Daily Current Affairs Summary 1st MAY 2025

Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam Launches India’s First Certified Green Municipal Bond

1. Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has set a national precedent by issuing India’s first certified Green Municipal Bond (GMB).
2. The bond was floated under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, aligning with sustainability goals.
3. It successfully raised ₹150 crore to finance a state-of-the-art Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP).
4. The TSTP aims to deliver high-quality treated water, making it viable for reuse in industrial operations.
5. This not only addresses urban sanitation but also promotes circular water economy in line with green urban development.

Implementation Model of the TSTP Project

1. The TSTP was constructed under the Public-Private Partnership Hybrid Annuity Model (PPP-HAM).
2. Under this model, 40% of the project cost was contributed by the Ghaziabad municipal body.
3. This reflects a progressive move to attract private expertise and funding in urban infrastructure.

What Are Green Municipal Bonds?

1. Municipal bonds are non-convertible debt instruments issued by local governing bodies or agencies empowered under Article 243W of the Constitution.
2. Green Bonds are a sub-category used to raise capital exclusively for eco-friendly, climate-resilient, and low-carbon infrastructure projects.
3. According to the World Bank, these bonds play a pivotal role in financing climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

Challenges in Issuing Green Municipal Bonds

1. Weak fiscal health remains a primary barrier, directly impacting a city's credit-worthiness and investor confidence.
2. Limited internal capacity within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) impedes project planning, execution, and financial management.
3. ULBs often lack skilled professionals, technical know-how, and bond market familiarity, limiting their ability to raise capital efficiently.
4. There is a lack of organic demand for such bonds due to a narrow investor base and low financial transparency.
5. Issues like inadequate disclosures, irregular audits, and poor record-keeping further restrict ULBs’ bond eligibility.

Significance and Advantages of Green Municipal Bonds

1. GMBs support sustainable and climate-conscious urban development, aligning with global ESG investment principles.
2. Investors are increasingly integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics into their capital allocation decisions.
3. These bonds offer long-term, cost-effective capital, often cheaper than traditional commercial bank loans.
4. They also help ULBs diversify and expand their investor base, addressing the shortfall in conventional funding sources.
5. With domestic bank loans falling short of infrastructure demands, GMBs provide alternative and scalable financing avenues.

USTR Places India on ‘Priority Watch List’ for IPR Concerns

1. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has listed India among eight countries on its Priority Watch List in the Special 301 Report of 2024.
2. This list flags nations where intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement are considered inadequate or ineffective.
3. The report aims to push for reforms in global IPR frameworks and highlights key concerns in India's IPR ecosystem.

What is Intellectual Property?

1. Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the human intellect such as inventions, artistic works, designs, trademarks, and symbols.
2. According to WIPO, IP includes both commercial and cultural assets and is essential for innovation and trade.

Key Issues in India’s IP Ecosystem

1. Patentability Criteria are often applied inconsistently or rigidly, affecting innovation and patent grants.
2. Under Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970, new forms of known substances without enhanced efficacy are deemed non-patentable.
3. Weak IP Enforcement remains a serious issue due to fragmented coordination between national and state enforcement agencies.
4. Penalties for IP violations are often insufficient, contributing to the growth of piracy and counterfeiting hubs.
5. India has been featured in the 2024 Notorious Markets List for rampant IP violations and piracy.
6. Trademark challenges include high levels of counterfeiting and subpar trademark examination standards.
7. India is yet to join the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, limiting harmonization with global trademark norms.
8. The Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, impose additional compliance burdens on foreign entities seeking IP protection for Indian biological resources.
9. Other systemic issues include long delays in IPR approvals, case backlogs, and insufficient public awareness.
10. With growing digital content, online piracy remains a major emerging challenge in the digital ecosystem.

Measures Taken by India to Improve the IP Framework

1. India adopted the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016, aligning domestic laws with the WTO TRIPS Agreement.
2. Programs like the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) and SIPP (Scheme for Startups Intellectual Property Protection) promote innovation and awareness.
3. The IP Saarthi chatbot was launched to assist citizens with IP-related queries and enhance public outreach.
4. The Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 aim to simplify and expedite the patent registration and approval process.
5. In 2024, IP Divisions were set up in the Calcutta and Himachal Pradesh High Courts, joining similar divisions in Delhi and Madras.
6. India has reaffirmed its commitment to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty and the WIPO Copyright Treaty to strengthen global compliance.

