- DRDO TESTS LASER WEAPON SYSTEM THAT CAN DISABLE MISSILES AND DRONES
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- DRDO’s Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
- Trial: Successful at National Open Air Range, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh (April 2025).
- Capabilities: Disables missiles, drones, sensors at long range.
- Counters multiple drone attacks with precision.
- Features: Low-cost(firing costs ~litres of petrol).
- Engages at light speed; cuts targets via laser beam.
- Impact: Reduces reliance on expensive ammo, minimizes collateral damage.
2. OPENAI’S GHIBLI STYLE AI IMAGE GENERATOR AND COPYRIGHT LAW
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- OpenAI’s GPT4o update generates Studio Ghibli-style images, sparking controversy.
- Controversial Uses: IDF’s militaristic images; 9/11, Babri Masjid depictions.
- Contradicts Miyazaki’s anti-war, anti-AI stance.
- Ethical Concerns: Misappropriation of Ghibli’s pacifist ethos.
- Lack of transparency in AI training data.
- US law: Styles not copyrightable; only specific works protected.
- Fair use debate: AI training vs. creator rights.
- Ongoing case: Andersen vs Stability AI(copyright infringement undecided).
- Solutions: Anti-AI tools (e.g., Glaze) to protect art.
- Robots.txt to limit scraping (non-binding).
- Social/labor policies over copyright expansion.
3. SAVING TRADITIONAL VARIETIES OF SEEDS
SUBJECT: AGRICULTURE
- Disappearance of India’s traditional seed varieties due to hybrid dominance.
- Market Demand: Preference for high-yield rice/wheat over millets, pulses.
- Conservation: Lack of community seed banks for traditional varieties.
- Policy Bias: Subsidies favor high-yield crops, sidelining biodiversity.
- Benefits of Traditional Seeds: Climate-resilient (drought/flood-tolerant).
- Nutrient-rich, sustainable for soil health.
- Solutions: Strengthen community seed banks.
- Fund participatory plant breeding (farmers + scientists).
- Market incentives: MSP, include in rations/school meals.
- Consumer awareness for traditional crops
4. KERALA TO BE DECLARED FIRST STATE TO ACHIEVE TOTAL DIGITAL LITERACY
SUBJECT: STATES
- ‘Digi Kerala’ by Local Self-Government Department.
- Over 21 lakh people, including senior citizens, trained in digital skills.
- Examples: C. Sarasu (67, Thiruvananthapuram): Uses video calls, YouTube.
- Krishnakumar (75, Muvattupuzha): Mobilizes anti-drug campaigns via WhatsApp
5. INDIA, AFRICA MARITIME ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE BEGINS OFF TANZANIA COAST
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- India-Africa Maritime Exercise (AIKEYME)
- Event: Inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), April 13-18, 2025.
- Location: Off Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
- Participants: India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa.
- Ships: INS Chennai(destroyer), INS Kesari, INS Sunayna(with 44 personnel from 9 nations).
- Objective: Address regional maritime challenges.
- Enhance interoperability among navies.
- Alignment: PM Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision for security and growth.
