Daily Current Affairs - 25th November 2025
- TPP
- 5 days ago
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Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | HAMMER, Article 51 of the UN Charter, Abhujmadia Tribe, Lachit Borphukan, GAVI, AI and the Judiciary and more.
If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.
Table of Content
POLITY & GOVERNANCE
SECURITY / DEFENCE
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Justice Surya Kant: 53rd Chief Justice of India
Appointment Process for the Chief Justice of India
The outgoing CJI recommends the successor, following the established convention.
The Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister for further action.
The Prime Minister advises the President to appoint the recommended judge as the next CJI.
The Second Judges Case (1993) established that the senior-most Supreme Court judge must be appointed as the CJI.
The President appoints the CJI under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
Appointment of Other Supreme Court Judges
Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President under Article 124(2) based on the Collegium’s recommendation.
The Collegium System consists of the CJI and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
The Collegium System evolved through the Three Judges Cases of 1981, 1993, and 1998.
A Supreme Court judge must be a citizen of India as a basic eligibility requirement.
A candidate becomes eligible if he or she has been a High Court judge for 5 years.
A candidate is also eligible if he or she has been a High Court advocate for 10 years.
A candidate may also be appointed if the President considers the person a distinguished jurist.
A Supreme Court judge holds office until the age of 65 years.
A former Supreme Court judge is barred from practicing in any court or authority in India.
Removal of a Supreme Court Judge
A judge can be removed only on the grounds of proven misbehaviour.
A judge can also be removed on the grounds of incapacity.
The President can remove a judge only after Parliament passes a special resolution.
The resolution must be passed by a majority of the total membership of each House.
The resolution must also be supported by two-thirds of members present and voting.
Both Houses must pass the resolution in the same session for removal to take effect.
The Judges Inquiry Act, 1968 elaborates the detailed procedure for removal.
Key Roles and Powers of the Chief Justice of India
The CJI exercises judicial leadership by heading the Supreme Court.
The CJI presides over Constitution Benches, which decide important constitutional matters.
The CJI allocates cases to judges to ensure orderly judicial functioning.
The CJI exercises administrative authority by controlling the case roster.
The CJI supervises court administration to maintain efficiency in court operations.
The CJI defines the judicial vision of the Supreme Court through policy priorities.
The CJI may prioritise reducing pendency to improve access to justice.
The CJI may promote alternative dispute resolution to reduce the burden on courts.
The CJI also works to strengthen constitutional governance through judicial oversight.
Uranium-238 in the breastmilk of lactating mothers in several districts of Bihar
A recent study has revealed the presence of Uranium-238 (U-238) in the breastmilk of lactating mothers in several districts of Bihar.
The study has raised serious concerns about infant health risks linked to uranium exposure.
The research was conducted by scientists from multiple institutions, including AIIMS Delhi.
The study analysed breastmilk samples from 40 lactating mothers in Bihar.
The researchers found U-238 in all 40 breastmilk samples, indicating widespread exposure.
The uranium levels detected were 0–5.25 µg/L, which are below global permissible limits.
The study concludes that actual health impact is likely low, despite potential risk indicators.
The study will be expanded to other Indian states to test for heavy metals in breastmilk.
India has already reported the presence of arsenic, lead, and mercury in breastmilk in earlier studies.
District-Wise Contamination
The highest average uranium contamination was observed in Khagaria district.
The highest individual uranium value was recorded in Katihar district.
Infant Health Risks
The study found that 70% of infants showed potential non-carcinogenic health risks based on Hazard Quotient (HQ > 1).
Hazard Quotient (HQ) is a measure used to estimate non-cancer health risk from exposure to a contaminant.
Infants are particularly vulnerable because they have a limited ability to eliminate uranium from the body.
Long-term uranium exposure may affect kidney development and may also affect neurological development in infants.
Long-term uranium exposure may further impact cognitive functions, including IQ levels.
Breastfeeding Recommendations
The study notes that breastfeeding should not be discontinued, as it remains the most beneficial source of infant nutrition.
Most uranium absorbed by the mother is excreted through urine, not concentrated in breastmilk.
The researchers recommend continuing breastfeeding unless a clinical reason suggests otherwise.
Need for Environmental Monitoring
The researchers highlight the need for continued biomonitoring of toxic contaminants, including pesticides.
The study emphasises the need to track environmental pollutants that may enter the human food chain.
