Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 13 June, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
13 June, 2025

National Affairs

1. World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025

Context:

India ranked 131 out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025. India’s parity score stood at 64.1%, a marginal improvement of 0.3 points over last year, yet it slipped two ranks from 129 in 2024. The report emphasizes persistent structural gender gaps in India despite progress in education and health indicators.

South Asia Rankings 2025

• Best Performer: Bangladesh (Rank 24, jumped 75 places)
• India: Among the lowest in the region, trailing behind Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.

Global Context

• Global gender gap closed to 68.8% in 2025 — the strongest improvement since the pandemic.
• At current progress rates, full gender parity is 123 years away.
• Top 5 countries in gender parity:
  • Iceland (1st, 16th year in a row)
  • Finland
  • Norway
  • United Kingdom
  • New Zealand

India’s Performance by Subindex

• Economic Participation & Opportunity
  • Labour force participation (female): 45.9% (no change from 2024)
  • Persistent gaps in wage equality and leadership roles
• Educational Attainment
  • Parity score: 97.1%
  • Improvements in female literacy and tertiary education enrollment
• Health and Survival
  • Improved sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy
  • Higher parity despite overall life expectancy falling for both genders
• Political Empowerment
  • No major gains; remains one of India’s weakest dimensions of gender parity

2. Finance Ministry Guidelines Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)

Context:

Finance Ministry’s New Guidelines on Continuation and Funding of Government Schemes to enhance outcome-based budgeting and ensure fiscal discipline across all Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) through mandatory evaluations, sunset clauses, and fund ceilings during the 16th Finance Commission cycle (FY26–FY31).

Conditional Continuation of Schemes

• Schemes will continue only if:
  • Third-party evaluation shows positive outcomes.
  • There is a need for continuation based on performance and relevance of objectives.
• Applies to fully funded Central schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) ending on March 31, 2026.
  • 54 Central Schemes
  • 260 CSS under review
  • Evaluation responsibility: Line Ministries + NITI Aayog

Special Provision for MGNREGS and Demand-Driven Schemes

• Schemes like MGNREGS will be subject to:
  • Pre-approved outlay limits based on projected beneficiary count.
  • Any increase in beneficiaries will need fresh approval from the Department of Expenditure.
  • Unspent committed expenditure can be carried forward, but within the cycle limit.

3. RUDRASTRA Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Drone

Context:

The Indian Army has successfully conducted trials of indigenous Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drones capable of striking enemy artillery positions across the border, marking a major leap in India’s drone warfare capabilities.

RUDRASTRA UAV by Solar Aerospace and Defence Ltd (SDAL)

• Indigenous combat drone named Rudrastra tested on June 12, 2025.
• Maximum range: 170 km
• Endurance: ~1.5 hours (including loiter time)
• Warhead type: Airburst munition capable of wide-area destruction from altitude.

Features and Capabilities

• Equipped with precision-guided warheads for anti-personnel and infrastructure targets.
• Live video relay, real-time surveillance, and autonomous navigation supported.

TET

4. Swadeshi Jagran Manch Launches ‘Swadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyan’

Context:

Following revelations under Operation Sindoor, which reportedly exposed threats posed by China and Türkiye to India’s sovereignty and trade interests, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has intensified its economic nationalism campaign.

Launch of Nationwide Campaign

• Campaign Name: Swadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyan
• Location of Launch: Delhi
• Target Audience: Industrialists, traders, and farmers across India
• Aim:
  • To raise mass awareness about the dangers of e-commerce monopolies
  • Promote Indian-made (swadeshi) products
  • Encourage economic self-reliance (Atmanirbharta)

Swadeshi Movement (1905)

• The Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905 in protest against the Partition of Bengal by the British.
• It emphasized economic self-sufficiency, national pride, and the boycott of British goods, aiming to lay the foundation for political independence.

Key Objectives and Aspects

• Boycott of Foreign Goods: Advocated rejection of British-manufactured goods, especially textiles, in favor of Indian products like Khadi.
• Promotion of Swadeshi Goods: Encouraged local manufacturing and consumption of Indian goods to revive indigenous industries.
• National Unity and Cultural Pride: Aimed to unite Indians across regions by fostering shared economic interests and cultural identity.
• Economic Independence: Focused on reducing dependency on British goods and developing self-reliant local economies.
• Political Mobilization: Served as an early platform for political education and resistance, building a grassroots nationalist movement.
• Emergence of Nationalism: Inspired a surge in nationalist sentiment and the belief in India’s capability to govern and sustain itself.

