Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 27 February, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
27 February, 2025

International Affairs

1. U.S. Ukraine Economic Deal

Context:

Ukraine and the U.S. just drafted an initial economic mechanism that signals the intentions of nations toward deeper bilateral relations.

Key Provisions:

• Rare Earth Access
  • The provision of U.S. access to rare earth materials within Ukraine strengthens the supply chain for all critical technologies, including defense, EV batteries, and semiconductors.
• Investment Fund for Reconstruction
  • This paves the way for Western private sector investment ensuring long term economic stability in Ukraine.
• Security Guarantees
  • While negotiations are ongoing on the economic agreement, Kyiv is rather cautious and states that the final agreement should include new security guarantees and give clear specifications of U.S. security commitments towards Ukraine.
• Why It Matters?
  • Without firm U.S. military commitment, Ukraine’s position in the war is made uncertain.
  • Security guarantees would also provide assurance to investors and allies, thereby affecting reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
  • The absence of any commitment might lure Russia into thinking that it could act more aggressively and thus change NATO‘s strategic posture in Eastern Europe.

Market and Geopolitical Impact

• Commodities & Defense Stocks
  • Increased U.S. access in Ukrainian mineral resources could have impacts on the global price of commodities.
• European Response
  • The EU might also be forced to follow suit in the commitments made by the U.S. towards Ukraine in terms of rebuilding and security.
• Russia’s Response
  • The finalization of any deal, especially with security guarantees, would further increase geopolitical tensions and economic retaliation by Moscow.

The upcoming Washington talks on Friday will decide whether this economic framework will serve as a comprehensive strategy alliance or remain a work in progress.

Source: The Hindu

2. EU-India Relations

Context:

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, with a delegation of 21 European Union (EU) commissioners, embarks on a two day trip to India. The largest EU delegation to India since its establishment manifests an expression of resolve by the Europeans to strengthen its partnership with the Indian side outside the U.S. orbit against the backdrop of changing U.S. policies in the Russia Ukraine conflict.

Key Highlights of the Visit

• Twirling the Historic EU Delegation
  • The elaborate visit, announced recently during a Davos conference, aims at creating new momentum for EU India relations.
• The Focus Is on Ukraine
  • This visit comes an important occasion, marking the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and, concurrently, the 16th round of sanctions by the EU on Moscow.
• Diverging U.S. EU Approach
  • The bloc remains determined in its support for Ukraine, despite the U.S.’s breakaway position in the UN and its ongoing reconsideration of military aid.

Key Objective Items

• Sanctions on Russia
  • The EU emphasizes continued enforcement of sanctions against Moscow.
  • India is not going to change its policy, especially as it has been importing much oil from Russia and rejecting Western imposed sanctions.
• Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)
  • The most recent negotiations launched in 2022 are stalled over disagreements concerning tariff levels on cars, wine, and spirits.
  • The EU delegation is keen to introduce some political pressure before the next round of talks, which will be held in Brussels on March 10-14.
• Technology and Innovation
  • The TTC will be focused on AI regulation, semiconductors, quantum computing, and green tech.
• Strategic Roadmap on EU India Relations (2020-2025)
  • Updating their cooperation agenda, including Indo Pacific partnerships.
  • Meetings among Ms. von der Leyen, Prime Minister Modi, Indian ministers, and industry stakeholders.

Geopolitical Context

• Opposite Diplomacy by Ukraine
  • President Zelenskyy will visit Washington concerning military assistance, frozen Russian assets, and a ceasefire proposal.
• India’s Neutrality Towards Russia
  • Regardless of intense pressure from the West, India has maintained a course of strategic autonomy to benefit from discounted Russian oil imports.

The high profile European visit reinforces the resolve to diversifying partnerships, and India appears to be playing a central role here. While trading technology cooperation remains a priority, expect considerable geopolitical divergences in particular, on this one aligned with Russia.

3. Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) & Deforestation Regulation

Context:

The European Union (EU) has highlighted that relaxations are unlikely for India concerning the CBAM and Deforestation Regulation.