CAPEX Survey Released by MOSPI: A First-of-Its-Kind Private Investment Tracker

1. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has released the first Forward-Looking Survey on Private Sector Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
2. This landmark survey was conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008.
3. It aims to capture investment intentions in the private sector and enhance economic decision-making through real-time data.

Key Findings of the CAPEX Survey

1. Private sector CAPEX witnessed a 66% surge from FY22 to FY25, reaching approximately ₹6.5 lakh crore.
2. Manufacturing enterprises emerged as the leading contributors, accounting for 48% of total private CAPEX in FY24-25.
3. For FY2024-25, most private firms prioritized investment in core productive assets.
4. A portion of CAPEX was also directed toward value-added assets, opportunistic investments, and diversified business strategies.

What is Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)?

1. Capital Expenditure refers to funds spent on acquiring or upgrading long-term assets like property, plants, and technology.
2. It covers expenses related to fixed and intangible assets, including new acquisitions, repairs, upgrades, and loan repayments.
3. In the public sector, CAPEX includes government spending on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other developmental areas.

Importance of CAPEX in Economic Growth

1. CAPEX reflects a company’s strategic intent to expand capacity and drive long-term growth.
2. It helps build competitive advantage through better technology, productivity, and service innovation.
3. Continuous capital investment supports asset maintenance, equipment upgrades, and production scale-up.
4. For investors, higher CAPEX is seen as a positive signal of future performance and value creation.
5. At the macro level, rising CAPEX indicates economic resilience and private sector confidence.

Challenges Hindering Private Sector CAPEX

1. One major roadblock is the difficulty in raising large-scale equity and accessing affordable long-term debt.
2. Many projects suffer from poor structuring, including flawed risk estimation and mitigation frameworks.
3. Regulatory delays, particularly in land acquisition and clearances, further stall project execution and investment timelines.

India Launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI)

1. The Government of India has launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
2. The scheme aims to establish a robust certification framework for green hydrogen (GH) to ensure transparency, traceability, and market credibility.

Overview of GHCI

1. Nodal Ministry: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
2. Execution Authority: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the designated nodal body for operationalizing the certification process.
3. GHCI focuses on developing a detailed methodology for measuring, monitoring, reporting, and verifying the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Certification Framework Under GHCI

1. Certification will be conducted at the project level, covering all stages of green hydrogen production up to compression and purification.
2. Processes like storage and transport outside plant boundaries, conversion into hydrogen carriers, and end-use applications are excluded from the certification scope.
3. Two types of certificates are defined under the scheme:
   1. Concept Certificate (Voluntary): For early-stage or pilot projects.
   2. Facility-Level Certificate (Mandatory): Required for operational hydrogen production facilities.
4. Emission intensity calculations will follow the MNRE Green Hydrogen Emission Calculation Methodology.
5. To qualify as 'green', the average emission intensity must be ≤ 2 kg CO₂eq/kg of H₂ produced.
6. Certificates are non-transferable and non-tradeable, and cannot be used to claim carbon credits or emission reductions.

National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM): The Umbrella Program

1. Launched in 2023, NGHM seeks to position India as a Global Hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
2. The mission sets an ambitious target of producing 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
3. Key components include the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme and the development of Green Hydrogen Hubs.
4. Core strategies involve creating domestic and export demand, resolving supply-side issues, and establishing a national certification system like GHCI.

Principal Scientific Adviser Releases Report on Public R&D Innovation Excellence

1. The report titled “Evaluation of Innovation Excellence Indicators of Public Funded R&D Organizations” has been released by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
2. The objective of the report is to benchmark and improve innovation performance across publicly funded research institutions in India.

Key Highlights of the Report

1. India’s Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) has doubled from Rs 60,200 crore in 2010–11 to Rs 1,27,400 crore in 2020–21.
2. The Central Government contributed the highest share of GERD at 43.7%, followed by the Private Sector, Higher Education Institutions, and State Governments.

