Current Affairs for CDSE/OTA 2025 : Stay updated with the latest key developments from the first week of January, covering a range of topics including education, space exploration, defense advancements, environmental reports, and global events. Dive into highlights like India’s school enrollment trends, ISRO’s groundbreaking SpaDeX mission, the launch of INS Surat, and much more.
JANUARY 1ST WEEK CURRENT AFFAIRS CDSE & OTA
- The school enrollment rate in India in 2023-24 was 24.8 crore students, which is a 6% drop from the previous year: Explanation the enrollment rate dropped due to new data collection methods implemented in 2022-23. The new system requires schools to provide detailed information for each student, including their name, address, and Aadhaar number. This may have removed some students who were enrolled in both a government and private school. Comparison to previous years the enrollment rate has been around 26 crore over the last four years. The drop in 2023-24 is steeper than pre-pandemic levels, with over 1 crore students lost since 2018-19. Impact the decline in enrollment is a “major challenge” for the education sector, and a senior official has called for urgent attention. The Economic Survey 2023-24 reported that over 30 crore students are enrolled in India’s education system, which shows progress in school, higher education, and skill development enrollments.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its year-end mission, “Space Docking Experiment” (SpaDeX), today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota. The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking and undocking of two small spacecraft. Secondary objectives include: Demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics, Composite spacecraft control, and Payload operations after undocking. Two small spacecraft- SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target) will be docked in a 476-km low-Earth circular orbit. Weight of two satellites: Approximately 220 kg each. Launch Vehicle: PSLV- C60. The indigenous technology used for this mission is called the “Bharatiya Docking System”. Significance: It will make India the fourth country after USA, Russia and China in the world to achieve the feat. SpaDEx mission is expected to be a stepping stone for India’s future endeavours in space exploration which include getting rocks and soil from the moon on Earth, the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station and landing an astronaut on the lunar surface.
- Recently, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders launched the sixth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagsheer’ of Project -75. What is a Scorpene Class Submarine? The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene Class are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems. Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated submarines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance. The Scorpene class is the Navy’s first modern conventional submarine series in almost two decades since INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia in July 2000.
- What is a Scorpene Class Submarine? The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene Class are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems. Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated submarines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance. The Scorpene class is the Navy’s first modern conventional submarine series in almost two decades since INS Sindhushastra, procured from Russia in July 2000. What is Submarine Vagsheer? About: Vagsheer is named after the sand fish, a deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean. The first submarine Vagsheer, from Russia, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December, 1974, and was decommissioned in April, 1997. It is the last of the Scorpene class submarines made under the P75 project and can join the Navy fleet within 12-18 months after sea trials.
- Nitrates can be present in groundwater due to a number of human and natural factors, including: Fertilizers: The extensive use of fertilizers in agriculture to increase crop yield can lead to nitrate contamination. Septic systems: Poor management of septic systems can cause nitrates to enter groundwater. Animal waste: Manure on the land and animal excreta can contribute to nitrate contamination. Wastewater: Treated wastewater can contain nitrates and be used in groundwater recharge projects. Natural bacteria: Bacteria in soil can convert nitrogen into nitrate. Precipitation: Rain and irrigation water can carry nitrate down through the soil into groundwater.
- Researchers from IIT-Guwahati and the Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localized cancer treatment. Hydrogel is a water-based, three-dimensional polymer network that can absorb and retain fluids. Hydrogels may be classified based on their sources (natural or synthetic hydrogel), polymeric compositions (homo-polymer, co-polymer and multi-polymer hydrogels), physical structure (amorphous, semi-crystalline and crystalline hydrogels), cross-linkers (physical and chemical cross-linked hydrogels) Examples: cellulose, chitosan, collagen, alginate, agarose, hyaluronic acid, gelatin, and fibrin.
- The Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PPIRP) has resulted in the full settlement of operational creditors’ claims in five cases. It was introduced in April 2021 in the wake of Covid pandemic, to deal with stress of small and mid-sized companies. The idea was that resolution of distressed MSMEs requires different treatment due to the unique nature of their businesses. Pre-packaged insolvency process is an alternate and speedier resolution mechanism for micro, medium and small enterprises in financial distress. Process it involves the debtor and its creditors negotiating and agreeing on a resolution plan before initiating the formal insolvency process. Once approved by the creditors, the pre-packaged resolution plan is submitted to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for approval. It is similar to an out-of-court settlement process. The debtor and creditor work on a draft resolution plan before formally initiating the insolvency process. Once finalised and approved by the required majority of creditors, the plan is submitted to NCLT.
- Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.
- Context: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has recently released the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM). Samyukt Kisan Morcha (umbrella organisation of farmers’ outfits) has raised concerns regarding the new draft Policy, labelling them worse than the three repealed farm laws. Compass Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.
- Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing Last Updated on Jan 5, 2025
- Context: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has recently released the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM). Samyukt Kisan Morcha (umbrella organisation of farmers’ outfits) has raised concerns regarding the new draft Policy, labelling them worse than the three repealed farm laws.
- Relevance of the Topic:
- Mains: Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing -Salient Features. Policy Interventions in the new draft NPFAM 1.
- Market Architecture:
- Market density: minimum one market for 80 sq.km area.
- Farm-Gate Accessibility: Warehouses and cold storages to be declared sub-market yards. At least one private market per revenue division to be introduced.
- Grameen Haat Development: Annually, 300 Grameen Haats to be developed into GrAMs, with 50 in hilly/North-Eastern regions.
