UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 04-04-2025

Painted Lady Butterfly

Prelims – Biodiversity, species migration, scientific innovations, and climate change impacts.

Mains (GS – I & III) – GS I (Biogeography, species adaptation) | GS III (Biodiversity conservation, climate change, scientific advancements).

Why in News?

A recent study found that painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) don’t have significant genetic differences between short- and long-distance migrants.

• Painted Lady butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly belonging to the Nymphalidae family.
• It is renowned for its extensive migratory patterns and adaptability to various habitats.
• Habitat – Thrives in diverse environments, from temperate grasslands to deserts.
• They can be found on every continent except Antarctica and South America.
• Conservation status – Listed as Least Concern on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
• Migratory Behaviour – This species is a long-distance migrant, originating from areas like the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
• Each year, it moves northwards, recolonizing mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland.

Key findings of the study

• Isotope Tracking – Scientist studied about the species using the ratios of the isotopes in the wings of species.
• Wings retain hydrogen & strontium isotopes from larval food/water, revealing birthplace.
• No genetic difference in migration – Short- and long-distance painted lady butterflies belong to a single interbreeding population.
• Migration driven by environment – Distance covered depends on environmental factors, not genetics.
• Single migratory cycle – Painted Lady butterfly can travel up to 15,000 km in a single migratory cycle, one of the longest insect migrations on the earth.

A "single migratory cycle" refers an animal (like a bird) makes one round trip between two places—usually moving from a breeding area to a wintering area and back—due to seasonal changes or food needs.

• Multi-generational migration – The full migration cycle spans 8–10 generations.
• Super fly Adaptations – Thoracic muscles like "bodybuilders" enable high-speed, high-altitude flights.
• Wing shape/size doesn’t predict migration distance.
• Different from bird migration – Butterflies don’t return to a single breeding ground, unlike birds.

References

1. The Hindu | Painted Lady
2. Britannica | Painted Lady

Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025

Prelims – Indian polity and Governance

Mains (GS II & III) – GS I (Government Policies & Interventions) | GS III (Infrastructure).

Why in News?

Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, was recently introduced in Rajya Sabha.

• The Bill seeks to give legal effect to the following international agreements in their application to India
  • Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (also known as Capetown Convention of 2001), and
  • Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Aircraft Equipment. 
• India had acceded to these in 2008.
• The Convention and the Protocol aim to bring uniformity in securing rights for high-value assets such as aircrafts, helicopters, and engines. 
• They aim to ensure predictability for creditors in the event of a financial default in
  • A lease – use for a specified period
  • Conditional purchase – transfer of ownership upon completion of certain terms and conditions, or
  • Security agreement – asset given as collateral for borrowing.
• Registry Authority - The Bill designates Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the Registry Authority for the purposes of the Convention. 
• The Registry Authority is responsible for registration and de-registration of aircrafts.
• Obligations of debtors - Debtors must submit records of dues to DGCA. 

A debtor is a person who has taken an aviation asset under a lease or, conditional purchase agreement, or pledged an asset under a security agreement.

• Remedies in case of default - The Convention gives creditors certain remedies in case of default by a debtor. 

A creditor is a person who has provided an aviation asset under a lease or conditional purchase agreement, or has lended under a security agreement. 

• It includes the right to take back possession of the asset within a period of 2 calendar months or a mutually agreed upon period, whichever is earlier.
• The Bill states that before exercising any remedy, the creditor must notify DGCA about the occurrence of default.
• Detention of assets by government agencies -  The following entities will continue to have the right to detain an asset if dues for services related to that asset remain unpaid
  • Central government,
  • Any other entity providing public services in India, or
  • An inter-governmental organization of which India is a member.
• Overriding effect - In case of any inconsistency between the Bill and any other law, the provisions of the Bill will prevail.
• Jurisdiction of High Courts - The High Courts will have jurisdiction over any claim under the Convention.
• Power to make Rules - The Bill empowers the central government to make Rules to implement the provisions of the Convention and the Protocol. 

References

1. Economic Times | Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025
2. PRS India | Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025

Saturn

Prelims – General Science

Why in news?

Astronomers have discovered 128 new moons around Saturn, increasing its total count to 274 moons.

• Saturn is the second-largest planet in the solar system.
• Position- 6^th planet from the Sun.
• Type- Gas giant.
• It is surrounded by a beautiful ring system.
• Size - With an equatorial diameter of about 74,897 miles (120,500 kilometers), Saturn is 9 times wider than Earth.
• Distance - Saturn is 9.5 Astronomical Units (AU) away from the Sun.

One astronomical unit (abbreviated as AU), is the distance from the Sun to Earth.

• Mass- 95 times the mass of Earth.
• Composition- Mostly hydrogen and helium, similar to Jupiter.
• Density- The least dense planet in the Solar System (it could float in water).
• Orbit & Rotation - One day on Saturn takes only 10.7 hours.
• Orbital Period- Takes 29.5 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun.
• Moon system of Saturn
  • Total Moons- 274 (after the recent discovery of 128 new moons).
  • Largest Moon- Titan (2,159 miles across).
  • Other Major Moons- Enceladus is known for its subsurface ocean and icy plumes.
  • Many newly discovered moons are small (as tiny as 2 miles across) and follow irregular, retrograde orbits.
• Discovery - Observation in 2023 - Conducted using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope at Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
• Tracking Technique- Scientists observed patches of space near Saturn and tracked the motion of small moon-like objects over time.
• Characteristics of the new moons
  • All are irregular moons – meaning they have highly inclined orbits and travel backward (retrograde motion).
  • Some moons are as small as 2 miles across.
  • The discovery suggests these moons are remnants of cosmic collisions that happened 100 million years ago.

