Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 29th January 2025

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana : Extend

The Union government has decided to expand the ambit of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana to include crop damage by animals as a ground for payouts, a long-standing demand by farmers, an official said recently.

• Launched on 18th February 2016, PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture.
• It aims to provide financial protection to farmers against crop loss due to natural disasters (hail, drought, famine), pests, and diseases.
• It provides crop insurance at a cost-effective premium to all Indian farmers.
• It is implemented through a network of insurance companies and banks.
• Objectives:
  • To provide financial assistance and support to farmers suffering from crop damage or loss arising out of unforeseen events
  • To stabilise the income of farmers and ensure continuance in farming
  • To encourage the farmers to adopt modern and innovative agricultural practices
  • To ensure crop diversification, and creditworthiness of the farmers, enhance growth, and competitiveness of the agriculture sector and protect the farmers from production risks
• All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, growing the notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage.
• All farmers availing Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from Financial Institutions (i.e. loanee farmers) for the notified crops would be covered compulsorily.
• Voluntary Component: The Scheme would be optional for the non-loanee farmers.
• Farmers must have an insurable interest in the insured crops.
  Farmers must possess a valid and authenticated land ownership certificate or a valid land tenure agreement.
• Farmers must not have received compensation for the same crop loss from any other medium or source.
• Special efforts shall be made to ensure maximum coverage of SC/ST/Women farmers under the scheme.
• Budget allocation and utilization under this scheme should be in proportion to land holdings of SC/ ST/ General along with women in the respective State cluster.

Baltic Sea : In News

Sweden recently seized a ship suspected of having damaged a fibre-optic cable under the Baltic Sea linking the country to Latvia.

• Baltic Sea is one of the seas of the Atlantic Ocean, situated in Northern Europe.
• It is the youngest sea on the earth, emerging some 10,000-15,000 years ago as the glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age.
• It is approximately 1,600 km long and 193 km wide, covering an area of approximately 377,000 sq.km.
• It has a coastline of approximately 8,000 km, shared by several countries, including Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Denmark and Russia.
• It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Danish Straits, to the White Sea via the White Sea Canal and to the North Sea’s German Bight via Kiel Canal.
• The Baltic Sea contains three major gulfs: the Gulf of Bothnia to the north, the Gulf of Finland to the east, and the Gulf of Riga slightly to the south of that.
• It is often cited as the world’s largest brackish inland water body.
• Its water salinity levels are lower than that of the World Oceans due to the inflow of fresh water from the surrounding land and the sea’s shallowness.
• There are about 60 rivers draining into the Baltic Sea. Neva is the largest river amongst them.
• It is home to over 20 islands and archipelagos. Gotland, located off the coast of Sweden, is the largest island in the Baltic Sea.
• Algal Harmful Blooms are also one of the issues that affect the Baltic Sea.

Nagoba Jatara : Holy Pilgrimage

Nagoba Jatara, the eight-day holy pilgrimage event of Mesram clan Adivasi Gonds, is slated to start at Keslapur village in north Telangana’s tribal heartland of Indervelli mandal in Adilabad district.

• Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in January/February in Keslapur village, Adilabad district,
• It is the second biggest tribal festival in India, after the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, held also in Telangana.
• It is celebrated for 10 days by the Mesaram clan of Gond tribes.
• Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesaram clan offer prayers at the festival.
• The chief deity at the festival is the ‘Nagoba’ (Sri Shek – Cobra).
• Few elder members of the Mesram clan go barefoot to the River Godavari a few days before the Jatara, bring holy water, and keep it near the Banyan Tree in front of the Nagoba Temple.
• The Jatara includes a ‘Bheting’ ceremony, where new brides are introduced into the clan. New brides come in possession wearing white saris and are led by the elder women to worship the Nagoba, after which they are recognized as a full-fledged member of the clan.
• The Gusadi Dance performance by dancers from the Gond tribe is a major special attraction of the event.

WASP-127b : Recent Study

Scientists recently detected ‘supersonic winds’ travelling at a speed of 33,000 km per hour on a giant gaseous planet named WASP-127b.

