News In Short-5-05-2025

Chenab River

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

In News

• India has restricted the flow of waters of Chenab at the Baglihar and Salal hydro-electric dams in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indus Treaty suspension.
  • The Chenab is part of the Indus river system and flows into Pakistan.

About Chenab River

• Origin: It is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
  • Known as Chandra-Bhaga in upper reaches, it becomes Chenab downstream.
• Course: It flows then through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, joins the Sutlej River to form the Panjnad in Pakistan, which ultimately flows into the Indus River at Mithankot.
• Tributaries:  Right Bank: Marusudar (largest tributary), Miyar Nalla, Bhut Nalla, and Kalnai
• Left Bank: Niru, Tawi, Neeru, and Lidrar
• Major Hydroelectric Projects on Chenab River: Salal Hydroelectric Project (at Reasi), Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project (at Ramban), Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant (Kishtwar district) & Ratle Hydroelectric Plant (Drabshalla in the Kishtwar district).

Source: TOI

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) 

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

In News

• India’s National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has reported “irreparable damage” to the structures of three barrages in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).
  • NDSA  is a statutory Body under National Dam Safety Act, 2021 established for dam safety regulation, coordination, and disaster resilience.

About

• The Kaleshwaram project on the Godavari is  the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project.
  • In lift irrigation projects, water is not transported by gravity. Instead, it is lifted using pumps or surge pools to a main delivery chamber at the highest point of the project, from where it is distributed to the fields for irrigation.
• It aims to utilize the waters of the Godavari River, including its tributaries, for irrigation,industrial and other purposes.
  • The Godavari River, also called the Dakshin Ganga or Ganga of the South, is the longest river in Peninsular India.
  • It starts from the Western Ghats in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and flows eastward to drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• It spans 500 km through 13 districts, utilizing an extensive canal network of more than 1,800 km.

Source :IE

ECINET: ECI’s One-Stop Electoral Tech Platform

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a single-point App ECINET for voters and other stakeholders such as election officials, political parties and the civil society.

About the ECINET

• Purpose: A one-stop platform that will integrate and streamline over 40 of the EC’s existing mobile and web apps in a single and user friendly platform, easing navigation by eliminating the need for multiple logins.
  • To ensure that data are as accurate as possible, ECINET data will be entered solely by authorised EC officials. 
• Key Apps Being Merged: Voter Helpline, Voter Turnout, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham, and KYC – with over 5.5 crore total downloads.
• Development Process: Envisioned by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
• Reach: The new initiative is expected to benefit nearly 100 crore electors and the entire electoral administration.

Source: TH

Free Movement Regime

Syllabus: GS 2/IR

In News

• The United Naga Council (UNC) has urged the reinstatement of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border.

Free Movement Regime (FMR)

• It was  introduced in 1968 to accommodate ethnic and familial ties along the India-Myanmar border.
• It  initially allowed 40 km of visa-free travel, later reduced to 16 km in 2004 and now to 10 km. 
• Under the current rules, residents can visit family across the border with a border pass, without a visa or passport.
  • Biometric data is collected and checked against a central database.
• Assam Rifles handles the first layer of verification, while state police in bordering states conduct local security checks.
  • The border pass is valid for seven days, and 21 new border checkpoints will be added in a second phase.

Source :TH

India-Belgium Partnership

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry of India held a meeting in Brussels with the Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade to strengthen the Indo-Belgian partnership.

About

• India and Belgium have discussed ways to boost bilateral trade, foster industrial collaboration, and deepen investments in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, defence production, and pharma.
• Belgium is India’s fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, with bilateral trade reaching 15.07 billion US Dollars in 2023-24.
• Belgian FDI in India has totalled 3.94 billion US Dollars from April 2000 to September 2024, including a 39 per cent growth in the past year alone.
• The India-Belgium Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) serves as a powerful instrument to deepen trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Source: AIR

India Poised to Become the Capital of MICE Tourism

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism said that India is poised to become the global capital of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism.

About

• The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) refers to a specialized segment of the tourism and hospitality industry focused on organizing and hosting business events.
  • MICE is also known as the ‘Meetings industry’ or ‘Events industry’.
• The India MICE market generated a revenue of USD 49,402.6 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 103,686.5 million by 2030 while registering a growth of 13% CAGR.

Infrastructure Growth Supporting MICE

• Transport Connectivity:
  • Over 1.5 lakh km of roads were built in the last decade.
  • Expansion of railway infrastructure, including semi high-speed trains.
  • Growth in inland waterways and cargo transport.
  • More than 150 operational airports enhance domestic and international access.
• Accommodation and Event Facilities:
  • Over 2.48 million hotel rooms across various categories.
  • World-class convention centres such as Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi, Hyderabad International Convention Centre.
• The Ministry of Tourism has further launched a dedicated brand ‘Meet in India’ for promoting India as a MICE destination.

Source: PIB

Stratospheric Airship Platform

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Technology

In News

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-trial of a Stratospheric Airship Platform at Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh. 

Stratospheric Airship Platform

• It is developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra
• The airship was launched with an instrumental payload and reached an altitude of around 17 km.
  • The total flight duration was 62 minutes.
• Onboard sensors provided valuable data for the development of high-fidelity simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights.
  • Envelope pressure control and emergency deflation systems were tested during the flight, and the system was recovered for further investigation.

Importance 

• It will enhance India’s earth observation and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance capabilities, making the country one of the few countries in the world having such indigenous capabilities.

Source :PIB

Igla-S Missiles

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• The Indian Army has received fresh supplies of the Russian-made Igla-S missiles.

About Igla-S missiles

• They are the Russian-made man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.
• The missile uses infrared (IR) homing to lock onto the heat signatures of aerial targets.
• It has enhanced ability to resist jamming and decoy flares due to its dual-band IR seeker.
• It can engage targets at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3.5 km.
• The Igla-S is an advanced version of the Igla missile system, which has been in service since the 1990s.

Source: TOI

Mithridatism

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Scientists have developed an “unparalleled” antivenom from the blood of a man who deliberately injected himself with snake venom for nearly two decades.

What is Mithridatism?

• Mithridatism is the practice of building immunity to a poison by gradually self-administering non-lethal doses of that poison. 
• The term is derived from Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus, who supposedly practiced this method to protect himself from poisoning.

Source: TH

7th Edition of the Khelo India Youth Games

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 7th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games.

About

• Khelo India Youth Games are part of the Khelo India program that was launched on October 14, 2017.
• Khelo India aims to achieve the twin objective of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports. 
• The program has contributed immensely to India’s sporting success with several Khelo India athletes representing the nation at global events, including the Olympics and the Asian Games. 

Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025

• It is a flagship event of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and is being held from May 4 to 15, with Bihar playing host across five cities – Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai.
  • New Delhi will stage shooting, gymnastics and track cycling events.
• The 7th edition has the mascot “Gajsimha”—symbolizing an elephant’s power and a lion’s heart—draws inspiration from Pala dynasty carvings.
• It will feature 27 sports and for the first time, esports has been included as a demonstration sport. Also, for the first time in the KIYG program, sepaktakraw has been included as a medal sport.

Source: PIB