Daily Prelims Notes 15 March 2025

March 15, 2025
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

15 March 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Actions by govts, businesses to shape trade resilience for years: UNCTAD

Sub: IR

Sec: Int Org

Context:

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has highlighted the critical importance of global cooperation and balanced policies to avoid economic fragmentation and ensure sustained long-term growth amidst growing trade uncertainties.

Report Highlights:

Global Trade in 2024:

In 2024, world trade experienced record growth, reaching a value of $33 trillion. This growth represented a 7% rise compared to 2023.
The main contributors to this growth were developing economies and a strong increase in services trade.
These factors helped counter some of the challenges posed by ongoing trade disputes and protectionist measures.

Challenge for 2025: Avoiding Economic Fragmentation

Looking ahead to 2025, the primary challenge will be to prevent the world from falling into economic fragmentation, where nations form isolated trade blocs.
This situation could severely disrupt global trade flows, leading to long-term consequences for growth. The key to preventing this outcome will be managing policy shifts carefully, ensuring that these changes do not undermine long-term global economic stability.

Risks from Protectionism and Policy Shifts:

The ongoing rise in protectionism and the shifting policies of major economies represent a key risk to global trade. As governments implement tariffs, subsidies, and industrial policies, trade flows are being significantly reshaped.
The U.S., European Union, and other developed economies are increasingly aligning trade measures with their economic security and climate goals.
In contrast, China has adopted stimulus measures to maintain export momentum. These conflicting trade policies, often involving tariffs or restrictions, are contributing to rising trade uncertainty.

Slowdown in Shipping and Industrial Activity:

Shipping trends offer a precautionary signal, with falling freight indices suggesting weaker industrial activity. This is particularly noticeable in sectors heavily reliant on supply chains, signalling that the global economy could face slower growth in the coming months.

About UNCTAD:

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a permanent intergovernmental body established in 1964 as part of the United Nations.
UNCTAD is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Its main goal is to facilitate the integration of developing countries into the global economy in a way that supports their development.
Reports published by UNCTAD:
- Trade and Development Report
- World Investment Report
- The Least Developed Countries Report
- Information and Economy Report
- Technology and Innovation Report
- Commodities and Development Report

2. Centre sanctions 116 new tourist spots across the country

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Tourism

Context:

The Centre has sanctioned 116 new tourist destinations across the country.
These projects are being developed under various schemes in partnership with State governments.
The total cost of development is ₹4,088 crores.

Schemes Under Which Destinations are Sanctioned

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0): 34 destinations sanctioned.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): 42 destinations identified.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): 40 destinations to be developed.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Flagship initiative of the Union Tourism Ministry.
Aims to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
Focuses on theme-based circuits.
Provides financial assistance to state governments for infrastructure development.
The scheme was revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) to focus on sustainable tourism destinations.

Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)

A sub-scheme under SD2.0.
Aims for holistic development of destinations.
Focuses on enhancing tourist experience.

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)

Centre sanctioned 40 projects in 23 States under this scheme.
Total cost: ₹3,295.76 crore (FY 2024-25).
Objective:
- Comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres.
- Branding and marketing of these destinations at a global scale.

Development of Tribal Homestays

Approved under Swadesh Darshan Scheme as part of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan.
Key features:
- Development of 1,000 homestays.
- Financial support per unit:
  - ₹5 lakh (new construction).
  - ₹3 lakh (renovation).
  - ₹5 lakh (village community requirement)

Job-Oriented Skill Development Initiatives

Conducted by the Tourism Ministry through various institutes across the country, including Bihar.
Objective:
- Train and upgrade manpower in tourism services.
- Capitalize on the vast tourism potential of India.
- Provide professional expertise to the local population.

3. INA veteran celebrates 99th birthday by paying tributes to Netaji and fallen soldiers

Sub: History

Sec: Freedom struggle

Early Life and Background

Lt. Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai was born on March 13, 1926, in Swryan township, Rangoon district, Burma (now Myanmar).
His father hailed from the Sivaganga region in Tamil Nadu.