• WASP-127b is a large gaseous exoplanet, located in our Milky Way galaxy.
• It is approximately 520 light-years from the earth in a tight orbit around a star similar to our sun.
• It orbits its star roughly every four days at just about 5% of the distance between the earth and the sun, leaving it scorched by stellar radiation.
• Like our moon is to the earth, one side of WASP-127b perpetually faces its star—the day side. The other side always faces away—the night side.
• Its atmosphere is about 1,127 degrees Celsius, with its polar regions less hot than the rest.
• Its diameter is about 30% larger than Jupiter’s, but its mass is only about 16% that of Jupiter’s, making it one of the puffiest planets ever observed.
• Like Jupiter, WASP-127b is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, but its atmosphere also contains traces of more complex molecules such as carbon monoxide and water.
• It is a gas giant planet, which means that it has no rocky or solid surface beneath its atmospheric layers.
• The supersonic jet stream winds circling WASP-127b at its equator are the fastest of their kind on any known planet.

Etikoppaka Toys : Praised In Republic Day parade

Andhra Pradesh’s eco-friendly wooden Etikoppaka Toys earn accolades at Republic Day parade.

• Etikoppaka Toys they are the exquisite wooden toys rooted in a 400-year-old tradition of craftsmanship.
• They originated in Etikoppaka village in Andhra
• The toys are renowned for their smooth contours and vibrant colours, coloured with natural dyes derived from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots and leaves.
• The artisans mainly use the wood from trees known as ‘ankudu’ (Wrightia tinctoria) that is soft in nature.
• These toys have no sharp edges. They are rounded on all sides.
• In 2017, the toys received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a hallmark of their authenticity and cultural significance.
• GI tag:
  • It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
  • In India, GI registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
  • The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.

Fentanyl:

The US President Donald Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports as fentanyl is being sent from China to the US via Mexico and Canada.

• Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (for pain relief) and anesthetic (for surgery).
• It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.
• Its overdoses can cause stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis (blue skin), coma and respiratory failure leading to death.

Wetland Accredited Cities:

Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to join the global list of wetland accredited cities.

• Wetland Accredited Cities (WCA) is a voluntary accreditation scheme, which provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
• It was approved during the Ramsar Convention COP12 held in the year 2015.
• It aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
• It recognizes cities that have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands.
• To be formally accredited, a candidate for WCA should satisfy the standards used to implement each of the six international criteria mentioned in Operational Guidance for WCA of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• The accreditation is valid for 6 years, after which it must be renewed, providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria.
• Since Ramsar COP13, 74 cities from 17 countries have been officially recognized as “Wetland Cities”.

Enhanced Certificates of Origin 2.0 System:

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has launched the enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System.

• Enhanced Certificates of Origin 2.0 System is an upgrade designed to simplify the certification process for exporters and enhance trade efficiency.
• It offers several user-friendly features, such as multi-user access, which enables exporters to authorize multiple users under a single Importer Exporter Code (IEC).
• Additionally, the system now supports Aadhaar-based e-signing alongside digital signature tokens, providing greater flexibility.
• An integrated dashboard offers exporters seamless access to enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) services, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) information, trade events, and other resources.
• The platform also introduces an in-lieu Certificate of Origin feature, allowing exporters to request corrections to previously issued certificates through an easy online application process.
• The platform processes over 7,000 eCoOs daily, including both preferential and non-preferential certificates, connecting 125 issuing agencies which includes 110 national and regional chambers of commerce & industry
• Certificates of Origin is a single access point for all exporters, for all FTAs/PTAs and for all agencies concerned.
• The electronic filing of Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin has become mandatory via the eCoO 2.0 platform, and is available to exporters at https:// trade.gov.in under the “Get Certificate of Origin” section.
• The platform has been designed and developed by DGFT and Regional & Multilateral Trade Relations (RMTR) Division, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Iron Age and and Urbanization:

A report titled ‘Antiquity of Iron: Recent Radiometric Dates from Tamil Nadu’, claims that use of iron in Tamil Nadu dates back to the first quarter of the 4th millennium BCE. The Iron Age is a prehistoric period that followed the Bronze Age, characterized by the widespread use of iron for tools, weapons, and other implements.Iron metallurgy involves multiple stages, including ore procurement and manufacturing tools. The Iron Age in India is believed to have emerged between 1500 and 2000 BCE, closely following the Indus Valley Civilisation (Bronze Age).

