Daily Current Affairs and News Analysis 29-04-2025

CCPA: Consumer Watchdog

• CCPA Action: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo moto cognizance against five Delhi restaurants (Makhna Deli, Xero Courtyard, Castle Barbeque, Chaayos, and Fiesta by Barbeque Nation) for non-refund of mandatory service charges.

• Reasoning: The action follows complaints received on the National Consumer Helpline (1915) and violations of consumer rights and unfair trade practices despite a Delhi High Court judgment upholding CCPA guidelines on service charges.

• Significance: This aims to protect consumers from being unduly pressured to pay service charges against their will. No hotel or restaurant can force a consumer to pay service charge or collect service charge under any other name.

• CCPA Guidelines (2022): These state that service charges should not be added automatically to bills, collected under other names, forced upon consumers, or used to restrict entry/service. Service charge shall not be collected by adding it along with the food bill and levying GST on the total amount.

• Legal Basis: The CCPA was established under Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and is mandated to regulate matters related to the violation

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  of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.

• CCPA Functions: The CCPA protects and enforces consumer rights, prevents unfair trade practices, curbs misleading advertisements, initiates class-action suits, conducts investigations, and imposes penalties.

• CCPA Structure: Headed by a Chief Commissioner with two other commissioners handling goods and service-related complaints.

• Nodal Ministry: The CCPA functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

GAVI: Vaccines for All

• GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is urging the US government to maintain its funding.
• GAVI argues that US funding would benefit the US vaccine industry.
• GAVI is a public-private partnership created in 2000 to improve access to vaccines for children in the poorest countries.
• GAVI is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• GAVI brings together public and private sectors to provide equal access to vaccines.
• Key partners include governments, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, vaccine industry, and private philanthropists.
• GAVI supports low- and middle-income countries by providing financial support, technical expertise, and market-shaping to lower vaccine costs.
• GAVI has vaccinated over 1.1 billion children and saved an estimated 18.8 million lives (2023 figures).
• GAVI led COVAX, a global effort to equitably distribute COVID-19 vaccines, which ran from 2020-2023.
• UNICEF is a founding partner and strategic partner of Gavi.
• GAVI is funded by governments, foundations, institutions, organizations, corporations, and private individuals.

River Cities

• NMCG Approved 2025 Action Plan for River Cities Alliance (RCA): Aims to strengthen urban river rejuvenation by integrating river-sensitive planning.

• Comprehensive Approach: Focuses on capacity building, knowledge exchange, technical tools, expert guidance, and thematic case studies.

• RCA Background: Launched in 2021, now includes 145+ cities, managed by NMCG and NIUA.

• Urban River Management Plans (URMPs): The plan will see development of 25 URMPs with a larger mission to create 60 such plans across India over the next two to three years.

• URMP Framework: Considers environmental, economic, and social dimensions in river management.

• URMP Successes: Kanpur, Ayodhya, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Moradabad, and Bareilly have developed URMPs; Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar’s Kham River project gained global recognition.

• River-Sensitive Master Planning (RSMP) Training: Will be conducted across states to integrate river considerations into city master plans.

• URMP Training Sessions: Specifically for RCA cities, starting with Tamil Nadu, followed by additional states.

• URMP for Delhi: Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision, aiming for sustainable and inclusive river management in the capital.

• Basin-Level Coordination: NMCG will advise on effective coordination among basin, district, and city-level river management plans.

• Knowledge Products and Support: Developing tailored resources and Thematic Expert Groups for eco-friendly riverfront development.

• Knowledge Exchange: Events like DHARA and exposure visits to Udaipur and Hyderabad are scheduled.

• Governance Capacity Building: Formal training programs for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in member cities.

• Documentation and Awareness: Weekly case studies showcasing urban river rejuvenation efforts, public awareness campaigns.

• Financial Support: Providing financial advisory services for river-related projects.

• Benchmarking: Using the URMP framework to track member cities’ performance.

• Completed Initiatives: New RCA website, participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Uturuncu

• Scientists studied Uturuncu Volcano: Researchers from China, the UK, and the U.S. collaborated.

