Current Affairs 4 January 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
4 January, 2025

International Affairs

1. India Condemns Newly Formed Chinese County in Hotan Prefecture

Context:

India solemnly protested against China on the formation of the two counties in the Hotan prefecture that includes parts of Ladakh territory.

Key Highlights:

• A county is a local administrative area within a country or state, with its own local government.
• Concerns
  • Another huge concern terms for India is the mega hydro power project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibetan for Brahmaputra, which flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Hotan Prefecture Region

• Location
  • Situated in southwestern Xinjiang, China, bordering Tibet Autonomous Region and Union Territory of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Disputed Area
  • Most of the Aksai Chin area, which China and India both claim, belongs to Hotan Prefecture.
• County seat: Hotan, largest county: Karakax County.
• Residents
  • Majority of the residents are Muslim Uyghurs who live in oases between Taklamakan Desert and Kunlun Mountains.

National Affairs

1. HMPV Virus

Context:

On Friday, the Union Health Ministry said it was strictly monitoring the supposed outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. The Ministry said while China reported a rise in respiratory illness, particularly HMPV, India did not observe an unusual spike in winter respiratory diseases.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

HMPV identified as a new cause emerging particularly for children below 14 years old in the northern provinces. HMPV-adenovirus-infection; respiratory virus first reported in 2001; diseases caused by this virus are mild and somewhat similar to the common cold.

• Symptoms
  • There may be wheezing, fever, cough, nasal congestion or runny nose, and sore throat.

• Transmission
  • Spread through coughs and sneezes and by touching contaminated materials or being in close proximity to someone with the virus.

• Treatment and prevention
  • No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available as of now for HMPV.
  • Symptomatic treatment with over-the-counter medications is indicated.
  • Prevention consists of frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and wearing a mask when symptomatic.

• Response of Union Health Ministry
  • National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is monitoring respiratory and seasonal influenza cases in India.
  • From December 16 to 22, acute respiratory infections increased; however, on the whole, the scale and intensity of respiratory diseases in China this year are less than last year.

2. Protests erupt in Pithampur over arrival of Bhopal Waste

Chemical Waste

3. Delhi Schools’ Digital Infrastructure and Digital Divide

Context:

Delhi schools fare much better in digitalisation than national average, show Ministry of Education data. The data from UDISE+ show that Delhi schools have far more digital facilities than the national average.

• Digitalization in government schools refers to the use of digital technologies to improve the quality of education. 

• DIKSHA
  • DIKSHA stands for Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing and provides a national platform for school education in India for teachers and their students with the digital tools and resources.
  • Launch
    • DIKSHA was launched in 2017 by NCERT.
  • Ministry
    • Ministry of Education (MoE)
• Samagra Shiksha
  • This integrated scheme for school education covers pre-school to class XII. It is closely related to the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which focuses on experiential learning, multidisciplinary approaches, and holistic development. 
  • Launch
    • The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) launched the Samagra Shiksha scheme in 2018.
• ICT@ Schools
  • This scheme was introduced in 2004 to promote the use of ICT in school education. It was a merger of the Educational Technology -1972 and Computer Literacy and Studies in Secondary Schools (CLASS)-1984 schemes. 
  • Launch
    • December 2004

4. One Nation, One Election framework (ONOE)

Context:

The ruling government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party/National Democratic Alliance, has been pursuing the One Nation, One Election framework (ONOE) with all seriousness. 

One Nation One Election in india

5. Fund Registration to NGO

Context:

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday granted foreign fund registration to the Sambhavna Trust, an NGO that provides free treatment to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas leak.

Report FCRA violations by NGOs, govt. asks CAs

6. The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025

Context:

The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, will take forward the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023.

The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025

It comes with the objective of improving the legal framework for digital personal data by giving the required intricacies and balancing between the right to privacy of an individual and the requirement to process that personal data lawfully for carrying out those purposes.

