{"id":37308,"date":"2025-02-13T21:04:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T15:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=37308"},"modified":"2025-08-19T17:48:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T12:18:39","slug":"news-in-short-13-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/13-02-2025\/news-in-short-13-february-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 13-2-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 1\/History&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PM paid tributes to Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/swami-dayanand-saraswati\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/swami-dayanand-saraswati\/\">Dayanand Saraswati<\/a> was born on February 12, 1824, in Gujarat.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He founded the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/arya-samaj\/\">Arya Samaj in 1875<\/a><\/strong> to promote social reforms and education, counteracting social inequities and orthodox Hindu practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India\u2019s second President, called Dayanand Saraswati \u2018a maker of modern India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He published <strong>Satyarth Prakash (1875)<\/strong> to promote Vedic teachings and criticized other religions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Core Beliefs: <\/strong>Rejected idolatry and ritualistic traditions in Hinduism.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advocated for women\u2019s education and opposed child marriage and untouchability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emphasized a return to Vedic principles, promoting monotheism and simple rituals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Impact: <\/strong>He advocated for cow protection, leading to the creation of the Gaurakshini Sabha in 1882.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>His followers established Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) schools after his death to promote modern education alongside cultural and religious values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Credited with popularizing the term &#8220;swaraj&#8221; (self-rule) in 1875, later adopted by leaders like Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supported the idea of &#8220;shuddhi&#8221; to bring back converts to Hinduism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Philosophy of Arya Samaj: <\/strong>He<strong> <\/strong>advocated for the welfare of all humankind, rejecting idol worship.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He believed caste should not be hereditary but based on individual talent and disposition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>His vision of social reform is seen in India&#8217;s New Education Policy of 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: IE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Deepwater \u2018Space Station\u2019 in South China Sea<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 1\/Geography&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>China has approved the construction of the first <strong>South China Sea deepwater \u2018space station\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The facility will be a cold seep ecosystem research facility, located 2,000 meters below the surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will be one of the deepest and most technologically complex underwater installations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is expected to be operational by around 2030.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the South China Sea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is one of the most strategically and economically important waterways in the world, extending from the<strong> Strait of Malacca in the southwest<\/strong>, to the <strong>Strait of Taiwan in the northeast.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a crucial maritime gateway and junction for shipping between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is<strong> surrounded<\/strong> by several nations, including China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Importance:&nbsp; <\/strong>The region is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and fisheries, and serves as a crucial trade route for various economies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dispute: &nbsp;<\/strong>The South China Sea dispute involves China&#8217;s broad claims over the region, contested by ASEAN nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei over islands, reefs, and resources.&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These disputes affect freedom of navigation and air traffic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s Position:&nbsp; <\/strong>India&#8217;s position on the South China Sea has evolved in recent years, shifting from neutrality to more active support for claimant states like the Philippines and Vietnam.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India also seeks to secure its energy resources and enhance economic ties through its Look East Policy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d2d3d4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"708\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea-708x1024.png\" alt=\"deepwater-space-station-in-saouth-china-sea\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-37309\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d2d3d4; width:356px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea-708x1024.png 708w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea-207x300.png 207w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea-768x1111.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea-1062x1536.png 1062w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deepwater-\u2018Space-Station-in-South-China-Sea.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Source: AIR<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Public Accounts Committee<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS 2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Public Accounts Committee led by K.C. Venugopal directed the government to review existing rules regarding toll tax on National Highways (NH).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Public Accounts Committee (PAC)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Genesis: It&nbsp; is one of the oldest parliamentary committees, established in 1921 following the<strong> Montagu Chelmsford Reforms.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Composition: <\/strong>It<strong> <\/strong>is formed every year under <strong>Rule 308 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It consists of up to 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, and 7 from Rajya Sabha).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Minister is not elected as a member of a Committee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Function: <\/strong>It is responsible for auditing the revenue and the expenditure of the government, examines various government accounts, &amp; reviews income and expenditure statements of autonomous bodies audited by the CAG.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Avian Influenza<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Andhra Pradesh Government has declared four areas as Biosecurity Zones, in view of the identification of the <strong>avian influenza (bird flu) cases in the State.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Avian Influenza<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Depending on the<strong> origin host, <\/strong>influenza A viruses can be classified as <strong>avian influenza (bird flu, subtypes A H5N1 and A H<\/strong><strong>9N2)<\/strong>, <strong>swine i<\/strong><strong>nfluenza (swine flu<\/strong>, <strong>subtypes A H1N1 and AH3N2)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a viral infection that primarily affects birds.