• Cause of Unrest Identified: The “zombie”-like unrest is due to liquid and gas movement beneath the crater.

• No Imminent Eruption Expected: Research suggests a low likelihood of eruption, alleviating previous fears.

• Location: Southwestern Bolivia, in the Andes Mountains.

• Type: Stratovolcano with dacitic lava domes and flows.

• Height: Approximately 6,008 meters (19,711 feet).

• Last Eruption: 250,000 years ago.

• Seismically Active: Despite its dormancy.

• Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB): Sits above a large, deep magma reservoir.

• “Zombie” Volcano: Known for its ongoing, non-eruptive activity, hence the name.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker

• Office Vacant: The Deputy Speaker position in the Lok Sabha remained vacant throughout the 17th Lok Sabha and continues to be unfilled in the 18th Lok Sabha.

  • Why: Undermines constitutional mandate for a prompt election.

• Constitutional Requirement: Articles 93 and 178 of the Constitution mandate the election of a Deputy Speaker.

  • Why: Ensures the Lok Sabha has both Speaker and Deputy Speaker as vital.

• Election Process: Elected by a simple majority of Lok Sabha members present and voting, with the date fixed by the Speaker.

  • Why: Establishes a democratic process for selecting the Deputy Speaker.

• Powers and Duties: Performs the Speaker’s duties when the Speaker’s post is vacant and exercises the same powers.

  • Why: Provides continuity and prevents legislative paralysis.

• Tenure: Holds office during the Lok Sabha’s term, subject to resignation, removal by resolution, or ceasing to be a member.

  • Why: Defines the duration and conditions of the Deputy Speaker’s service.

• Significance: Ensures legislative continuity, holds constitutional authority, promotes neutrality, fosters bipartisan cooperation, and democratic inclusion.

  • Why: Reinforces the principles of parliamentary democracy.

• Traditionally Opposition Post: Conventionally, the Deputy Speaker position is offered to the opposition party.

  • Why: Promotes consensus-building and cross-party trust.

• Safeguards Required: Clear time frame for election, regular delegation of authority, and clear role codification needed for effective functioning.

  • Why: Enhances efficiency, reduces ambiguity, and safeguards legislative neutrality.

I4C Under PMLA

• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been brought under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, specifically Section 66.
• This move aims to combat transnational cyber frauds and track illicit money trails.
• I4C is a national-level coordination centre established by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address cybercrime issues.
• Section 66 of the PMLA allows the sharing of information with agencies involved in tackling offenses related to tax, duties, foreign exchange, and narcotics.
• The integration of I4C with PMLA will allow I4C to share and receive information with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other enforcement agencies.

Why:

• Combating Cyber Fraud: Cybercrime often involves money laundering, making it essential to track the financial trails of criminals.
• Enhanced Information Sharing: Bringing I4C under PMLA facilitates the sharing of information between I4C and other law enforcement agencies like the ED.
• Tracking Illicit Funds: This integration will help in identifying and tracking illicit money flows associated with cybercrimes, especially those with transnational elements.
• Strengthened Enforcement: This move strengthens the overall enforcement mechanism against cybercriminals by combining cybercrime expertise with money laundering investigation capabilities.

IEPFA

• IEPFA & SEBI Launching ‘Niveshak Shivir’ Initiative: To boost digital investor awareness and streamline the process of reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares.

• Pilot Phase in May 2025: Mumbai and Ahmedabad selected as pilot locations due to a high number of investors with unclaimed dividends.

• Dedicated Company Kiosks: Companies with the highest number of investors in unclaimed dividend accounts will set up kiosks at the camps to provide direct assistance.

• One-Stop Helpdesks: Investors can update KYC, nomination details, verify claim status, and get real-time grievance redressal.

• Reducing Intermediary Dependence: Initiative aims to minimize fraud and misinformation risks by enabling direct interaction with companies and RTAs.

• Pre-Registration via QR Code: A QR-code-based Google Form will be used for pre-registration, with support from ICAI and SEBI regional offices.

• IEPFA’s Role: Established in 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, manages the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and promotes investor awareness and financial protection. The IEPF consists of amounts that remained unclaimed for 7 years.

