Daily Current Affairs | March 17 2025 |

1) India’s Infodemic Problem

• In this age of information, differentiating truth from lies is becoming harder. India, with over 95.04 crores internet users, is at the centre of a growing problem: fake news.

• This rising trend of fake/false information is termed ‘infodemic’.

• There are two kinds of false information:

  • Misinformation, which is shared by mistake, and

  • Disinformation, spread intentionally to deceive people.

Situation in India

• Covid Misinformation - 214% rise in misinformation during the pandemic, India having for 1 in 6 fake news pieces globally.

• Hate Speech - As per UNESCO-Ipsos survey, 85% of urban Indians report encountering online hate speech, with 64% blaming social media.

• Fake News - As per ‘NewsChecker’ report 38% of fake news originates from verified pages.

• Deepfakes interfering with electoral process.

Factors Behind this Infodemic

• Rise of AI - Deepfake videos, manipulated audio, and AI-generated propaganda deceive users.

• Confirmation Bias and Echo Chambers - AI-driven recommendation systems reinforce biases and promote fake narratives which people believe due to ‘confirmation bias’.

• Unregulated Social Media Platforms

• Weak Fact Checking Regime - ECI lacks resources to counter election-related fake news.

• Some Political Actors Using It - Fake news is weaponised during elections to manipulate voter sentiment.

Way Forward

• A comprehensive digital disinformation law.

• Introduce legal accountability for social media platforms. Eg- Germany’s NetzDG law.

• Nationwide media literacy campaigns. Eg - Finland

• More resources with ECI for stronger monitoring of election media landscape.

2) Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs

• The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district will soon be the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state, after Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple.

• It was one of the 6 Indian sites added in UNESCO’s tentative list.

About Menhirs

• A menhir is a standing or an upright stone, which is usually tapered at the top.

• It is man-made, in that it is sculpted and placed by humans.

• The largest surviving menhir, the Grand Menhir Brisé or the Great Broken Menhir in Brittany, France, once stood at 20.6 m tall.

• The term ‘menhir’ is derived from the Brittonic “maen” meaning “stone”, & “hîr” meaning “long”, and entered the archaeological lexicon in the late 18th century.

Where are they Found ?

• Found in France, Spain, Portugal, and Britain (e.g., Grand Menhir Brisé in Brittany, France).

• In India, they are found in Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Northeast India.

• Mudumal Menhirs are considered to be India’s largest megalithic observatory.

• Purpose of Mudumal Menhirs :

  • Some stones are aligned with solar positions on solstices, hinting at astronomical significance.

  • Some were used for ceremonial, religious and burial purposes.

3) Hyperloop Technology in India

• Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the electronics component technology for the Hyperloop project would be developed at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

• The Minister claimed that the 410-meter-long Hyperloop test tube at IIT Madras is the longest Hyperloop testing facility in Asia.

Hyperloop Technology

• Originally popularised by Elon Musk in 2012, it is a transportation system in which pods/trains travel in low pressure tubes using magnetic levitation(Maglev).

• Maglev - Use of powerful magnets to levitate and propel the train forward, eliminating friction and enabling high speeds.

• Components - low pressure tubes to eliminate air drag and Magnetic levitation allowing pods to hover & propel forward.

• Benefits - Low emissions, low noise pollution, energy efficient, reduce congestion on other modes.

Examples

• The Shanghai Maglev, or Shanghai Transrapid, is a commercial high-speed maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China, using German Transrapid technology.

• Japan is developing a high-speed maglev line that will connect Tokyo and Osaka, with the potential to reach speeds of over 500 km/h.

• As of 2024, there are a few operational maglev lines in China, South Korea, and Japan.

• The technology is still under development.

• Hyperloop Project India :

  • IIT Madras Avishkar Hyperloop Team – Leading the project. It has completed a 410-meter Hyperloop test track

  • Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai – Developing electronics and technical components.

4) Digital Transformation Award for RBI

• RBI has won the Digital Transformation Award 2025, presented by Central Banking, London. The Award recognises excellence in digital innovation & technology-driven governance.

• Awarded to - Central banks, Financial regulators, and Monetary institutions that have successfully implemented digital reforms.

• RBI won this award for ‘SAARATHI’ & ‘PRAVAAH’ Initiatives.

‘Saarathi’ & ‘Pravaah’

• SAARATHI - It has fully digitised RBI's internal workflow, allowing employees to securely submit and share documents. Improves record management, data analysis, task tracking, collaboration.

• PRAVAAH - A digital platform for external users to submit regulatory applications to RBI. The documents submitted through Pravaah are automatically linked to the Saarathi database.

• Benefits - Reduced Paperwork & increased efficiency.

5) 10th Edition of Raisina Dialogue

• The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from March 17-19, 2025, focusing on global security, diplomacy, and emerging geopolitical trends.

• Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship international conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, organized annually.

• It was started in 2016 by Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

• Theme for 2025 - “Kalachakra” (Wheel of Time) – exploring geopolitical transformations and global uncertainties.

Objectives

• Security Cooperation - High-level participation from global leaders, diplomats, and experts, and discussions on diplomacy, global security, geopolitics & geoeconomics.

• India’s Global Stature - Enhances India’s role as a key player in international affairs.

• Emerging Issues - Focus on emerging challenges in security, technology, and governance.