UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 22 June 2025

e-Raktkosh

June 22, 2025

e-Raktkosh Latest News

The Central Health Ministry is looking at integrating the country’s Rare Donor Registry with the national online platform for blood bank management and blood availability information called e-Rakt Kosh.

About e-Raktkosh

It is an online blood bank management system implemented under the National Health Mission.
It is the official portal for all blood-related services in India.
It provides details on blood availability, blood banks, and blood donation camps across the country.
More than 3800 blood centers are registered on e-Raktkosh from across the country.
It has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
It has been developed with a modular and scalable approach with configurable rule-based architecture, allowing customization to easily incorporate specific requirements from nationwide stakeholders.

e-Raktkosh Objectives

Safe and Adequate Blood Supplies
Reduced Turnaround Time
Preventing Wastage of Blood
Restrict Professional Donors
Networking of Blood Banks
Donor Repository

e-Raktkosh Features

Web-Based Application
Aadhar Linkage
Decision Support
Enforces Guidelines
Dashboard
Statutory Reports

e-Raktkosh's Six Major Components for Management of the Blood Donation Life Cycle

The biometric Donor Management System for identifying, tracking, and blocking donors based on the donor's health, donation history, etc.
It provides features such as blood grouping, TTI screening, antibody screening, component preparation, etc., as per the defined processes and rules.
A centralized Blood Inventory Management System for keeping track of the blood stock across numerous blood banks.
Bio-Medical Waste Management System for disposal of discarded blood and other waste generated during this process.
Generation of rare blood group donor registries and the generation of regular repeat donors.
Alert and Notification System.

Source: TH

e-Raktkosh FAQs

Q1: What is the primary objective of the e-Raktkosh portal?

Ans: To ensure safe and adequate blood supplies across the country.

Q2: Which organization developed the e-Raktkosh platform?

Ans: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

Q3: e-Raktkosh is implemented under which mission?

Ans: National Health Mission

Q4: How many blood centers are approximately registered on e-Raktkosh across India?

Ans: More than 3800

Net Interest Margin (NIM)

June 22, 2025

Net Interest Margin Latest News

State-run lender Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has taken various steps to offset the impact on net interest margin (NIM) from the repo rate cut effected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently.

About Net Interest Margin

NIM is a financial metric used to measure the profitability of a bank or financial institution’s lending activities.
It represents the difference between the interest income generated by the institution’s assets (such as loans and investments) and the interest paid on its liabilities (such as deposits and borrowed funds), expressed as a percentage of the average earning assets.
It indicates how effectively a bank is generating interest income from its interest-earning assets relative to the interest it pays on its interest-bearing liabilities.
This metric helps prospective investors determine whether or not to invest in a financial services firm by showing its interest income versus their interest expenses.
Simply put, a positive NIM suggests that an entity operates profitably, while a negative figure implies investment inefficiency.
NIM is calculated using the following formula:
- NIM = Interest Income − Interest Expense/Average Earning Assets
- Interest Income: The revenue earned from interest on loans, mortgages, securities, and other interest-bearing assets.
- Interest Expense: The cost incurred from paying interest on deposits, borrowings, and other interest-bearing liabilities.
- Average Earning Assets: The average value of assets that generate interest income, typically calculated over a specific period.
- For example, if a bank had earned an interest income of Rs 8,000 crore and paid Rs 6,000 crore on its deposits on an average loan asset of Rs 64,000 crore, the NIM for the year will be 0.03125, or 3.215 percent. [(8,000 - 6,000)/64,000 = 0.03125 or 3.125%].

Factors Affecting Net Interest Margin

Interest Rate Environment: Changes in market interest rates can significantly impact NIM. For example, rising interest rates may increase a bank’s interest income more than its interest expense, leading to a higher NIM.
Asset and Liability Composition: The mix of assets (e.g., loans vs. securities) and liabilities (e.g., deposits vs. borrowings) affects NIM. Banks with a higher proportion of high-yielding assets may have a higher NIM.
Credit Risk: Higher credit risk can lead to higher interest rates on loans, potentially increasing interest income and NIM. However, it can also increase the risk of defaults.
Operational Efficiency: Efficient management of operational costs and effective interest rate risk management can positively influence NIM.
Competition: Intense competition can limit the ability of banks to charge higher interest rates on loans, potentially reducing NIM.
Regulatory Environment: Regulatory changes affecting interest rates, capital requirements, and other aspects of banking can impact NIM.

