Current Affairs Exam

• Kinshasa Flooding (April 2025): Recent flooding wasn’t just due to rainfall but primarily urban mismanagement and inadequate drainage.
• Causes of Kinshasa Flooding: Local rains, runoff from Congo Central Province, overwhelmed urban tributaries (Ndjili River, Lukaya).
• Impact of Flooding: Deaths (at least 70), injuries (150), displacement (21,000+), healthcare disruption (73 facilities), and water/transport issues.
• Recurrent Floods: Floods have become more frequent and devastating in DRC since late 2023, mirroring trends in neighboring countries.
• Urban Growth: Kinshasa’s rapid population growth (estimated 17,778,500 in 2025) exacerbates flood risks, with infrastructure lagging.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Drainage systems are blocked by waste, showcasing dysfunctional public services.
• Two Flood Hazards: Kinshasa faces Congo River flooding (peaking in Dec/Jan) and urban floods from local rainfall (April/Dec). Urbanization worsens the latter.
• Urban Expansion: City expansion into floodplains without infrastructure increases flood exposure. Sealed surfaces increase runoff.
• Congo Basin Hotspot: Kinshasa is a flood hotspot in the Congo Basin due to its dual flood sources and extensive urbanization.
• Eastern DRC Instability: Ongoing instability caused by the M23 armed group leads to mass displacement.
• Mineral Wealth: DRC is rich in cobalt, copper, gold, lithium, and other minerals crucial for electronics and renewable energy.

• Nepal Celebrated First ‘National Yak Day’: Observed on April 20, 2025, highlighting the yak’s cultural, ecological, and economic importance.
• ICIMOD’s Call to Action: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) urged stakeholders to prioritize the yak in sustainable development, particularly in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
• Indigenous Communities and Yak Herding: Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, and Limbu communities have traditionally protected and practiced yak herding, linking it to food security, cultural identity, and biodiversity.
• Yak’s Biological Adaptations: Yaks are well-adapted to high-altitude environments (5000-7000 meters), with large lung capacity and smaller red blood cells.
• Socio-Economic Uses: Domesticated yaks provide milk, meat, serve as pack animals, and contribute to climbing expeditions.
• Conservation Status: Wild yaks are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, requiring conservation efforts.
• Importance to Nepal: Yaks are crucial for 27 mountain districts in Nepal, providing resources like meat, milk, fibre, and draught power.
• ICIMOD’s Pledge: ICIMOD commits to support partner countries in promoting sustainable agropastoralism in the HKH’s high mountains.
• Nepal is the first yak range country: in the HKH to observe a national day dedicated to the animal.

• Record Turnover: KVIC achieved a turnover exceeding Rs 1.7 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, a historic first.
• Production Surge: KVIC production increased by 347% over the past 11 years (2013-2025), showcasing substantial growth.
• Sales Boom: Sales soared by 447% during the same period, demonstrating increased demand for Khadi and village industry products.
• Employment Generation: KVIC provided employment to 1.94 crore people, marking a 49.23% increase in employment over 11 years, crucial for rural livelihoods.
• Khadi Growth: Khadi clothes production rose by 366%, with sales surging by 561%, reflecting the renewed popularity of Khadi.
• Artisan Welfare: Khadi artisans’ wages increased by 275% over 11 years, with a 100% increase in the last 3 years, enhancing their financial stability.
• Women Empowerment: Women constitute 57.45% of KVIC trainees and 80% of Khadi artisans, highlighting KVIC’s role in women’s economic empowerment.
• PMEGP Impact: The Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) facilitated the establishment of over 10 lakh new micro-enterprises, benefiting 90 lakh individuals.
• Gramodyog Vikas Yojana: Over 2.87 lakh machines and toolkits were distributed under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana to boost rural entrepreneurship.
• ‘Viksit Bharat’ Contribution: KVIC’s performance contributes significantly towards achieving the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

• India’s Anemia Challenge: Anemia, primarily due to iron deficiency, affects millions, especially women, children, and adolescents in India. NFHS-5 data shows high prevalence: 67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls are anemic. 3 in 4 Indian women have low dietary iron intake.

• Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Launched in 2018, the AMB campaign aims to reduce anemia through a 6x6x6 framework: 6 interventions, 6 target groups, and 6 institutional mechanisms. It integrates with POSHAN Abhiyaan and School Health Program.