• Right to Privacy – Article 21
  • Supreme Court of India has Stated that under the Article 21, the right to privacy is a fundamental right too. 
  • Article 21 of the Indian Constitution speaks about
    • Right to life
    • Right to personal liberty

Key Findings:

• Based on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023
• Status
  • Open for public consultation until 18 February
• Main Provisions
  • Informed Consent:
    • Fiduciaries have to provide clear notices to users about the data collected
  • Exemptions:
    • Data collected for subsidy and benefits purposes is exempt from certain provisions.
  • Data Security:
    • Data fiduciaries shall have reasonable security safeguards in place.
  • Data Deletion:
    • The data fiduciary will delete the user data within two days of giving notice and may stop the process based on user action during such notice period.
  • Parental Consent:
    • For personal data related to children.

7. Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS)

Context:

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has completed full-scale implementation of the new Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS) to provide PF pensions under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS).

Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS)

• CPPS is a landmark shift from the present decentralized pension disbursal system, to be available from January 2025.
• Current System
  • Every EPFO Zonal/Regional office has independent arrangements with only 3-4 banks.
• Key Features:
  • Pension Access:
    • The pensioner can get his pension from any bank.
  • No Bank Visit Required:
    • Pensions are credited on the spot upon release.
  • Pension Transfer:
    • Enables pensioners to transfer from one location or change banks/branches without moving the PPO.
• Target Audience
  • For pensioners who retire and go back to their hometowns, this is useful.
  • Relief for pensioners as they will not have to transfer PPOs.

8. PM Surya Ghar Scheme

Context:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Reviews Development Initiatives in Andaman, Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Directs MNRE to implement ‘PM Surya Ghar‘ scheme by installing solar panels in all households.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The Indian government launched the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, seeking to enhance the solar rooftop capacity and empower the residential households with the ability to generate their electricity. The program is to be implemented by a National programme Implementation Agency and State Implementation Agencies.

• Launch Date
  • 29th February, 2024
• Budget Allocated
  • Rs 75,021 crore.
• Ministry
  • Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Features
  • Subsidies 60% of solar unit cost, if the systems capacity is within 2kW.
  • 40% subsidy on additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3kW capacity.
  • Capacity capped at 3kW.
• Eligibility
  • Indian citizens, suitable-roofing houses, valid electricity connection, no other solar panel subsidies.

9. NGT Issues Notice to Centre

Context:

The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Singareni Collieries Company Limited over a proposal to fell 1,05,092 trees to facilitate an opencast coal mine in Odisha’s Angul district.

National Green Tribunal

10. With the expiry of the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for exports under advance authorisation (AA), export-oriented units (EOU) and special economic zones (SEZ) schemes on December 31, 2024 and no communication regarding its extension, exporters are uncertain about RoDTEP benefits for these schemes.

10. India’s Labour Ministry Considers Social Security Framework for gig workers

Context:

The Labour ministry plans to release a “Framework for social security coverage” by June 2023.

Key Findings:

• Features
  • The new framework may introduce unique identity numbers for gig workers, which will allow them to be easily integrated into platforms and access social security.
  • The benefits suggested are health cover, life and disability cover, accident cover, and pension cover.
• Definition of gig Worker
  • It shall not be easy to define gig workers and those who will be contributing towards social security schemes as there is no traditional employer-employee relationship.
    • A gig worker is a person who does temporary or freelance work, especially an independent contractor engaged on an informal or on-demand basis.

Government Initiatives Toward Workers’ Welfare in India

• Code on Social Security, 2020:
  • It proposes several social security schemes for the gig and platform workers, such as schemes for life and disability benefits, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection.
  • e-Shram Portal:
    • An integrated national unpublished workers’ database covering almost 400 occupations.
  • Draft Model Standing Orders, amended under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020:
    • Service, Manufacturing, and Mining sectors.
  • Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Scheme (2019):
    • Old age protection to unorganized workers with a defined pension post 60 years of age at Rs. 3,000/month.
    • Eligibility:
      • Workers with ages between 18-40 years who have a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 or less should not be a member of EPFO/ESIC/National Pension System.
    • Contribution:
      • By workers at 50% to monthly premium, matching this contribution with the government.
        

11. Production Linked Incentive (PLI)

Context:

The pharmaceutical sector has rolled out a robust wish list for the upcoming Budget, with import duty exemptions, simplification of tax procedures, and strengthening of the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme among major demands.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI)

12. Forest Fires in India

Context:

67% of major forest fires in India were extinguished within 24 hours in the November 2023 – June 2024 season, marking a significant improvement from 33% in the previous season, as per report of Forest Survey of India.

