Daily Current Affairs – 27 September 2025

Explore the Daily Current Affairs 27 September 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Download quick REVISION NOTES.

Major Desert Soilification Technologies:

1. Mechanical Soilization (e.g., Converting Sand into Soil-like Material):

• Notable Method: “Desert Soilization” by Yi Zhijian (China)
• Core Idea: Mixing sand with a modified cellulose-based binding agent (plant-based) and water.

Effect: Creates a soil-like structure with:

• Water retention
• Air permeability
• Mechanical strength (root anchorage)

Claimed Benefits:

• Reduces irrigation needs
• Promotes plant growth
• Reversible and non-toxic to the environment

Tested in: Ulan Buh Desert (China), UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.

2. Biochar and Organic Matter Amendments:

• Adding biochar, compost, or animal manure to sandy soils.

Increases:

• Water retention
• Microbial activity
• Nutrient availability

3. Microbial and Fungal Inoculation

• Introducing beneficial microbes or mycorrhizal fungi to desert soil.
• Helps plants absorb nutrients, improves soil structure, and boosts resilience to drought.
• Promising in degraded lands with minimal intervention.

4. Drip Irrigation + Mulching + Raised Beds:

• Combining efficient irrigation, plastic or organic mulch, and raised planting beds to conserve water and reduce evaporation.
• Often used in conjunction with other soil-enhancing strategies.

5. Agroforestry and Shelterbelt Planting:

• Planting trees and shrubs in strategic patterns to reduce wind erosion, trap moisture, and improve microclimates.
• Gradually encourages natural soil regeneration.

6. Clay-Hydrogel Technologies:

• Incorporating clay nanoparticles or hydrogel polymers into sandy soils.
• Improve water-holding capacity and reduce leaching.

Real-World Applications:

Project	Location	Technology Used
Ulan Buh Desert Reclamation	China	Mechanical Soilization
Green Wall Project	Africa (Sahel)	Agroforestry, Organic Amendments
Sahara Forest Project	Qatar, Jordan	Seawater greenhouses, Soil enhancement
Greening the Desert	Jordan	Permaculture, Swales, Compost

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• Encourages local employment and rural development
• Enhances global recognition of Indian products

Recently awarded GI Tags:

GI vs Trademark vs Patent:

Aspect	GI Tag	Trademark	Patent
Basis	Geography	Brand	Invention
Ownership	Community-based	Individual/company	Individual/company
Duration	10 years (renewable)	10 years (renewable)	20 years
Example	Darjeeling Tea	Nike logo	COVID-19 vaccine formula

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UPSC-Relevant themes from Nepal Crisis 2025:

 1. Democracy & Political Stability in the Neighbourhood (GS-II)

• Nepal’s current political unrest reveals the fragility of democratic institutions in India’s immediate neighbourhood.
• Important for India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

Relevance to questions on:

• Role of political parties
• Popular movements and mass protests
• Failure of parliamentary accountability
• Role of judiciary in crisis resolution

2. Youth Movements & Social Media as a Political Tool (GS-II/III):

• The protests were largely youth-driven and organized through digital platforms.

Highlights:

• Role of Gen Z in civic activism
• Digital platforms as a tool for democratic expression vs government attempts at control
• Governance vs Censorship dilemma
• Right to Internet, a key theme in digital rights.

3. Freedom of Expression and Internet Governance (GS-II/GS-III):

• Nepal’s social media ban triggered the crisis.

Raises debates on:

• Limits of government power over digital spaces
• Internet shutdowns and constitutional rights
• Balancing national security and free speech
• Global trend of regulating Big Tech (India, EU, China, Nepal)

4. India-Nepal Relations (GS-II – IR):

• India’s response to Nepal’s instability matters.
• Nepal’s strategic location (between India and China) gives geopolitical importance.
• Internal turmoil in Nepal can:
• Affect cross-border migration
• Undermine economic ties
• Increase Chinese influence
• Disrupt regional security

5. Role of Judiciary in Political Transition (GS-II):

• Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki appointed as interim PM.
• Raises questions about:
• Role of judiciary in ensuring democratic transition
• Judicial activism vs neutrality
• Judiciary stepping in during political vacuum

How to Use in Answers:

You can cite the Nepal 2025 crisis as:

• A case study on erosion of democratic trust
• An example of youth-driven democratic movements
• A cautionary tale of governments overreaching on digital censorship
• A trigger to discuss India’s role as a democratic anchor in South Asia

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Constitutional Provision:

• Sixth Schedule [Articles 244(2), 275(1)] gives special provisions to tribal areas for the formation of Autonomous District Councils/Regional Councils with powers over local governance, land, forest, etc.

Benefits of Tribal Status under Sixth Schedule:

1. Protection of Land and Identity

• Prevents alienation of tribal land to outsiders.
• Protects against demographic changes (e.g., mass migration, settlement).
• Ensures preservation of cultural, linguistic, and religious identity.

Eg. In Ladakh’s case, locals fear loss of land and identity after abrogation of Article 370.

2. Autonomous Self-Governance

• Sixth Schedule provides for Autonomous District and Regional Councils.
• These councils can make laws on local matters: land, forests, water, agriculture, etc.
• Leads to greater decentralization and empowerment of local communities.

3. Access to Central Funds and Schemes

• Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule allows for:
• Targeted funding from the Consolidated Fund of India
• Access to Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) allocations
• Priority in tribal welfare schemes (health, education, skill development)

4. Education and Employment Benefits

• Reservation in jobs and educational institutions under ST quota.
• Support for tribal hostels, scholarships, and special schools.
• Helps uplift socio-economically backward tribal groups.

5. Cultural Preservation and Local Development

• Promotes traditional governance systems, community participation, and tribal knowledge.
• Allows formulation of locally relevant development plans.
• Helps preserve ecological and spiritual heritage of tribal areas.

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Daily Current Affairs 27 September 2025

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