In News:

Astronomers have, for the first time, observed the formation and evolution of a ring system around Chiron—an icy small body in the outer Solar System. This marks a significant development in planetary science, offering rare insight into ring-formation processes beyond giant planets.

About Chiron

• Discovery: Identified in 1977 by astronomer Charles Kowal.
• Classification: Belongs to the centaur class—objects orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune that exhibit traits of both asteroids and comets.
• Orbit: Completes one revolution around the Sun in ~50 years.
• Size: Approx. 200 km in diameter.
• Composition: Predominantly rock, water ice, and complex organic compounds.
• Behaviour: Shows comet-like activity, sometimes ejecting gas and dust.

Ring System Around Chiron

• First confirmed ring formation observed around a small icy body.
• Comprises four rings, with three inner rings embedded in a dust-disk and an outer ring located unusually far from the body.
• Rings likely contain water-ice particles mixed with rocky material, similar to Saturn’s rings.
• Observations from 2011 to 2023 indicate dynamic evolution of the ring system.

Distances of Rings From Chiron's Center (Approx.):

• Inner Rings: ~273 km, ~325 km, ~438 km
• Outer Ring: ~1,400 km (requires further stability confirmation)

Significance of the Discovery

• Provides a real-time snapshot of ring evolution, offering clues to:
  • Formation mechanisms of rings around small bodies
  • Dynamics of dust-disk systems in space
  • Broader processes that form moons and debris structures
• Enhances understanding of small-body systems, complementing prior ring discoveries around:
  • Chariklo(centaur)
  • Haumea
  • Quaoar

How Was It Observed?

Researchers used stellar occultation—studying changes in starlight as Chiron passed in front of a distant star. Data from Brazil, France, and Spain enabled high-precision observations.

Possible Origins of the Rings

Hypotheses include:

• Remnants of a destroyed moon
• Collisional debris from impacts with space material
• Material ejected by Chiron itself
• Or a combination of these processes

Water-ice plays a key stabilizing role by preventing particles from clumping into a moon.

In News:

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched the Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA) to advance India's digital identity framework and safeguard Aadhaar against evolving cyber threats, particularly AI-driven deepfakes, spoofing, and biometric fraud.
• The initiative reflects India's objective to build secure, scalable, indigenous, and globally benchmarked identity solutions, aligning with the broader vision of Digital Public Infrastructure and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Key Objectives

• Strengthen the security and reliability of Aadhaar authentication.
• Develop cutting-edge biometric and AI-based security technologies.
• Foster collaboration among startups, academia, and industry for co-development.
• Encourage indigenization of identity-tech solutions.
• Build future-ready digital identity systems capable of countering emerging threats.

Strategic Partnerships

To operationalize the programme, UIDAI has partnered with:

• MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) – for technical mentoring, incubation and accelerator support.
• NASSCOM – for industry linkages, global outreach, and entrepreneurship support.

Pilot Phase Focus Areas

The SITAA pilot has launched three innovation challenges open to eligible startups, research institutions, and industry partners (applications open till 15 November 2025):

Why SITAA Matters

• Deepfake threat escalation: Attempts to bypass biometric security demand next-gen AI counter-measures.
• Contactless biometrics: Essential in post-pandemic authentication models and mobile-first delivery.
• Demographic and environmental variability: Aadhaar works across diverse conditions and populations, making robust tech essential.
• Strengthening trust in India’s digital public infrastructure systems like Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and ABHA.

Technological Focus Areas

• Advanced biometrics (face, fingerprint)
• AI-driven liveness and spoof detection
• Privacy-preserving authentication methods
• Secure digital identity frameworks
• Mobile-first biometric solutions

In News:

The Supreme Court has recently clarified that the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) applies not only to naturally occurring water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands, but also to artificial or man-made waterbodies that perform vital environmental or ecological functions. This judgment marks a significant expansion of environmental jurisprudence in India, underscoring that ecological protection cannot hinge solely on whether a waterbody is naturally formed.

Case Background: Futala Lake, Nagpur

The ruling came in a case concerning Futala Lake in Nagpur, Maharashtra, where an NGO challenged recreational development activities around the lake, arguing that it should be treated as a wetland.

Key details:

• Futala Lake (Telangkhedi Tank) was built in 1799 by Shri Gyanoji Bhosale.
• The lake and its catchment cover ~200 hectares.
• Constructed historically for irrigation, making it man-made.

The Bombay High Court had earlier allowed non-permanent recreational structures while directing authorities to preserve the lake’s environmental integrity. The Supreme Court upheld this decision.

Supreme Court’s Key Observations

• Artificial waterbodies serving ecological functions fall within the Public Trust Doctrine.
• Such resources must be protected under the constitutional mandate of Articles 48-A and 51-A(g) (environmental protection duties of the State and citizens).
• Futala Lake, being artificially created for irrigation, does not qualify as a "wetland" under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, which exclude human-made irrigation tanks.
• Nonetheless, the lake deserves environmental protection through PTD because it contributes to urban ecology and public welfare.

The Court emphasized that PTD imposes duties on authorities to prevent irreversible damage and ensure sustainable use, reinforcing the right to a healthy environment under Article 21.

Doctrinal Significance: Public Trust Doctrine (PTD)

Meaning: The State acts as a trustee of natural and environmental resources, which belong to the public and cannot be monopolized, degraded, or transferred for private gain.

Origins:

• Roots in Roman law (res communes)
• Developed through English common law
• Recognized in Indian jurisprudence (e.g., M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1997)

Core Principles

• Resources of collective importance must remain available for public use and ecological balance.
• The State cannot alienate, privatize, or degrade these resources.
• Resources must be maintained for specific public and ecological purposes.

Ruling’s Broader Implications

• Expands PTD protection to man-made lakes, tanks, reservoirs that support ecology and public use.
• Strengthens legal framework for urban waterbody conservation amid fast-paced infrastructure growth.
• Reinforces sustainable development, ecological preservation, and inter-generational equity.

In News:

A recent scientific study has revealed renewed geological activity at Mount Taftan, a stratovolcano in southeastern Iran, raising concerns among volcanologists and regional authorities. The volcano, believed to have remained inactive for nearly 700,000 years, has exhibited ground uplift and increased gas emissions, suggesting possible magmatic or hydrothermal movement beneath the surface.

Key Findings from Recent Study

• Research published in Geophysical Research Letters notes that ground near Taftan’s summit rose by ~9 cm between July 2023 and May 2024.
• Persistent uplift signals buildup of gas pressure below the volcano.
• Residents reported strong sulfurous fumes, detectable up to 50 km away in the city of Khash.
• Satellite monitoring (ESA’s Sentinel-1) indicated activity in absence of ground-based GPS stations.

Scientists stress there is no immediate eruption threat, but the volcano should be reclassified from "extinct" to dormant and monitored more closely due to increasing activity.

About Taftan Volcano

• Location: Southeastern Iran, ~56 km from Pakistan border
• Elevation:3,940 m (12,927 ft)
• Type: Semi-active stratovolcano (composite volcano)
• Volcanic Arc: Only active volcano in the Makran subduction zone
• Geological Setting: Formed due to subduction of Arabian oceanic crust beneath Eurasian plate
• Key Features: Two summits — Narkuh and Matherkuh
• Activity Indicators:
  • Active hydrothermal system
  • Sulfur-emitting vents (fumaroles)
  • No recorded eruptions in human history

What is a Stratovolcano?

• Tall, steep-sided cone-shaped volcano
• Commonly found along convergent plate boundaries
• Composed of alternating lava flows and pyroclastic deposits
• Eruptions tend to be explosive due to viscous magma (andesite/dacite)
• Examples: Mt. Fuji, Mt. St. Helens, Vesuvius, Krakatoa

In News:

In a landmark development in global public health, the Maldives has become the first country in the world to be validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B. This achievement represents a major milestone in protecting newborns from lifelong infections and advancing maternal-child health security.

Significance of the Achievement

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B remains a pressing concern worldwide, particularly in developing regions. In the WHO South-East Asia Region alone, thousands of infants are still born with congenital infections annually. Against this backdrop, Maldives’ accomplishment sets a benchmark for public health governance and disease elimination.

Key Drivers Behind Maldives’ Success

The achievement results from a comprehensive, integrated and equity-based healthcare strategy, backed by political commitment and strong health investments.

1. Universal Maternal Care and Screening

• Over 95% of pregnant women in Maldives receive antenatal care.
• Nearly all are screened for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis-B.
• Universal access extends to migrants and remote island populations.

2. Robust ImmunisationProgramme

• Above 95% hepatitis-B birth-dose coverage within 24 hours of birth.
• Full childhood immunisation coverage consistently maintained.

3. Demonstrated Zero Transmission

• No infant HIV or syphilis cases reported since 2022.
• National survey (2023) confirmed zero hepatitis-B among school-entry children.

4. Strong Public Health Infrastructure

• Universal health coverage system offering free antenatal and diagnostic services.
• Government spends over 10% of GDP on health, among the highest in the region.
• Effective partnerships across public, private, and civil society sectors, supported by WHO technical assistance.

Strategic Measures Adopted

• Integrated maternal-child health services
• Early testing and treatment protocols
• Strong laboratory systems and surveillance
• Community outreach and migrant health inclusion
• High-quality vaccination logistics

Future Roadmap

To sustain the elimination status and deepen maternal-newborn care outcomes, Maldives plans to:

• Expand digital public-health systems
• Strengthen laboratory and monitoring quality
• Enhance services for key and migrant populations
• Increase private-sector collaboration

WHO will continue supporting Maldives to maintain momentum toward broader maternal, child, and adolescent health goals.

Maldives at a Glance

• Location: North-central Indian Ocean; southwest of India and Sri Lanka
• Capital:Malé
• Population: ~5.6 lakh (2025)
• Geography: ~1,200 coral islands across 26 atolls; ~200 inhabited
• Feature: Lowest-lying nation globally (maximum elevation ~1.8m)
• Climate: Tropical; Southwest monsoon (May–Aug), Northeast monsoon (Dec–Mar)