Current Affairs 11 January 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
11 January, 2025

International Affairs

1. US Sanctions on Russia’s Energy Sector!

Context:

President Joe Biden’s administration announced that it’s expanding sanctions against Russia’s critically important energy sector, unveiling a new effort to inflict pain on Moscow for its nearly 3-year-old war in Ukraine as President-elect Donald Trump gets set to return to office vowing to quickly end the conflict.

Key Highlights:

• Source of Revenue For Russia
  • The Biden-housed administration in the United States has expanded sanctions against Russia’s energy sector as a prominent source of revenue for the war the country is waging in Ukraine.

• Main Sanctions
  • Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas are targeted, as well as more than two dozen subsidiaries.
  • More than 180 oil-carrying vessels.
• Goals
  • To reduce Russia’s sources of revenue financing its military actions in Ukraine
  • To weaken Russia’s economic resilience and ability to continue the current conflict
• Russia’s Economy
  • Russia is a global leader in energy production and exports, with the world’s largest natural gas reserves and second-largest oil reserves. Russia’s oil and gas industry accounted for 41% of its federal budget revenues in mid-2024. 

What is Economic Sanction?

Economic sanctions or embargoes involve commercial and financial penalties directed by states or institutions toward specific states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a force that aims at forcing an actor into changing its behavior in the sense that it causes distress in the country’s economic interchange.

National Affairs

1. Malnutrition In India

Context:

UNICEF foresees 3.2 million children under five to suffer acute malnutrition this year in war-torn Sudan. An estimated 7,72,000 children are likely to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

Sudan Crisis

Sudan has endured 20 months of war between the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing tens of thousands and, according to the United Nations, uprooting 12 million in the world’s largest displacement crisis.

Defining Malnutrition

Malnutrition involves deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in terms of energy or nutrients. Types of malnutrition include wasting, stunting, underweight, and diseases related to micronutrient malnutrition. Overall, by 2022, the numbers for global pictures were as follows: 149 million children under 5 years were stunted; 45 million were wasted; and 37 million were overweight or obese.

• Malnutrition levels in India:
  • 35.5% of children below 5 years are stunted, 19.3% are wasted, 32.1% are underweight, and 3% are overweight.

Malnutrition Health Impact in India

• The health implications brought about by malnutrition include growth stunting in children, exposure to severe pathogenic infection, poor cognitive functions, continued school dropout rates, economic implications of continued education, intergenerational effects such as future productivity, and social implications like national development and increased burden of healthcare.

What Are the Problems That India Faces in the Management of Malnutrition?

• Economic Inequality
  • Poor people often cannot afford nutritious food or do not have access to it.
• Poor Nutritional Intake and Dietary Changes
  • There has been a change in the dietary pattern from diverse to processed and high sugar.
• Poor Sanitation
  • Poor sanitary and hygiene practices lead to contact with pathogens and parasites that cause malnutrition.
• Absence of Primary Health Infrastructure
  • Most Indians lack access to the most basic health services, exposing them to potential disease development and complications.
• Delayed and Inconsistent Service Delivery
  • Another factor contributing to the gap in nutritional interventions is implementation delay and inconsistency in service provision.
• Inadequate Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Inadequate mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation makes it difficult to measure the program impact.

Tackling Malnutrition in India: Key Strategies

• Fortification
  • Low-cost method of adding essential nutrients to staple foods.
• Iodised salt
  • Reduced goitre rates under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in 1992.
• Development of a Focused SBCC Action Plan
  • A well-structured plan to address malnutrition.
• Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
  • Improving healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, and enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers to diagnose and treat malnutrition.
• Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Developing strong monitoring and evaluation systems that track the impact of nutrition interventions.
• Consumption of Locally Nutritious Food
  • Promoting the consumption of locally available, traditional food sources that are rich in essential nutrients.
• Community Empowerment
  • Involving local communities in the design and implementation of nutrition programs.
• Communication Strategies
  • Community radio, videos, and outreach to build a relationship with, and address local contexts.

Government Initiatives to Tackle Malnutrition?

• Mission Poshan 2.0
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)
• Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA)
• Poshan Vatikas

2. Writs Jurisdictions of the Supreme Court

Context:

The Supreme Court directed that status quo be maintained with respect to a well located near the entrance of a religious site in U.P.

