News in Shorts: 19 July 2025

Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)

Context: The Indian Navy is set to participate in the 32nd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) in Singapore later this month. 

• The Eastern Fleet  includes INS Delhi (destroyer), INS Satpura (frigate), INS Kiltan (corvette), and INS Shakti (fleet tanker).
• The naval visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore bilateral ties.

About SIMBEX

• SIMBEX is one of India’s longest uninterrupted bilateral naval exercises, conducted annually with the Republic of Singapore Navy.
• Initially called Exercise Lion King, it has evolved significantly over the last three decades.
• Evolved from a focus on anti-submarine warfare to include broader roles such as maritime security, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare.
• Conducted in Two Phases
  • Harbour Phase – Involves Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sailing coordination.
  • Sea Phase – Features advanced naval Drills  including live weapon firings, anti- submarine warfare (ASW) training, anti-surface and anti-air operations, seamanship evolutions, and tactical manoeuvres.

Allographa Effusosoredica

Context: A new species of lichen, Allographa effusosoredica, has been discovered in the Western Ghats, revealing significant insights into symbiosis, evolution, and biodiversity in this ecologically rich region.

• The species was identified by scientists from MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.
• It was part of a research project funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) (formerly SERB).

What are Lichens?

• Lichens are a symbiotic association between algae (phycobiont) and fungi (mycobiont). 
• The algae, being autotrophic, produce food, while the fungi, being heterotrophic, offer shelter and absorb water and minerals. 
• Their partnership is so integrated that they appear as a single organism. Lichens are also excellent indicators of air quality, as they do not thrive in polluted environments.
• Lichens are broadly classified into three main types based on their structure: Foliose, Fruticose, and Crustose.

Allographa effusosoredica

• Allographa effusosoredica is a crustose lichen with effuse soredia and contains norstictic acid, a rare chemical trait not commonly found in morphologically similar species in the Allographa genus.
• The algal partner was identified as a Trentepohlia species, contributing to the limited understanding of photobiont diversity in tropical lichens.
• The morphology of A. effusosoredica mimics Graphis glaucescens, raising questions about evolutionary boundaries within the Graphidaceae family.

Significance

• This is the first Indian species of Allographa to be supported by molecular data.
• The study supports the theory of locally adapted photobionts, highlighting regional ecological specificity.
• It contributes to India’s growing lichen inventory:
  • A. effusosoredica is the 53rd Allographa species reported from India
  • The 22nd from the Western Ghats alone

8th Economic Census

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed conducting the 16th Population Census and 8th Economic Census jointly to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

• This will mark the third instance of joint execution:
  • 2nd Economic Census (1980) aligned with 1981 Population Census
  • 3rd Economic Census (1990) aligned with 1991 Population Census
• The upcoming economic census will use an end-to-end digital data collection and processing system, according to MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg.
• The 7th Economic Census (conducted 2019–2021) has not yet been released, reportedly due to data quality issues and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the Economic Census ?

• The Economic Census is a comprehensive count of all non-farm economic establishments within the country’s geographical boundaries.
• The data is extensively used by government and non-government agencies for research, analysis, and policy formulation. 
• It plays a key role in designing development strategies related to economic growth and employment generation.

History

• The First Economic Census was conducted in 1977, excluding Lakshadweep, in coordination with States/UTs.
• It covered non-agricultural establishments with at least one hired worker, collecting information on activity type, workforce, and ownership.
• Subsequent censuses were held in 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005, and the 6th in 2013.

Wimbledon 2025

Context:  Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon 2025 final to win his maiden title  in Men’s Singles Final, marking his  fourth Grand Slam victory

• Iga Swiatek won her first Wimbledon title by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the women’s singles final.
• This was only the second time in the Open Era a Grand Slam final ended with a double bagel, and the first such instance at Wimbledon.

