hazards in arid test zones.
• Arms Race Escalation: Testing might provoke regional reactions from China and Pakistan, heightening instability.
India’s Strategic Concerns:
• India’s credible minimum deterrence depends on maintaining confidence in weapon reliability and performance.
• Agni-V, submarine-launched missiles, and upcoming MIRV systems require assurance of yield, miniaturisation, and precision.
• Without periodic validation, the credibility of deterrence weakens, affecting India’s posture in South Asia and beyond.
• India must balance restraint with readiness, ensuring strategic autonomy in an uncertain global order.
Way Ahead:
• Strategic Review: Establish a high-level national commission to assess deterrence credibility under evolving threats.
• Enhanced Simulation & Subcritical Testing: Invest in advanced computing, materials research, and non-explosive validation facilities.
• Diplomatic Preparedness: Maintain transparency and dialogue to avoid isolation if testing ever becomes necessary.
• Regional Stability Framework: Pursue confidence-building measures with China and Pakistan while ensuring technological parity.
• Ethical Consistency: Any future action must align with India’s NFU and credible minimum deterrence principles — testing only for validation, not aggression.
Conclusion:
India’s restraint since 1998 reflected maturity and responsibility, but unexamined restraint risks strategic stagnation. In an era of shifting power equations, India must balance ethical restraint with scientific readiness. The true test of strategic autonomy lies not in denial of change, but in readiness to adapt without compromising moral credibility.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025 GS Paper 3:
Powering India’s Green Transition and Strategic Self-Reliance
- •Syllabus: Economy and Minerals*
- •Source: YT*
Context: India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) to build self-reliance in the exploration, mining, and processing of rare earth and critical minerals that are vital for clean energy, electronics, and defence technologies.
About Powering India’s Green Transition and Strategic Self-Reliance:
Importance of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals:
• Backbone of Modern Technology: Power electronics, EVs, wind turbines, solar panels, and digital infrastructure.
• Enabler of Green Transition: Essential for achieving global climate targets and net-zero commitments.
• Strategic Resource: Critical for national defence, aerospace, and advanced communication systems.
• Economic Driver: Integral to the clean-tech value chain, boosting innovation and manufacturing competitiveness.
Difference between Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals
Aspect | Rare Earth Elements (REEs) | Critical Minerals
Definition | 17 metallic elements with similar properties, often found together | Broader group defined by economic importance & supply risk
Use | Magnets, lasers, EV motors, wind turbines | EV batteries, solar cells, semiconductors, defence equipment
Scope | Subset of critical minerals | Includes REEs + others like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite
Supply Risk | Highly concentrated (mostly China) | Varies across elements but globally vulnerable
India’s Context and Climate Goals:
• India targets a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and aims for net-zero emissions by 2070, aligning with global climate goals.
• To achieve this, India needs secure access to critical minerals for renewable energy, battery storage, and EV expansion.
• Although India ranks 5th globally in rare earth reserves, it lacks large-scale refining, magnet, and downstream processing capacity.
• The National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) ensures supply chain security, industrial competitiveness, and strategic self-reliance.
Applications:
• Renewable Energy: Minerals like silicon, indium, and gallium power solar panels, while neodymium and dysprosium enable high-efficiency wind turbines.
• Electric Vehicles & Storage: Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are essential for lithium-ion batteries driving EVs and grid storage systems.
• Electronics: Copper, tungsten, and tin are vital for semiconductors, printed circuits, and microprocessors in high-tech manufacturing.
• Defence & Aerospace: Titanium and rare earth magnets are used in jet engines, missiles, and satellite communication systems.
• Medical Equipment: Critical minerals form components in MRI scanners, pacemakers, and diagnostic imaging technologies.
Challenges Associated:
• High Import Dependence: Over 60% of the world’s refining capacity lies in China, posing geopolitical and supply risks.
• Technology Gaps: India lacks advanced refining, metallisation, and magnet-making infrastructure to process critical minerals efficiently.
• Environmental Concerns: Mining and refining can cause soil and water pollution, demanding strict ecological safeguards.
• Regulatory Delays: Slow clearances and fragmented governance across agencies hinder timely project execution.
