Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 17 July, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
17 July, 2025

National Affairs

1. Delhi to Develop India’s First Net-Zero E-Waste Eco Park

Context:

The Delhi government has unveiled plans to build India’s first-of-its-kind net-zero emission e-waste eco park in Holambi Kalan, North Delhi, as part of a national push toward circular economy models. The facility will be modeled on global best practices and is expected to significantly reduce Delhi’s e-waste pollution burden.

Key Highlights:

Project Vision and Location

• Location: Holambi Kalan, Narela (North Delhi).
• Objective: Develop a clean, zero-emission, and zero-landfill e-waste recycling facility.
• Global References: Inspired by Norway’s eco-friendly models and Hong Kong’s zero-pollution e-waste facilities.

India’s E-Waste Crisis

• India’s Ranking: 3rd-largest e-waste generator globally.
• Annual Generation: Over 1.6 million metric tonnes, growing at 23% per year.

Eco Park Features

• Infrastructure Includes:
  • Dismantling, refurbishment, plastic recovery zones.
  • Second-hand electronics marketplace.
  • Skilling and training centres for workforce formalisation.
• Design Focus:
  • Net-zero emissions, dense green canopy, rare earth and precious metal recovery systems, pollution-control infrastructure.

TH

2. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2025

Released by: United Nations at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)
Timeframe: Five years left to achieve SDG 2030 Agenda
Global Warning: 35% of measurable SDG targets are stagnating or reversing

Key Highlights:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• 713–757 million people affected by hunger (9.1% of global population in 2023)
• 2.33 billion experienced moderate/severe food insecurity
• Regions most affected:
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: 23.2% hunger prevalence
  • Southern Asia: 281 million facing hunger

SDG 4: Quality Education

• 57% of targets show no progress or are regressing
• Persistent gaps in:
  • School completion rates
  • Foundational literacy
  • Gender parity in education

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• 2.2 billion lack safely managed drinking water
• 3.4 billion without sanitation access
• 1.7 billion lack hygiene services

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• 50% of targets stagnating or regressing
• 57.8% of workers globally in informal employment
• Youth unemployment (2024): 12.9%, nearly 3× adult rate (3.7%)

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Rising global inequality in:
  • Income distribution
  • Vaccine access
  • Climate vulnerability
  • Digital divide
• Post-COVID-19: Little progress in redistributive mechanisms

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• 40% of marine targets are regressing
• Escalating threats:
  • Ocean acidification
  • Overfishing
  • Marine pollution
• Least funded SDG, as reiterated at UN Ocean Conference 2025

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Stagnation in:
  • Maternal mortality reduction
  • Universal health coverage
• Post-pandemic challenges:
  • Weakened health systems
  • Chronic underinvestment

SDG 12, 15, 16: Responsible Consumption, Life on Land, Peace & Justice

• 40–42% of targets off-track
• Ongoing issues:
  • Forest degradation
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Institutional weakening and governance gaps

Negative Trends Undermining SDG Progress

• Climate Crisis:
  • 2024 was the hottest year on record
  • WMO: 80% likelihood of continued temperature rise threatening food, water, and health security
• Extreme Poverty:
  • Over 800 million remain in extreme poverty
  • SDG 1 off-track: Projected 8.9% may still live in poverty by 2030
• Funding Shortfalls:
  • 7.1% decline in official development aid (2024)
  • $4 trillion annual financing gap in developing countries due to limited affordable capital access

Positive Developments Noted in the SDG Report 2025

• HIV/AIDS:
  • Global HIV infections dropped 40% since 2010
• Malaria:
  • 2.2 billion malaria cases averted
  • 12.7 million lives saved since 2000
• Social Protection:
  • Now covers over 50% of the global population, boosting inclusive development

3. Gujarat Launches India’s First Tribal Genome Sequencing Project

Context:

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, Gujarat has launched the Tribal Genome Sequencing Project to build a reference genetic database of its tribal population. The goal is to improve healthcare access and deliver precision medicine tailored to genetic profiles of indigenous communities.

Key Details:

Feature	Details
Launched by	Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC)
Target Population	2,000 tribal individuals across 17 tribal-dominated districts of Gujarat
Purpose	Build a tribal genetic database to guide precision medicine
Type of Project	Genomic research + healthcare equity + policy tool
Coverage	Multiple tribal communities for inclusive representation and genetic diversity

Major Objectives of the Project

• Identify Genetic Risk Markers for:
  • Sickle cell anaemia
  • Thalassemia
  • Hereditary cancers
• Enable Personalised Healthcare by:
  • Designing medical interventions specific to tribal genetic profiles.
  • Developing genomic diagnostic tools.
• Bridge Health Equity Gaps:
  • Use genome science for tribal empowerment and better disease prevention.
  • Reduce disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.