Socio-Economic Impact of Public R&D

1. Public R&D labs are leveraging emerging technologies like IoT sensors, drones, and big data analytics to deliver impactful solutions.
2. Example: Development of new genotypes (genetic blueprints) that have improved farm productivity and increased farmer incomes.

Engagement with Startup Ecosystem: Still Limited

1. Engagement with startups remains low despite increasing innovation potential.
2. Only 25% of public R&D organizations support startup incubation.
3. A mere 16% support deep-tech startups, which are critical for frontier innovation.

Gaps in Collaboration and Facility Sharing

1. Only 15% of R&D institutions collaborate with international industries for research initiatives.
2. Just 50% of labs provide open access to their research facilities for external researchers or students.

Key Recommendations from the Report

1. Public R&D labs should align their focus with Viksit Bharat (Developed India) goals and national technology priorities.
2. Promote greater industry collaboration to drive applied innovation and technology translation.
3. Expand facility access to academic institutions, startups, and researchers across India.
4. Scale up support for deep-tech startups, including the creation of Section 8 (not-for-profit) companies for incubation.

Overview of India’s R&D Ecosystem

1. India’s R&D spending in 2020–21 was just 0.64% of GDP, significantly lower than the 2%+ benchmark in most developed countries.
2. According to the WIPO 2022 Report, India ranks 7th globally in Resident Patent Filing activity, indicating rising innovation potential.

Government Initiatives Boosting R&D

1. IMPRINT (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology) provides engineering-based solutions to address national development challenges.
2. Research Parks are being developed to facilitate industry-academia linkages and enable industries to set up R&D units within academic ecosystems.

What Are Locusts and Why Are They a Concern?

1. Locusts are a type of short-horned grasshopper known for their ability to migrate over long distances in massive numbers.
2. They exhibit polymorphism, meaning they can change their physical appearance and behavior based on environmental conditions.
3. Locusts are especially feared for their voracious feeding habits, often consuming large amounts of vegetation in a short time.
4. They pose a serious threat to natural ecosystems as well as agricultural crops, causing severe damage during outbreaks.

Locust Swarms and Hopper Bands

1. Locusts can form swarms in the adult stage, which travel together in huge numbers across regions.
2. In their nymph stage, they gather into hopper bands, moving collectively before reaching adulthood.
3. These congregations enable coordinated mass movement, which increases their impact on vegetation and agriculture.

New Scientific Insight: How Do Locusts Move?

1. A recent study reveals that locust movement is driven by cognitive decision-making, influenced by how they perceive nearby motion.
2. This research suggests that locusts process visual information from their surroundings to decide when and where to move as a group.
3. The findings offer a new understanding of locust swarm dynamics, which could help in predicting and controlling future outbreaks.

Locust Species Found in India

India is home to four primary locust species that are known to cause agricultural concern:

1. Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) – the most notorious and destructive species.
2. Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria) – known for long-distance seasonal movement.
3. Bombay Locust (Nomadacris succincta) – typically found in peninsular regions.
4. Tree Locust (Anacridium sp.) – often inhabits forested areas and trees.

Project Kuiper

1. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s ambitious initiative to build a broadband satellite network in low Earth orbit (LEO).
2. The project aims to deploy a constellation of around 3,232 satellites to provide internet access globally.
3. Amazon recently launched the first 27 satellites under this mission, marking the initial phase of deployment.

What is the Objective of Project Kuiper?

1. The core goal is to deliver high-speed, low-latency, and affordable broadband services.
2. It targets unserved and underserved regions across the world, including remote and rural areas.
3. By expanding digital access, Kuiper seeks to bridge the global digital divide and promote digital inclusion.

Key Components of the Kuiper System

1. The project includes three major components:
   1. A network of LEO satellites,
   2. Supporting ground infrastructure, and
   3. Compact customer terminals to receive the signal.
2. Low Earth orbit (up to 2,000 km above Earth) allows faster data transfer and lower signal delay.

Why is it Called 'Kuiper'?

1. The project is named after the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond Neptune.
2. The name reflects Amazon’s vision of expanding technological frontiers into space.

Similar Global Projects

1. Project Kuiper joins the race with other space-based internet initiatives.
2. SpaceX’s Starlink is a major competitor, already operational with thousands of satellites in orbit.

Drugs & Cosmetics (Compounding of Offences) Rules 2025

1. The Drugs & Cosmetics (Compounding of Offences) Rules, 2025 have been officially notified by the government.
2. These rules aim to streamline minor offence procedures under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
3. The core objective is to permit compounding of certain minor offences, allowing them to be settled by paying fines.
4. This eliminates the need for time-consuming criminal court proceedings for minor, non-serious violations.
5. The move is intended to decongest the judicial system and ensure faster resolution of cases under the Act.

Who do these rules apply to?

1. These compounding provisions are applicable to pharmaceutical companies.
2. They also cover individuals involved in the manufacture, import, sale, distribution, or any related activities regulated by the Act.
3. The rules are relevant for all stakeholders operating under the scope of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

What are the key conditions for compounding offences?

1. Only first-time offenders are eligible for compounding under these rules.
2. This ensures that repeat or habitual violators continue to face legal proceedings as per existing provisions.
3. The rules provide an opportunity for correction without litigation, specifically for minor and unintentional lapses.
4. Compounding will involve the payment of a specified monetary penalty, as per prescribed norms.

Why is this significant?

1. These rules bring in regulatory flexibility for minor offences in the pharmaceutical sector.
2. They support the government’s goal of promoting ease of doing business in the healthcare and pharma industries.
3. At the same time, the rules maintain a deterrent against repeat violations by limiting compounding to first-time offences only.
4. The initiative reflects a balanced approach—encouraging compliance without overburdening the legal system.

Golconda Blue

1. The Golconda Blue is a rare and exquisite 23.24-carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond.
2. It was recently scheduled for auction in Geneva, drawing global attention due to its historical and gemological significance.
3. This diamond is known not only for its exceptional color and clarity, but also for its royal heritage and ancient origin.

What is its historical legacy?

1. The diamond was once owned by Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar of Indore, a prominent royal figure of the early 20th century.
2. Its royal association adds significant cultural and historical value to the gem.
3. The diamond's origin is believed to be the Golconda region in India, famed for producing some of the world's most legendary diamonds.

Why is the Golconda region important?

1. Golconda, located in present-day Telangana, was historically one of the richest diamond mining regions.
2. Several iconic diamonds such as the Koh-i-Noor, Darya-i-Nur, and Archduke Joseph are believed to have originated from Golconda.
3. The region held a global monopoly on high-quality diamonds for centuries, particularly during medieval and early modern times.

What do historical accounts say about Golconda?

1. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605–1689), a French gem merchant, documented the flourishing diamond trade and royal monopoly over mining in the region.
2. Jean de Thévenot (1633–1677) noted the absence of standard pricing, suggesting a fluid and complex market for diamonds.
3. Marco Polo, in 1292, praised India’s exclusive control over high-quality diamonds, highlighting its global economic importance even in the 13th century.

Why is this diamond significant today?

1. The Golconda Blue stands as a symbol of India’s rich gemstone legacy and royal opulence.
2. Its upcoming auction in Geneva reinforces the enduring global fascination with Indian-origin diamonds.
3. The gem's blend of natural rarity, historical lineage, and royal provenance makes it a truly unique piece in the world of fine jewelry.

Bees affected by microplastic pollution

1. Recent research highlights that microplastic pollution is emerging as a serious threat to pollinators like bees and bumblebees.
2. These microplastics can disrupt their foraging behavior, reducing their efficiency in gathering nectar and pollen.
3. As a result, their pollination capabilities are compromised, potentially impacting plant reproduction and food security.

Where are bees found?

1. Wild bee species are incredibly diverse and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
2. Their wide distribution reflects their critical role in maintaining ecological balance across various ecosystems.

What are the unique features of bees?

1. Among bees, only the females possess stingers, which are actually modified ovipositors—organs originally evolved for egg-laying.
2. Bees rely entirely on flowering plants for nutrition, feeding on sugary nectar for energy and protein-rich pollen for growth.
3. This specialized diet supports their role as key pollinators in nature.

How important are bees in pollination?

1. Bees are essential to ecosystems, as they pollinate nearly 80% of all flowering plant species.
2. This includes many agricultural crops, making them vital for food production and biodiversity conservation.
3. The decline in bee populations due to pollution and habitat loss poses a serious threat to global food systems.

 

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