Daily Current Affairs – 17-03-2025

Tamil Nadu

Japan launches new navigation satellite

® Japan has launched a navigation satellite named ’ Michibiki 6 ’ onboard its new flagship H3 rocket

Indian astronaut to visit ISS

® Shubhanshu Shukla , an Indian Air Force pilot, will be the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. ® The mission ” Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) ” is scheduled to launch in 2025. ® He was previously selected as one of the four astronauts for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.

Conference on Solar Studies

® An international conference titled ‘ Sun, Space Weather, and Solar-Stellar Connections ’ was held in Bengaluru to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) . ® The conference, organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) , ® KSO , established in 1899 , has proposed a National Large Solar Telescope in Ladakh.

Discovery of black hole

® NASA has discovered a supermassive black hole named “ LID-568 ” using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. ® The black hole weighs 10 million times more than the Sun. ® It consumes material at a rate 40 times faster than the Eddington limit , a phenomenon called super-Eddington accretion.

India’s Forest Loss – 2024

® In 2024, India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest, up from 17,700 hectares in 2023. ® Between 2002 and 2024, total humid primary forest loss stood at 3.48 lakh hectares (5.4% of total humid forest area). ® This accounts for 15% of India’s total tree cover loss in the same period. ® Since 2001, India lost 2.31 million hectares of tree cover — a 7.1% decline, generating about 1.29 gigatonnes CO₂ equivalent emissions. ® Assam reported the highest tree cover loss: 3.4 lakh hectares (2001–2024). ® Wildfires led to the loss of 8,330 hectares, with 2008 being the peak year for fire-related forest loss.

New Ramsar Sites

® Khichan (Phalodi) and Menar (Udaipur) in Rajasthan have been designated as new Ramsar sites. ® India’s total number of Ramsar sites now stands at 91. ® Khichan Wetland, located in the northern Thar Desert, includes Ratri Nadi, Vijaysagar Talab, riparian zones, and scrubland. ® Menar Wetland Complex is a freshwater monsoon wetland formed by Braham Talab, Dhand Talab, and Kheroda Talab. ® The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, promotes the conservation of wetlands of international importance.

Chenab Rail Bridge Inauguration

® Prime Minister inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge located in Jammu & Kashmir, standing 359 meters above the riverbed—35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. ® He also inaugurated the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, crucial to the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). ® The USBRL project, sanctioned in 1995 and declared a national project in 2002, spans 272 km and connects Jammu with the Kashmir Valley for the first time by rail. ® The project includes India’s longest transportation tunnel, T50, measuring 12.77 km between Khari and Sumber. ® The Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat train service between Katra and Srinagar, enhancing connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir .

3rd Lavender Festival 2025 Concludes in Bhaderwah, J&K

® The 3rd Lavender Festival was held on June 1–2, 2025 at Government Degree College, Bhaderwah (J&K). ® Organized by CSIR-IIIM under the CSIR-Aroma Mission, promoting the Purple Revolution in Himalayan regions. ® Aimed to empower rural farmers, women entrepreneurs, and support India’s aroma industry. ® Over ₹ 10.5 crore economic value generated through lavender cultivation in the region.