Daily Current Affairs UPSC Exam - August 5, 2025

National Highway-10 (NH10), a vital lifeline connecting Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Siliguri, is currently closed due to landslide-triggered cave-ins and repair works. Managed by NHIDCL, the closure severely impacts transport, trade, tourism, and emergency mobility in the Eastern Himalayas. Connectivity restoration is underway.

NH10 Closure Disrupts Sikkim-Kalimpong-Siliguri Connectivity

Category: Infrastructure / Governance

Context:

Traffic on National Highway-10 has been halted due to landslide-induced damages and ongoing repairs by NHIDCL, affecting connectivity in the Eastern Himalayas.

About NHIDCL:

• Full form: National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited

• Type: Central Public Sector Undertaking

• Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

• Established: 18 July 2014

• Mandate: Development and maintenance of national highways in strategic, remote, and international border regions

Key Data:

• Affected Route: 30 km stretch on NH10

• Affected Areas: Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Siliguri

• Reason: Landslide and cave-ins

Key Features of NHIDCL:

• Focuses on enhancing road connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Northeast India, Andaman & Nicobar, and Uttarakhand

• Involved in constructing:

1. National highways
2. Tunnels and bridges

• Logistic hubs

• Inter-state connectivity corridors

• Strategic Role: Key agency under India's "Act East Policy" for border infrastructure development

• The closure of NH10 disrupts vital supply and passenger movement to and from the Northeastern region.

• NHIDCL's role becomes critical in such times as it not only facilitates connectivity but also ensures strategic preparedness in border regions.

• Infrastructure development here directly contributes to economic integration and national security.

• Such disruptions also highlight the region's vulnerability to geohazards like landslides, necessitating resilient infrastructure.

Russia Signs Nuclear Deal with Niger Amid Sahel Influence Expansion

Category: International Relations / Geography

Context:

Russia has deepened its engagement in West Africa's Sahel region by signing a nuclear cooperation agreement with Niger.

About the Sahel Region:

• Geographic stretch: 5,000 km from Atlantic Ocean to Red Sea

• Type: Semi-arid transitional zone between Sahara Desert and tropical savannas

• Countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea

Key Features:

• Faces climate change impacts, desertification, and weak governance

• Hotbed for violent extremism and regional conflicts

• Major migration route from Sub-Saharan Africa to Europe

• Vegetation: Savanna-type with acacia, baobab trees

Russia's strategic interest in Niger, especially through nuclear diplomacy, reflects a broader geopolitical competition in Africa involving the West, China, and now Russia. The Sahel's fragile ecology and governance vacuum make it a prime target for such influence. While nuclear cooperation could support energy security, it also raises concerns over safety, sovereignty, and militarization of the region.

RS-28 Sarmat: Russia's 'Satan 2' ICBM in Focus

Category: Science & Technology / Security

Context:

Russia's advanced intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 Sarmat, also called 'Satan 2' by NATO, draws global attention for its destructive potential.

Key Features:

• Range: Up to 18,000 km

• Launch Weight: 208+ tonnes

• Payload: 16 MIRVs or Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles

• Propulsion: Liquid-fueled

• Navigation: Inertial + GLONASS

• Special Ability: Fractional Orbital Bombardment (FOBS)

The RS-28 Sarmat symbolizes next-gen deterrence in nuclear strategy. Its ability to launch via low Earth orbit bypasses traditional missile defense systems. For India and global peacekeeping bodies, its deployment reinforces the need to push for arms control treaties amidst rising militarization.

SC Reviews Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949

Category: Polity & Culture

Context:

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition challenging the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, which governs the management of the Mahabodhi Temple.

About Mahabodhi Temple:

• Significance: Site of Buddha's enlightenment

• Built by: Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE)

• Present Structure: Gupta Period (5th-6th century CE)

• Restoration: 19th century by Myanmar & British

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 2002

• Location: Niranjana River, Bihar

• Other sacred Buddhist sites: Lumbini, Sarnath, Kushinagar

The petition raises issues of religious rights and representation in managing a site revered globally by Buddhists. This intersects with broader debates on minority rights, secular governance of religious institutions, and India's cultural diplomacy with Buddhist nations.

Asian Giant Tortoise Reintroduced in Nagaland

Category: Environment & Biodiversity

Context:

The endangered Asian giant tortoise has been successfully reintroduced into the Zeliang Community Reserve in Nagaland.

Scientific Name: Manouria emys phayrei
Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia
Habitat: Tropical hill forests
Diet: Bamboo shoots, vegetation
Threats:

• Habitat loss

• Poaching for consumption

Protection Status:

• CITES Appendix II

• Regional conservation efforts in Northeast India

Community-led conservation in biodiversity hotspots like Nagaland is crucial for preventing species extinction. This initiative also strengthens India's role in wildlife protection and fulfilling international commitments under CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) Launched

Category: Economy / Environment / Governance

Context:

NITI Aayog has unveiled the India Electric Mobility Index to assess states' progress on electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure.

About IEMI:

• Launched by: NITI Aayog

• Scope: 100+ indicators

• Themes:

1. Transport electrification
2. Charging infrastructure
3. EV innovation and R&D

• Objective: Competitive benchmarking & policy guidance

IEMI incentivizes states to fast-track EV transitions in line with India's Net Zero and energy security goals. It also aligns sub-national policies with national targets through transparency and cooperative competition.

India-WFP Partnership on Rice Fortification in Nepal

Category: International Relations / Food Security

Context:

India is collaborating with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to support rice fortification supply chains in Nepal.

About WFP:

• Established: 1961

• HQ: Rome, Italy

• Mission: End global hunger (SDG-2)

• Reach: 120+ countries

• Nobel Peace Prize: 2020

• Reports: Global Report on Food Crisis

India's engagement through food diplomacy in Nepal aids regional stability and enhances its soft power. Fortified rice helps tackle malnutrition, a common challenge in South Asia, and aligns with India's own flagship schemes like PM POSHAN.

Seabuckthorn from Ladakh on NASA's Crew-11 Mission

Category: Science / Agriculture / Environment

Context:

NASA's ISS experiments now include seabuckthorn seeds from Ladakh, known for its resilience and nutritional value.

About Seabuckthorn:

• Local Names: Chharma, Leh berry, Ladakh Gold

• Features:

1. Drought-resistant
2. Soil-binder
3. Rich in Vitamin C

• Uses:

1. Medicine, fuel, fence, animal feed

• Ecosystem Role: Prevents erosion, aids biodiversity

This experiment bridges traditional ecological knowledge and cutting-edge space research. It underscores the value of India's biodiversity in contributing to global science and highlights local solutions for sustainability.

Mutual Fund AUM in India Reaches ₹74.4 Lakh Crore

Category: Economy / Financial Markets

Context:

India's mutual fund industry has seen sevenfold growth in a decade, with Assets Under Management (AUM) hitting ₹74.4 lakh crore.

About AUM:

• Definition: Total value of assets managed by fund houses

• Components:

1. Net inflows
2. Redemptions
3. Market value changes
4. Dividend reinvestments

• Indicators: Size, popularity, stability, expertise

Growing AUM indicates rising retail investor confidence, formalization of savings, and increased financial literacy. It also points toward India's growing capital market ecosystem. However, it calls for regulatory vigilance to protect small investors and avoid speculative bubbles.