Daily Current Affairs — 10 July 2025
5 articles • UPSC Prelims & Mains
Optical Atomic Clock
Context Researchers from six countries have conducted the world’s largest and most accurate comparison of optical atomic clocks across three continents. What is the Current Definition of a Second? Present Standard (since 1967): One second equals the time taken for 9,192,631,770 cycles of radiation produced by the caesium-133 atom when it changes between two energy states.
Starlink Receives India's Final Regulatory Nod for Launch
Context Indias space regulator INSPACe has granted a licence to Elon Musk-run Starlink to offer space-based internet services in the country. About Starlink has been waiting since 2022 for licences to operate commercially in India. It would be the third company to receive Indias nod to enter the space after Eutelsats OneWeb and Reliance Jio.
Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds)
Context Recently experts have advocated for India to consider catastrophe bonds (cat bonds) as a financial instrument to manage disaster risk and post-disaster reconstruction costs. What is a Cat Bond? Cat bonds are a unique hybrid insurance-cum-debt financial product that transforms insurance cover into a tradable security.
BRICS Condemned European Union’s CBAM
Context BRICS nations have “condemned and rejected” the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) of the European Union (EU) and similar restrictive trade measures, saying they undermine their transition to a cleaner economy. CBAM CBAM is an import duty imposed by the European Union (EU) on goods produced by processes that lead to more carbon emissions than domestic European manufacturers are allowed to emit. It is introduced to put a “fair price” on carbon-intensive goods imported from non-EU
Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Fragility of Public Infrastructure in India
Context The recent collapse of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge over Gujarat’s Mahisagar (Mahi) river has once again exposed the alarming fragility of public infrastructure of India. Proposed Reform Structural Governance Reforms: Treat urban infrastructure as core national infrastructure to unlock long-term capital. Create unified, tech-enabled urban governance bodies for integrated planning.