Daily Current Affairs Summary 25th APRIL 2025

 

Draft Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025

The Union Environment Ministry has recently introduced the draft Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025, aimed at regulating emissions in four energy-intensive sectors.

Key Features of the Rules:

1. GEI Definition: GEI refers to the Greenhouse Gases Emission Intensity, measured in tCO2e (tons of CO2 equivalent) per unit of output or product.
2. GEI Targets Calculation: The targets will be calculated based on the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s methodology, specific to each obligated entity listed in the Schedule.
3. Compliance Requirements for Obligated Entities:
   1. Obligated entities must meet GEI targets annually.
   2. Compliance will be part of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.
   3. Entities can purchase carbon credit certificates from the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) to offset any shortfall.
4. Environmental Compensation:
   1. If targets are not met, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will impose an environmental compensation fee.
   2. This fee will be twice the average price of carbon credit certificates traded in the compliance year and must be paid within 90 days.
5. Legal Backing: Non-compliance or violations of the rules will be handled under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.

Significance of the Rules:

1. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): These rules support India’s NDCs, which aim to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
2. Alignment with Paris Agreement:
   • The rules align with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which provides mechanisms for countries to cooperate in meeting their NDCs, particularly through the carbon market.
3. Adoption of Sustainable Technology: The rules encourage the adoption of cutting-edge and sustainable technology across traditionally high-emission industries.

About the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023:

1. Genesis: The CCTS was notified in 2023 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, to establish a structured carbon market in India.
2. Objective: The scheme’s goal is to reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gas emissions by facilitating the trading of Carbon Credit Certificates (CCCs).

Mechanisms under the CCTS:

1. Compliance Mechanism: Obligated entities can earn CCCs by adhering to the prescribed GEI emission intensity reduction norms.
2. Offset Mechanism: Non-obligated entities can register emission-reducing or removal projects to earn CCCs.

IMF Releases “World Economic Outlook (WEO): A Critical Juncture Among Policy Shift” Report

1. The IMF has updated its global growth forecasts, lowering the growth projection to 2.8% for 2025, with India’s growth expected at 6.2%.
2. The update reflects concerns over trade tensions, policy uncertainty, and highlights the importance of policies that promote healthy aging and encourage older individuals' participation in the labor force.

Key Observations:

1. Aging Economies: Worldwide, economies are rapidly aging due to declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy. This shift is causing many countries to move from a "demographic dividend" to a "demographic drag."
2. Global Population Trends: The average age of the world’s population is expected to increase by 11 years between 2020 and the end of the century.
3. Healthy Aging: Alongside longer life expectancies, older individuals have seen improvements in their functional capacity. For instance, a 70-year-old in 2022 had the same cognitive ability as a 53-year-old in 2000.

Benefits of Healthy Aging:

1. Impact on Global GDP: Healthy aging could boost global GDP growth by 0.4 percentage points from 2025 to 2050. India is expected to make a significant contribution, as the share of workers aged 50 and older is projected to grow faster in that period.
2. Labor Force Participation: Policies aimed at improving health for older workers can increase their participation in the labor force, contributing positively to economic growth.

Policy Recommendations for Healthy Aging:

1. Comprehensive Approach: The report suggests combining pension reforms, workplace training, adaptations, and health-focused interventions to extend effective retirement ages.
2. Reducing Labor Force Participation Gaps: Addressing gender disparities by promoting female labor force participation through improved work-life balance and affordable childcare is crucial to counter the demographic challenges.

Price Surge of 24-Carat Gold in India

For the first time, the price of 24-carat gold has reached Rs 1 lakh per 10 grams in India, marking a significant milestone.

Key Global Factors Driving the Price Surge:

1. Geopolitical Tensions: Rising global conflicts and economic uncertainties have led many investors to view gold as a safe-haven asset.
2. US Federal Reserve Rate Cuts: As interest rates decline, the appeal of gold increases, since it offers no yield, making it more attractive when the opportunity cost of holding cash or bonds falls.
3. Weakening of the US Dollar: A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for buyers in other currencies, leading to a boost in demand.
4. Central Bank Accumulation: Central banks, especially in Asia, have been increasing gold purchases to reduce reliance on the US dollar and diversify their reserves.

India’s Gold Market:

1. Consumer Rank: India is the second-largest consumer of gold in the world, just after China.
   • In 2024, India's gold demand reached 802.8 tonnes.
2. Import Dependency: Approximately 85% of India’s gold is imported, making domestic prices highly sensitive to global market trends.

Reasons for High Gold Demand in India:

1. Financial Security: Gold is seen as a reliable store of value, particularly in times of inflation or market instability.
2. Cultural and Religious Significance: Gold holds a special place in Indian culture and is an essential part of festivals like Diwali, Dhanteras, and Akshaya Tritiya.
3. Wedding Season Demand: The wedding season drives significant gold purchases, with jewelry being a traditional and prestigious gift for brides.
4. Rural Accessibility: In rural areas, where many people lack access to banks or stock markets, gold serves as a trusted and liquid asset for saving, investing, or even borrowing.

