Daily Current Affairs UPSC Exam - July 18, 2025

From groundbreaking technological innovations and space discoveries to advancements in defense and healthcare, India is making strides across diverse sectors.

The Trade Connect ePlatform, Akash Prime missile, protostar discovery, Poshan Tracker App, and Swachh Survekshan Awards exemplify progress in trade, science, defense, health, and urban development.

Trade Connect ePlatform

Context

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, participated in two major B2B trade exhibitions to raise awareness and encourage adoption of the Trade Connect ePlatform

About Trade Connect ePlatform

• It is a new digital initiative aimed at transforming international trade for Indian exporters, particularly MSMEs (Medium, Small and Medium Enterprises).

• It is an initiative of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Features of Trade Connect ePlatform

• Serves as a comprehensive hub of information and services on international trade for all stakeholders

• Connects Indian Exporters, MSMEs, and Entrepreneurs with various stakeholders including Indian Missions Abroad, Export Promotion Councils, and other Partner Government Agencies

• Provides information on trade events worldwide, benefits available from India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and other international trade-related data

• Offers updated information on tariffs, certifications, trade events, e-commerce, and buyers in a simplified manner for MSMEs

• Includes interactive courses to introduce MSMEs to exports and related procedures in multiple languages

• Functions as a single point for the issuance and validation of preferential and non-preferential certificates of origin through a secure, electronic, paperless process, with all authorized issuing agencies present on the platform

• The platform was developed in collaboration with key partners, including the Ministry of MSME, EXIM Bank, Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Akash Prime Missile

Context

India recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying two Aerial High-Speed Unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh using the Akash Prime missile

About Akash Prime Missile

It is an upgraded variant of the Akash weapon system, specifically designed for high-altitude regions

Features of Akash Prime Missile

• It is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile platform

• Designed to protect mobile, semi-mobile, and static military installations from various aerial threats

• A key upgrade is its indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, which allows it to emit radio signals and home in on targets during the final phase of its flight

• It is capable of targeting objects at a range of approximately 25 to 30 kilometers

• Other enhancements ensure more reliable performance in low-temperature environments at higher altitudes

• Akash Prime is engineered for deployment above 4,500 meters

• These additions were implemented based on feedback from armed forces for deploying the system to provide air defense cover for vital installations and sensitive areas in high-altitude regions

Protostar

Context

A team from the IIST, Thiruvananthapuram, recently discovered radio emission with circular polarization near a massive young protostar, approximately 4,500 light-years from Earth, that is still in formation

About Protostar

• A protostar represents an early stage in the star formation process

• It is a large mass of gas and dust formed from the contraction of a giant molecular cloud in the interstellar medium

• As the cloud collapses, gravitational energy converts into heat, warming the developing protostar

• Its lifespan can vary from 100,000 to 10 million years, depending on the star's mass

• The process begins with an increase in density within the molecular cloud core and concludes with the formation of a pre-main-sequence star

• Pre-main-sequence stars with a mass similar to the Sun are known as T-Tauri stars

• A star becomes a main-sequence star once hydrogen fusion ignites in its core, producing energy

• Protostars are typically surrounded by dust, making them difficult to observe in the visible spectrum due to light obstruction

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Context

US President Donald Trump was recently diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).

About Chronic Venous Insufficiency

• CVI occurs when leg veins struggle to effectively return blood to the heart

• Normally, valves in veins facilitate blood flow towards the heart. When these valves are inefficient, blood can flow backward and pool in the legs

• While not always a serious health threat, CVI can cause pain, swelling, cramps, skin changes, varicose veins, and leg ulcers

• Risk factors include being overweight, pregnancy, family history, leg injuries, surgery, or previous blood clots

• It affects approximately 1 in 20 adults, with the risk increasing with age

Chronic Venous Insufficiency Treatments

• Treatments range from lifestyle modifications to surgery

• Initial steps often include regular exercise, leg elevation, and weight management

• Medications that improve blood flow and compression therapy (e.g., tight stockings) are also beneficial

Poshan Tracker App

Context

Anganwadi workers are facing difficulties registering beneficiaries on the Poshan Tracker app due to technical glitches and connectivity issues

About Poshan Tracker App

• It is a mobile-based application launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, on March 1, 2021

• Developed by the National eGovernance Division, it serves as a specialized digital platform for Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and enrolled beneficiaries

• Its primary aim is to enhance nutrition service delivery and support the government's fight against malnutrition

• The app facilitates direct data capture, status tracking, and reporting, making it a crucial tool for implementing the Poshan Abhiyaan initiative

• Access is restricted to designated users, including government-authorized staff and registered beneficiaries

• It provides real-time updates on nutrition indicators for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers

• Anganwadi workers can record individual attendance, distribute supplements, and update health parameters directly from the field

• Government authorities gain timely insights into resource utilization, stock availability, and beneficiary outreach, aiding decision-making and interventions

What is the Poshan Abhiyaan Initiative?