What is Gross Interest Margin (GIM)?

GIM measures the difference between the total interest income generated by a bank’s earning assets and the total interest expense incurred on its interest-bearing liabilities, without considering the relative size of earning assets.
Formula:
- GIM=Interest Income−Interest Expense

Source: TH

Net Interest Margin FAQs

Q1: What does Net Interest Margin (NIM) primarily measure in a financial institution?

Ans: The profitability of lending activities.

Q2: What is the formula for calculating NIM?

Ans: NIM = Interest Income − Interest Expense/Average Earning Assets

Q3: What does Gross Interest Margin (GIM) exclude compared to NIM?

Ans: Average earning assets

Q4: Why is NIM important for investors evaluating financial institutions

Ans: It shows interest income in relation to interest expenses.

Q5: What could be a consequence of intense competition in the banking sector on NIM?

Ans: Reduced ability to charge high interest rates, lowering NIM.

Samson Option

June 22, 2025

Samson Option Latest News

As Israel’s conflict with Iran escalates and threats loom from multiple regional actors, the world’s attention is once again drawn to the Samson Option—Israel’s veiled but potent nuclear deterrent.

About Samson Option

The Samson Option is Israel’s presumed doctrine of massive nuclear retaliation in the event of an existential threat to the state.
The term, drawn from the biblical story of Samson, who destroyed himself along with his enemies, encapsulates the idea of apocalyptic retaliation.
Though Israel has never officially confirmed its nuclear arsenal, a widely accepted policy of amimut (Hebrew for "deliberate ambiguity") maintains strategic uncertainty.
- Foreign analysts estimate Israel holds between 80 to 400 nuclear warheads, deliverable via land-based missiles, aircraft, and sea-based systems.
Like its nuclear programme, Israel has never openly spoken of its so-called "Samson Option".
First coined in public discourse through Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh’s 1991 book The Samson Option, the doctrine is not a Cold War relic but an active element of Israel’s defence strategy, hinted at over decades by former officials.
The Samson Option is not designed to deter a nuclear adversary from a first strike or counterstrike—Israel is the only nuclear-armed state in the region. Rather, its purported purpose is to ensure Israel’s survival. Under the Samson Option, nuclear weapons would be deliberately used against a non-nuclear adversary as a last resort to prevent an Israeli defeat.

Source: TIMESN

Samson Option FAQs

Q1: What is the “Samson Option” primarily associated with?

Ans: Israel's presumed doctrine of massive nuclear retaliation in case of existential threat.

Q2: Which concept describes Israel’s official stance of not confirming or denying its nuclear capabilities?

Ans: Amimut (deliberate ambiguity)

Q3: According to foreign analysts, how many nuclear warheads is Israel estimated to possess?

Ans: Between 80 and 400

Q4: What role does the Samson Option play in Israel’s defense strategy?

Ans: It serves as a last-resort deterrent against existential threats.

Balkampet Yellamma Temple

June 22, 2025

Balkampet Yellamma Temple Latest News

Nita Ambani, the wife of billionaire Mukesh Ambani– Asia’s richest man– recently donated Rs 1 crore to Balkampet Yellamma Temple in Telangana.

About Balkampet Yellamma Temple

It is a Hindu temple located in Balkampet, Hyderabad, Telangana.
It is dedicated to Goddess Yellamma, considered a form of Renuka, the mother of Lord Parashurama.
It is also known as Yellamma Pochamma Temple.
Its origins trace back to the 15th century when a rock bearing the sculpture of the goddess was discovered 10 feet underground during a well-digging excavation.
The immovable idol was seen as a divine sign, leading to the construction of the temple on the same spot.
Over centuries, the temple has undergone several renovations, with the current structure established in 1919.
Two major festivals celebrated at the temple are Bonalu Jathara and Yellamma Kalyanotsavam.

Balkampet Yellamma Temple Architecture

The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture and is one of the oldest temples in Hyderabad city.
The idol was found 10 feet deeper to the ground and was built as a huge temple.
The temple has a big temple tower, or raja gopuram. There are several inscriptions and carvings on the wall.
The other shrines inside the complexes are Goddess Sri Pochamma, Goddess Rajarajeshwari, Goddess Nagadevta, and Lord Ganesha.