• Funding & Skill Deficit: Capital-heavy exploration and limited technical expertise slow innovation and industrial scalability.
Initiatives Taken:
• National Critical Mineral Mission (2025): Aims for end-to-end value creation—exploration, mining, processing, and recycling.
• MMDR Act Amendment (2023): Added 24 critical minerals for centralised auction and improved transparency in allocation.
• KABIL JV: Secured lithium assets in Argentina and partnered with Australia for strategic critical mineral collaborations.
• Customs Duty Exemption (2025): Reduces input costs for domestic processing and encourages industrial-scale refining.
• Processing Parks & Recycling: Promotes circular economy models and value addition across the mineral supply chain.
Way Ahead:
• Develop Domestic Value Chain: Build capacity from exploration to magnet and battery component manufacturing.
• Foster R&D & Startups: Encourage innovation in refining, separation, and recycling technologies through targeted funding.
• Diversify Imports: Establish strategic partnerships with resource-rich nations to reduce overdependence on China.
• Environmental Safeguards: Enforce sustainable mining practices and strengthen recovery from secondary sources.
• Policy Integration: Align mineral strategy with Make in India, Green Hydrogen Mission, and energy transition policies.
Conclusion:
Critical minerals are the foundation of India’s green and digital economy, linking climate goals with strategic autonomy. The mission represents a shift from dependence to resilience, ensuring long-term sustainability and technological leadership. By investing in exploration, innovation, and circularity, India can become a global hub for green-critical mineral value chains.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
RBI Data on Household Debt and Asset Growth
Context: Recent RBI data (2024–25) reveal that Indian households are accumulating debt faster than assets, with annual liabilities rising 102% since 2019–20, outpacing the 48% growth in financial assets.
About RBI Data on Household Debt and Asset Growth:
What it is?
• The Reserve Bank of India’s financial accounts data track how Indian households build assets and accumulate liabilities annually, offering insights into savings, investment behaviour, and economic resilience.
Trends:
• Asset Growth: Annual household financial assets rose from ₹24.1 lakh crore (2019–20) to ₹35.6 lakh crore (2024–25) — a 48% increase.
• Liability Surge: Annual financial liabilities more than doubled from ₹7.5 lakh crore to ₹15.7 lakh crore, marking a 102% rise.
• GDP Share: Financial asset formation declined from 12% to 10.8% of GDP, while liabilities rose from 3.9% to 4.7%.
• Savings Pattern Shift: Households are diversifying—bank deposits remain dominant, but mutual funds and market-linked instruments are gaining traction.
• Debt Moderation: Household debt peaked at 6.2% of GDP in 2023–24, slightly easing in 2024–25, suggesting gradual financial stabilization.
Implications:
• Reduced Household Savings Rate could limit domestic investment and affect capital formation.
• Rising Consumer Leverage increases vulnerability to interest rate hikes or income shocks.
• Shift to Market Assets shows growing financial literacy but also higher exposure to volatility.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper III – Indian Economy: Topic: Growth, mobilization of resources, inclusive development, and financial stability. Helps understand household financial behaviour, savings-investment trends, and macro-financial indicators relevant to economic planning.
• Topic: Growth, mobilization of resources, inclusive development, and financial stability.
• Helps understand household financial behaviour, savings-investment trends, and macro-financial indicators relevant to economic planning.
• GS Paper II – Governance & Welfare: Linked to financial inclusion, digital savings, and welfare-linked credit access for households.
• Linked to financial inclusion, digital savings, and welfare-linked credit access for households.
Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty
Context: On Kerala Piravi Day, Chief Minister declared Kerala free from extreme poverty, marking India’s first state-level success in achieving this milestone through a four-year Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP).
About Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty:
What is Extreme Poverty?
• According to the World Bank (2025 revision), individuals living on less than $3 per day (2021 PPP) are considered to be in extreme poverty.
• This threshold represents the median poverty line of low-income countries. It is distinct from poverty, which applies to those earning below higher national or multidimensional thresholds.
Criteria used by Kerala:
• Unlike the World Bank or NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Kerala defined extreme poverty through four local indicators — food insecurity, poor health access, lack of housing, and absence of income.