Salient Features

• Advanced Scientific Infrastructure:
  • High-throughput DNA sequencing, sample collection, and data analytics.
• Focus on Natural Immunity:
  • Study of immunity-linked genetic traits common among tribal communities.
• Community Engagement:
  • Tribal awareness, consultations, and ethical data collection.
• Diversity in Sampling:
  • Ensures inclusion of major tribal groups like Bhils, Warlis, Rathwas, and Siddis.

Banking/Finance

1. SEBI Proposes Shift in Valuation of Gold, Silver ETFs to Domestic Spot Prices

Context:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has released a consultation paper proposing a revised valuation methodology for physical gold and silver held by mutual funds through Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). The aim is to bring greater transparency, consistency, and alignment with Indian market realities.

Key Highlights of SEBI’s Proposal

Current Practice

• Mutual funds currently value gold and silver holdings based on London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) prices.
• These are international reference prices, adjusted for customs duties and local taxes to reflect the Indian context.

Proposed Changes

• SEBI suggests using spot prices published by domestic commodity exchanges (like MCX) for valuation.
• This change aims to:
  • Align ETF NAVs with actual domestic market prices.
  • Reduce mismatch caused by global benchmarks during volatile periods or in thin domestic trading sessions.

Impact on Asset Management Companies (AMCs)

• All mutual funds managing gold and silver ETFs would have to transition their NAV valuation process to this new benchmark.
• The change would apply to daily NAV disclosures and influence inflows/outflows depending on perceived pricing accuracy.

BS

2. RBI Reviews Unified Lending Interface (ULI) Rollout

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) convened a meeting with banks and NBFCs to assess progress and address challenges in scaling up the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) a digital public infrastructure likened to UPI for loans.

Purpose of ULI

• ULI aims to streamline digital lending by integrating financial, non-financial, and alternative datasets into one platform.
• It enables lenders to make informed, real-time credit decisions using verified data sources like land records, property data, satellite insights, etc.

Adoption Challenges

• Integration delay: Some lenders already have proprietary technology stacks and partnerships, making ULI integration a low priority.
• Regulatory scrutiny: Initial focus on small-ticket personal loans—which came under RBI scrutiny for rising delinquencies—slowed momentum.
• Cautious lending: Reluctance in the unsecured credit segment, a key ULI use case.
• Limited use cases: Attempts in supply chain finance via ULI also failed to gain traction.

RBI Action

• RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar and DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju are actively engaging stakeholders to identify bottlenecks.
• The goal is to enhance adoption by resolving operational, regulatory, and technical integration issues.

Way Forward

• Need to establish robust use cases beyond personal loans, such as agri-credit, MSME lending, or gold loans.
• Possible refinement in regulatory stance to balance innovation and risk control.
• Potential incentive models to encourage lenders to integrate and use ULI actively.

TET

3. Global Findex Report 2025 by World Bank

Context:

Over a third of bank account holders in India were no longer using the banking facilities and had inactive accounts, a World Bank report titled ‘Global Findex 2025’ said, as it cited Jan Dhan Yojana accounts as one of the likely reasons for the country’s high share of account inactivity.

Key Highlights:

India’s Bank Account Inactivity Among the Highest

• 35% of Indian bank account holders had inactive accounts in 2021.
• This is 7 times higher than the average 5% inactivity rate in other developing economies (excluding India).
• Inactive account = no customer-initiated transaction for 12 months or more.

Role of Jan Dhan Yojana

• The World Bank attributes a large part of India’s account inactivity to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
• Launched in August 2014, PMJDY led to 450 million new bank accounts by April 2022.
• Many of these accounts were opened for inclusion, not necessarily for active financial use.

Why Are Accounts Inactive in India?

According to survey respondents:

• Distance to financial institutions
• Lack of trust in banks
• No need to use the account
• 40% said they had insufficient funds
• 30% felt uncomfortable using accounts independently

Comparative Trends

• India’s inactivity rate remained constant between 2017 and 2021, unlike global trends.
• In other developing economies:
  • Inactivity among adults dropped from 17% in 2017 to 9% in 2021.
• In high-income economies, virtually all accounts are active.
• In developing countries, women are 5 percentage points more likely than men to have inactive accounts.

BS

4. SEBI Penalty Rationalisation Framework Nears Finalisation

Context:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is in the final stages of rationalising penalties imposed on stock brokers, aiming to bring greater fairness, proportionality, and operational clarity to its enforcement practices. A sub-committee constituted for this review submitted its recommendations to SEBI last week, and SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey recently held discussions with broker representatives.

Key Recommendations by the Committee

Severity-Based Enforcement

• Warnings instead of penalties for minor or non-serious violations.
• Intentional violations to attract stricter enforcement actions, ensuring regulatory deterrence.
• Technical or operational lapses to be clearly separated from willful non-compliance.

