Daily Current Affairs – 04-07-2025
Tamil Nadu
ADB’s $10 Billion
Urban Infrastructure Initiative in India
® Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a $10 billion five-year initiative to boost urban infrastructure in India. ® The funding will support metro expansions, new regional rapid transit corridors, and upgrades in urban services. ® ADB aims to attract third-party capital as part of this investment. ® It has previously worked in 110+ cities across 22 states in sectors like water supply, sanitation, housing, and solid-waste management. ® ADB forecasts India’s GDP growth at 6.7% in FY 2025–26 and 6.8% in FY 2026–27 – about 2% higher than average developing Asian economies. ® ADB, founded in 1966, has 69 member countries, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific region. ® ADB began operations in India in 1986.
Milk Production in
India 2023-24
® India remains the world’s largest milk producer since 1998, contributing 25% of global milk production. ® In 2023-24, average daily milk consumption per capita in India is 471 grams, well above the global average of 322 grams. ® Milk production grew by 63.56% from 146.3 million tonnes (2014-15) to 239.2 million tonnes (2023-24). ® Uttar Pradesh is the leading milk-producing state, contributing 16.21% of the country’s total output. ® West Bengal recorded the fastest growth in milk production. ® India also holds the largest livestock population globally at 536.76 million. ® Dairy is India’s largest agricultural commodity, contributing 5% to the national economy and employing over 8 crore farmers directly.
World Environment
Day 2025 – India’s Key Initiatives
® Date: 5 June 2025 ® Theme: “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution” ® PM Narendra Modi launched Phase II of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting a sapling in Delhi. The campaign aims to plant 10 crore saplings across India. ® National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal launched for transparent plastic waste management. ® Publications released on government initiatives and eco-alternatives to single-use plastics. ® National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign started focusing on tiger reserves, urban and rural areas, and government offices. ® Expo on Eco-alternatives showcased innovations by 150+ startups and recyclers. ® Emphasis on Mission LiFE, EPR guidelines, innovation, behavioural change, and collective action to tackle plastic pollution.
State of India’s
Environment in Figures 2025 Released by CSE
® The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released the State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 report. ® It ranks 36 States and UTs using 48 indicators across four themes: environment, agriculture, public health, and human development. ® Andhra Pradesh topped in environmental management, Goa in public health, and Sikkim excelled in another category. ® No state was a consistent performer across all sectors. ® Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal ranked low across most categories. ® India’s greenhouse gas emissions reached 7.8% of the global total, the highest share since 1970.
Miscellaneous News
Mission Bonnet Macaque
❖ Kerala Forest Department will start the mass sterilisation of bonnet macaques to control their rising numbers. ❖ The plan is to reduce crop damage and conflict with farmers near forest areas. ❖ The state will seek central approval as the bonnet macaque is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. ❖ The effort is part of ‘Mission Bonnet Macaque’, a 10-point plan to tackle human-wildlife conflict. ❖ The bonnet macaque is endemic to South India and listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN.
Environment News
MNRE Updates Waste-to-Energy Rules
❖ The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) revised its Waste-to-Energy (WtE) guidelines. ❖ It is released under the National Bioenergy Programme to improve the project performance and ease financial help. ❖ The aim is to make it easier for public and private firms, especially MSMEs, to build projects using Compressed Biogas (CBG), biogas, and power from waste.
MNRE Eases Biomass Rules
❖ The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has updated the guidelines under the National Bioenergy Programme (NBP) for 2021–26. ❖ It is to promote clean energy and simplify business processes. ❖ The new rules are helping Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) join the biomass sector more easily. ❖ Central Financial Assistance (CFA) will be provided based on performance. ❖ The Full support for plants running above 80% efficiency, and partial support for those below. ❖ The Biomass pellet producers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, National Capital Region (NCR) areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh can choose the support either from the MNRE or the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), whichever is more beneficial. ❖ The changes aim to reduce stubble burning, improve air quality, promote clean energy, and make it easier for businesses to adopt biomass technologies.
New Rules for Tree Cut
❖ The Union Ministry of Environment has made new rules for cutting trees on farm land to help wood-based businesses grow. ❖ The rules support tree farming (agroforestry) and aim to increase the local timber production to meet demand. ❖ This will help reduce the need for imported wood and boost exports of wood products. ❖ A state-level committee will guide the states on promoting agroforestry and easier timber rules. ❖ Farmers and businesses must register their plantations on the National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal with details like land, tree species, and the plantation time. ❖ The initiative aims to double farm incomes and promote sustainable land use.
Kariyachalli Island
❖ Tamil Nadu government is spending ₹50 crore to restore Kariyachalli Island in the Gulf of Mannar, near Tuticorin. ❖ The island has lost over 71% of its size due to sea level rise and reef damage. ❖ It was 20.85 ha in 1969 but in 2018now just 5.97 ha. ❖ It acts as a natural shield against cyclones and tsunamis, especially noted during the 2004 tsunami. ❖ The project is part of the TN SHORE (Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources) programme. ❖ 8,500 artificial coral reef modules designed by IIT Madras will be placed to protect the shoreline and rebuild marine life. ❖ This effort aims to prevent the island from vanishing by 2030, while supporting the fishing livelihoods and climate resilience.