Key Findings:

• Total Fire Incidents
  • The total number of forest fires detected by the Forest Survey of India in 2023-24 was 2,03,544, a slight decrease from the previous season’s total of 2,12,249.
• States with Highest Forest Fires
  • Uttarakhand: 21,033 fires (a significant increase of 292% from the previous season, which had 5,351 fires).
• Government Initiatives to Combat Forest Fires
  • This project, called National Action Plan for Forest Fires (NAPFF), began in 2018, whose aim is to reduce forest fires by educating, enabling, and empowering the communities on the fringes of forests and motivating them to partner with state forest departments.
• The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM) 
  • It is the only government-sponsored programme dedicated to assisting states in dealing with forest fires.

13. Vulture Conservation in India

Context:

The Indian government has banned several animal painkillers, including Nimesulide, Diclofenac, ketoprofen, and aceclofenac, because of their toxicity to vultures. These bans did not recover the population because the laws are poorly enforced and reproduce very slowly.

• Nimesulide, diclofenac, ketoprofen, and aceclofenac are all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are toxic to vultures and can cause painful deaths.

Vultures

• IUCN Status
  • Critically Endangered
• Ecological Significance
  • Vultures play a critical role in ecology because they dispose of dead animals.
  • One study established a connection between a rise in human deaths and the fall of vulture populations.
• Being proposed is the three-step solution
  • Monitoring veterinary drugs toxicity, evolution of alternative measures, and safe zones for vultures.
  • Conservation of vultures should be the centerpiece of all ecological efforts.

Vulture Conservation in India

• Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC)
  • VCBC, Located in Pinjore, Haryana, established in 2001, is doing research on decline of vulture population.
  • Upgraded as VCBC in 2004 for conservation breeding of three critically endangered species.
• Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (APVC)
  • It started in 2020 includes expansion of breeding program to include red-headed and Egyptian vultures.
  • Establishes rescue centers at Bhopal, Guwahati, Hyderabad, and Pinjore.
• Vulture safe zones
  • are designated that ban harmful veterinary drugs.
• Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary is a sanctuary in Karnataka that covers 3.4641 km2.
• Track Birds system
  • uses birds to identify poisoning incidents.

14. Electric vehicle (EV) Industry

Context:

Electric vehicle (EV) industry has “unanimously” agreed they won’t need subsidies once existing subsidy regime ends. “All sections” of the EV industry conveyed this to commerce minister Piyush Goyal in a meeting on Friday.

India´s Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry

PM E-DRIVE Scheme

Banking/Finance

1. RBI removes restrictions on Arohan Financial Services

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed supervisory restrictions on Kolkata-based Arohan Financial Services Ltd. with immediate effect.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

2. Baanknet to Aid One-Stop Property E-Auction

Context:

Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju on Friday unveiled the revamped ‘Baanknet’ portal for e-auction of properties, including commercial properties, industrial land, shops, vehicles, and agricultural and non-agricultural land.

Baanknet Portal

• A central platform for the e-auction of properties held by PSBs.
• Under the control of the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.
• Aims
  • It aims to smooth out recovery, unlock value, and provide easy access for buyers and investors.
    
• Features
  • Unified Listings:
    • This means that over 122,500 different kinds of properties, be it residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or vehicle auction, among others, are offered by this auction house.
  • Technology-based Platform:
    • This is built on microservices architecture for making it all scalable and flexible. Incorporates automated payment gateway and integrated KYC tools to be used for verification purposes.
  • All-end Processes:
    • Simplification of auction life cycle with provision for publicaion of property details, bidding instructions and post auction activities.
  • Support System:
    • It is dedicated to a help desk and a call center with an option for call back in cases of technical or procedural distress.
  • Capacity Building for Effective Use:
    • Public Sector Bank workers and officers from the Debt Recovery Tribunal trained by DFS help sellers and buyers in finalizing the auction process’s legal and procedural soundness.

