25 April 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Pak. shuts airspace, snaps trade relations with India

 (Source – Front Page, The Hindu, 25 April 2025)

Nature of Pakistan’s Measures

1. Airspace Closure

Pakistan closed its entire airspace to Indian civilian and military aircraft (including leased aircraft), affecting India’s flight paths to Gulf, Europe, UK, and North America. The NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) is effective until May 23, 2025.

2. Trade Suspension

All forms of bilateral trade have been suspended. The Wagah border post has been sealed.

3. Diplomatic Downgrading

Pakistan has:

• Declared Indian military attachés persona non grata.
• Ordered a staff cut in Indian diplomatic presence from 55 to 30.
• Cancelled all Indian SAARC visas (except for Sikh pilgrims).

4. Indus Waters Treaty Warning

Most notably, Pakistan warned that any attempt by India to halt or divert the flow of Indus waters (as hinted by Indian strategic circles) would be deemed an “act of war”.

India’s Options and the Way Forward

Short-Term Response

• Maintain high military preparedness to prevent surprise cross-border aggression.
• Mobilize international support, especially from the UN, OIC, and Western powers, to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.
• Enhance tourist and citizen protection mechanisms in conflict zones like Kashmir.

Medium to Long-Term Strategy

• Reassess the Indus Waters Treaty framework for security conditionalities.
• Reinvigorate counter-terror diplomacy with FATF and UNSC focus.
• Strengthen cyber and signal intelligence for pre-emptive detection of terror threats.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s retaliatory move following the Pahalgam terror attack is not just a bilateral crisis but a moment to recalibrate India’s strategic and diplomatic approach to cross-border terrorism. While India must assertively protect its national interest, it must also act responsibly within the framework of international norms. A measured, multi-dimensional response — balancing security, diplomacy, and internal unity — is the need of the hour.

2. The Mosquito Effect: How Malarial Chaos Influenced Human History

(Source – Page 7, The Hindu, 25 April 2025 (International Edition)

Historical Significance of Malaria and Mosquito-Borne Diseases

1. Impact on Empires and Warfare

• The fall of the Roman Empire is partially attributed to the spread of malaria in southern Italy and marshy areas of the empire, weakening its military capacity.
• During the American Civil War, mosquito-borne diseases killed more soldiers than bullets.
• In World War II, both Axis and Allied troops in the Pacific and African theatres suffered immensely due to malaria, influencing strategic pauses and retreats.

2. Colonialism and the Tropics

• Colonial powers like the British and French suffered high mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where malaria was endemic.
• Quinine and later chloroquine became critical for the imperial administration and military occupation, thus shaping colonial public health systems and policies.

3. Agricultural and Economic Impacts

• The spread of malaria in agriculturally productive areas delayed economic development (e.g., Bengal, Orissa).
• Infected populations had reduced labour productivity, leading to cycles of poverty and malnutrition.

The Mosquito as a Shaper of Human Settlements

• Settlements across human history often avoided wetlands and river deltas where mosquito breeding was common.
• Even urban planning in ancient and modern cities was influenced by disease vectors. Venice, for example, used drainage systems as a sanitation-cum-defense mechanism.

Scientific and Ecological Lens

A. Mosquitoes as Ecological Catalysts

• Mosquitoes (particularly Anopheles) evolved alongside humans, becoming efficient disease carriers due to their feeding and reproduction behaviors.
• Malaria is caused by Plasmodium protozoa, transmitted via female mosquitoes, which adapt quickly to new ecologies.

B. Climate, Ecology & Disease

• Global warming is expanding the range of mosquitoes. Malaria and dengue are re-emerging in higher altitudes and urban spaces.
• The intersection of climate change, deforestation, and disease vectors is a modern concern for public health and disaster management.

Contemporary Relevance

• Despite medical advances, malaria still kills over 600,000 people globally each year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
• The World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy aims to reduce global malaria incidence by 90% by 2030, but faces resistance due to funding shortfalls, insecticide resistance, and climate-linked outbreaks.

Way Forward

1. Integrate Disease Ecology into Policy Planning: Public health strategies must go beyond biomedical interventions to incorporate ecological, climatic, and socio-political dimensions of disease spread.
2. Climate-Health Nexus: With climate change altering vector habitats, countries must develop early warning systems, vector surveillance, and adaptive healthcare infrastructure, especially in vulnerable zones.
3. Strengthen Global Health Governance: Reinforce platforms like WHO, Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and GAVI to ensure equitable access to diagnostics, treatment, and mosquito control technologies.
4. Research and Innovation: Invest in genetic engineering technologies (e.g., gene drive mosquitoes), vaccines, and new insecticides that counter resistance and reduce transmission sustainably.
5. Historical Literacy in Public Health: Incorporate historical case studies of pandemics and vector-borne diseases into health governance training for bureaucrats and public health professionals.

