UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 28 March 2025

US Commission on International Religious Freedom Latest News

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently recommended targeted sanctions against India's external spy agency R&AW over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists.

About US Commission on International Religious Freedom

• It is a U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. 
• Functions: USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
• USCIRF's nine Commissioners are appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders of each political party.
• Their work is supported by a professional, nonpartisan staff.
• USCIRF issues an annual report that assesses the US government’s implementation of IRFA, highlights “Countries of Particular Concern” engaging in severe religious freedom violations, documents the conditions of religious freedom in many countries, and provides policy recommendations.
• It uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally.
• Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that: 
  • “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”

US Commission on International Religious Freedom FAQs

Q1. What is the main function of US Commission on International Religious Freedom?

Ans. Reviewing international religious freedom violations and making policy recommendations.

Q2. What designation does USCIRF assign to countries engaging in severe religious freedom violations?

Ans. Countries of Particular Concern (CPC)

Q3. When was the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) created?

Ans. 1998

Source: HT

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the ‘Indian Bison Fest’ to spread the word about its conservation needs and ecological significance.

About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is situated in the Bargarh district of Odisha near the Hirakud dam (Mahanadi River).
• It finds a special mention because of noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. 
  • During his rebellion against the British, his base at ‘Barapathara” was located within the sanctuary.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous mixed forests.
• Flora: Major trees found here are Sal, Asana, Bija, Aanla, Dhaura etc.
• Fauna: A huge variety of wild animals reside in the dense forest of the sanctuary, such as Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Hyena, Spotted Deer, Antelopes, Sambar, Gaur, Nilgai, Bison, Langur Monkeys etc.

Key Facts about Indian Bison

• Indian Bisons are one of the largest extant bovines. It is one of the largest species among the wild cattle, reaching a shoulder height of up to 220 cm.
• Habitat: They are found on the forested hills and grassy areas of south to southeast Asia.
• Distribution:
  • There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world with approximately 85% of the population present in India. It is also found in Burma and Thailand.
  • The Western Ghats in southern India constitute one of the most extensive extant strongholds of gaur, in particular in the Wayanad – Nagarhole – Mudumalai – Bandipur complex.
• The gaur is the State Animal of Goa and Bihar. 
• Conservation:
• IUCN: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1. Which river flows through Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. The Hirakud Reservoir, which is formed by the Mahanadi River, flows along the eastern boundary of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Q2. In which Indian state is Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Odisha

Q3. Which noted freedom fighter is associated with Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. Veer Surendra Sai

Source: NIE

Gaia Mission Latest News

On March 27, 2025, ESA confirmed that the space observatory mission, Gaia was "passivated" (drained of energy) and placed into a safe "retirement orbit" around the Sun.

About the Gaia Mission

• Full Name: Originally named Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), later simplified to Gaia.
• Launched in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA), it aimed to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way through astrometry (measuring positions and movements of celestial bodies).
• Position: Placed at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 1.5 million km from Earth (behind Earth when viewed from the Sun), ensuring an unobstructed cosmic view.
• Scientific Instruments:
  • Twin Telescopes: Captured light from different directions.
  • Digital Camera: Nearly 1 billion pixels, the largest ever flown in space.
  • Three Key Instruments:
    • Astrometer: Measures precise locations of celestial bodies.
    • Photometer: Determines brightness and temperature of stars.
    • Spectrometer: Identifies chemical composition and motion of objects.

Key Discoveries of Gaia

• Mapping the Milky Way in 3D: The First precise 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy also helped understand the shape of the galaxy, including:
  • The central bar and spiral arms.
  • A warped, wobbly disc, likely caused by past collisions with smaller galaxies.
  • Ripples in the galaxy from these collisions may have led to the formation of new stars, including the Sun.
• Discovery of New Black Holes: A new class of black holes that are invisible and can only be detected by their gravitational effects.
  • Discovered one of the closest black holes to Earth.
• Tracking asteroids and space threats: Gaia identified over 1,50,000 asteroids, tracking their orbits and potential threats to Earth.

Gaia Mission FAQs

Q1. What is the Gaia Space Telescope?
Ans. Gaia is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission designed to map the positions, distances, and motions of over a billion stars in the Milky Way.

Q2. What is the main objective of the Gaia mission?
Ans. The mission aims to create a precise 3D map of our galaxy, helping scientists understand its structure, formation, and evolution.

Q3 When was the Gaia telescope launched?
Ans. Gaia was launched on December 19, 2013, aboard a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.

Source: IE

Free Movement Regime Latest News

Should the free movement regime between India and Myanmar remain?

Why in the News?

• In February 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border would be scrapped.
• The decision was reportedly influenced by former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, who blamed unregulated cross-border movement for fueling ethnic conflict in Manipur.
• However, Mizoram and Nagaland opposed the decision, and no official notification or bilateral agreement has been made yet.
• The FMR was introduced in 1968 and initially allowed movement up to 40 km, later reduced to 16 km in 2004, with additional regulations enforced in 2016.

About Free Movement Regime (FMR)

• The FMR is a bilateral arrangement between India and Myanmar that permits unrestricted movement within 16 km on either side of the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border (IMB).
• Eligibility: Any member of the hill tribes (whether an Indian or Myanmar citizen) can cross the border with a border pass valid for one year and stay for up to two weeks per visit.
• Objective:
  • To maintain historical, cultural, and social ties between the trans-border communities.
  • To boost local trade and facilitate familial visits.
  • To serve as a unique case of cross-border cooperation under India’s Act East Policy.
• Implementation:
  • Introduced formally in 2018, although movement existed informally for centuries.
  • Inspired by India's Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations.

Free Movement Regime FAQs

Q1. What is the Free Movement Regime (FMR)?
Ans. FMR is an agreement between India and Myanmar that allows border residents to travel visa-free within a specified range for social and economic interactions.

Q2. What is the distance limit for movement under FMR?
Ans. Indian and Myanmar residents living within 16 km of the border can cross freely with a border pass for up to two weeks.

Q3. Why is the FMR important for India-Myanmar relations?
Ans. FMR facilitates people-to-people connectivity, trade, and cultural exchanges while addressing security concerns like insurgency and illegal activities.

Q4. Which Indian states benefit from the FMR?
Ans: The FMR applies to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, which share a border with Myanmar.

Source: TH