3. Capex Declines

Context:

Capital expenditure (capex) in the country in November declined 9 per cent over the previous month amid expectations that it would intensify in the second half this financial year.

Capital Expenditure CapEx

4. SBI Schems to Boost Deposit Mobilisation

Context:

State Bank of India – the country´s largest lender – has unveiled two new schemes to boost deposit mobilisation at a time when most banks are facing challenges to raise resources. The first is Har Ghar Lakhpati and second is SBI Patrons.

Har Ghar Lakhpati (HGL)

“Har Ghar Lakhpati” (HGL) is a customized Recurring Deposit scheme, allowing customers to accumulate ₹1 Lakh or more by depositing small savings monthly and becoming ‘LAKHPATI’ upon deposit maturity.

• Features
  • It aims to inculcate saving habit and proper financial goal planning.
  • Available for minors. Through this, very early financial planning can be adopted.

SBI Patrons

SBI is launching a new Term Deposit scheme called “SBI Patrons” for Super Senior Citizens, who are defined as resident individuals aged 80 or older, as per Income Tax Act 1961, in order to provide them additional benefits.

• Features
  • Higher interest rate, as reward for a long and enduring relationship.

5. Securitisation Volumes Rise in Q3FY25

Context:

Securitisation volumes are expected to have surpassed ₹ 68,000 crore in Q3FY25: ICRA

Securitization Volumes

Securitization volumes in banking is the amount of assets that have been pooled and repackaged into interest-bearing securities: 

• Definition
  • Securitization is the process whereby banks pool assets, such as loans, and repackage them into securities, known as asset-backed securities (ABS). The interest and principal payments from the assets are then passed on to the security buyers.
• Purpose
  • Banks use securitization to:
    • Refinance loans with capital market investors 
    • Transfer credit risk to investors 
    • Free up capital for new loans or distributions to investors 
    • Turn illiquid loans into more liquid securities 

6. Bank Loan Growth in Q3FY25

Context:

Deposits, as Bank of Baroda stated, increased by 9.23% y-o-y in Q3FY25, reaching a domestic deposit amount of ₹ 11.65 trillion. Loans are up by 11.76% year-on-year, touching an all-time high of ₹ 9.63 trillion, thus outstripping newly growing deposits.

Bank Loan Growth

• Bank loan growth is the annual change in the total amount of loans that banks issue to consumers and businesses.
• Calculation
  • Calculated as percentage change in loans from one year to the other.
• Significance
  • Reflects the bank’s management quality.
• Indicator
  • A higher loan growth ratio indicates a stronger loan increase.
  • Higher ratio leads to more interest income, and ROA would increase.

7. National Co op, Cosmos Bank merger gets RBI approval

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday has allowed the merger of National Cooperative Bank with Cosmos Cooperative Bank effective from January 6, 2025.

Bank Merger

A bank merger is when two or more banks combine their operations and resources to form a single entity. The resulting bank is usually larger and has more resources, which can lead to cost reductions.

Recent Merged Banks

Date of Merger	Merged Entities	Resulting Bank
April 2019	Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank, and Dena Bank	Bank of Baroda (BoB)
April 2020	Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), and United Bank of India (UBI)	Punjab National Bank (PNB)
April 2020	Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank	Canara Bank
April 2020	Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank	Indian Bank
April 2020	Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Corporation Bank	Union Bank of India

8. New Tax Rule by Ministry of Finance

Context:

No buyer will be subjected to tax deduction for purchases made by him after receipt by an International Financial Services Centre or IFSC-seller as from the 1st of January 2025.

Key Highlights:

• A seller must submit a declaration which should state the previous years under which deductions for income tax have been verified according to the norms of the government.
• The buyer shall thereafter not be liable to deduct tax from payments made to them.
• The seller must submit a statement cum declaration in Form No. 1 annexed to a notification from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue.

9. Sunshine Pictures Files Draft Papers for IPO

Context:

Film producer Vipul Shah’s Sunshine Pictures files draft papers for IPO to raise funds.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

10. Netbanking 2.0: NPCI’s Pilot for Easier Mobile Payments

Context:

NPCI is piloting Netbanking 2.0 to make mobile payments easier.