About Uranium-238 (U-238)
Uranium-238 is identified as a naturally occurring radioactive element found in the environment.
U-238 is the most abundant uranium isotope, forming 99.3% of natural uranium.
U-238 occurs naturally in soil, rocks, and groundwater.
Sources of U-238 Contamination
U-238 contamination can enter groundwater through natural geological processes.
Groundwater can also become contaminated through human activities, such as mining.
Other anthropogenic sources include coal burning and nuclear industry emissions.
Phosphate fertilisers are another potential source of uranium contamination in groundwater.
Global and National Standards
The WHO sets a provisional safe limit of 30 µg/L for uranium in drinking water.
Some countries, such as Germany, follow a stricter limit of 10 µg/L.
Toxicity Characteristics
Uranium exposure poses greater chemical toxicity risk, as a heavy metal, than radioactive risk.
The primary chemical toxicity of U-238 affects the kidneys, which are sensitive to heavy metals.
Extent of Uranium Contamination in India and Globally
In India, uranium contamination has been reported in 151 districts across 18 states.
In Bihar, 1.7% of groundwater sources are affected by uranium contamination.
Elevated uranium levels have been reported globally in Canada, the U.S., Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
Elevated levels are also reported in Bangladesh, China, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, and the Mekong Delta region.
Despite global contamination, clear clinical symptoms have not been consistently documented.
The current study stresses the urgent need to monitor U-238 in Bihar to protect maternal and infant health.
HAMMER Precision-Guided Weapon
India’s BEL and France’s Safran have partnered to manufacture the HAMMER precision-guided weapon in India.
The HAMMER is a combat-proven smart air-to-surface weapon used for high-precision military strikes.
The weapon is designed for close air support missions.
The weapon is also designed for deep-strike missions requiring high accuracy.
The HAMMER functions effectively in all weather conditions.
The weapon has an operational range of more than 70 km.
The HAMMER uses a fire-and-forget guidance system, meaning it requires no further control after launch.
The weapon maintains high accuracy even in GNSS-denied environments, where satellite signals are blocked.
The HAMMER remains accurate in jammed environments, where electronic interference is used.
The weapon supports simultaneous multi-target attack capability.
The HAMMER is compatible with: 125 kg, 250 kg, 500 kg, and 1000 kg bomb bodies
The weapon can be launched from low altitudes and can also be launched over rough terrain.
The HAMMER is autonomous in its terminal guidance.
The weapon is highly resistant to jamming, ensuring mission reliability.
GAVI and UNICEF announced a new agreement
Gavi and UNICEF have jointly announced a new agreement to expand global accessibility of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine.
GAVI was established in 2000 as a global public–private partnership to improve access to vaccines in low-income countries.
India is a member of GAVI.
The USA has withdrawn from funding GAVI since June 2025.
GAVI’s mission is to immunise children against deadly diseases.
GAVI also aims to strengthen national vaccination systems.
GAVI has protected more than 1.2 billion children since its creation.
GAVI has averted over 20 million deaths through its vaccine initiatives.
GAVI performs market-shaping, which means it negotiates vaccine prices to make them more affordable.
GAVI uses innovative financing tools to support immunisation programmes.
One major financing tool is IFFIm (International Finance Facility for Immunisation), which funds vaccines through long-term donor commitments.
Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano erupted for the first time
Ethiopia’s long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted for the first time in more than 12,000 years.
The eruption released a massive ash cloud across the Red Sea and South Asia.
The ash cloud spread further and reached India, affecting aviation visibility.
The ash dispersion forced diversion of several flights due to safety concerns.
Types of Lava
Acidic lava contains high silica, which makes it thicker and more viscous.
Acidic lava does not travel far because of its high viscosity.
Acidic lava forms steep-sided or cone-shaped volcanoes.
Basic or basaltic lava contains low silica, which makes it highly fluid.
Basaltic lava travels long distances due to its low viscosity.
Basaltic lava forms gently sloped or shield volcanoes.
Volcanic Eruptions: Key Concepts
A volcanic eruption refers to the expulsion of gases, rock fragments, and molten lava from within Earth to its surface or atmosphere.
The Earth’s mantle is a high-density layer below the crust that contains semi-molten material.
The mantle contains the asthenosphere, which is a weak and partially molten layer.
Magma originates in the asthenosphere and consists of molten rock material.
Dissolved gases inside magma expand and increase internal pressure.
