17 May 2025 Current Affairs

Presidential Reference on Assent Timelines – May 2025

Overview

• President Droupadi Murmu has invoked Article 143 to refer a matter of constitutional interpretation to the Supreme Court.
• Seeks clarity on whether Supreme Court can set timelines for:

- Governors (under Article 200)

- President (under Article 201) to act on Bills passed by State Legislatures.

Background

Supreme Court in ‘State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu’:

1. Set time limits for:

• Governors under Article 200
• President under Article 201
• Invoked its powers under Article 142 to ensure "complete justice".

Key Issues in the 14-Point Reference

• Whether a 3-month limit for Presidential assent (Article 201) is constitutionally valid?
• Are Governors bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers when acting under Article 200?
• Can the SC judicially enforce time-bound action on constitutional authorities?

Articles Invoked in the Reference

Why It Matters

• Clarifies the scope of constitutional roles and responsibilities.
• Seeks to define limits of judicial activism under Article 142.
• Has implications for the federal structure, legislative process, and separation of powers.

India Urges IAEA Oversight of Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal

India’s Defence Minister has called for IAEA monitoring of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, amid growing concerns over the security and command structure of Pakistan’s arsenal.

About IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

IAEA & NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)

• IAEA is not a member of NPT, but serves as the verification body under the treaty.
• NPT obligates non-nuclear weapon states to:

- Sign Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSAs) with IAEA

- Allow IAEA inspections to verify peaceful nuclear use

About the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)

Other Key Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaties

Why This Matters

• Pakistan is not under full-scope IAEA safeguards, unlike NPT-compliant non-nuclear states.
• India, though not an NPT member, has placed civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards after the 2008 India-US nuclear deal.
• The call for IAEA oversight reflects strategic concerns about regional nuclear security and Pakistan’s export control history.

India’s First Biological Experiments on the ISS

Overview

India will conduct biological space experiments aboard the ISS for the first time, under the upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, in collaboration with:

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
• DBT (Department of Biotechnology), Ministry of Science & Technology

1. Mission Platform

• International Space Station (ISS)
• Mission: Axiom-4, a commercial spaceflight supported by Axiom Space

Experiments Being Conducted

1. Microalgae Experiment

• Objective: Study how microgravity and space radiation affect the growth of edible microalgae
• Why Important?

- Microalgae are nutrient-rich and efficient oxygen producers

- Serve as a sustainable space food source for long-term missions

2. Cyanobacteria Experiment

• Objective: Study growth and proteomic response of cyanobacteria (e.g., Spirulina, Synechococcus)
• Focus Areas:

- Compare growth in urea- vs. nitrate-based media

- Explore Spirulina as a "superfood" due to its high protein, vitamin B12, and iron content

About BioE3 Policy

Significance

• Marks India's entry into space biotechnology research
• Supports long-duration human spaceflight missions like Gaganyaan
• Aligns with global efforts on closed-loop life support systems (e.g., food, oxygen recycling)
• Enhances India’s role in commercial and collaborative space science missions

Samudrayaan Mission (To be launched by end of 2026)

Overview

• Part of: Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)
• Objective: To send humans 6,000 meters below sea level for deep-ocean exploration using an indigenously developed submersible.
• Implementing Agency: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai

About MATSYA 6000

India’s first crewed deep-sea submersible vehicle

Objectives of Samudrayaan Mission

• Explore deep ocean (up to 6,000 m) for:

- Living resources (biodiversity, genetics, etc.)

- Non-living resources (polymetallic nodules, gas hydrates)

• Enable deep-sea observation
• Open avenues for ocean-based tourism
• Enhance India’s technological capability in underwater vehicles

Global Context

• Only 5 countries have achieved human-crewed deep-sea missions: USA, Russia, China, France, Japan
• India to become the 6th country with this capability

About Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)

Blue Economy

1. Defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for:

• Economic growth
• Improved livelihoods
• Ecosystem health

2. India's Blue Economy share: Around 4% of GDP

Yala Glacier Declared Dead (Nepal)

What Happened?

