News In Short 09-1-2025

Soapstone Mining

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography, GS2/ Governance

Context

• Uttarakhand High Court has ordered an immediate stop to mining operations in Bageshwar district after illegal activities led to cracks in houses and hills.

What is Soapstone?

• Soapstone is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of talc, a naturally occurring mineral. It is widely used for;
  • Construction and interior design (e.g., countertops, sinks, hearths, sculptures).
  • Industrial applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals due to its softness and heat resistance.
• According to the Indian Bureau of Mines, the states of Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%) boast substantial reserves of soapstone in India.

Regulation and Governance in India

• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 governs mining activities.
• The National Mineral Policy, 2019 emphasizes sustainable mining practices.

Source: IE

Marathi language officially granted classical status

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• Months after granting classical language status to Marathi, the Union government issued an official notification to this effect.
• Recently, the Union Cabinet has granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing the classical languages to eleven.

Classical Languages

• India had six classical languages — Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
  • Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, Sanskrit in 2005, Kannada in 2008, Telugu in 2008, Malayalam in 2013, and Odia in 2014. 
  • All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Criteria: It should have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years,
  • a body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers, 
  • the presence of “knowledge texts”, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence, 
  • the said language and literature should be distinct from its modern format.
• Benefits: The Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it such as:
  • two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages, 
  • a Centre of Excellence for Studies in the classical language is set up, 
  • and the University Grants Commission is requested to start with a certain number of Chairs for the classical language at least in the Central Universities.

Source: IE

India’s Recalculated Coastline up 48% in 53 Years

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

Context

• India’s coastline expanded by almost half in just over five decades – from 7,516km in 1970 to 11,098km in 2023-24.

About

• Major Changes: 
  • States like Bengal, Gujarat and Goa added significantly to their shoreline while Puducherry shrunk by 10.4%.
  • Gujarat’s recalculated coastline almost doubled from 1,214km in 1970 to 2,340km in the past 53 years. 
  • Bengal’s was the highest increase in percentage terms during this period – up 357% from 157km to 721km. 
  • Nationally, the coastline increase compared to 1970 data stands at 47.6%.
    • Gujarat retains its position as the state with the longest coastline, Tamil Nadu has overtaken Andhra Pradesh based on the new survey. 
• Reason for Increase: It is attributed primarily to using a new methodology to measure India’s maritime parameter.
  • Older methods relied on straight-line distance measurements.
  • The scientifically updated approach is developed by the National Maritime Security Coordinator.
  • It incorporates the measurement of complex coastal formations such as bays, estuaries, inlets, and other geomorphological features. 

Source: TOI

Bhashini Project

Syllabus: GS2/ E- Governance

In News

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Bhashini project has been leveraged to upgrade the eShram portal with 22 languages.

Bhashini Project

• It was launched in 2022.  It is part of the broader National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
• It aims to enable easy access to the internet and digital services in Indian languages, including voice-based access, and help create content in Indian languages.

Significance

• It empowers Indian citizens by connecting them to digital initiatives in their own language, promoting digital inclusion.
• It increases the content in Indian languages on the internet, especially in governance, policy, and science.
• It promotes self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) by enabling citizens to easily contribute through the crowd-sourcing platform, Bhasha Daan

Source: BS

Future of Jobs Report 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Future of Jobs Report 2025 is released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Key Takeaways

• Job Disruption and Creation: By 2030, 22% of jobs are expected to face disruption. 170 million new jobs will be created, driven by technological advancements and other factors.
• Fastest Growing Jobs: Employers are increasingly looking to automation and AI to reduce workforce size and upskill employees.
  • AI and big data skills will rise by 87%, followed by cybersecurity (70%).
• Fastest Declining Jobs:  Roles such as postal service clerks, bank tellers, data entry clerks, cashiers, and telemarketers are expected to experience the greatest decline.
• India-Specific Insights: Digital access, geopolitical tensions, and climate change efforts will drive job trends in India.
  • There is significant investment in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and energy technologies.

