March 31, 2025

Current Affairs

Ugadi Festival

Context: Recently, the auspicious festival of Ugadi, which represents the beginning of the New Year, was celebrated.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Ugadi; Traditional News Year Festivals.

About Ugadi festival

Ugadi/Yugadi, also known as Samvatsaradi (beginning of the year), is New Year's Day.
Celebrated in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka.
Locally known as Souramana Ugadi or Mesha Sankranti (by followers of Souramana calendar system) in Karnataka.
- Souramana (solar year) is a way of measuring time using the movement of the sun.
- Chandramana (lunar year) is a way of keeping track of the year with the moon's movement.
It is observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra (falling in late March or early April as per the Gregorian calendar).
Traditions and rituals:
- Drawing colourful patterns on the floor called Muggulu.
- Mango leaf decorations on doors called Torana.
- Preparing and sharing a special food called Pachadi.
- It has been an historic festival of the Hindus, with medieval texts and inscriptions recording major charitable donations to Hindu temples on this day.

Traditional News Year Festivals in India

S.NO.	Festival	Information
1.	Puthandu	- Tamil Nadu - First day of year on the Tamil calendar - The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar Hindu calendar. References about the festival: - In Netunalvatai, by a Sangam period author, Nakkirar -Silappadikaaram by Illango Adigal - Manimekalai by Seethalai Satanar
2.	Jude Sheetal/Maithili New Year	- Bihar; Jharkhand - Celebrated by the Maithilis in Bihar, Jharkhand and even Nepal.
3.	Novruz	- Novruz is the Iranian New Year - In India, it is celebrated by the Parsi community. - In 2009, it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
4.	Vishu	- Kerala - The festival starts with Vishu Kani: arranging harvest's fruits, vegetables and seasonal flowers in front of a mirror. -Devotees visit Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple and Guruvayur Krishna temple for prayers.
5.	Navreh/Kashmiri New Year	- Celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits - Dedicated to their Goddess Sharika. - On the eve of the Navreh, the priest of the family provides a Nechipatra, a collection of the important events and a scroll, Kreel-Pach of the Goddess.
6.	Gudi Padwa/Marathi New Year	- Maharashtra and parts of Goa. - People hoist Gudi dhwaja (a decorated flag to symbolise victory) outside their homes. - Some believe that the festival marks the victory of Shivaji over Mughal dominance in the Maharashtra region.
7.	Shigmo/Shishirotsava	- By Konkani speaking communities in Goa and parts of Karnataka. - Two variants: Dhakto Shigmo (small Shigmo) and Vhadlo Shigmo (big Shigmo). - Dhakto Shigmo: celebrated by the farmers, labor class, and the rural population; - VhadloShigmo: celebrated on a major scale and everyone takes part.
8.	Cheti Chand	- Celebrated by the Sindhi community. - Marks the arrival of spring and harvest - In the Sindhi community, it also marks the birth of Uderolal in 1007. He, as Jhulelal, became the saviour of the Sindhi Hindus.
9.	Losoong	- Also known as Namsoong - Sikkimese New Year, also observed in Darjeeling (West Bengal) - Communities: Lepchas and Bhutias. - Several religious dances (known as Chaams) are performed mostly in the famous monasteries.
10.	Ashadhi Beej	- Celebrated by the Kutchi community in Gujarat - Associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region.
11.	Sajibu Cheiraoba/Nongma Panba	- Manipur - Celebrated by Meiteis, an ethnic group who follow Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion). - Observed on first day of Manipuri lunar month Shajibu (month of April every year)
12.	Pana Sankranti/Vishuva Sankranti	- Celebrated in Odisha - An earthen pot is filled with a sweet drink which is known as Pana and hung over a Basil (Tulsi) tree.

Context: The Adivasis in Jharkhand and the larger Chhota Nagpur region welcome the new year and the spring season with the Sarhul festival. Sarhul is celebrated on the third day of the Chaitra month (Hindu calendar), which usually falls in April.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sarhul tribal festival.

