News In Short 30-1-2025

Mundaka Upanishad 

Syllabus: GS1/Ancient History

Context

  • The third section of the Mundaka Upanishad is important because the phrase “Satyameva Jayate”, India’s national motto, occurs in verse 6.

About

  • It is one of the ten principle Upanishads on which Sri Shankaracharya wrote commentary and is a part of the Atharvaveda. 
  • The name Mundaka literally means ‘head’ of the body.
  • The text is structured in three Mundakas or “chapters,” and it consists of dialogues between the sage Angiras and his disciple Shaunak. 
    • The philosophical text explores the nature of ultimate reality (Brahman) and the relationship between the individual soul (Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman).
  • The central theme of the Mundaka Upanishad revolves around the pursuit of knowledge that leads to liberation (moksha) and the distinction between higher and lower knowledge.

Upanishads

  • The Upanishads are a collection of ancient Indian philosophical texts that form the final or concluding part of the Vedas. 
  • They are often called vedanta which means the end of the veda.
  • The word Upanishad can be translated as “sitting near” or “sitting down beside,” which refers to the tradition of students sitting near a teacher to learn spiritual wisdom. 

Source: TH

Mahatma Gandhi Martyr Day

Syllabus :GS 1/History 

In News

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid  homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 77th death anniversary.

Martyr Day

  • Mahatma Gandhi is revered as the Father of the Nation and he was the architect of India’s freedom struggle.
  • He was the most prominent face of India’s freedom movement.
  • He was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse. 
  • The day has been observed as Martyrs’ Day, also known as ‘Shaheed Diwas’ or ‘Sarvodaya Day,’ to honour him and countless others who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom.
  • Legacy  : Mahatma Gandhi’s impact extended far beyond India’s independence struggle.
    • He advocated for justice, nonviolence, and peace globally, uniting millions through his leadership in movements like the Khilafat Movement, Quit India Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Non-cooperation Movement, and Champaran Satyagraha. 

Source :TH

Greenland’s Crystal Blue Lakes Turned Brown

Syllabus: GS1/Geography/GS3/Environment and Conservation

Context

  • The study, ‘Abrupt transformation of west Greenland lakes following compound climate extremes associated with atmospheric rivers’ revealed that more than 7,500 lakes in western Greenland have turned brown.

Major Findings

  • West Greenland is home to tens of thousands of blue lakes that provide residents drinking water and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
Greenland-Crystal-Blue-Lakes-Turned-Brown
  • These lakes began emitting carbon, and suffered a drop in water quality due to extreme weather events that took place in 2022. 
    • Such changes take place over centuries, but in this case, they happened within months.
  • Reason: Greenland usually experiences snowfall during the fall season, from late August to late September.
    • However, in 2022, due to warmer temperatures, the snow turned into rain. 
    • The heat also caused permafrost — frozen ground that often contains a significant amount of organic carbon — to thaw, leading to the release of carbon, iron, magnesium, and other elements. 
    • As the record level of rain poured on the region, these elements were washed into the lakes, resulting in their transformation.
  • Impact: Transformed the lakes from carbon sinks into significant sources of carbon dioxide, with emissions rising by 350%.
    • Water quality of these lakes was adversely affected.
    • The reduction in light decreased the biodiversity of plankton, which had significant ramifications for the region’s carbon cycle.

Source: IE

Domicile-based Reservation for PG Medical Admissions Unconstitutional: SC

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

  • The Supreme Court held that domicile-based reservation for admission to post-graduate medical courses within the State quota is unconstitutional as it violates the Right to Equality under Article 14.

Major Highlights

  • Permitted in UG Courses: The court acknowledged domicile-based reservations may be contemplated only in undergraduate courses. 
    • Considering the importance of specialised doctors, reservation in higher levels would be violative of Article 14.
  • Impact: Ensures that admission to PG medical courses – under quotas allotted to various states – can only be on merit, i.e., on NEET, or National Eligibility/Entrance Test, scores.
    • The judgment would not affect domicile-based reservations already granted.

Constitutional Provisions for Domicile-Based Reservations

  • Article 16(2) prohibits discrimination based on residence, Article 16(3) provides an exception, allowing Parliament to enact laws prescribing residence-based conditions for government employment within a State or Union Territory.

Admission in PG Medical Seats

  • For postgraduate medical seats, the Centre conducts counselling for only 50% of the total intake while the rest is filled by state counseling bodies as per their own rules.
    • Within this remaining 50%, states earmark a quota for ‘domicile’ candidates.
    • The State quota seats, apart from a reasonable number of institution-based reservations, have to be filled strictly on the basis of merit in all-India examinations.

Source: IE

Retinal Diseases

Syllabus: GS 2/Health

In News

  • Over 2.2 billion people worldwide experience vision impairment, with causes including inherited retinal diseases (IRDs).

About Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs)

  • They are also known as Retinal dystrophies.
  • They are the most genetically varied group of disorders in humans.
  • They are caused by abnormal development or dysfunction of the photoreceptors or retinal pigment epithelium.
    • They result from mutations in over 300 genes responsible for retinal function.
  • They can be inherited in different patterns, including autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, X-linked, and less commonly, mitochondrial and digenic inheritance.
  • Effect:  IRDs are genetic conditions causing progressive vision loss, often leading to blindness.
    • Vision loss can occur rapidly after birth or gradually over time, and early intervention may slow or prevent blindness.
  • Prevalence : They  cause progressive vision loss, with more than 5.5 million people affected globally.
    • In  India: The prevalence of IRDs is significantly higher in India compared to global averages.
      • One in 372 individuals in rural South India, one in 930 in urban South India, and one in 750 in rural Central India affected by these conditions.
  • Treatment and Developments  : RNA-based precision therapeutics are emerging as a game-changer for genetic disorders, including IRDs.
    • Unlike DNA or genome-editing therapies, RNA-based therapies offer a safer alternative as they make temporary changes that don’t carry over to future generations, reducing the risk of unintended long-term effects.
    • A study by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in 2024 developed a precision therapy for a specific form of IRD in India.
Do you know?
– In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a historic move by approving the first gene therapy for blindness caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene.
– Currently, more than 50 clinical trials are exploring gene therapy as an option to treat various inherited eye disorders.

Source: TH

Lower-Sodium Salt Substitutes

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

  • WHO recommends replacing regular table salt (sodium chloride) with lower-sodium salt substitutes containing potassium chloride (KCl).

Why Reduce Sodium?

  • High Blood Pressure Risk: High sodium intake raises blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
  • NCD Prevention: Lowering sodium helps prevent these non-communicable diseases.

Benefits of Substitutes

  • Maintains Taste: Potassium chloride partially replaces sodium chloride without sacrificing flavor.
  • Blood Pressure Support: Potassium helps counter sodium’s effects and regulates blood pressure.

Do you Know? 

  • WHO recommends less than 2 grams of sodium per day (5 grams of salt).

Source: TH

SEBI’s “When-Listed” Platform

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

  • The “when-listed” platform proposed by SEBI is a significant regulatory initiative aimed at curbing grey market trading and ensuring a transparent and structured mechanism for trading IPO shares before their official listing.

What is the Grey Market? 

  • The grey market refers to the unofficial trading of securities, particularly shares, before they are officially listed on stock exchanges. 
  • It operates outside the regulatory framework, relying on demand and supply dynamics. 
  • Here, the transactions are based on notional prices (prices agreed upon informally, without the actual transfer of shares until listing), and no physical delivery of shares occurs here. 

Key Aspects of the “When-Listed” Platform

  • Regulated Pre-Listing Trading: This platform will allow investors to trade IPO shares after allotment but before official listing, bridging the gap between T+1 (allotment day) and T+3 (listing day).
  • Price Discovery Before Listing: The “when-listed” price may serve as a pre-listing indicator of how the stock might perform on the listing day.
    • Helps in better investment decisions for both retail and institutional investors.
  • Shorter Settlement Periods (T+0, T+1): This aligns with SEBI’s broader push toward faster trade settlements, such as the recent introduction of the T+0 settlement cycle for select stocks.

Why Is SEBI Introducing This?

  • Reduction of Grey Market Activity: Currently, grey market trading is unregulated and speculative, often causing price volatility. 
  • Investor Benefits: Investors who receive IPO allotments can sell their entitlement before the listing.
    • Buyers can acquire shares before listing, but within a formalized structure.
    • Eliminates counterparty risks and non-transparent price manipulations seen in the grey market.
  • Formal Settlement: There is no formal settlement process, exposing investors to counterparty default risks.
    • By allowing a regulated, stock exchange-based platform, SEBI aims to increase market efficiency, protect investors, and reduce speculation.

Source: IE

Beating Retreat Ceremony

Syllabus : Miscellaneous

In News

  • The Beating Retreat 2025 ceremony concluded at Kartavya Path, New Delhi.

About Beating Retreat

  • It is a ceremony that marks the end of Republic Day festivities in India
  • It is held on the evening of January 29, three days after Republic Day
  • Historical Linkages : The beating retreat ceremony in India was first held in the 1950s, during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
    • Since then, the ceremony has become an annual event to pay tribute to the valour and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • Features : The ceremony features a musical performance by the bands of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Delhi Police, and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
    • The ceremony is presided over by the President of India, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. 

Source :IE

Trump Dismissed US govt Inspectors General

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

  • US President Donald Trump abruptly dismissed 17 independent inspectors general across multiple government agencies.

About

  • Inspectors generally serve as independent watchdogs to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse of power.
    • They traditionally serve beyond the tenure of a single administration, providing continuity in government oversight.
  • The move has raised concerns about the erosion of oversight and accountability in the federal government.

Source: IE