UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 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 – 30 July (2025)
• Tsunami
Tsunami
GS Paper 3:
• Adopt Formalisation to Power Productivity Growth in India’s Manufacturing Sector
Adopt Formalisation to Power Productivity Growth in India’s Manufacturing Sector
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• The IMF has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 6.4%
The IMF has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 6.4%
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Flight-Tests of the Pralay Quasi-Ballistic Missile
Flight-Tests of the Pralay Quasi-Ballistic Missile
• Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Four Foreign Universities
Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Four Foreign Universities
• Mount Cilo
Mount Cilo
• Operation ShivShakti
Operation ShivShakti
• A new human blood group—CRIB
A new human blood group—CRIB
Mapping:
• Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025
#### GS Paper 1:
Tsunami
Syllabus: Geography
Source: NDTV
Context: An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggering a tsunami that impacted Russia, Japan, and issued warnings as far as Hawaii and New Zealand.
About Tsunami:
• What is a Tsunami? A tsunami is a series of high-energy sea waves caused by sudden large-scale disturbances like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These waves travel rapidly across oceans and cause major destruction upon landfall.
• A tsunami is a series of high-energy sea waves caused by sudden large-scale disturbances like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These waves travel rapidly across oceans and cause major destruction upon landfall.
• Tsunami Formation: Seafloor Disturbance: A sudden undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide shifts the ocean floor abruptly. This vertical displacement of the seabed pushes up or pulls down large volumes of seawater. It creates a disturbance that initiates tsunami waves spreading outward from the epicentre. Wave Generation: The displaced water forms a series of long-wavelength waves that move outward in all directions. In deep ocean, these waves travel extremely fast—up to 800–900 km/h—like a jet plane. Despite high speed, the wave height in deep water is low (30–50 cm), making it barely noticeable. Drawback Effect: As the tsunami approaches land, the trough may arrive before the crest, pulling water away from shore. This causes the sea to appear to recede dramatically, exposing seabed and marine life abnormally. Many people misinterpret this as low tide, unaware it precedes a devastating incoming wave Wave Amplification: In shallower waters, the tsunami slows down due to friction with the seabed. As the trailing water masses catch up, energy is compressed and wave height rapidly increases. This vertical surge can grow from 1 meter to over 10 meters within minutes, intensifying its force. Coastal Impact: The towering wave crashes onto the coast with immense speed and pressure. It inundates up to several kilometres inland, sweeping away people, buildings, trees, and vehicles. Subsequent retreating waves drag debris and survivors back into the sea, worsening destruction.
• Seafloor Disturbance: A sudden undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide shifts the ocean floor abruptly. This vertical displacement of the seabed pushes up or pulls down large volumes of seawater. It creates a disturbance that initiates tsunami waves spreading outward from the epicentre.
• A sudden undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide shifts the ocean floor abruptly.
• This vertical displacement of the seabed pushes up or pulls down large volumes of seawater.
• It creates a disturbance that initiates tsunami waves spreading outward from the epicentre.
• Wave Generation: The displaced water forms a series of long-wavelength waves that move outward in all directions. In deep ocean, these waves travel extremely fast—up to 800–900 km/h—like a jet plane. Despite high speed, the wave height in deep water is low (30–50 cm), making it barely noticeable.
• The displaced water forms a series of long-wavelength waves that move outward in all directions.
• In deep ocean, these waves travel extremely fast—up to 800–900 km/h—like a jet plane.
• Despite high speed, the wave height in deep water is low (30–50 cm), making it barely noticeable.
• Drawback Effect: As the tsunami approaches land, the trough may arrive before the crest, pulling water away from shore. This causes the sea to appear to recede dramatically, exposing seabed and marine life abnormally. Many people misinterpret this as low tide, unaware it precedes a devastating incoming wave
• As the tsunami approaches land, the trough may arrive before the crest, pulling water away from shore.
• This causes the sea to appear to recede dramatically, exposing seabed and marine life abnormally.
