UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 22 August 2025

Mithi River

August 22, 2025

Mithi River Latest News

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police recently arrested a 49-year-old contractor in connection with the multi-crore Mithi river desilting fraud that has caused losses of over ₹65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

About Mithi River

Mithi river is one of the four rivers flowing through the Mumbai city, Maharashtra.
The river originates from the overflow of Vihar Lake and also receives the overflows from the Powai Lake about 2 km downstream.
It flows for 18 km before discharging into the Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek, flowing through residential and industrial complexes of Powai, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kalina, Vakola, Bandra Kurla Complex, Dharavi and Mahim.
The river has an average width of 5 metres in the upper reaches, has been widened to 25 m in the middle reaches and up to 70 m in the lower reaches after the 26 July 2005 deluge (944 mm in 24 h on 26 July 2005)
It is a seasonal river, which feeds on the monsoons.

Source: HT

Mithi River FAQs

Q1: Mithi River flows through which Indian city?

Ans: Mumbai

Q2: Into which water body does the Mithi River discharge?

Ans: Arabian Sea at Mahim Creek

Q3: What is the approximate total length of the Mithi River?

Ans: 18 km

Euglena

August 22, 2025

Euglena Latest News

In India, Euglena and its relatives are now widespread indicators of deteriorating water quality.

About Euglena

Euglena is a unicellular, flagellated microorganism belonging to the group Euglenophyta.
These are commonly found in stagnant or slow-moving freshwater ponds, ditches, and urban lakes.
Characteristics: These protists are highly adaptable, capable of both photosynthesis (like plants) and feeding on organic matter (like animals).
This flexibility helps them thrive in nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor environments.
Three of the most common euglenoid genera observed in Indian water bodies are: Euglena, Phacus, Trachelomonas sp. These species often dominate surface waters, especially during warmer months.
The striking red or pink colour seen during blooms is due to a pigment called astaxanthin, produced by many euglenoids.
Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble xanthophyll that gives these organisms their bright red colour.

Impact of Euglena on Biodiversity

Oxygen depletion: Euglena photosynthesises, but at night it consumes oxygen, leading to diurnal oxygen fluctuations. This can result in hypoxia (low oxygen levels), which is dangerous for fish and other aquatic life.
Dense surface scums: Euglenoid blooms form thick mats on the water surface, which block sunlight from reaching submerged plants. This reduces the lake’s productivity and alters its ecological balance.
Fish mortality: Euglenophyte blooms can stick to fish gills, making it hard for them to breathe. Some species also produce toxins like euglenophycin, which directly kill fish or indirectly affect them by disrupting the food chain and oxygen levels.

Source: DTE

Euglena FAQs

Q1: What are the uses of Euglena?

Ans: They can be used for production of a range of compounds for use in cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals.

Q2: What do euglenas eat?

Ans: Euglena eat green algae, amoebas, parameciums and rotifer.

Exercise Samanvay Shakti

August 22, 2025

Exercise Samanvay Shakti Latest News

Recently, the Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 was inaugurated at Laipuli, in Tinsukia district of Assam.

About Exercise Samanvay Shakti

It is initiated by Indian Army collaboration with state officials of Assam & Manipur to foster efficient cooperation, cohesion and mutual understanding.
It is a military-civil Integration exercise aimed at fostering synergy between security forces, government departments and civil institutions to address the region’s complex challenges through a unified and coordinated approach.
The inaugural session witnessed participation from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, District Administration, Police, Intelligence Agencies, NDRF, SDRF, Medical Officials, BRO & GREF, Railways, educational institutions and security officials from OIL India, IOCL and Coal India alongwith representatives of the local media.

Objectives of Exercise Samanvay Shakti

To take concrete steps towards achieving an improved state of readiness, supported by unhindered channels of communication and refined standard operating procedures through practical rehearsals.
It seeks to further strengthen the bond of trust between the people of upper Assam & Manipur and the institutions that serve them, thereby contributing towards preparedness for security challenges, development towards nation building, and reinforcing national integration.

Source: News On Air

Exercise Samanvay Shakti FAQs

Q1: What is National Disaster Response Force?

Ans: It was established under section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It is aimed at specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.

Q2: Is Border Roads Organisation under the army?

Ans: It is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to and is a part of the Indian Armed Forces.

Charge-Coupled Device

August 22, 2025

Charge-Coupled Device Latest News

A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a remarkable electronic component whose invention marked a significant milestone in technology and influenced many fields.

About Charge-Coupled Device

It was a pioneering technology that converted light into electrical signals using an array of capacitors that transferred electric charges in a sequence.
A CCD consists of an integrated circuit made up of an array of small picture elements called pixels.
Each pixel acts like a small light sensor that collects photons (the particles of light) and converts them into electrical charges.
These charges are then transferred across the device, one pixel at a time, to be read and processed into a digital image.