What is the CBAM and Deforestation Regulation? 

The Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a carbon tax the EU will levy from January 1, 2026 on imported goods to encourage cleaner industrial production practises.

• Concerns of India
  • India views CBAM as a non market entry barrier, requesting a transition period for compliance.
• Next Higher Level Delegation Talk
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to raise these concerns with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her February 27 28 visit to India.

EU’s Position on CBAM

• Carbon Tax on Imports
  • CBAM is a carbon tax for imports to the EU and is currently operating under a transitional phase with full implementation from January 1, 2026.
• There are No Exemptions for Countries
  • The EU argues that CBAM is a “fair measure” to safeguard the internal market from carbon leakage and fully complies with WTO laws.
• Impact on Trade
  • Carbon taxes would be significant for Indian steel and aluminum exports to the EU.
  • However, EU goods entering India under the upcoming Free Trade Agreement would be exempt from such duties, which puts it at an unfair advantage.

EU’s Deforestation Regulation & Difficulty for India

• Deforestation Free Certification
  • From December 30, 2025, all exports to the EU will need to show they were not grown on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
• Implementation Timeline for
  • Large & medium companies: To comply by December 30, 2025.
  • Micro & small enterprises: To comply by June 30, 2026.
• Concerns of India
  • This regulation could restrict exports of agricultural commodities, mainly palm oil, soy, coffee, and timber products.

India’s Trade Strategy and WTO Concerns

• Position of India
  • India holds that the CBAM imposes tariffs that depend on the process of production, thereby violating WTO principles.
• Call for Safe DCs in FTAs
  • India is calling for protective clauses in the India EU Free Trade Agreement to cushion the effects of the CBAM.
• Resisting Globally
  • CBAM is “disguised trade barriers” in the words of countries like China, India.

The EU stands firm in its enforcement of the CBAM and deforestation regulations, with no exemptions.
In the next round of negotiations, India is expected to demand a longer transition period and trade safeguards. The negotiations for the India-EU FTA will become crucial in determining how these two economies will manage these new trading regulations.

4. Trump Proposes $5 Million ‘Gold Card’ Visa for Wealthy Immigrants

Context:

U.S. President Donald Trump proposes citizenship pathway visa called “gold card” costs $5 million.

• Target Audience: Wealthy individuals like business owners and investors who create jobs in U.S. territory.
• Estimated Revenue: Trump’s projection indicates up to 1 million card sales, resulting in $5 trillion revenue.
• Implementation Timeline: Sales scheduled to commence in two weeks.
• Legal Framework: Trump asserted that the plan was all legally sound and well vetted.

Economic & Policy Implications

• Deficit Reduction
  • U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that revenues could indeed help with the national deficit reduction.
• Contrast to Immigration Policies
  • In the direction of all mass deportations, Trump would have a separate gold card route into the U.S. for all the rich migrants.

Will Russian Oligarchs Be Eligible?

• We’re not leaving wealthy Russians out of the loop, said Trump
  • “I know some nice Russian oligarchs. So there’s the possibility.”
• Among such Russian oligarchs, a lot have lost most of their wealth due to Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

Geopolitical Context

• Trump has emerged from hiding for talks with Russia on Ukraine, making now even more interesting situations in the European capitals.
• While he suggested that sanctions on Russia could be lifted “at some point”, he stated this is not currently on the table.

Marketing Opportunity

• Trump boasted personal branding opportunities, hinting that the gold card could be under his name.

Response & Concerns

• They are probable to be controversial among all immigration affecting hardliners and progressive critics.
• To raise concerns about national security because of potentially Russian applicants.
• It also has the potential to change U.S. immigration policy significantly, favoring financial wealth over all other visa qualifications.

The visa for gold cards caters to a new and very exclusive way of immigration, a really well matched one with his business acquisitive mentality.
Although this could garner great revenues, the debate on the geopolitical and security implications stays very much alive.