Single Point of Penalty Enforcement

• Only the exchange where the stockbroker is a trading member may levy penalties.
• Prevents duplication of penalties across multiple exchanges for the same non-compliance.

Change in Terminology

• Replace the term “penalty” in certain cases where the violation is procedural or operational in nature.
• This is to avoid client panic or reputational damage in cases of minor compliance issues.

Additional Steps in Progress

• Common Compliance Portal:
  • Discussions are ongoing to create a centralised reporting system to reduce duplication and ease broker compliance, especially where multiple exchanges are involved.
• Dedicated Approval Portal:
  • A platform is being developed for approvals related to brokers (e.g., advertisements, registrations) to improve processing efficiency.

BS

5. Fitch Ratings: RBI’s Liquidity Infusion to Facilitate 100 bps Rate Cut in 2025

Context:

Fitch Ratings has assessed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) recent liquidity management actions and confirmed that these efforts will support monetary policy transmission, particularly in view of the anticipated 100 basis points (bps) rate cut in 2025.

Key Highlights:

Massive Liquidity Injection in 2025

• RBI has injected ₹5.6 trillion into the banking system since January 2025.
• The liquidity infusion equals 2% of system assets.
• Infusions were made primarily through government securities (G-Sec) purchases.
• These measures have created surplus system liquidity since March 2025.

CRR Cut to Release Additional Funds

• RBI’s decision to cut the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 100 bps will:
  • Release ₹2.7 trillion in liquidity, in phased tranches.
  • Further ease funding conditions for banks and financial institutions.

Monetary Transmission Support

• Fitch stated that accommodative funding conditions would support rate transmission.
• RBI’s stance and actions align with expectations of a 100 bps policy rate cut in 2025.

Mint

6. EximPe Secures RBI’s In-Principle Approval for Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) Licence

Context:

EximPe, a fintech startup specializing in cross-border payment solutions, has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB) licence, positioning itself to serve India’s growing digital exports and global trade flows.

What Is a PA-CB Licence?

• Issued under RBI’s guidelines for cross-border payment aggregation.
• Enables fintechs to facilitate inbound (pay-ins) and outbound (pay-outs) for digital services, e-commerce, and B2B trade.
• Part of RBI’s broader strategy to regulate and standardize cross-border digital financial flows.

About EximPe

• CEO & Founder: Arjun Zacharia
• Current Reach:
  • Over 5,000 SME clients
  • Processed $450 million+ in transactions
• Target: 10X business growth by FY26, leveraging the new PA-CB licence.
• Fully Licensed PA-CB Entities (6):
  • Adyen India
  • Amazon Pay India
  • Cashfree Payments
  • BillDesk
  • Pay10
  • Worldline ePayments India

BS

Agriculture

1. Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Context:

The Union Cabinet approved the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana”, or PMDDKY, to enhance agricultural productivity and increase adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the country. PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) is a flagship initiative aimed at transforming Indian agriculture. Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, the scheme focuses on enhancing productivity and promoting sustainable farming.

Financial Outlay and Duration

• Total Outlay: ₹24,000 crore per year.
• Duration: 6 years (from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31).
• Total Beneficiaries: 1.7 crore farmers across India.

Convergence of Schemes

• Merges 36 existing schemes from 11 Union Ministries/Departments.
• Includes convergence with:
  • State-level schemes.
  • Panchayat-level initiatives.
  • Private sector partnerships.

Objective of PM-DDKY

To boost agriculture and allied sectors by:

• Enhancing agricultural productivity
• Promoting crop diversification
• Encouraging sustainable and organic/natural farming
• Strengthening post-harvest storage infrastructure
• Improving irrigation facilities
• Facilitating access to short-term and long-term credit

Key Features

• Inspired by: NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme
• Selection Criteria for Districts:
  • Low agricultural productivity
  • Low cropping intensity
  • Low agri-credit disbursement
• Minimum Coverage: At least 1 district from each State/UT
• District Allocation: Based on share of Net Cropped Area and operational land holdings

Implementation Mechanism

• Convergence: Utilizes 36 central schemes + state/local + PPP models
• Institutional Setup:
  • District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti: Prepares District Agriculture & Allied Activities Plan
    • Includes progressive farmers
  • State and National Level Committees for coordination
  • Central Nodal Officers to monitor progress in each district

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monthly Dashboard Monitoring using 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Plans aligned with national goals of:
  • Crop diversification
  • Soil and water conservation
  • Self-sufficiency in agri and allied sectors
• NITI Aayog to provide technical and planning guidance

Expected Outcomes

• Higher productivity and value addition in agri & allied sectors
• Boost in local livelihoods and employment
• Enhanced domestic production and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance)
• Upward shift in national KPIs as targeted districts improve

PIB & TH

2. ICAR’s 97th Foundation Day

Context:

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 97th Foundation Day on 16 July 2025 in New Delhi, marked by the participation of farmers, agricultural scientists, and policymakers. Union Minister of Agriculture addressed the gathering and announced several transformative initiatives aimed at sustainable and technology-driven farming.

About ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Parameter	Details
Established	16 July 1929 (as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research)
Headquarters	New Delhi
Governing Ministry	Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
Reconstitution	Under Societies Registration Act, 1860
Parent Body	Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)
President (Ex-Officio)	Union Agriculture Minister

ICAR: Role and Mandate

• National Apex Body for:
  • Agricultural research, education, and extension services.
• Functions:
  • Promote R&D in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science, agroforestry.
  • Technology transfer to farmers via training, exhibitions, publications, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
  • Capacity building through higher education, competitive exams (ASRB), and fellowships.
  • Collaboration with national (CSIR, BARC) and global research bodies.
  • Policy support on food security, agroecological transition, and sustainable farming.

Major Announcements on ICAR’s 97th Foundation Day

Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan

• Largest farmer-scientist dialogue platform launched.
• 500+ research priorities identified for region-specific and crop-specific innovations.
• Aims to connect lab-to-land via participatory research.

Field-Guided Research Agenda

• “One Team, One Goal” model for multidisciplinary, demand-driven field research.
• Focus on location-specific solutions driven by farmer feedback.

Natural Farming Promotion

• Emphasis on chemical-free and sustainable practices.
• Integration with climate-resilient agriculture and Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP).

Fertilizer Testing Kits

• Introduction of portable soil and fertilizer testing kits for:
  • Detecting adulteration.
  • Empowering farmers to verify input quality.

Toll-Free Grievance Redressal System

• Launch of helpline number to report:
  • Spurious seeds and fertilizers.
  • Unregulated bio-stimulants (over 30,000 flagged for action).

Ethical Pricing and MoU Norms

• ICAR-industry MoUs to now include mandatory pricing fairness clauses.
• Ensures farmers get affordable access to ICAR-developed technologies.

3. India–Argentina 2nd Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture

Context:

India and Argentina convened the 2nd Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Agriculture, reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. The dialogue focused on enhancing collaboration through knowledge exchange, technological partnership, and innovations in sustainable agriculture.

Key Highlights:

Priority Areas for Cooperation

Both countries agreed to collaborate in the following focus areas:

• Agricultural mechanization
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Pest and locust management
• Plant breeding and genome editing technologies
• Biopesticides and precision agriculture
• Carbon credit systems for farmers
• Horticulture and oilseeds value chain
• New Breeding Technologies (NBTs)
• Market access for agri-products

India’s Agricultural Innovations

Presented by Shri Muktanand Agrawal, Joint Secretary (Plant Protection), DA&FW:

• Digital platforms for agri-governance
• Climate-resilient crop practices
• Risk-mitigation strategies
• Credit and insurance for farmers
• Biopesticide deployment initiatives

Importance

• South-South Cooperation: The meeting bolsters global south collaboration, sharing best practices between two major agricultural economies.
• Food Security & Sustainability: Both nations aim to leverage innovation for enhanced productivity, climate mitigation, and farmer welfare.
• Technology & R&D Exchange: Emphasis on plant genomics, locust control, and carbon credits signals a shift to future-ready agriculture.

BS

Facts To Remember

1. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are emerging as a key frontier in India’s services export strategy

Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are emerging as a key frontier in India’s services export strategy, and the government is working on a national framework to incentivize their expansion beyond metro cities. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are offshore units of multinational corporations that manage key functions such as IT, R&D, analytics, finance, and HR from global hubs. India hosts over 6,500 GCCs as of 2024, with companies le

2. F-35B Fighter Jet Grounding in Kerala

A Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B Lightning II fighter jet from the United Kingdom made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala, on June 14, 2025, due to technical issues. The jet belongs to the fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft family, known for vertical landing capability.

3. PM Modi’s Visit to Maldives

India is intensifying its regional engagement with key South Asian neighbors amid changing geopolitical alignments and renewed efforts to rebuild diplomatic ties. Two major developments signal this shift:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the Maldives (July 25–26, 2025)
• Planned visit of Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to India

4. RBI to Conduct ₹32,000 Crore Bond Switch Auction to Ease Redemption Pressure

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on behalf of the Central Government, will conduct a ₹32,000 crore bond switch auction on July 21, 2025. This move is part of the government’s strategy to manage its debt profile by reducing short-term redemption pressure and supporting fiscal consolidation.

5. UIDAI Plans Revamp of Offline Aadhaar-Based KYC to Boost Privacy and Adoption

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is working to overhaul its offline Aadhaar-based identity verification process, aiming to strike a balance between user privacy, security, and ease of onboarding especially for financial institutions and startups.