Daily Current Affairs Summary 10th APRIL 2025

 

India-UAE Relations

The Crown Prince of Dubai recently concluded his first official visit to India, marking a significant moment in the growing bilateral partnership between the two nations.

Key Outcomes of the Visit:

1. An international campus of IIM Ahmedabad and a foreign campus of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will be established in Dubai.
2. Ship-repair clusters are set to be developed at Kochi and Vadinar, enhancing maritime collaboration.
3. An India office of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce will be launched to strengthen business ties.
4. The Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) was acknowledged for its contribution in facilitating smoother trade flows and supporting the broader India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

Overview of India-UAE Relations:

1. The two countries have shared a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership since 2015.
2. They actively engage in plurilateral platforms such as IMEEC, BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), and the UFI Trilateral (UAE-France-India), reflecting deepening cooperation across geopolitical and economic domains.

Trends in Maternal Mortality Estimates: 2000 to 2023

The Trends in Maternal Mortality Estimates (2000 to 2023) report has been released by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), which includes WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Population Division).

Global Goal
Reducing maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 is a key target under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Findings:

1. There has been a 40% global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023.
2. Central and Southern Asia recorded the most significant improvement, with a 72.9% decrease in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) over the same period.
3. In 2023, Nigeria accounted for the highest number of maternal deaths, approximately 75,000, while India reported around 19,000 deaths.

Niveshak Didi Initiative

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to jointly roll out Phase 2 of the Niveshak Didi initiative.

About the Initiative:

1. Launched by IPPB in collaboration with IEPFA, Niveshak Didi is a distinctive program aimed at promoting financial literacy through women.
2. It empowers female postal workers and community leaders by training them to serve as financial educators in their local areas.

Objective:
To enhance financial awareness and literacy under the theme “By the women, for the women.”

About India Post Payments Bank (IPPB):

1. Established by: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, Government of India
2. Ownership: Fully owned by the Government of India
3. Year of Launch: 2018

Research Projects Launched for Himalayan Ecosystem

To strengthen climate science in one of the world's most sensitive ecological zones, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has launched a series of research projects and inaugurated India's first High-Altitude Climate Research Station in the Himalayan region.

Launch of ICE-CRUNCH Initiative

1. The flagship project, ICE-CRUNCH (Ice Nucleating Particles and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Properties in the North-Western Himalayas), is a joint research effort between Indian scientists and researchers from the University of Zurich, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
2. This study aims to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions, specifically focusing on ice-nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei—key to understanding regional precipitation patterns and climate behaviour.

Himalayan High-Altitude Climate Research Centre

Location: Nathatop, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir

This newly established climate research station is strategically located in Nathatop for its clean air, minimal pollution, and ideal altitude, making it suitable for studying atmospheric processes in free tropospheric conditions—a rarity in much of India.

Objectives of the Research Centre:

1. Advance high-altitude climate and atmospheric research
2. Build national capacity through the training of young scientists
3. Strengthen India’s climate modelling and observational capabilities
4. Contribute to global research efforts under the WMO’s Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Programme

Collaborative Framework:

The centre is a product of collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Supporting National Missions: Aroma and Floriculture

During the launch, the Union Minister also highlighted national efforts to sustainably harness the ecological and economic potential of the Himalayas through initiatives like the Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission.

1. Aroma Mission:

1. Objective: Promote cultivation of aromatic crops used in essential oils to increase farmer income and support the aroma industry
2. Nodal Agency: CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow
3. Participating Institutions: CSIR-IHBT (Palampur), CSIR-IIIM (Jammu)

This mission also aims to use wastelands efficiently and protect crops from grazing and wild animals.

2. Floriculture Mission:

1. Focus Areas: Commercial floriculture, ornamental plants, landscaping, and beekeeping
2. Popular Crops: Rose, Marigold, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, among others
3. Implementing Bodies:
   • Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
   • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
   • Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
   • APEDA, TRIFED, FFDC (Kannuaj)
   • Ministries of Commerce and MSME

CCI Procures 100 Lakh Bales Under MSP – Strengthening Cotton Farmers'

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has procured 100 lakh bales of seed cotton under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations, reinforcing its commitment to protecting the interests of cotton farmers.

About CCI:
CCI is a Public Sector Undertaking operating under the Ministry of Textiles. It was established in 1970 to stabilize the cotton market and ensure fair prices for farmers.

Primary Functions:

1. Conducts price support operations without any quantitative restrictions.
2. Procures cotton to meet the raw material requirements of the domestic textile sector.

Key Initiatives:

1. Cott-Ally Mobile App: Offers real-time MSP information in nine regional languages, making vital data accessible to farmers.
2. QR Code Tracking: All cotton bales produced by CCI are traceable through QR codes, ensuring transparency and quality assurance.

Chittorgarh Fort Protection Initiative

The Rajasthan government has informed the Supreme Court that it is considering imposing a complete ban on mining activities within a 10 km radius of Chittorgarh Fort.

About Chittorgarh Fort:

1. Location: Rajasthan
2. Construction: Built in the 7th century by Chitrangada Mori, a local Mori Rajput ruler.

Historic Significance:

1. Served as the capital of the Mewar kingdom.
2. According to Malik Muhammad Jayasi's poem Padmavat, Alauddin Khilji attacked the fort to seize Queen Padmini, wife of King Ratnasimha.
3. To protect their honour, Rani Padmini and other women performed jauhar (mass self-immolation).

Cultural Significance:

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 under the category of Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Ozone Pollution

A study by IIT Kharagpur reveals that surface ozone pollution is severely affecting major food crops, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and central India. 

About Ozone Pollution

1. Ground Level Ozone: Ozone is a secondary pollutant formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.
2. Effect: Contributes to smog and damages crops and health
3. AQI: Air Quality Index shows ground Ozone.

India Skills Accelerator

1. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, has launched the India Skills Accelerator initiative.
2. India Skills Accelerator is a national-level public-private collaboration platform designed to drive innovation and practical solutions in skill development across sectors.

Core Objectives:
The initiative focuses on transforming the skill ecosystem through three key areas:

1. Creating awareness about emerging skill demands,
2. Promoting collaboration and sharing of knowledge,
3. Reforming institutions and policies to build a more responsive skilling framework.

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