Gold Reserves in India:

1. Gold Ore: Bihar holds the largest gold ore resources (43%), followed by Rajasthan (24.92%) and Karnataka (20%).
2. Metal Content: Karnataka has the highest metal content of gold, followed by Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar.

Gold Reserves Globally:

1. Major Holders of Gold Reserves: The United States holds the largest reserves, followed by Germany and Italy.
2. Major Exporters: Germany is the largest exporter of gold, followed by the European Union and Switzerland (World Integrated Trade Solution, 2023).

UNODC Report on Expansion of Organized Crime Groups

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a report highlighting the spread of transnational organized cybercrime groups beyond East and Southeast Asia due to increased crackdowns in the region.

Changing Trends and Highlights from the UNODC Report:

1. Transnational Organized Crime in Southeast Asia: For example, Myanmar has seen a shift to synthetic drug production, particularly methamphetamine.
2. Geographical Expansion: These crime groups have expanded from East and Southeast Asia to Africa, South Asia (including India), the Middle East, Pacific islands, Europe, North America, and South America.
   • In March 2025, large numbers of Indian nationals were repatriated from scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
3. Emergence of New Illicit Online Marketplaces: The Huione Guarantee (Haowang), a telegram-based marketplace, has become one of the largest illicit online platforms in Southeast Asia.

Cyber Fraud and Organized Criminal Groups (OCGs):

1. Engagement in Cybercrime: Organized crime groups (OCGs) have increasingly used Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to exploit new online criminal markets, such as internet gambling.
2. Professionalization of OCGs: These groups have become more sophisticated, utilizing malware, deepfake technology, and other AI-driven tools to conduct cybercrime activities.

Recommendations for Addressing the Issue:

1. Raise political awareness and will to combat cybercrime.
2. Strengthen regulatory frameworks and enhance the operational capacity of enforcement agencies.
3. Improve regional cooperation to better address cross-border organized crime.

Related News: NITI Aayog’s ‘Digital Arrest’ Article

NITI Aayog recently published an article titled "Digital Arrest: The Modern-Day Cyber Scam," which explains the growing threat of cybercrime.

What is Digital Arrest?

Digital Arrest: A scam technique where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials, threatening victims with arrest, frozen bank accounts, or passport cancellations to extort money under the guise of a "fine" or "security deposit."

Why Does It Happen?

1. Human Psychology and Social Engineering: Criminals exploit emotions like fear, excitement, or urgency to manipulate victims.
2. Weak Cybersecurity Practices: Poor password management and weak credentials contribute to vulnerabilities.
3. Evolving Cybercrime Techniques: Cybercriminals adapt quickly to bypass security measures.
4. Digital Payments and Financial Fraud: Risks include fake UPI requests and QR code scams.
5. Dark Web and Cybercrime Networks: Criminals trade stolen data and illegal services on the dark web.
6. Weak Cyber Laws and Enforcement: The lack of strong legal frameworks and enforcement measures enables cybercrime.

5 Years of SVAMITVA Scheme

The SVAMITVA Scheme, launched by the Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day (April 24) in 2020, marks its 5th anniversary in 2025.

About the SVAMITVA Scheme:

1. Nature: It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
2. Objective: The scheme aims to drive economic transformation in rural India by providing property owners in village Abadi areas with a "Record of Rights."
   • This enables rural citizens to use their property as collateral for loans and other financial benefits, ensuring financial stability.

Key Features of SVAMITVA:

1. Legal Ownership: Issuance of property cards to residents in Abadi areas, ensuring legal ownership.
2. Dispute Resolution: Accurate mapping helps reduce land-related conflicts.
3. Digital Governance: The scheme promotes tech-enabled, transparent rural land governance.
4. Village Planning: Supports Gram Panchayat Development Plans using GIS data for better planning.

Key Achievements:

1. Drone Surveys: Completed in 3.20 lakh villages covering 68,122 sq km.
2. Property Cards Issued: Over 2.42 crore property cards have been distributed to residents in 1.61 lakh villages.
3. Full Coverage Areas: Lakshadweep, Ladakh, NCT of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have achieved full coverage.

IMF-ENV

The IMF has used its multi-country computable general equilibrium model, IMF-ENV, to analyze the impact of AI-driven data center growth on electricity consumption, electricity prices, and carbon emissions.

About IMF-ENV:

1. Model Description: IMF-ENV is a global dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model developed by the IMF's Research Department.
   • CGE models combine economic theory with real economic data to evaluate the effects of policies and economic shocks.
2. Coverage: The model includes a database of 160 countries and regions, along with 76 sectors, and is adaptable to various country-sector combinations.

