Daily Current Affairs- 19th May 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 19th May 2025

Mhadei River Water Dispute

In the News: The long-standing water-sharing conflict over the Mhadei River between Goa and Karnataka has resurfaced, with renewed protests and legal challenges. Goa has approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Central Water Commission's approval of Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri project, which aims to divert water from the Mhadei River to the Malaprabha basin.

Key Highlights:

• River Overview: The Mhadei River, also known as the Mandovi in Goa, originates from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. It flows for approximately 111 km, traversing Karnataka (35 km), Goa (76 km), and a small stretch in Maharashtra, before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
• Kalasa-Banduri Project: Karnataka proposes to divert 7.56 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Mhadei's tributaries, Kalasa and Banduri, to the Malaprabha River to address drinking water needs in its northern districts. Goa opposes this, citing potential ecological damage and reduced water availability.
• Tribunal Verdict: In August 2018, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 24 TMC of water to Goa, 13.42 TMC to Karnataka (including 5.5 TMC for drinking water and 8 TMC for hydroelectric power), and 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra. The verdict has been contested by the involved states.
• Legal Proceedings: Goa filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the tribunal's decision and the subsequent approval of Karnataka's project by the Central Water Commission. The matter is pending adjudication. 

President Murmu Confers Highest Literary Honour to Gulzar & Rambhadracharya

In the News: On May 16, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the 58th Jnanpith Award to two distinguished literary figures—renowned Urdu poet and lyricist Gulzar and esteemed Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya—at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

Key Highlights:

• Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra): Born in 1934, Gulzar is celebrated for his profound contributions to Urdu poetry, Hindi cinema, and literature. His illustrious career spans over six decades, during which he has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Sahitya Akademi Award (2002), Padma Bhushan (2004), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2013), Academy Award (2009), and Grammy Award (2010).
• Jagadguru Rambhadracharya: A revered Sanskrit scholar and spiritual leader, Rambhadracharya has authored over 240 books and texts across multiple Indian languages. Despite losing his eyesight at the age of two months, he has made monumental contributions to Sanskrit literature and education, including founding the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
• Award Significance: The Jnanpith Award, instituted in 1961, is India's highest literary honor, recognizing outstanding contributions to literature in Indian languages. The award comprises a citation, a cash prize, and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge. 

Israel Launches Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza

In the News: On May 17, 2025, Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a large-scale ground and aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip aimed at dismantling Hamas’s operational capabilities. The move followed the approval of the operation by Israel's Security Cabinet earlier on May 4, 2025, in response to ongoing hostilities and hostage situations resulting from the October 7, 2023 attacks.

• Objective: The operation seeks to eliminate Hamas's military and administrative infrastructure, recover hostages held by the group since the 2023 attacks, and assert Israeli control over key regions in Gaza, particularly in the north and south.
• Scope of Military Action: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched widespread ground incursions supported by air and naval assets. Over 670 Hamas targets have been destroyed, including arms depots, underground tunnels, training camps, and communication centers.
• Humanitarian Consequences: The offensive has led to severe humanitarian distress. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 53,000 deaths since the conflict began in October 2023. Vital infrastructure such as hospitals, including the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, has been rendered inoperative due to bombardment.
• Global Reaction: The operation has provoked strong international concern. The United Nations, humanitarian agencies, and human rights groups have called for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian access to address the deepening crisis in Gaza.
• Biblical Allusion: The name “Gideon’s Chariots” references the biblical figure Gideon, who led a small, tactically astute force to victory against a larger enemy. The term symbolizes strategic precision and resilience under pressure, aligning with Israel's narrative of fighting a prolonged war against terrorism. 

UN’s Global Report on Food Crises Highlights Record Hunger Levels

In the News: On May 16, 2025, the United Nations released the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, revealing that acute food insecurity reached unprecedented levels in 2024. Over 295 million people across 53 countries experienced crisis-level or worse hunger, marking the sixth consecutive year of deterioration.

• Scale of the Crisis: The number of people facing acute food insecurity increased by 13.7 million from the previous year, with 22.6% of the analyzed population affected. Notably, 1.9 million individuals were in "catastrophic" conditions (IPC Phase 5), primarily in Gaza and Sudan.
• Primary Drivers:
  • Conflict: Armed conflicts impacted nearly 140 million people, with significant effects in countries like Sudan, Gaza, and South Sudan.
  • Climate Extremes: Events such as droughts and floods, exacerbated by El Niño, affected over 96 million individuals, particularly in East Africa and South Asia.
  • Economic Shocks: Inflation and currency devaluation pushed 59.4 million people into food crises, with countries like Yemen and Syria severely affected.
• Nutritional Impact: Approximately 38 million children under five suffered from acute malnutrition, with 10 million requiring urgent treatment. Additionally, 10.9 million pregnant and breastfeeding women were acutely malnourished.
• Funding Shortfalls: Humanitarian aid faced significant reductions, with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) cutting over 80% of its programs. Overall, the UN managed to raise only 46% of the $49.6 billion needed, leaving millions without necessary assistance.
• Regional Hotspots:
  • Gaza: 100% of the population faced acute food insecurity, with the situation worsening due to ongoing conflict and border closures.
  • Sudan: Over 25 million people were affected, with famine conditions officially declared in parts of the country.
  • Other Affected Countries: Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, and Yemen also experienced severe food crises, driven by a combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks. 

NASA’s GRAIL Mission: Mapping the Moon’s Gravity

In the News: NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, launched on September 10, 2011, successfully concluded on December 17, 2012. The mission involved twin spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, orbiting the Moon to map its gravitational field with unprecedented precision, enhancing our understanding of the Moon's internal structure and geological history.

Key Highlights:

• Mission Overview: GRAIL consisted of two identical spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, flying in tandem around the Moon to measure variations in its gravitational field. This data aimed to reveal details about the Moon's internal composition, including its crust, mantle, and core.
• Scientific Achievements: The mission produced the highest-resolution gravity map of any celestial body to date. It discovered that the lunar crust is thinner and more fractured than previously thought, suggesting a history of heavy bombardment. GRAIL also identified long, linear features interpreted as ancient dike intrusions, indicating past volcanic activity.
• Mission Timeline: Ebb entered lunar orbit on December 31, 2011, followed by Flow on January 1, 2012. The primary science phase lasted from March 7 to May 29, 2012, with an extended mission phase from August 30 to December 17, 2012. Both spacecraft were intentionally crashed into the Moon on December 17, 2012, concluding the mission.
• Educational Outreach: The mission included the MoonKAM program, led by Dr. Sally Ride, which allowed middle school students to request images of the lunar surface, fostering interest in lunar science and exploration.