Source: Mint

National Affairs

1. Maternity Benefits in India

The National Food Security Act (NFSA)

• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013 delivered maternity benefits of ₹6,000 per child to every pregnant woman in the unorganized sector.
• Inflation adjusted today’s value of this amount is not less than ₹12,000, whereas, even the lower statutory amount was not disbursed.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

• The central government claims to provide maternity benefits under the PMMVY, but the scheme has major flaws.
• This is meant for one child per family (recently extended to granting a second child if it is a girl).
• Benefit is being reduced to ₹5,000 in utter violation of the NFSA.
• Severely underfunded, spending on PMMVY in 2023-24 came down to ₹870 crore, which is literally one third of PMMVY’s expenditure five years ago.
• Shrinking Coverage, only 9% of pregnant women benefitted, at least in part, in 2023-24.

Lack of Clarity and Barrier of Information Technology

• Ministry of Women and Child Development has not provided even basic figures on PMMVY implementation.
• Right to Information Act‘s provisions call for transparency, but information access has remained below par.
• Disbursement has been further stalled prompted through glitches in Aadhaar based payments, whereas 2023 24 further complicated things through software overhauls.

Successful Models: Tamil Nadu and Odisha

• Maternity benefits schemes that concentrate on pregnant women have remained a successful program in Tamil Nadu and Odisha
  • Odisha: offers ₹10,000 per child (doubled just ahead of elections).
  • Tamil Nadu: offers ₹18,000 per child; an increase to ₹24,000 has been proposed.
• Higher Coverage
  • Odisha (2021-22): 64% of births covered.
  • Tamil Nadu (2023-24): Coverage: 84%.
  • PMMVY (2023-24): less than 10% nationwide.

Two Sets of Rules for Maternity Benefits

• Women in the formal sector get 26 weeks of paid maternity leave—far above the 14 week norm of the WHO.
• In the unorganized sector, bargaining women are inhibited by bureaucratic parameters to get a mere ₹5,000.

Reform Road to Go Ahead

• The PMMVY has failed—all due to lack of funding, mismanagement, and in violation of the spirit of NFSA.
• Terracotta Recommendations
  • Implement restoration of universal maternity entitlements according to the NFSA.
  • Raise benefits to a minimum of 12,000 rupees, indexed to inflation.
  • Improve transparency and simplify disbursement.
  • Get to know Odisha and Tamil Nadu to adaptively become effective for coverage.

These maternity benefits languish under neglect of the state, to the detriment of millions of helpless women and children. An effective maternity program not only fulfills the duty of compliance with the law but goes one step further to secure the health of mothers and children for the welfare of society as a whole.

Source: The Hindu

2. Disability Rights vs. DPDP Act, 2023

Context:

Under Section 9(1) of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, adult PwDs have been equated with children and require guardian consent for personal data processing.
Two Laws in Conflict: Activists argue that this violates the decision making rights of PwDs based on misconceived notions regarding guardianship.

Understanding Section 9(1)

• Requirement
  • Data fiduciaries are required to process personal data of PwDs only after guardian consent has been obtained.
• Legal Basis
  • Section 2(j)(ii) includes lawfully appointed guardian within the definition of “data principal”.
  • Draft Rules (Rule 10) specify further that the guardianship must either be court appointed or recognised under the Indian disability laws.

• National Trust Act (NT Act), 1999
  • Gives full guardianship for autistics, those with cerebral palsy, and others with intellectual disabilities.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016
  • This law pronounces limited guardianship and considers that persons with disabilities retain full decision making power with support.
• Conflict Areas
  • The NT Act contradicts the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) by assuming PwDs are devoid of decision making capacity.
  • The RPWD Act supports UNCRPD, which means active choice for PwDs but has practical realities not supporting this.

