Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 3rd January 2025

Stellaria bengalensis:

Researchers from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong discovered a new plant species and named it as Stellaria bengalensis.

• S. bengalensis is the annual herb plant of the genus Stellaria (family Caryophyllaceae).
• It was found growing on muddy soil slopes — at altitudes of 2,245-2,450 metres in the Sangser forest, Kalimpong.
• It is an annual herb growing to a height of 8 to 10.5 cm, characterized by white flowers, absence of bract, shorter petals (or included within the sepal), sharp and pointed seeds.
• Flowering and fruiting occur during May to September.
• India has around 22 Stellaria species mostly distributed in the Himalayan region.
• The researchers have for the time being assessed the new species as ‘data deficient’ under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
• Other species Stellaria mcclintockiae, of the same genus, was found on Nelliyampathy Hills of Kerala.

Tobacco Board of India:

The Tobacco Board has undertaken several strategic activities to ensure the sustainability and growth of the tobacco industry.

• It is a statutory body established on 1st January 1976 by an Act of Parliament “Tobacco Board Act, 1975 (Act 4 of 1975)”.
• The Board is headed by a chairperson and is responsible for the development of the tobacco industry.
• The primary function of the Board is export promotion of all varieties of tobacco and its allied products, its functions extend to production, distribution (for domestic consumption and exports) and regulation of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
• It ensures the smooth functioning of the farming system and to ensure fair and remunerative prices for tobacco farmers and the promotion of exports.
• Financial assistance is extended to farmers through banks, along with the necessary inputs for the production of quality tobacco.
• The Board also engages in extension and developmental activities to promote sustainable tobacco cultivation practices.
• The Board supports farmers by providing handholding assistance to produce tobacco of requisite quality to meet the standards of importing countries.
• Headquarters: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

National e-Governance Awards Scheme:

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions issued the scheme guidelines for the 28th National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025.

• National e-Governance Awards Scheme is recognized amongst the most competitive and prestigious digital governance awards schemes in the country.
• The objective of the Scheme is to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
• The NAeG Awards, 2025 will consist of Trophy, Certificate and an incentive of Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 Lakhs for Silver Awardees to be awarded to the district/organization for being utilized for implementation of project/programme or bridging resources gaps in any area of public welfare.
• This year 16 Awards are being conferred under the NAeG 2025. Of these 10 will be Gold Awards and 6 will be silver Awards.
• For the year 2025, there are six categories under which the National Awards for e-Governance 2026 will be conferred:
  • Government Process Re-engineering by use of technology for Digital Transformation
  • Innovation by Use of AI and other new age technologies for providing Citizen-Centric Services,
  • Best e-Governance Practices/Innovation in Cyber Security
  • Grassroot Level Initiatives for Deepening/ Widening of Service Delivery with focus on initiatives by
  • Districts/ULBs/Gram Panchayats
  • Replication and Scaling up of Successful National Awarded Projects like NAeG, Prime Minister Awards in Excellence,
• Awards conferred by other Central Ministries by State/UT/ District The NAeG 2024
• Digital transformation by use of data analytics in digital platforms by Central Ministries/States/UTs
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Tinnitus:

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed an affordable device to diagnose and manage tinnitus.

• Tinnitus is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, meaning only the affected individual can hear it.
• It is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system.
• It can include sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, irritability, and significant impacts on mental health and social life.
• It can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including: Buzzing, Roaring and Clicking etc.
• It may include hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.
• This device along with its supporting application software, offers a comprehensive approach to managing tinnitus.
• It features precise tinnitus matching, which helps identify the exact nature and frequency of the sound experienced by the patient.
• It provides a customizable, multimodal approach to treatment, ensuring each patient receives a tailored experience suited to their unique condition.

Belly Landing:

As many as 179 people were killed when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 made a belly-landing in South Korea.

• Also known as gear-up landing, it is an emergency landing technique that involves an aeroplane landing without extending its landing gear.
• It is a last resort for pilots who are unable to deploy their landing gear owing to a technical or mechanical malfunction.
• Belly-landings are risky and carried out only in an emergency.
• It results in considerable damage to the plane, its engines and wings as the aircraft skids to a stop and can leave those onboard injured.
• The friction generated by the aircraft skidding on the runway can also create sparks or result in a fire.
• A cockpit crew decides to land an aircraft on its belly in the following situations:
  • Landing gear fails to deploy.
  • A stricken aircraft cannot make it to an airport and landing is done in a field. The pilot considers skidding the aircraft to a stop safer than touching down on wheels.
  • Ditching: when an aircraft makes an emergency landing on water.
  • Any other situation a pilot considers a belly-landing safer than landing on wheels.

