Current Affairs 12th September 2025

1. SC will not sit idle if a wing of democracy fails to do its duty: CJI

GS-II Constitution, Governance &polity

Context: The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in a Presidential Reference case concerning delays by Governors and the President in acting on Bills.

• The dispute reflects rising friction between non-BJP ruled States and Governors over delays in clearing crucial State laws.

 Doctrine Issue – Separation of Powers

• The Union argued the judiciary is overstepping into executive/legislative domains.
• The Court stressed that while separation of powers must be respected, judicial inaction is not an option if constitutional authorities fail in their duties.

 What Triggered the Current Dispute?

• The April 8, 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court directing Governors/President to act on Bills within three months.
• Several States (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Kerala) accused Governors of sitting indefinitely on Bills.
• The Union Government filed a Presidential Reference seeking clarity on SC’s power to impose such deadlines.

 CJI’s Stand (B.R Gavai)

• No authority is above the law, not even Governors or the President.
• Warned judicial activism should not turn into judicial terrorism.
• However, if one wing of democracy fails, the Court, as custodian of the Constitution, must step in and cannot “sit idle.”
• Emphasized farmers’ vision of mutual harmony between Governors and States.

Essentially, the CJI defended the SC’s power of judicial review to ensure constitutional functionaries perform their duties.

Union Government’s Argument

• A fixed 3-month deadline is a “one-size-fits-all” solution and impractical. Each Bill has a different context.
• Some Bills may be controversial or harmful, passed under public pressure, and need more deliberation.
• Imposing rigid timelines would be “self-destructive.”
• Courts cannot mandate assent, as this is part of legislative functioning.

Historically, most Bills receive assent within a month, so delays are exceptions, not the norm.

 Supreme Court’s Counter

• Supreme Courts cannot dictate the content of decision but can mandate timely decision-making.
• Deadlines are needed to prevent indefinite delay.
•  Supreme Courts cannot dictate the content of decision but can mandate timely decision-making.
• Indefinite silence is unconstitutional and obstructs democratic governance.

 Attorney-General’s Argument (R.Venkataramani)

• Governors do have discretion to withhold assent for constitutionality concerns.
• However, they must communicate reasons back to the Assembly (i.e., return the Bill or send a message).
• Endless silence without any message is against the scheme of the Constitution.

2. Can vultures help prevent pandemics?

GS -III ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY ,GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SOCIAL JSUTICE

Context: Vultures, vital for public health by cleaning carcasses, are declining sharply in India—over 95% since the 1990s due to diclofenac use.

• This decline links biodiversity loss to increased risk of zoonotic diseases and future pandemics.

 Where Are India’s Vultures?

• Once over 40 million in India, now critically endangered.
• Part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a migratory corridor spanning 30+ countries.
• Vultures connect ecosystems and disease risks across borders.
• Carcass dumps and unmanaged landfills can become hotspots for disease spillover.

 How Are Vultures Related to Pandemics?

• Vultures rapidly consume animal carcasses, preventing spread of pathogens like anthrax, botulism, rabies.
• Their decline leads to higher populations of feral dogs and rats, increasing disease transmission risks.
• Vultures’ scavenging limits zoonotic spillover events, protecting public health.
• Their role in surveillance and carcass management remains underutilized and informal.

 How Can India Protect Its Vultures?

A post-2025 national strategy could rest on five pillars:

1. Nationwide Satellite Telemetry: Map vulture habitats, carcass dumps, and disease hotspots.
2. Decision Support System (DSS): Integrate wildlife, livestock, and human health data for real-time risk assessment.
3. Cross-sector Coordination: Strengthen One Health framework linking environment, veterinary, and public health agencies.
4. Transboundary Collaboration: Work through CAF and international conventions for regional disease preparedness.
5. Community Stewardship: Empower women, youth, and local communities as frontline actors for surveillance and awareness.

 What Are India’s Opportunities?

• Aligns with the WHO South-East Asia Regional Strategic Roadmap for Health Security (2023–27).
• Cost-effective investment compared to outbreak response expenses.
• India’s vulture populations (Himalayan griffon, cinereous, Eurasian griffon) offer a unique platform for biodiversity-linked pandemic prevention.

3. Researchers in Kerala tap red ivy plant to develop innovative wound-healing pad

GS PAPER III ENVIRONMNENT

 CONTEXT: Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Kerala, developed an innovative wound-healing pad using the red ivy plant.

