Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 08-08-2025

Complementary to Renewables: India’s renewable capacity (200 GW) is growing but intermittent. Nuclear energy offers consistent, base-load power crucial for energy security and meeting increasing demand.

Ambitious Expansion Plans: India aims for 22,800 MW by 2031-32 and 100 GW by 2047, driven by the “Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM)” for Viksit Bharat.

Historical Context & Self-Reliance: India’s nuclear journey began with peaceful intent (TIFR, DAE, BARC). Post-1962 war and 1964 Chinese test, India pursued indigenous technology, refusing NPT and CTBT due to perceived discrimination and focus on disarmament.

Nuclear Responsibility: India declared a ‘No-First-Use’ policy and Minimum Nuclear Deterrence post-Pokhran II (1998), establishing the Nuclear Command Authority and Strategic Forces Command.

India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement (123 Agreement): This 2005 pact facilitated civil nuclear cooperation, leading to an NSG waiver in 2008. It allowed India to trade nuclear technology and fuel globally, conditional on separating civilian/military programs and IAEA safeguards for civilian reactors.

International Integration: Post-waiver, India joined MTCR, Australia Group, and Wassenaar Arrangement, enhancing its role in global export control regimes.

Indigenous Capacity & Future Technologies: India operates 24 PHWR reactors (8180 MW). Future plans include developing indigenous PHWRs, Fast Breeder Reactors, and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with a Rs 20,000 crore allocation for SMR development.

Challenges: Global limitations include non-membership in NSG. Domestic challenges involve the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (government monopoly) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (supplier liability), deterring private and foreign investment.

Reforms for Growth: Amendments to nuclear laws are planned to encourage private/foreign participation and align civil liability with global norms, making the sector more investment-friendly.

Significance for Sustainability: Nuclear energy supports decarbonization goals, reduces dependence on fossil fuels, and positions India as a leader in sustainable nuclear technology for a cleaner, self-reliant future.

National Waterway-57 (Kopili River) Operationalised: Maiden cargo of 300 MT cement flagged off in Assam, marking a significant revival of intra-state waterborne freight transport. This is the first cargo movement on NW-57 since 2014.

Boost to Assam’s Waterways: With NW-57 operational, four National Waterways in Assam (Brahmaputra NW-2, Barak NW-16, Dhansiri NW-31, Kopili NW-57) are now fully operational, totaling 1168 kms.

Alignment with National Visions: This development supports Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti by strengthening multimodal logistics and promoting economic growth in the Northeast.

Eco-friendly and Cost-effective Transport: IWT is highlighted as a low-emission (32-36 g CO₂ per ton-km), cost-effective (Rs 0.25-0.30 per ton-km), and fuel-efficient mode of transport.

Logistics and Economic Gains: Operationalising waterways can reduce national logistics costs by up to 5% of GDP and improve global competitiveness. It also promotes tourism and employment.

Strategic Connectivity: IWT provides last-mile access to remote areas and enhances national security and disaster resilience.

Key Challenges Remain: Issues like seasonal navigability, infrastructure gaps (jetties, terminals), inadequate depth, underutilization (only 3.5% of trade), and siltation need to be addressed.

Measures for Improvement: Focus is on integrated infrastructure development, private participation, financial incentives, boosting cargo and passenger movement, and capacity building.

ISRO inaugurates HOPE mission at Tso Kar Valley, Ladakh.

• Why in news: To simulate and study challenges of long-duration space missions.

HOPE Mission Overview:

• Part of ISRO’s Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
• Simulates space-like conditions for testing technologies and health protocols for future interplanetary missions (Moon, Mars).
• Aims to study physiological, psychological, and operational challenges.
• Focuses on epigenetic, genomic analysis, health monitoring, and microbial sample techniques.

Site Selection – Tso Kar Valley:

• Chosen for its Mars-like environment: high UV radiation, low air pressure, salty frozen ground, cold temperatures (-10°C to 15°C).
• Oxygen levels are 40% of sea level.
• Rocky, sandy soil resembles Martian soil.

Mission Objectives & Capabilities:

• Tests life support systems, habitat technology, and rover movement.
• Supports research on In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and astrobiology.

