1. Anthurium

India has successfully exported Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore for the first time, marking a significant achievement in the country’s floriculture industry.

What is Anthurium?

Anthurium is a tropical flowering plant valued for its aesthetic appeal and air-purifying properties.

• Primarily grown indoors, it helps eliminate airborne toxins like formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens.

• Recognized by NASA for its air-purification capabilities, it enhances indoor air quality.

About APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)

APEDA operates under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Its key responsibilities include:

• Promoting and developing exports of agricultural and processed food products.

• Establishing global market linkages for Indian agricultural commodities.

2. Chief Justice of India (CJI)

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has formed a three-member committee to investigate allegations against a Delhi High Court judge.

Who Can Become the CJI?

To qualify as the Chief Justice of India, an individual must:

• Be an Indian citizen.

• Have served as a High Court judge for at least five years.

• Have practiced as a High Court advocate for at least ten years.

• Be recognized as a distinguished jurist by the President of India.

Appointment of the CJI

• The President appoints the CJI under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.

• The outgoing CJI recommends their successor based on seniority.

• The recommendation passes through the Union Law Minister and the Prime Minister before reaching the President.

• As per the Second Judges Case (1993), the senior-most Supreme Court judge is appointed as the CJI.

Powers & Responsibilities of the CJI

• Master of the Roster: Assigns cases and forms benches in the Supreme Court.

• Collegium Head: Leads the body responsible for judicial appointments and transfers.

• Administrative Authority: Oversees Supreme Court operations, staff management, and case management.

• Judicial Role: Holds the status of "first among equals" among Supreme Court judges.

Removal of CJI or Supreme Court Judges

• Can only be removed by the President after a special majority vote in Parliament (Article 124(4)).

• Grounds for removal:

  • Proven misbehavior

  • Incapacity

What is the Collegium System?

• A non-statutory mechanism for appointing and transferring judges.

• Developed through Supreme Court rulings (Judges Cases).

• Structure:

  • For SC Judges: CJI + four senior-most Supreme Court judges.

  • For HC Judges:

    • HC-level Collegium: Chief Justice + two senior HC judges.

    • SC-level Collegium: CJI + two senior-most SC judges.

3. Nano Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)

A Parliamentary Committee has cautioned against inadequate funding for fertilizer subsidy programs.

What is Nano DAP?

Nano DAP is a liquid nano-fertilizer designed to enhance nutrient absorption and improve crop growth.

• Developed by IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative) in 2023.

• Composed of 8% Nitrogen and 16% Phosphorus by volume.

• Unlike granular DAP, Nano DAP is in liquid form, ensuring better efficiency and absorption.

• Its nano-sized particles (under 100 nm) increase the surface area-to-volume ratio, making it more effective than conventional fertilizers.

4. Tavasya

India has launched ‘Tavasya,’ the last of four Krivak-class stealth frigates, at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

Why in the News?

• Launched on March 22, 2025, at GSL.

• Second frigate constructed in India under technology transfer from Russia.

• Strengthens India's naval self-reliance and defense manufacturing sector.

About Krivak-Class Stealth Frigates

• An India-Russia agreement in 2016 facilitated the construction of four additional Krivak-class stealth frigates.

  • Two imported from Russia.

  • Two built at Goa Shipyard under a technology transfer deal.

Frigate Specifications:

• Length: 124.8 m | Width: 15.2 m | Draught: 4.5 m.

• Displacement: 3,600 tonnes.

• Speed: 28 knots.

• Engine: Powered by Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt engines.

Frigate Timeline

• Triput (First India-built): Launched in July 2024, to be delivered in 2026.

• Tushil (First Russian-built): Commissioned on December 9, 2024, stationed in Karwar.

• Tamal (Second Russian-built): Undergoing final trials, expected commission in June 2025.

• Tavasya is likely the last foreign-licensed warship as India shifts towards fully indigenous warship construction.

5. Exercise Varuna

The 23rd edition of Exercise Varuna, a bilateral naval drill between India and France, was held in the Arabian Sea from March 19–22, 2025.

About Exercise Varuna

• Initiated in 1993, officially named 'Varuna' in 2001.

• A critical element of Indo-French strategic and defense cooperation.

• 2025 edition featured high-intensity drills across aerial, surface, and sub-surface domains.

Key Objectives

• Improve combat readiness and joint tactical coordination.

• Enhance maritime security cooperation.

Major Highlights of Exercise Varuna 2025

• Aircraft Carrier Operations:

  • INS Vikrant (India) and Charles de Gaulle (France) participated in joint carrier battle group operations.

  • The Indian Navy observed Rafale-M fighter jets, which India is set to acquire.

• Air Combat Drills:

  • Advanced air defense and air-to-air combat exercises between:

    • French Rafale-M fighter jets.

    • Indian MiG-29K fighter jets.

• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Exercises:

  • Indian Scorpene-class submarines simulated enemy threats.

  • French and Indian frigates safeguarded high-value naval assets.

  • Underwater warfare tactics were tested.

• Surface Warfare Operations:

  • Naval fleets conducted synchronized attacks and maneuvers.

  • Maritime patrol aircraft provided real-time battlefield awareness.

• Logistical Cooperation:

  • Replenishment-at-sea exercises ensured efficient naval resupply.

Other India-France Joint Military Exercises

• FRINJEX – Army joint exercise.

• GARUDA – Air Force exercise.

France’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

• France maintains military bases in:

  • UAE.