Concerns Raised By Disability Activists

• Assumption of Incapacity
  • Section 9(1) assumes that all PwDs who have guardians can’t make decisions, countering the limited guardianship model under the RPWD Act.
  • Survey by PACTA and Saksham Disability determined 27.4% of PwDs had legal guardians, but a majority also ran their own affairs, thereby limiting autonomy.
• Draft Rules Lack Clarity
  • Definition Loopholes: Rules outline physical impairment as a qualifying condition, but physical disabilities don’t legally require guardianship.
  • Yet there is no clear modality stating how other disabilities and their grades of severity can be handled.
• Matrix of Problems in Implementation
  • How to decide which persons have guardianship from platforms’ point of view?
  • Will the guardian be under the same legal obligation with regard to civil liability from breaches of any kind arising from the DPDP Act act?
• Probably Gender And Disability Concerns
  • If the platform demands consent from a guardian, a PwD woman will preferably not buy sanitary items online.
• Effect on Digital Accessibility
  • The greatest deterrent to digital inclusion isn’t just data consent but really ramshackle platforms.
  • A Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy study showed that Paytm, Swiggy, Zomato, and Flipkart had appallingly low accessibility scores.

Source: The Hindu

3. Impact of Coal Power Plant Emissions on Agricultural

Context:

In some Indian states, coal fired power plants are responsible for yield reductions in the range from 5 percent to 10 percent. The emissions of these plants, especially nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), are phytotoxic and reduce plant health and photosynthesis.
Astronomical estimates of the contribution of NO₂ pollution to agricultural regions were done through satellite based analysis.

Regional Influence

• Chhattisgarh: It’s 19% during monsoon and 12.5% during winter of NO₂ pollution is coal related.
• Uttar Pradesh: Though NO₂ levels are high, they are from sources other than coal.
• Tamil Nadu: Overall NO₂ concentration is lower, with a large share from coal fired plants.
• For West Bengal & Madhya Pradesh:
  • Crop yields in affected areas could increase by 5 10% through pollution abatement.
  • Some areas would see >10% increase in yield.

Economic & Policy Outlook

• Possible gains in crops
  • Rice: $420 million/year
  • Wheat: $400 million/year
  • Total impact: ₹7,000 crore (~$820 million) per year.
• Crop damage per gigawatt hour (GWh)
  • Wheat: Up to $17,370/GWh (₹15 lakh).
  • Rice: Up to $13,420/GWh (₹11.7 lakh).
• Targeting a select few pollution intensive coal plants in India, therefore, can have considerable economic effects on agriculture.

Policy Recommendations

• Installation of pollution control equipment in coal plants with strong negative agricultural effects should be lifted as a priority.
• Strategic interventions would facilitate a blend between India’s rising energy needs and food demands.
• Agricultural impact assessments should be integrated into energy policy formulation.

Larger Context

• Coal dependence in India is still significant, the coal budget is up by 255% in the Union Budget of 2025-26.
• Food security remains a topic of concern, as India ranks 105th out of 127 in the 2024 Global Hunger Index.

Pollution mitigation in select coal plants would allow for improved energy security and food security without compromising economic growth.

4. Time Use Survey for 2024

Key Findings

• In 2024, rural areas used more time in learning when compared to urban areas.
• However, the total learning time decreased in both rural and urban areas vis vis 2019.
• Time Spent on Learning (Per Person Daily)
  • Urban Areas: 87 minutes (down from 95 minutes in 2019).
  • Rural Areas: 90 minutes (down from 92 minutes in 2019).

Increases of Employment Related Activities

• Urban Areas: The average time for completing employment activities saw an increase to 199 minutes in a day (from 188 minutes in 2019).
• Rural Areas: A rise from 153 minutes in 2019 increased to 171 minutes a day.

Gender Based Analysis

• Women having their learning time remaining unchanged at daily 84 minutes.
• Men’s learning time falls from 102 minutes (2019) to 94 minutes (2024).
• Boys and girls’ gap narrowed five years back.

Survey Methodology

• Data collected for individuals aged 6 years and above, covering 24 hour activity records.
• 30 minute time slots used for recording up to three simultaneous activities of 10 minutes or more.
• Nine major activity divisions categorized from the responses.

Changes in the pattern of education, lifestyle changes, or employment pressure may represent the declining trend in learning time.
The increasing working hours may indicate changing aspects of the economy, especially in the rural parts of the country.

