UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 13 June 2025

What is a Black Box?

June 13, 2025

Black Box Latest News

After a Gatwick-bound Air India plane(AI171) crash, the search for the flight's black box continues, which is crucial equipment to find out what happened moments before the disaster.

About Black Box

It is a small machine that records information about an aircraft during its flight.
This bright orange or yellow rectangular box is crafted to withstand explosions, fire, water pressure, and high-speed crashes.
It was discovered by Australian scientist David Warren, it is used to discover the cause of a plane crash.
Most aircraft are required to be equipped with two black boxes — the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) — that record the information about a flight and help reconstruct the events leading to an aircraft accident.
- The CVR records radio transmissions and other sounds in the cockpit, such as conversations between the pilots and engine noises.
- The flight data recorder records more than 80 different types of information, such as altitude, airspeed, flight heading, vertical acceleration, pitch, roll, autopilot status, etc.
The recording devices are stored inside a unit that is generally made out of strong substances such as steel or titanium and are also insulated from factors such as extreme heat, cold or wetness.
To protect these black boxes, they are equipped towards the tail end of the aircraft, where the impact of a crash is usually the least.

Source: HT

Black Box FAQs

Q1: What is the radio transmission?

Ans: Radio transmission refers to the process of sending and receiving data wirelessly over radio carriers, involving modulation, demodulation

Q2: What is an example of a radio wave transmission?

Ans: AM and FM radio, military communications and air traffic control, cell phones and wireless internet.

Salmonella

June 13, 2025

Salmonella Latest News

A recent Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs has sickened at least 79 people across seven US states, with 21 of them hospitalized.

About Salmonella

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning, known as Salmonella infection or salmonellosis.
It naturally lives in animals’ intestines and can be found in their feces (poop).
It spreads through contaminated food or water and is a common cause of stomach illness.
Salmonella spreads through contaminated food, water, and contact with infected animals or people.

Source of Salmonella

Common sources include raw or undercooked eggs, meat (like chicken, turkey, or beef), unwashed fruits and vegetables, untreated water, and unpasteurized dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt.
Even processed foods like chicken nuggets and nut butters can carry the bacteria.
Pets like dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles may also carry the bacteria.
Poor hand hygiene during food preparation or eating increases the risk of infection.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection

People infected with Salmonella might have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Some people—especially children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older.
People with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

Source: HT

Salmonella FAQs

Q1: What temperature kills Salmonella?

Ans: between 145 degrees F and 165 degrees F

Q2: How do humans get Salmonella?

Ans: Salmonella most often spread to people through contaminated food.

Exercise Shakti

June 13, 2025

Exercise Shakti Latest News

Exercise Shakti 2025 will be held at La Cavalerie in France, from June 18 in La Cavalerie.

About Exercise Shakti

It is a joint military exercise between India and France
It is a biennial event conducted alternatively in India and France.
It is the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti and last time it was held in India.
The aim of the exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake Multi Domain Operations in a Sub Conventional scenario.
The joint exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between armies of both the nations.
The exercise will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations.
Other Joint Exercises between France and India are Exercise Desert Knight, Exercise Varuna and Exercise Garuda.

Source: TH

Exercise Shakti FAQs

Q1: Which two countries are involved in the Shakti exercise?

Ans: India and France

Q2: What is the 6th edition of exercise Shakti?

Ans: Frejus, France.

Merchant Discount Rate

June 13, 2025

Merchant Discount Rate Latest News

Recently, the Finance Ministry has said that speculation and claims that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will be charged on UPI transactions are completely false, baseless, and misleading.

About Merchant Discount Rate

It is a fee that merchants and other businesses must pay to a payment processing company for accepting payments from customers via digital modes like credit cards, debit cards, UPI, etc.
MDR compensates the bank issuing the card, the bank which installs the PoS (Point of Sale) terminal and network providers, and payment gateways for their services.
The MDR sums up all the charges and taxes that electronic or digital payments entail.
The MDR typically comes in the form of a percentage of the transaction amount. It is typically between 1% and 3%.
The rates are dependent on the level of business transactions being processed, the types of cards (debit or credit) used by customers, and the value of the average transaction (also known as average tickets or average sales).
Before accepting debit and credit cards, merchants must set up this service and agree to the rate.
Merchants must consider these fees as part of managing their business costs and setting their prices.
MDR charges are automatically deducted from the merchant’s account at the time of settling the transaction batch.
Under the rules laid down by RBI, business owners cannot pass on the MDR charges to their customers.