Working of Charge-Coupled Device

It operates using the photoelectric effect, where light that falls on the device generates electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor material.
Specifically, when photons enter a CCD, they strike the semiconductor material beneath each pixel.
This energy knocks electrons loose, creating a small group of electrons proportional to the intensity of light in that pixel.
Each pixel is essentially a small capacitor that holds these electrons. The amount of charge in each pixel varies depending on how much light the pixel has received.
A voltage is applied to electrodes placed over the pixels in a sequence that moves the charges from one pixel to the next, like passing buckets of water along a line.
This is why it’s called a “charge-coupled” device, and this process continues until all the charge has reached a readout register.
The accumulated charge from each pixel is then converted into a voltage signal, which can be amplified and digitised by connected electronics to form a digital image.
This sequential transfer and reading process allows the CCD to create a precise and high-quality representation of a scene being captured.

Applications of Charge-Coupled Device

Household: CCDs made possible the rise of digital cameras by replacing film with sensors that captured images electronically. They’re also used in CCTV cameras to provide high-quality video feeds for security in places like banks, shopping malls, and hospitals.
Medical diagnostics: CCDs play a vital role in medical diagnostics, including in X-ray imaging, computed tomography (CT) scans, and endoscopy.
These CCDs are also used in microscopes, spectrometers, and particle detectors where they allow scientists to analyse images in detail.
Astronomy: Telescopes fit with CCDs can capture faint and distant celestial objects with more sensitivity and accuracy than traditional photographic plates.

Source: TH

Charge-Coupled Device FAQs

Q1: What is the Charge Coupled Device?

Ans: It is a light-sensitive integrated circuit that captures images by converting photons to electrons.

Q2: Why are Charge Coupled Devices used in telescopes?

Ans: It is because astronomical sources are usually very faint, astronomers allow CCDs to collect light for time intervals ranging from a fraction of a second to several hours.

Blue Carbon

August 22, 2025

Blue Carbon Latest News

Seaweed farming has emerged as a potential Blue Carbon strategy, yet empirical estimates of carbon burial from such farms remain lacking in the literature.

About Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by the ocean in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes, or seagrass meadows.
“Blue” refers to the watery nature of this storage.
The vast majority of blue carbon is carbon dioxide that has dissolved directly into the ocean.
Much smaller amounts are stored in underwater sediments, coastal vegetation, and soils; carbon-containing molecules, such as DNA and proteins; and ocean life from whales to phytoplankton.
These ecosystems store massive amounts of carbon, making them an integral part of global efforts to combat climate change.
They cover just 2% of the total ocean surface but account for 50% of the ocean’s carbon absorption.

Source: RG

Blue Carbon FAQs

Q1: What does the term Blue Carbon refer to?

Ans: Organic carbon stored in vegetated coastal ecosystems.

Q2: Blue Carbon ecosystems cover about what percentage of the total ocean surface?

Ans: 2%

Q3: Why are Blue Carbon ecosystems important in combating climate change?

Ans: They store massive amounts of carbon.

Indian Council of Social Science Research

August 22, 2025

Indian Council of Social Science Research Latest News

A recent study on Internet use among school-going children, supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), recommends that digital literacy must be encouraged for children and parents with active support from schools.

About Indian Council of Social Science Research

It is the apex body of the Government of India for research in the social and human sciences.
It was established in 1969 by the Government of India on the recommendation of the Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee.
Purpose: Encourage, promote, and fund social science research in the country.
It is an autonomous organisation working under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Objectives:
- To review and survey the progress of social science research and advise the Government on policy issues;
- To fund and promote social science research in Universities/Colleges/Research Institutes;
- To award Doctoral, Post–Doctoral, Senior, and National Fellowships to researchers and faculties;
- To award minor, major and collaborative research projects to researchers and faculties;
- To fund national and international seminars and conferences to disseminate social science research findings;
- To support training and capacity-building Programmes for young researchers and faculties;
- To provide International Travel and Data Collection Grants to scholars and faculties;
- To encourage international collaboration in social science research with well recognized foreign research funding agencies;
- To fund the publication of journals and books in social science research and also strengthen professional social science associations/organizations;
- To provide library, documentation, data, and online services for social science research; and
- To indicate periodic themes in neglected and new critical areas of research.
Organisational Structure:
- The ICSSR’s highest decision-making body, known as the Council, has 26 members, which includes the ICSSR Chairman and the Member-Secretary, 17 Social Scientists (Non-Ex-Officio members), one co-opted member, and six Ex-officio members representing the Government of India.
- The Member Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer and heads the ICSSR Secretariat, consisting of Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and other officials.
- The Council has three standing committees, namely the Research Committee (RC), Research Institutes Committee (RIC), and Planning and Administration Committee (PAC).
An all-India network of 24 frontline research institutes and six regional centres is maintained, and five recognized institutes are programmatically supported by the ICSSR.
The Documentation center of ICSSR–National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)-provides library and information support services to researchers in social sciences.
ICSSR has developed the ICSSR Data Service to serve as a national data service for promoting a powerful research environment through sharing and reuse of data among the social science community in India.

News: TH

Indian Council of Social Science Research FAQs

Q1: What is the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)?

Ans: The apex body of the Government of India for research in the social and human sciences.

Q2: On whose recommendation was the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) established?

Ans: The Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee.

Q3: What is the primary purpose of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)?

Ans: To encourage, promote and fund social science research in India.

Q4: Who are the key members of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Council?

Ans: The ICSSR Chairman, Member-Secretary, 17 non-ex-officio social scientists, one co-opted member and six ex-officio members representing the Government of India.