Daily Current Affairs- 27th March 2025

Daily Current Affairs 27th March 2025

Lok Sabha Passes National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024

In the News: The National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was recently passed by the Lok Sabha, aiming to enhance India's disaster management framework by amending the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Key Provisions of the Amendment:

1. Preparation of Disaster Management Plans: The responsibility for formulating national and state disaster management plans has been shifted directly to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), respectively. Previously, this task was undertaken by the National and State Executive Committees.
2. Expanded Functions of NDMA and SDMAs: The amendment introduces additional responsibilities, including:
   • Conducting periodic assessments of disaster risks, particularly those arising from climate change.
   • Providing technical assistance to subordinate authorities.
   • Recommending guidelines for minimum standards of relief.
   • Establishing comprehensive disaster databases at both national and state levels to monitor risks, funding allocations, and preparedness strategies.
3. Establishment of Urban Disaster Management Authorities: State governments are now empowered to create Urban Disaster Management Authorities for cities with municipal corporations. These bodies will be responsible for devising and implementing disaster management plans tailored to urban areas.
4. Formation of State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF): States can establish their own State Disaster Response Forces, akin to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to enhance localized disaster response capabilities.
5. Formalization of National Committees: The amendment grants official status to existing committees such as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC). The NCMC will oversee major national disasters, while the HLC will manage financial assistance during such events. 

Gold Monetisation Scheme

In the News: The Indian government has recently announced the discontinuation of certain components of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), a program initially launched in 2015 to mobilize idle gold held by households and institutions.

Key Developments:

• Discontinuation of Medium and Long-Term Deposits: Effective March 26, 2025, the government has ceased the Medium-Term Government Deposit (MTGD) and Long-Term Government Deposit (LTGD) options under the GMS. This decision was influenced by evolving market conditions and the scheme's performance.
• Continuation of Short-Term Deposits: Short-Term Bank Deposits (STBD), with tenures ranging from 1 to 3 years, will continue to be offered at the discretion of individual banks, based on their assessment of commercial viability.
• Launch and Objectives: Introduced in November 2015, the GMS aimed to:
  • Mobilize idle gold held by households and institutions.
  • Reduce India's reliance on gold imports.
  • Provide depositors with interest earnings on their gold holdings.
• Deposit Categories: The scheme offered three types of deposits:

1. Short-Term Bank Deposits (STBD): Tenure of 1 to 3 years.
2. Medium-Term Government Deposits (MTGD): Tenure of 5 to 7 years.
3. Long-Term Government Deposits (LTGD): Tenure of 12 to 15 years.

Reasons for Discontinuation:

• Evolving Market Conditions: The decision reflects changes in the economic landscape and the performance of the medium and long-term deposit components.
• Rising Gold Prices: Gold prices have surged by over 15% in 2025, influenced by geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in global trade policies. This increase has heightened the government's financial obligations under the scheme.
• Impact on Existing Deposits: Deposits made under the MTGD and LTGD categories before March 26, 2025, will continue to earn interest and will be honoured until their respective maturities. 

DRDO Tests Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile

In the News: DRDO Tests fIn the News: On March 26, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Indian Navy, successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenously developed Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM). The test took place at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

Test Details:

• Objective: To validate the missile's capability to neutralize high-speed aerial targets at close range and low altitude.
• Execution: The missile was launched from a land-based vertical launcher and successfully intercepted and destroyed a high-speed aerial target, demonstrating its agility, reliability, and precision.
• System Components: The test involved all weapon system elements in combat configuration, including:
  • Indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker
  • Multi-Function Radar
  • Weapon Control System

All components performed as expected, confirming the system's readiness.

About VL-SRSAM:

• Purpose: Designed to counter various aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, and incoming missiles, particularly at short ranges.
• Design: Based on the Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missile, featuring:
  • Four short-span long-chord cruciform wings for aerodynamic stability.
  • Jet vane-driven thrust vector control for quick reaction time upon vertical launch.
  • Smokeless exhaust.

The missile is intended for area and point-defence roles to protect naval platforms.

• Performance: Capable of neutralizing various aerial threats at medium and close ranges, with a range of up to 40 km, extendable to 80 km

European Space Agency (ESA) shuts down the operations of its Gaia space telescope

In the News: The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially concluded the operations of its Gaia space telescope, marking the end of an era in cosmic cartography. On March 27, 2025, Gaia was powered down and directed into a stable heliocentric "retirement orbit" around the Sun.

