2 Minute Series_23 September 2025

23^rd September 2025

1. Polluted River Sites: Recently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported a slight reduction in the number of polluted river sites across India, with 807 locations in 2023 found unfit for bathing compared to 815 in 2022.

• Key Findings: Number of polluted river stretches (PRS) also declined: 296 in 271 rivers (2023) compared to 311 in 279 rivers (2022).

• Maharashtra (54) had the maximum PRS, followed by Kerala (31), Madhya Pradesh (18), Manipur (18), and Karnataka (14).
• Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand had the most ‘Priority 1’ polluted stretches (5 each).
• In 2022, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh had the most ‘Priority 1’ stretches (6 each).
• ‘Priority 1’ stretches (Biological Oxygen Demand >30 mg/L) reduced to 37 in 2023 from 45 in 2022.
• Increase observed in Priority 2 (20-30 mg/L) and Priority 3 (10-20 mg/L) stretches, suggesting remediation progress.
• CPCB monitors water quality at 4,736 locations nationwide, including rivers, lakes, creeks, drains, and canals.

2. Shipbuilding Programme: Recently, the Indian Navy launched its largest indigenous shipbuilding programme, with 54 vessels under construction at different stages in domestic shipyards.

• Key Highlights: Several ships are nearing delivery, with some to be commissioned within 2025.

• All 54 vessels expected to join the fleet by 2030.
• India aims to expand naval strength to 200+ warships and submarines by 2035, with a possible rise to 230 by 2037.
• Programme aligns with SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and reinforces India’s role as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Shipbuilding drive is powered by Atmanirbhar Bharat, boosting self-reliance and employment in defence manufacturing.
• Navy has transitioned from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”.
• INS Tamal (stealth multi-role frigate, built in Russia) commissioned in July 2025, the last major foreign-built warship; marks a turning point in naval modernisation.
• Androth, second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC) built by GRSE, Kolkata, delivered recently with 80% indigenous content.

3. India and Morocco: Recently, India and Morocco took a major step towards strengthening their defence partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation in Rabat.

• About the MoU: Establishes a robust institutional framework for collaboration in: Defence industry, Joint exercises, Military training and Capacity building.

• Both sides agreed on a comprehensive roadmap covering: Counter-terrorism, Maritime security, Cyber defence, Peacekeeping operations, Military medicine and Expert exchanges
• New Defence Wing announced at the Embassy of India in Rabat to accelerate cooperation.
• India showcased its defence industry capabilities, including drone and counter-drone technologies, and expressed readiness to meet Moroccan defence requirements.

4. Breast Cancer Awareness Programme: Recently, a Breast Cancer Awareness Programme was organised at the National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH), Kolkata under the Swasth Naari Sashakt Pariwar Abhiyaan (SNSPA).

• About Breast Cancer Awareness Programme: Educate female patients about breast cancer, its early warning signs, and the importance of self-examination and timely medical consultation.

• Programme was actively supported by interns, PGTs, and faculty members.
• Initiative reinforced the message: “Early detection saves lives.”
• Interns and PGTs distributed IEC material to raise awareness and sensitise women on:
  - Significance of early detection
  - Correct method of Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
  - Appropriate time and frequency of self-examination
  - Session focused on awareness, breaking myths, and encouraging proactive health measures.

5. Quasi-Moon: Recently, astronomers identified a new celestial companion to Earth: 2025 PN7, a tiny asteroid that appears to be a quasi-moon.

• About quasi-moon: An object that follows a similar orbital path to Earth around the sun without being gravitationally bound to the planet.

• Discovered in summer 2025 by Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii.
• Unlike mini-moons (temporarily captured by Earth), quasi-moons remain in sustained proximity.
• 2025 PN7 is estimated to be about 62 feet in diameter with a faint magnitude of ~26, making it very hard to detect.
• Astronomers believe it has been a quasi-satellite since ~1955 and will continue for the next 60 years.
• It is considered the smallest and least stable quasi-moon found so far.
• Only seven other quasi-moons of Earth have been documented before this discovery.
• Its motion allows repeated close passes, making it easier to study over decades despite its small size.
• Quasi-moons can evolve into Trojan or horseshoe orbits, and vice versa, over time.
• Detection is difficult because telescopes can only spot it when it’s particularly close to Earth.
• Experts confirm it is almost certainly a natural rocky asteroid, not space debris.
• The discovery highlights that Earth’s neighborhood still holds hidden celestial objects.

6. Lactifluus Khasianus: Recently, researchers have formally identified a new edible mushroom species, Lactifluus khasianus.

• About Lactifluus khasianus: The species was discovered in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, where it is locally called “Tit iongnah.”

• It belongs to the Lactifluus sect. Gerardii group of fungi.
• Distinguishing features include its chocolate-brown cap, unique microscopic characteristics, and genetic markers.
• It grows in association with Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya), typically at altitudes around 1,600 metres.
• Though it bears resemblance to Lactifluus gerardii, which occurs in North America and Asia, it differs in having larger cystidia and distinctive DNA profiles.
• It is the fifth confirmed species of this section in India, and importantly, the first reported edible species.
• For Khasi villagers, however, the mushroom is well known; it is traditionally collected from forest floors, sold in local markets during the monsoon, and enjoyed as a seasonal delicacy.

7. LEADS 2025: Recently, the Union Commerce & Industry Minister unveiled LEADS 2025 in New Delhi as part of the decade-long Make in India celebrations.

• About LEADS: Stands for “Logistics Ease Across Different States”

• A national index and survey that evaluates and ranks the logistics ecosystem of States and Union Territories, highlighting gaps and best practices to strengthen supply chain performance.
• Released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• Key Features of LEADS 2025:
  • Corridor Performance Tracking: Evaluation of 5–7 national corridors on journey time, truck speed, and waiting time.
  • API-Based Analytics: Real-time data on section-wise truck speeds for sharper insights.
  • State Rankings: Classification into Leaders, Achievers, and Aspirers to encourage healthy competition.
  • Policy Recommendations: Tailored interventions for individual States/UTs.
  • Digital Dashboard: An interactive platform enabling States/UTs to track logistics performance continuously.

8. Evo AI Model: Recently, scientists at Stanford University, in collaboration with the Arc Institute, developed Evo, an advanced AI foundation model for genomics. It is capable of designing new bacteriophages to combat drug-resistant infections.

• About Evo AI Model: A large-scale AI model trained on microbial and viral genetic sequences.

• Works like a “ChatGPT for DNA”, capable of predicting, designing, and generating genetic code for synthetic biology.
• Developed by Stanford University and Arc Institute.

• Aim & Purpose:
  • Therapeutic Design: Create bacteriophages that can kill harmful, drug-resistant bacteria.
  • Mutation Insights: Predict effects of DNA mutations on protein function and disease.
  • Accelerate Research: Replace slow lab trial-and-error with AI-driven genetic design.
• Key Features:
  • Extended Context Length: Understands long stretches of DNA and their interactions.
  • Nucleotide-Level Precision: Works at single base-pair accuracy.
  • Generative Capability: Proposes new proteins and synthetic genomes.
  • Faster R&D: Cuts decades of work into weeks, reducing cost and time.
  • Open Access: Publicly available for non-commercial academic research.

9. Super Typhoon Ragasa: Recently, China began preparing for mass evacuations as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached its southern coast, prompting the city of Shenzhen to start relocating 400,000 residents from coastal and low-lying areas.

• About Super Typhoon Ragasa: A Category 5 Super Typhoon with sustained winds around 205 km/h and gusts reaching 250 km/h.

• Local Name: Known in the Philippines as “Nando”.
• Significance: Among the strongest typhoons to strike the region in recent years.
• Origin & Path: Developed over the western Pacific Ocean, fueled by warm waters and low wind shear.
  - Tracking through the Luzon Strait, with impacts expected on the Babuyan Islands before moving toward southern China.

10. Terracotta Sarcophagus: Recently, a terracotta sarcophagus from Kilnamandi in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, was dated to 1692 BCE through AMS radiocarbon dating. This finding places the burial in the Late Harappan period.

• About Terracotta Sarcophagus: A terracotta coffin used for burials, containing charcoal, pottery, and grave goods. Serves as crucial archaeological evidence for burial practices and the socio-cultural life of ancient Tamilakam.

• Key Features:
  - Grave Goods: Included etched carnelian beads (sourced from Gujarat/Maharashtra), iron tools, and pottery.
  - Graffiti Marks: Fork-like symbols, semi-concentric “U” shapes, and vertical wavering lines—showing about 90% similarity with Indus Valley symbols.
  - Clan Identity: Graffiti restricted to certain burials, pointing to clan-based traditions.
  - Associated Finds: Long iron spears (7–8 feet), collective urn burials within slab enclosures, and high-tin bronze objects.
• Significance:
  - Trade Links: Confirms south–north trade connections between Tamil Nadu and Harappan regions (Gujarat, Maharashtra).
  - Graffiti Tradition: Pushes back the timeline of Tamil Nadu’s graffiti marks to the 17th century BCE.
  - Complex Society: Use of iron tools and clan-based organized burials indicates early social stratification.

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