The Status Quo

The status quo is a Latin phrase that means the current state of affairs, or the way things are at a particular time. The Supreme Court of India defines “status quo” as the existing state of affairs at a given time. In a judicial order, “status quo” means that the existing position should not be changed, and the subject matter’s features or character should not be altered. 

Writs Jurisdictions of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India issues writs under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. A writ is an order issued through a formal writing to enforce a fundamental right and correct legal wrongs.

• Article 32
  • Article 32 of the Constitution of India grants citizens the right to approach the Supreme Court to enforce their fundamental rights. It also gives the Supreme Court the power to issue orders, directions, or writs to enforce these rights.
• Fundamental Rights
  • Fundamental rights refer to a set of rights that ensure the protection of individual liberties and those of groups. They are constitutionally guaranteed in a country’s constitution and are very basic to the lives of citizens.
• What are writs?
  • Writs are court orders that require a party or individual to either do something or cease performing something
  • Writs are the means of enforcing the basic rights and rectifying legal miscarriages.
• Habeas corpus
  • Protects individual liberty by preventing unlawful detention
• Mandamus
  • Ensures that public duties are performed
• Prohibition
  • Prevents lower courts from exceeding their jurisdiction
• Certiorari
  • A writ that can be issued by the Supreme Court
• Quo-Warranto
  • A writ that can be issued by the Supreme Court
• Who can file a writ petition?
  • People whose rights have been infringed and Citizens motivated by public service end.

3. Rat-Hole Mining

Context:

The body of another worker, who was trapped inside a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, was recovered on Saturday from the quarry during rescue operations.

Definition
Rat-hole mining, a method of manually digging narrow holes in North East India for coal extraction, is banned by the National Green Tribunal but still used by artisanal mining operations in Meghalaya.

Legal Status

• Banned:
  • This type of mining is banned by the National Green Tribunal
• Still practiced:
  • The method remains to be popular in the Artisanal Mining Operations in Meghalaya

Techniques Employed

• Side Cutting Method
  • Coal seams traverse along hill slopes.
    Seams are visible at the outer edge of rocks.
• Box Cutting Method
  • A pit is dug which has a width of 5 square meters and a depth of 400 feet in order to collect the coal.
• Dangerous Conditions
  • The employees face extreme dangers due to the narrow, dangerous tunnels.
• Eco-Negative Impact
  • Serious damages to local ecosystems and landscapes.
• Inrequent Mine Accidents
  • Many deaths and injuries take place in these mines.

4. Coal and Coal Mining in India

Introduction to Coal

Coal is a carbonaceous material which exists in stratified sedimentary deposits.
It is a main fossil fuel and natural source of energy.

• Uses
  • Coal is used to make coke for the metallurgical purposes and electricity.
  • Gasification and liquefaction of coal produces gaseous and liquid fuels, respectively.
• Fossil Fuel
  • Fossil fuel, or ‘Black Gold‘, is a traditional source of energy used extensively in domestic industries and thermal power generation.
• Global Leaders
  • Global leaders in coal production are China, US, Australia, Indonesia, and India.
• Indian coal distribution is as follows:
  • Gondwana coal fields
    • 98.8% of the total reserves and 99% of the production in India.
  • Tertiary coal fields
    • 15-60 million years old, wet and sulphurous, restricted to extra-peninsular regions.
• Classification:
  • Anthracite (80 – 95% carbon content, found in small quantities in J&K).
  • Bituminous (60 – 80% of carbon content and is found in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh).
  • Lignite (40 to 55% carbon content, high moisture content and is found in Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam) and Tamil Nadu).
  • Peat (less than 40% carbon content and it is in the first stage of transformation from organic matter (wood) to coal).

Coal Mining in India

• India is endowed with ancient coal mines, including Gondwana and tertiary coalfields.
• Background
  • Coal mining started as early as in 1774 by the East India Company.
• Government Vision
  • The Government is targeting a higher production of coal through allocations of land, acquisition of land support, and coordination with railway.

Government Steps to Boost Production of Coal

• Commercial auction of coal based on revenue share mechanism
  • Four rounds of auctions were held since June 2020.
• Surplus coal output is allowed for sales
  • Ministerial Coal Department was amended over the Mineral Concession Rules 1960 to ensure selling of either lignite and or coal
• Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation Act )
  • Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation Act ) was amendment which released other quantities of coal,.
• Policy
  • The policy of conducting auction of mine will be initiated so that they go on as rolled auctions while taking into its expedition.
• Single Window Clearance
  • The union government initiated the coal sector to expedite operationalization of the coal mines. Coal India Ltd.
• Coal Energy Sector in India
  • Coal Requirements in India
    • Coal demand in India is projected to increase by 63% by 2030, and this clearly means a big share of coal in the energy basket.
    • But still, it imports large volumes of coal from outside due to low productivity and environmental issues.