• Yala Glacier, located in Langtang Valley, Nepal, has shrunk by 66% since the 1970s.
• It is now among the first glaciers in Nepal to be officially declared "dead" by scientists and local communities.
• A "Glacier Funeral" was held - a symbolic ceremony to raise awareness about climate change impacts.

Other Notable Glacier Funerals

Consequences of Glacier Loss

1. Accelerated Global Warming

• Decreased albedo effect (reflection of sunlight) → more heat absorbed

2. Sea Level Rise

• Glacial melt contributed ~2 cm to global sea levels since 2001 (Nature study)

3. Disrupted Water Cycles

• Glaciers store ~75% of the world’s freshwater
• Melting endangers water security for millions

4. Increased Natural Disasters

• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
• Avalanches, landslides, and flash floods

Global Initiatives for Glacier Conservation

• UN Declarations:

- 2025: Declared International Year of Glacier Preservation

- March 21: To be observed as World Day for Glaciers

• UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme
• Himalayan Adaptation Network – by IUCN
• Living Himalayas Initiative – by WWF

India’s Glacier Conservation Efforts

Sikkim Statehood – 50th Anniversary (2025)

Date of Statehood: 16 May 1975 - Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union.

Constitutional Timeline

1. 35th Amendment Act, 1974

• Introduced Article 2A and 10th Schedule (special provisions for Sikkim).
• Sikkim was made an "Associate State" of India - a unique constitutional category (first and only of its kind).

2. 36th Amendment Act, 1975

• Article 2A repealed.
• Sikkim was made a full-fledged State of India.
• Admitted under Article 1 of the Constitution.
• The 10th Schedule (specific to Sikkim) was removed.

Article 371F – Special Provisions for Sikkim

• Protects Sikkimese identity, customs, laws, and judicial practices.
• Ensures representation of Sikkimese people in the legislative assembly.
• Bars legal challenges to pre-merger laws unless found inconsistent with the Constitution.

Why It Matters?

• Sikkim’s merger is a unique case of peaceful integration through a democratic process (via referendum).
• The only Indian state to have been admitted through an amendment creating and repealing a special category (Associate State).

Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX Mission (Lunar Polar Exploration)

Current Status

• India and Japan have agreed to enter the design phase of the LUPEX mission.
• LUPEX = Lunar Polar Exploration.
• To be launched in the early 2030s (tentative).
• Part of India’s broader goal of sending astronauts to the Moon by 2040.

Mission Objective

Explore the Moon’s South Pole, especially:

• Volatile elements like water ice.
• Understand the thermal and geological history.
• Assess feasibility of sustainable lunar exploration.

International Collaboration

Legacy and Future Missions

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Orbiter, discovered water molecules.

• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter + failed lander/rover.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Successful lander-rover mission at south pole.
• Chandrayaan-4 (Upcoming): India’s first lunar sample return mission.
• Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX: Joint rover-lander for deeper in-situ study.

Why It Matters?

• Aims to support human exploration of the Moon.
• Enhances India’s position in space diplomacy and technology leadership.
• Advances ISRO-JAXA-NASA-ESA collaboration in lunar science.

GRAIL Mission (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory)

About the Mission

• Launched by: NASA in 2011
• Part of: NASA’s Discovery Program
• Objective: To map the Moon's gravitational field in unprecedented detail.
• Consisted of two spacecraft, named Ebb and Flow.

Key Contributions

1. Most Detailed Lunar Gravity Map Ever Created

• Helped build a precise lunar reference frame and time system.
• Critical for navigation and landing safety of future lunar missions.

2. Uneven Lunar Interior: Nearsided (facing Earth):

• Warmer
• Geologically more active
• Covered by smooth lava plains (mare)
• Farside (away from Earth): Cooler; More rugged terrain and Lacks extensive mare formations

3. Tidal Deformation Observed

• Earth’s gravity causes greater tidal flexing on the nearside.
• Flexing leads to structural differences in the Moon’s crust and mantle.

Scientific Importance

• Enhanced understanding of lunar evolution, thermal history, and internal structure.
• Data helps in identifying suitable landing zones and construction sites for future Moon bases.