• Many people misinterpret this as low tide, unaware it precedes a devastating incoming wave
• Wave Amplification: In shallower waters, the tsunami slows down due to friction with the seabed. As the trailing water masses catch up, energy is compressed and wave height rapidly increases. This vertical surge can grow from 1 meter to over 10 meters within minutes, intensifying its force.
• In shallower waters, the tsunami slows down due to friction with the seabed.
• As the trailing water masses catch up, energy is compressed and wave height rapidly increases.
• This vertical surge can grow from 1 meter to over 10 meters within minutes, intensifying its force.
• Coastal Impact: The towering wave crashes onto the coast with immense speed and pressure. It inundates up to several kilometres inland, sweeping away people, buildings, trees, and vehicles. Subsequent retreating waves drag debris and survivors back into the sea, worsening destruction.
• The towering wave crashes onto the coast with immense speed and pressure.
• It inundates up to several kilometres inland, sweeping away people, buildings, trees, and vehicles.
• Subsequent retreating waves drag debris and survivors back into the sea, worsening destruction.
Characters of Tsunami:
• Long Wavelength: Tsunamis have extremely long wavelengths—up to 200 km between successive wave crests.
• High Energy and Speed (Not Height in Deep Water): In the open ocean, tsunami waves travel at jet-like speeds (up to 800–900 km/h) but appear only ~30–50 cm high.
• Multiple Waves Over Hours: Tsunamis are not a single wave but a series of waves, often arriving over several hours. The first wave is rarely the largest and later waves can be more destructive.
• Often Invisible at Sea, Deadly at Shore: In deep waters, ships barely notice a tsunami due to its low amplitude and wide spacing.
Implications of Tsunamis:
• Loss of Lives and Health Hazards: Tsunamis often lead to large-scale fatalities and injuries. For example, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami left thousands of dead, with many victims showing signs of drowning and blunt force trauma.
• Infrastructure Damage: Critical infrastructure such as ports, coastal homes, bridges, and even nuclear power plants can be destroyed or rendered inoperable, severely affecting the regional economy.
• Environmental Loss: Tsunamis devastate ecosystems by inundating croplands with saltwater, destroying coastal habitats, and spreading marine and human debris across vast areas of land and ocean.
• Disruption of Services: Basic services such as electricity, clean water supply, road and rail transport, and communication networks often collapse after a tsunami, delaying rescue and rehabilitation.
• Secondary Hazards: Tsunamis triggered by earthquakes can also lead to fires, chemical leaks from damaged facilities, and coastal or underwater landslides, compounding the overall destruction.
Tsunami Early Warning Systems
India’s System:
• Seismic Monitoring: 24/7 seismic stations detect global quakes within 10 minutes, filtering tsunamigenic ones.
• DART Buoys (BPRs): Bottom Pressure Recorders detect sea pressure changes from deep-sea waves in real time.
• Tide Gauges: Installed along coasts, they verify tsunami waves’ actual height and arrival at land.
• Alert Dissemination: INCOIS sends alerts to NDMA, media, and public via SMS, sirens, satellite, and radio.
Global Systems:
• IOC-UNESCO Coordination: Regional warning centres (e.g., PTWC, JMA) coordinate tsunami alerts globally.
• Global Seismic Networks: Real-time quake data from thousands of stations help assess tsunami risk.
• DART and Tide Gauges: Confirm tsunami formation and arrival, supporting accurate regional alerts.
• Satellite and Radar: Radar altimetry and coastal radar detect sea-level anomalies and wave patterns.
Conclusion:
Tsunamis are rare but deadly, demanding constant global vigilance and rapid response systems. India’s robust early warning system and international coordination remain critical to minimizing future risks.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025 GS Paper 3:
Adopt Formalisation to Power Productivity Growth in India’s Manufacturing Sector
Syllabus: Economy
Source: TH
Context: A recent study based on ASI data (1999–2019) shows that contractualization in India’s formal manufacturing sector has risen from 20% to 40.7%, primarily driven by cost-avoidance rather than flexibility or skills, thereby harming long-term productivity growth.