Technology for Improved Coal Mining

• HEMMs and Surface Miners
  • Modern technologies like High capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMMs) and Surface Miners are being used to improve the quality of coal mining.
• First Mile Connectivity (FMC)
  • First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects are being implemented for efficient coal transportation.
• 3D terrestrial laser scanners
  • 3D terrestrial laser scanners are being used for overburden measurement accuracy.
• Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
  • Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being introduced for improved mine mapping and monitoring.
• Other technological interventions
  • Other technological interventions include slope monitoring technologies, collision avoidance systems, and automated Mist-based Water sprinkling systems.

Measures to Mitigate Pollution

• Coal mining activities release and distribute suspended particulate matter into the atmosphere, causing a wide range of air pollution controlling measures.
• Measures include fixed sprinklers, mobile water sprinklers, long-throw fog canons, mist-type water spraying systems, side cladding with GI Sheet, control blasting techniques, modern equipment with environment-friendly features, and use of drills with wet drilling and dust extractors.
• To prevent coal spillage from trucks, all loaded coal transporting trucks are covered by tarpaulin and overloading is prohibited.

5. Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)

Context:

Tamil Nadu’s Local Body Elections delayed of the 9,624 village panchayats, 314 panchayat unions, and 28 district panchayats.

Local Self Government:

• The 73rd Amendment was passed in December 1992 and came into force on April 24, 1993. It established a three-tier system of PRIs in rural areas, with Gram Panchayats at the village level, Panchayat Samitis at the block level, and Zilla Parishads at the district level. 
• Article
  •  Articles 243–243(O)
• Both rural and urban government are included.
• There are two types of local government:
  • Panchayatas in rural areas and Municipalities in urban areas.

Rural Local Governments (Articles 243G and 243H):

• Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is a system of rural local self-government in India.
• Constitutional Provision
  • Part-IX to the Constitution of India added, that is ‘The Panchayats’.
  • This act has added a new Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.
• Ministry
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) 

Urban Local Governments (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG)

• Established to make democratic decentralization.
• In India there are eight kinds of urban local governments
  • Municipality, Notified Area Committee, Town Area Committee, Municipal Corporation, Cantonment Board, port trust, special purpose agency, and township.
• Constitutional Provision
  • Part IX-A, Articles 243-P to 243-ZG
• Ministry
  • Under the direct control of the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Home Affairs.

73rd Constitutional Amendment Salient Features:

• Organization of Gram Sabhas.
  • Three-tier Panchayati Raj Structure
    • Establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj Structure at the Zila, Block, and Village levels.
• Minimum age
  • Minimum age for contesting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions.
• Reservation
  • Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats.
• State Election Commission
  • State Election Commission to be established in each State to organize elections to Panchayati Raj institutions.
  • State Finance Commission to be established in each State every five years.
• Tenure
  • Tenure of Panchayati Raj institutions is five years.
• Financial Powers
  • Financial powers in respect of taxes, duties, tolls, and fees.

6. Global Warming

Context:

First time ever in history, global temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level in 2024, confirmed by C3S data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Global Warming and its Effect on India

Global warming results from the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. It finally results in rising of global tempreature.

Causes of Global Warming in India

• Emission of Greenhouse Gases
  • India is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.
• Agricultural Activities
  • Methane emission in rice cultivation and livestock farming contribute to global warming.
  • Stubble Burning:
    • Stubble burning is the practice of intentionally setting fire to the leftover plant stalks, or stubble, left in fields after harvesting crops like rice and wheat in order to prepare field for the next crop. It’s a common practice in India, especially in the Punjab and Haryana regions.
• Deforestation
  • The country’s agricultural development, urbanization, and industrialization result in massive deforestation, thereby enhancing the warming effect.
• Energy Consumption
  • The use of coal and industries is increasing the carbon emissions of India.

