News In Short 15-1-2025

Kerch Strait

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

Context

• Two Russian oil tankers have been damaged in the Kerch Strait causing oil spillage.

Kerch Strait 

• Location: It is a strait in Eastern Europe connecting the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. 
  • It is located between the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014) and the Taman Peninsula in Russia. 
• It gets its name from the Crimean city of Kerch, formerly known as the Cimmerian Bosporus.
• Kerch Strait Bridge: A significant feature of the Kerch Strait is the Kerch Strait Bridge, which connects the Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia. 
  • The bridge, completed in 2018, serves both road and rail traffic. 

• Strait: A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water, typically separating two land masses.
  • Straits are important for maritime navigation, as they provide passage for ships between different seas or oceans. 

Source: CNN

Trichophyton Indotineae

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Dermatologists from India and 13 other counties, including Germany, have objected to the region-specific nomenclature given to a novel species of fungus — Trichophyton (T.) indotineae.

About

• Trichophyton indotineae: It is a fungal pathogen that causes widespread and hard-to-treat skin infections.
  • It is resistant to most anti-fungal medicines.
• Origin: It has turned up in over 40 countries and its origin currently remains unknown.
• Nomenclature: Japanese dermatologists, who had spotted the fungus in patients from India and Nepal, proposed in 2020 that this fungus should be considered a new species and named Trichophyton indotineae.
  • The naming of the species is in line with a historical tradition of linking new infectious agents to specific locations.
  • Examples are the Spanish flu, Delhi boil, Madura foot, West Nile virus, etc.
• Concern: It often leads to considerable misinformation, stigma, and racial prejudice. 

Source: TH 

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Syllabus :GS 2/Health 

In News

• Autism diagnoses in the United States have risen sharply since 2000, raising public concern about the factors driving its prevalence.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• About: It is a neurological and developmental condition affecting communication, behavior, interaction, and learning due to disruptions in brain signaling.
• Causes: Likely due to genetic and environmental factors, including maternal health and birth complications.
  • Genetic disorders (e.g., Fragile X syndrome) and environmental triggers (e.g., air pollution) may increase risk.
• Prevalence  : The World Health Organization estimates global prevalence at 1%, up from 0.62% in 2012.
• Treatments: No cure; early diagnosis and intervention (before age 3) are key.
  • Supportive therapies include speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, and individualized education plans.

Source :DD News 

Credit-Deposit Ratio

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Banks in India added more deposits than loans last year, leading to a softening of the credit-deposit ratio. 

About

• CD ratio or the loan-to-deposit ratio is used to assess a bank’s liquidity by comparing its total loans to total deposit for the same period. 
• Typically, the ideal loan-to-deposit ratio is 80% to 90%. A loan-to-deposit ratio of 100% means a bank loaned one dollar to customers for every dollar received in deposits it received.
• High CDR: Indicates that the bank is actively lending, which could lead to higher profitability but also higher risk if loan repayments are not met.
  • If the ratio is too high, the lender does not have enough liquidity for unanticipated stress or sudden withdrawals of funds.
• Low CDR: Suggests that the bank is more conservative, lending less and holding more reserves, which reflect caution or an inability to find suitable lending opportunities.

Source: LM

Plasticizer Degradation Using Bacterial Enzymes 

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• IIT Roorkee has successfully used an enzyme—esterase enzyme—to break down diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer. 

About

• Esterase enzyme is produced by soil bacteria Sulfobacillus acidophilus.
• The enzyme breaks down the DEHP plasticizer into two products — mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethyl hexanol. 
• This esterase enzyme, along with other enzymes identified previously can convert high molecular weight phthalate plasticizers into water and carbon-dioxide.
• The esterase enzyme remains active for about a month and catalyzes the degradation of DEHP plasticizer with significant efficiency. 

Applications

• Waste Management: Bacteria could be used in waste treatment facilities.
• Bioremediation: To clean up plastic pollution in natural ecosystems, such as oceans or rivers.
• Industrial Scale Degradation: With further genetic engineering and optimization, bacteria might be employed in industrial-scale bioreactors to efficiently break down plastics.

Source: TH

New Observatory at Remote Purulia District

Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Technology

In News

• The S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBCBS) has established a new observatory atop Panchet Hill in the Purulia district of West Bengal.

About Observatory 

• It is an advanced astronomical observatory featuring a 14-inch telescope for scientific observations and training purposes.
• It is located at 600 meters above ground level and at 86° E longitude. It fills a gap in global astronomical observations, as very few observatories exist along this longitude.
• Purpose and Significance: It will aid in scientific observations of astronomical objects, train students in telescope handling, record data, and foster national and international collaboration in astronomical research.
  • It is crucial for observing transient astronomical phenomena.

Other Key Observatories in India

• Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES): Nainital.
• Vainu Bappu Observatory: Tamil Nadu.
• IUCAA Observatory: Pune.

Source :PIB

Indian Army Day

Syllabus :GS 3/Defence 

In News

• The 77th Army Day is being celebrated in India with a theme of “Samarth Bharat, Saksham Sena”.

About Army Day 

• It is celebrated on January 15 each year to honor General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. 
• On this day in 1949, Gen Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, marking the transition to an independent Indian Army.
•  Gen Cariappa is also known for leading Indian forces to victory in the India-Pakistan 1947 war.

About Indian Army Veterans’ Day

• Celebrated annually on January 14th.
• This day commemorates the retirement of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
• It is a day to recognize and appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of retired Indian Army personnel.

Do you know? – The Indian Army traces its origins to the East India Company’s army, which later became the British Indian Army and the Princely States Army.  – After India’s independence in 1947, these forces merged into the National Army of India. – The primary role of the Indian Army is to protect the nation from external and internal threats, as well as conduct humanitarian rescue operations during natural disasters.

Source :Air

Bhargavastra Micro Missiles

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• India has successfully tested the Bhargavastra, its first micro-missile system designed to counter swarm drones.

About

• Advanced Targeting: The Bhargavastra system successfully hit designated virtual targets over 2.5 kilometres away, demonstrating high precision and effectiveness.
• Enhanced Radar Capabilities: It can detect medium to large UAVs up to 10 kilometres and small drones up to 6 kilometres away, making it effective against a wide range of aerial threats.
• Versatile Deployment: Bhargavastra can be mounted on mobile platforms, enabling rapid deployment and adaptability to diverse operational terrains, including high-altitude regions.

Source: ET

Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022

Syllabus: GS3/ Energy 

Context

• The High Court of Karnataka has struck down the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022.

About the ruling

• The High Court of Karnataka ruled that the Central Government lacked the authority under the Electricity Act, 2003 to frame the GEOA Rules, 2022.
• The Electricity Act, 2003 grants exclusive powers to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) to regulate open access in electricity distribution.

Salient Features of GEOA Rules, 2022

• These rules are notified for promoting generation, purchase and consumption of green energy including the energy from Waste-to-Energy plants.
• The Green Open Access is allowed to any consumer and the limit of Open Access Transaction has been reduced from 1 MW to 100 kW for green energy, to enable small consumers also to purchase renewable power through open access.
• Consumers are entitled to demand supply of Green Power from Discoms.
  • Discoms would be obligated to procure and supply green power to eligible consumers.
• Commercial and Industrial consumers are allowed to purchase green power on a voluntary basis.
• There shall be a uniform Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO), on all obligated entities in the area of a distribution license.
  • Green Hydrogen/Green Ammonia has also been included for fulfillment of its RPO.

Source: TH