  • French territories in the Southern Indian Ocean.

• Since November 2024, France’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has been deployed in the Indian Ocean as part of Clémenceau 25 mission.

6. Key Facts About the Hemavati River

Recently, two youths drowned while swimming in the Hemavati River near Henli village in Sakleshpur.

About Hemavati River

• It is a significant tributary of the Kaveri River.

• Origin: The river originates in the Western Ghats at an elevation of approximately 1,219 meters near Ballala Rayana Durga in Chikmagalur District, Karnataka.

• Course: It flows through Tumkur and Hassan District, where it merges with its major tributary, the Yagachi River, before reaching Mysore District and eventually joining the Kaveri.

• Length & Drainage Area: The river spans around 245 km, covering a drainage area of approximately 5,410 sq km.

• Hemavati Reservoir:

  • A masonry dam with a central spillway and earthen flanks is constructed across the river near Gorur village.

  • It has a storage capacity of 37.1 TMCFT.

  • The reservoir supports irrigation over 6.55 lakh acres in Mandya, Hassan, and Tumkur districts.

7. Doctrine of Precedent

The Kerala High Court recently reaffirmed that tax assessment orders issued without considering binding precedents set by higher courts violate the doctrine of precedent and are therefore unsustainable.

What is the Doctrine of Precedent?

• The doctrine of precedent ensures that courts adhere to previously established rulings, meaning that once a legal principle is decided, it must be applied consistently in similar future cases.

• Also known as ‘stare decisis’, it mandates that lower courts follow decisions made by higher courts.

• It promotes consistency, predictability, and stability in the legal system.

• The doctrine is embedded in Article 141 of the Indian Constitution, which states that Supreme Court rulings are binding on all courts in India.

Key Aspects:

• Ratio Decidendi: The essential legal reasoning in a judgment, which is binding in future cases.

• Obiter Dicta: Non-essential remarks made by the court, which, while not binding, may influence future judgments.

Landmark Judgment:

• State of Orissa v. Mamata Patnaik (1978): The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of adhering to legal precedents to maintain consistency in the judicial system.

8. Dog-Faced Water Snake

For the first time, a Dog-Faced Water Snake (Cerberus rynchops) has been recorded in Northeast India, far from its known coastal habitat.

About the Dog-Faced Water Snake

• A rear-fanged, mildly venomous, semi-aquatic snake.

• Belongs to the Homalopsidae family (Indo-Australian rear-fanged water snakes).

• Scientific Name: Cerberus rynchops.

Distribution:

• Typically found in mangroves, coastal mudflats, and estuarine habitats across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

• In India, recorded in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

• It has salt glands, enabling survival in marine environments by expelling excess salt.

Features:

• Grows up to 1 meter in length.

• Characterized by a wide head and snout, resembling a dog’s face.

• Color: Dark brown with stripes and a white underbelly.

• Hunts fish and crustaceans using a "sit-and-wait" ambush strategy in shallow waters.

• Moves swiftly in water and uses sidewinding motion on soft mud.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

9. Sheathia rosemalayensis – A Newly Discovered Freshwater Algae

Researchers recently discovered a new species of freshwater algae, Sheathia rosemalayensis, in Rosemala, a region in Kollam district, Kerala.

About Sheathia rosemalayensis

• A newly identified species of freshwater algae.

• Found in Rosemala, Western Ghats, Kerala, and named after the location of discovery.

• This discovery is significant as Sheathia species are extremely rare in India—only one other species had been previously recorded from the Himalayas.

• So far, Sheathia rosemalayensis has been found only in the southern Western Ghats, making it geographically distinct.

Other Sheathia Species:

• S. assamica, S. indonepalensis, and S. dispersa have wider distributions across Assam, Nepal, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Hawaiian Archipelago.

What are Algae?

• A diverse group of aquatic organisms that perform photosynthesis.

• Can be unicellular (phytoplankton) or multicellular (seaweed, kelp, pond scum, etc.).

• Unlike plants, algae lack true roots, stems, and leaves and do not have vascular tissues.

• Play a crucial role in ecosystems, providing oxygen, food, and habitat for aquatic organisms.

10. United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) 2025

The 2025 UN World Water Development Report warns that retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of 2 billion people worldwide.

About WWDR

• WWDR is UN-Water’s flagship report on global water and sanitation issues.

• Provides a comprehensive assessment of the world’s freshwater resources.

• Released annually on World Water Day (March 22), each edition focuses on a specific theme.

• Published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, with coordination by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.

WWDR 2025 – Key Highlights

• Theme: "Mountains and Glaciers – Water Towers."

• Findings:

  • All mountain ranges worldwide have shown evidence of warming since the early 20th century.

  • Rising temperatures result in more rain instead of snow, leading to earlier snowmelt and thinner snowpacks.

  • The loss of snow and ice has severe consequences for water security, agriculture, and ecosystems.

  • Some glacier-fed river systems are experiencing "peak water"—initially increasing river flow, but declining as glaciers shrink.

  • The tropical Andes, western Canada, and the Swiss Alps have already passed the "peak water" point.

  • Colombia has lost 90% of its glacial area since the mid-19th century.

  • If global warming reaches 1.5-4°C, glaciers could lose 26-41% of their 2015 mass by 2100.

Impacts of Glacier Retreat:

• Reduced availability of drinking water and irrigation water.

• Increased risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

• Two-thirds of the world’s irrigated agriculture is likely to be affected by shrinking glaciers and reduced snowfall.