This pressure pushes magma upward towards the Earth’s surface.
Magma forces its way through cracks or fissures in the crust, causing an eruption.
Materials Released During Eruptions
When magma reaches the surface, it is called lava.
Volcanic eruptions also release pyroclastic debris, which includes fragmented volcanic material.
Eruptions may eject volcanic bombs, which are large semi-molten rocks.
Eruptions produce volcanic ash and dust, which disperse widely through the atmosphere.
Volcanic gases include nitrogen compounds and sulphur compounds.
Recent Global Volcanic Events
Recent volcanic incidents include Sabancaya in Peru (2025).
Another significant eruption occurred at Ruang in Indonesia (2025).
The Kilauea volcano in the USA showed activity in 2024.
Mount Etna in Italy erupted in 2025.
Consequences of Volcanic Eruptions
Positive Impacts
Volcanic eruptions provide direct information about Earth’s interior.
Volcanic regions act as important sources of geothermal energy.
Volcanic aerosols can cause temporary cooling of the atmosphere by blocking sunlight.
Negative Impacts
Volcanic eruptions cause air pollution through ash and toxic gases.
Volcanic gases may lead to acid rain formation.
Eruptions may trigger earthquakes due to seismic disturbances.
Volcanic hazards may result in loss of life and property.
Iran's Lake Urmia
Iran has attempted cloud-seeding over the Lake Urmia basin to artificially induce rainfall during a severe drought.
Cloud seeding refers to a weather-modification technique that uses substances like silver iodide to stimulate precipitation.
Location & Hydrology
Lake Urmia is located in northwestern Iran.
The lake is fed by several rivers, including the Zarīneh River.
The Sīmīneh River also contributes water to Lake Urmia.
Decline of the Lake
Lake Urmia has lost more than 90% of its original water volume over recent decades.
Damming of inflowing rivers has significantly reduced water supply to the lake.
Large-scale agricultural water diversion has further contributed to the lake’s shrinkage.
Climate-related stress, including rising temperatures and declining rainfall, has worsened the lake’s decline.
Environmental Impacts
The drying lake has exposed large areas of lake-bed salts.
Strong winds lift these exposed salts, forming saline dust storms.
These dust storms damage agricultural soil by increasing salinity.
The saline dust poses health hazards for nearby populations.
The dust storms threaten livelihoods across the surrounding region.
Protection Status
Lake Urmia is designated as a Ramsar Site, which means it is recognised as a wetland of international importance.
The lake is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which promotes conservation and sustainable development in ecologically significant areas.
Biomass Pellet Plant in Rewari, Haryana
The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art Biomass Pellet Plant in Rewari, Haryana.
Definition and Raw Materials
Biomass pellets are small, cylindrical, condensed forms of organic material derived from renewable sources.
Raw materials for biomass pellets include agro-residues such as paddy, soya, cotton, gram, and jowar stubble, straw, stalk, or husk.
Other sources include groundnut shells, coconut shells, bamboo, dry leaves, and similar biomass materials.
Applications
Biomass pellets are primarily used for heat and electricity generation in power plants.
They are also used as bedding material for livestock.
Benefits
Use of biomass pellets reduces pollution by providing cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.
They help cut carbon emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.
Biomass pellet production generates new livelihood opportunities for rural communities.
Policy Mandate
The National Biomass Policy mandates co-firing of 5% biomass pellets or torrefied municipal solid waste (MSW) charcoal in all coal-based thermal power plants.
Power plants in the Delhi-NCR region are required to achieve a 7% biomass blend.
Incentives: Biomass pellet manufacturing is recognized as an eligible activity under Priority Sector Lending (PSL), providing financial support to manufacturers.
Tiger Reserve in Goa
A Supreme Court-appointed panel recently recommended notifying a tiger reserve in Goa.
The panel suggested Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary (contiguous to Kali Tiger Reserve, Karnataka) as the core area.
Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, home to the Dudhsagar Waterfall, was recommended as the buffer zone.
About Tiger Reserves
Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
NTCA is a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 with the Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change as its Chairperson.
India currently has 58 tiger reserves, with the latest being Madhav Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Supreme Court’s White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Judiciary
The Supreme Court’s Centre for Research and Planning released a White Paper on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judiciary.
The paper reviews the safe use of AI in courts, outlines key ethical challenges, offers recommendations, and draws on international case studies to illustrate emerging risks.