Source: NA

Merchant Discount Rate FAQs

Q1: Who should pay MDR charges?

Ans: Merchants

Q2: Is MDR refundable?

Ans: No, these charges are not refundable.

Global Gender Gap Report

June 13, 2025

Global Gender Gap Report Latest News

India has been ranked 131 out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025, slipping two places from its position last year.

About Global Gender Gap Index

It is an annual index designed to measure gender equality.
It benchmarks gender-based gaps in four areas: economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment.
It is released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
It is the longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.

Highlights of 2024 Report

India’s gender parity score stands at just 64.1 per cent, placing it among the lowest-ranked countries in the South Asian region.
In educational attainment, India scored 97.1%, reflecting gains in female literacy and tertiary education enrolment.
One dimension where India increases parity is in Economic Participation and Opportunity, where its score improves by 0.9 per cent to 40.7 per cent.
India also records higher parity in health and survival, driven by improved scores in sex ratio at birth and in healthy life expectancy.
India recorded a slight drop in political empowerment, with parity dropping by 0.6 points since the previous edition. Female representation in Parliament fell from 14.7 per cent to 13.8 per cent in 2025
Iceland retains the world’s most gender-equal economy for the 16th consecutive year, closing 92.6% of the gender gap – the only economy to reach 90% parity.
European countries account for eight of the top ten rankings; Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have all been in the top ten since 2006.
The bottom 10 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025—led by Pakistan, Sudan, Chad, and Iran—continue to show the widest gender disparities globally.

Source: IE

Global Gender Gap Report FAQs

Q1: Who published the Global Gender Gap Report?

Ans: The World Economic Forum (WEF)

Q2: Which country is first in the Global Gender Gap Index?

Ans: Iceland

Shipki La Pass

June 13, 2025

Shipki La Pass Latest News

Himachal Pradesh has opened the Shipki La pass, a motorable mountain pass at an altitude of 3,930 metres in the tribal Kinnaur district, to domestic tourists.

About Shipki La Pass

It is a motorable mountain pass situated at an altitude of 3,930 meters, bordering India and China in tribal district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.
It also serves as the boundary post on the frontier between China and India.
It is one of the highest motorable passes.
Through this pass the Sutlej River (known as Langqen Zangbo in Tibet) enters India, has long served as a vital trade corridor between India and Tibet.
The old name of Shipki La was Pema La, or Shared Gate, also known as Shared Pass.
It was declared the Line of Actual Control post-1962, and later, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police named it Shipki La.

Shipki La Pass Significance

The opening of Shipki La to tourists is part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic growth in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, which share a 240-km border with China.

Source:The Print

Shipki La Pass FAQs

Q1: Where is the Shipki La pass located?

Ans: Kinnaur district

Q2: Which is the longest pass in India?

Ans: Umling La or Umlingla Pas

What are Statins?

June 13, 2025

Statins Latest News

Recent study has found that Statins could lower the death rate by nearly 40 per cent for critically ill patients with sepsis.

About Statins

Statins are medications that lower cholesterol levels by blocking an enzyme in the liver that helps produce cholesterol.
They are prescribed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.
Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries. That buildup can eventually cause the arteries to narrow or harden.
Some statins can decrease your LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or “bad”) cholesterol by 50% or more. Providers often call LDL “bad” because it builds up inside your arteries, making it harder for blood to move through them.
These medicines also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
Statins may also help reduce the risk of certain blood clots.
Statins can sometimes interact with other medicines, increasing the risk of serious side effects, such as muscle damage.
Statins have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidative and antithrombotic properties.
They may help mitigate excessive inflammatory response, restore endothelial function, and show potential antimicrobial activities.

Source: TH

Statins FAQs

Q1: Which are statin drugs?

Ans: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev),

Q2: What are statins used for Ncert?

Ans: Statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus have been commercialised as blood-cholesterol lowering agents.

