News In Short-24-05-2025

Agamas

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• The Supreme Court has allowed the Tamil Nadu government to appoint ‘archakas’ (priests) to the state’s temples not governed by Agama tradition.

Background

• Tamil Nadu has witnessed debates over caste-based priesthood, temple autonomy, and ritual conformity.
• Identifying Agamic temples ensures that appointments (archakars/maniyams) follow traditional procedures and constitutional norms.

What are Agamas?

• Agamas are a collection of scriptures that lay down rituals, temple architecture, idol worship methods, and daily worship procedures in temples.
• They are distinct from the Vedas and form the scriptural foundation of temple-based Hinduism, particularly in South India.
• Agamas are central to the Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Shakta traditions.
  • Shaiva Agamas: Focused on the worship of Lord Shiva; widely followed in Tamil Shaiva temples.
  • Vaishnava Agamas (Pancharatra and Vaikhanasa): These deal with the worship of Lord Vishnu and are prevalent in many major South Indian Vaishnava temples like Tirupati.
  • Shakta Agamas (Tantras): Worship of Goddess Shakti.

Source: TH

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Syllabus: GS2/International Bodies

Context

• India will submit a dossier to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which will make a case for putting Pakistan back in the “grey list”.

About

• India will specifically point to the non-compliance of certain provisions that Pakistan had promised to adhere to when it was taken off the FATF grey list in 2022.
• Pakistan had been in the grey list for four years, between 2018 and 2022.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

• The FATF is the global money-laundering and terror financing watchdog. 
• It is an inter-governmental organisation with 40 members, India became a member in 2010.
• The body researches how money is laundered and terrorism is funded, promotes global standards to mitigate the risks, and assesses whether countries are taking effective action.

What FATF’s grey/black lists entail?

• The FATF identifies jurisdictions with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT regimes) in two public documents that are issued three times a year — in February, June and October.
• The grey list, officially “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring”, comprises countries that have significant deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes but are actively working with the FATF to address these within agreed timeframes. 
  • Countries in the grey list are subject to increased monitoring by the FATF. Currently, there are 25 countries in this list (as of feb 2025).
  • It carries adverse economic and reputational impacts, which affect the inflow of foreign investment and international aid. 
  • Pakistan being on the grey list from 2018 to 2022 had helped curtail illicit fund flows into India.
• The black list, officially “High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action”, comprises countries with “serious strategic deficiencies” in their AML/CFT regimes.
  • The FATF urges all other jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence while dealing with such countries and also apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the risks emanating from the country.
  • Three countries are in the black list at the moment — North Korea, Myanmar, and Iran. 

Source: IE

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS)

Syllabus: GS 2/IR

In News

• New sites  from China, Brazil, China, Mexico and Spain recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

• It was launched by  the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2002 to address threats to traditional farming systems, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
• It aims to balance conservation, sustainable adaptation, and socioeconomic development by supporting farmers, promoting traditional knowledge, and enhancing market opportunities.
• It  welcomes proposals that reflect agricultural and cultural heritage and support global sustainable development and biodiversity goals.
• FAO’s worldwide agricultural heritage network now consists of 95 systems in 28 countries around the globe.

The latest additions to the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)  

• A traditional agroforestry system cultivating erva-mate in Brazil
• Three Chinese sites known for pearl mussels, white tea, and pears
• An ancestral farming system in Mexico that conserves key food crops and biodiversity 
• A unique agricultural system set within the volcanic terrain of Spain’s Lanzarote island.

Source: FAO

US Revoked Students & Exchange Visitor Programme

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Trump administration revoked the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which allowed Harvard University to enroll international students.

About

• This comes amid Harvard and the Trump administration’s tussle about key programs.
  • The president has been putting pressure on the college to fall in line with his agenda.
• SEVP is a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program, administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• It oversees international students and exchange visitors at institutions like Harvard University on F-1 (academic students), M-1 (vocational students), and J-1 (exchange visitors) visas. 
• EVP certification allows Harvard to enroll international students, who make up over 27% of its student body. 
• The program requires Harvard to use the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to report data such as enrollment status, academic progress, and disciplinary records to ensure visa compliance.

