UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 3 August 2025

Matri Van Initiative

August 3, 2025

Matri Van Initiative Latest News

Recently, the union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs presided over the ceremonial launched the ‘Matri Van’ initiative.

About Matri Van Initiative

It is an initiative under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Programme of Government of India.
It is a theme based urban forest dedicated to nurturing generations through mother-nature-inspired green efforts - would be developed in an area of 750 acres in the Aravalli Hill area.
It is envisioned as a unique ecological and cultural space that will contribute to biodiversity, public well-being, and urban sustainability.
This vision would be achieved through a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving CSR partners, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), NGOs, multinational corporations (MNCs), school children and government organizations.
The main components of the ‘Matri Van’ would include removal of existing bushes like Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora) and plantation of Dhak/Amaltash Trees along Gurugram-Faridabad Road, while creating theme-based Plantation Groves to restore local ecology in the Aravallis.
It would further include nature trails, cycle track, yoga places, sitting places/gazebos, public facilities, parking at four corners, treated water irrigation system/misting/sprinkling, waterbodies at selected locations for conservation of water and to check urban flooding.

Source: PIB

Matri Van Initiative FAQs

Q1: What is meant by urban forestry?

Ans: Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment.

Q2: Where is the Aravalli Hills located?

Ans: It is located in the north-western part of India, the Aravalli stretches from Gujrat to Delhi through Rajasthan and Haryana.

Alpine Musk Deer

August 3, 2025

Alpine Musk Deer Latest News

A Central Zoo Authority report reveals a mix-up in identifying the Alpine musk deer for conservation breeding, mistakenly initiating programs for the Himalayan musk deer instead.

About Alpine Musk Deer

The Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is a musk deer species found only in Asia.
It is not a true deer, but rather its family is closely related to Bovidae, the group that contains antelopes, bovines, sheep, and goats.
It is generally solitary and a crepuscular animal.
Alpine musk deer is named for having an externally visible musk sac between the male testes. Its fangs grow during mating season and are used for sparring with other males.
Habitat: It inhabits coniferous and deciduous forests in the mountain regions at elevations of 3,000–5,000 m.
Diet: It is a ruminant herbivore, foremost a browser and feeds mainly on forbs, grasses, moss, lichens, and shoots, leaves and twigs of shrubs.
Distribution: It is mainly found in India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.
Conservation Status
- IUCN: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Threats: The main threat to the Alpine musk deer is poaching for its musk, which is used in cosmetic products.

Source: DTE

Alpine musk deer FAQs

Q1: Where is musk deer found in India?

Ans: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh

Q2: What is crepuscular in animals?

Ans: Crepuscular refers to twilight, the time shortly before sunrise and after sunset. In the context of animal ecology, it refers to those species active during these times of day.

PM National Dialysis Programme

August 3, 2025

PM National Dialysis Programme Latest News

The Government of India has significantly expanded the reach of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) and it is now operational across all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 751 districts.

About PM National Dialysis Programme

It was rolled out in 2016 to provide dialysis services free of cost to Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries at the district hospitals in the country.
It is being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) to provide free dialysis services to patients suffering from end-stage kidney failure in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
Components: The programme supports both Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis services.
Under this initiative he PMNDP portal was launched which will integrate all the dialysis centres operational in the state under NHM and facilitate building of renal registry and ensuring portability within the state (one state one dialysis) and later throughout the country (One Nation-One Dialysis).
Funding: The NHM provides financial assistance to States and UTs for establishing and operating dialysis centres to ensure equitable access to kidney care services for all, regardless of geography.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Source: DD News

PM National Dialysis Programme FAQs

Q1: What is the concept of dialysis?

Ans: Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly.

Q2: What are the objectives of National One Health Mission?

Ans: 'To build an integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness system in India by bringing human, animal and environmental sectors together for better health outcomes, improved productivity and conservation of biodiversity. '

Kopili River

August 3, 2025

Kopili River Latest News

Recently, in a historic step towards the revival of Assam’s river-based trade and sustainable logistics, National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was operationalized.

About Kopili River

It is one of the important major tributaries of the Brahmaputra on its left bank.
Origin: The River Kopili rises in the Saipong Reserve Forest of North Cachar Hills District in the Borail Range at an altitude of 1525 meter.
Its total length is 256 km of which 78 km from the common border of Meghalaya and Assam and the remaining 178 km lie in Assam.
It is an interstate river in Northeast India that flows through the states of Meghalaya and Assam.
It is the largest south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam.
The river covers a vast area of North Cachar Hill, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, and Morigaon District.
Here, mainly sixth types of crops produced at Kamrup district and surrounding area, like - Winter Rice, summer rice, rape seed, and wheat, Mustard, Autumn Rice etc.

Source: PIB

Kopili River FAQs

Q1: Where is Kopili River located?

Ans: The Kopili originates in the Meghalaya plateau and flows through Central Assam and the hill districts of Assam before its confluence with the Brahmaputra.