• The approach focused on human deprivation rather than purely income-based metrics.
Methods Used for Eradication:
• Comprehensive Identification: Local bodies, assisted by 4 lakh trained officials and volunteers, conducted extensive surveys to identify ~1.18 lakh extremely poor families, later verified to 59,000 families.
• Micro-plans for Each Family: Tailored interventions were designed to address food, shelter, health, and education gaps at the household level.
• Food and Nutrition Security: Over 20,600 families ensured regular food supply through Kudumbashree’s community kitchens.
• Housing for the Homeless: 4,005 out of 4,677 homeless families were provided houses under the LIFE Mission scheme.
• Avakasam Athivegam (Rights Fast): Campaign launched to ensure access to civic documents, pensions, electricity, and LPG connections for all identified families.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice:
• Demonstrates effective local self-governance and decentralised welfare delivery. Example of policy convergence and bottom-up implementation aligned with SDG-1 (No Poverty) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Demonstrates effective local self-governance and decentralised welfare delivery.
• Example of policy convergence and bottom-up implementation aligned with SDG-1 (No Poverty) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• GS Paper III – Economy & Development:
• Illustrates India’s progress in reducing income and multidimensional poverty. Can be cited in inclusive growth, human development, and welfare economics answers.
• Illustrates India’s progress in reducing income and multidimensional poverty.
• Can be cited in inclusive growth, human development, and welfare economics answers.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025
Source: ANI
Context: The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025 to expand EPF coverage and promote voluntary compliance among employers.
About Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025:
What it is?
• The Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025 is a special one-time compliance window under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to allow employers to voluntarily enrol eligible employees who were not covered under the EPF between 1 July 2017 and 31 October 2025.
Organisation Involved: Implemented by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• To extend social security coverage to all eligible employees under the EPF Act, 1952.
• To encourage voluntary compliance by employers and improve trust between businesses and regulators.
• To promote formalisation of the workforce and ensure financial protection for unregistered employees.
Features:
• Operational period: Six months from 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026.
• Employers can enrol workers employed between July 2017–October 2025 who were left out of EPF coverage.
• Waiver of employee’s contribution if it was not deducted earlier.
• Only employer’s share of contribution and a nominal ₹100 penalty required for compliance.
• Applicable even to establishments under inquiry under Section 7A or Paragraph 26B of the EPF Act.
• EPFO will not take suo motu action for past omissions once voluntary compliance is made.
Significance:
• Expands EPF coverage and strengthens the social security net for millions of workers.
• Encourages ease of doing business by reducing compliance burden and penalties.
• Promotes labour formalisation and aligns with the government’s goal of universal social protection.
Asian Youth Games 2025
Source: DD News
Context: Prime Minister of India congratulated India’s young athletes for their historic performance at the Asian Youth Games 2025, where India achieved its best-ever medal tally of 48 medals.
About Asian Youth Games 2025:
What it is?
• The Asian Youth Games (AYG) is a continental multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for athletes aged between 14–17 years, aimed at nurturing young sporting talent across Asia.
Origin: First held in Singapore in 2009, the Games were designed as a feeder event for the Asian Games, helping young athletes gain international exposure early in their careers.
History:
• 1st Edition (2009): Singapore
• 2nd Edition (2013): Nanjing, China
• The 2017 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to logistical and pandemic-related issues, marking Bahrain 2025 as the third edition of the Games after a 12-year gap.
2025 Event (Bahrain):
• Held in Manama, Bahrain, from 22–31 October 2025.
• Featured participants from across Asia in multiple disciplines.
• India delivered a record-breaking performance, winning 48 medals — its highest-ever tally, surpassing previous bests from 2009 and 2013 editions. 13 gold, 18 silver, 17 bronze which is total of 48 medals.
• 13 gold, 18 silver, 17 bronze which is total of 48 medals.
• The achievement reflected India’s growing youth sports infrastructure and training programs under initiatives like Khelo India.
Next Event: The 4th Asian Youth Games will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2029, which was originally planned for 2025 but postponed due to construction delays.
Significance:
• Reinforces India’s rise as a youth sports powerhouse in Asia.
• Strengthens the nation’s Olympic talent pipeline for future global competitions.
