Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 10th January 2025

Future of Jobs Report 2025:

Artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and security management specialists will be the fastest-growing jobs, showed the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025.

• It has been published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• It is a result of data gathered from more than 1,000 leading global companies, collectively representing over 14 million workers across 22 industry sectors and 55 economies from across the world.

Highlights:

• Job disruption will equate to 22 percent of jobs by 2030.
• It says 170 million new jobs will be created and 92 million jobs will be displaced, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs by 2030.
• Technological change, geoeconomics fragmentation, economic uncertainty, demographic shifts, and the green transition, individually and in combination, are among the major drivers expected to shape and transform the global labour market by 2030.
• AI and machine learning, software and application developers, and FinTech engineers figured among the fastest-growing jobs in percentage terms.
• Meanwhile, frontline job roles are predicted to witness the largest growth in absolute terms of volume.
• These include farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, salesperson, food processing workers, care economy jobs like nursing professionals, social work, etc.
• However, traditional roles such as graphic designers and administrative assistants face steep declines due to automation.
• It stated that the skill gap is the most significant hurdle for business transformation in these companies.
• Nearly 40% of the skills required for future jobs will be new or evolving, requiring workers to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
• The WEF emphasises that 59% of the global workforce will need reskilling or upskilling by 2030 to remain competitive.
• It mentioned the top 10 fastest-growing skills by 2030. It said Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data will emerge at the top of the list, followed by networks and cybersecurity.
• Technological literacy will be the third fastest-growing skill by 2030, followed by creativity in the fourth spot and resilience, flexibility, and agility in the fifth position.
• Companies increasingly turn to AI-driven tools to handle routine tasks, reshaping the employment landscape.
  41% of companies also plan workforce reductions as automation becomes more pervasive.

AnemiaPhone : New Technology

AnemiaPhone, a technology developed by Cornell University researchers, has been transferred to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for integration into its programmes.

• It is a technology developed by Cornell University (United States) researchers to accurately, quickly and cheaply assess iron deficiency.
• It has been transferred to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for integration into its programmes for anemia alleviation, women’s health, and maternal and child health.
• AnemiaPhone would enable access to rapid screening and diagnosis of iron deficiency at the point of need.
• Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia, which affects 50% to 70% of pregnant women in India.
• The technology requires a small finger stick, a drop of blood on a test strip similar to a COVID-19 home test, and a few minutes for the reader to assess.
• The information is uploaded to a clinical database via mobile phone, wireless tablet, or computer.
• Healthcare workers can interpret the test and provide guidance, triage and referral, or intervention on the spot.

Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet:

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) signed a Multi-Donor Trust Fund with International Solar Alliance aiming to mobilize $100 million to fund high-impact solar energy projects.

Initiatives announced by GEAPP:

• GEAPP has strengthened its partnership with International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing ISA’s, Multi-Donor Trust Fund which aims to mobilize $100 million to fund high-impact solar energy projects.
• GEAPP, through its Project Management Unit, supports ISA by providing governance oversight, facilitating fundraising efforts, and leveraging its expertise in energy transition planning, financing, and project implementation.
• DUET (Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition) is a program focused on the digitalization of grid systems through the development of a technology suite in which all grid assets are digitally captured (including geo-coordinates, specifications, etc.) and integrated with live smart sensors for real-time data.
• The system will conduct load flow analysis and real-time tracking of voltage, current, and phase data to reduce transmission and distribution losses.
• ENTICE 2.0 (Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge) is a platform designed to identify, nurture, and scale innovative solutions that have the potential to accelerate India’s startup ecosystem and help achieve its sustainability goals.
• First launched in 2023, ENTICE aims to help scale innovations for the energy transition by facilitating access to funding, market linkages and mentorship.
• ENTICE 2.0 will kickstart in January 2025, and will go beyond the scope of ENTICE 1.0 by focusing on supporting and scaling investable opportunities.

Gravitational Lensing Found 44 New Stars:

Physicists studying a distant galaxy using a telescopic technique called “gravitational lensing” found 44 new stars.

• Gravitational Lensing occurs when a massive celestial body, such as a galaxy cluster, causes a sufficient curvature of spacetime for the path of light around it to be visibly bent, as if by a lens. The body causing the light to curve is accordingly called a gravitational lens.
• It was first predicted in 1915 by Albert Einstein, through his General Theory of Relativity.
• According to this theory, time and space are fused together in a quantity known as spacetime.
• Massive objects cause spacetime to curve. Gravity is simply the curvature of spacetime.
• As light travels through spacetime, the theory predicts that the path taken by the light will also be curved by an object’s mass.
• Thus, gravitational lensing is a dramatic and observable example of Einstein’s theory in action.
• It can make an object shift its apparent position in the sky over Earth, or it can cause a single object to appear at multiple points in the sky, occasionally giving rise to spectacular formations like rings and crosses made from the same object.

Garudakshi:

The Karnataka Forest Department has launched the ‘Garudakshi’ online FIR system to curb forest encroachments, illegal tree-felling, poaching, and unauthorised entry into forest areas.