Banking/Finance

1. RBI Eased Risk Weights Norms on Commercial Bank Loans Extended to NBFCs

Context:

RBI has reversed the increase in risk weights prescribed for commercial bank loans to NBFCs (Non Banking Financial Companies) effective from April 1, 2025.
The intent behind the move was to ease credit flow to the stressed NBFCs that were suffering from funding constraints, liquidity deficits, and a sudden increase in stress on their small ticket and microfinance loans.

Background

• RBI had raised risk weights by 25 percentage points for bank loans extended to NBFCs and
• Certain consumer credit segments (personal loans, credit cards).
• The risk weight hike caused lending by banks to NBFCs to slow, and credit growth fell to 6.7% in 2024 (from 15% in 2023).
• YTD growth until December 2024 has been 4.8% (against 13.2% in the previous year).

Impact Due To Rollback

• On Banks
  • 9% of total banking credit is given to the NBFCs.
  • Lowering risk weights frees capital for higher lending capacity.
• On NBFCs
  • Banks are a key source of funding (~₹13 trillion in exposure).
  • The move supports credit flow, alleviating stress in microfinance and small ticket lending.
• On the Financial Environment
  • It pursues an agenda consistent with the recent infusion of liquidity initiated by RBI under Sanjay Malhotra.
  • This includes repo rate cut, bond buying, and various relaxed regulations like ECL, LCR, and project finance.

The RBI’s rollback of the risk weights is a decision in favor of growth and will respond to the liquidity position of the NBFCs while enabling the sector to expand its credit.
The action is also consistent with the RBI’s broader initiative to support financial sector stability for stimulating economic growth.

2. RBI Study on Government Expenditure

Government’s Engaging in Development through Expenditure

• Public spending plays a vital in long term growth, particularly in infrastructure development in India.
• Budget constraints entail balancing priorities, as there is need for the government to fund its functioning besides social and physical infrastructure development.

Trends in Capital Expenditure and Revenue Expenditure

• Capital expenditure (Capex) has a much higher multiplier effect than revenue expenditure, with stronger effects on growth sustained over longer periods.
• Here are the changes in Capex over the years: the ratio of capital expenditure to GDP from 1.7% to 1.2% between 1991 96 has been downsized due to fiscal constraints.
• 2003-08: Increased to 2.2% of GDP following fiscal reforms.
• Between 2013-20, it range between 1.3% 1.6% of GDP as focus shifted in post global financial crisis scenario.
• Post 2020 Pandemic recovery measures led to an increase in Capex to reach by 4.6% during 2024 25 (Budget Estimate).

Issues in Fiscal Management

• Continuing high level of general government debt.
• Need to increase revenue collection to support continued growth in Capex.
• Goods & Services Tax (GST) rationalization could be an option to increase revenues.

Reservations on Private Investment

• Still, despite increasing Capex private investment is rather weak.
• It augurs well for the government to address issues faced by businesses in revamping investment trust while easing the fiscal burden.

Risks of Populism in Spending

• State wise populist schemes due to political consideration are threats for fiscal gains.
  A blade political consensus is needed to balance welfare with fiscal sustainability.

The government must maintain its Capex momentum while ensuring fiscal prudence. Revitalize private investment to minimize dependence on public expenditures. The two important arrows for the long term resilience of the economy are policy stability and fiscal discipline.

Economy

1. UK-India Trade Deals

Context:

UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson visited India this week to strengthen economic ties. Though the UK announced 17 new export and investment agreements, the declination of their details was yet to be made.

Major Areas of Takeaways from the Visit

• Increased UK Investment in India
  • The UK’s technology sector is rapidly rising in India and is the third largest globally.
  • Several UK technology and life sciences companies announced plans for growth in India.
• Benefit for UK Insurance Companies
  • FDI limits in insurance have been raised from 74 percent to 100 percent in India under the Union Budget 2024-25.
  • The policy shift will open up the Indian market for British insurers to own and grow operations.
• Investment of India in the UK
  • There have been investments of more than £100 million from India for different countries, covering sectors including AI, professional services, and textiles in the UK.
  • Further, all these will create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years.
• Strong Linkages of Economic Ties between UK and India
  • More than 950 Indian owned companies operate in the UK, whereas 650 UK firms are present in India.
  • These all together support more than 600,000 jobs across both their economises.