Effects of Global Warming on India

• Increased Temperatures
  • Rising average temperatures cause more frequent heatwaves, which negatively impact human health, agriculture, and water resources.
• Erratic Rainfall
  • Changes in the monsoon pattern lead to droughts, water scarcity, and disrupts agriculture.
• Reduced Crop Yields
  • Heat stress, water scarcity, and changed pest dynamics may reduce crop yields.
• Sea Level Rise
  • Increased temperatures melt ice from glaciers and polar ice caps, which cause flooding and erosion of coastlines.
• Extreme Weather Conditions
  • More climatic events such as cyclones, floods, and storms devastate infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements.

Mitigation Measures

• Shift to Renewable Energy
  • Investing in renewable energy reduces the use of fossil fuels.
• Energy Efficiency Measures
  • Energy-efficient technologies and practices can be developed to reduce overall energy consumption and emissions.
• Afforestation and Reforestation
  • Large-scale afforestation and reforestation programs can act as carbon sinks.
• Sustainable Agricultural Practices
  • Encouraging sustainable agricultural practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• International Collaboration
  • Active participation in global efforts to combat climate change is crucial.

8. Line of Actual Control

Context:

The National Board for Wildlife has approved eleven proposals in protected areas of Ladakh for strategic infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control with China.

The Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The Line of Actual Control, or LAC, is an imaginary line dividing Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. It has become the de facto border between India and China but is not a formally recognized international border.

• How did the LAC come about?
  • In 1959, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai wrote a letter to Jawaharlal Nehru proposing the concept of the LAC.
  • The LAC was born in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
• What is the LAC?
  • The LAC is not demarcated clearly along its length.
  • It is neither marked on any map nor is it physically delineated on the ground.
• Conflict
  • India believes the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while China puts it at around 2,000 km.
• What are the sectors of the LAC?
  • The LAC is divided into three sectors:
    • Western sector: Covers Ladakh in India and Tibet and Xinjiang in China
    • Middle sector: Covers Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
    • Eastern sector: Covers Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
• What are the problems with the LAC?
  • The exact location of the LAC is a matter of considerable dispute.  
  • There have been standoffs by the armed forces along the LAC.

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body in India that advises the government on wildlife conservation and protection.

9. INTERPOL’s Silver Notice

Context:

Interpol issued its first-ever ‘Silver Notice’, an innovative measure aimed at tracking down laundered assets across international borders. This pilot project involves 52 countries, including India, which has around a dozen fugitive economic offenders and a substantial amount of black money transferred offshore.

Black money is income that is earned illegally or without paying the required taxes. It is typically kept in cash and is not reported to the government.

What is Interpol ‘Silver Notice’?

• Interpol has issued the first ‘Silver Notice’, one of the efforts to track across international borders money laundered money.
• Features
  • It is a new feature in the INTERPOL suite of color-coded Notices. Usefully, it facilitates the identification of criminal assets and retrieves them.
  • It aids in requesting information regarding assets and properties associated with criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, etc.
• INTERPOL Notices
  • INTERPOL Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.
  • There are eight types of Notices, each associated with a specific color and purpose.
• India’s Status
  • The silver notice initiative brings together 52 countries, amongst which is India, with so much black money transferred offshore

10. National Food Security Act

Context:

Expansion of the distribution of food grains mandated by National Food Security Act of 2013 prevented stunting of about 1.8 million children in eight states, according to a paper in American Economic Association’s journal on applied economics.

National Food Security Act of 2013

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 is a law that aims to provide subsidized food and nutritional security to the citizens of India. 

• Notified on 10th September, 2013.
• Objective:
  • Providing for food and nutritional security for the human life cycle.
• Coverage:
  • 75% of rural population and up to 50% of urban population for subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• Eligibility:
  • Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, and households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
    • The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a Government of India scheme that provides highly subsidized food to the poorest families in India
• Provisions:
  • 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
• Meal and maternity benefit:
  • Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after child birth.
• Food security
  • Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
• Grievance redressal mechanisms
  • Grievance redressal mechanisms set up at the district and state level.
• Existing beneficiaries:
  • 2.37 crore households or 9.01 crore persons, with 70.35 crore persons under priority households.
• Suggestion:
  • Assuming the rural-urban coverage ratio remains the same, the overall numbers covered will be increased from 81.35 crore to 89.52 crore, increasing the subsidy required by Rs. 14,800 crore.
• Issues:
  • Covid-19 may double the problem of unemployment and food insecurity to the poor.