About Adopt Formalisation to Power Productivity Growth in India’s Manufacturing Sector:
Core Issue:
India’s formal manufacturing is experiencing an informalisation within formal structures, where contract labour is increasingly used not for enhancing efficiency or acquiring skills, but to reduce wage costs and bypass labour laws.
Key Findings from the Study:
• Rising Contractualization: Contract labour in manufacturing doubled to 40.7% by 2022–23. This trend cuts across all sub-sectors, including large firms.
• Contract labour in manufacturing doubled to 40.7% by 2022–23.
• This trend cuts across all sub-sectors, including large firms.
• Wage Disparities and Exploitation: Contract workers earn 14.47% less on average than regular workers. In large enterprises, wage gaps widen to 31%; overall labour costs are 24% lower for contract workers.
• Contract workers earn 14.47% less on average than regular workers.
• In large enterprises, wage gaps widen to 31%; overall labour costs are 24% lower for contract workers.
• Severe Productivity Gaps: 31% lower productivity in contract labour-intensive (CLI) firms than regular labour-intensive (RLI) ones. Gap widens to 42% in small labour-intensive CLI firms. High-skill or capital-intensive CLI firms (only 20%) show minor productivity gains (5–20%).
• 31% lower productivity in contract labour-intensive (CLI) firms than regular labour-intensive (RLI) ones.
• Gap widens to 42% in small labour-intensive CLI firms.
• High-skill or capital-intensive CLI firms (only 20%) show minor productivity gains (5–20%).
• High Turnover, Low Training: Use of short-term contracts reduces workforce stability, discourages skilling and innovation, creating long-term productivity losses.
• Use of short-term contracts reduces workforce stability, discourages skilling and innovation, creating long-term productivity losses.
Structural Issues in Contractualization:
• Misaligned Incentives in Contracting: Third-party contractors often have no stake in long-term outcomes, leading to a principal-agent problem where firms and contractors pursue conflicting goals.
• Erosion of Work Discipline and Quality: Short-term job contracts reduce worker accountability, encouraging shirking behaviour and poor-quality output—classic manifestations of moral hazard.
• Deliberate Bypass of Labour Protections: Contractualization is misused to evade the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, excluding workers from safeguards on retrenchment, layoffs, and fair dispute resolution.
• High Turnover and Training Disincentives: The transient nature of contract work increases attrition, discouraging firms from investing in on-the-job training, innovation, or skill upgradation.
• Weak Social Security and Welfare Gaps: Contract workers are often denied access to EPF, ESI, or maternity benefits, worsening economic insecurity and perpetuating informalisation within formal enterprises.
Policy Challenges in Regulating Contractualization:
• Stalled Execution of Labour Codes: The Industrial Relations Code, 2020—meant to formalise fixed-term hiring without middlemen—awaits state-level adoption, delaying systemic reform.
• Unregulated Expansion of Non-Permanent Jobs: By enabling flexible hiring, the new labour codes risk institutionalising precarity unless complemented by robust regulatory oversight.
• Union Pushback and Political Resistance: Labour unions fear that increased hiring flexibility will erode collective bargaining rights, stalling reforms through political opposition and litigation.
• Premature Withdrawal of PMRPY Incentives: Schemes like PMRPY (2016–2022), which subsidised EPF contributions to promote formalisation, were discontinued before achieving sectoral saturation.
• Poor Monitoring of Contractual Norms: Labour inspections remain weak, especially in MSMEs, allowing rampant misuse of contract labour without accountability or employer penalties.
Policy Recommendations:
• Implement Labour Codes Carefully: Ensure fixed-term contracts include basic benefits and rights to prevent disguised informalisation.
• Incentivise Longer Tenures: Offer social security contribution waivers or priority in government tenders for firms adopting longer fixed-term contracts.
• Revive PMRPY with Enhancements: Reintroduce the scheme with stronger accountability to promote formal hiring and reduce cost-based contractualization.
• Link Formalisation with Skilling: Provide subsidised access to skilling schemes (like PMKVY) only for firms with formal, stable employment contracts.