Cholesterol: A Key to Health Monitoring

Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, have developed a new optical sensing platform that can detect cholesterol levels, which may help in predicting disease risks.

About the New Cholesterol Detection Platform:

1. The platform can detect cholesterol in trace amounts, even below the preferred range.
2. It serves as an efficient tool for routine monitoring of cholesterol levels in the human body.

About Cholesterol:

1. Cholesterol is an essential lipid produced by the liver in humans.
2. It is crucial for animal tissues, blood, and nerve cells, and is transported by blood in mammals.

Types of Cholesterol:

1. LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol: Known as "bad" cholesterol because it can accumulate in the artery walls, contributing to cardiovascular diseases.
2. HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol: Referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Quantum Gravity Gradiometers

NASA is developing the first-ever space-based quantum sensor designed to measure gravity.

About Gravity Gradiometers:

1. Function: Gravity gradiometers measure subtle changes in gravity by tracking how an object in one location falls compared to another object falling just a short distance away.
2. Measurement: The difference in acceleration between these two objects indicates variations in gravitational strength.

Quantum Sensors:

1. Technology: Quantum sensors use ultra-cold atom interferometry, a technique that enables precise measurements of local gravity.
2. Atom Interferometry: In this process, a free-falling cloud of atoms is split, mirrored, and recombined using timed laser pulses to measure gravity.

Sunrise Sectors

The Union Finance Minister has announced that India aims to double the share of manufacturing in its GDP by focusing on sunrise sectors.

About Sunrise Industries:

1. Definition: A sunrise industry refers to a sector or market that shows significant potential for rapid growth in its early stages.
2. Characteristics: These industries are marked by high growth rates, a surge in start-ups, and substantial venture capital funding.
3. Government's Focus: The government has identified 14 key sunrise sectors, including semiconductors, renewable energy components, medical devices, hydrogen mission, and batteries, to boost the manufacturing sector.
4. Incentives: To promote these sectors, the government has introduced the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Vaikom Satyagraha

100 years ago, the Travancore Government gave full effect to the agreement reached during the Vaikom Satyagraha.

About Vaikom Satyagraha:

1. Location: The Vaikom Satyagraha took place in Vaikom village, Kottayam district, Kerala, in 1924-25.
2. Core Issues: The movement focused on the elimination of untouchability and advocating for freedom of movement in public spaces.
   • Dalits were prohibited from entering the Vaikom temple premises or using the road surrounding it, which led to the Satyagraha.
3. Key Leaders: Prominent leaders of the movement included K. Kelappan, T. K. Madhavan, and K. P. Kesava Menon.
4. Gandhi's Support: Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement and visited Vaikom in 1925.
5. Outcome: The Satyagraha succeeded in ensuring that the temple roads were opened to all, regardless of caste.

Tax Collected at Source (TCS)

The Income Tax Department has recently notified a list of luxury items on which taxpayers will be required to pay 1% Tax Collected at Source (TCS).

About Tax Collected at Source (TCS):

1. Definition: TCS is a tax that the seller collects from the buyer at the time of the sale of goods.
2. Legal Reference: Section 206 of the Income Tax Act specifies the goods on which the seller must collect tax from the buyer.
3. CGST Act Provision: Section 52 of the CGST Act, 2017 mandates TCS collection by e-commerce operators for taxable supplies made through their platforms.
4. Seller Categorization: The seller, who is required to collect TCS, can be any individual or organization authorized under TCS provisions. This includes the Central Government, State Governments, local authorities, and partnership firms.

International Lunar Research Station (ILRS)

China and Russia are collaborating to establish a nuclear power plant on the Moon to provide energy for their joint International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

Key Details of the ILRS Plan:

"555 Project": The plan includes the ambitious "555 Project," aiming to involve 50 countries, 500 international scientific research institutions, and 5,000 overseas researchers in the ILRS initiative.

About ILRS:

1. Objectives: The ILRS will focus on lunar geology, lunar-based astronomical observations, space environment monitoring of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, lunar science experiments, and in-situ lunar resource utilization.
2. International Participation: So far, 17 countries and international organizations, along with over 50 research institutions, have joined the ILRS collaboration.
3. Capabilities: The ILRS will include critical capabilities such as Earth-Moon transportation, energy supply, centralized control, communication, navigation, and ground support.

Quantum Communication over Existing Infrastructure

For the first time, quantum messages were successfully transmitted over a distance of 254 km in Germany, using existing commercial telecommunication infrastructure.

About the Recent Development:

1. Technology Used: The communication was carried out through optical fiber cables, without requiring cryogenic cooling.
2. Quantum Key Distribution: It employed coherence-based twin-field quantum key distribution, a method that ensures secure information transfer over long distances.
3. Significance: This demonstration proves that advanced quantum communication protocols, which utilize the coherence of light, can function effectively over existing telecom infrastructure.

 

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