Malnutrition In India

Human Development Report(HDR) 2023-24

Banking/Finance

1. Sebi Registration of FPIs

Context:

Sebi will ease the registration process of FPIs, which invest in Indian government bonds, or G-Secs.

Key Highlights:

• FPIs will need to comply only with RBI KYC norms and furnish PAN-related data as specified by the The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
• Equities
  • The equities to be invested will be registered under the usual procedure of FPI registration.
• Aim
  • Sebi is trying to smoothen the bottlenecks in the process of FPI registration. As an example, for multiple investment manager structures, fields have reduced by 45%.
  • FPI trends and market dynamics reflect the selling off of Indian debt by FPIs as the yield gap between India and the U.S. has started to narrow.
• Multiple investment manager
  • Multiple investment manager structures include multi-manager portfolios, multi-manager funds, and multi-manager hedge funds: 
    • Multi-manager portfolios: These portfolios are designed to diversify risk by investing in funds from multiple managers. They can be fettered, which means they only invest in funds from the wealth or asset manager offering the portfolio, or unfettered, which means they invest in funds from third-party managers.

Threshold Limit for Granular Disclosures by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs)

• Sebi intends to raise the threshold limit of disclosures of FPIs from ₹25,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore with a hike in daily market turnover.
• Explanation
  • The proposed hike is because of a substantial rise in the market turnover on a daily basis. The new rules are meant to prevent promoters from availing of the FPI route for avoiding regulatory restrictions.
• Current framework
  • FPIs falling into any of the following categories need to give the following level of disclosures:
    • Have more than 50% of their Indian equity AUM in one Indian corporate group
    • Hold over Rs 25,000 crore of equity AUM in Indian markets
• Exemptions
  • Government-backed FPIs
  • Public retail funds
  • Exchange traded funds
  • Pooled investment vehicles
  • FPIs that are prohibited from liquidating their investments owing to statutory constraints

Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)

2. Long-Term Liquidity and Short Term Liquidity

Context:

Bankers Seek RBI for Long-Term Liquidity in Tight Money Market Conditions. Bankers seek long-term liquidity injections for 30, 90, and 120 days.

• Instruments Proposed
  • Instruments proposed include OMO, VRR Auctions, and Buy/Sell Swaps.
• Short Term Liquidity
  • RBI provided short-term liquidity through 14-day, 4-day, and overnight funding facilities.
  • Short-term liquidity: A bank’s ability to pay off short-term liabilities, such as accounts payable, that are due within a year. 
• Long Term liquidity
  • A bank’s ability to meet long-term debts and continue operating into the future. 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provides short-term and long-term liquidity to banks through a variety of tools and operations

• Repo rate:
  • The RBI lends short-term money to banks against securities at the repo rate. The RBI adjusts the repo rate to manage short-term liquidity and influence the amount of money banks can lend.
• Variable Rate Repo (VRR)
  • A variable rate repo (VRR) auction is a tool used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to inject liquidity into the banking system and help banks overcome liquidity shortages. VRR auctions are also known as term repo rate auctions.
• Liquidity adjustment facility (LAF):
  • The RBI applies LAF for maintaining the call rates within the corridor created by the repo rate and the reverse repo rate.
• Marginal standing facility (MSF):
  • The RBI offers short-term liquidity using MSF.
• Term loan for banks (TLTRO):
  • The RBI extends long-term credit to the banks under TLTRO. The banks give government securities as collateral for the amount of money drawn under TLTRO.
• Open Market Operations (OMO):
  • The RBI is injecting or absorbing liquidity through outright purchases or sale of government paper.
• Long term FX swap auction:
  • The RBI uses long term FX swap auction to add on or withdraw the liquidity.
• Term repo/reverse repo:
  • On a 14-day variable rate-term repo/reverse repo, it absorbs frictional liquidity requirement for the banking system
• Other factors include:
  • Cash balances the government holds in RBI
  • Differences in circulating currency
  • Alterations in cash reserve ratio of CRR and SLR respectively

RBI’s Liquidity Management Tools

3. Unlisted Companies Vs Listed Companies

Context:

In 2023-24, unlisted companies in India are increasing their net fixed assets by 7.5%. This is in contrast to listed companies, where the figure stood at 6.4%.

Unlisted Public Company

An unlisted public company is a public company that is not listed on any stock exchange; therefore, it may raise finance through the issue and sale of shares to the public. The jurisdictions vary in criteria for listing. However, for a public company to be registered, it should meet minimum share capital and the number of shareholders.