• Key Interventions:

  • Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation: Age-appropriate IFA is provided to vulnerable groups.
  • Deworming: Biannual deworming for children and adolescents; antenatal deworming for pregnant women.
  • Behavior Change Campaigns: Year-round campaigns promoting key behaviors to combat anemia (Solid Body, Smart Mind).
  • Anemia Testing and Treatment: Digital methods for anemia screening, especially for pregnant women and adolescents.
  • Food Fortification: Mandatory fortification of foods with Iron and Folic Acid in government programs.
  • Addressing Non-Nutritional Causes: Focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis in endemic areas.

• Progress & Initiatives: 15.4 crore children/adolescents received Iron and Folic Acid supplements in Q2 FY 2024-25. Digital tools track real-time anemia screening and supply data.

• Vulnerable Groups & Impact: Children under 5, adolescent girls, menstruating women, and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Anemia leads to impaired cognitive and motor development, decreased work capacity, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

• Global Context: Anemia affects hundreds of millions worldwide. The WHO has included anemia reduction in its Global Nutrition Targets and is developing a multisectoral framework for prevention and management.

• India’s Commitment: India’s commitment to eliminating anemia is a global example of inclusive public health action that will help the long-term human development.

• Supreme Court’s Reaction: The Supreme Court expressed surprise at a petition requesting the implementation of Article 355 in West Bengal, related to violence during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act in Murshidabad district.
• Purpose of Article 355: It empowers the central government to safeguard states from internal disturbances and external aggression.
• Scope of Power: Allows the Centre to intervene in a state’s law and order without dissolving the government, a less drastic measure than President’s Rule.
• Constitutional Duty: Article 355 mandates the Union to protect states from external aggression and internal unrest, ensuring governance aligns with the Constitution.
• Emergency Provisions: Article 355 is included in Part XVIII of the Constitution, which deals with emergency provisions (Articles 352-360).
• HT Source News source is HT

• Rising Gold Share: India’s gold holdings within its foreign exchange reserves (forex) have almost doubled, increasing from 6.7% in 2019 to 12% by February 2025, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

• Overall Forex Increase: India’s forex reserves reached USD 677.84 billion in April 2025.

• Gold Reserves Boost: The rise in forex reserves was partly due to a USD 638 million increase in gold reserves, alongside an increase in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA).

• Forex Reserve Definition: Forex reserves are assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies, including currencies, bonds, and securities.

• RBI’s Role: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) manages India’s forex reserves, as authorized by the RBI Act, 1934.

• Purpose of Reserves: Forex reserves help stabilize the national currency, meet external payment needs, and act as a buffer during financial shocks.

• Components of Forex Reserves: India’s forex reserves consist of Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) (largest component), Gold reserves (second-largest), Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and Reserve Tranche Position (RTP) with the IMF.

Why This Matters:

• Diversification: Increasing gold holdings diversifies India’s forex reserves, potentially reducing reliance on specific currencies like the US dollar.
• Safe Haven Asset: Gold is often seen as a safe haven asset during economic uncertainty, which can provide stability to the reserves.
• Confidence: Higher forex reserves, including gold, can boost investor confidence in India’s economy and its ability to meet its financial obligations.

• BharatNet Project Progress: Connecting rural India with high-speed internet, fostering inclusive growth and bridging the urban-rural divide.
• Objective: Provide unrestricted broadband access to telecom service providers for e-health, e-education, and e-governance in rural areas, empowering rural India.
• Target: Initially aimed to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs).
• Phases:
  • Phase I: Connected 1 lakh GPs by Dec 2017.
  • Phase II (ongoing): Expanding to 1.5 lakh GPs.
  • Phase III (ongoing): Integrating 5G, increasing bandwidth, ensuring last-mile connectivity.
• Amended BharatNet Program (ABP): Approved in Aug 2023 for optical fiber connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology and to non-GP villages on demand.
• ABP Features: Includes IP-MPLS network, 10-year operation and maintenance, power backup, and Remote Fibre Monitoring System (RFMS).
• Funding: Primarily through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), replacing USOF.
• Execution: Executed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL). BSNL is Project Management Agency for operation & maintenance.
• Current Status (March 2025):
  • 2,18,347 GPs are service-ready.
  • 42.13 lakh route km of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laid.
  • 12,21,014 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections commissioned.
  • 1,04,574 Wi-Fi hotspots installed.
• Digital Empowerment Initiatives: Complementary initiatives include PMGDISHA for digital literacy and the National Broadband Mission (NBM).
• DBN and NABARD Collaboration: MoU to drive rural development through digital services and high-speed broadband.
• Rural Mobile Connectivity: Government focusing on expanding mobile connectivity in rural areas, including 4G coverage.