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can <strong>spread from animals to humans.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>H5N1 subtype<\/strong> has been responsible for <strong>numerous human infections and fatalities in the past.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symptoms<\/strong>: Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and severe respiratory distress in advanced cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> Avoiding contact with sick or dead birds; ensuring poultry products are thoroughly cooked; and implementing robust surveillance systems to detect and respond to new cases promptly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is <strong>no vaccination available for the Avian Influenza.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/andhra-pradesh\/bird-flu-in-andhra-pradesh-four-infected-areas-declared-as-biosecurity-zones-restrictions-imposed\/article69214633.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2019s Palm Oil Imports Plunge<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s palm oil imports dropped 65% year-on-year in January 2025, reaching a 13-year low.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Palm Oil<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition:<\/strong> Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of the African oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) and is one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Types of Palm Oil<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Crude Palm Oil (CPO): <\/strong>Extracted from the fruit pulp, used mainly for cooking and food processing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Palm Kernel Oil:<\/strong> Extracted from the seed, primarily used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Palm Oil Production:&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indonesia &amp; Malaysia together produce over 85% of the global supply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other significant producers: Thailand, Colombia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Palm Oil Production in India&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Major Producing States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala (accounting for 98% of total production).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India still relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National Mission on Edible Oils \u2013 Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) (launched in 2021)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Goal: <\/strong>Promote domestic oil palm cultivation and reduce dependence on imports.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Targets: <\/strong>Increase oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support farmers with financial incentives &amp; subsidies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Einstein Ring<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Euclid space telescope has discovered an Einstein ring, around a galaxy nearly 590 million light-years away from Earth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is an Einstein Ring?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>An Einstein ring<\/strong> is a circular formation of light caused by gravitational lensing, where a massive celestial object bends and magnifies light from a more distant object behind it.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gravitational lensing<\/strong> is an example of Einstein&#8217;s theory of general relativity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lensing Effect:<\/strong>&nbsp; If the alignment between the observer, the foreground lens, and the background source is nearly perfect, the light from the background galaxy can be smeared into a ring.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the recently observed Einstein ring, the galaxy <strong>NGC 6505 <\/strong>acted as the gravitational lens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Einstein Rings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Probing Dark Matter: <\/strong>Dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe&#8217;s total matter, does not emit or absorb light, making it difficult to observe directly.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Einstein rings provide indirect evidence of dark matter\u2019s gravitational influence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Understanding Distant Galaxies:<\/strong> These rings help scientists study galaxies that would otherwise be too faint or distant to observe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insights into Cosmic Expansion:<\/strong> The bending of light provides crucial data about the expansion of the universe, as the space between celestial bodies is continuously stretching.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/einstein-ring-9832360\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>BrahMos NG<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The development in the <strong>BrahMos NG (Next Generation) missile system<\/strong> represents a significant leap in India&#8217;s defense capabilities and international outreach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About BrahMos NG<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BrahMos NG is an advanced supersonic cruise missile developed under the <strong>India-Russia joint venture<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The BrahMos NG will retain the <strong>same 290 km range and Mach 3.5 speed<\/strong> as its predecessor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>lighter (1.6 tonnes vs. 3 tonnes) and smaller (6m vs. 9m)<\/strong>, making it more adaptable for various platforms, including the Sukhoi-30MKI and Tejas fighter aircraft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It will feature a homemade <strong>AESA radar.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first test flight is expected by n<strong>ext year (2025-26).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Strategic Importance &amp; Export Potential&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines in 2024, under a $375 million deal signed in 2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advanced negotiations with Indonesia for a $450 million deal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Several nations in Africa and West Asia have shown interest in acquiring BrahMos NG.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Hyderabad Bird Atlas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment and Ecology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hyderabad is developing a Bird Atlas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a<strong> three-year project<\/strong> and will be conducted in February (Winter) and July (Summer) to know about the migratory birds.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aim: <\/strong>To understand bird distribution in the city, monitor changes in their population, identify important bird areas and inform authorities about land use planning.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pune, Mysore and Coimbatore<\/strong> are some of the cities in India that have developed bird atlases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As of now, 51 out of 180 regions were surveyed and 170 bird species were recorded.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Hyderabad\/bird-watchers-volunteers-team-up-to-develop-hyderabad-bird-atlas\/article69210938.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PM paid tributes to Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37308"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51602,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37308\/revisions\/51602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}