5. World Bank’s State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025

Context:

The World Bank’s State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 report comes at a pivotal moment when carbon pricing mechanisms cover nearly 28% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, generating over $100 billion in public revenues.

What is Carbon Pricing?

Carbon pricing is a market-based tool that assigns a cost to emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs), incentivizing industries and individuals to reduce emissions and internalizing the environmental and health costs of climate change.

Major Carbon Pricing Mechanisms

• Carbon Tax
  • A fixed cost per tonne of CO₂ emissions, often calculated based on fossil fuel carbon content.
• Emissions Trading System (ETS)
  • A cap-and-trade mechanism where emitters trade allowances under a capped limit.
• Carbon Credits/Crediting Mechanism
  • Tradable certificates earned through verified emissions reduction or removal projects (e.g., reforestation, methane capture).

Why Carbon Pricing Matters

• Environmental: Creates financial incentives to cut emissions
• Economic: Generates revenue (over $100 billion in 2024)
• Social: Funds climate adaptation, energy transition, and green jobs

Key Trends in 2025

• Rapid Instrument Growth
  Carbon pricing instruments increased from 5 in 2005 to 80 in 2025, including 43 carbon taxes and 37 ETSs.
• Expanded Emission Coverage
  About 28% of global GHG emissions are now covered by pricing tools.
• New Regional Entrants
  Countries like India, Brazil, and Türkiye are developing national carbon pricing frameworks.
• India’s ETS Innovation
  India’s proposed ETS (2024) follows a benchmark-based intensity model, not a strict emissions cap.
• Public Revenue Surge
  Carbon pricing mechanisms generated $100+ billion globally in 2024.

Sectoral Trends

• Power sector: Highest coverage
• Industry and aviation: Moderate
• Agriculture and waste: Largely excluded
• Nature-Based Credits Lead
• $14 billion raised (Q1–Q3 2024), primarily from afforestation and land restoration projects.
• Tech-Based Removals Emerging
• Interest is growing in Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Enhanced Rock Weathering, though delivery is lagging.
• Delivery Deficit
• Only 318,000 tons out of 8 million committed engineered removals were delivered in 2024.

Challenges in Carbon Pricing

• Unequal Sectoral Coverage
  Sectors like agriculture and waste are mostly absent from carbon pricing schemes.
• Volatile Voluntary Markets
  Markets for voluntary credits showed instability despite increasing climate ambition.
• Slow Tech-Based Delivery
  Low actual delivery of tech-based carbon removals vs. pledged amounts.
• Weak Monitoring in Developing Nations
  Lack of strong Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems in low-income countries.
• Equity Concerns
• Carbon pricing can indirectly burden poor households through higher energy costs.

Policy Recommendations

• Expand Sector Inclusion
  Integrate agriculture and waste sectors with tailored methodologies.
• Upgrade Monitoring Systems
  Adopt blockchain and satellite-based MRV for better transparency and credibility.
• Stabilize Voluntary Credit Markets
  Harmonize standards across platforms like Verra and Gold Standard.
• Scale Engineered Removals
  Promote public-private investment in DAC and other carbon removal technologies.
• Ensure Just Transitions
• Redirect carbon revenues to fund clean energy, health care, and social protection for vulnerable groups.

Banking/Finance

1. RBI Allows Separate Trading of Principal and Interest in State Bonds

Context:

In a significant step towards deepening the bond market, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted the separate trading of principal and interest components of State Government Loans (SGLs). This move aligns with similar facilities already available for select Government of India (GoI) securities.

Objective

• To develop active primary and secondary markets in State Government securities
• To enhance liquidity, price discovery, and market participation in SGLs

Scope of the Facility

• Applies to fixed-coupon bonds issued by:
  • State Governments
  • Union Territories
• Instruments must have:
  • Residual maturity of up to 14 years
  • Minimum outstanding amount of ₹1,000 crore

What are Fixed-Coupon Bonds?

Fixed-coupon bonds are a type of bond where the interest rate, or coupon, remains constant throughout the bond’s life. This means investors know exactly what interest payments they will receive at regular intervals. Unlike floating-rate bonds where the interest rate can change, fixed-coupon bonds offer a predictable income stream. 

2. RBI Issues Fresh Guidelines on KYC Updation for Low-Risk Customers

Context:

To address widespread pendency in periodic KYC updation, especially for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and PMJDY accounts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued revised norms for regulated entities (REs), ensuring continued access to banking services while setting a firm timeline for compliance.