• Sustainable Perovskite Recycling: A Nature study introduces a water-based method using sodium acetate, sodium iodide, and hypophosphorous acid to recycle Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), eliminating toxic organic solvents like dimethylformamide. This process recovers 99% of materials and maintains efficiency over five cycles.

• Environmental Concerns with PSCs: Perovskite crystals contain toxic lead, posing environmental risks. Traditional recycling methods use harmful organic solvents.

• India’s Solar Capacity & Goals: As of April 2025, India’s installed solar capacity is 105.65 GW. Target to reach 100 GW by 2030.

• Key Initiatives: Rooftop Solar Programme supported by SUPRABHA and SRISTI; PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) has reached 10 lakh solar-powered homes.

• Challenges: Land acquisition conflicts, infrastructure deficits, investment constraints, domestic manufacturing gaps, environmental impacts (solar waste), and limited battery storage capacity.

• Solutions for Growth: Optimizing land use (agrivoltaics), grid modernization and energy storage, DISCOM reforms, circular economy for solar waste (recycling policy), enhancing domestic manufacturing (PLI scheme), and international collaboration (ISA).

• Significance of New Recycling Method: The water based recycling method adresses one of the major concerns for Perovskite cells and paves way for low-cost high-efficiency solar technology.

• Wheat Production Estimate: ISRO projects India’s wheat production from eight major states to reach 122.724 million tonnes by March 31, 2025. This uses advanced satellite-based remote sensing technologies.
• CROP Definition: CROP stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress.
• CROP’s Purpose: Aims for near real-time monitoring of crop sowing, growth, and harvesting, especially during the Rabi season in India.
• Technological Components: Integrates data from satellites like EOS-04 (RISAT-1A), EOS-06 (Oceansat-3), and Resourcesat-2A, using both Optical and SAR data.
• Key States Covered: Focuses on Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• Framework: It is a semi-automated and scalable framework, developed by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).
• Wheat Sown Area: Satellite data estimates wheat sown area at 330.8 lakh hectares, close to the Ministry of Agriculture’s statistics.
• Methodology: The assessment involves assimilating satellite-derived parameters like crop area, sowing date, and crop condition into a crop growth simulation model.
• Enhanced Accuracy: Multi-source data integration enhances accuracy in production estimation at a finer spatial level.
• Coordination: The CROP program is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and state agricultural departments
• Published date: April 20, 2025

• News: Stubble burning in Punjab, exacerbated by structural market distortions and policy incentives like MSP, contributes significantly to air pollution in North India.
• IIM Amritsar Study (2025): MSP unintentionally reinforces unsustainable agricultural practices.
• Policy-Induced Mono-Cropping: MSP for wheat and rice discourages diversification, leading to excess paddy stubble.
• Market Distortions: Middlemen (arhtias) control prices, trapping farmers in debt and pushing them towards cost-effective but harmful stubble burning. Farmers only receive 40-67% of consumer prices.
• Lack of Alternatives: Insufficient affordable, sustainable alternatives and inadequate government support force reliance on burning.
• Climate Stress: Unpredictable weather patterns amplify the urgency to clear fields quickly.
• Ineffective Bio-Decomposers: Logistical delays and inconsistent results hinder effective implementation.
• Jagadale and Shaikh (2025) study Governmentality and Marketing System Failure: The Case of Stubble Burning and Climate Change in Neoliberal India’, which relies on Michel Foucault’s concept of ‘governmentality’ to analyses the problem and says Union government’s MSP policy prioritises wheat and rice production, discouraging crop diversification.
• Solutions:
  • Promote crop diversification with assured procurement.
  • Create markets for stubble-based products (fodder, pellets).
  • Enhance regulatory interventions: enforcement, permits, incentives.
  • Ensure fair pricing for farmers by improving market transparency.
  • Promote biofuels and bio-fertilizers from crop residues.
  • Strengthen Custom Hiring Centres for mechanization access.
  • Establish joint task forces for coordinated efforts.
  • Socio-cultural organizations to play a role in de-marketing non-essential aspirational consumption, the authors conclude.
• Need for Stakeholder Involvement: Effective implementation needs stakeholders, including state and market actors, across the value chain.