International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation

June 13, 2025

International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation Latest News

India, as the Vice President of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), actively participated in the 2nd Session of the IALA Council, held in Nice, France.

About International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

It was established in 1957 as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
It officially changed its status from a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) based on a Convention ratified by 34 States in 2024.
The IALA Council is the key decision-making body of the intergovernmental organization responsible for marine aids to navigation.

Aims of International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

Foster safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels by improving and harmonizing aids to navigation worldwide and by other appropriate means.
Encourage, support and communicate recent developments; develop international cooperation by promoting close working relationships and assistance among members;
Enhance mutual exchange of information with organizations representing users of aids to navigation.
Its mandate is to harmonise global maritime navigation systems, promote maritime safety initiatives, and collaborate with member states, international organizations, and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges in maritime safety and environmental protection.
Members: It comprises 200 members, 80 of which are national authorities and 60 are commercial firms. India has been a member of this organization since 1957.
Headquarters: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.

Source: PIB

International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation FAQs

Q1: What is the main purpose of IALA?

Ans: Improving navigation safety by promoting standardized systems that enable safe and efficient maritime operations worldwide.

Q2: What are the 3 types of marine navigation?

Ans: There are four basic methods of navigation at sea—piloting, dead reckoning, electronic navigation, and celestial navigation

Mouse Deer

June 13, 2025

Mouse Deer Latest News

Recently, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) announced that its conservation and breeding efforts have resulted in the birth of a red-necked wallaby and a mouse deer within the zoo premises.

About Mouse Deer

It is also known as the Indian Chevrotain and is the smallest deer species in the deer family and is known for its elusive and shy nature.

Distribution of Mouse Deer

It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
It is mainly found in peninsular India, with some old records from Nepal.
Sri Lanka has a separate species called the spotted chevrotain (Moschiola meminna).
Within India, it is commonly encountered in a number of forest areas along the Western Ghats, in the Eastern Ghats up to Orissa, and in the forests of central India.

Features Mouse Deer

The fur color of the Indian spotted chevrotain is dark brown with white underparts.
There are four or five light rows of white spots on the back. Males of this species have tusk-like upper canines.
A unique feature of this group is that instead of a four-chambered stomach like in other ruminants, they have a three-chambered stomach.
Diet: It forages on the forest floor for fruits, roots, leaves, and herbs. It has occasionally been observed eating insects, crustaceans, and even small mammals.
Ecological Significance: The mouse deer plays a major role in the forest ecosystem as a seed disperser and is important prey for many small and large carnivores.

Conservation Status Mouse Deer

IUCN: Least Concern
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 : Schedule I.

Source: TH

Mouse Deer FAQs

Q1: Where is mouse deer found in India?

Ans: In a number of forest areas along the Western Ghats, in the Eastern Ghats up to Orissa, and in the forests of central India

Q2: What is the nickname for a mouse deer?

Ans: Greater Malayan chevrotains

Passage Exercise

June 13, 2025

Passage Exercise Latest News

Recently, the Passage Exercise (PASSEX) was conducted in the North Arabian Sea.

About Passage Exercise

It was conducted by the Indian Navy and the United Kingdom.
It featured Indian naval assets including the stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and the long-range maritime patrol aircraft P-8I. The UK's naval contingent included HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond.
The exercise highlighted advanced operational coordination and interoperability between the two forces.
With synchronised tactical manoeuvres and unified helicopter control operations, both navies demonstrated their readiness and high-end combat capabilities.
The exercise served as a testament to the operational strength and combat preparedness of Indian naval units, both surface and underwater.
Indian submarines and warships were instrumental in executing complex maritime tasks during the operation, earning them recognition as some of the most capable units globally.
The joint PASSEX carries strategic significance due to its location.
The North Arabian Sea remains a critical maritime corridor for global trade, including essential energy shipments.
Conducting joint drills in this region reflects a shared commitment by India and the United Kingdom to maintaining maritime stability, safeguarding sea lines of communication, and projecting a credible naval presence in the Indo-Pacific.

Source: IT

Passage Exercise FAQs

Q1: Which exercise did the INS Tabar participate in?

Ans: Passage exercise

Q2: What is the displacement of the INS Tabar?

Ans: Fully loaded, INS Tabar has a displacement of 4,035 tons.