• The development combines traditional knowledge with modern nanotechnology for effective wound care.

 What is the Red Ivy Plant?

• Scientifically called Strobilanthes alternata, locally known as murikooti pacha.
• A creeping herb from the Acanthaceae family, common in tropical climates, including India.
• Traditionally used by local practitioners to treat cuts and wounds.
• Known for medicinal properties like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.

 The Wound-Healing Pad:

1. Multi-layered pad developed using electrospun nanofibers made from biodegradable, non-toxic polymers.
2. The pad is extremely thin and porous, allowing optimal gas exchange, so the wound can “breathe”.
3. Contains acteoside, a newly identified molecule in red ivy, effective even at low concentration (0.2%).
4. Also includes neomycin sulfate, an antibiotic, blended with FDA-approved polymers.
5. Designed for multifunctional wound healing: antibacterial action, moisture balance, and speeding up recovery.

 Significance

• Combines traditional herbal medicine with advanced nanotechnology for efficient wound care.
• Provides a breathable, biodegradable alternative to conventional wound dressings.
• Potential to accelerate healing, prevent infections, and reduce medical waste.

4. First tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition flagged off

GS-III DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY, GS -II SOCIAL JUSTICE

Context Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off the world’s first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition—Samudra Pradakshina—from Mumbai on September 11, 2025.

• Represents Nari Shakti (women power) and empowerment within the Indian Armed Forces.
• Demonstrates jointness and unity among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Emblematic of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and India’s maritime aspirations and global vision.
• Called a “spiritual sadhana”—a journey of discipline, willpower, and endurance.

 Expedition Details

• Crew: 10 women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Vessel: 50-foot indigenous Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.
• Route & Duration: 9 months, covering ~26,000 nautical miles.
• Key milestones: Crossing Equator twice; rounding three great Capes—Leeuwin (Australia), Horn (South America), and Good Hope (Africa).
• Challenging waters: Southern Ocean, Drake Passage, among the most dangerous maritime zones.
• International port calls: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Canada), Cape Town (South Africa).
• Expected to return by May 2026.

 Significance of Samudra Pradakshina Expedition

• Symbolic Importance: Embodies Nari Shakti, showcasing women’s courage and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields.
• Represents Aatmanirbhar Bharat through the use of an indigenous sailing vessel, instilling national pride.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a glowing symbol of women power, unity, self-reliance, and India’s global vision.
• Strategic and Defence Importance: Marks the first tri-service collaboration, enhancing jointness and operational synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

• Boosts India’s maritime diplomacy with strategic port visits strengthening international defence ties.
• Advances India’s strategic autonomy by sailing an indigenous vessel, resonating with the vision of self-reliance.

• Scientific and Training Aspects: Involves cooperation with oceanographic institutes to study marine environments and micro-plastics.

• Enhances crew skills in meteorology, navigation, endurance, and maritime survival, fostering ocean health awareness.
• Generates scientific data contributing to marine science and environmental sustainability.

 Comparison with Earlier Missions

• Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017-18): Navy-only, all-women crew on INSV Tarini; focused on motherhood ocean sailing.
• Navika Sagar Parikrama-II (2024-25): Navy-centric, double-handed crew on Tarini covering shorter routes.
• Samudra Pradakshina is the first global, tri-service, women-led circumnavigation, significantly larger in scale and inclusivity, setting a new benchmark.

5. Clearing the fog: need for revised strategies against Aedes mosquitoes

GS -III science and technology, Environment and Ecology

Context: Aedes-borne viral diseases (dengue, Zika, chikungunya) continue to impact India’s productivity and health despite ongoing control efforts.

• Current common methods like outdoor fogging/fumigation are ineffective against Aedes mosquitoes.
• New research and strategies call for revised, evidence-based approaches.

 Why Current Measures Fail

• Aedes mosquitoes feed indoors during daytime and at night under artificial light, making outdoor fumigation and bed nets ineffective.
• Mosquitoes are developing resistance to common insecticides like pyrethroids and temephos.
• Over-reliance on chemical larvicides and fogging creates a false sense of security, reducing community vigilance.
• Misuse of natural repellents; misinformation about effective agents like DEET causes poor protection.