3. Pahalgam Attack Exposes Gaps in Border Security

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 17)

Analysis of the news:         

Tactical Challenges in the Pir Panjal Terrain

• The Pir Panjal range, with its thick forest cover and inhospitable conditions, offers terrorists natural camouflage.
• Their use of stealth tactics, advanced communication gear, and minimal interaction with locals makes them exceptionally difficult to detect and engage.
• The Indian Army has already lost over 50 personnel in similar pursuits across regions like Poonch, Rajouri, and Doda.

Counter-Infiltration: A Strategic Priority

• Given the difficulties in tracking terrorists once they cross over, strengthening the anti-infiltration grid is critical.
• This includes advanced fencing, robust intelligence networks, and skilled manpower.
• As infiltration from within Kashmir has reduced, external infiltrators now pose the primary threat, accounting for 60% of terrorists neutralized in 2024.

Effectiveness and Status of Border Fencing

• The LoC is mostly fenced, and the 2003 ceasefire saw a sharp drop in successful infiltration attempts.
• However, challenges remain — particularly in plugging riverine gaps and maintaining fences during harsh winters.
• Progress on the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), designed to modernize surveillance, has been slower than expected.

Operational Difficulties and Technological Gaps

• Snow, fog, and rugged terrain severely impact physical infrastructure and soldier deployment.
• Repairing damaged fences can take months, during which terrorists exploit gaps.
• While high-tech tools like night-vision devices and ground sensors help, they are hampered by weather, power shortages, and limited durability.

Need for Smart Surveillance and Investment

• Experts emphasize the need for smart fencing solutions, such as sensor-enabled barriers that notify command centers upon breach.
• Developing snow-resistant infrastructure, tunnel detection systems, and real-time aerial surveillance is vital.
• Though expensive, such upgrades are deemed necessary to secure India’s borders effectively.

4. Keel Laying of Fourth Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Yard (3040)

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2124194)

Key Highlights of the Announcement

• The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition.
• GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd), a key defense PSU, is building 4 out of 11 NGOPVs, with 7 being constructed by GSL (Goa Shipyard Ltd).
• The vessels will have a displacement of approximately 3000 tonnes and are designed for multipurpose maritime roles.

About NGOPVs (Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels)

• Functionality: Designed for Coastal Defence, Surveillance, Search and Rescue (SAR), Protection of Offshore Assets, and Anti-Piracy Missions.
• Strategic Role: Enhances India’s maritime security apparatus and blue water navy ambitions.
• Technology: Built with modern navigation and communication systems to support long-range patrols.
• Production Approach: Reflects decentralized and phased manufacturing between lead and follow shipyards.

Significance under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’

Challenges and Way Forward

• Timely Delivery: Adherence to project timelines is crucial to avoid cost overruns.
• Technological Ecosystem: Need for sustained R&D in naval systems and materials.
• Private Sector Involvement: Encouraging PPP in defense manufacturing can diversify capabilities.

Prelims Facts

1. Global Pandemic Treaty

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained , Page – 17)

Analysis of the news:            

Background: Why a Pandemic Treaty Was Needed

• The COVID-19 pandemic exposed stark global inequalities in health response — especially in vaccine distribution.
• Wealthier countries hoarded supplies while lower-income nations were left vulnerable.
• Studies revealed that over a million lives could have been saved with equitable vaccine access.
• The treaty emerged from this crisis to ensure fairer global cooperation and preparedness during future pandemics.

Key Provisions of the Draft Treaty

The treaty introduces a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, requiring:

• Pharmaceutical companies to allocate 10% of pandemic-related products (vaccines, drugs, diagnostics) to the WHO, and another 10% at affordable prices.
  
  
• Governments to support technology transfer to developing countries.
  
  
• Publicly funded R&D to include provisions ensuring equitable global access to resulting medical solutions.
  
  

Legal Nature and Limitations

Despite being legally binding, the treaty lacks enforcement mechanisms:

• It explicitly states that WHO cannot override national laws or enforce mandates like lockdowns, travel bans, or vaccine requirements.
  
  
• Sovereignty remains intact, limiting WHO’s role to coordination and advocacy, not imposition.
• This could undermine its effectiveness during real-time crises.

Challenges and Criticism

1. Absence of the US: The U.S., a major pharmaceutical player, has not endorsed the treaty, weakening its global influence.
   
   
2. Private Sector Concerns: Industry leaders warn that weakened intellectual property protections could discourage investment in pandemic R&D.
   
   
3. Operational Uncertainty: Key systems like the PABS mechanism lack clarity on implementation and logistics.

check more – 24 April 2025 : Daily Current Affairs