Mission Overview:

• Launch Date: December 19, 2013
• Objective: To create the most precise three-dimensional map of the Milky Way by surveying approximately one billion stars.
• Data Collection: Gaia's instruments measured the positions, distances, movements, and characteristics of nearly 8 billion stars, significantly enhancing our understanding of the galaxy's structure and evolution.
• Scientific Impact: The data collected has been instrumental in numerous discoveries, including insights into stellar life cycles, the distribution of dark matter, and the detection of new exoplanets.
• Fuel Depletion: After more than a decade in service, Gaia's fuel reserves were nearly exhausted, consuming about 12 grams of cold gas per day to maintain its precise spinning motion.
• Decommissioning Process: The spacecraft's subsystems were systematically powered down, and it was maneuverer into a heliocentric orbit to prevent interference with active missions.
• Legacy and Future Work: Despite the end of active operations, Gaia's legacy endures. Two significant data releases are scheduled: one around 2026 and another by the end of the decade, which will provide comprehensive insights into the Milky Way.

R. K. Shriramkumar selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi 2025

In the News: Renowned violinist R. K. Shriramkumar has been selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2025 by The Music Academy, Chennai, recognizing his exceptional contributions to Carnatic music.

Background and Musical Lineage:

• Born on October 4, 1966, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Shriramkumar hails from the illustrious Rudrapatnam family of musicians from Karnataka.
• He is the grandson of esteemed violinist K. Venkatarama Shastri and grand-nephew of vocalist R. K. Srikantan, both prominent figures in Carnatic music.

Training and Mentorship:

• Shriramkumar received initial violin training from Savitri Satyamurthy and advanced tutelage under his grandfather, R. K. Venkatarama Shastri.
• He also trained in vocal music under Sangita Kalanidhi D. K. Jayaraman, enhancing his understanding of the vocal nuances in Carnatic compositions.

Sangita Kalanidhi Award:

• The Sangita Kalanidhi award is the highest honor conferred by The Music Academy, Chennai, acknowledging outstanding contributions to Carnatic music.
• In 2025, the award holds special significance as it coincides with the 250th birth anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar, making Shriramkumar's recognition particularly fitting given his expertise in Dikshitar's compositions.
• As the awardee, Shriramkumar will preside over the 99th Annual Conference and Concerts of The Music Academy, scheduled from December 15, 2025, to January 1, 2026, and will receive the award on the final day of the conference. 

Abel Prize 2025

The Abel Prize for 2025 has been awarded to Masaki Kashiwara, a distinguished Japanese mathematician, in recognition of his fundamental contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory, particularly the development of the theory of D-modules and the discovery of crystal bases.

Background of the Abel Prize:

• Establishment: Founded by the Norwegian government in 2002 to honor the legacy of Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, the Abel Prize is awarded annually by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters to outstanding mathematicians. It is often regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics."

About Masaki Kashiwara:

• Birth and Education: Born on January 30, 1947, in Yūki, Ibaraki, Japan, Kashiwara completed his master's degree at the University of Tokyo in 1971 and earned his doctorate from Kyoto University in 1974 under the supervision of Mikio Sato.
• Academic Career: Kashiwara has been a professor at Kyoto University's Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (RIMS) and is currently a professor at the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS).

Contributions to Mathematics:

• Theory of D-Modules: Kashiwara's master's thesis laid the foundation for D-module theory, which provides a framework for analysing systems of linear partial differential equations with analytic coefficients. This theory has significantly influenced various mathematical disciplines.
• Algebraic Analysis: Collaborating with his mentor Mikio Sato, Kashiwara co-founded algebraic analysis, integrating algebraic geometry and analysis to study differential equations. This innovative approach has opened new avenues in mathematical research.
• Crystal Bases: In the 1990s, Kashiwara introduced the concept of crystal bases, providing combinatorial tools to understand representations of quantum groups. This discovery has applications in both mathematics and theoretical physics.

Recognition and Awards:

• Kyoto Prize (2018): Kashiwara received the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences for his outstanding contributions to mathematical sciences.
• Chern Medal (2018): Awarded by the International Mathematical Union for lifelong achievement in mathematics.