Environment Summits of 2024:

In 2024, global environmental efforts faced a series of setbacks as key UN climate summits failed to deliver impactful resolutions.

2024 Climate Summits:

• Biodiversity (Colombia): Failed to finalize financing mechanisms for sustainable land-use practices, falling short of the $700 billion annual goal.
• Climate Change (Azerbaijan): Divisions over fossil fuel transition and inadequate funding pledges for developing nations.
• Land Degradation (Saudi Arabia): Lack of consensus on a legally binding drought protocol.
• Plastic Pollution (South Korea): No agreement due to opposition from nations reliant on plastic-based economies, favouring recycling over reduction.

United District Information System for Education (UDISE+) Report 2023-24:

The total enrolment of students has dropped by over a crore in 2023-24 as compared to the previous years, Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) said recently.

Highlights of UDISE+ Report 2023-24:

• 8 crore students enrolled in 2023-2024, while this figure stood at 25.18 crore in 2022-2023.
• The figures for the previous four years – 26.52 crore (2021-2022), 26.44 crore (2020-2021), 26.45 crore (2019-2020), and 26.03 crore (2018-2019) – show that the average total enrolment stood around 26.36 crore.
• Data shows that when compared from the period between 2018-2019 (reference year for UDISE+ data) and 2021-2022, the decline in enrolment – for the first time since the pandemic – has been over 1 crore between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
• Boys account for 51.9% of enrolments and girls 48.1%.
• The representation of minorities in total enrolment stood at around 20 percent.
• Among the minorities, 79.6 percent were Muslims, 10 percent Christians, 6.9 percent Sikhs, 2.2 percent Buddhists, 1.3 percent Jains, and 0.1 percent Parsis.
• In 2023-2024, the total SC students enrolled were 47 crore, while this figure was 4.59 crore in 2022-2023.
• While 2 crore students enrolled in the OBC category in 2023-2024, the same was 11.45 crore in 2022-2023.
• While over 90% of schools have basic amenities like electricity and gender-specific toilets, advanced facilities such as functional desktops, internet access, and ramps with handrails remain limited.
• Only 57.2% of schools have functional computers, 53.9% have internet, and 52.3% are equipped with ramps, underscoring significant gaps in accessibility and tech readiness.

Central Groundwater Board:

There are 440 districts in India with excessive nitrates in their groundwater as of 2023, an increase from 359 such districts in 2017, according to a report by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB).

• CGWB is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
• It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.
• Develop and disseminate technologies and monitor and implement national policies for the scientific and sustainable development and management of India’s groundwater resources, including their exploration, assessment, conservation, augmentation, protection from pollution, and distribution, based on principles of economic and ecological efficiency and equity.
• The Board is headed by the Chairman and has five members.
• CGWB is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization consisting of Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrologists, Hydrometeorologists, and Engineers.

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary : Survey

A four-day faunal survey conducted at the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary has added significant findings to the sanctuary’s biodiversity records.

• It is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats in the Kollam district of Kerala.
• It spans an area of approximately 172 sq.km. and forms part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
• Most of the Sanctuary area is hilly and interspersed with ravines.
• The major rivers are Shendurney, Kazhuthuruthy, and Kulathupuzha, which join together to form the Kallada River
• The vegetation primarily consists of tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests.
• The name “Shendurney” is derived from the name of a tree species, Gluta travancorica, locally known as ‘Chenkurunji’, which is endemic to this region and found in abundance within the sanctuary.
• Notable mammals include elephants, tigers, leopards, gaurs (Indian bison), sambar deer, barking deer, wild boars, and bonnet macaques.
• The sanctuary also supports a significant population of Nilgiri langurs and lion-tailed macaques, both of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.
• Over 200 species of birds are recorded in the sanctuary. Some of the notable species include the great Indian hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, grey-headed bulbul, white-bellied treepie, and various species of woodpeckers, flycatchers, and raptors.

20th anniversary of Quad cooperation:

The Quad Foreign Ministers marked the 20th anniversary of Quad cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing assertiveness.Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a strategic forum of the US, Japan, India, and Australia aimed at regional security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Objective is to Promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, upholding democracy, human rights, and rule of law, and countering China’s expanding influence.

Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) 2024 Report:

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) recorded a 4.3% growth in November 2024 compared to November 2023.The ICI measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Memorials for Leaders:

The cremation of former Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh was held at open-to-public Nigambodh Ghat, a departure from previous practices of cremating at designated sites followed by the establishment of memorials. Although there are no specific rules mandating memorials for former PMs, they were generally cremated at designated sites, and most have memorials in Delhi or elsewhere.Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi) set the precedent for leader memorials, signifying peace and national unity.

2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’:

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ to transform India’s Armed Forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force.A year-long initiative by the MoD to implement transformative reforms in India’s defence sector.
Aim is Modernizing Armed Forces for multi-domain operations, enhanced jointness, and improved defence preparedness.
Declared by: Ministry of Defence.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana : Continuation

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) until 2025-26, allocating ₹69,515 crore. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana launched in: 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Objective is to Provide insurance coverage for crop losses caused by natural calamities, Stabilize farmers’ income and ensure continuance in farming.

Savitribai Phule Jayanti 2025:

Savitribai Phule Jayanti is celebrated every year on January 3rd to honor the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule. She was a remarkable educator, social reformer, and poet who played a significant role in promoting education and fighting for social justice in India.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Outbreak in China:

China is currently experiencing a significant increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases, leading to concerns about a potential health crisis reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports indicate that hospitals are becoming overcrowded, with suggestions of multiple viruses, including HMPV, influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19, contributing to the situation.

DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 67th Foundation Day on January 2, 2025. Established in 1958, DRDO has grown from a small entity with 10 laboratories to a vast network of around 52 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs) across India. These laboratories are dedicated to developing advanced defence technologies in various fields, including missiles, aircraft, combat vehicles, naval systems, electronics, and life sciences.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a fully digital, TAB-based onboarding process for NRIs to open NRE and NRO accounts.:

The State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a TAB-based end-to-end digital onboarding process for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to streamline the opening of Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts. This initiative, launched on January 2, 2025, aims to eliminate physical paperwork and expedite account setup through digital document verification.

Sai Paranjpye to Receive Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award:

Sai Paranjpye, a legendary director and writer in Indian cinema, is set to be honored with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF) 2025. Known for her impactful slice-of-life films such as Sparsh, Chashme Buddoor, Katha, and Saaz, Paranjpye is regarded as a pillar of India’s parallel cinema movement, which gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. The award recognizes her extensive contributions to both Indian cinema and Marathi literature.

Odia Poet Prativa Satpathy to Receive Gangadhar National Award:

The Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2023 will be conferred upon the renowned Odia poet Prativa Satpathy by Sambalpur University on its 58th foundation day on January 5. The award, instituted in 1989, recognizes excellence in the field of poetry and is named after the eminent Odia poet Gangadhar Meher. Over the years, many distinguished poets have received the award, and Prativa Satpathy is the latest recipient.

RBI’s Guidelines on Government Debt Relief Scheme:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued detailed guidelines for lenders participating in the Government Debt Relief Scheme, aiming to provide structured relief to borrowers facing financial distress. This initiative aligns with the RBI’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial stability and support economic recovery.

Pakistan Begins Two-Year Term as Non-Permanent UNSC Member:

Pakistan commenced its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This marks Pakistan’s eighth term on the 15-member council, succeeding Japan as the Asian representative. Ambassador Munir Akram emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to playing an “active and constructive” role in addressing global challenges.

Arif Mohammad Khan Takes Oath as Bihar’s New Governor:

Arif Mohammad Khan was sworn in as the 42nd Governor of Bihar, succeeding Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been appointed as the Governor of Kerala. The ceremony took place at the Raj Bhawan, where Patna High Court Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran administered the oath in the presence of several key political figures.

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Sworn in as Kerala Governor:

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar took the oath as the 23rd Governor of Kerala in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. He succeeds Arif Mohammed Khan, who has been appointed as the Governor of Bihar. The oath was administered by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, in the presence of prominent dignitaries, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and various ministers.

Blinkit Launches 10-Minute Ambulance Service in Gurgaon:

Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa announced the launch of an instant ambulance service, where residents of Gurgaon can book an ambulance through the Blinkit app and have it arrive within 10 minutes. This initiative aims to address the critical need for quick emergency medical transport in urban areas.