Source: INDIA

Balkampet Yellamma Temple FAQ's

Q1: Where is the Balkampet Yellamma Temple located?

Ans: Balkampet, Hyderabad, Telangana

Q2: What is another name for the Balkampet Yellamma Temple?

Ans: Yellamma Pochamma Temple

Q3: Which two major festivals are celebrated at Balkampet Yellamma Temple?

Ans: Bonalu Jathara and Yellamma Kalyanotsavam

Q4: Which style of architecture is the Balkampet Yellamma Temple built in?

Ans: Dravidian style

Lenacapavir Drug

June 22, 2025

Lenacapavir Drug Latest News

Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lenacapavir (LEN), the most promising HIV prevention medicine to be made so far.

About Lenacapavir Drug

Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral medicine that is used for HIV prevention as a pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP.
PrEP is a medication that can reduce the risk of HIV infection for individuals who are HIV-negative but are at risk of contracting the virus.
The results of two key studies have shown that it helps prevent 99.9 per cent of all HIV transmission.
LEN is an injectable PrEP that is to be taken twice yearly.
It is developed by Gilead Sciences and marketed under the brand name Yeztugo.

How does lenacapavir work?

Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor, a class of drugs that blocks the protein shell (capsid) the HIV virus needs to replicate.
Unlike oral PrEP pills that must be taken daily, lenacapavir is administered as an injection once every six months, providing a discreet and highly effective method of prevention.

Source: IE

Lenacapavir Drug FAQs

Q1: Who invented lenacapavir?

Ans: Gilead Sciences

Q2: What is HIV/AIDS?

Ans: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber

June 22, 2025

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Latest News

In a major military escalation, the United States recently deployed its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers on Saturday to carry out precision airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

About B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber

It is a United States long-range stealth bomber.
It first flew in 1989 and was delivered to the U.S. Air Force starting in 1993. There are currently 19 in service.
It is built and maintained by Northrop Grumman Corporation.
The U.S. B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the world’s most expensive military aircraft ever built.

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Features

It is known for its low observability, all-altitude capability, and ability to penetrate the most sophisticated air defenses.
Due to its low-observability engineering, the fighter is difficult to detect by conventional radar.
Its flying-wing design, radar-absorbent materials, and reduced infrared signature result in a radar cross-section of about 0.001 square meters—comparable to that of a small bird.
The bomber is flown by a crew of two, the pilot and the mission commander.
Power is provided by four turbofan engines.
It has a top speed of 628 miles (1,010 km) per hour.
The advanced jet also has several other features, including its capability to travel up to 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refueling and massive arsenal capacity and ability to perform operations freely even at high altitudes.
With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide.
Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons.
The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads, which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb.
- MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers.
- B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the MOP.

Source: IE

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber FAQs

Q1: What is the primary role of the B-2 Spirit aircraft?

Ans: Long-range stealth bombing

Q2: What is the maximum speed of the B-2 Spirit bomber?

Ans: 628 mph (1,010 km/h)

Q3: What is the payload capacity of the B-2 Spirit bomber?

Ans: 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg)

Q4: What is the range of the B-2 Spirit bomber without aerial refueling?

Ans: 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km)

Q5: How many crew members operate the B-2 Spirit bomber?

Ans: Two (pilot and mission commander)

Ghumot

June 22, 2025

Ghumot Latest News

In 2019, Goa state cabinet declared ghumot as the state's heritage instrument without monitor lizard skin which has sparked an aesthetics debate on folk music.

About Ghumot

Ghumot (or Ghumat) is a traditional membranophone percussion instrument that features in several religious and cultural practices of Goa.

How is it designed?

It is made with an earthen clay pot with one side left open and the mouth covered with animal hide, usually that of the Indian monitor lizard (now largely replaced by goat hide).
The rim is designed to secure the membrane, and the instrument is often warmed near a bonfire to tighten the skin for enhanced sound.
The ghumot player strikes on this tightly tied membrane to create sharp beats.

Where is it Used?

The instrument is also played in a pre-wedding ‘roce’ ceremony of Goan Christians, where the ghumata vazop comes alive.