Reason For Not Listing?

Some companies do not list for a variety of reasons, including to avoid costs, not wanting public investors, or having too few shareholders.

Listed Vs Unlisted Companies

The most significant difference between a listed company and an unlisted company is that shares of a listed company are traded on a stock exchange, while the shares of an unlisted company are not traded on a stock exchange:

• Ownership
  • There are many shareholders in a listed company, comprising retail and institutional investors, whereas an unlisted company is mostly owned by private investors or small institutions.
• Accessibility
  • Shares in a listed company are easily accessed and traded while those in an unlisted company are not.
• Regulations
  • Listed companies are strictly regulated on issues such as regular financial reporting and corporate governance standards. The unlisted companies are less regulated than the listed companies but are more regulated than the private companies.
• Information
  • The listed companies are compelled to make available to the public detailed financial statements and other significant information at fixed intervals. In contrast, the unlisted companies may not divulge as much financial information.
• Investment
  • Listed shares can be purchased with a Demat and trading account with a SEBI-registered stockbroker. Unlisted shares are relatively less liquid compared to listed shares.
• Goals
  • Listed companies tend to emphasize maximizing shareholder value. In contrast, the unlisted companies may tend to focus more on long-term growth.

Economy

1. Per Capita Income

Context:

Delhi’s per capita income in 2023-24, at ₹4,61,910, was the third highest in the country after Goa and Sikkim, according to the latest statistical handbook. 

Per Capita Income

Per capita income is the amount of money on average earned by a person within a given space over a period of time. It is usually calculated by taking the total income within an area divided by the total population within the same area.

• Per capita income is used to determine the quality of life and the standard of living for a population. This usually is done using population surveys such as the American Community Survey.
• Limitations
  • It does not account for inflation, which makes economic growth overstated sometimes.
  • It fails to account for cost of living differences between countries.
  • A small number of rich people may increase a country’s per capita income but, meanwhile, the remaining population sees no changes.
• Inclusive Growth
  • Inclusive growth is a concept that aims to create a society that is free, equal, and wealthy, while also reducing poverty and preserving economic freedoms.
• Per Capita Income of India
  • 10,030 PPP dollars (2023)

Basic Terms of Economy

Idea of National Income

Agriculture

1. Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme

Context:

The central government is expected to announce an increase in the loan limit on Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh in the proposed union budget for FY26.

• Reason
  • Increasing costs of farming and escalating demand for greater financial assistance to farmer households.
• Ceiling Limit
  • The ceiling of ₹3 lakh, which was fixed almost several years ago, would be increased to limit of maximum ₹5 lakh.
• Current Status of KCC
  • According to the latest statistics available on June 30, 2023, there are more than 740 million active accounts with outstanding credit of ₹8.9 trillion.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme

• Launch
  • Launched in 1998 to provide credit support to farmers for cultivation and other needs.
  • Extended in 2004 for investment credit requirements of farmers.
• Ministry
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Fisheries and Animal Husbandry
  • Reaches fisheries and animal husbandry farmers in Budget-2018-19.
• Implementtion
  • Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks, and Cooperatives implement it.
• Features
  • Features include an ATM-enabled RuPay debit card, built-in cost escalation, and any number of drawals within the limit.
• Government initiative
  • Government initiative includes farmers under animal husbandry and fisheries no processing fee on loan under KCC and also increasing the ceiling of collateral-free agriculture loan to Rs.1.6 lakh from Rs 1 lakh.
• Objectives
  • Objectives include meeting short-term credit requirements for cultivation of crops, post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer households, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, and investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
• Financial Provisions
  • Financial Provisions include an interest subvention scheme of 2% for short term crop loans up to Rs. 3 lakh and a prompt repayment incentive of 3% to the farmers.
• Recent Update
  • Interest Subvention to Lending Institutions has been updated to 1.5% for FY2024-25.

• Drawbacks
  • Abuse of KCC are credit transfer towards financially well off people, diverting funds towards non-agricultural use and money laundering

2. Namo Drone Didi Scheme

Namo Drone Didi is a central sector scheme that seeks to empower women-led Self-Help Groups by providing drone technology for agricultural services. The scheme will equip 15000 selected women SHGs from 2024-25 to 2025-2026, generating an additional income of at least Rs. 1 lakh per year, contributing to economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood generation.