• Disincentivise Excessive Contractualization: Levy productivity-linked penalties or audit triggers if CLI usage exceeds thresholds in low-skill industries.
Conclusion:
In the long run, cost-driven contractualization undercuts labour productivity, innovation, and industrial stability. India’s journey toward higher economic growth must therefore adopt genuine formalisation, skill-based hiring, and long-term workforce development. A balanced approach that combines labour market flexibility with job quality assurance is critical for transforming Indian manufacturing into a globally competitive sector.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
The IMF has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 6.4%
Context: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 6.4% for both FY2025–26 and FY2026–27, retaining India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy in its July 2025 World Economic Outlook Update.
About The IMF has revised India’s growth forecast upward to 6.4%:
• What is the IMF Forecast Update?
• The World Economic Outlook (WEO) is IMF’s flagship report providing global and country-specific macroeconomic projections. The July 2025 update revises India’s GDP projection upward by 20 basis points for FY26 (from 6.2% to 6.4%) and by 10 bps for FY27 (from 6.3% to 6.4%).
• The World Economic Outlook (WEO) is IMF’s flagship report providing global and country-specific macroeconomic projections.
• The July 2025 update revises India’s GDP projection upward by 20 basis points for FY26 (from 6.2% to 6.4%) and by 10 bps for FY27 (from 6.3% to 6.4%).
• India-Specific Growth Trends:
• India’s projected growth: 6.4% for FY2026 and FY2027 (calendar-year equivalent 6.7% for 2025, 6.4% for 2026) IMF attributes this to: Lower inflation, especially due to falling food prices A more benign external environment Suspension of high tariffs, improved financial conditions Continued reform momentum and public investment push Global growth is projected at 3.0% (2025) and 3.1% (2026)
• India’s projected growth: 6.4% for FY2026 and FY2027 (calendar-year equivalent 6.7% for 2025, 6.4% for 2026)
• 6.4% for FY2026 and FY2027 (calendar-year equivalent 6.7% for 2025, 6.4% for 2026)
• IMF attributes this to: Lower inflation, especially due to falling food prices A more benign external environment Suspension of high tariffs, improved financial conditions Continued reform momentum and public investment push
• Lower inflation, especially due to falling food prices
• A more benign external environment
• Suspension of high tariffs, improved financial conditions
• Continued reform momentum and public investment push
• Global growth is projected at 3.0% (2025) and 3.1% (2026)
• Significance of Forecast:
• Reinforces India’s macroeconomic resilience amid global uncertainty Validates India’s structural reform agenda, including focus on infrastructure and skilling Attracts investor confidence and improves India’s creditworthiness globally Supports planning under the Union Budget and NITI Aayog Vision 2047
• Reinforces India’s macroeconomic resilience amid global uncertainty
• Validates India’s structural reform agenda, including focus on infrastructure and skilling
• Attracts investor confidence and improves India’s creditworthiness globally
• Supports planning under the Union Budget and NITI Aayog Vision 2047
Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:
• GS Paper II – International Institutions: Highlights the role of IMF in global economic surveillance and India’s positioning in the world economy.
• Highlights the role of IMF in global economic surveillance and India’s positioning in the world economy.
• GS Paper III – Inclusive Growth & Economic Reforms: Supports discussion on structural reforms, fiscal consolidation, public investment, and trade policy impacts. Helps understand macroeconomic indicators like GDP, inflation, investment trends, and their implications for growth.
• Supports discussion on structural reforms, fiscal consolidation, public investment, and trade policy impacts.
• Helps understand macroeconomic indicators like GDP, inflation, investment trends, and their implications for growth.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP):
Flight-Tests of the Pralay Quasi-Ballistic Missile
Source: TOI
Context: DRDO successfully conducted two back-to-back flight-tests of the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
About Flight-Tests of the Pralay Quasi-Ballistic Missile:
• What is Pralay Missile?
• Pralay is a surface-to-surface, solid-fuelled, quasi-ballistic missile developed for conventional precision strikes. It has state-of-the-art guidance and navigation for pin-point accuracy.
• Pralay is a surface-to-surface, solid-fuelled, quasi-ballistic missile developed for conventional precision strikes.