• Preparatory Meeting: IEPFA convened a meeting with Nodal Officers of stakeholder companies on April 28, 2025 to finalize operational details for “Niveshak Shivir”.

• Why This Matters: Simplifies dividend and share reclaiming, improves financial literacy, and provides transparent access to investor services.

India’s Water Vision

• Blueprint for Clean Drinking Water: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aims for clean tap water for all by 2047, shifting from reliance on bottled water and tankers.
• Objectives: Safe drinking water access, upgraded water treatment infrastructure, smart water management via digitization, water recycling (10,000 MLD target), and water body restoration.
• Current Status: Tap water connections provided to 79.74% of rural households under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Urban piped water coverage at 93% in 2019. AMRUT 2.0 targets 100% tap connections and water security by 2026.
• Challenges: Water scarcity (India has only 4% of world’s freshwater), urban pressures (over-extraction, contamination), poor water governance (NITI Aayog scores), infrastructure gaps (limited piped water access, wastewater treatment), groundwater depletion, poor water quality, and behavioral issues.
• Measures:
  • Replicate Puri’s 24/7 tap water initiative.
  • Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.
  • Revive water bodies through community-driven conservation.
  • Enhance community participation.
  • Scale up solar-powered purification and RO.
  • Expand smart water management systems.
  • Implement user-pays water pricing.
  • Incentivize water-efficient agriculture.
• Why in News: Aligns with ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision, addressing critical water access issues through sustainable infrastructure and management.

India-Bhutan Customs Meet

• The 6th India-Bhutan Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting occurred in Thimphu, Bhutan on April 24-25, 2025.

• Co-chaired by Mr. Surjit Bhujabal (India) and Mr. Sonam Jamtsho (Bhutan).

• India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner, accounting for approximately 80% of Bhutan’s overall trade. Vital due to Bhutan being landlocked.

• JGC meetings are annual, focusing on customs procedures, cooperation, and cross-border trade facilitation.

• 10 Land Customs Stations (LCSs) exist along the India-Bhutan border (6 in West Bengal, 4 in Assam).

• Discussions covered automation/digitization of transit, Coordinated Border Management (CBM), pre-arrival data exchange, Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA), and Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).

• Bhutan acknowledged India’s support, especially regarding the “Advancing India Bhutan Trade and Economic Partnership” capacity-building workshop.

• India proposed further capacity building in Risk Management System (RMS), Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Food Safety Standards, and need-based training for Bhutanese importers/exporters.

• Both countries reaffirmed commitment to strengthened customs cooperation, enhanced trade facilitation, and secure border management.

India’s Supercomputing Mission

• National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Launched: Initiated in 2015 to enhance India’s high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities.

• Objective: To make India self-reliant in supercomputing technologies, reduce import dependence, and foster research & development.

• Implementing Bodies: Jointly steered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), implemented by C-DAC, Pune, and IISc, Bengaluru.

• Supercomputers Deployed: 34 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 35 Petaflops deployed across institutions as of March 2025.

• High Utilization: Supercomputing systems commissioned under NSM have achieved an overall utilization rate of over 85%, with many systems exceeding 95%.

• Research Impact: Facilitated over 10,000 researchers, including 1,700+ PhD scholars, supporting critical domains like drug discovery and climate modeling.

• Indigenous HPC Server: “Rudra” India’s first HPC-class server matching global standards. Used in PARAM Rudra supercomputers dedicated to physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

• Trinetra High-Speed Network: Indigenous network boosting data transfer rates (up to 200 Gbps) to strengthen supercomputing capabilities.

• AI Supercomputing: AIRAWAT: India’s AI-focused initiative, offering a platform for AI research with 200 petaflops (scalable to 790 AI petaflops).

• Global Ranking: AIRAWAT secured 75th rank in the Top 500 Global Supercomputing List (ISC 2023), placing India among top AI supercomputing nations.

• Key Installations: PARAM Shivay (IIT-BHU, 2019), PARAM Pravega (IISc Bengaluru, 2022 – 3.3 petaflops).

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) Support: ISM to boost NSM by enabling indigenous manufacturing of critical supercomputing components.