Risks and Ethical Challenges of AI
Overreliance on AI can weaken judicial discretion and the opaque nature of models reduces accountability.
AI may produce hallucinations and fabricated content, including false information or non-existent citations, e.g., Roberto Mata v. Avianca and Coomer v. Lindell (US cases).
Algorithmic bias is a concern; e.g., the US COMPAS tool challenged in State v. Loomis showed potential racial bias in judicial outcomes.
Other risks include deepfakes, evidence manipulation, privacy and confidentiality breaches, and intellectual property concerns.
Key Recommendations
Courts should establish AI Ethics Committees with technical and legal experts to review AI tools and set deployment standards.
Prefer secure in-house AI systems to reduce confidentiality, security, and data-exposure risks.
Adopt a formal ethical AI policy defining authorised uses, responsibilities, and accountability mechanisms.
Other measures include mandating disclosure and audit trails and providing comprehensive training to judicial staff.
Key Initiatives in India
e-Courts Mission Mode Project uses AI to tackle case backlog, linguistic barriers, and administrative delays.
SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) assists judges in analyzing case records and generating summaries.
SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) has translated over 36,000 Supreme Court judgments into 19 Indian languages.
Other AI tools include TERES (AI-based transcription software) and LegRAA (Legal Research Analysis Assistant).
Global AI Initiatives in Judiciary
UNESCO published the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and a global toolkit on AI and the Rule of Law.
OECD released the Principles on Artificial Intelligence (2019), establishing the first intergovernmental standard for AI.
EU AI Act regulates high-risk judicial AI systems across Europe.
National models include Brazil’s ATHOS and Singapore’s LawNet AI.
Abhujmadia Tribe
The Bastar region has seen growing participation of Abhujmadia youth in cultural and sporting events such as the Bastar Olympics.
The Abhujmadia belong to the Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) category, residing in Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Abujhmad areas of Bijapur district.
They are an ancestral and patriarchal tribe, divided into several dynasties, and speak the Abujhmaria Gondi dialect.
Among Abhujhmaria women, Godana tattoos are considered a permanent jewel, reflecting cultural identity and tradition.
Criteria for PVTG Recognition (Dhebar Commission, 1960-61)
Tribes must exhibit pre-agricultural level of technology, indicating limited adoption of modern farming and tools.
They must have a low level of literacy, showing limited access to formal education.
Tribes should be economically backward, reflecting low income and limited livelihood opportunities.
A declining or stagnant population is also a criterion for PVTG classification.
Article 51 of the UN Charter
Article 51 of the UN Charter recognizes the right of states to self-defence in international law.
In recent conflicts, countries like Russia in Ukraine and Israel in Gaza have invoked self-defence to justify military actions.
Such uses of Article 51 raise concerns that it may be misused to legitimize war rather than prevent it.
Following World War II, the UN Charter legally obliged states to refrain from the threat or use of force, as stated in Article 2.
Article 51 was introduced as a narrow exception to this prohibition, intended only to allow self-defence against armed attacks.
Over time, the scope of Article 51 has been interpreted more expansively, allowing broader claims of self-defence.
One interpretation, called restrictive, states that the right to self-defence arises only after an armed attack has occurred.
Another interpretation, called expansive, allows self-defence in response to an imminent threat of armed attack.
The expansive interpretation can also be applied against non-state actors, such as in the US-led Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).
Non-state actors are groups or organizations that are not officially recognized as a government or state but can carry out armed attacks.
Ahom general Lachit Borphukan
The Prime Minister paid tributes to Ahom general Lachit Borphukan on his birth anniversary.
Lachit Borphukan was born on 24 November 1622 at Charaideo, Assam.
He held several positions in the Ahom Kingdom, including Commander-in-Chief, the highest military officer.
The Ahom dynasty, founded by Sukapha, ruled much of Assam and the North East from 1228 to 1826 AD.
Lachit Borphukan was chosen as one of five Borphukans of the Ahom Kingdom, who were high-ranking officials with administrative, judicial, and military responsibilities.
The Battle of Saraighat (1671) was a major conflict where Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughal forces, led by Raja Ramsingh-I.
The National Defence Academy (NDA) has been awarding the Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal to the best cadet since 1999 in his honor.
Lachit Divas, observed on November 24, commemorates his birth anniversary and legacy.
A 125-feet bronze statue has been erected to honor Lachit Borphukan.
He is remembered for his courage, patriotism, and leadership.
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