About Sarhul Festival

Sarhul, literally "worship of the Sal tree", is among the most revered Adivasi festivals.
Tribes celebrating the festival include: Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia, and Ho.
Origin: In the 1960s, Adivasi leader Baba Karthik Oraon, who advocated for social justice and the preservation of tribal culture, began a Sarhul procession from Hatma to the Siram Toli Sarna Sthal in Ranchi.
It is rooted in nature worship and celebrates the symbolic union of the Sun and the Earth. A male priest from the village (pahan) plays the role of the Sun, while his wife (pahen) becomes the earth.
Sal trees are seen as the abode of Sarna Maa, the deity protecting the village from inclement natural forces.
On the first day of Sarhul, the village's pahan, who observes a rigorous fast, fetches water for the ceremonies, houses and Sarna Sthals are cleaned, and Sal flowers gathered for rituals.
On the second day, the deity is presented with Sal flowers, and a rooster is sacrificed.

The final day is marked by a grand community feast, in which people share handia (rice beer) and enjoy a variety of delicacies.

Operation Brahma to aid Myanmar

Context: India has launched 'Operation Brahma' to aid Myanmar following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1700 lives in the country.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Operation Brahma.

Operation Brahma

The relief effort includes naval ships, aircraft, and rescue teams carrying vital supplies and medical personnel.

Two Indian naval ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid, have reached Myanmar. Two additional ships are set to follow.
A field hospital with 118 medical personnel from Agra is being airlifted to provide immediate assistance.
The Airborne Angels Task Force, specialised medical task force, to deliver advanced medical and surgical care in disaster-affected zones.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team equipped for search and rescue operations.

The operation reaffirms India's commitment as a first responder in the neighbourhood.

Also Read: Sagaing Fault: Earthquake in Myanmar

Transplantation of a Gene-Modified Pig Liver to Human

Context: Recently, researchers from China have transplanted a gene-modified liver from a miniature pig into a human recipient diagnosed with brain death. The transplantation was carried out to evaluate the performance of the transplanted organ over a 10-day observation period.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Xenotransplantation.

What is Xenotransplantation?

Xenotransplantation is any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or infusion into a human recipient:
- live cells, tissues, or organs from a non-human animal source.
- human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex vivo contact with live non-human animal cells, tissues or organs. Essentially, it is the use of animal cells and organs to heal humans.
Need: To bridge the need for a limited supply of organs and cells for clinical transplantation, and address the shortage of organs from human donors.
Source:Pigs are the most commonly considered animals due to their size compatibility and organ similarities with humans.
- Natural lifespan of a pig is 30 years, they are easily bred and can have organs of similar size to humans.
- Gene editing in organs from pigs can reduce immune rejection, and can make organ transplants to humans possible.

Limitations

Successful xenotransplantation faces challenges such as organ rejection, risk of cross-species infections and social acceptance.

In 2022, the first xenotransplantation of a genetically-modified pig heart was done. However, the patient passed away after two months.
In 2024, the first recipient of a modified pig kidney transplant passed away, around two months after the surgery was carried out.

The latest development

Six genes had been edited in the transplanted liver. The gene edits included removal of genes that mediate rejection and the insertion of human transgenes to facilitate compatibility. The liver produced bile and albumin, maintained stable blood flow and showed no signs of rejection.
These findings suggest that gene-modified pig livers can survive and function in human bodies. This can pave the way for using gene-edited organs for xenotransplantation.

However, the study was limited to a 10-day observation period, and only basic liver functions were measured. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Hydrogen from Pyrolysis of Biomass

Context: A recent research paper has pitched two efficient ways of producing Hydrogen from biomass, through — Rapid pyrolysis and Microwave-assisted pyrolysis.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Hydrogen production through Pyrolysis.