• Garudakshi is software modelled on the online FIR system to curb wildlife and forest crimes.
• It will be implemented on a pilot basis in the Bengaluru Urban, Bhadravathi, Sirsi and Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary divisions of Karnataka.
• Once the software is implemented, registering FIRs using the Garudakshi portal will be made compulsory.
• It will enable the online handling of forest crime cases under the Forest and Wildlife Protection Acts.
• The portal will auto-generate formats for various reports and complaints.
• The software consists of a Legacy Case Registration Module, Online Forest Offence Registration, Investigation Module and Reporting and Analytics Module.
• The portal will also allow the public to register complaints on forest offences using mobile phones or email addresses.
• It is developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

EmpowHER Biz Initiative:

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, launched EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan in partnership with New Shop, India’s convenience retail chain under its Award to Reward (ATR) program.

• EmpowHER Biz Initiative is a part of Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog, aiming to create a robust retail ecosystem that empowers women entrepreneurs and drives sustainable growth in the sector.
• It will offer mentorship and comprehensive training, covering retail management, digital tools, financial literacy and business development to aspiring women entrepreneurs.
• Under the initiative, 50 participants aged 18–35, will be selected through an online application process based on specific criteria.
• Top 20 of these participants will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees, empowering them to own and operate their retail businesses with significantly reduced barriers to entry.
• The program is being launched for women from Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Neuroptera Species:

Researchers have found two rare Order Neuroptera species, Glenochrysa zeylanica and Indophanes barbara from Kerala.

• Neuroptera is a group of insects commonly called lacewings because of the complex vein patterns in the wings, giving them a lacy appearance.
• Neuropteran adults are terrestrial and mostly associated with the aerial parts of plants, where they settle or hunt for prey.
• Due to their predatory behaviour, they are used in agriculture.
• The voracious feeding capability, as well as active mobile prey-searching behaviour revealed by the larvae of species particularly of Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, and Coniopterygidae makes them active biological control agents of most important pests of agriculture and horticulture.

Soapstone:

The Uttarakhand High Court pulled up the authorities for unregulated soapstone mining in Bageshwar, a district with more than 160 mines at present.Also known as Steatite, it is a metamorphic rock made of talc, a naturally occurring mineral.

Karnataka HC Strikes Down Electricity Rules, 2022:

In the Brindavan Hydropower Private Limited Case, 2024, the Karnataka High Court struck down the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022 (GEOA Rules, 2022), formulated by the Central Government.The Court also struck down the Karnataka Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2022, which were framed by Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) based on the now-invalidated GEOA Rules, 2022.

New ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan:

Dr. V. Narayanan will succeed S. Somanath as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space (DoS), starting 14th January 2025, for a two-year tenure.Narayanan’s Role in ISRO’s 2025 Missions: As ISRO Chairman, Narayanan will oversee the launch of NVS-02 for India’s navigation system, lead the unmanned Gaganyaan mission with Vyommitra, and the Indo-US NISAR satellite launch in March 2025.

Public Distribution System:

Recent reports from states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar highlight the challenges of exclusion, inefficiency, and exploitation in the PDS, affecting marginalized communities such as the Musahars.

Gaddi Dog:

The Gaddi dog, a loyal and resilient shepherd dog from the Himalayas, has been officially recognized as an indigenous breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).Found in: Pir Panjal range, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
Indigenous tag granted by: National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Appointment of Shri Ashish Naithani as Judge of Uttarakhand High Court:

The Central Government appointed Shri Ashish Naithani, a distinguished judicial officer, as a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court. This appointment addresses the current shortfall in the court’s sanctioned strength of 11 judges, as it has been functioning with only 6 judges, leaving 5 vacancies.

Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana:

The Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana is a financial assistance scheme launched by the Jharkhand government to empower women across the state. Initially launched in August 2024 by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the scheme aims to enhance the financial security of women by providing direct cash transfers. This initiative addresses socio-economic challenges, particularly in rural areas, and contributes to the state’s development by improving household income and promoting financial inclusion.

Martin Guptill Announces Retirement from International Cricket:

New Zealand’s prolific opener, Martin Guptill, has officially retired from international cricket, concluding a distinguished 14-year career that began in 2009. Throughout his tenure, Guptill represented the Black Caps in 198 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 122 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and 47 Test matches, amassing a total of 14,877 runs across all formats.

RBI Lifts Lending Restrictions on Asirvad Micro Finance and DMI Finance:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lifted the restrictions imposed on Asirvad Micro Finance Limited and DMI Finance Private Limited, allowing them to resume loan sanctioning and disbursal operations immediately.

Indian microfinance sector has grown by over 2,100% in the past 12 years:

Over the past 12 years, India’s microfinance sector has experienced an extraordinary expansion, with its business increasing from ₹17,264 crore in March 2012 to ₹3.93 lakh crore by November 2024—a growth of over 2,100%. This significant rise underscores the sector’s pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic development across the nation.

Growth forecast of 6.3% for FY25:

The State Bank of India (SBI) has revised its GDP growth forecast for the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) to 6.3%, slightly below the National Statistical Office’s (NSO) projection of 6.4%. This adjustment reflects concerns over a slowdown in lending and manufacturing, coupled with a high base effect from the previous year. Despite these challenges, per capita nominal GDP is expected to increase by ₹35,000 compared to FY23, indicating a positive trend in individual economic well-being

Goa’s ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’:

Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant launched the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’ under the state’s Swayampurna Goa 2.0 initiative. This program aims to empower women by providing them with training and opportunities to become Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) agents, thereby promoting financial literacy and expanding life insurance coverage at the grassroots level.