Afternoon edition
Daily current affairs for UPSC, BPSC, State PCS and PSC exams.
Why in news?
Widespread protests erupted across India due to alleged irregularities and a paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions. Protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, leading to a significant police presence and clashes. The issue also caused disruptions in Parliament.
Key points
- Allegations of NEET paper leak and systemic failures in examination process.
- Protests at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, with significant crowd participation and support from activists like Sonam Wangchuk.
- Parliamentary disruptions with opposition demanding resignation of the Union Education Minister.
- Government's stance: ready for debate but critical of street protests; emphasizes student safety.
- Delhi High Court dismissed PILs related to activist Sonam Wangchuk's removal from protest site.
Background & context
NEET is a national-level entrance examination for undergraduate medical courses. It has been a subject of debate, particularly in states like Tamil Nadu, which prefer state-level entrance exams. Concerns about fairness, meritocracy, and the centralization of educational assessment have been raised.
★ Prelims fact capsule
NEET is a single, national entrance examination for undergraduate medical admissions in India.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper II: Governance, Polity, Social Justice (issues related to education, student welfare, protests, parliamentary procedures); GS Paper III: Security challenges (law and order during protests).
Why in news?
A fatal accident at the Teesta Stage-VI hydroelectric project in Sikkim killed at least 15 workers. Preliminary reports and a previous technical paper by NHPC engineers suggest the presence and ignition of flammable gas (methane) within the tunnels as a potential cause.
Key points
- Explosion in Teesta Stage-VI hydroelectric project tunnels in Sikkim resulted in at least 15 deaths.
- Suspected cause: Ignition of trapped flammable gas (methane) encountered during excavation.
- NHPC's own 2024 technical paper highlighted recurring encounters with flammable gas and past ignitions.
- Geological challenges of the Teesta basin (seismically active zone, fractured rock) increase risk of gas pockets.
- Concerns raised about risk assessment, gas detection, and ventilation safeguards during project planning and execution.
Background & context
The Teesta Stage-VI project is being undertaken by NHPC. Underground tunneling, especially in geologically complex and seismically active regions like the Himalayas, carries inherent risks. Past incidents in similar tunnel projects in India (Meghalaya, Uttarakhand) highlight the persistent dangers.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The Teesta Stage-VI hydroelectric project is located in Sikkim's Namchi district.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper III: Disaster Management (mining/tunneling hazards, safety protocols), Infrastructure (large-scale projects, engineering risks); GS Paper I: Geography (geological factors in the Himalayas).
Why in news?
Eastern Assam is experiencing its worst floods in six decades, affecting over 8 lakh people and claiming at least 30 lives. A cloudburst in neighbouring Nagaland triggered a massive inflow of water, exacerbating the crisis.
Key points
- Floods in eastern Assam described as the worst in 60 years.
- Over 8 lakh people affected and at least 30 lives lost.
- Cloudburst in Nagaland's Mon district caused a massive inflow of water, leading to unprecedented floods in Assam.
- Disaster caught authorities off-guard in districts that rarely face such magnitude of floods.
- 106 relief camps set up, sheltering over 24,000 people; significant crop damage reported.
Background & context
Assam is prone to annual floods due to its geography and river systems. However, the intensity and scale of the current floods, particularly in areas not typically flood-prone, are unusual and linked to extreme weather events like cloudbursts.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The current floods in Assam are reported to be the worst in the last 60 years.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper I: Geography (impact of natural disasters, river systems); GS Paper III: Disaster Management (flood preparedness, response, rehabilitation, climate change impact); GS Paper II: Governance (disaster relief, inter-state cooperation).