Biomass Pyrolysis and Hydrogen Production

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process of degradation of biomass by heat in the absence of oxygen. This results in the production of bio-charcoal, bio-oil, and syn gas (rich in Hydrogen).
- Agricultural waste is heated at high temperature without burning it.
- This heating breaks down the biomass into different products.
Pyrolysis can help:
- Produce Hydrogen and help India meet its renewable energy goal.
- Produce biomass charcoal, which helps capture carbon and improves soil health.
- Utilise large amounts of biomass available in the country (burning of which otherwise produces greenhouse gases).

Advanced Pyrolytic Methods:

1. Rapid Pyrolysis:

Rapid pyrolysis requires 400–600 degree C temperature and heating rate of 10–100 degree C per minute.
Rapid pyrolysis processes the raw material in merely 0.5–2 seconds, compared with at least 30 minutes in conventional pyrolysis, and is more efficient.
The yield from fast pyrolysis includes 35–50% bio-oil, 20–30% biochar, and 15–25% syngas.

2. Microwave Pyrolysis:

Microwave pyrolysis uses electromagnetic waves to instantly heat biomass. It is usually carried out in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free environment at 500-700 degree C.
The primary goal is to improve energy transfer and hydrogen production rate using biomass. It provides fine heating control and focused energy absorption, thereby making it more efficient.
In microwave pyrolysis, heat transfer occurs directly within the feedstock through convection rather than conduction, eliminating the need for external drying of biomass.

Challenges:

Ensuring regular supply of biomass feedstock from agriculture and forestry. Proper controls and different feedstocks are needed to reduce product variation.
Tailoring Reactor design, operating conditions, and catalysts to suit Indian biomass resources to optimise hydrogen production.
Inadequate infrastructure (poor road networks and transportation systems) can limit supply-chains and thus increase project cost.

What is Uranium Enrichment?

Uranium Enrichment is the process of increasing the concentration of Uranium-235 (U-235) in natural Uranium, in order to use the isotope for production of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Uranium Enrichment; Uses of Enriched Uranium.

Need for Uranium Enrichment

Natural Uranium consists of three major isotopes:
- Uranium-238 (99.284% natural abundance)
- Uranium-235 (0.711%)
- Uranium-234 (0.005%)
U-235 is the only nuclide existing in nature (in appreciable amount) that is fissile with thermal neutrons. The production of nuclear energy in atomic reactors is from the ‘fission’ or splitting of the U-235 atoms.
Since the natural Uranium does not have a high enough concentration of U-235, Uranium enrichment is needed to create an effective nuclear fuel. In Enriched Uranium, the percent composition of U- 235 is increased through the process of isotope separation.

Uranium Enrichment Process

The enrichment centrifuge is a device used to extract U-235 isotope from a sample of natural Uranium.
Conversion to gas: Natural Uranium is converted into a gas (Uranium hexafluoride, UF6) and flowed into the centrifuge.
Centrifuge separation: The centrifuge spins the gas at extremely high speeds (~50,000 revolutions per minute). U-238 is slightly more dense than U-235, so it moves outwards. U-235 (lighter) collects towards the centre.
Multiple stages of Enrichment: The process of repeated through multiple centrifuges to further separate U-238 out. Over multiple stages, the sample becomes more enriched in U-235.
Material used in centrifuge: The spinning component is made of strong lightweight material (like carbon fibre) that does not disintegrate during such extreme motion.

Uses of Enriched Uranium

Enriched Uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.
- Nuclear power reactors need the Uranium fuel to contain 3-5% U-235, depending on the reactor design.
- Nuclear weapons need U-235 to be enriched to around 90%.

What is Centrifugal Force?

Centrifugal force is an outward force that is experienced by an object moving in a circular path. It is directed away from the center of the circle of rotation.
Centrifugal force is directly proportional to the mass of an object. That is the reason why U-238 (heavier) experiences a stronger outwards force than U-235 (lighter). This allows the separation between the two isotopes (U-238 & U-235).