Association with the Indian National Army (INA)

Joined the Indian Independence League as a civilian in 1942 under Rash Behari Bose.
Formally enlisted in the INA (Azad Hind Fauj) on November 1, 1943, after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s arrival in Singapore.
Commissioned from the Officers Training School in Burma.

Role in the Freedom Struggle

Served as a recruitment and fundraising officer in INA.
Mobilized support for INA across 32 locations in Burma, including:
- Hanthawaddy, Sawbwagale, Ywadanshe, Swryan, Yangon, and Mayongone.
His active participation led to his imprisonment in Rangoon Jail from May to December 1945.

Role at INA Headquarters

Served in the administrative branch at the INA headquarters in Rangoon.
Worked under Major General K. P. Thimayya, elder brother of former Army chief General K.S. Thimayya.

Recognition as a Freedom Fighter

Officially recognized as a freedom fighter by the Government of India on August 1, 1980.
Awarded a silver medal in 2021 on Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary for his contribution to INA and the independence movement.

Honours and Tributes

On January 23, 2024, he was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort on Parakram Diwas.
On March 13, 2025, on his 99th birthday, he laid wreaths at:
- National War Memorial, Kartavya Path, New Delhi.
- Statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The event was organized by the Indian Army and attended by senior military personnel and the public.

The Legacy of the INA

The Azad Hind Fauj (INA) was initially formed by Mohan Singh in 1942 and later revived by Netaji on October 21, 1943.
INA’s war cry:”Chalo Delhi” symbolized the drive for complete independence from British rule.
INA comprised volunteers, soldiers, and overseas Indians from Malaya, Burma, and other regions.
Lt. Pillai’s life represents the courage and unity that defined the INA’s struggle for freedom.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Political Journey

Elected President of INC in 1938 (Haripura Session) and re-elected in 1939 (Tripuri Session) but resigned due to differences with Mahatma Gandhi.

Formation of Forward Bloc

Founded the All-India Forward Bloc in 1939 to consolidate the left-wing forces in INC.

Escape from India (1941)

Under house arrest in Kolkata, escaped disguised as a Pathan and reached Germany via Afghanistan and Soviet Union.

Association with Axis Powers (Germany & Japan)

Met Adolf Hitler in 1942 and sought support for India’s independence.
Later moved to Japan in 1943, which provided military and strategic support.

Leadership of Indian National Army (INA)

Took charge of Azad Hind Fauj (INA), initially formed by Mohan Singh in 1942.
Proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) on October 21, 1943, in Singapore.
INA, with Japanese support, launched campaigns in Imphal and Kohima (1944) but failed due to logistical issues and Allied counterattacks.

Legacy and Impact

Inspired revolutionary nationalism and was posthumously honored.
INA trials (Red Fort trials) in 1945-46 sparked massive protests and played a role in weakening British resolve to hold India.

4. Aditya-L1 Mission: Scientists Observe a Flareless Coronal Mass Ejection

Sub: Sci

Sec: Space sector

Why in News

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have observed a rare flareless coronal mass ejection (CME) from the solar atmosphere using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) instrument onboard the Aditya-L1 mission. This marks a significant achievement in India’s first dedicated solar observation mission.

About Aditya L1:

Aditya L1 is India’s first mission to study the Sun.
Aditya-L1 is also ISRO’s second astronomy observatory-class mission after AstroSat (2015).
It was launched using the Polar satellite Launch Vehicle.
The spacecraft will travel 1.5 million km from the Earth to the Lagrange 1 or L1 point between the Earth and the Sun.
The main objective of the mission is to get a deeper understanding of the star closest to us, and how its radiation, heat, flow of particles, and magnetic fields affects us.
The main payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VLEC) which was designed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and will help study the solar corona from the lowermost part upwards.
The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) designed by the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) will capture the UV image of the solar photosphere and chromosphere.
The Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) are developed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre and will help in studying X-ray flares.
The Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX) developed by ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) developed by Space Physics Laboratory of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre are designed to study the solar wind and energetic ions.
Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers (MAG) will measure the interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.
The spacecraft also has a coronagraph that will allow scientists to look much closer to the surface of the Sun and complement the data from NASA and European Space Agency’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission.