What is Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a system where government subsidies and benefits are directly transferred into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. This eliminates intermediaries, ensuring benefits reach the intended recipients efficiently and effectively. DBT aims to reduce fraud, improve transparency, and enhance the accuracy of benefit targeting, ultimately improving the efficiency of government welfare programs. 

What is PMJDY?

Launched on 28th August 2014, the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) by the Ministry of Finance is one of the globe’s most ambitious financial inclusion schemes. 

The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a financial inclusion scheme launched by the Government of India that allows anyone without a bank account to open a Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) account at a bank branch or from a Business Correspondent (Bank Mitra) facility.

3. SEBI-NPCI Launch @valid UPI

Context:

To combat rising cases of fraudulent entities collecting investor funds, SEBI, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is launching a verified UPI handle system called @valid for SEBI-registered intermediaries.

What Is the @valid UPI Handle?

• A unique, verified UPI ID format for SEBI-registered entities.
• Format: [readable-name][segment-abbreviation]@valid (e.g., abcbrk@valid for a stockbroker).
• Helps investors verify authenticity before making payments.

Applicability (Who Can Register for @valid)

10 categories of SEBI-registered investor-facing intermediaries, including:

• Stockbrokers (suffix: brk)
• Depository Participants (dp)
• Mutual Funds (mf)
• Investment Advisors (ia)
• Portfolio Managers (pm)
• Research Analysts (ra)
• REITs (reit) and others

Role of NPCI and Banks

• NPCI will allocate @valid handles.
• 52 Self-Certified Syndicate Banks (SCSBs) will initiate requests for UPI handles after verifying applicants via SEBI’s SI Portal.
• Due diligence to prevent unauthorised entities from getting verified handles.

What Changes for Investors?

• Before making UPI payments, investors will:
  • See a white thumbs-up icon inside a green triangle (symbol of SEBI verification).
  • Confirm the UPI handle ends with @valid.
• Existing payment modes (NEFT/RTGS/cheque) remain unaffected.
• For new SIPs or renewal/extensions, only @valid UPI handles must be used.
• Daily UPI payment limit for capital market transactions: ₹5 lakh.

Fraud Prevention Measures

• Only verified SEBI-registered entities can get @valid handles
• Multiple UPI IDs allowed for entities with different bank accounts
• No change in investor rights or grievance redressal mechanisms

4. Government Bonds in India

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) successfully conducted its second government bond buyback auction of FY26, infusing substantial liquidity while managing public debt maturities.

Implications and Market Reaction

• Liquidity infusion: Durable systemic liquidity is added through buybacks.
• Banks’ HTM Management: Banks may be offloading near-term securities from their Held-to-Maturity (HTM) portfolios.
• Yield Lock-in Opportunity: Banks use buybacks to swap short-term for long-term bonds to lock-in attractive yields.

What Are Government Bonds?

• Government bonds are debt instruments issued by the Central and State Governments of India.
• These are used to raise funds, often for infrastructure development or during liquidity crises.
• They guarantee interest payouts (coupon) and principal repayment on maturity.

Key Features

• Bonds fall under the broader category of Government Securities (G-Secs).
• Typically long-term instruments with tenures from 5 to 40 years.
• State government bonds are called State Development Loans (SDLs).
• Interest (coupon) is usually fixed or floating and paid semi-annually.

Access to Investors

• Initially available to large institutions (banks, corporates).
• Now also open to retail investors, co-operative banks, and individuals.

Types of Government Bonds in India

Fixed-Rate Bonds

• Offer a constant interest rate throughout the bond’s life.
• Example: “7% GOI 2021” means 7% annual coupon till 2021.

Floating Rate Bonds (FRBs)

• Interest rates change at fixed intervals (e.g., every 6 months).
• Some FRBs have a base rate + fixed spread (spread decided via auction).

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs)

• Allow investment in digital gold linked to gold prices.
• Issued by the Central Government.
• Interest: 2.50% annually, exempt from tax.
• Redemption after 5 years, on interest payout dates.
• Limits:
  • Individuals & HUFs – max 4 kg/year
  • Trusts – max 20 kg/year

Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs)

• Returns indexed to inflation (CPI or WPI).
• Ensure real returns regardless of inflation rise.
• Capital Indexed Bonds: Only principal is inflation-adjusted.