Significance:

• Crucial for preparing for crewed missions like Gaganyaan and a lunar landing by 2040.
• Generates vital data, strengthens technological readiness, and improves health protocols.
• Promotes Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) space research through collaboration.

• Why it’s news: Elevates the seriousness of HDV infection and may spur increased global focus, funding, and research.

• Why it’s news: Quantifies the amplified danger of HDV, highlighting its potent contribution to liver cancer development.

• Why it’s news: Explains the unique transmission pathway of HDV and its dependence on HBV, underscoring that only those with HBV are at risk for HDV.

• Why it’s news: Demonstrates the rapid progression and severity of co-infection, making it a critical concern.

• Why it’s news: Informs on how the virus is contracted, reinforcing the importance of existing HBV prevention strategies.

• Why it’s news: Highlights the critical role of HBV vaccination, especially in India where coverage is only around 50%.

• Why it’s news: Points to the ongoing challenges in managing HDV, necessitating further development in diagnostics and therapies.

• Why it’s news: Provides specific relevance to India, emphasizing the need for targeted screening and prevention in vulnerable populations.

PM Inaugurated MS Swaminathan Centenary Conference: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the international conference in New Delhi to celebrate the legacy of M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution.

Theme: Evergreen Revolution: The Pathway to Biohappiness: The conference’s theme focuses on achieving food security, sustainability, and inclusive development, aligning with Swaminathan’s vision.

Purpose: The event brings together scientists, policymakers, and development professionals to discuss and advance the principles of the ‘Evergreen Revolution’, emphasizing sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, climate resilience, and inclusive livelihoods.

Honoring Swaminathan’s Contributions: The conference highlights Swaminathan’s pivotal role in introducing high-yielding crops, boosting India’s food security, collaborating on wheat production, and pioneering mangrove restoration and sustainable farming.

Launch of M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace: The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and The World Academy of Sciences launched this award to recognize individuals from developing countries who significantly contribute to food security, climate justice, equity, and peace for vulnerable communities. The Prime Minister presented the first award.

Swaminathan’s Recognition: He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 and recognized by UNEP as the Father of Economic Ecology for integrating agriculture with sustainable ecological practices.

First Green Ammonia Auction by SECI: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) conducted its inaugural auction to procure Green Ammonia.

• Why: This is a crucial step under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and its SIGHT Scheme to boost green hydrogen production by incentivizing manufacturers.

Record Low Price Discovery: The auction achieved a significant price breakthrough, discovering Green Ammonia at ₹55.75/kg.

• Why: This is a substantial reduction from previous prices (₹100.28/kg in H2Global auction) and is economically viable compared to Grey Ammonia prices, encouraging the transition to clean energy.

Secured Supply for Paradeep Phosphates: The auction covers the supply of 75,000 metric tonnes per annum of Green Ammonia to Paradeep Phosphates Limited.

• Why: This demonstrates practical application of Green Ammonia in sectors like fertilizer production, supporting climate-neutral initiatives.

Part of a Larger Procurement Plan: This is the first of 13 planned auctions aiming for a cumulative procurement of 7.24 lakh MT/year.

• Why: This indicates a systematic and scaled-up approach to establishing India as a global hub for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

Strong Investor Confidence: The auction’s success, with intense competition, highlights robust investor confidence in India’s green energy transition.

• Why: This paves the way for large-scale adoption of Green Ammonia and supports the overall value chain with strong payment security.

What is Quit India Movement Day? India celebrates August 8th as Quit India Movement Day (August Kranti Diwas) to commemorate the 1942 movement demanding immediate British rule end.

Why is it observed? It marks the launch of a pivotal moment in the freedom struggle, demonstrating national unity and determination for independence.

Launch and Key Call: Launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, with the slogan “Do or Die” at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan), urging immediate British withdrawal.

Nature of the Movement: A mass uprising distinct from earlier peaceful protests, demanding complete British withdrawal. It allowed for self-defense and spontaneous actions like sabotage.

Key Figures and Rising Leaders: Yusuf Meherally coined the “Quit India” slogan. Aruna Asaf Ali became a prominent symbol of defiance. Leaders like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan rose to prominence, and women like Matangini Hazra and Sucheta Kripalani played significant roles.