Observation of Flareless CME:

On July 5, 2024, the VELC team detected a CME that erupted from the Sun without any association with a solar flare.
This unique observation provides crucial insights into solar activity and helps in differentiating between magnetic instabilities responsible for flares and CMEs.
CMEs and solar flares originate due to magnetic reconnection, where magnetic field lines rearrange and release energy.
Flares primarily release energy as electromagnetic radiation from heated plasma.
In contrast, CMEs are massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields, with an approximate mass of a trillion kilograms, traveling at speeds of up to 3,000 km/s through interplanetary space.
The Sun is approaching the maximum phase of Solar Cycle 25, meaning CMEs are expected to occur more frequently.

About Solar Cycle 25:

Solar Cycle 25, the current 11-year cycle of solar activity, began in December 2019 and has been marked by increasing solar phenomena.
As of October 2024, Solar Cycle 25 has reached its maximum activity phase.
A powerful solar storm in May 2024 led to auroras at unusually low latitudes, marking the most intense storm in over 20 years.
Refer: Solar Flare

5. Deep-Sea Creatures Rising to the Surface: A Warning from the Ocean?

Sub: Env

Sec: Species in news

Why in News

In recent months, there has been an alarming increase in sightings of deep-sea creatures near the ocean’s surface. Species like the anglerfish and the oarfish, which typically inhabit extreme depths, have been appearing in shallow waters across various locations.

The Black Sea devil Anglerfish:

It is known for its bioluminescent lure andrazor-sharp teeth, was filmed alive near the surface off the coast of Tenerife in February 2025.
This species typically resides in the bathypelagic or “Midnight Zone,” where sunlight never reaches.
Anglerfish are found worldwide, inhabiting both pelagic (open water) and benthic (sea floor) zones.
Female anglerfish possess a unique dorsal spine that protrudes above their mouths, resembling a fishing pole. This bioluminescent lure attracts prey close enough to be captured.
Their large, flexible mouths and distensible stomachs allow them to swallow prey up to twice their own size.
Some deep-sea anglerfish exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism.
Males are significantly smaller and may become permanent parasites to females, attaching to them and fusing their tissues.

The Oarfish:

The oarfish, a long, ribbon-like deep-sea fish, has traditionally been associated with natural disasters.
In Japanese folklore, it is referred to as Ryūgū no tsukai or “Messenger of the Sea God.”
Notably, multiple oarfish were spotted on Japanese beaches before the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami.
Recently, sightings have been reported in Baja California and the Canary Islands, reigniting fears about impending seismic activity.
Oarfish are oceanic species found at depths typically up to 656 feet (200 meters) and can reach depths of 3,280 feet (1,000 meters).
Oarfish are the longest bony fish, capable of reaching lengths up to 36 feet (11 meters).
They have a distinctive ribbon-like, silver body with a red dorsal fin running the length of their body.
Oarfish swim by undulating their dorsal fin while keeping their body straight, a mode known as amiiform swimming.
Their diet primarily consists of zooplankton, including tiny euphausiids, shrimp, and other crustaceans. They also consume small fish, jellyfish, and squid.

Scientific Explanations:

While folklore suggests these sightings predict disaster, scientists offer more evidence-based explanations:
Climate Change & Warming Oceans: The ocean absorbs nearly 90% of excess heat from global warming, altering marine currents and depleting oxygen levels. Deep-sea species may be migrating to shallower, cooler waters to survive.
Underwater Seismic Activity: Some researchers suggest that seismic shifts release gas bubbles, electrostatic charges, or toxic compounds like hydrogen peroxide, which could be disorienting deep-sea organisms.
Effects of El Niño & La Niña: Oceanic climate cycles like El Niño and La Niña disrupt temperature patterns, causing unpredictable movements in marine life.
Increased Human Observation: Rare strandings of deep-sea creatures have likely occurred throughout history. However, advancements in technology and social media have made these occurrences more visible, increasing public awareness and speculation.