It assumes significance during Hindu religious rituals such as the Ganapati Stotra, Ganapati Arati and Ganapati Visarjana observed during Ganesh Chaturthi.
It is also instrinsic to the zagor or harvest season, usually organised by the mandd (village committee) and Shigmo or Holi.
It has significance among the Hindus and Christians in the western state and was originally made and played only by the local tribal community.

Source: DTE

Ghumot FAQs

Q1: What is ghumat made of?

Ans: Ghumat is a percussion instrument made of earthenware and lizard skin.

Q2: What is the heritage instrument of Goa?

Ans: Ghumat

Ottawa Convention

June 22, 2025

Ottawa Convention Latest News

Finland’s parliament voted in favour of withdrawing the country from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over a military threat posed by neighbouring Russia.

About Ottawa Convention

It is also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention or Mine Ban Treaty.
It is the cornerstone of the international effort to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.
It prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines
It was adopted on 18 September 1997 in Oslo, Norway and entered into force in 1999.
The state Parties must destroy their stockpiled mines within four years after their accession to the Convention.
Members: 165 countries (India is not a member of this convention)

States Party to the Ottawa Treaty commit to

Never use anti-personnel mines, nor to “develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer” them;
Clear mined areas in their territory within 10 years;
In mine-affected countries, conduct mine risk education and ensure that mine survivors, their families and communities receive comprehensive assistance;
Offer assistance to other States Parties, for example in providing for survivors or contributing to clearance programs;
Adopt national implementation measures (such as national legislation) in order to ensure that the terms of the treaty are upheld in their territory.

Source: DD News

Ottawa Convention FAQs

Q1: What did the Ottawa Convention do?

Ans: The Ottawa Treaty bans anti-personnel mines

Q2: Is India part of the Ottawa Convention?

Ans: India has not signed the treaty.

India Post Payments Bank

June 22, 2025

India Post Payments Bank Latest News

Recently, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been conferred the prestigious Digital Payments Award 2024-25 by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.

About India Post Payments Bank

It is a 100% Government of India-owned entity under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications.
IPPB was launched on September 1, 2018.
The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
The fundamental mandate of India Post Payments Bank is to remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network comprising ~1,65,000 Post Offices.

Functions of India Post Payments Bank

The operations of IPPB will be on a smaller scale as compared to other banks and will not advance loans or issue credit cards to avoid risk.
It will accept deposits, offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third-party fund transfers.
It will accept deposits upto Rs 2 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into a post office savings account.
The products and services of the bank will be made available through various mediums such as counter services, micro ATMs, mobile banking apps, messages, and interactive voice responses.
The IPPB will use Aadhaar to open accounts, and a QR card and biometrics will be used for authentication, transactions, and payments.

Source: PIB

India Post Payments Bank FAQs

Q1: Who regulates India Post Payment Bank?

Ans: Reserve Bank of India

Q2: What is meant by mobile banking?

Ans: Mobile banking is the act of making financial transactions on a mobile device (cell phone, tablet, etc.).

Subarnarekha River

June 22, 2025

Subarnarekha River Latest News

Recently, over 50,000 people were affected as a flash flood in the Subarnarekha River caused water to enter their villages in Odisha’s Balasore district.

About Subarnarekha River

It originates near Nagri village in the Ranchi District of Jharkhand at an elevation of 600 m.
It flows for a length of 395 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
The Subarnarekha (meaning “Streak of Gold”) flows east through a copper-mining region and leaves the Chota Nagpur plateau by the Hundrugbagh waterfall.
Tributaries: Its principal tributaries joining from right are the Kanchi, the Karkari and the Kharkai.
The basin is bounded by the Chhotanagpur plateau on the north and the west, by the ridges separating it from Baitarani basin on the south, by the Bay of Bengal on the south-east and by the Kasai Valley of Kangsabati River on the east.
River Basin: It extends over States of Jharkhand, Odisha and comparatively smaller part in West Bengal.
The basin is generally influenced by the South-West monsoon, which onsets in the month of June and extends up to October.

Source: TH

Subarnarekha River FAQs

Q1: Which waterfall is on Subarnarekha River?

Ans: Hundru Falls

Q2: What are the tributaries of the Subarnarekha River left and right?

Ans: Raru, the Kanchi, the Karkari, and the Kharkai