The UK considers technology and life sciences as areas of future growth in India.
This type of arrangement could be valuable in accelerating the India UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, as trade discussions continue. The extended insurance FDI cap opens up huge business avenues for UK financial institutions in India.

2. India-Australia Economic Ties

Context:

Australia has just come out with a brand new comprehensive road map for strengthening their bilateral economic relationship with India.

Key Highlights

• New economic roadmap introduced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to scale up trade and investment relations with India.
• Focus on four “superhighways of growth”
  • Clean Energy
  • Education & Skills
  • Agribusiness
  • Tourism.

List of big announcements

• $16 Million Trade and Investment Fund:
  • Through the Australia India Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund, Australian interests will be expanded, and businesses will focus on operations in India.

Tariff Reductions under ECTA

• 90% of Australian exports to India would become free of tariffs by 2026 (up from 85% presently).
• Under the pact by 2026, ECTA also assured that 100% import into Australia from India would be tariff free (currently at 96%).
• A total of $2 billion of tariff savings for Australian business entities by December 2024.

Trade Growth

• Initially, AU exports to India increased by 35% in the first year of ECTA (excluding coal).
• Major agricultural imports from Australia into India include cotton, nuts, and fruits.

The Look Ahead & Next Steps

• Under consideration is Australia India negotiations for a full Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which would deepen economic integration.
• This roadmap is likely to open the way for an even stronger trade and investment flow between the two neighbor countries, leveraging rapid India growth.
• Areas of emphasis are clean energy, education, and agribusiness, which are in line with India’s very own sustainability and economy objectives.

Source: Business Standard

Agriculture

1. Ethanol Blending with Petrol

Context:

The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was formulated to reduce oil imports, curb carbon emissions, and support farmers via grain based ethanol.
Target Acceleration: Ethanol blending target was advanced by India from 2030 to 2025.
Current Progress: As of 2024, the blend was at 15%, where 1,016 crore litres were required in ethanol to achieve the target for 2025 26.

Environmental and Health Issues

• Pollution from Factories
  • Ethanol factories generate hazardous chemicals that are associated with cancer acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein.
  • The emissions created are not accounted for in environmental clearances of factories in Andhra Pradesh.
• Depletion of Water Resources
  • The water required for a single grain based ethanol factory would vary between 8 and 12 litres per one litre of ethanol produced.
  • Groundwater is largely being extracted, particularly in regions of lean flow rivers such as the Krishna.
• Poor Pollution Control
  • Ethanol places factories in the “red category” (high pollution scores of over 60).
  • Bypassing public hearings weakens regulatory enforcement.

Agitations in AP with Government Inaction

• Protests continue in Andhra Pradesh (Gummaladoddi, Gandepalli, Arugolanu), where it has been alleged that:
  • Drinking water sources are being adversely affected by effluent discharge.
  • Pollution control authorities have turned a blind eye to the blatantly polluting factories.
  • Lokayukta reports have pointed out the malpractices, yet nothing has been done.

Contradictions in Green Energy Goals

• NITI Aayog Report (20% EBP Impact)
  • Reduction of Carbon monoxide: 30% (Cars), 50% (Two Wheelers).
• Environmentalist Counter
  • The environmental benefits obtained from blending ethanol may be more than offset by the pollution caused resulting from its production processes.
  • Factory owners say that strict pollution control measures, rising in production cost show why they are almost imposing.

Balance Required

• Development vs Sustainability
  • Ethanol blending, should not trivialize agriculture, human health, and riparian rights.
• Recommendations for Policy
  • Pollution control regulations should be made tighter and their implementation ensured.
• Assessments for Environmental Impact
  • It must include audits for emissions in places where the Ethiopian public are to give input on them.
• Sustainable water use for ethanol plants should be enforced.
• Reinstating public hearings will ensure local communities will have a say.