Science and Technology News
Experiment on ISS
❖ The Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to perform a scientific experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). ❖ His first study, “Myogenesis”, explores muscle loss in microgravity, a key issue in long-duration space missions. ❖ Findings could help future Moon/Mars astronauts and also benefit patients with muscle diseases on Earth. ❖ The crew is also studying blood flow in the brain in space, which could help with stroke and blood pressure treatments on Earth.
World’s First 2D Non-Silicon Computer
❖ The Penn State researchers of USA have developed the first computer fully made with 2D materials, not silicon. ❖ This innovation could lead to the low-power, high-performance computers in the future. ❖ The computer is based on CMOS (the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology. ❖ It uses two different 2D materials: o Tungsten Di selenide for p-type transistors o Molybdenum disulphide for n-type transistors
Economy News
Indian Remittances Growth 2024 - 25
❖ The Indians sent home a record $135.46 billion in remittances in 2024 - 25, a 14% increase from last year. ❖ In 2024, Indians abroad sent $129.4 billion, the highest among all countries. ❖ India leads the world in remittance receipts, ahead of Mexico ($68 billion) and China ($48 billion). ❖ The number of Indians working overseas grew from 6.6 million in 1990 to 18.5 million in 2024. ❖ Around half of Indian migrants live in Gulf countries. ❖ The US draft bill reduced remittance tax for Indian professionals from 5% to 1%, easing money transfers to India.
International News
New Global Tax Rule
❖ G7 countries have agreed on a new “side-by-side” global tax system. ❖ US and UK companies will be exempt from extra global minimum tax (15%). ❖ US firms will now only pay taxes in the US on both local and international profits. ❖ The agreement recognizes existing US domestic minimum tax laws. ❖ This move replaces top-up tax rules under the older OECD global tax plan. ❖ The US dropped a controversial tax rule (Section 899), helping finalize the deal.
National News
SPREE scheme
❖ The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has relaunched the SPREE scheme to bring more unregistered employers and workers under the ESI Act. ❖ SPREE stands for Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees. ❖ The renewed SPREE scheme is open from July 1 to December 31, 2025. ❖ It gives a one-time chance for temporary, informal, and contractual workers to register voluntarily. ❖ Those who register will be covered from their given registration date or the actual date of joining. ❖ It also launched the Amnesty Scheme 2025 which run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. ❖ It was allowing employers to settle old cases and reduce legal issues. ❖ For the first time, the amnesty covers cases with the interest and damages, and allows withdrawal of court cases if dues are cleared. ❖ A new rule sets flat 1% monthly penalty on delayed payments, replacing the older penalty rates of up to 25% per year. ❖ The ESIC also approved a new AYUSH policy to include Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy in its hospitals.
India Cuts Zero-Dose Rate
❖ India’s share of zero-dose children dropped from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024. ❖ The Zero-dose children are infants who haven’t received the first DTP vaccine (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis). ❖ The UN reports praised India as a global example in child health in their 2024 updates on child and maternal mortality. ❖ This comes after Lancet report listed India as having the second-highest number (1.44 million) of unvaccinated children in 2023. ❖ The government provides the free vaccines to 26 million infants and 29 million pregnant women every year. ❖ A special zero-dose plan was started in 143 districts across 11 states to reach the children in hard-to-reach and vaccine-hesitant communities. ❖ According to WHO and UNICEF (2023), India’s DTP-1 coverage was 93%, above Nigeria’s 70%. ❖ Dropout rate from DTP-1 to DTP-3 improved from 7% (2013) to 2% (2023). ❖ Measles coverage also rose from 83% to 93% between 2013 and 2023.
Tamil Nadu News
Male sterilization During Emergency
❖ During 1975-76, Tamil Nadu had exceeded the sterilisation targets fixed by the government of India. ❖ The performance being 2,70,691 vasectomy surgeries during 1975-76 against a target of 2,11,300. ❖ In the year 1976-77, 5,69,756 surgeries were performed as against the given target of five lakhs. ❖ The target of five lakhs set by the Government of India for 1976-77 was raised by the State Government to six lakhs.
‘Vetri Nichayam’ scheme
❖ Tamil Nadu CM launched ‘Vetri Nichayam’ scheme along with 3-year celebration of ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ in Chennai. ❖ The scheme will give free job training to youth aged 18–35 who dropped out of school/college. ❖ Training is offered in 165 courses across 38 sectors via 500+ centres in Tamil Nadu. ❖ The government will cover training costs and give ₹12,000 incentive to eligible candidates. ❖ Free hostel and food for students from faraway places. ❖ It focusses on marginalised communities — tribal youth, disabled, minorities, Sri Lankan Tamils, and more. ❖ Special training in foreign languages (e.g., German) to help with international job offers. ❖ New app “Skill Wallet” helps students select courses and apply for jobs easily.