Rat-Hole Mining:

The rat-hole mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, where nine miners were trapped after a flood in an illegal coal mine, highlights the persistent dangers of unregulated mining despite existing bans.Also, biomining is being conducted at the Koottupatha trenching ground in Palakkad, Kerala.Rat-hole mining is a primitive, crude, labor-intensive and hazardous method of coal mining.It involves digging of very small tunnels, usually only 3-4 feet deep and 2 to 3 feet wide into the ground, in which workers, more often children, enter and extract coal.It is typically practiced in northeastern India, particularly in Meghalaya and Assam.

PM YASASVI Scheme:

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment addressed student beneficiaries of the PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) scheme on Republic Day 2025.Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it provides financial aid for quality education to marginalized students.It is open to OBC, Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and DNT students with family income up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.

Essential Religious Practice:

The Bombay High Court ruled that using loudspeakers is not an essential religious practice protected under Article 25 or Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.ERP refers to practices integral to a religion’s doctrine, protected under Article 25. The judiciary determines ERP based on religious tenets.

Kathmandu Hosts Inaugural Pashmina Festival:

The first-ever International Pashmina Festival cum Exhibition, organized by the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, attracted significant attention from consumers. The event highlighted the delicate, lightweight, and warm natural fibre obtained from the Chyangra or Pashmina goat. Nepal, a prominent producer of authentic Pashmina, showcased its expertise in traditional weaving methods, celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship behind this iconic product.

IDBI Bank Reappoints Rakesh Sharma as MD & CEO for 3 Years:

IDBI Bank’s Board of Directors has approved the reappointment of Rakesh Sharma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) for a three-year term, effective March 19, 2025. This decision follows the necessary approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The Apple Man of India Honored with Padma Shri:

Shri Hariman Sharma, a visionary farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri for revolutionizing Indian agriculture. His development of the HRMN-99 apple variety has transformed apple cultivation, enabling it to thrive in tropical and subtropical regions. This innovative, self-pollinating, low-chilling apple variety has expanded apple farming beyond traditional temperate zones, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.

Lala Lajpat Rai’s 160th Birth Anniversary:

India will commemorate the 160th birth anniversary of one of its most revered freedom fighters, Lala Lajpat Rai. Known as the ‘Punjab Kesari’ or the ‘Lion of Punjab’, Lala Lajpat Rai was a towering figure in India’s struggle for independence. His contributions as a freedom fighter, politician, social reformer, and journalist have left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. This article delves into the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of Lala Lajpat Rai, exploring his role in the Indian National Congress, his leadership in the Arya Samaj, and his unwavering commitment to India’s freedom.

Belarus Election:

Alexander Lukashenko has secured a seventh term as President of Belarus, extending his 30-year authoritarian rule. The election, held on January 26, 2025, reported Lukashenko winning nearly 87% of the vote, a result widely denounced as fraudulent by both domestic opposition and international observers.

Sambhar Festival 2025::

The Sambhar Festival, a vibrant celebration of culture, adventure, and heritage, was inaugurated on January 24, 2025, at the famous Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. This 5-day festival, organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Department and District Administration, aims to attract tourists while showcasing the region’s rich culture, traditions, and natural beauty. The festival has been designed to offer a close look at Rajasthani civilization, including its cuisine, folk arts, and cultural heritage, with a special focus on the stunning Sambhar Lake and its surrounding attractions.

India’s First AI-Powered Credit Card Expert:

CheQ, a leading Indian fintech company founded by former Flipkart executive Aditya Soni, has introduced Wisor, India’s first AI-driven credit card expert. This innovative tool aims to transform credit card management by providing personalized insights, seamless management, and maximizing rewards for users.

Anuja’ Nominated for Oscar:

The Indian short film Anuja has been nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards, marking a significant achievement for Indian cinema on the global stage. This nomination highlights the film’s compelling storytelling and the impactful contributions of its producers, including Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga.

Government Approves ₹500 Crore Capital Infusion into IFCI for FY 2024-25:

The Government of India has approved a ₹500 crore capital infusion into the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) for FY 2024-25. This infusion, part of the supplementary demand for grants, aims to strengthen IFCI’s financial position.This strategic move aims to bolster IFCI’s financial health ahead of its planned restructuring and consolidation.

World University Rankings by Subject 2025:

Harvard University leads in Engineering and Life Sciences, with U.S. universities dominating across most disciplines in the 2025 rankings. Notably, MIT surpasses Stanford in Arts and Humanities, and Oxford tops in Computer Science.