UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 11 August 2025

by Vajiram & Ravi - 11 August 2025

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 11 August 2025, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

National Medical Register

August 11, 2025
National Medical Register

National Medical Register Latest News

Recently, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare informed the Lok Sabha that application for issuance of an National Medical Register (NMR) Identification (ID) is voluntary.

About National Medical Register

  • It is a centralised database of registered medical practitioners in modern medicine, maintained by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
  • It was launched in August 2024 under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, the register was introduced as a mandatory exercise for all registered medical practitioners.
  • It aims to eliminate duplication and enable the public to access information on any doctor working in India.
  • It contains information on each practitioner, including qualification, area of specialisation (in process), registration status, and date of registration, and assigns a unique identification number called the NMR ID.
  • Each doctor’s record is linked to their Aadhaar ID for verification, with some data made public while sensitive information is restricted to specified individuals and institutions.
  • State Medical Councils (SMCs) are responsible for verifying degrees and facilitating the process, with the portal dynamically updated for transparency and governance.
  • Upon successful verification by the State Medical Council, the application is sent to the National Medical Commission. After the NMC verification, a unique NMR ID would be issued.

Source: TH

National Medical Register FAQs

Q1: What is the national medical register?

Ans: The National Medical Register (NMR) is a centralized database of registered medical practitioners in modern medicine in the country, maintained by the National Medical Commission

Q2: What is the National Medical Commission ?

Ans: It has been constituted by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which came into force on September 25, 2020.

Blue Pinkgill Mushroom

August 11, 2025
Blue Pinkgill Mushroom

Blue Pinkgill Mushroom Latest News

Recently, a burst of rare and colourful Blue Pinkgill fungi has been documented in the Kagaznagar forest division of the Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, of Telangana.

About Blue Pinkgill Mushroom

  • It is referred as “sky-blue mushroom,” (scientific name: Entoloma hochstetteri) this genus of mushrooms has pink to purplish hues in their gills.
  • It a species native to New Zealand and famously featured on the country’s $50 note.
  • Appearance of Blue Pinkgill Mushroom
    • It is vivid blue mushroom, its colour derived from rare azulene pigments,
    • Some are small, with a distinctive all-blue colour and slightly reddish-tinted gills from spores, thanks to azulene pigments.
    • They have caps that can be flat or funnel-shaped, pink or white gills and stems that may be centrally or laterally attached.
    • The spore print is typically pink to salmon-coloured, which helps in identification.
  • Habitat: It is common in forests across New Zealand, where it grows in the ground between litter in the broadleaf forest.
  • The Blue Pinkgill mushroom appears during the monsoon when the forest cover reaches saturation due to abundant rainfall, which creates perfect soil conditions for mushrooms to grow and thrive.

Source: NIE

Blue Pinkgill Mushroom FAQs

Q1: Is blue mushroom rare?

Ans: Blue colors are relatively rare in nature, but there are a significant number of mushrooms that are blue or stain blue.

Q2: What is the scientific name for blue pinkgill?

Ans: Entoloma hochstetteri

Colorado River

August 11, 2025
Colorado River

Colorado River Latest News

The Colorado River, a vital water source for millions, faces a crisis as its flow diminishes, prompting states to vie for future water rights.

About Colorado River

  • It is a major river of North America.
  • Origin: It rises in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, U.S.
  • It flows generally west and south for 1,450 miles (2,330 kilometres) into the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico.
  • It flows through seven U.S. states and two Mexican states, providing water to over 40 million people.
  •  The river drains a vast arid and semiarid sector of the North American continent, and because of its intensive development it is often referred to as the “Lifeline of the Southwest.”
  • Lakes: It forms several major reservoirs, including Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
  • Colorado forms an international boundary between Arizona (US) and Mexico for about 29 kilometers.
  • Tributaries: The Colorado River has several tributaries, including Green, Gunnison, San Juan, Dolores, Little Colorado, Gila, and Virgin Rivers.
  • One of the Colorado River’s most famous features is the Grand Canyon, which it carved over millions of years. This breathtaking landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction.
  • The river also flows through Canyonlands National Park and Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.

Source: DTE

Colorado River FAQs

Q1: Why is the Colorado River so famous?