• Encourages investment in grassroots sports development and youth training programs.
LVM3-M5 Launch Vehicle
Source: IT
Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota.
About CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) Communication Satellite:
What it is?
• CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, is a next-generation multi-band communication satellite designed to enhance India’s secure and high-throughput communication capabilities over land and sea.
Developed by: Developed and launched by ISRO, with all stages and subsystems built using indigenous technology, under the Department of Space.
Aim: To provide reliable, high-capacity communication links for government, defence, maritime, and disaster management operations while expanding India’s digital and strategic communication footprint.
Key Features:
• Heaviest Indian-built satellite launched from Indian soil, weighing 4,410 kg.
• Multi-band payloads covering C, Ku, and Ka bands for versatile communication applications.
• Offers coverage across the Indian mainland and wide oceanic regions, supporting maritime connectivity.
• Equipped with 15-year mission life and high-throughput transponders for broadband and satellite internet services.
• Replaces the ageing GSAT-7 series, integrating advanced transponders for secure defence communications and future 5G applications.
About LVM3-M5 Launch Vehicle:
What it is?
• The Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3)—nicknamed “Baahubali” for its heavy-lift capability—is India’s most powerful three-stage rocket, capable of placing 4-tonne class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Aim: To ensure complete self-reliance in launching heavy communication and deep-space satellites from Indian soil, eliminating dependence on foreign launch providers.
Key Features:
• Three-stage configuration: Two S200 solid boosters, one L110 liquid stage, and a C25 cryogenic upper stage.
• Heaviest launch vehicle (641 tonnes; 43.5 metres tall) capable of carrying 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to LEO.
• Cryogenic re-ignition experiment successfully tested for future multi-satellite deployments.
• Indigenous cryogenic engine (C25) developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, enhancing payload efficiency by 10%.
• Proven reliability — eight consecutive successful missions, including Chandrayaan-3 (2023) and now CMS-03 (2025), solidifying its role as India’s heavy-lift workhorse and future Gaganyaan crew launcher.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
Source: TH
Context: At the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Uzbekistan (2025), Lucknow was declared a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrating its rich Awadhi cuisine, culinary heritage, and cultural diplomacy through food.
About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN):
What it is?
• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a global platform of cities that use creativity and cultural industries as key drivers for sustainable urban development.
Established in: 2004 by UNESCO to promote international cooperation among cities investing in culture and creativity as tools for inclusive growth.
• To strengthen collaboration among cities, foster cultural innovation, and integrate creativity in local development policies—supporting SDGs, especially Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Key Features:
• Brings together 350+ cities worldwide from 7 creative fields — Gastronomy, Literature, Music, Film, Design, Crafts & Folk Arts, and Media Arts.
• Promotes cultural exchange, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building among member cities.
• Encourages creative economy growth, sustainable tourism, and inclusive urban planning.
• Recognizes and protects intangible cultural heritage while aligning with UNESCO’s global cultural agenda.
• Cities commit to collaborative international projects and periodic progress reporting to maintain designation.
Indian Cities Recognized under UCCN:
City | Field of Recognition | Year
Jaipur | Crafts and Folk Arts | 2015
Varanasi | Music | 2015
Chennai | Music | 2017
Mumbai | Film | 2019
Hyderabad | Gastronomy | 2019
Srinagar | Crafts and Folk Arts | 2021
Kozhikode | Literature | 2023
Gwalior | Music | 2023
Lucknow | Gastronomy | 2025
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Source: ICC
Context: India created history by winning its maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final held at Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
About ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025:
What it is?
• The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is the premier One Day International (ODI) championship for women, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) every four years. Each team plays 50 overs, and qualification is determined through the ICC Women’s Championship and World Cup Qualifier tournaments.
Origin and History:
• First held: 1973 in England — two years before the first men’s World Cup.
• Initially organized by: International Women’s Cricket Council (till 2005).
• Format: Round-robin and knockout stages, featuring top women’s cricketing nations.
• Dominant teams: Australia (7 titles), England (4), New Zealand (1), India (1 – 2025).
• India’s hosting years: 1978, 1997, 2013, and 2025(along with Sri Lanka).