• The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially ratified the newly identified moons.

Reference

Indian Express| Newly discovered moons of Saturn

Government e-Marketplace

Prelims (GS – I) - Public Policy.

Mains (GS III) – Economic Development and Inclusive Growth.

Why in the news?

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) aims to boost start-up participation through upcoming events like Startup Mahakumbh 2025

• It is India's public procurement portal for purchasing goods and services by central and state government ministries, Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), and affiliated entities.
• Launched in - 2016
• Aim - To make the public procurement process transparent, efficient, and inclusive.
• Developed by - Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) in collaboration with MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) and National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
• GeM is now managed by GeM SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle), a 100% government-owned company under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Three Pillars of GeM
  • Efficiency - Ensures cost and time savings
  • AI-driven procurement reduces process time.
  • Transparency - Digital footprint ensures no manipulation in transactions.
  • AI tools prevent fraudulent activities.
  • Inclusion - Focus on women-led MSMEs, artisans, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
  • 50% of businesses on GeM come from MSMEs.
• Advantages of GeM
  • Centralized Platform – Unified portal for government buyers & suppliers.
  • Policy Reforms – Modernized regulations ensure compliance & efficiency.
  • MSME Boost – Supports small businesses & startups in government contracts.
  • Automation & Transparency – Tech-driven system reduces delays & enhances accountability.
• Achievements
  • Business transactions increased from its first year to 2024.
  • Contributed to major government projects, including India’s lunar mission ( Chandrayaan 3).

References

1. GeM| GeM and its advantages
2. Economics Times | Pillars of GeM

Naini Lake’s water crisis

Prelims – Current events of National Importance

Mains (GS- I) – Location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps).

Why in News?

Naini Lake has recorded a water level of 4.7 feet, marking a five-year low that sparked concerns over drinking water scarcity ahead of the summer season.

• It is a natural kidney-shaped lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand surrounded by seven hills.
• Discovered by – P. Baron, a british businessman in 1839.
• The third largest lake in Uttarakhand by surface area.
• Topology –It is connected by a bridge between Mallital (north) and Tallital (south), and this bridge houses the world's only post office on a lake bridge.

76% of the city’s water demand was met by the Naini Lake in 2024.

• Reasons for the water crisis - Decrease in snowfall and rainfall in the winter months.
• A report from the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology found that compared to other Kumaon lakes, Naini Lake is subjected to the greatest man-made manipulations.
• It cited unplanned construction, encroachment, and degradation of recharge zones as key factors.
• The construction of concrete structures nearby further causes low rainwater infiltration, worsened by the low rainfall in some years.
• Enhancing siltation, dumping debris in Sukhatal Lake, which is a major aquifer recharge area for Naini Lake, causing the lake to shrink.
• Pollution from the discharge of untreated wastewater, improper disposal of solid waste, and inadequate sewer systems causing sewage to overflow into stormwater drains, discharge into the Lake.

Reference

The Indian Express | Naini Lake

Mitathal and Tighrana Harappan Sites

Prelims – History of India.

Mains (GS I) - Indian Heritage and Culture.

Why in News?

The Haryana government has declared two sites of over 4,400-year-old Harappan civilization in Bhiwani district as protected monuments and archaeological sites.

• These are notified under the Haryana Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.

Mitathal site

• The site was first discovered in 1913 when a hoard of coins belonging to Samudra Gupta of the Gupta dynasty was found.
• Archaeological excavation conducted in 1968 has thrown light on the Copper- Bronze Age culture, a complex of the Indo-Gangetic divide of the 3rd-2nd millennia BCE.
• From 1965 to 1968, beads and copper implements were discovered at the site, yielding proto-historic material.
• Mitathal bear out the Harappan tradition in town planning, architecture and in arts and crafts.
• The pottery was well-burnt, sturdy red ware painted in black with pipal leaf, fish scale, and other geometric designs.
• The site has yielded a variety of antiquities, such as beads, bangles, and terracotta, as well as stone, shell, copper, ivory, and bone objects.

Tighrana site

• According to the Tighrana village site, the post-Harappan period remnants shed light on the development and persistence of human habitation in the area.
• Chalcolithic farming communities originally settled in the area around 2,400 BCE.
• These early settlers, often referred to as Sothians, resided in modest thatched-roofed mud-brick homes at Chang, Mitathal, Tighrana, and other locations.
• Some of their settlements may have been fortified and comprised 50 to 100 houses each.
• They used wheel-made ceramics decorated in bichrome with black-and-white motifs, domesticated cows, bulls, goats, and other animals, and engaged in agriculture.
• They used copper, bronze and stone implements as discovered in large numbers.
• The presence of beads and green carnelian bangles indicate a thriving industry of bead making and jewellery production.
• Remains from pre-Siswal, pre-Harappan, and post-Harappan settlements were found in Tighrana, making it an important archaeological site.

Reference

The Indian Express | Harappan civilization spots