Q2: What are the inland waterways of Assam?

Ans: National Waterway – 2 ( Brahmaputra River)

Apna Ghar Initiative

August 3, 2025

Apna Ghar Initiative Latest News

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently launched an ambitious initiative named ‘Apna Ghar’ aimed at improving truckers’ long-haul journeys across the country.

About Apna Ghar Initiative

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
It aims to provide comfortable and hygienic resting spaces for truckers across major highways in the country.
As of July 1, 2025, a total of 368 ‘Apna Ghar’ units with 4,611 beds have been set up by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at retail fuel outlets along national and state highways.
The facilities at ‘Apna Ghar’ include:
- Dormitories (10-30) beds
- Restaurants/Dhabas
- Self-cooking areas
- Clean toilets
- Dedicated bathing areas (Houdas)
- Purified drinking water facilities
Other Features:
- Tech Integration: ‘Apna Ghar’ mobile application introduced for reservations, reviews, and driver interaction.
- Public-Private Execution: Developed and overseen by OMCs at retail fuel outlets.
- User-Focused Design: Tailored to the requirements of truckers, guided by their feedback and insights from mobile app data analysis.

Source: PIB

Apna Ghar Initiative FAQs

Q1: The 'Apna Ghar' initiative is launched by which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Q2: What is the main objective of the 'Apna Ghar' initiative?

Ans: Providing hygienic and comfortable resting spaces for truckers.

Q3: Who develops and manages the Apna Ghar facilities?

Ans: Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Krasheninnikov Volcano

August 3, 2025

Krasheninnikov Volcano Latest News

The eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano was recently recorded for the first time.

About Krasheninnikov Volcano

It is an active complex volcano located in the Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
- The Kamchatka Peninsula lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
- There are 114 volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula that have erupted during the Holocene Epoch (approximately 12,000 years ago to the present).
Krasheninnikov is a stratovolcano and reaches a height of 1,886 meters.
The volcano is located in a collapsed caldera, which formed after a catastrophic eruption which produced 50 cubic km of dacitic pumice 39,600 years ago.
It is made up of two eruptive cones in a 9 km wide caldera.
The southern cone of Krasheninnikov contains a crater 800 m wide and 140 m deep.
Its last eruption took place about 400 or 600 years ago.
2025 Eruption: Krasheninnikov volcano erupted on 2 August 2025, three days after a nearby magnitude 8.8 earthquake. Ash emissions reached an altitude of 20,000 ft.

What is a Stratovolcano?

It is a tall, steep, and cone-shaped type of volcano.
Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks.
They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.
Strato Volcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes, and most are characterized by eruptions of andesite and dacite, lavas that are cooler and more viscous than basalt.
These more viscous lavas allow gas pressures to build up to high levels. Therefore, these volcanoes often suffer explosive eruptions.
They are usually about half-half lava and pyroclastic material, and the layering of these products gives them their other common name of composite volcanoes.
At the peak, stratovolcanoes usually have a small crater. The crater may be filled with water or ice, or it may contain a volcanic dome during a period of relative inactivity.

Source: TOI

Krasheninnikov Volcano FAQs

Q1: Where is the Krasheninnikov volcano located?

Ans: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Q2: The Krasheninnikov volcano is classified as which type of volcano?

Ans: Stratovolcano

Q3: Approximately how high is the Krasheninnikov volcano?

Ans: 1,886 meters

Q4: What is notable about the structure of the Krasheninnikov volcano?

Ans: It is made up of two eruptive cones in a 9 km wide caldera.

Key Facts about Mahanadi River

August 3, 2025

Mahanadi River Latest News

After a prolonged legal battle over sharing Mahanadi River water in a designated tribunal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have now expressed willingness to resolve the dispute amicably between themselves.

About Mahanadi River

It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers located in the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
It ranks second to the Godavari River among the peninsular rivers in respect of water potential.
Course:
- Origin: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
- It then flows in the eastward direction, cutting a ravine in the Eastern Ghat.
- Before joining the Bay of Bengal at False Point through several channels near the major seaport town of Paradip, the river enters the plains of Odisha near Cuttack and forms a delta.
Length: 860 km
The river is bounded in the north by Central India hills, in the south and east by the Eastern Ghats, and in the west by the Maikal hill range.
The Mahanadi basin extends over the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, draining an area of 1,41,589 sq.km., which is nearly 4.3% of the total geographical area of the country.
It passes through several major cities and towns, including Raipur, Sambalpur, and Cuttack.
It is considered to be one of the most active silt-depositing streams in India.
Tributaries: Its main tributaries are Seonath, Jonk, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong, and Tel.
Hirakud Dam:
- The Hirakud Dam, the world’s longest earthen dam (26 km), is constructed across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in Odisha.
- The dam is used for irrigation, flood control, and power generation.
Chilika Lake: Chilika, named a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, gets 61% of its inland flow from the Mahanadi River system, mainly from its distributaries – Daya and Bhargabi.