7.75% GOI Savings Bond

• Replaced the 8% Savings Bond in 2018.
• Interest: 7.75%, taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Minimum investment: ₹1,000 and multiples thereof.

Bonds with Call or Put Options

• Call option: Government can buy back after 5 years.
• Put option: Investor can sell back to government after 5 years.
• Transactions happen on interest payout dates at face value.

Zero-Coupon Bonds

• No periodic interest.
• Issued at a discounted price and redeemed at face value.
• Created from existing securities, not via auction.

5. RBI Plans Curbs on Foreign Currency Deposits Under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to amend the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) to prevent resident Indians from parking funds in overseas time deposits or other interest-bearing foreign currency accounts, two government sources revealed.

Objective Behind the Move

• RBI sees foreign currency time deposits as a form of passive wealth shifting, inconsistent with India’s controlled capital account regime.
• Aim is to safeguard forex reserves and reduce currency volatility.
• Aligns with India’s cautious approach to capital account convertibility.

What Will Change?

• Proposed amendment will ban resident individuals from:
  • Investing in foreign currency time deposits abroad
  • Using alternate names or proxies to bypass the rule
• Will apply under LRS, which currently allows remittance of up to $250,000 per financial year for education, travel, investments, healthcare, etc.

What is the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)?

The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) was introduced by the RBI in 2004 to simplify foreign remittances for Indian residents. Under this scheme, individuals can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April–March) outside India for permissible transactions without requiring prior approval from the RBI.

This means that Indian residents can freely remit funds for purposes like foreign travel, overseas education, investments, gifts, donations, medical treatment, and more—as long as they comply with RBI guidelines.

6. Groww Nifty India Internet ETF

Context:

Groww Mutual Fund has introduced the Groww Nifty India Internet ETF, India’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to track the Nifty India Internet Index (TRI). The fund aims to offer investors exposure to India’s fast-growing internet-based companies.

What Is the Groww Nifty India Internet ETF?

• A cost-effective ETF designed to track the Nifty India Internet Index
• Provides exposure to 21 listed companies generating significant online revenue
• Offers access to high-growth sectors like e-commerce, fintech, digital travel, and more

Key Features

• Index Tracked: Nifty India Internet Index (TRI), which comprises 21 companies engaged in online businesses like e-commerce, fintech, travel, food delivery, and digital content.
• NFO Period: Open from 13 June 2025 to 27 June 2025.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500, and in multiples of ₹1 thereafter.

Government Support

• Digital India, IndiaAI Mission, and Digital Public Infrastructure
• 6x increase in MeITY budget over 7 years
• India now ranks just behind the US and China in digital ecosystem scale

7. Urban Cooperative Bank in India

Context:

In a historic move, Vishweshwar Sahakari Bank, a leading Urban Cooperative Bank (UCB) based in Pune, has been granted Scheduled Bank status by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This is the first such approval in over two decades, signalling a renewed regulatory thrust to empower well-performing cooperative banks.

What Are Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)?

Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are financial institutions based on the cooperative model. They emerged from co-operative credit societies where members pooled resources to provide affordable loans within the community.

• Classification
  • UCBs operate in urban and semi-urban areas
  • Rural Co-operative Banks operate in rural regions
• Regulation
  • Initially regulated by State Registrars (RCS) and Central Registrar (CRCS)
  • Since 2020, all UCBs and multi-state cooperatives are under RBI supervision

Four-Tier Structure Proposed by RBI (2021)

• Tier 1: All unit UCBs, salary earners’ UCBs, and UCBs with deposits up to ₹100 crore
• Tier 2: UCBs with deposits between ₹100 crore and ₹1,000 crore
• Tier 3: UCBs with deposits between ₹1,000 crore and ₹10,000 crore
• Tier 4: UCBs with deposits above ₹10,000 crore

RBI’s Key Recommendations for UCBs

• Governance Improvements
  • Strengthen compliance, risk management, and internal audit frameworks
  • Ensure proactive asset liability management and liquidity planning
• Board Reforms
  • Boards should include skilled professionals with relevant expertise
  • Promote diversity, transparent decision-making, and defined tenures
  • Strengthen board-level committees for accountability
• Financial and Strategic Discipline
  • Avoid masking financial health through creative accounting
  • Develop modern business strategies for growth
  • Leverage digital technology for better customer service

What Scheduled Bank Status Enables

• Access to RBI liquidity facilities at preferential rates
• Participation in clearinghouse operations
• Eligibility to handle government business and project lending
• Enhanced credibility and visibility in the financial system
• Ability to attract institutional investors and lower-cost funds

BS

Economy

1. India’s Retail Inflation Falls to 75-Month Low of 2.8% in May 2025

Context:

Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped to 2.8% in May 2025. This is the lowest inflation rate in 75 months, last seen in February 2019. The decline was primarily led by easing food prices.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a key economic indicator that measures changes in the average prices of a fixed basket of goods and services over time. It reflects retail inflation and directly impacts the cost of living for households.

Key Features of CPI

• Compiled by: National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
• Current Base Year: 2012
• Purpose: To track changes in consumer prices and measure inflation

What’s in the CPI Basket?

• Food and beverages
• Clothing and footwear
• Housing
• Fuel and light
• Miscellaneous items (education, healthcare, transport, etc.)

How CPI Works

• The basket of goods/services is fixed in terms of quantity and quality.
• CPI compares the cost of this basket in the current period with the cost in a base period.
• If prices rise, CPI increases (indicating inflation); if prices fall, CPI decreases (deflation or disinflation).

Significance of CPI in India

• Inflation Targeting: Used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for monetary policy.
• Economic Planning: Guides budget decisions and real growth estimations.
• Wage Adjustments: Helps in revising salaries, pensions, and subsidies.

Types of CPI in India

1. CPI (Combined) – All-India measure including both urban and rural areas.
2. CPI (IW) – For Industrial Workers; used in wage negotiations and DA calculations.
3. CPI (AL) – For Agricultural Labourers.
4. CPI (RL) – For Rural Labourers.

Agriculture

1. State of World Marine Fishery Resources Report 2025

Context:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its 2025 State of World Marine Fishery Resources report at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France. This landmark report evaluates the current status, sustainability, and governance challenges of global marine fish stocks.

Key Highlights

• Global Stock Status:
  • 64.5% of marine fishery stocks are biologically sustainable, while 35.5% remain overfished.
• Deep-Sea Species in Crisis:
  • Only 29% of deep-sea species are sustainably harvested due to their biological vulnerabilities like slow growth and low fecundity.
• Shark Stock Decline:
  • 43.5% of highly migratory shark stocks across seven species are fished unsustainably, especially in the tropical Indo-Pacific.
• Tuna Sustainability Success:
  • 87% of tuna and tuna-like species are sustainably managed due to strong Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
• Regional Differences:
  • Northeast and Southwest Pacific show higher sustainability, while the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions report only 35.1% sustainable stock levels.
• Data Deficiency Caution:
  • Regions like the eastern Indian Ocean appear to perform well (72.7% sustainability), but lack species-specific monitoring.

• Governance Emphasis:
  • Calls for greater RFMO powers, improved tech-based monitoring, and precautionary management to counter overfishing trends.

Analysis of the Report

Positives

• Improving Global Sustainability
  Example: Effective regulatory frameworks in the Pacific have stabilized stock health.
• Effective Tuna Management
  Example: Catch documentation and onboard observer programs have reduced illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Robust Scientific Methodology
  Example: Over 600 experts from 90 nations contributed to comprehensive ecological modeling and assessments.
• Policy-Relevant Guidance
  Example: Clear strategies for conserving high-risk species like sharks, rays, and deep-sea fish.

Negatives

• Deep-Sea Vulnerability
  Example: Species such as the Orange Roughy are slow to regenerate due to late maturation and deep habitat ranges.
• Shark Overexploitation
  Example: Shark bycatch in tuna fisheries drives unsustainable mortality rates, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
• Data Gaps in Key Regions
  Example: Southeast Asia and parts of Africa suffer from low-resolution species-level reporting.
• Weak Enforcement in Some Areas
  Example: Mediterranean and Black Sea regions still face issues from unregulated coastal and artisanal fishing.

Recommendations

• Strengthen RFMO Authority
  Expand observer coverage, mandate electronic catch reporting, and impose binding conservation measures.
• Adopt Ecosystem-Based Management
  Incorporate climate risk and biodiversity metrics into fisheries policies and management tools.
• Improve Data Collection Infrastructure
  Invest in digital tools, training, and cross-border research partnerships via FAO, World Bank, and other development bodies.
• Eliminate Harmful Subsidies
  Ensure WTO-compliant enforcement of subsidy bans linked to IUU fishing and overcapacity.
• Empower Coastal Communities
  Scale up co-management models and expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with local stakeholder participation.