About World Economic Forum (WEF)

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international organization for public-private cooperation. 
• It was founded in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab and is headquartered in Davos, Switzerland. 
• The WEF brings together leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society to discuss and address global challenges, with the aim of improving the state of the world.

Source: IE

Androgen Signalling

Syllabus: GS3/Science

Context

• According to a study, androgen signalling plays a crucial role in the development, fertility, physiology and appearance of both sexes as well as sex-specific crowing behaviour in males.

About

• The androgen sex hormones are responsible for male sexual development while oestrogen and progesterone essay the same roles in females.
• The study found that the androgen receptors are as important for sexual development and fertility in females as in males.

Androgen signaling 

• Androgen signaling refers to the process by which androgens, a group of male sex hormones including testosterone and its derivatives, exert their effects on cells and tissues. 
• The activation of androgen receptors influences various biological processes, such as:
  • Development of male secondary sexual characteristics: These include facial hair, deep voice, and muscle mass.
  • Anabolic effects: They promote protein synthesis and muscle growth, contributing to physical strength and body composition.
  • Reproductive health: Androgens play a role in sperm production, and other aspects of male reproductive health.
  • Neurodevelopment and behavior: Androgen signaling also affects the central nervous system, influencing mood, cognition, and behavior.

Source: TH

Miyawaki Technique

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has utilized the Miyawaki technique to transform barren areas into lush green forests. 

Miyawaki Technique

• Origin: The Miyawaki technique, Often referred to as the ‘pot plantation method’, was developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s.
  • It is a revolutionary method for creating dense forests in small urban spaces.
• Principle: It involves planting trees and shrubs close to one another to accelerate their growth.
  • Plants grow 10 times faster with this technique, making it a practical solution for urban areas.
• Significance: In urban areas, the method is known to have successfully converted barren, polluted lands into thriving green ecosystems, simultaneously managing industrial waste and curbing pollution.

Source: PIB

Flamingo Festival 2025

Syllabus :GS3/Species in News

In News

• The flamingo festival will celebrate the arrival of migratory birds, especially flamingos, to Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, both important ecological sites located in Andhra Pradesh.

About the Festival

• It is an annual event dedicated to the migratory birds arriving at Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, with a focus on flamingos.
• Activities and Attractions:
  • Bird-watching tours to observe migratory species.
  • Eco-friendly biodiversity sessions to raise awareness about the local ecosystem.
  • Boating activities at BV Palem to offer visitors a close view of Pulicat Lake.

About Flamingos

• Flamingos are social creatures that live in large groups of varying sizes, sometimes gathering by the thousands.

• Habitat :  Flamingos live in a wide variety of habitats such as lagoons, estuaries, coastal and inland lakes, and mudflats. 
• Types : The six flamingo species and their IUCN Red List status are
  • The greater flamingo, –   Least Concern 
  • Chilean flamingo,        –   Near Threatened 
  • American flamingo     –  Least Concern 
  • Lesser flamingo           – Near Threatened 
  • Andean flamingo      – Vulnerable 
  • James’s flamingo(puna flamingo) – Near Threatened   
• Status in India : Greater flamingos usually migrate to India from Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.the greater flamingo is the State bird of Gujarat
  • Lesser flamingos migrate from Siberia to Mumbai via the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. 

About Pulicat Lake – Pulicat Lake is the second-largest brackish water lake in India, after Chilika Lake in Odisha. It plays a crucial role in supporting migratory birds and maintaining regional biodiversity. – Pulicat Lake spans across the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, with 96% of the lake’s area located in Andhra Pradesh. – The lake serves as a key feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds, including flamingos, pelicans, and various other species. About Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary – Nelapattu is the largest breeding site for spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) in Southeast Asia. It is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the region. – Situated about 20 km north of Pulicat Lake, it is also located on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border.

Source :TH