Source: TH

Mahanadi River FAQs

Q1: Where does the Mahanadi river originate from?

Ans: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.

Q2: The Mahanadi River flows into which water body?

Ans: Bay of Bengal

Q3: What is the total length of the Mahanadi River?

Ans: 860 km

Q4: Which cities does the Mahanadi River flow through?

Ans: Raipur, Sambalpur, Cuttack

Market Coupling

August 3, 2025

Market Coupling Latest News

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (CERC) proposed implementation of market coupling in the Day Ahead Market (DAM) segment of power exchanges from January 2026 may have little benefit for the power sector, according to industry officials and analysts.

About Market Coupling

Market coupling is an economic model used in energy markets to create a single, uniform price for electricity across different trading platforms or exchanges.
India has three power exchanges—Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL), and Hindustan Power Exchange Limited (HPX).
These are voluntary markets, and each of them collects buy and sell bids on their own and, thus, comes up with their own market clearing prices (MCPs).
In simple terms, currently, each power exchange has a different cost of electricity, even though they usually differ from each other only by a few paisa.
Market coupling is a model where buy bids and sell bids from all power exchanges in the country will be aggregated and matched to discover a uniform MCP.
It means there will be only one price for the electricity that is to be traded at any point of time through these exchanges.
If implemented, power exchanges will be rendered as a platform where only buy and sell bids will be received and power dispatched to the buyer.

Market Coupling Advantages

It can be used to improve the efficiency and integration of multiple interconnected markets in the electricity sector.
This could potentially enable higher utilisation and reduce energy loss.
It can help enhance market liquidity by allowing participants to trade electricity across borders.
This also helps boost the number of participants and the overall trading volumes in the power market.

Source: TH

Market Coupling FAQs

Q1: What is the primary aim of the Market Coupling model in electricity trading?

Ans: To establish a uniform market clearing price across power exchanges.

Q2: What role will power exchanges play once market coupling is implemented?

Ans: They will only collect and submit buy/sell bids.

Q3: How does Market coupling enhances market liquidity?

Ans: Market coupling can help enhance market liquidity by allowing participants to trade electricity across borders.

Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes

August 3, 2025

Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Latest News

Calls are growing for the establishment of a permanent national commission for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes with the issue finding primacy in discussions at the national conference of Denotified Tribes (DNTs) held recently in New Delhi.

About Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes

Denotified Tribes (DNT) also known as Vimukta Jati, are the tribes that were listed originally under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 as criminal tribes.
- Once a tribe becomes "Notified" as criminal, all its members were required to register with the local magistrates, failing which they would be charged with a 'crime' under the Indian Penal Code.
After Independence, this Act was repealed in 1952, and the communities were “denotified”, hence the name.
Nomadic Tribes are the communities who usually do not have land and move from one place to another for livelihood.
The DNT/NT/SNTs are among the most neglected, marginalised, and economically deprived communities, with most living a life of destitution.
Historically, these communities never had access to private land or home ownership and used forests and grazing lands for their livelihood and residential use.

Status of DNT/NT/SNTs in India

In India, roughly 10 percent of the population is Denotified and Nomadic.
While the number of Denotified Tribes is about 150, the population of Nomadic Tribes consists of about 500 different communities.
In 2014, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment constituted a National Commission for DNT/NT/SNTs under the chairmanship of Bhiku Ramji Idate for a period of three years-
- to prepare a State-wise list of castes belonging to DNT/NT/SNTs
- to suggest appropriate measures in respect of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes that may be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Government.
In 2017, the commission prepared draft lists of DNT/NT/SNTs.
Based on the Commission’s recommendations, the ministry constituted the Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) in 2019.
- The Board has been mandated to formulate and implement welfare and development programmes for these communities.
The Renke Commission (2008) was earlier commissioned to identify and list the DNT communities.

Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)

It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic (DNT) Communities.
It has been formulated for families having income from all sources of Rs 2.50 lakh or less per annum and not availing any such benefits from a similar scheme of Centre or state government.
Aim: To provide free competitive exam coaching, health insurance, housing assistance and livelihood initiatives at the community level, and financial assistance for construction of houses will be provided to the members of DNT/NT/SNT Communities.
An amount of 200 crore has been allocated for this scheme — to be spent over five years from FY2021-22 to FY2025-26.

Source: TH

De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes FAQs

Q1: The Criminal Tribes Act, which labelled many tribes as criminal, was repealed in which year?

Ans: 1952

Q2: What are Nomadic Tribes (NTs)?

Ans: Nomadic Tribes are the communities who usually do not have land and move from one place to another for livelihood.

Q3: Approximately what percentage of India’s population comprises Denotified and Nomadic Tribes?

Ans: 10%

Q4: What is the estimated number of Nomadic Tribes in India?

Ans: Around 500