Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 January 2025

Topic: International News

1. US will remove restrictions on Indian nuclear entities to boost ties.

• The U.S. government is planning to remove restrictions on Indian nuclear entities.
• These restrictions have prevented cooperation between key Indian nuclear entities and American companies.
• It is a major step towards implementing the landmark 2005 civil nuclear agreement.
• The India-US civil nuclear agreement was signed in 2008 but plans for the supply of US nuclear reactors to India did not get implemented because of regulatory hurdles.
• Many organisations linked to the Department of Atomic Energy are on the list of restricted entities for nuclear cooperation and commerce.
• It includes Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Indira Ghandi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), etc.
• Nuclear reactors not covered under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are also among the Indian nuclear entities listed by the US.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Cashless treatment scheme has been announced by Nitin Gadkari for road accident victims.

• In this scheme, medical expenses for up to seven days or a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh will be covered.
• However, the accident shall be reported to the police within 24 hours.
• Compensation for deceased’s immediate family will be Rs 2 lakh for hit-and-run cases resulting in death.
• The scheme was initially piloted in a few selected states. The government is refining the scheme.
• In 2024, 1.8 lakh people died in road accidents across India.
• Out of these deaths, approximately 30,000 deaths were because of the non-use of helmets.
• 66% of fatal accident victims were between 18 and 34 years old.
• 10,000 children deaths were caused because of faulty entry and exit points near schools and colleges.
• Gadkari highlighted that there is significant shortage of trained drivers. He pointed out India lacks about 22 lakh drivers.
• To deal with this, government has brought in a new policy to establish more driving training centres.

Topic: Banking System

3. RBI has mandated that credit bureau records must be updated by all lenders every 15 days.

• This rule has become effective from 1 January, 2025. Its aim is to provide a more accurate and timely representation of borrowers' financial activities.
• Earlier, credit bureaus received updates from lenders only once a month.
• This earlier rule led to delays in reflecting borrowers' repayment behavior. This could adversely affect their credit scores.
• The RBI's directive permits lenders and credit bureaus a transition period to upgrade their systems.
• Under the earlier system, defaults took up to 40 days to appear on credit report of a borrower.
• As a result, lenders relied on outdated information for judgments regarding creditworthiness of a borrower.
• With new 15-day reporting cycle, defaults will be reflected in the credit score rapidly.
• This will allow lenders to make decisions based on current financial behavior.

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

4. India and Malaysia agreed to increase cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth elements.

• Cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, de-radicalisation, cyber security, defence industry, and maritime security has been agreed upon by India and Malaysia.
• On January 7, during the India-Malaysia Security Dialogue in New Delhi, the two countries discussed ways to enhance cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth elements.
• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Director General of Malaysia's National Security Council, Raja Dato Nushirwan Bin Zainal Abidin, co-chaired the First India-Malaysia Security Dialogue.
• During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the global and regional security environment.
• Ongoing bilateral cooperation in the fields of security, defence and maritime affairs was also reviewed.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Bhashani-enabled e-SHRAM portal has now become available in all 22 scheduled languages.

• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labor and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, launched the multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal at an event organized in New Delhi on January 7. This portal will now be available in all 22 scheduled languages.
• The move is in line with the vision of making e-Shram a ‘one-stop-solution’ for the unorganised workers in India, providing comprehensive social security.
• There is growing trust in the e-Shram platform, with more than 30,000 registrations being done daily by unorganised sector workers.
• The e-Shram portal, which previously supported only English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi, was upgraded using the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MEITY) Bhashini project.
• The portal now provides a broader perspective, ensuring that workers from across the country can register in their native languages and avail benefits from various government schemes.
• The ministry is also working on launching the e-Shram mobile app, introducing a single common application form and integrating payment gateways to ease access to social security benefits.
• In 2022, Bhashini was launched during the Digital India week in Gujarat, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched "Digital India Bhashini".

Topic: National Appointments

6. V Narayanan as chairman of ISRO and secretary of the Department of Space.

• Mr Narayanan will assume office on January 14 and succeed the current ISRO chairman, S Somanath.
• He is currently Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of the ISRO in Valiamala, Kerala.
• He is a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert. He joined ISRO in 1984.
• S Somanath is the 10th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
• S Somanath is the Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO since 14 January 2022.

Topic: Personality in News

7. Government approved memorial for former President Pranab Mukherjee.

• A designated site within the Rashtriya Smriti complex has been earmarked by the government for a memorial of former President Pranab Mukherjee.
• Rashtriya Smriti complex is a part of the Rajghat precinct.
• Pranab Mukherjee passed away on August 31, 2020 after he was tested positive for coronavirus.
• He served as the 13th president of India from 2012 until 2017.
• He was awarded Bharat Ratna, in 2019, by his successor as president, Ram Nath Kovind.
• He was also awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
• His term as President of India was preceded by Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil and succeeded by Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
• Apart from serving as 13th President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has also served as Finance Minister twice.
• He was recognized as the best Finance Minister in World (1984) and Finance Minister of Year for Asia (2010).

