Today's Brief 16/05/2025

1 .Ajay Kumar:

General Studies-II (250 marks) Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations   

Former Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, a retired 1985 batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) by President Droupadi Murmu.

The constitutional basis for the appointment of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman, such as the recent appointment of Ajay Kumar, is primarily found within Part XIV of the Constitution of India,

specifically in the chapter titled "Public Service Commissions" encompassing Articles 315 to 323. Foremost among these is Article 316, which addresses the "Appointment and term of office of members."

Clause (1) of this article explicitly grants the power of appointment of the Chairman and other members of the UPSC to the President of India.

Therefore, the appointment of Ajay Kumar aligns directly with the authority vested in the President under Article 316(1).

This article is part of a larger constitutional framework that establishes the UPSC (Article 315), outlines the process for removal and suspension of members (Article 317),

allows for regulations regarding conditions of service (Article 318), and defines the functions of the Public Service Commissions (Article 320), all contributing to the independent and effective functioning of this crucial institution.

2 .Tuberculosis (TB),

General Studies-III (250 marks) Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a contagious disease primarily affecting the lungs but capable of spreading to other parts of the body.

Transmission occurs through airborne droplets released when individuals with active pulmonary TB cough, sneeze, speak, or sing. Infection can manifest as latent TB infection (LTBI), where the bacteria are present but inactive and non-contagious, or as active TB disease, characterized by multiplying bacteria, symptoms like a persistent cough, chest pain, weight loss, fever, and contagiousness.

Diagnosis involves methods such as the tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma release assays, chest X-rays, and the definitive sputum smear microscopy and culture.

3 .Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai today took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

4 .International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12th, is a global celebration honoring the incredible contributions and dedication of nurses worldwide. This date marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (born May 12, 1820), the founder of modern nursing.

Each year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) sets a theme for the day.

For 2025, the theme is "Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies." 

5 .Kosmos 482

General Studies-III (250 marks) Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Launched on March 31, 1972, Kosmos 482 was a Soviet spacecraft intended to journey to Venus as part of the Venera program.

However, a critical failure in its upper stage rocket shortly after liftoff prevented the probe from attaining the velocity required for its interplanetary trajectory, leaving it stranded in Earth orbit.

Over time, the spacecraft's orbit gradually decayed due to atmospheric drag, leading to its eventual re-entry and disintegration.

The increasing amount of space debris orbiting Earth is a growing concern due to the significant risks it poses to operational satellites, the International Space Station, and future space missions.

This debris, ranging from defunct satellites and spent rocket stages to fragments from collisions and even small paint flecks, travels at incredibly high speeds. .

The accumulation of debris elevates the probability of collisions, which can, in turn, generate even more fragments, leading to a dangerous cascading effect known as the Kessler Syndrome.

This scenario could eventually render certain orbital regions unusable, hindering our ability to monitor the planet, maintain communication networks, and conduct crucial scientific research.

The dangers extend beyond just damaging satellites. The International Space Station has had to perform numerous avoidance maneuvers to evade collisions with space junk, consuming fuel and potentially shortening its operational life.

Furthermore, as more debris populates Earth's orbit, the risk of larger fragments surviving atmospheric re-entry and potentially causing damage or harm on the ground also increases, although the majority of re-entering debris burns up or falls into the ocean.

The long-term environmental impacts are also being studied, with concerns about potential atmospheric pollution from re-entering spacecraft.

6 .The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 1957 in Vienna, Austria, stands as the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field.

Born from the "Atoms for Peace" initiative,

its dual mandate is to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health, and prosperity globally, while simultaneously ensuring that this assistance is not used for military purposes.

As an autonomous organization within the United Nations family, reporting to both the General Assembly and the Security Council, the IAEA plays a critical role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in diverse areas like medicine, agriculture, and energy, while also implementing safeguards to verify the peaceful nature of nuclear programs.

With 173 member states, including founding member India, the agency, along with its former Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, was recognized with the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts against nuclear proliferation and for the safe and secure use of nuclear energy.

Through its policymaking bodies, the General Conference and the Board of Governors, and its operational arm, the Secretariat led by Director General Rafael Mariano Gross the IAEA works tirelessly to advance nuclear safety and security, provide technical cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of nuclear knowledge,

making it an indispensable pillar of the international community in navigating the complexities of the nuclear age.

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