Context: Buyofuel Launches Buyo Inventory App for Biofuel Inventory Management. About Buyofuel Challenges in Biofuel Inventory Management Features of the Buyo Inventory App Benefits for the Biofuel Sector Leadership Insights Impact and Vision India’s Ethanol Program
Current Affairs 22 January 2025
Daily Current Affairs Quiz22 January, 2025 International Affairs 1. U.S. Citizenship Context: After being sworn in, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order cancelling the provision of “citizenship by birth”, which could directly affect thousands of Indian professionals working in the U.S. under H-1B and other temporary visas, who hoped to raise their families there. Citizenship in U.S. There are two major modes through which the United States may grant a person the status of citizen. Birthright Citizenship in the United States Assured by the 14th Amendment The first clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which was adopted on July 9, 1868 assures birthright citizenship to people born in US territory, except for American Samoa. Dual Citizenship in India! 2. Tariffs on BRICS Nations! Context: US President Donald Trump reiterated to impose 100 per cent import tariffs on the BRICS countries if they took any steps towards cutting the use of the dollar in global trade. The BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India. India’s Approach and Possible Effects Implications for India BRICS US Lifts Restrictions on Indian Nuclear Entities 3. Trump’s Second Term and International Law Impact Context: The second term of Trump represents continued disruptive leadership and challenges to international norms. His policy promotes U.S. Exceptionalism by maintaining its position in making international law, yet demanding other countries comply. Key Highlights: Trump 1.0: A Sovereigntist Approach Trump 2.0 National Affairs 1. The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) 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. Key Findings: 2. Smart Cities Mission Challenges Recommendations for Strengthening the Smart City Mission UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Mains Q. With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.’ (2016) 3. Indus Water Treaty Context: The World Bank appointed the Neutral Expert NE Michel Lino to announce his competence for adjudicating differences between India and Pakistan about the design of hydroelectric projects on Indus system rivers. Indus Water Treaty Key Provisions Permanent Indus Commission Both countries establish a commission that is required to meet every year for cooperation and resolve any water disputes. Projects Inspected Under IWT Indus River and Its Tributaries River Source Joins Jhelum Spring at Verinag, Kashmir Valley Chenab at Trimmu, Pakistan Chenab Chandra and Bhaga streams near Bara Lacha Pass Satluj after receiving Jhelum and Ravi Ravi Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass Chenab near Rangpur, Pakistan Beas Near Rohtang Pass Satluj at Harike Barrage, India Satluj Manasarovar-Rakas Lakes, Tibet Indus a few kilometers above Mithankot, Pakistan Challenges to the IWT Framework Key Disputes in Interpretation Challenges Way Forward UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims Q1. With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus directly. Among the following, which one is such a river that joins the Indus direct? (2021) (a) Chenab(b) Jhelum(c) Ravi(d) Sutlej Ans: (d) Q2. Consider the following pairs (2019) Glacier River 1. Bandarpunch Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri Chenab 3. Milam Mandakini 4. Siachen Nubra 5. Zemu Manas Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (a) 1, 2 and 4(b) 1, 3 and 4(c) 2 and 5(d) 3 and 5 Ans: (a) Mains Q. Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (2016) Q. The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods, and interrupted navigation. Critically examine. (2020) 4. Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) Context: India and France have agreed to boost cooperation in “high-end technology sectors”, as senior officials held Foreign Office consultations in Paris, and talks between the two sides have not resolved issues on the much-delayed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra, despite a revised techno-commercial offer being made by French energy company EDF (Electricite De France) in 2022. Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) is a proposed nuclear power plant in Jaitapur, Maharashtra, India. The project is a collaboration between India and France to generate nuclear power for peaceful purposes. 