2. Agri-Drone in India

Context:

Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Kamlesh Paswan, inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s Agri-Drone Indigenisation Facility in Chennai. Spread across 35,000 sq ft, the facility is India’s first hub for designing, manufacturing, and testing advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The facility aims to indigenously produce 7 drone subsystems and 33 components, furthering India’s self-reliance in drone technology.

What Is an Agri-Drone?

An agri-drone (or farm drone) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used in agriculture to enhance productivity, monitor crop health, and optimize farming practices. These drones are equipped with cameras and sensors to collect real-time data from fields.

What Agri-Drones Do?

• Crop monitoring: Capture images and videos to detect crop stress, pest infestation, or disease
• Aerial spraying: Apply pesticides, fertilizers, and micronutrients with precision
• Field mapping: Create detailed 2D or 3D maps for planning irrigation or seeding
• Soil analysis: Evaluate moisture levels, fertility, and pH through remote sensing
• Yield prediction: Estimate harvest outcomes using drone-based analytics

Benefits of Agri-Drones

• Increased efficiency: Cover large areas in less time
• Cost reduction: Minimize overuse of inputs through targeted application
• Higher yields: Enable faster diagnosis and treatment of plant issues
• Reduced labor dependency: Automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks
• Enhanced safety: Limit human exposure to chemicals and difficult terrains

How They Work

• Multispectral cameras: Analyze light spectrum to detect plant health issues
• Thermal sensors: Identify heat signatures for irrigation or disease insights
• GPS & RTK navigation: Allow for highly accurate flight paths and spraying

Applications in Agriculture

• Precision farming: Manage micro-zones within fields
• Crop protection: Conduct spot-spraying for pest control
• Seed & fertilizer broadcast: Distribute inputs with uniform coverage
• Livestock monitoring: Track animal movement and health via aerial view
• Horticulture and forestry: Survey and monitor health in orchards or plantations

Namo Drone Didi

3. Kerala Agricultural University Joins NASA’s Axiom Mission 4 with Space-Bound Seeds

Context:

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) joins the prestigious Axiom Mission 4, led by NASA, with support from the European Space Agency, ISRO, and IIST. Six high-yielding crop varieties developed by KAU will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for agricultural experiments in microgravity. The research is led by the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, under KAU.

Crop Varieties Selected for Space Research

• Rice: Jyothi, Uma
• Horse gram: Kanakamani
• Sesame: Thilakathara
• Brinjal (eggplant): Soorya
• Tomato: Vellayani Vijay

Research Objectives

• Microgravity Study: Assess how the absence of gravity affects seed germination, growth, and viability.
• Post-Mission Analysis: Seeds will be returned to Earth, planted in controlled conditions, and evaluated for changes in resilience, productivity, and growth behavior.

Indian Representation in Space

• Astronaut Contribution: Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will assist with the space-based experiment aboard the ISS.
• Among Six Indian Projects: KAU’s project is one of six Indian-led experiments on the Axiom Mission 4, standing out in the field of space agriculture.

BL

Facts To Remember

1. AI flight with 242 on board crashes in Ahmedabad

An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after take-off.

2. Trump unveils website for $5 mn ‘Gold Card’ U.S. residency visa

U.S. President Donald Trump launched a website, TrumpCard.gov, for his $5 million “Gold Card” visa, offering wealthy foreigners permanent U.S. residency and a path to citizenship.

3. Sift bags rifle 3-position bronze for second medal of the season

World record holder and Asian Games gold medallist, Sift Kaur Samra bagged the bronze medal in the 50-metre rifle 3-position event in the shooting World Cup in Munich, Germany.

4. Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of Baroda reduce rates after RBI rate cut

Stateowned Bank of Maharashtra has reduced interest rates by up to 50 basis points (bps) on retail loans, that includes loans on home, car, education and other loans linked to repo rate, the bank said ina statement.

5. World Day Against Child Labour: 138 million still affected, urges faster action

World Day Against Child Labour is being observed today globally. This day highlights the grave issue of child exploitation and mobilises efforts to eradicate it. The theme for this year is – “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: let’s speed up efforts!”. This year’s theme reflects both the progress achieved and the urgency to intensify action to meet global targets.

6. PM Modi approves ₹6,405 crore railway projects to boost connectivity, commerce, sustainability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that two new railway projects will improve connectivity, commerce and also boost sustainability.