Events Leading to the Movement: India’s involvement in WWII without consent, failure of the Cripps Mission offering dominion status, nationalist sentiment fueled by wartime exploitation and economic hardships, and the proximity of the war after the fall of Burma.

Outcomes: British repression, emergence of parallel governments in some regions, increased national unity, exposure of political divisions (Muslim League’s absence), and ultimately paving the way for India’s independence in 1947.

Significance: A watershed moment that shaped India’s future politics and truly embodied the spirit of “We the People” in the freedom struggle.

RBI Nod for AU SFB to become Universal Bank: AU Small Finance Bank has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to transition into a universal bank.

• Why: This allows AU SFB to offer a wider range of financial services and products with fewer restrictions, broadening its operational scope beyond its current niche as a Small Finance Bank.

What are Small Finance Banks (SFBs): SFBs were recommended by the Usha Thorat Committee (2014) to promote financial inclusion.

• Why: They are designed to provide credit and savings facilities to underserved and unbanked sections, particularly focusing on priority sector lending.

Key SFB Requirements:

• Minimum 75% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) must be lent to the priority sector.
• At least 50% of loans should be up to ₹25 lakh.
• Minimum paid-up equity capital of ₹200 crore.
• Why: These restrictions ensure SFBs focus on their core mandate of financial inclusion and serving specific segments of the population.

Universal Banks vs. SFBs: Universal banks offer a full spectrum of financial services without the specific restrictions and targeted focus of SFBs.

• Why: The transition signifies a move from a specialized, inclusion-driven model to a more diversified banking operation with greater operational freedom.

• Nitrates: Found in 20% of samples (440 districts), linked to fertiliser use and septic tanks. Causes “Blue Baby Syndrome” in infants. 56% of districts have unsafe levels.
• Fluoride: Detected in 9.04% of samples, affecting 66 million people with skeletal fluorosis. High prevalence in Rajasthan, U.P., M.P.
• Arsenic: Widespread in Gangetic belt (W.B., Bihar, U.P.), levels up to 200 µg/L (20x WHO limit). Linked to cancers and skin lesions.
• Uranium: Found above WHO limits in Punjab and A.P., linked to fertilisers and over-extraction, causing kidney damage.
• Heavy Metals: Industrial discharges cause developmental delays, anaemia, neurological damage. High lead levels near Kanpur and Vapi.
• Pathogens: Sewage infiltration leads to outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, hepatitis.

• Institutional Fragmentation: Agencies work in silos with poor coordination.
• Weak Enforcement: The Water Act’s enforcement on groundwater is inadequate; regulatory loopholes persist.
• Data Gaps: Infrequent, poorly disseminated monitoring hinders early detection.
• Over-extraction: Lowers water tables, concentrating pollutants.

• National Groundwater Pollution Control Framework with clear responsibilities and empowered CGWB.
• Modernized monitoring using real-time data and integration with health surveillance.
• Targeted remediation (e.g., defluoridation) and improved piped water access.
• Strict industrial waste management (ZLD) and agrochemical reforms.
• Citizen-centric governance involving local communities.

Fastest Growing Segment: Herbicides are the fastest-growing segment in India’s crop protection market, with over 10% annual growth.

• Why: This surge is driven by a significant shortage of rural labor for manual weeding, which is labor-intensive (8-10 hours per acre, multiple times).

Significant Market Share: Herbicides represent the second-largest segment in India’s crop protection market at ₹8,209 crore.

• Why: This highlights their increasing importance to farmers as an alternative to manual labor.

Shift to Preventive Use: Farmers are increasingly adopting “pre-emergent” and “early post-emergent” herbicides, focusing on prevention rather than cure.

• Why: This strategy is more efficient and cost-effective than reactive measures, especially given the labor scarcity.

Cost-Effectiveness: Herbicides are more economical than manual weeding, with pre-emergent herbicides costing around ₹550 per acre.

• Why: This affordability makes them an attractive option for farmers looking to reduce operational costs.

Market Concentration: The herbicide market is largely controlled by multinational corporations and a few large domestic players.

• Why: This concentration raises concerns about potential monopolies and farmer dependence on branded products, similar to trends seen with seeds and fertilizers.