5. Hypersonic Missiles Context: In a crucial milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic munitions, the DRDO has successfully demonstrated a cutting-edge active cooled scramjet combustor ground test for the first time in India. This is the effort to develop a long-duration supersonic combustion scramjet powered hypersonic technology. Hypersonic Missiles Hypersonic missiles are those missiles that fly at speeds of Mach 5 or higher, which is over five times the speed of sound. They are very maneuverable and can fly low. Hypersonic vs Supersonic Missiles Hypersonic Supersonic 6. PM EDRIVE Scheme Context: With the Union Budget 2025 on the horizon, electric twowheeler (e2W) players are urging the government to introduce critical policy measures and incentives to revitalise the sector. Key demands include relooking at the PM EDRIVE scheme, reduced goods and services tax (GST) rates across the entire EV ecosystem, providing targeted subsidies and innovative financing models. PM EDRIVE Scheme PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Upgrade (PM EDRIVE Scheme) is India’s latest push toward the promotion of electric mobility as the replacement to the earlier FAME II policy. It has fiscal as well as infrastructural interventions geared toward a hastened take-up of EVs specifically in two/three-wheeler as well as in bus segments but remarkably, this one does not extend direct subsidy benefits to electric cars. Comparison with the FAME Scheme Impact of Exclusion of Electric Cars in PM EDRIVE Support Measures for Electric Mobility beyond Subsidies Challenges and Way Forward 7. Draft Guidelines for
RBI’s New Regulations for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
Banker’s View: Limited Transactions Anticipated RBI’s Efforts to Promote Rupee Usage Existing Attempts to Rupee Settlement
Open Market Operations (OMOs)
Open Market Operations (OMOs) are a tool used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to manage liquidity in the economy. OMOs involve buying and selling government securities (G-Secs) in the open market. The RBI uses OMOs to control inflation, boost economic growth, and keep bond yields at desired levels. How OMOs work? Why OMOs are important?
Bank Liquidity Deficit and RBI Intervention
Context: Liquidity Position Trend Since the second half of December 2024 Indian banks have faced a liquidity deficit that touched a level of 236 trillion as on January 20 2025.This liquidity deficit was partly caused by an accumulation of government cash balances with the Reserve Bank of India and RBI interventions in the forex market which drained rupee liquidity. Role of CRR in Liquidity Management Historical Evolution and Effectiveness of CRR Changes Risks of Further CRR Cut RBI’s Liquidity Management Tools
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
Context: The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a 11,440 crore financial package for RINL aimed at reviving the struggling state owned enterprise operating the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) Key Features and Background Integrated Steel Plant RINL operates Visakhapatnam Steel Plant VSP which is India’s first shore based integrated steel plant built with state of theart technology. Captive Mines and Resources
Payment Aggregator Cross Border (PA-CB)
Context: Crossborder payments firm Skydo, received an in principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregatorcross border (PACB) entity. Payment Aggregator Cross Border (PA-CB) A Payment Aggregator Cross Border (PA-CB) entity is a company that facilitates online cross-border payments for the import and export of goods and services. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates PA-CBs to ensure accountability and compliance. Source: Business Standard
SEBIs Proposal for Pre Listing Share Trading
Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is looking into the concept of introducing a controlled mechanism under which investors will be permitted to offer allotted shares even before the exchange-bound formal listing thereof. This step aims to prevent unofficial trading in postIPO grey market and create greater market transparency. Important Features of the Proposal Rationale Behind the Move Benefits Challenges Grey Market Grey market goods are goods sold outside the authorized distribution channels by entities which may have no relationship with the producer of the goods. This form of parallel import frequently occurs when the price of an item is significantly higher in one country than another.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme
Context: Public sector banks (PSBs) have raised concerns regarding specific restrictions in the PM Vishwakarma scheme that make individuals ineligible if they had taken government loans in the past five years, such as under the Prime Minister´s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). PM Vishwakarma Scheme The PM Vishwakarma Scheme targets artisans and craftsmen engaged in areas of blacksmithing goldsmithing pottery carpentry and sculpting many of which comprise traditional Indian crafts. This is more of an activity for preservation of cultural heritage of India but integrates these artisans into the formal economy and global value chains. This is a Central Sector Scheme completely funded by the Government of India.
Draft Guidelines for Ecommerce Platforms
Context: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has proposed draft guidelines under the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry that will look at enhancing consumer protection and building up trust in this fast growing ecommerce sector. The guidelines will look for self regulation by ecommerce platforms aimed at mitigating fraudulent practices while improving transparency within the digital shopping landscape Key Features of the Draft Guidelines PreTransaction Stage Contract Formation Stage Post Transaction Stage Objectives of the Guidelines