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Highlights:
Category | Details
Host Nation | India and Sri Lanka
Venue (Final) | Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Winner | India (First-ever title)
Runner-up | South Africa
Margin of Victory | India won by 52 runs
Player of the Match | Shafali Verma
Player of the Series | Deepti Sharma
Captain (India) | Harmanpreet Kaur
Captain (South Africa) | Laura Wolvaardt
Significance:
• Historic Achievement: India lifted its first-ever Women’s World Cup, cementing its place among top global cricketing nations.
• Women’s Cricket Empowerment: A major milestone for women’s sports in India, inspiring greater participation and investment.
• Sporting Diplomacy: Enhanced India’s image as a leading global host of major sports events.
The Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex
Source: TOI
Context: Experts, researchers, and forest officials have joined forces to seek Ramsar site status for the Rowmari–Donduwa wetland complex in Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, after it recorded higher bird diversity than existing Ramsar sites in Northeast India.
About The Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex:
What it is?
• The Rowmari–Donduwa wetland complex is an interconnected floodplain–marsh ecosystem located within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (70.13 sq. km), which forms part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in Nagaon district, central Assam.
• It serves as a crucial ecological and migratory corridor between the Kaziranga and Orang National Parks.
Location: Situated in the heart of Assam, the wetlands are embedded within the Kaziranga–Orang landscape, bordered by the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, both functioning as buffer zones of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
Key Features:
• Area: Covers around 2.5–3 sq. km of interconnected floodplain–marsh terrain.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: Hosts over 120 species of resident and migratory birds, surpassing counts at Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake.
• Bird Census 2025: Recorded 47,000+ birds, including 20,653 at Rowmari Beel and 26,480 at Donduwa Beel.
• Ramsar Criteria: Meets 8 of the 9 Ramsar criteria, making it eligible for international wetland recognition.
• Ecological Role: Acts as a habitat, breeding, and feeding ground for migratory and threatened avian species.
Flora:
• Dominated by floodplain vegetation, aquatic grasses, and marshland reeds, providing cover and nesting sites.
• Presence of hydrophytes and sedges, essential for wetland nutrient cycling and maintaining water quality.
Fauna:
• Avian Diversity: Includes globally threatened species such as the Knob-billed Duck, Black-necked Stork, and Ferruginous Pochard.
• Other Wildlife: Supports fish, amphibians, otters, reptiles, and serves as a feeding zone for animals migrating from Kaziranga and Orang.
• Migratory Birds: Hosts winter visitors from Central Asia and Siberia, forming part of the Central Asian Flyway.
Significance:
• Biodiversity Conservation: A critical site for waterbird and wetland ecosystem preservation in Assam’s Brahmaputra floodplains.
• Ecological Connectivity: Strengthens wildlife corridors within the Kaziranga-Orang landscape.
• Climate Resilience: Acts as a natural flood buffer and carbon sink, supporting hydrological balance.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 November 2025 Mapping:
Source: TOI
Context: Sudan’s civil war, now in its third year, has escalated after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control — deepening fears of genocide, partition, and regional instability.
About Sudan:
What it is?
• Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a Northeast African nation currently engulfed in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
Capital: The national capital is Khartoum.
Neighbouring Nations:
• Sudan shares borders with Egypt (north), Libya (northwest), Chad (west), Central African Republic (southwest), South Sudan (south), Ethiopia and Eritrea (southeast), and has a coastline along the Red Sea (east).
Key Features:
• Third-largest country in Africa (1.88 million sq. km) with a population of around 50 million.
• Rich in gold and agricultural resources, yet among the poorest globally, ranking 170th on the Human Development Index (2024).
• Experienced decades of civil wars, coups, and authoritarian rule — from British-Egyptian colonisation to Omar al-Bashir’s dictatorship (1989–2019).
• Climate vulnerability, desertification, and famine compound its humanitarian crises.
Current Issues:
• Civil War (since April 2023): A power struggle between the army (SAF) and RSF over political control and military integration.
• Humanitarian Catastrophe: Over 24 million people face acute food insecurity; famine declared in several Darfur regions.
• Ethnic Violence: Widespread killings and sexual violence against non-Arab communities, with genocide allegations in Darfur.
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