• It is a multi-ministerial initiative launched by the Government of India in March 2018

• The initiative focuses on improving the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 0-6 years

• Through technology, convergence, and community involvement with a targeted approach, the program strives to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia, and low birth weight in children, while also addressing the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

Poshan Abhiyaan Initiative Objectives

• Prevent and reduce stunting in children (0-6 years)
• Prevent and reduce undernutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years)
• Reduce the prevalence of anemia among young children (6-59 months)
• Reduce the prevalence of anemia among women and adolescent girls aged 15-49 years
• Reduce Low Birth Weight (LBW)

Hydrogen Peroxide

Context

Scientists have developed a novel approach using a cutting-edge material called Mo-DHTA COF (dimolybdenum paddlewheel-embedded covalent organic framework) to synthesize hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) directly from water and sunlight

About Hydrogen Peroxide

• It is a colorless liquid at room temperature with a bitter taste

• Small amounts of gaseous hydrogen peroxide occur naturally in the air

Features of Hydrogen Peroxide

• Known for its eco-friendly nature, as it degrades or breaks down into only water and oxygen

• Hydrogen peroxide is unstable, readily decomposing into oxygen and water with the release of heat

• It is nonflammable but is a powerful oxidizing agent that can cause spontaneous combustion when it comes into contact with organic material

• Found in many households at low concentrations (3-9%) for medicinal applications and as a bleach for clothes and hair

• It is a key component in sustainable chemical processes, though conventional production methods are energy-intensive, environmentally hazardous, and costly

Applications of Hydrogen Peroxide

• It is a vital oxidizing agent with broad applications in chemical synthesis, sterilization, wastewater treatment, and fuel cells

• In industry, higher concentrations are used as a bleach for textiles and paper, as a component of rocket fuels, and for producing foam rubber and organic chemicals

Reykjanes Peninsula

Context

A volcano recently erupted in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest, according to weather authorities, marking the ninth eruption in the region since the end of 2023

About Reykjanes Peninsula

• Reykjanes is a peninsula in southwest Iceland, characterized by immense lava fields, volcanoes, and heightened geothermal activity

• It covers an area of 829 sq. km

• The peninsula is where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rises above sea level, creating a dynamic landscape where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet

• Due to this geological setting, the entire peninsula is extremely volcanically active, covered with moss-coated lava fields and cone-shaped mountains

• Since 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula has experienced a marked increase in volcanic activity, with frequent eruptions

• Frequent earthquakes occur due to tectonic plate movement, though they are commonly minor events imperceptible to humans

• The peninsula is sparsely populated, with the exception of Reykjavik, the capital, which is the largest city on the peninsula

• It is also the site of the Reykjanes Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark, showcasing unique geological features such as fissures, lava fields, hot springs, and volcanic craters

• The Gunnuhver Geothermal Field is among the largest geothermal fields on the peninsula

Ground Penetrating Radar Technology

Context

A team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur discovered signs of ancient Buddhist stupas and structural remains buried beneath the soil in Haryana's Yamuna Nagar district using advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology

About Ground Penetrating Radar Technology

• It is a geophysical method that uses high-frequency electromagnetic pulses to image the subsurface of the Earth or other solid materials

• It is a non-destructive detection and imaging method used to identify subsurface elements, whether underground or within a material like concrete

Working of Ground Penetrating Radar Technology

• GPR employs a transmitter antenna to send high-frequency, pulsed electromagnetic waves (typically 10 MHz to 1,000 MHz) into the subsurface

• The waves spread and travel downward until they encounter a buried object or boundary with different electromagnetic properties

• A portion of the wave energy is reflected or scattered back to the surface, while some continues downward

• A receiver antenna at the surface records the amplitude of the reflected energy and the arrival time of the wave on a digital storage device

Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar Technology

• GPR can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, giving it a wide range of applications

• It reveals all types of utilities, including electrical conduits, steam pipes, telecommunications lines, gas & oil lines, water lines, and sewer & storm pipes

Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

Context

President of India recently conferred the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)

About Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

• Marking its 9th edition, Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 is recognized as the world's largest urban cleanliness survey

• It serves as a key pillar of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban

Highlights:

• A total of 78 awards were presented, recognizing cities, cantonments, and institutions for their performance across various sanitation parameters
• Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai secured the top three spots, respectively, in urban sanitation, being declared the cleanest cities in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings
• These three cities were also ranked first, second, and third in the newly introduced "Super Swachh League," which acknowledges sustained excellence in cleanliness. Vijayawada secured the fourth position

• The 2024-25 survey introduced a simplified and inclusive assessment framework, promoting the principle of "One City, One Award" to enable smaller cities to compete equally with larger ones.

• 34 cities from various States and Union Territories were named Promising Swachh Shehars for their significant progress in sanitation and urban cleanliness

• Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow were recognized as the new generation of top clean cities, emerging as India's leading Swachh Shehars

• Prayagraj was honored as the Best Ganga Town

• Secunderabad Cantonment Board received an award for its strong sanitation efforts

• Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were recognized as the Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehars for prioritizing the safety, dignity, and welfare of sanitation workers.

• A special award was conferred upon the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Prayagraj Mela Adhikari, and the Municipal Corporation of Prayagraj for successfully managing urban waste during the Mahakumbh, which recorded approximately 66 crore attendees

Mount Kilimanjaro

Context

The Defense Secretary formally flagged off mountaineering expeditions to Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro at an event organized in South Block, New Delhi

About Mount Kilimanjaro

• It is Africa's tallest mountain and the world's largest free-standing mountain (meaning it is not part of a mountain range)

• Location: It is located in northeastern Tanzania, near the Kenya border

• It extends approximately east-west for 50 miles (80 km)

• Also known as a stratovolcano, Kilimanjaro is composed of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira

• Among these, Kibo is the tallest of the three volcanic formations and is a dormant volcano, while Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes

• Uhuru Peak, the highest free-standing peak in Africa, is located on the volcanic cone Kibo

• Kilimanjaro is also known for its snow-capped peak

• Vegetation: The mountain features five main vegetation zones, from lowest to highest: Lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert, and summit

• Kilimanjaro National Park was designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1987