Daily Current Affairs – 18-03-2025
Tamil Nadu
SC Grants Full
Pension to All Retired High Court Judges
® The Supreme Court has ruled that all retired High Court judges, including those who served as Additional Judges, are entitled to full pension and retiral benefits. ® The Court observed that disparities in pension standards among judges violate Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution. ® The judgment upholds the principle of “One Rank, One Pension” for all retired High Court judges, regardless of their mode of appointment or tenure. ® The Union Government has been directed to: ® Pay ₹ 15 lakh per annum as full pension to retired Chief Justices of High Courts. ® Pay ₹ 13.5 lakh per annum to other retired High Court judges, including former Additional Judges. ® The decision marks a significant step toward ensuring parity and dignity in post-retirement benefits for members of the higher judiciary.
Report on Performance of State Assemblies – 2024
® As per the latest report, Indian State Legislative Assemblies met for an average of less than 30 days annually, with the 2024 average at 20 days, continuing a post-pandemic trend. ® In 2017, Assemblies met for an average of 28 days, which dropped to 16 days in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. ® In 2024, the average duration of a sitting was 5 hours, and states discussed budgets for only 7 days on average. ® Odisha (42 days) and Kerala (38 days) had the highest number of sitting days in 2024. ® Among larger states, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had only 16 sittings each. ® Between 2017 and 2024, Kerala, Odisha, and Karnataka averaged the most sittings—44, 40, and 34 days, respectively. ® Under Article 178 of the Constitution, Assemblies must elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Jharkhand has not had a Deputy Speaker for over 20 years, and the Lok Sabha has lacked one since June 2019. ® States passed an average of 17 bills in 2024. ® Karnataka (49 bills) and Tamil Nadu (45 bills) passed the highest number. ® Delhi (1 bill) and Rajasthan (2 bills) passed the fewest. ® Alarmingly, 51% of over 500 bills passed were cleared within a day of introduction, undermining legislative scrutiny. ® Eight states passed all bills on the same day they were introduced.
Vanashakti vs.
Union of India (2025): Supreme Court Bans Retrospective Environmental Clearances
® In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India in Vanashakti vs. Union of India (2025 INSC 718) struck down the 2017 MoEF&CC notification that permitted ex-post facto environmental clearances (ECs) for industrial projects. ® The Court held that retrospective environmental clearances violate environmental law, particularly the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, and principles of sustainable development and the precautionary approach. Key Legal Provisions Cited: ® Article 21: Right to life includes the right to a pollution-free environment. ® Article 51A(g): Fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment. ® Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ® The Court referred to earlier precedents—Common Cause v. Union of India (2017) and Alembic Pharmaceuticals v. Rohit Prajapati (2020)—to reaffirm that ex-post facto clearances are alien to environmental jurisprudence. Outcome: ® The 2017 Notification and 2021 Office Memorandum (OM) were declared illegal. ® Ex-post facto environmental clearances are banned prospectively. ® Clearances already granted under the 2017 notification will remain valid, but the Central Government is barred from issuing such permissions in the future. Significance: ® Strengthens environmental rule of law in India. ® Reinforces accountability and compliance in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. ® Protects public health and discourages regularisation of illegal industrial activity.
Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) – Tral Wildlife Sanctuary
® The Centre has notified an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Tral Wildlife Sanctuary in Pulwama district, Jammu & Kashmir. ® The sanctuary is a crucial habitat corridor for the critically endangered Hangul (Kashmiri stag), a subspecies of Central Asian red deer. ® The Hangul is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. ® ESZ notification allows regulation of activities to create a buffer zone around the protected area. ® Tral Sanctuary is ecologically linked to Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary and Khrew Conservation Reserve
Oxygen and fuel
produced in space
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The Shenzhou-19 crew aboard Tiangong space station , China
successfully produced oxygen and rocket fuel ingredients through Artificial Photosynthesis .
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This is the first-ever in-orbit application of this method.
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The experiment produced ethylene (C2H4) , a hydrocarbon usable in rocket fuel.
CDSCO licensure for
Biolumpivaxin received
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Biovet , a firm under the Bharat Biotech group, has received license from the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) for its lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccine named “ Biolumpivaxin ”.
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The vaccine is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) .
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It is the first Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) marker vaccine for LSD in the world .
ISRO unveils FEAST
software
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ISRO has launched the latest version of the ’ Finite Element Analysis of Structures (FEAST) software ’ at the 8th national finite element developers’ meeting at IIT Hyderabad .
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Developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of ISRO, the software is used for analysing the behaviour of structures under various loads in fields of aerospace, automobile, civil, mechanical, and marine engineering.
Sunita Williams
breaks spacewalk record
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Sunita Williams , a NASA astronaut, has broken Peggy Whitson’s record for the longest spacewalk by a woman , clocking 62 hours and 6 minutes at the International Space Station (ISS) .
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It was the 92nd US spacewalk and a part of the ‘Expedition 72’ mission.