 Top-down measures (Government / Institutional Measures)

• Experimental use of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to suppress populations shows promise but is limited by high cost and weak support.
• Dengue vaccine trials underway but do not cover all Aedes-borne diseases.
• National guidelines focus on larval source management and public education.
• Campaigns like Delhi’s “Rule of 10” encourage collective community action to reduce breeding sites.

 Bottom-Up Measures (Individual and Community)

• Personal protective measures: wearing full clothing during peak Aedes season, use of effective repellents like DEET, picaridin.
• Community efforts to remove stagnant water from plant pots, containers, and clean trash reduce breeding sites.
• Local leadership and education improve awareness and practices.

 India-Specific Recommendations

• Targeted larval breeding site elimination: discarded coconut shells, cleaning air coolers, proper waste management.
• Use Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for grassroots community mobilization.
• Public awareness to overcome myths about insect repellents and promote science-backed products.

 Key Takeaways

• Aedes control requires a multi-pronged, evidence-based strategy combining personal protection, community participation, and scientific innovation.
• Outdated practices like blanket outdoor fogging must be replaced with targeted larval control and effective repellents.
• Government support for new technologies and local mobilization is crucial to curb the spread of Aedes-borne diseases and protect public health.

6. Working to blend isobutanol with diesel after ethanol blending failed

GS-III SCEINCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is working to blend 10% isobutanol with diesel, after ethanol blending trials with diesel proved unsuccessful, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced.

What is Isobutanol?

• Isobutanol is an alcohol-based, flammable compound widely used as a solvent in industries like paints and coatings.
• It has potential as a biofuel additive for diesel and is also being studied for standalone fuel use.

 Why Shift from Ethanol to Isobutanol?

• Ethanol blending with diesel was technically unsuccessful due to compatibility and performance challenges.
• Isobutanol offers better blending properties with diesel, making it a more suitable biofuel additive.
• Isobutanol-diesel fuel mix is being explored alongside flex-fuel options combining CNG and isobutanol for agricultural equipment.

 Other Developments

• Ethanol blending in petrol (E20) has been a success, boosting corn prices and farmer incomes by more than ₹42,000 crore.
• Biofuel push is stabilizing the sugar industry by ensuring timely payments to cane farmers.
• Industry leaders urge revisiting sugarcane pricing (FRP), increasing export quotas to support farmers amid healthy sugar harvests forecasted for 2025-26.

7. The Ministry of Culture launched the ‘Gyan Bharatam’, a landmark national initiative

CONTEXT: The Ministry of Culture launched the Gyan Bharatam, a landmark national initiative to preserve, digitise, and promote India’s rich manuscript heritage.

• To mark this launch, the first-ever Gyan Bharatam International Conference was held from 11th to 13th September 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Over 1,100 participants including scholars, experts, and cultural practitioners from India and abroad attended.
• The Hon’ble Prime Minister addressed the conference on 12th September.

 What is Gyan Bharatam?

• A national mission dedicated to the preservation, digitisation, and dissemination of India’s ancient manuscripts.
• Builds on the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (2003) and aims to revive India’s unmatched knowledge legacy.
• Combines tradition with modern technology like AI, cloud storage, and advanced digital archives.
• Part of the vision to position India as a global knowledge leader by 2047 (Viksit Bharat @2047).

 About Gyan Bharatam Mission

• Launch: National initiative by the Ministry of Culture to preserve, digitise, and promote India’s manuscript legacy.
• Scheme Type: Central Sector Scheme (2024–31) with a budget of ₹482.85 crore.
• Background: Builds on the National Mission for Manuscripts (2003) which documented 44.07 lakh manuscripts in the Kriti Sampada digital repository.
• Vision: Combines tradition with modern technology such as AI, cloud systems, and digital archives to safeguard manuscripts as living knowledge resources.
• Philosophy: Aligned with PM’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, aiming to position India as Vishwa Guru by fusing heritage with innovation.

 Key Features

• Identification & Documentation: Creating Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) across India for systematic registration.
• Conservation & Restoration: Strengthening Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) for preventive and curative preservation with scientific methods.
• Digitisation & Repository: Large-scale digitisation using AI-based Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), microfilming; establishing a National Digital Repository accessible globally.
• Youth & Public Engagement: Initiatives like Gyan-Setu AI Innovation Challenge to involve youth, start-ups, and researchers in heritage innovation.