Topic: Indian Economy

8. India’s GDP will likely to grow 6.4% in 2024-25.

• As per the Ministry of Statistics, gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been estimated at 6.4 per cent for the financial year 2024-25.
• It is lower than the 8.2 per cent GDP growth registered in the financial year 2023-24.
• Nominal GDP has witnessed a growth rate of 9.7 per cent in FY 2024-25.
• The agriculture and allied sector showed improvement with a Real GVA growth estimated at 3.8 per cent in FY25. It is more than the the 1.4 per cent of the last year.
• The construction sector's Real GVA is projected to rise by 8.6 per cent.
• The financial, real estate and professional services sector is expected to grow by 7.3 per cent.
• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at Constant Prices, has witnessed a growth rate of 7.3% during FY 2024-25 as compared to growth rate of 4.0% in the previous Financial Year.

Topic: National News

9. UGC’s new draft guidelines give powers to Chancellors to constitute panel for appointing Vice-Chancellors.

• UGC is planning to revise the selection process of Vice-Chancellors.
• Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 has been released by the UGC.
• The UGC draft has given the powers to Chancellors or Visitors to constitute the three-member search-cum-selection committee to appoint Vice-Chancellors.
• UGC has given 30 days for the stakeholders and public to give their feedback.
• The new guidelines have removed the cap on contract teacher appointments.
• The 2018 regulations had limited contract teacher appointments to 10 per cent of an institution’s total faculty positions.
• Governors who are Chancellors of state universities will now have more control over the selection process.

Topic: Science and Technology

10. An AI-based pulse diagnostic tool for Ayurveda practitioners has been developed by Pune-based startup Atreya Innovation.

• Aniruddha Joshi, who founded Atreya Innovation, developed the 'Nadi Tarangini' device as part of his research project at IIT Bombay.
• Joshi said the project has also received a research grant from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Nadi Tarangini is an advanced AI-powered tool designed to speed up traditional Ayurvedic practices.
• It features ultra-sensitive sensors combined with cutting-edge algorithms to provide accurate pulse readings to deliver detailed health information.
• This patented device helps practitioners analyse 22 Ayurvedic parameters, including Tridosha balance (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), stress levels, digestive health, and overall well-being of an individual.
• The tool can generate reports in 10 Indian languages and has an accuracy rate of around 85%.
• Nadi Tarangini has also become India's first Ayurvedic medical device to receive approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the regulator of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
• Priced at Rs 55,000, the device is manufactured by Atreya Innovations, based in Hinjewadi, Pune.

Topic: Summit/Conference/Meeting

11. Indusfood 2025 kicked off with over 2,300 exhibitors from 30 countries on 8 January 2025.

• Indusfood 2025, the country's farm-to-food trade exhibition, is being held in Delhi-NCR from January 8 to 10, with over 2,300 exhibitors from over 30 countries participating.
• The 8th edition of the festival was inaugurated by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan at the India Exposition Mart Ltd in Greater Noida on January 8.
• Organized by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, IndusFood is Asia's largest annual food and beverage (F&B) trade exhibition.
• Over 7,500 international buyers will attend the integrated trade fair, and 15,000 Indian trade visitors are expected to attend.
• The event format of Indusfood 2025, with these three concurrent trade fairs, has been designed to foster cross-domain synergies across the farm-to-fork value chain.
• The 2025 edition will be attended by 35 international chefs and 100 Indian delegates as well as professionals from Delhi NCR.
• Indusfood 2025, in partnership with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), will also host the prestigious Asia Presidents Forum for the first time in India.
• Indusfood 2025 will also feature two other events, to be held on January 9-11 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.
• First, the fourth edition of Indusfood Manufacturing, which focuses on food processing, packaging and hospitality technologies.
• Second, the first edition of Indusfood Agritech, dedicated to agriculture, fisheries, dairy and poultry farming technologies.

Topic: National News

12. Government launched India’s first organic fish cluster in Sikkim.

• Union Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Ranjan Singh inaugurated India’s first organic fisheries cluster in Sikkim.
• The organic fish cluster in the Soreng District of Sikkim will boost farmer incomes and promote sustainability in aquaculture.
• Its main aim is to sell antibiotic, chemical, and pesticide-free organic fish.
• Ranjan Singh also inaugurated and laid the foundations for 50 key projects worth ₹50 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• The organic fisheries cluster will focus on an ecologically healthy fish farming system avoiding chemicals, antibiotics, and pesticides.
• It will ensure minimal environmental pollution and prevent damage to aquatic ecosystems, contributing to sustainable fish production practices.

Topic: National Appointments

13. Bahadur Singh Sagoo has been elected as president of Athletics Federation of India.

• Asian Games gold medallist Bahadur Singh Sagoo became the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
• He took the place of Adille Sumariwalla at the Annual General Assembly Meeting of the federation in Chandigarh.
• Adille Sumariwalla's tenure lasted for more than a decade. He had been serving as the AFI president since 2012.
• Sandeep Mehta has been elected as secretary of the Athletics Federation of India.
• The bronze-level Continental Tour athletics event is scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar.