Daily Current Affairs – 04-03-2025

Tamil Nadu

India-France maritime cooperation

® India has collaborated with France to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). ® Both countries will conduct coordinated surveillance to counter threats to maritime security.

TROPEX-25 exercise witnessed

® The Director General Infantry has witnessed the Joint Phase of ” Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise-2025 (TROPEX-25) ”. ® The exercise included an amphibious landing by the Indian Army troops. ® TROPEX is the Indian Navy’s largest biennial maritime exercise , involving the Indian Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. ® Conducted in the Indian Ocean, it aims to validate operational concepts, and e nhance operational readiness and interoperability in a multi-threat environment.

VSHORADS missile test successful

® DRDO has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of the ” Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) ” from Chandipur, Odisha . ® These tests were conducted against high-speed targets flying at very low altitude. ® VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence system indigenously designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat , in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and production partners.

49th Raising Day

® The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) celebrated its 49th Raising Day on 1st February 2025. ® The ICG has launched the “Automation of Service Healthcare Administration (ASHA)” app. ® On 21 September 2024 , the ICG organised the International Coastal Clean-up Day.

First-Ever “State of the World’s Animal Health Report” Released by WOAH

® The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) released the 1st global report on the State of the World’s Animal Health, offering a comprehensive overview of global animal health trends. ® WOAH, formerly Office International des Epizooties, was established in 1924 and is headquartered in Paris. Key Highlights: ® Shifting Disease Patterns: Around 47% of animal diseases have zoonotic potential. ® Example: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), once confined to developing regions, has re-emerged in Europe. ® Rising Intensity of Diseases: Increasing outbreaks of African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease. ® These threaten agrifood systems, public health, biodiversity, and global food security. ® Drivers of Spread: Climate change and global trade expansion are key contributors. ® Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): By 2050, AMR may cause massive livestock losses, impacting 2 billion people and resulting in $100 trillion in economic losses. Recommendations: ® Ensure equitable access to vaccines, improve hygiene and biosecurity. ® Invest in national veterinary services, and strengthen global coordination and disease surveillance systems.

Bird-Wing Solar Eruption Detected

® A massive solar eruption, termed the “bird-wing” event, was recently observed, featuring a plasma structure over one million kilometres long—more than twice the Earth-Moon distance. ® Solar flares are sudden bursts of electromagnetic radiation caused by intense magnetic activity on the Sun’s surface. ® These flares travel at the speed of light, while associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) move at speeds ranging from 250 km/s to 3000 km/s. ® Solar flares are classified by intensity: from the smallest A-class (near background level) through B, C, M, to the largest X-class flares.

NSC Launches Mixed Green Manure Kits

® The National Seeds Corporation (NSC) has launched two mixed green manure kits to promote sustainable farming practices. ® These kits encourage the mixed cropping of green manure species with complementary traits that enhance soil fertility. ® Some species in the mix suppress weeds through natural compounds or dense growth. ® Green manure crops are grown specifically to be ploughed back into the soil, enriching it with organic matter and nutrients instead of being harvested.

New Marine Nematode Species Discovered in Tamil Nadu

® A new species of free-living marine nematode has been discovered on a sandy beach in Tamil Nadu. ® Named Pheronous jairajpurii Datta & Rizvi, 2025, it belongs to the rare genus Pheronous. ® This discovery is only the third known species in this genus: ® First identified in South Africa (1966) ® Second in China (2015) ® Free-living marine nematodes play a vital role in maintaining ocean health and act as bioindicators of coastal ecosystem conditions. ® The finding highlights the rich but underexplored marine biodiversity of Indian coasts.