03^rd December 2025

1. Solar Magnetic Activity: Recently, long-term Kodaikanal Observatory data helped astronomers map solar magnetic activity across latitudes, improving space-weather prediction and satellite protection.

• Key Highlights: Astronomers traced variations in the Sun’s magnetic activity using an advanced full-latitude analysis method.

• The study pinpointed the exact latitude zones where sunspot activity peaks during the solar cycle.

• These findings enhance understanding of the Sun’s magnetic dynamo and its potential effects on space weather and Earth's climate.

• The Sun undergoes an 11-year cycle marked by changes in magnetic activity.

• Such solar activity affects Earth’s satellite communication, navigation systems, and power grids.

• The study used 11 years of Calcium-K (393.4 nm) spectroscopic data from the observatory, recently marking its 125th anniversary.

• Ca-K line observations provide key diagnostics of magnetic fields in the Sun’s chromosphere.

• Continuous daily data created a valuable long-term record for examining solar variability from the peak of Solar Cycle 24 to Cycle 25.

• Researchers used a method slicing the Sun into horizontal latitude bands—from pole to pole—and analysing combined light from each band.

• This approach reveals large-scale magnetic patterns not visible through isolated sunspot studies.

2. Water-Electrolysis: Recently, Indian researchers devised a method that sharply enhances the catalytic performance of water-electrolysis materials, enabling more efficient and affordable clean hydrogen production.

• Key Highlights: Water electrolysis is essential for generating green hydrogen.

• The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the major bottleneck due to its slow reaction rate and higher overpotential compared to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

• Potential of Coordination Polymers (COPs) are formed by combining metal ions with organic molecules and are widely used as electrocatalysts. However, they are often fully coordinated by water or solvent molecules.

• Scientists applied argon plasma treatment, which generates coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUMSs).

• Ni- and Co-based COPs were examined using single-crystal and powder XRD, confirming consistent structure before and after treatment.

• Plasma-activated Ni- and Co-COPs exhibited remarkable improvements in OER performance in alkaline media.

• The method enhances intrinsic catalytic activity without the need for expensive noble metals.

3. High-Speed Rocket-Sled Test: Recently, DRDO successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system, marking a major leap in India’s indigenous aircrew safety capabilities.

• Key Highlights: The test, conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, validated: Canopy severance, Ejection sequencing & Complete aircrew recovery

• This success strengthens India’s ability to test and certify advanced escape systems in-house.

• The test was jointly executed with: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

• The achievement places India among a select group of nations possessing sophisticated dynamic escape-system testing capabilities.

• Dynamic ejection tests are more complex than static tests like Net tests or Zero-Zero tests.

• A dual-sled system with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) forebody was propelled to a precisely controlled velocity through phased firing of multiple solid rocket motors.

• This approach ensures realistic evaluation of canopy breakage and ejection performance under high-speed conditions.

4. Exercise EKUVERIN: Recently, the 14th edition of Exercise EKUVERIN, a joint military drill between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force, began in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Key Highlights: The Indian Army contingent comprises 45 personnel from a battalion of the GARHWAL RIFLES.

• An equal-strength contingent from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is participating.

• The exercise reinforces strong bilateral defence cooperation.

• Ekuverin means Friends in Dhivehi, reflecting deep-rooted friendship, trust, and military collaboration.

• Conducted alternately in India and the Maldives since 2009.

• It stands as a key pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and commitment to regional partnerships.

• The two-week exercise aims to enhance interoperability and operational synergy in: Counter-Insurgency (CI) operations and Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations

• Training will take place across jungle, semi-urban, and coastal terrain.

• Troops will share best practices, refine tactical drills, and conduct joint operational planning.

• Reinforces collective commitment to peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

5. Antarctic Ozone Hole: Recently, the Antarctic ozone hole closed several weeks earlier than usual, offering a rare positive sign for long-term ozone recovery despite record global temperatures.

• Key Highlights: The 2025 ozone hole closed on December 1, earlier than the typical late-December timeline.

• Copernicus confirmed it as the smallest ozone hole in five years, marking the second consecutive year of relatively small openings.

• Higher ozone concentrations were observed, a sign of steady recovery.

• The hole peaked at just over 21 million sq km in September 2025.