• It has state-of-the-art guidance and navigation for pin-point accuracy.
• Developed By:
• Designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) Other DRDO labs & industry partners like BDL and BEL
• Designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) Other DRDO labs & industry partners like BDL and BEL
• Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL)
• Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL)
• Other DRDO labs & industry partners like BDL and BEL
• Objectives of the Recent Test:
• Validate maximum and minimum range capabilities under User Evaluation Trials. Confirm performance of subsystems under real conditions before induction.
• Validate maximum and minimum range capabilities under User Evaluation Trials.
• Confirm performance of subsystems under real conditions before induction.
• Features:
• Range: Up to 500 km Payload: Can carry up to 1000 kg warheads, including unitary and cluster types Accuracy: Equipped with quasi-ballistic trajectory and in-flight manoeuvrability Navigation: Features Inertial Navigation System (INS) and satellite-based guidance Mobility: Road-mobile and quick-launch system—vital for tactical response
• Range: Up to 500 km
• Payload: Can carry up to 1000 kg warheads, including unitary and cluster types
• Accuracy: Equipped with quasi-ballistic trajectory and in-flight manoeuvrability
• Navigation: Features Inertial Navigation System (INS) and satellite-based guidance
• Mobility: Road-mobile and quick-launch system—vital for tactical response
• Strategic Significance:
• Strengthens India’s non-nuclear deterrence posture with high-speed conventional strikes. Enhances India’s preparedness for Operation Sindoor-style contingencies. A key asset for the proposed Integrated Rocket Force (IRF)—India’s new missile command.
• Strengthens India’s non-nuclear deterrence posture with high-speed conventional strikes.
• Enhances India’s preparedness for Operation Sindoor-style contingencies.
• A key asset for the proposed Integrated Rocket Force (IRF)—India’s new missile command.
Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to Four Foreign Universities
Source: TP
Context: To mark five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Union Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to four foreign universities for setting up campuses in India.
About Education Minister Issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) To Four Foreign Universities:
• Issuing Authority: The Ministry of Education, led by Dharmendra Pradhan, issued LoIs during the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2025.
• Universities Involved:
• Western Sydney University – Greater Noida Victoria University – Noida La Trobe University – Bengaluru University of Bristol – Mumbai (from 2026)
• Western Sydney University – Greater Noida
• Victoria University – Noida
• La Trobe University – Bengaluru
• University of Bristol – Mumbai (from 2026)
• Programmes Offered:
• Degrees in business, AI, logistics, cybersecurity, health, and public policy. Joint Ph.D. academy. 3+1 pathway for UG–PG integration.
• Degrees in business, AI, logistics, cybersecurity, health, and public policy.
• Joint Ph.D. academy.
• 3+1 pathway for UG–PG integration.
• NEP Alignment:
• Supports NEP’s goal of internationalisation of Indian higher education. Emphasises multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and global partnerships.
• Supports NEP’s goal of internationalisation of Indian higher education.
• Emphasises multidisciplinary learning, innovation, and global partnerships.
What is a Letter of Intent (LoI)?
• A Letter of Intent (LoI) is a formal document that outlines the intention of two parties to enter a partnership or agreement. It precedes a legally binding contract.
• Key Features: Non-binding but directional: Sets the groundwork for cooperation. Outlines Scope: Mentions purpose, timeline, responsibilities, and goals. Facilitates Negotiations: Helps avoid ambiguity during formal agreement drafting.
• Non-binding but directional: Sets the groundwork for cooperation.
• Outlines Scope: Mentions purpose, timeline, responsibilities, and goals.
• Facilitates Negotiations: Helps avoid ambiguity during formal agreement drafting.
• Use in Academia: Demonstrates institutional commitment. Serves as a blueprint for collaboration, especially for joint research, curriculum sharing, and faculty/student exchange.
• Demonstrates institutional commitment.
• Serves as a blueprint for collaboration, especially for joint research, curriculum sharing, and faculty/student exchange.