Parker Solar Probe’s closest approach to Sun

Context: In March 2025, NASA's Parker Solar Probe performed its latest flyby, passing within 8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the surface of the sun. Flying at a record-breaking speed of 692,000 kilometers per hour, it shattered its own previous record made in December last year.

Relevance of the topic: Prelims: Key facts about the Parker Solar Probe.

Major Highlights:

On 24 December 2024, the Parker Solar probe made its closest approach to the Sun, coming to a distance of 6.1 million km (0.04 AU) from the surface.
Its beacon signal was received on 26 December, showing that it had survived the passage through the corona (survived the heat).
The spacecraft has become the closest ever artificial object to the Sun.
Significance: The flyby is a major step forward in understanding the Sun and its impact on our solar system.

About Parker Solar Probe

The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to make observations of the Sun's outer corona.
Mission of: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Aim:
- Trace the flow of energy that heats the solar corona and accelerates the solar wind.
- Determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields.
- Explore mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles.
The spacecraft has become the closest ever artificial object to the Sun. It has circled gradually closer to the sun, flying past Venus in order to use the planet’s gravity to move it into a tighter orbit.
The spacecraft's systems are protected from the extreme heat and radiation near the Sun by a solar shield.
- The solar shield is mounted on the Sun-facing side of the spacecraft.
- It is made from reinforced carbon–carbon composite with a carbon foam core.
- It is designed to withstand temperatures outside the spacecraft of over 1370 °C.

The mission represents a huge step forward in our understanding of the Sun. Scientists are hopeful that the information it provides will help us learn not only about our star but also about how other stars in the universe work.

Sagaing Fault: Earthquake in Myanmar

Context: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Myanmar, with the epicenter located approximately 17.2 km from Mandalay (city in Myanmar). This quake of magnitude 7.7 was the strongest one anywhere in the world in the last two years.

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims : Earthquake, Sagaing fault, location of Mandalay.

Sagaing Fault

Myanmar is vulnerable to earthquakes, largely due to its location along the Sagaing Fault.
Sagaing Fault is a major tectonic fault line between the Burma and Sunda plates. The fault runs approximately 1,200 kilometres (north to south) through the country and has a history of significant seismic activity.

Recent Myanmar Earthquake:

Myanmar sits directly on top of the Sagaing Fault. In this region, the Indian and Sunda tectonic plates move in opposite directions at a speed of 49mm per year.
When these plates slide past each other horizontally, stress builds up due to friction. This vast reserve of energy is then released in a violent 'slip-strike' earthquake.
The earthquakes from this fault are violent and extremely shallow, meaning they have the potential to cause enormous damage in nearby population centres.

How do Earthquakes originate?

An earthquake is a violent and abrupt shaking of the ground, caused by movement between tectonic plates along a fault line in the earth’s crust.
The earth’s outermost surface (crust) is fragmented into tectonic plates.
- These plates continuously move at a slow pace, colliding, sliding, or moving past each other.
- The edges of these plates, known as plate boundaries, are irregular and get stuck due to friction.
- When the plates move far enough, the edges suddenly unstick, releasing the stored energy in the form of seismic waves.
This release of energy causes the ground to shake, resulting in an earthquake.

Key Facts related to Earthquakes:

The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake or hypocentre. The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicentre (directly above the focus).
The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock. The magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale. Mercalli scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. It assesses the effects and damage caused by an earthquake at a specific location.
Earthquakes are divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, based on their depth which range between 0 – 700 km.
- Shallow earthquakes have a focus 0 – 70 km deep
- Intermediate earthquakes have a focus 70 – 300 km deep
- Deep earthquakes have a focus 300 – 700 km deep.
Shallow earthquakes are usually more dangerous because they release more energy when they reach the surface. In contrast, deeper earthquakes lose some of their energy as they travel a longer distance to the surface.