• Launch
  • 30 November 2023 
• Ministry
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

• Targets
  • Plan to provide drones to 15000 selected Women SHGs between years 2024-25 to 2025-2026
  • Plan to earn at least Rs. 1 lakh of additional income per annum for every SHG.

• Key Features
  • Key features are subsidy to Women DAY NRL-SHGs for drone purchase, loan facility from AIF for remaining drone cost, drone pilot training, and opportunity to earn additional 1 lakh PA through drone.
• Benefits
  • Empowerment of women through specialized training in drone technology.
  • Improvement of agricultural efficiency by precise application of pesticides and fertilizers.
  • Skill development and knowledge expansion through drone training.
  • Community and networking opportunities for women to connect with a supportive network.

AgriTech

3. National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA)

The National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A) is a project by the Government of India to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the delivery of services to farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

• Launch
  • Launched in 2010-11 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 7 pilot states.
• Ministry
  • Ministry of Agriculture
• Aims
  • Aims to achieve rapid agricultural development through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for access to agriculture information by farmers at the right time.
• Expansion
  • The scheme was expanded to all remaining states and 2 Union Territories in 2014-15.

Phase-II

• Site Preparation:
  • office spaces were readied for the installation of hardware and computer training labs were created.
• Procurement and Installation:
  • Procured, installed, and accounted for hardware and system software.
• Power Backup:
  • Arrangements made for backup power where required.
• State Project Management Units (SPMUs):
  • Set up and hired manpower on a contract basis.
• Connectivity:
  • Ensured connectivity for hardware installation locations.
• Data Digitization:
  • Focused on digitizing data and customizing applications based on state/UT-specific requirements.

Emerging Technologies Integration

• DFI Committee Recommendations:
  • Scale up and enhance digital agriculture programs.
  • Focus on high-tech agricultural management using Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Data Analytics and Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI & ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Drones, and Sensors, and Blockchain Technology.

New Initiatives for Agricultural Modernization

• UFSP:
  • A combination of core infrastructure, data, applications, and tools which will ensure smooth interoperability among public and private IT systems of agriculture.
• Farmers’ Database:
  • Create an all-India database of farmers linked with their land records
• Key Objective:
  • Develop an unique Farmer ID, record all the benefits availed by a farmer under schemes, enable proper planning, monitoring, and effective implementation of agriculture schemes.

4. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

Facts To Remember

1. PM Modi to visit Paris for AI summit next month

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Paris next month on a bilateral visit and also attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday.

2. Bharat Biotech co-founder awarded INSA fellowship

• Krishna Ella, co-founder and executive chairman of Bharat Biotech International, was earlier this week conferred the India Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy for 2025.

3. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai will attend an international summit

• Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai will attend an international summit on girls’ education hosted by her native Pakistan, where she was nearly killed by militants as a schoolgirl.

5. Aaron retires from “representative cricket”

• The 35-year-old, who made his international debut in 2011, played nine ODIs and as many Tests for India. He had retired from red ball cricket last year

6. HLakshmanan, TVS family veteran, passes away at 92

• HLakshmanan, TVS family veteran, passes away at 92 Ohio-based digital infrastructure solutions provider firm Vertiv on Friday announced the expansion of its integrated business services centre in Pune to support global data centre demands and said it will create 1,000 new engineering roles.

7. Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition in Bengaluru

• Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition in Bengaluru, India,from Feb 10 to 14, organized by the Defence Exhibition Organisation and the Ministry of Defence, Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Department of Space, and Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

8. Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is unique initiative to involve youth in nation’s development journey: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a unique initiative to involve the country’s youth in the nation’s development journey.

9. Malaysia Open Badminton: Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty face defeat against South Korean duo

In the Malaysia Open Badminton, the Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced a defeat against the South Korean duo of Seo Seung-Jae and Kim Won-ho 10-21, 15-21 in the semifinal of Men’s doubles in Kuala Lumpur today.

10. India Joins UN Panel to Shape Global Big Data Standards for Official Statistics

India has joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics. As part of the committee, India will contribute to shaping global standards and practices in harnessing big data and data science for official statistical purposes.

11. India to host 28th CSPOC in 2026

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has announced India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) in 2026.

12. India sells domestically manufactured defence components to around 100 countries: Ministry of Defence

India is a major defence export centre as it sells domestically manufactured defence components to around 100 countries; major among them are United States, France and Armenia.