Mount Cilo
Source: TOI
Context: Glaciers of Mount Cilo in southeastern Turkey have lost nearly 50% of their ice cover in 40 years, with climate change and heatwaves accelerating melt rates.
About Mount Cilo:
• Location:
• Mount Cilo is the second-highest peak in Turkey, rising to 4,135 meters at its summit Reşko (also called Gelyaşin or Uludoruk). It is situated in the Yüksekova district of Hakkâri Province, bordering Iraq, and lies within the East Taurus Mountains (Doğu Toroslar) in Eastern Anatolia.
• Mount Cilo is the second-highest peak in Turkey, rising to 4,135 meters at its summit Reşko (also called Gelyaşin or Uludoruk).
• It is situated in the Yüksekova district of Hakkâri Province, bordering Iraq, and lies within the East Taurus Mountains (Doğu Toroslar) in Eastern Anatolia.
• Physical Features:
• It spans 30 km in length, forming the western arm of the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park, declared in 2020. The massif has rugged topography with sharp ridges, steep limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and glacial valleys. Nearby is Suppa Durek (Erinç Tepe), Turkey’s third-highest peak at 4,116 meters.
• It spans 30 km in length, forming the western arm of the Cilo-Sat Mountains National Park, declared in 2020.
• The massif has rugged topography with sharp ridges, steep limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and glacial valleys.
• Nearby is Suppa Durek (Erinç Tepe), Turkey’s third-highest peak at 4,116 meters.
• Glacial Retreat:
• The region has seen rapid glacier loss due to global warming, with visual signs like ice blocks flowing into streams and receding ice sheets. Experts report half of the continuous snow and ice cover has vanished since the 1980s. Melting glaciers now feed torrents and waterfalls more intensely, altering water cycles.
• The region has seen rapid glacier loss due to global warming, with visual signs like ice blocks flowing into streams and receding ice sheets.
• Experts report half of the continuous snow and ice cover has vanished since the 1980s.
• Melting glaciers now feed torrents and waterfalls more intensely, altering water cycles.
• Climate Extremes:
• Turkey has faced rising heatwaves and reduced rainfall. Silopi, just 200 km away, recorded 50.5°C in July 2025 — the hottest ever in Turkey. UN projections warn of 30% less rainfall and 5–6°C temperature rise by 2100 in the region.
• Turkey has faced rising heatwaves and reduced rainfall.
• Silopi, just 200 km away, recorded 50.5°C in July 2025 — the hottest ever in Turkey.
• UN projections warn of 30% less rainfall and 5–6°C temperature rise by 2100 in the region.
Operation ShivShakti
Source: CBN
Context: The Indian Army eliminated two terrorists attempting infiltration across the Line of Control in Poonch district under Operation ShivShakti, just days after neutralising three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives in Operation Mahadev.
About Operation ShivShakti:
• What is Operation ShivShakti? It is a counter-infiltration mission launched by the Indian Army to foil attempts by terrorists to cross the LoC into Jammu & Kashmir territory.
• It is a counter-infiltration mission launched by the Indian Army to foil attempts by terrorists to cross the LoC into Jammu & Kashmir territory.
• Launched by: Conducted by the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps in synergy with Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP), based on precise multi-agency intelligence inputs.
• Area of Operation: Executed in the Degwar sector of Poonch, particularly near Maldivalan, a sensitive zone along the LoC known for infiltration attempts.
• Objective: To prevent cross-border terrorism by intercepting and neutralising infiltrators before they could reach civilian areas or cause harm to infrastructure.
• Operational Features:
• Swift and accurate firepower ensured minimal response time. Recovery of three weapons, indicating preparation for high-intensity engagement. Based on synchronised intelligence inputs from Army intel and JKP, demonstrating multi-agency coordination. Continuous search and cordon operations underway to identify any remaining threats in the region.
• Swift and accurate firepower ensured minimal response time.
• Recovery of three weapons, indicating preparation for high-intensity engagement.
• Based on synchronised intelligence inputs from Army intel and JKP, demonstrating multi-agency coordination.
• Continuous search and cordon operations underway to identify any remaining threats in the region.
