Art and Culture 

ARTESIAN WELL-  Indian Express 

Residents of Taranagar village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district witnessed a unique phenomenon last month when large amounts of water began gushing out from underground. The water stopped flowing without any external intervention on the night of December 29. Some on social media claimed it was related to the Saraswati river, mentioned in ancient texts like the Rig Veda and believed to have once flowed through the region.

Artesian Conditions

• Definition: Water stored under pressure in a "confined aquifer" between impermeable layers of rock or sediment below the Earth's surface.
• Characteristics:
  • Water can rise naturally to the surface without pumping due to high underground pressure.
  • Located deeper than typical groundwater in tube wells.
• Mechanism:
  • Confined by poorly permeable rocks.
  • Drilling or rupture releases pressure, forcing water upward.
• Origin: Derived from "Artois" in France, where notable artesian wells were drilled in the Middle Ages.
• Geological Explanation:
  • Water is confined beneath a sandstone layer in the desert.
  • When the top layer is punctured, high pressure forces water upward.
• Global Occurrence: Seen in desert regions of Australia and Africa.

Mystery of the Indus script - Indian Express/ Why is it so difficult to decipher the Harappan writing system? - Indian Express 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s offer of a $1 million prize for anyone who deciphers the Indus Valley script serves a purpose beyond solving the lingering mystery regarding the 5,000-year-old civilization.

Subproblems in Decipherment:

• Determining if symbols represent a writing system.
• Segmenting symbols into individual signs.
• Identifying allographs to establish a minimal set of signs.
• Assigning phonetic or other values to symbols.
• Matching values to a specific language.

Key Challenges:

• No Multilingual Inscriptions: Absence of inscriptions with parallel content in known scripts for comparison (e.g., Rosetta Stone).
• Unknown Language: Unknown script writing an unknown language.
• Lack of consensus on the language the script represents.
• Limited Evidence: Only ~3,500 seals identified, each with an average of five characters.
• More to be discovered: Many Harappan sites remain undiscovered or underexplored.
• Broader Issues:
  • Limited understanding of the IVC compared to Mesopotamia and Egypt.
  • Insufficient archaeological evidence for deeper analysis.

Society 

UGC revises guidelines for appointment of V-Cs - The Hindu 

The University Grants Commission has revised the selection process for Vice-Chancellors, according to the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, released recently.

UGC Draft Regulations 

• Authority: Chancellors empowered to form a 3 -member search- cum- selection committee for appointing Vice-Chancellors.
• Non-Compliance: Institutions may face debarment from UGC schemes or offering degree programmes.

• Feedback: Stakeholders and the public have 30 days to submit comments on the draft.

• Selection Process:
  • Appointment via advertisement in national newspapers or talent search.
  • Committee composition:
  • Chairperson: Visitor/Chancellor’s nominee.
  • Members: UGC Chairman’s nominee and a representative from the university’s apex body.
• Objective: Fostering innovation, inclusivity, flexibility, and dynamism in higher education.
• Faculty Selection Flexibility: Candidates can qualify for faculty positions through UGC-NET in any subject of choice.

Polity 

Decoding the National Anthem controversy - The Hindu

Recently, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi left the Legislative Assembly without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year complaining that the National Anthem was not played before his scheduled address. 

Practice in Tamil Nadu

• Tamil Thai Vazhthu (State anthem) is played at the beginning of the Governor’s address.
• National Anthem is played at the end.

Introduced in July 1991 by the AIADMK government under Jayalalithaa.

Practice in Other States

• Nagaland: National Anthem played for the first time in February 2021.
• Tripura: First played in March 2018 in the Assembly.

Practice for President’s Address

• National Anthem Procedure: Played when the President arrives at the dais and after the address.
• Fundamental Duty: Section 51(A)(a) mandates respecting the National Anthem, National Flag, and Constitution.
• Mass Singing: Unfurling of the National Flag, cultural or ceremonial events, and arrival/departure of the President at government/public functions.
• Mandate:  Playing the National Anthem is customary, not mandatory.

World Affairs 

Two new special categories visas introduced by MHA for international students - Indian Express 

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently introduced two special category visas for international students intending to pursue higher education in the country. Students using any of the two visas, the ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x’ visa will have to use the ‘Study in India’ (SII) portal launched by the government.

New Types of Visas

• E-student visa: For foreign nationals enrolled in full-time UG, PG, PhD, or other formal programs at recognized Indian institutions.
• E-student-x visa: For dependents of e-student visa holders.
• Features:
  • Issued for up to five years, extendable based on course duration.
  • Valid visa holders can enter India through any immigration checkpoint.
  • Accessible to students registered on the Study in India (SII) portal.

Study in India (SII) Portal

• About: A flagship initiative by the Ministry of Education which offers over 8,000 courses across 600+ partner institutions.
• Disciplines: Engineering, management, agriculture, sciences, arts, humanities, law, paramedical sciences, Buddhist Studies, and Yoga.
• Levels: Undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and certification programs.
• Features:
  • Provides flexibility for students to choose courses aligned with their interests.
  • Simplifies the admission process for foreign students seeking long-term or short-term courses in India.