Key Highlights:

• Aims
  • The pilot aims to popularize more payment avenues, which will reduce the need for UPI or card transactions.
  • The move is to the benefits of payment platforms that can link to all the banks at a single place while they focus only on working on merchant side.
• NTT Data Payment Services India, part of the pilot, plans to use QRcodes in order to increase transaction ease.
• Net banking transactions currently account for about 1015% of total transaction volumes for payment aggregators.
  • Builds an all-in-centralized platform under NPCI wherein merchants can easily connect with every bank.
• What is Net Banking?
  • Net banking, also known as online banking, internet banking, or e-banking, is a service that allows customers to conduct financial transactions electronically through a bank’s website or mobile app.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Economy

1. Economic Indicators and Finance Ministry’s Outlook for 2024-25

• GDP growth declined
  • Declined to 5.4% in Q2 2024, which is considered a mere pause and growth is likely to pick up pace in the next quarters.
• Sustained slowing of consumption demand
  • particularly in urban markets, is a cause for concern. Urban India has been showing restraint in spending. Conducive festive backfire is expected in cities.
• Bank credit growth
  • declined for the fifth consecutive month in November, an indication of slowing banking lending activity.
• Core infrastructure sectors
  • growth was recorded at 4.3% in November. The sectors have been growing robustly, mainly in electricity, steel, and cement.
• Factory activity
  • was the lowest since November and December 2024, and these months had severe challenges in terms of manufacturing output.
• GST receipts
  • had their three-month low in December as economic activity went slower.

2. ‘Made in India’ Chip

Context:

Tata Electronics’ first “Made in India” chips are expected to be unveiled by late 2025 or early 2026. The chips will be produced at a semiconductor plant in Assam, India, and will be used in a variety of sectors, including: automotive, electronics, power, consumer goods, and healthcare.

Semiconductor Chip

A semiconductor chip is a tiny piece of silicon that contains an electronic circuit. They are the building blocks of modern technology, used in all sorts of gadgets and gizmos, from cell phones to automobiles and medical equipment.

• Composition
  • Composed of forming an electronic circuit on a semiconductor wafer.
  • Transistors, diodes, and resistors are the components.
• Application
  • Used in devices such as smartphones, cars, and medical devices.
• Material Used
  • Silicon is the most common material used, but germanium and gallium arsenide are also used.

3. India’s Poverty Rate Declines in FY24

Context:

In FY24, rural poverty declined to below 5% for the first time; this decline can be attributed to higher consumption growth in the 0% fractile, a shift from the 51% fractile in FY23 to the 5% fractile in FY24.

Key Findings:

• Government schemes such as DBT have led to a huge reduction in the rural-urban poverty gap.
• The new poverty line for FY24 is around ₹1,632 per month in rural areas and ₹1,944 in urban areas.
  • Now that the overall poverty rate might be in the range of 44.5%, the proportion of the population living below the poverty line could be reflected.
• High and sharply increasing inflation, especially on food items, which have eaten into the share of spending on food, underpinned deteriorating consumption, especially in low-income rural states.

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a joint publication by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

• 1.1 billion people out of 6.3 billion are living in 112 countries facing poverty.
• India’s Position
  • India’s poverty rate declined from 55.1% in 2005-06 to 16.4% in 2019-21.
  • The five countries with the highest poverty rates are India (234 million), Pakistan (93 million), Ethiopia (86 million), Nigeria (74 million), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (66 million).
• Together, these countries account for 48.1% of the total 1.1 billion poor people.

Global Hunger Index

• India’s Position
  • India has been positioned at 105th place, among 127 Countries
• Published By
  • Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe

Food Inflation in India

Major Indexes and India’s Ranking

Agriculture

1. Agriculture Marketing

Context:

The draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM), released recently for public comments by the Union Agriculture Ministry, is more dangerous than the three farm laws repealed in 2021, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of farmers’ outfits, said on Friday.