Harvard University

• It is a part of the Ivy League, a group of eight prestigious northeastern U.S. universities.
• It was established in 1636 and is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
• Regularly ranked among the top universities in the world.
• Harvard library is the largest academic library in the world.

Source: IE

Kala-Azar

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate Kala-azar, during an event co-organised by the African Union and WHO on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis)

• Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
• The term “kala-azar,” meaning “black disease,” refers to the skin discoloration associated with the infection. 
• The parasite primarily targets the reticuloendothelial system, particularly affecting the bone marrow, spleen, and liver.
• It is one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) identified by WHO.
• Symptoms: Prolonged fever, Weight loss, Fatigue, Enlargement of the spleen and liver, Anaemia etc.

Government Interventions

• Government of India launched a centrally sponsored Kala-azar control Programme in 1990-91. 
• The National Health Policy (2002) envisaged kala-azar Elimination by 2010 which was revised later to 2015.
  • The WHO aims for its elimination by 2030.

Source: DTE

Inauguration of  Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan at NCPOR

Syllabus: GS 3/Research and Development 

In News

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, marking India’s first integrated infrastructure for polar and ocean research. 

About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

• It was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (formerly Department of Ocean Development), Government of India on the 25th May 1998.
• It is located in Goa and It serves as the nodal agency for the Indian Antarctic Programme, managing India’s two permanent Antarctic stations — Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2011).
  • India’s policy initiatives such as the Arctic Policy (2022) and the Indian Antarctic Act (2022), provide a structured legal and ethical framework for India’s polar engagement, ensuring adherence to international standards.
• It focuses on multidisciplinary polar research and areas not addressed by other Indian institutions.
• It is recognized by Goa and Mangalore universities for doctoral research and features advanced infrastructure and computing facilities. 

Importance 

• India maintains a robust research presence in polar and high-altitude regions through its permanent stations in Antarctica (Maitri and Bharati), the Arctic (Himadri), and the Himalayas (Himansh). 
  • Recent Indian scientific expeditions have also extended to the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and the Central Arctic Ocean.
• These state-of-the-art facilities enhance India’s scientific and strategic capabilities in ocean governance and climate monitoring.

Source :DD News

Study Highlights Concerns Related to EVs 

Syllabus :GS 3/Environment 

In News

• A recent study by Indian researchers revealed that Electric Vehicles (EVs) may worsen air pollution due to increased tyre wear.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

• EVs are electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries which can be charged by electricity from an external source.
• They can help improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Findings of recent study 

• EVs are heavier than conventional petrol vehicles because of their heavy batteries and reinforced frames, leading to greater tyre wear and release of more microplastic particles into the atmosphere.
• Heavier and faster-moving vehicles produce more small rubber particles from tyre wear.
  • These smaller particles (1-10 micrometers) stay suspended in the air longer and contribute to air pollution, unlike larger particles that settle quickly.

Suggestions 

• There is the need for updated measures to address tyre wear pollution from EVs.
• Current air quality regulations, which focus on PM2.5 and PM10 particles, do not cover the smaller tyre fragments. 
  • These regulations should be expanded to include these smaller pollutants. 
• Tyre manufacturers should invest in R&D to create more durable tyres designed for heavier EVs.
• Additionally, emissions standards must consider non-exhaust emissions like tyre wear.
• Technological solutions, such as capturing tyre particles at the source before they enter the atmosphere, have also been proposed.

Source :TH

Neurotrophin Peptidomimetic Drugs

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

Context

• Neurotrophin peptidomimetic drugs are effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases (NDs).
  • Neurotrophin Peptidomimetics are engineered molecules that mimic the structure and function of natural peptides or proteins.

What are Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDs)?

• NDs are a group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system.
• Examples: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) etc.
• These diseases currently have no definitive cures and treatments, focusing largely on symptom management.

Source: PIB