Ans: It is known for its dramatic canyons, whitewater rapids, and eleven U.S. National Parks, the Colorado River and its tributaries are a vital source of water for 40 million people.

Q2: What is the longest river in the world?

Ans: The River Nile

Biosafety Levels (BSL)

August 11, 2025
Biosafety Levels

Biosafety Levels Latest News

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, will soon establish a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory, the first of its kind in southern India, enabling rapid diagnosis, post-mortem analysis, and research on zoonotic diseases.

About Biosafety levels

  • Biosafety levels (BSL), also known as biological safety levels or biohazard levels, define the necessary containment precautions for handling infectious agents in laboratory settings. 
  • They’re a mandatory requirement in any biological research facility. 
  • Biosafety levels contribute to the isolation of dangerous organisms and lethal agents.
  • The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 (BSL-1), to the highest at level 4 (BSL-4). 
  • Each BSL lab level builds upon the previous level—thereby creating layer upon layer of constraints and barriers. 
  • These lab levels are determined by the following:
    • Risks related to containment
    • Severity of infection
    • Transmissibility
    • Nature of the work conducted
    • Origin of the microbe
    • Agent in question
    • Route of exposure
  • BSL-1: It applies to laboratory settings in which personnel work with low-risk microbes that pose little to no threat of infection in healthy adults. Because of this, BSL-1 labs typically do not need to be isolated from surrounding facilities.
  • BSL-2: It covers all laboratories that work with agents associated with human diseases — that is, pathogenic or infectious organisms — that pose a moderate health hazard if inhaled, ingested, or exposed to the skin.
  • BSL-3: BSL-3 laboratory typically conducts research into or work on microbes that are either indigenous or exotic and can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation.
  • BSL-4: BSL-4 labs are rare. As the highest level of biological safety, BSL-4 labs work with highly dangerous and exotic microbes. Infections caused by these types of microbes are often fatal and come without treatment or vaccines.
  • At the lowest level of biosafety, precautions may consist of regular hand-washing and minimal protective equipment. 
  • At higher biosafety levels, precautions may include airflow systems, multiple containment rooms, sealed containers, positive pressure personnel suits, established protocols for all procedures, extensive personnel training, and high levels of security to control access to the facility.

Source: TT

Biosafety Levels FAQs

Q1: What are Biosafety levels (BSL)?

Ans: Biosafety levels (BSL) define the necessary containment precautions for handling infectious agents in laboratory settings.

Q2: Which biosafety level deals with low-risk microbes that pose little to no threat to healthy adults?

Ans: BSL-1

Q3: Which of the following is the highest level of biological safety used for handling the most dangerous pathogens?

Ans: BSL-4

Kasargodia Sheebae and Pilarta Vaman

August 11, 2025
Kasargodia Sheebae and Pilarta Vaman

Kasargodia Sheebae and Pilarta Vaman Latest News

Recent studies launched by researchers have led to the discovery of a new genus and two new species of freshwater crabs named Kasargodia sheebae and Pilarta vaman from Western Ghats regions in Kerala.

About Kasargodia Sheebae and Pilarta Vaman

  • They are two new species of freshwater crabs.
  • They are discovered in the Western Ghats regions in Kerala.
  • They belong to the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae.
  • In the case of Kasargodia sheebae, the name of the new genus, Kasargodia, is derived from the northernmost Kerala district.
    • Kasargodia sheebae is distinguished by a brownish-orange carapace with numerous black spots. 
    • The limbs bearing the claws are orange with black spots. 
  • The other new species, Pilarta vaman, is named after Vaman, one of the avatars of Vishnu in Hindu mythology. 
    • The name alludes to the small size of this crab. 
    • The carapace of this species is more quadrate.

Source: TH

Kasargodia Sheebae and Pilarta Vaman FAQs

Q1: In which region were Kasargodia sheebae and Pilarta vaman discovered?

Ans: Western Ghats regions in Kerala.

Q2: Kasargodia sheebae and Pilarta vaman belong to which family of freshwater crabs?

Ans: Gecarcinucidae

Q3: Which feature distinguishes Kasargodia sheebae from other freshwater crabs?

Ans: Brownish-orange carapace with black spots.

UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

August 11, 2025
UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries Latest News

Recently, the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

About UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

  • The LLDC3 conference, held once every ten years, brings global attention to the 32 landlocked developing countries, which collectively house over 600 million people.
  • The primary objective of LLDC3 is to facilitate coordinated international efforts to bridge these development gaps.
  • The conference will explore actionable solutions through partnerships, smarter investment frameworks, and the development of efficient, flexible transport corridors that enhance the movement of goods and services across regions.
  • Due to lack of direct access to seaports, landlocked countries face disproportionate barriers to trade, economic diversification, and infrastructure development. 
  • This year’s conference, themed “Driving Progress through Partnerships,” serves as a crucial platform to address structural challenges, mobilize investment, and implement the newly adopted Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034).

Key Facts about The Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034)

  • A central focus of LLDC3 is the implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action (APoA) for the Decade 2024–2034.
  • The APoA was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly on 24 December 2024 and offers a comprehensive framework to tackle persistent development challenges faced by LLDCs. 
  • Built on five interconnected priority areas, the programme aims to support:
    • Structural Transformation, and Science, Technology, and Innovation
    • Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration
    • Transit, Transport, and Connectivity
    • Enhancing Adaptive Capacity, Strengthening Resilience, and Reducing Vulnerability
    • Implementation, Follow-up, and Monitoring

Source: TOI

UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries FAQs

Q1: What is the UN Convention on landlocked countries?

Ans: The Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States is a multilateral treaty that addresses international rules allowing for land-locked countries to transport goods to and from seaports (transit trade).

Q2: What is a landlocked country?

Ans: Landlocked countries are nations that do not have any coastline.

Muthuvan Tribe

August 11, 2025
Muthuvan tribe

Muthuvan Tribe Latest News

A rare convention of the Muthuvan community has taken on a novel mission to protect their language and culture, organising a three-day special conference as part of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

About Muthuvan Tribe

  • The Muthuvans, or Mudugars, live on the border hill forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • There are two different groups among the Muthuvan, and they speak slightly two different dialects. Hence, they call each other Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.
  • They are known for coexisting with the wildlife with their traditional knowledge and understanding of hills.
  • They have expertise in traditional medicines which are very effective and these medicines and the medicine men are confidentially preserved and passed on to the generations.
  • Social Organization: 
    • The Muthuvan have six clans known as Koottams. Each koottam is again divided into sub clans. 
    • The functions of these divisions are mainly for marriage alliance, to keep up the social status, and to indicate descent and ancestry. 
    • The Muthuvan adhere to community endogamy and clan exogamy. 
  • These tribal people follow a unique system of governance called the ‘Kani System’.
    • Under this system, each village is headed by a ‘Kani’, who is responsible for the administration of the village.
    • They have various punishment methods for breaking their traditions and moral standards.
  • Religion and Beliefs: 
    • They are animists and spirit worshippers and also worship the forest gods.
    • They believe that the spirits of their ancestors are to be the first migrants to the hill forests.
  • Occupation: 
    • Virippukrishi (a form of shifting cultivation) is their traditional means of livelihood, and they cultivate a wide variety of food grains that are used only for consumption. 
    • Ragi (Little Millet), Maize (Sorghum), Thina (Italian Millet), Varagu, Chama Rice, Tomato, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Potato, Cheeni Vala, Toppi, Mocha, etc., are principal food crops cultivated by the Muthuvan community.

Source: TH

Muthuvan Tribe FAQs

Q1: The Muthuvan tribe is primarily found in which Indian states?

Ans: Muthuvan tribe live on the border hill forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Q2: What is the traditional governance system followed by the Muthuvan tribe?

Ans: Kani System

Q3: What is the primary form of cultivation traditionally practiced by the Muthuvan tribe?

Ans: Virippukrishi (a form of shifting cultivation)

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

August 11, 2025
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the Forest and Environment Department, Government of Gujarat celebrated World Lion Day – 2025 at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat.

About Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location: It is located in the state of Gujarat.
  • Rivers: There are two waterways, the Bileshvary River and the Joghri River, and two dams, Khambala and Fodara.
  • Tribes: Ethnic races such as Maldharis, Bharvads, Rabaris, and Gadhvis live in this region.
  • To develop Barda as the second home for the Asiatic lion, the state government implemented the ‘Gir-Barda Project’ in 1979.
  • The sanctuary is a significant biodiversity hotspot and a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions.
  • Flora: It is characteristically abundant in floral diversity, which consists of a good number of medicinal plants.
  • The sanctuary boasts about 650 plant species, which comprise Rayan, Babul, Ber, Jamun, Amli, Gorad, Bamboo, Dhav, Dhudhlo, etc
  • Fauna: Leopard, Hyena, Wild boar, wolf, Jackal, blue bull, rare and endangered spotted eagle, crested hawk eagle, etc.

Key Facts about Asiatic Lion

  • It is also known as the Persian Lion or Indian Lion, belongs to the subspecies Panthera leo persica.
  • It is found exclusively in India, specifically in the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN: Vulnerable
    • CITES: Appendix I
    • Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule I

Source: PIB

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary FAQ's

Q1: In which state is Barda Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans: Gujarat, India

Q2: Which country is home to both lions and tigers?

Ans: India

Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT)

August 11, 2025
Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve

Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve Latest News

Two prominent religious institutions and two businessmen are among those served eviction notices in the Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve recently.

About Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve 

  • It is located in the  BR Hills (Biligirirangana Hills) in Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka.
  • This unique Bio-geographical habitat is in the middle of the bridge between Western and Eastern ghats
  • It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2011.
  • It is spread over an area of 574.82 sq.km. and lies at an elevation of 5,091 feet above sea level.
  • The reserve gets its name from Biligiri, meaning “white rocky cliff,” which is home to the ancient Rangaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
  • It is also believed that the hill range gets its name due to white mist and silvery clouds which cover these lofty hills for a greater part of the year. 
  • There is a tribal community living within the tiger reserve known as the Soliga tribe. 
    • Soligas was the first tribal community living inside a tiger reserve and getting their forest rights recognised by a court in a judgment in 2011.
  • Vegetation:  It is covered with a variety of species of plant life, including scrub, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, shola forests, and montane grasslands. 
  • Flora: The major species include Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Grewia teliaefolia, Terminalia alata, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia paniculata, etc.
  • Fauna: Animals including tiger, elephant, leopard, wild dog, bison, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, varieties of reptiles, birds, etc., are found in the Tiger Reserve.

Source: DH

Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve FAQs

Q1: Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve is located in which state?

Ans: Karnataka

Q2: What is the total area of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve?

Ans: It is spread over an area of 574.82 sq.km.

Q3: Which tribal community resides within Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve?

Ans: Soliga tribe

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

August 11, 2025
National Centre for Disease Control

National Centre for Disease Control Latest News

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently issued several guidelines to combat illnesses arising out of water contamination.

About National Centre for Disease Control 

  • It is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • The institute was established to function as a national centre of excellence for control of communicable diseases.
  • The Director, an officer of the Public Health sub-cadre of Central Health Service, is the administrative and technical head of the Institute.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • Besides the headquarters in Delhi, NCDC has 8 branches located at Alwar (Rajasthan), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Kozhikode (Kerala), Coonoor (Tamil Nadu), Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), Patna (Bihar), Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). 

National Centre for Disease Control History

  • NCDC, formerly the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), had its origin as the Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909, and following expansion, was renamed in 1927 as the Malaria Survey of India. 
  • The organization was shifted to Delhi in 1938 and called as the Malaria Institute of India (MII).
  • In view of the drastic reduction achieved in the incidence of malaria under National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP), the Government of India decided to reorganize and expand the activities of the institute to cover other communicable diseases.
  • Thus, in 1963, the erstwhile MII was renamed as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to shoulder these additional responsibilities.
  • In the year 2009, NICD transforms into National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases.

National Centre for Disease Control Functions

  • It functions as the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating prevention and control of communicable diseases.
  • In coordination with the State Governments, NCDC has the capacity and capability for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and rapid response to contain and combat outbreaks. 
  • It also deals with Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), an emerging area of concern with far-reaching consequences.
  • It also provides referral diagnostic support, capacity building, and technical support to States/UTs in the country.
  • The mandate of the Institute broadly covers three areas viz. services, trained health manpower development, and research.

Source: ET

National Centre for Disease Control FAQs

Q1: The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) functions under which Ministry of the Government of India?

Ans: It is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Q2: Where is the headquarters of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) located?

Ans: New Delhi

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