Winners of 2025 Edition

• Men’s Singles – Jannik Sinner (Italy)
• Women’s Singles – Iga Świątek (Poland)
• Men’s Doubles – Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspool (Great Britain)
• Women’s Doubles – Veronika Kudermetova (Russia) & Elise Mertens (Belgium)
• Mixed Doubles – Sem Verbeek (Netherlands) & Kateřina Siniaková (Czech Republic)

About Wimbledon

• Wimbledon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament.
• It takes place annually in late June and early July in Wimbledon, London, UK.
• One of the four Grand Slam events, it is the only one still played on natural grass courts.
• The first edition was held in 1877, starting with only the men’s singles.

Grand Slam Tournaments

• The Grand Slam refers to the four major annual tennis tournaments, each lasting about two weeks.
• Australian Open: Held in mid-January; played on hard courts.
• French Open (Roland Garros): Held in May–June; played on clay courts.
• Wimbledon: Held in June–July; played on natural grass courts.
• US Open: Held in August–September; played on hard courts.

Top 3 Men – Grand Slam Titles (Singles)

1. Novak Djokovic – 24 titles   
2. Rafael Nadal – 22 titles
3. Roger Federer – 20 titles

Top 3 Women – Grand Slam Titles (Singles)

1. Margaret Court – 24 titles
2. Serena Williams – 23 titles
3. Steffi Graf – 22 titles

Slovenia

Context: Recently,  Slovenia’s Parliament passed a law legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults following majority public support in a referendum.

Location and Political Overview

• Slovenia is a Central European country, located in both the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres with the capital at Ljubljana.
• It shares borders with Austria (north), Hungary (northeast), Italy (west), and Croatia (southeast).
• To the southwest, Slovenia has a 47-km coastline along the Adriatic Sea.
• is the capital and largest city, serving as the cultural, economic, and administrative hub.

Geography and Physical Features

• Slovenia covers an area of 20,271 sq. km, with over 40% of its land being mountainous.
• Mountains: The Julian, Kamnik-Savinja, Karavanke, and Pohorje Alps dominate the north and northwest, including Triglav Peak (2,864 m), the highest point.
• Major rivers: The Drava, Sava, and Mura, flow through fertile valleys in the Subpannonian region.
• The Kras (Karst) region, a part of the Dinaric Alps, features caves and underground rivers.
• The Slovene Littoral holds the country’s short Adriatic coastline.
• Forests cover over 50% of Slovenia’s territory, ranking it third most forested in Europe.
• Slovenia is a member of the European Union (EU) and has adopted the Euro and is also a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ensuring its role in regional security and cooperation.

US designates The Resistance Front as Terrorist Organisation

Context: Recently, the United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation.

• The decision came three months after TRF claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 tourists and a local ponywala.

About the Resistance Front (TRF)

• Origins and Affiliation: TRF is widely seen as a shadow outfit of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
  • Formed post-abrogation of Article 370 (August 5, 2019) to give militancy in Kashmir an “indigenous appearance”.
  • TRF emerged when Pakistan was under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list scrutiny; hence, new names like TRF and People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) were floated to avoid direct attribution to LeT/Jaish.
• First Known Attack: In October 2019, TRF claimed responsibility for a grenade attack in Srinagar, soon after the Article 370 revocation protests.
  • Rapid Rise: By mid-2020, TRF became a prominent name in Kashmir’s terrorism landscape.
• Operational Strategy: TRF operates jointly with other terror outfits; the boundaries between groups are blurred.
  • Uses different aliases like Kashmir Fight, Kashmir Tigers, etc., but cadres remain the same.

Impact of United States designation of TRF as a Terrorist Organisation

• Asset Freezing: All TRF assets under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen; allies may follow suit, curbing financial operations.
• Ban on Material Support: It’s illegal for U.S. persons to provide funds, training, shelter, or other support — cutting logistical and operational links.
• Travel and Visa Restrictions: TRF members face U.S. travel bans, restricting international mobility and coordination.
• Global Financial Scrutiny: Banks worldwide likely to flag and block suspicious transactions, isolating TRF from global financial networks.

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