A new human blood group—CRIB
Source: TN
Context: A new human blood group—CRIB—has been discovered at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre. It is the first of its kind globally, officially recognised by the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL), UK.
About A new human blood group—CRIB:
• What is CRIB Blood Group? CRIB stands for Cromer India Bengaluru. It is a new antigen identified within the Cromer (CR) blood group system, not previously observed in any human sample worldwide. Discovered in a 38-year-old South Indian woman undergoing cardiac surgery in Kolar, Karnataka.
• CRIB stands for Cromer India Bengaluru.
• It is a new antigen identified within the Cromer (CR) blood group system, not previously observed in any human sample worldwide.
• Discovered in a 38-year-old South Indian woman undergoing cardiac surgery in Kolar, Karnataka.
• How was it Identified? The woman’s blood tested panreactive—meaning it reacted with all tested samples and was incompatible even with O+ blood. No compatible match was found among 20 family members Sample was sent to IBGRL, UK, where after 10 months of molecular analysis, the new antigen was confirmed and officially named CRIB.
• The woman’s blood tested panreactive—meaning it reacted with all tested samples and was incompatible even with O+ blood.
• No compatible match was found among 20 family members
• Sample was sent to IBGRL, UK, where after 10 months of molecular analysis, the new antigen was confirmed and officially named CRIB.
• Scientific Significance: CRIB is now a new entry in global transfusion medicine. Named using standard ISBT nomenclature. Adds to India’s contribution in rare blood immunogenetics. Highlights the need for rare donor registries and global collaboration in blood typing.
• CRIB is now a new entry in global transfusion medicine.
• Named using standard ISBT nomenclature.
• Adds to India’s contribution in rare blood immunogenetics.
• Highlights the need for rare donor registries and global collaboration in blood typing.
• What is the Cromer Blood Group System? Cromer system is a rare blood group classification involving antigens located on the DAF (Decay-Accelerating Factor) protein on red cells. These antigens are important in immune reactions during transfusion.
• Cromer system is a rare blood group classification involving antigens located on the DAF (Decay-Accelerating Factor) protein on red cells.
• These antigens are important in immune reactions during transfusion.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 July 2025 Mapping:
Kaziranga National Park
Source: TH
Context: Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Assam has recorded the third-highest tiger density in India after Bandipur and Corbett, as per the latest report released by the Chief Minister of Assam on Global Tiger Day 2025.
About Tiger Density in India:
• What is Tiger Density? Tiger density refers to the number of tigers per 100 sq. km. It is a key indicator of healthy predator populations and ecological balance.
• Tiger density refers to the number of tigers per 100 sq. km. It is a key indicator of healthy predator populations and ecological balance.
• Top 3 Tiger Reserves by Density (2024): Bandipur (Karnataka): 19.83 tigers/100 sq. km Corbett (Uttarakhand): 19.56 tigers/100 sq. km Kaziranga (Assam): 18.65 tigers/100 sq. km
• Bandipur (Karnataka): 19.83 tigers/100 sq. km
• Corbett (Uttarakhand): 19.56 tigers/100 sq. km
• Kaziranga (Assam): 18.65 tigers/100 sq. km
• Kaziranga’s Tiger Count: Kaziranga recorded 148 tigers over 1,307.49 sq. km, up from 104 in 2022, including 27 tigers from the newly surveyed Biswanath Division.
About Kaziranga National Park:
• Location: Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, along the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River.
• Historical Significance: Established in 1905 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and a Tiger Reserve in 2006.
• Ecological Features: The park lies on the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot edge, with habitats including tall elephant grass, marshes, and tropical forests.
• Flora: Four vegetation types: alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests. Notable trees include Elephant Apple, Cotton Tree, and Indian Gooseberry.
• Four vegetation types: alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests.
• Notable trees include Elephant Apple, Cotton Tree, and Indian Gooseberry.
• Fauna: Hosts the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceros (2,200+), along with tigers, elephants, swamp deer, Hoolock gibbons, and migratory birds like greater adjutant and black-necked stork.
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