Daily Current Affairs

August 14, 2025

Current Affairs

Dhirio: Bull Fight in Goa 

Context: The legislators across party lines in Goa state Assembly have demanded the legalisation of bull fighting in Goa, known locally as Dhirio. Despite being banned, the bull fights continue to be clandestinely held in Goa. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about traditional animal-based sports in India. 

About Dhirio

  • The bull fighting, locally referred to as Dhirio or Dhiri, is an integral part of Goa’s cultural fabric. Such fights were organised after the harvest season.
  • Bullfighting involves pitting two bulls against each other in a violent and often bloody confrontation. It is a straight fight till one bull falls or flees. A fight can be over in a few minutes or stretch for more than an hour. 
  • These bull fights have traditionally been held in paddy fields and football grounds of Goa, with village shepherds bringing in their animals.
  • Bull fights have been taking place in Goa for generations going back to the time of the Portuguese. 

Legal Status of Dhirio: 

  • The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court banned Dhirio in 1997, citing violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. However, the bull fights continue to be organised clandestinely especially in coastal villages in South Goa and coastal belt in North Goa.

Argument in Support of Ban on Dhirio: 

  • The goal is to incite violence between the animals for entertainment and often gambling. These events subject the animals to significant physical and psychological harm, including fractures, puncture wounds, and severe stress. 
  • Agitated bulls may also charge at spectators, causing grievous injuries.

Important Court judgements in the context

  • In Jallikattu Case 2014 (Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja): The Supreme court ruled that animal life falls within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution. The SC noted that all living creatures (including animals) have inherent dignity, right to live peacefully and the right to protect their well-being. 
  • Legal backing to Jallikattu: In 2023, a five judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging constitutionality of Jallikattu, and upheld the validity of 2017 Tamil Nadu law for allowing bull taming sport Jallikattu. 

So, the legislators in Goa demand a similar exception to Dhirio, like Jallikattu citing the traditional continuity of the sport in the state. 

Also Read: Naangarni Spardha 

India’s first private constellation of Earth Observation Satellites

Context: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) announced the selection of a consortium led by Google-backed PixxelSpace to design, build and operate India’s first fully-indigenous commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation, under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about India’s first private constellation of Earth Observation Satellites. 
Mains: Commercialisation of the Space Sector in India. 

India’s first private constellation of Earth Observation Satellites

  • India’s first private constellation of Earth Observation (EO) Satellites will be built by a consortium led by Google-backed PixxelSpace. It also includes Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India and Dhruva Space. 
  • The consortium will invest more than ₹1,200 crore over the next five years to launch a constellation of 12 EO satellites. 
  • The 12 EO satellite constellation will be entirely designed, manufactured, and operated in India. The constellation will be deployed in a phased manner over the next four years. 
  • The satellites will be equipped with panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral and microwave synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors.
  • Applications: Deliver analysis-ready data and value-added services for applications in:
    • Climate Change Monitoring
    • Disaster Management 
    • Agriculture
    • Infrastructure and Urban Planning
    • Marine Surveillance 
    • National Security 

Under the PPP framework, the government will provide strategic, technical and policy support, while the consortium will own and operate the EO system, including satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure and commercialisation of data services.

Significance: 

  • Demonstrates the capability of Indian private space companies to lead largescale, technologically advanced and commercially viable space missions that serve both national and global markets.
  • Advance world-class space-tech capability that will deliver analysis-ready data and value-added services to serve India, as well as the whole planet. 
  • Enhance India’s data sovereignty, reduce dependence on foreign imagery and ensure that all satellites are manufactured domestically, launched on Indian rockets and controlled from within the country.  

The project is also expected to create thousands of high-skill jobs and contribute to India’s target of growing its space economy from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033.

Also Read: What is Synthetic Aperture Radar? 

CBSE plans Open-Book Exams 

Context: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the introduction of Open-Book Assessments (OBE) for Class 9 from the academic year 2026-27. This follows a 2023 pilot study which revealed strong teacher support for the move. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: What is the Open book exam and how is it conducted? Mains: Open Book Exam: Need, Advantages, Disadvantages.

The reform aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) vision of moving away from rote memorisation towards competency-based learning.

What are Open Book Exams? 

  • An open book exam is an assessment in which students are allowed to use approved resources (textbooks, class notes, reference material) during the exam.
  • E.g., In science facts may be given in the book, but students must link them logically to arrive at a conclusion.
  • Purpose: To test conceptual understanding, analytical ability, and application of knowledge, rather than memorisation.

History of Open Book Exams: 

  • Hong Kong became one of the earliest adopters of OBEs in 1953, integrating them into school assessments.
  • In the US and UK, trials between 1951 and 1978 allowed students to use textbooks, notebooks, and lecture notes across various university courses, using formats from multiple-choice to essay-type questions.
  • Studies from this period found that OBEs encouraged deeper internalisation of concepts rather than rote memorisation and often benefited weaker students.
  • Despite early experiments, OBEs remained rare in high-stakes secondary exams worldwide, with most boards (E.g., UK GCSEs, US SATs) retaining closed-book formats.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point, as universities globally adopted open-book, open-note, and even open-web assessments for online examinations, though many reverted to traditional exams post-pandemic.

History of OBE in India: 

  • In 2014, CBSE introduced the Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) for Class 9 in Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, and for Class 11 in subjects like Economics, Biology, and Geography, with students receiving reference material four months in advance.
  • By 2017-18, CBSE discontinued OTBA, concluding it had not succeeded in developing the critical thinking abilities it had aimed to promote.
  • In 2019, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved the use of OBEs in engineering colleges after expert recommendations.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), universities such as Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University, and IITs in Delhi, Indore, and Bombay adopted OBEs in online mode.
  • More recently, Kerala’s Higher Education Reforms Commission proposed using the OBE format only for internal or practical assessments.

What does Research say about OBE?

  • A Norwegian study in 2000 found that students taking OBEs were more likely to seek connections between ideas instead of just recalling facts.
  • Research at AIIMS Bhubaneswar reported that medical students experienced lower stress levels when taking OBEs.
  • At Delhi University, a study found that students scored higher in OBEs even without specific training in skills required for the format.
  • Another Research emphasises that real gains from OBEs require training in breaking down questions, analysing concepts, and applying knowledge rather than just looking up answers. 
image 15

However, many students pointed out patchy internet connectivity as a significant drawback during online OBEs. 

Trending now

SC Directions on Online Content Regulation
PM Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): Strengthening Inclusive Area Development
IMF Rating on India’s GDP Data
India to Open Civil Nuclear Power Sector to Private Firms