Padma Awards

• Awards Conferred: The President of India presented 4 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri Awards for 2025 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Ceremony Details: The Civil Investiture Ceremony-I took place in Ganatantra Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Dignitaries Present: The Vice President, Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and other ministers attended the event.
• Historical Significance: The Padma Awards were established in 1954, along with the Bharat Ratna, to recognize exceptional achievements.
• Award Categories:
  • Padma Vibhushan: For exceptional and distinguished service.
  • Padma Bhushan: For distinguished service of a high order.
  • Padma Shri: Recognizes distinguished service in any field.
• Eligibility: Open to all persons regardless of race, occupation, position, or gender (excluding most government servants).
• Selection Process: Nominations are evaluated by the Padma Awards Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, with final approval from the Prime Minister and President.
• Key Features:
  • Awards are capped at 120 per year (excluding posthumous awards and awards to NRIs/foreigners/OCIs).
  • Awards do not constitute a title.
  • Disciplines covered include arts, social work, public affairs, science, and more.
• Upcoming Events: Awardees will pay homage at the National War Memorial and visit Rashtrapati Bhawan and Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.

Kuldiha Wildlife

• Poaching Incident: A poacher, Madha Singh, was arrested after an exchange of fire with forest guards at Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. His uncle escaped and is being pursued.

• Location and Significance: The sanctuary is located in the Balasore district of Odisha. It forms part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, which is crucial for elephant conservation.

• Connectivity: Kuldiha is connected to Simlipal Tiger Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges.

• Arrest Details: Madha Singh, from Jampada area, was arrested in the Gudikhania area of Kuldiha Wildlife sanctuary.

• Seized Items: A gun, torch, knife, ammunition, and hunting equipment were seized from the poachers.

• Injury: A member of Sabuja Bahini sustained injuries and is receiving treatment.

• Flora: The sanctuary features a mix of peninsular Sal forests and moist mixed deciduous forests, including Sal, Jamun, Mango, and Simul trees.

• Fauna: Kuldiha is home to endangered species like Asiatic Elephants, Leopards, Gaurs, Pangolins, and various bird species like Hill Myna and Hornbill.

• Ongoing Investigation: An investigation is underway to apprehend the escaped uncle of the arrested poacher.

Ocean Revival

• Initiative: ‘Revive Our Ocean’ launched on April 24, 2025, by Dynamic Planet, aims to scale up effective, community-led marine protected areas (MPAs) globally.

• Goal: Empower local communities to create and manage MPAs, promoting sustainable economic growth through fishing and tourism. Aligns with the 30×30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to protect 30% of oceans by 2030.

• Target Countries: UK, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico.

• MPAs: Regions managed for marine conservation with activity restrictions. Although over 16,000 MPAs exist (8% of oceans), only 3% are fully protected, and many are poorly managed.

• Economic Benefits Highlighted: MPAs are economic assets. Medes Island

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  (Spain) generates USD 16 million annually through tourism from a no-fishing zone. Isle of Arran(Scotland) helped in increasing marine life.

• Barriers Addressed: Lack of awareness about MPA benefits, restrictive national policies, and insufficient tools/support for effective MPA creation.

• Collective & Microfinance: Revive Our Ocean Collective connects local leaders; a microfinance program offers loans/grants for MPA development.

• Focus on Destructive Fishing: Aims to end destructive practices like bottom trawling which destroys habitats.

• MPAs as Investments: Promotes MPAs as self-sustaining investments through tourism and sustainable fishing.

• Benefits of MPAs: Regenerate biodiversity, attract tourism, create jobs, ensure food security, and combat climate change by capturing carbon.