Environment 

Clearing of invasive creeper Mucuna bracteata begins in Kanniyakumari district - The Hindu 

The Forest Department, along with an NGO from Kanniyakumari, is engaged in a pilot project to remove an invasive cover crop called Mucuna bracteata from rubber plantations and forest areas in the district.

Mucuna bracteata

• About:An invasive leguminous vine used as a cover crop in rubber and oil palm plantations.
• Significance: Valued for weed control, nitrogen regulation, and drought tolerance.
• Spread: Western Ghats in Kanniyakumari district, including Kaliyal, Kadayalumoodu, Aarukani, Kodayar, and Kulasekaram.
• Impact:
  • Overpowers rubber trees and native vegetation.
  • Threatens large tracts of the Kodayar region and native trees.
  • Encroaches near Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

Science and Technology 

What is the human meta- pneumovirus? - The Hindu/ HMPV, the old 'new' virus that has infected two infants in Bengaluru - Indian Express

China’s diseases control authority said that it was piloting a monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin. The country was already witnessing an upward trend in overall infections as of mid-December, and is expecting to see more respiratory infections in the winter and spring. One of the pathogens that was detected, especially among people under the age of 14, was human metapneumovirus. 

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

• About: A respiratory virus causing mild infections, similar to the common cold.
• Family: Pneumoviridae family, alongside RSV, measles, and mumps.
• Infections:
  • Affects both upper and lower respiratory tracts.
  • Common during winter and early spring.
• Vulnerable Groups: Children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
• Symptoms: Cough, runny/blocked nose, sore throat, fever, and wheezing.
• Incubation period: 3-6 days.
• Recovery: Typically resolves within a few days with rest and supportive care.
• Complications: May lead to bronchitis or pneumonia in severe cases, requiring medical attention.
• Transmission:
  • Through contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.
  • Via secretions from coughs/sneezes or touching contaminated surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, phones) and then the face, nose, or eyes.
• Treatment:
  • No vaccine or specific antiviral available.
  • Over-the-counter medications for fever & pain; antibiotics ineffective.
• Prevention:
  • Frequent handwashing with soap and water.
  • Avoid close contact with infected persons and touching the face.
  • Wear a mask to prevent transmission if infected.
  • High-risk individuals (e.g., asthma, COPD patients) should take extra precautions.

‘Calcium intake, exercise crucial for young adults to prevent osteoporosis’ - The Hindu 

Adequate calcium intake, regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are essential for preventing bone loss in young adults, experts said at a recent webinar on osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis

• About: Weakens bones, making them thinner, less dense, and prone to fractures.
• Impact: Commonly affected bones: hips, wrists, and spine.
• Causes: Imbalance between bone creation and loss, low hormone levels (estrogen in women, testosterone in men).

Symptoms:

• Sudden fractures from minor falls.
• Back pain (from spinal fractures).
• Loss of height or stooped posture.

Treatment:

• Lifestyle changes: improved diet and exercise.
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements.
• Medications to strengthen bones.

Why scientists are installing underwater telescopes to detect ‘ghost particles’ - Indian Express 

Scientists are deploying two telescopes to detect high-energy neutrinos, also known as ghost particles, under the Mediterranean Sea. The two telescopes are part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope or KM3NeT.

KM3NeT Project

• About: Research infrastructure for next-generation neutrino telescopes with a volume of at least one cubic kilometer.
• Mode: Utilizes Cherenkov radiation to study neutrinos.
• Location: Mediterranean Sea.

Key Components:

• ARCA (Astroparticle Research with Cosmics in the Abyss): Studies astrophysical neutrinos from supernovae and gamma-ray bursts (Sicily).
• ORCA (Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss): Studies neutrino properties using atmospheric neutrinos (France).
• Comparison with IceCube Observatory: Similar to IceCube in Antarctica, but located underwater instead of beneath ice.
• Detection: Arrays of optical sensors detect faint light from charged particles created during neutrino-Earth collisions.

IceCube Neutrino Observatory

• Location: South Pole.
• Purpose:Detects neutrinos, subatomic particles and Investigates questions like nature of dark matter & neutrino properties.
• Collaboration: Operated by the IceCube Collaboration, involving ~350 physicists from 58 institutions across 14 countries.

Security 

IED blast by suspected Maoists kills 9 in Bijapur - The Hindu

Eight security personnel and a civilian were killed in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Monday as an improvised explosive device planted by suspected Maoists blew up their vehicle. The police said the explosive went off  when a joint-operation party was returning from an anti-Maoist operation in the Abujhmad forests.

Improvised Explosive Device (IED)

• About: Unconventional explosive weapon that can take various forms and activation methods.
• Usage: By criminals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents.
• Characteristics:
  • From small pipe bombs to sophisticated devices causing massive damage.
  • Impact depends on size, construction, placement, and type of explosive.
  • Gained prominence during the 2003 Iraq War.
• Components: Initiating mechanism, detonator, explosive charge, and casing/projectiles (e.g., ball bearings, nails).
• Materials Used:
  • Artillery rounds, aerial bombs, fertilizers, TNT, or other explosives.
  • Radiological, chemical, or biological components for added impact.