Draft Policy on Corporate Agri-Business in India

• Aims to convert 7,057 registered markets and 22,931 Grameen Haats into Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Matches the World Bank and International Finance Capital’s perception of value chain.
  • The World Bank suggests that global value chains can boost prosperity, but trade conflicts and lack of reforms may hinder growth, while also aiding developing countries in poverty reduction.
• Initiatives to link the private and public sectors by advanced technologies, including digital public infrastructure, blockchain, machine learning, and AI.
• Advocates deregulation and leaves the field to corporate agribusinesses in production, processing, and marketing.

Draft National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing in India

Agricultural Marketing In India

2. Odisha Treats Unseasonal Rain as Disaster

Context:

Considering unseasonal rains as disaster, the Mohan Majhi government in Odisha has announced input subsidy of ₹291.59 crore for farmers who have suffered crop loss above 33%.

Crop Insurance Schemes

3. India’s Ground Water Quality Assessment by CGWB

Context:

The number of districts in India that have been reported by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to have excess nitrate increased from 359 in 2017 to 440 in 2023.

Key Findings:

• Excess nitrate cases are caused by methemoglobinemia and environmental problems like algal blooms in lakes and ponds.
  • An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the amount of algae in a body of water.
  • Cause & Effects
    • Caused by excess of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in water. It results in Depleting oxygen, Blocking sunlight and Creating toxins.
• Approximately 19.8% of 15,239 groundwater samples collected from all over India harbored nitrates above safe limits.
• Other major chemical contaminants include fluoride and uranium.
  • Fluoride concentrations exceeding WHO safe limits can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis, while uranium levels above 30 µg/L can cause chronic organ damage and nephrotoxicity.

Groundwater Pollution in India and Nitrate Contamination

4. The F-T-P approach: Revolutionising biofuel integration in the sugar industry

• Biofuel Sector: A Road to Sustainable Growth
  • The biofuel sector is an area of growth, integrating sustainability, energy security, and climate action.
  • The F-T-P (Feedstock-Technology-Product) approach is a structured framework for integrating biofuels into industries like sugar.
  • Alignment with India’s National Policy on Biofuels (2018) can transform the sugar industry into a sustainable growth engine.

• Feedstock: Capitalizing on India’s Agricultural Advantage
  • India’s sugar mills may use 1st Generation feedstocks such as mosaics, sugarcane syrup, and surplus grains.
  • Agricultural residues like bagasse, rice straw, and wheat straw will be 2nd Generation (2G) feedstocks.
  • Algal biofuels shall be 3rd Generation (3G) feedstocks focusing on high yield with minimal land use.

• Technology
  • Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) Technology and Bio-Methanation are the core technologies for the sustainable aviation fuel.
  • Lactic Acid Technologies is working to develop bioplastics from polylactic acid, reducing fossil-based plastics.

• Products
  • Ethanol 1G and 2G, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Renewable Chemicals and Materials (RCM), and Bioplastics and Bio-Bitumen are emerging products.
  • Diversification of product portfolio beyond ethanol ensures economic resilience and positions India for the global biofuels market.

• Integrated Biorefineries
  • Integrated biorefineries involve disparate feedstocks, technologies, and products under a circular model.
  • Indian sugar mills may be developed in the form of integrated biorefineries to develop a greener industrial hub.

• Conclusion
  • F-T-P approach is a practical journey to achieve India’s biofuel vision
  • India has the policies such as National Policy on Biofuels and SATAT initiative in its favor.

Facts to Remember

1. Senior bureaucrat Faiz Ahmed Kidwai is new chief of DGCA

• Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai isthe new Director-General (D-G) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

2. US surgeon general urges cancer warnings for alcoholic drinks

• Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer, and alcoholic beverages should carry a warning label as packs of cigarettes do, the US surgeon general, Dr Vivek Murthy, said on Friday.

3. Under new policy, Lt-Gens to be promoted on merit, not seniority

• With India moving towards the creation of triService theatre commands, Army has adopted a radical change in the promotion policy for top officers by making it necessary for lieutenant generals to be graded on their performance through a “quantified assessment system”.

4. India, Maldives commit to strengthen bilateral ties

• India and the Maldives reaffirmed commitment to bilateral cooperation in a meeting between foreign minister S Jaishankar and his visiting counterpart Abdulla Khaleel, while signing an MoU for implementation of projects in the archipelago nation under grant assistance from India.