• This is significantly smaller than the 2006 record of over 29 million sq km.

• Its development closely resembled the 2023 episode, though 2025 showed greater improvement.

• Scientists view this as a rare environmental bright spot amid escalating climate crises.

• According to Copernicus, progress reflects the impact of the global ban on ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol.

• The ozone hole is a seasonal thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer, most severe over Antarctica.

6. Spiral Galaxy (Alaknanda): Recently, Pune-based researchers discovered a massive, well-structured spiral galaxy dating back to when the universe was only 1.5 billion years old, challenging existing theories of early galaxy formation.

• Key Findings: Indian astronomers discovered a galaxy with a textbook spiral structure dating back to a time when the universe was only 10% of its current age.

• Early galaxies are believed to have been chaotic, turbulent, and clumpy, making this finding highly unexpected.

• The galaxy is named Alaknanda, after the Himalayan river.

• It features two distinct spiral arms wrapping around a bright central bulge.

• It spans roughly 30,000 light-years, smaller than the Milky Way but strikingly similar in design.

• According to established models, galaxies in the early universe should not have well-formed structures. They were expected to be unstable, extremely hot, and irregular.

• Alaknanda contradicts these assumptions, suggesting sophisticated galactic structures arose much earlier than previously believed.

• The researchers chose the name to reflect its relation to the Milky Way.

• In Indian tradition, Mandakini is another name for the Milky Way, and the Alaknanda river is considered its sister river.

• The galaxy, located about 12 billion light years away, similarly appears like a distant “sister” to our Milky Way.

7. GUIDELINES on GLP-1: Recently, the WHO issued its first global guidelines on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, recognizing them as effective long-term obesity treatments when combined with sustained diet and physical activity.

• Key Highlights: The guidelines acknowledge that GLP-1 therapies can significantly help individuals manage obesity.

• WHO emphasised that equitable access to GLP-1 therapies is essential.

• High costs currently put these drugs out of reach for many, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

• Adults may use GLP-1 drugs for long-term obesity management, except pregnant women.

• WHO insists that intensive behavioural interventions — diet modification, physical activity, lifestyle changes — must continue alongside medication.

• The drugs are recommended only when these measures are insufficient or in cases of severe obesity.

8. FAO Report: Recently, an FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) report warned that expanding farmland is no longer viable, as global land, water, and soil resources are facing unprecedented degradation and overuse.

• Key Findings: Global agriculture must produce 50% more food, feed, and fibre by 2050 compared to 2012 levels.

• Between 1964 and 2023, agricultural output tripled, driven largely by intensification—higher-yielding crops, increased irrigation, and technological advancements—rather than farmland expansion.

• Irrigated land more than doubled in this period, and by 2023, 23% of all croplands were equipped for irrigation.

• In contrast, global farmland area increased by only 8%, intensifying pressure on limited land resources.

• Agriculture uses 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, a share expected to rise due to groundwater over-extraction and seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers.

• More than 60% of this degradation occurs on agricultural land.

• Declining soil fertility, reduced water availability, and loss of productive land are already undermining agriculture’s ability to meet current and future needs.

• Agricultural expansion continues to drive deforestation and destroy carbon-rich ecosystems such as peatlands.

• These losses accelerate land degradation and weaken the resilience of global agrifood systems.

9. NAKSHA and LandStack: Recently, the Department of Land Resources under the Rural Development Ministry announced a high-level National Symposium on NAKSHA and LandStack.

• Key Highlights: A detailed assessment of the NAKSHA pilot programme covering 157+ cities will be conducted.

• The programme uses advanced aerial flying and feature extraction technologies for precise land mapping.

• Discussions will address challenges such as data accuracy in dense urban clusters and harmonization with existing cadastral maps.

• Sessions will focus on the creation of LandStack, a unified national digital land infrastructure.

• Experts will examine the base layers needed for the platform and challenges in integrating cadastral maps, spatial data, and administrative records.

• A major discussion track will center on the UrPro Card, a proposed single, trusted digital property.

• An end-to-end presentation of the WebGIS Platform and cloud-based geospatial services will be featured.

• The symposium will highlight the use of AI/ML analytics, 3D mapping, and cloud geospatial solutions to strengthen transparency, accuracy, and accountability in urban land governance.