- HOW AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS WORK
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- India’s air defense systems were critical during military operations against Pakistan following aerial attacks on Thursday, targeting terror camps after the Pahalgam attack (April 22, 2025, 26 killed).
- Challenges in Countering Aerial Threats:
- Pakistan’s attacks involved military hardware, software systems, drones, and missiles.
- Threats are complex due to their ability to cause damage; air defense systems are crucial in modern warfare.
- India repulsed Pakistani attacks in Amritsar on Thursday morning.
- How Air Defence Systems Work:
- Detection:Radar systems (ground/air-based) detect threats; satellites provide additional data.
- Tracking:Radars track the target’s trajectory; systems like IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) distinguish between friendly and enemy targets.
- Interception:Missiles, anti-aircraft guns, or electronic countermeasures neutralize the threat.
- India’s Deployment of IAI Harop Drones:
- Type: Loitering munition (suicide drone) by Israel’s IAI; India used it to strike Pakistan.
- Features: Equipped with an explosive payload; loiters over targets for up to 9 hours.
- High precision; uses RF (radio frequency) seekers for targeting.
- Can strike targets 1,000 km away; effective against time-critical, high-value targets.
- Successor:Harop is an upgrade of the Harpy (1980s); more autonomous, precise.
2. EUROPE REVIEWS VALNEVA’S CHIKUNGUNYA VACCINE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA)is reviewing Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine (Ixxchiq)due to reports of serious side effects in older adults.
- Temporary suspension of the vaccine in people aged65 and above.
- 17 serious adverse events, including2 deaths, reported globally in individuals aged62–89.
- Company is cooperating with health authorities;causal link not yet established.
- Chikungunya:A mosquito-borne viral disease causing fever and joint pain.
- Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI):Unintended medical occurrences after vaccination, not necessarily causally related.
- EMA (European Medicines Agency):Regulatory authority overseeing drug and vaccine safety in EU countries.
3. CCI NOTIFIES NEW DEFINITIONS TO CURB PREDATORY PRICING
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI)has introduced new definitions for various costs to determine predatory pricing, aiming to ensure fair competition and reduce anti-competitive practices.
- New Definitions: CCI notified definitions for costs like average variable cost(total variable cost divided by total output during a period)to assess predatory pricing.
- Predatory Pricing: Pricing a product/service below its cost to eliminate competitors, as per the Competition Act, 2002.
- CCI’s Approach: Will avoid sector-specific cost definitions and assess on a case-by-case basis.
- Stakeholder Input: After reviewing comments, CCI adopted a cost-based framework flexible for various industries, including the digital economy.
- Objective: Enable the CCI to consider unique features and dynamics of digital markets while evaluating predatory conduct
4. SMALL SNAIL INFESTATION A GROWING THREAT TO CARDAMOM FARMERS IN IDUKKI DISTRICT
SUBJECT: AGRICULTURE
- Small snail infestation threatens cardamom plantations in Idukki, Kerala, after heavy summer rains.
- Snails are devouring new panicles and flowers, causing significant crop damage;
- Snail attacks noted since October last year, worsened this year.
- Response: Farmers using metaldehyde pellets to kill snails, as advised by the Cardamom Research Station (CRS)of Kerala Agricultural University, Pampadumpara.
- Farmers (Kumily, Puliyannmala, Anavilasom, Pathumury, Chakkupallom) report increased complaints about snail attacks.
5. CLIMATE CHANGE IS DISRUPTING THE HUMAN GUT IN A NEW PATH TO ILLNESS
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Climate change affects gut microbiota via food shortages, undernourishment.
- Mechanism: High CO2 reduces plant micronutrients(phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron)and proteins in crops(wheat, maize, rice).
- Disrupts microbial diversity; favors strains linked to malnutrition/diseases.
- Vulnerable Groups:Low/middle-income countries (LMICs), Indigenous communities.
- Additional Factors: Heat increases foodborne/waterborne diseases (Dialogues in Health study).
- Gut dysbiosis linked to eczema, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (The BMJ, 2018).
- Research Needs:Multidisciplinary approach; more data on microbial interactions; funding for metagenomics.
- Indian Contribution: GutBugBD database(IISER Bhopal) for microbiota drug interactions.
6. INDIA BRIEFS ENVOYS OF 13 SECUITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Post-Operation Sindoor strikes on Pakistan (Wednesday).
- Briefing: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misrito 13/15 UNSCmembers (Pakistan, Sierra Leone excluded).
- Strikes were a “response” to Pahalgam attack(26 killed), not escalation. Targeted, measured, non-escalatory; aimed to deter future attacks.
- Pakistan escalated by shielding The Resistance Front (TRF) in UNSC resolution.
- India will respond to any military escalation by Pakistan.
- Envoys’ Queries: U.K.: Damage to mosques? India: Only terror camps targeted.
- Damage to Indian infrastructure: Too early to assess.
- Strategy:Counter Pakistan at UNSC 1267 (terror listing) and FATF; Indian Mission in New York engaging UNSC members
7. AS INDIA CLIMBS UP HDI RANKING RISING INEQUALITY POSES CHALLENGES
SUBJECT: INDEX
- HDI Ranking (2025 Report): India ranks 130/193(up from 133 in 2022); HDI value:0.685 (2023) from 0.676 (2022).
- HDI Indicators: Life expectancy: 72 years (2023), up from 58.6 (1990).
- Expected schooling: 13 years (up from 8.2 in 1990).
- GNI per capita: $9,046.76 (2023) from $2,167.22 (1990).
- Key Programs: MGNREGA, Right to Education Act, National Rural Health Mission.
- Achievements: 13.5 crore escaped multidimensional poverty(2015-16 to 2019-21).
- Challenges:
- Income and gender inequality: HDI loss of 30.7% (highest in the region).
- Female labor participation: 41.7% (2023-24), but ecosystem for retention lacking.
- Delay in women’s reservation in legislatures