CMV and RNA Silencing

• New Innovation: German researchers developed an “effective double-stranded Ribonucleic acid (dsRNA)” enriched with potent small interfering RNA (siRNA) to combat Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV).
• Why it matters: This method reduced CMV viral load by up to 80%, surpassing conventional treatments.
• Mechanism: It leverages RNA silencing, a natural plant defense, to target and suppress the virus.
• CMV Overview: CMV is a widespread plant virus impacting over 1,200 plant species.
• CMV Symptoms: Causes yellow mottling, distorted leaves, and stunted growth in plants like cucumbers, melons, and bananas.
• CMV Transmission: Primarily spread by aphids.
• CMV Impact in India: Leads to significant yield losses (25-30% in bananas, up to 70% in pumpkins, cucumbers, and melons), with no known cure.
• RNA Silencing Explained: A plant’s natural defense against viruses, triggered by viral dsRNA.
• RNA Silencing Process: Dicer-like enzymes (DCLs) chop viral dsRNA into siRNAs, which then guide the plant’s defense system to destroy the viral RNA.
• RNA Silencing Limitations: CMV’s rapid mutation can evade the plant’s natural defenses.
• HIGS: Genetically modifies plants to produce virus-fighting dsRNA. Limited by regulations, cost and resistance development.
• SIGS: Treats plants with RNA sprays to trigger immune response. Cost-effective but traditional dsRNA formulations produce a random mix of siRNAs, many of which fail to efficiently silence the virus limiting efficacy.

Crimea: Russia’s Key

• Strategic Location: Crimea provides Russia with vital access to warm water ports on the Black Sea, crucial for year-round naval operations. Sevastopol is a key port.
• Military Power Projection: Crimea’s location allows Russia to project military power into the Black Sea and Mediterranean, significantly enhancing its regional influence.
• Economic Control: Control over Crimea enables Russia to influence and potentially control economic corridors in the Black Sea, critical for trade and energy routes to southern Europe and West Asia.
• Historical Claims: Russia views Crimea as historically part of its empire, transferred to Ukraine unjustly in 1954, fueling its desire to reclaim the territory.
• Access to Black Sea: The Black Sea is Russia’s warmest marine feature, providing essential access to the Mediterranean, as much of Russia’s other coastline is frozen for a good part of the year.

Global Military Spending 2024

• Global Military Spending Surge: World military expenditure reached $2.46 trillion in 2024, a significant increase from $2.24 trillion the previous year. Why: Reflects escalating global tensions and conflicts.
• Increased Spending as Percentage of GDP: Global defense spending now accounts for 1.9% of global GDP, up from 1.6% in 2022. Why: Indicates a growing prioritization of military strength amidst geopolitical instability.
• Regional Growth in Europe and Middle East: Europe and the Middle East experienced particularly rapid growth in military spending. Why: Directly linked to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and Israel-Hamas conflict.
• USA Dominates Spending: The United States remains the top military spender, increasing its expenditure by 5.7% to $997 billion. Why: The US accounts for 37% of world military spending and a large percentage of NATO’s share.
• Top Five Spenders: The USA, China, Russia, Germany, and India collectively account for 60% of global military expenditure. Why: Highlights the concentration of military power in a few key nations.
• India’s Increased Spending: India’s military expenditure rose to $86.1 billion, making it the fifth-largest spender globally. Why: Demonstrates India’s growing military capabilities and regional power projection.
• India vs. Pakistan: India’s military spending was approximately nine times higher than Pakistan’s in 2024. Why: Highlights the disparity in military resources and strategic capabilities between the two countries.
• China’s Continuous Growth: China’s military spending increased by 7.0% to an estimated $314 billion, marking three decades of uninterrupted growth. Why: Reflects China’s ongoing military modernization and assertive foreign policy.
• Middle East Increase: Military expenditure in the Middle East rose by 15 percent from 2023. Why: Highlights rising tensions and conflicts in the region.

Mackinac Magic

• Location: Mackinac Island is situated in northern Michigan, United States, where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet.
• Unique Transportation: Motor vehicles are banned, with horses, buggies, and bicycles serving as primary transportation.
• History: Historically inhabited by the Anishinaabek People, the island saw French, British, and eventually American control.
• Mackinac Island State Park: Covers most of the island, featuring hiking trails, forests, and the Arch Rock formation.
• Historical Preservation: Retains an 18th and 19th-century atmosphere, with preserved sites like Fort Mackinac and the Stuart House operating as museums.

The “Error (Selenium full): HTTPConnectionPool(host=’localhost’, port=50119): Read timed out. (read timeout=120)” is a software error that doesn’t provide insights into the island itself and will be excluded.