UPSC Prelims Facts - 6 June 2025 - Gokulam Seek IAS Academy

Table of Contents

Northern Sea Route (NSR)

India has proposed to conduct a joint feasibility study for operationalising the Northern Sea Route (NSR) with Norwegian agencies.

A shipping route in the Arctic Ocean, connecting Europe and Asia, passing through Russia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Strategic Importance: Shortens the Asia-Europe trade route from 21,000 km (via Suez Canal) to 13,000 km, reducing fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.
Challenges: Harsh climate, ice-covered waters, need for icebreakers, and environmental concerns due to melting Arctic ice.
Geopolitical Significance: Russia and China are investing in NSR infrastructure, raising concerns about Arctic dominance and global trade shifts.

Study in exposomics can help to get a better picture of disease causes and prevention strategies

The study of environmental exposures affecting human health over a lifetime, including chemical, physical, and biological factors.
Health Impact: Helps identify disease risks linked to air pollution, toxins, diet, and lifestyle, aiding in preventive healthcare.
Application: Used in epidemiology, toxicology, and public health to understand gene-environment interactions.
India’s Concern: India accounts for 25% of global environmental disease burden, making exposomics crucial for policy-making and health risk assessments.

Pakistan will chair Taliban Sanctions Committee and vice chair the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Purpose: Established by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 1988 to impose sanctions on Taliban-linked entities, including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes.
Current Leadership: Pakistan chairs the committee in 2025, with Guyana and Russia as vice-chairs, raising concerns about Pakistan’s role in counter-terrorism.
Sanctions Scope: Targets individuals, groups, and organizations that threaten Afghanistan’s peace and security.
Geopolitical Implications: India has consistently highlighted Pakistan’s harboring of UN-designated terrorists, questioning its credibility in enforcing sanctions.

Election Commission of India launched ECINET App for timely voter turnout reporting.

Purpose: A real-time voter turnout reporting app launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to enhance electoral transparency.
Functionality: Allows Presiding Officers (PROs) to enter voter turnout data every two hours, reducing manual reporting delays.
Integration: Part of ECI’s digital transformation, merging 40+ election-related apps into a single platform.
Impact: Improves polling efficiency, data accuracy, and public trust in elections, especially for Bihar elections and future polls.

Recent U.S. experiment results show muons behaving unusually, providing intriguing insights into fundamental laws of physics

Subatomic particles similar to electrons, but 207 times heavier, created by cosmic rays colliding with Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientific Importance: Used in particle physics, muon tomography, and archaeology to scan large structures like pyramids.
Applications: Helps in nuclear detection, climate studies, and probing deep underground structures.
Recent Research: Scientists are using muons to study ancient fortresses, improving non-invasive scanning techniques