A truly green future will need an integrated view toward renewable energy goals and environmental and agricultural sustainability. Failing to consider these concerns may frustrate the very objectives intended with the EBP programme.

2. Roots Foundation’s Project Parali

Context:

Project Parali implemented by Roots Foundation has ceased stubble burning on over 3 lakh hectares in Haryana over a period of 3 years.

Focus Areas

• Sustainability
  • Stubble is made into household products and not burnt.
• Women Empowerment
  • Women led initiative with 80% of earned income reinvested into local communities.
• Plastic Waste Reduction
  • Creation of eco friendly alternatives from stubble waste.

Agriculture and Sustainability Efforts

• Natural Resource Conservation Programme (NRCP)
  • Water efficient techniques Direct Seeded Rice, Alternate Wetting and Drying.
  • Safe pesticides and crop residue management.
  • Improved farmer livelihoods since 2018, reaching into 10 lakh farmers.

Challenges & Industry Observations

• Technology in Agriculture
  • Most agri tech start ups are into valuations, not into real problems for farmers.

Quality and Traceability in Food Processing

• Sustainable Farming and Policy Recommendations
  • Demand driven agriculture should be able to give the best profitability.
  • Reduce the production costs with proper practices.
  • Government schemes should be leveraged for farmer benefits.

Roots Foundation’s holistic approach makes it a true protagonist of environmental conservation and economic empowerment as well as sustainable farming with long lasting effects in India’s agricultural sector.

3. Microsoft AI-infused ‘Project Farm Vibes’

Context:

Microsoft’s Project Farm Vibes aids farmers in increasing crop yield by 40%, reducing fertilizer use by 25%, and conserving water by 50%.
Satya Nadella’s claim about the transformational powers of AI in Baramati made Musk react: “AI will improve everything.” By building a partnership with Microsoft, the Agricultural Development Trust in Baramati is now scaling AI-led farming solutions to nearly 50,000 farmers.

Agriculture Aided by AI

• Project Farm Vibes builds Microsoft AI technologies onto the Azure stack
  • Azure Data Manager for Agriculture (ADMA): Aggregates satellite data along with weather and sensor data to ease effective decision-making in farming.
  • Farmvibes.AI: Another AI app that measures soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and pH levels.
  • Agripilot.ai: Integrates Azure Maps & OpenAI to provide actionable advice in local languages.

Real effect

• Crop Yields Enhanced
  • Experimental plots with sugarcane increased weight by 30% to 40%, with a 20% increase in sucrose content.
• Best Resource Utilization
  • A 50% cut in water consumption through AI-directed irrigation.
  • Less fertilizer application for appropriate spot fertilization.
  • Less postharvest loss (by 12%).
• Crop Cycle Time Reduction
  • AI methods reduced the sugarcane cycle from 18 to 12 months.

The larger objective

• Nationwide Implications
  • When this succeeds, it would be considered the dawn of a totally new paradigm of sustainable and technology-based agriculture for India.

Microsoft AI indeed transfers power to small farmers and thereby minimizes environmental threats to maintain agriculture while opening the door for even better agricultural efficacy across India.

Facts To Remember

1. In a first in India, bird flu detected in domestic cats

The first cases of avian influenza virus (H5N1) in domestic cats in India has been reported from MP’s Chhindwara, raising concerns about the bird flu pathogen mutating and infecting humans.

2. WAVES summit in Mumbai to Be one of its kind: I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju

The Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Sanjay Jaju has said that the WAVES summit to be held in Mumbai from the 1st to the 4th of May will be one of its kind summit where all the verticals of media and entertainment will get together.

3. Global order will not be determined by the developed nations: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that against all the challenges globally, India is moving ahead with growth. Addressing a media conclave in New Delhi today, Ms Sitharaman said, the global supply chain is where the concentration risks are posing challenges. She said these are very interesting but very challenging times.

4. Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurates Bharat Calling Conference 2025

Union Minister of Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal, today, inaugurated the Bharat Calling Conference 2025 in Mumbai.