- Futures Trade Integration: DA&FW to work with SEBI to integrate more Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with futures platforms. e-NAM Integration: APMC markets and private markets to be linked to the e-NAM platform.
- Market Architecture:
- Market density: minimum one market for 80 sq.km area.
- Farm-Gate Accessibility: Warehouses and cold storages to be declared sub-market yards. At least one private market per revenue division to be introduced.
- Grameen Haat Development: Annually, 300 Grameen Haats to be developed into GrAMs, with 50 in hilly/North-Eastern regions.
- Futures Trade Integration: DA&FW to work with SEBI to integrate more Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with futures platforms. e-NAM Integration: APMC markets and private markets to be linked to the e-NAM platform.
- Slum Rehabilitation (ISSR) is a program that aims to provide housing to slum dwellers by using the land under slums with private participation. It is part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) – Housing for All mission.The program includes:
- Central government grant: The central government provides an average of Rs. 1 lakh per house.
- Flexibility: States and cities can use the grant for other slums being redeveloped. No land cost: The central government does not charge land cost.
- Additional FSI/FAR or TDR: States and cities can provide this to make projects financially viable. The construction period of projects under ISSR is between 12-36 months from the date of approval.
- Recently, the Union Education Minister released the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Plus 2021-22 report on school education. The Ministry of Education also released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for 2020-21. What is the UDISE Plus Report? It is a comprehensive study that provides information on enrollment and dropout rates of school students, number of teachers in schools, and information on other infrastructural facilities like toilets, buildings and electricity. It was launched in 2018-2019 to speed up data entry, reduce errors, improve data quality and ease its verification. It is an application to collect the school details about factors related to a school and its resources. It is an updated and improved version of UDISE, which was initiated in 2012-13 by the Ministry of Education.
- Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) today at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The ISFR is brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on a biennial basis since 1987. FSI carries out in-depth assessment of the forest and tree resources of the country based on interpretation of Remote Sensing satellite data and field based National Forest Inventory (NFI), and the results are published in the ISFR. The India State of Forest Report 2023 is 18th such report in the series. The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire, Agroforestry, etc. To present a detailed picture of the forest health at country level, special thematic information on forest cover and important characteristics of forests have been reported in the ISFR. As per the present assessment, the total Forest and Tree cover is 8,27,357sq km, which is 25.17 percent of the geographical area of the country. The Forest Cover has an area of about 7,15,343sq km (21.76%) whereas the Tree Cover has an area of 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%).
- Recently, the opposition party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a “grave threat” to the island’s indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem, and demanded immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough, impartial review of the proposed project, including by the concerned Parliamentary committees. Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands, a sparsely inhabited 910-sq-km patch of mainly tropical rainforest in southeastern Bay of Bengal. Indira Point on the island, India’s southernmost point, is located 90 nautical miles (<170 km) from Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of 836 islands, divided into two groups known as the Andaman Islands located in the north and the Nicobar Islands situated in the south, separated by the 10° Channel which is 150 kilometres wide. Great Nicobar has two national parks, a biosphere reserve, small populations of the Shompen, Onge, Andamanese and Nicobarese tribal peoples, and a few thousand non-tribal settlers.
- INS Surat is a stealth guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy: Features the INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Visakhapatnam class, which is part of Project 15B. It’s the first AI-enabled warship of the Indian Navy, and is equipped with advanced weapons and sensors. Armament the INS Surat has a variety of weapons, including: 16 Brahmos anti-ship cruise missiles 32 Barak 8ER surface-to-air missiles. Leonardo 76mm naval gun Twin 533mm torpedo launchers Anti-submarine rocket launchers Four AK-630M 30mm close-in weapon systems Two 12.7mm heavy machine guns Speed. The INS Surat can reach speeds of over 30 knots (56 km/h). Construction the INS Surat was built using the block construction methodology, which involves building the hull in two different locations and joining them together. Naming the INS Surat is named after the commercial capital of Gujarat, India. The city has a rich maritime history and vessels built there in the 16th and 18th centuries were known for their longevity. Delivery the INS Surat was delivered to the Indian Navy within 31 months, making it the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built.
- China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Brahmaputra) on the Tibetan plateau. The ambitious project aims to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, more than tripling the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, the current world leader in hydropower. Course of the river Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra, originating in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, flows through India’s Arunachal Pradesh and Assam before entering Bangladesh and emptying into the Bay of Bengal. As a perennial river, it sustains communities through irrigation, fisheries, and inland transport. While it enriches agriculture by depositing fertile alluvial soil, its lower course poses challenges with recurring, devastating floods in Assam and Bangladesh due to climatic and geographical conditions.
- DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day: Floral tributes paid to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at his bust in DRDO Headquarters Several systems handed over & Acceptance of Necessity accorded for value of Rs 1.10 lakh crore in 2024: DRDO Chairman “73 projects worth Rs 275 crore sanctioned in 2024 engaging 266 researchers & 10 new academic institutes” “1,950 Transfer of Technologies on DRDO-developed systems handed over to Indian Industries; 256 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology signed in 2024”.
- Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Kaur, D Gukesh, and Praveen Kumar to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award), the highest sporting honor of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar (RKPP) is an award given by the Government of India to recognize organizations that promote and develop sports in the country. The award is given to corporate entities, Sports Control Boards, NGOs, and sports bodies at the State and National level. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports introduced the RKPP in 2009 to encourage the involvement of these organizations in the promotion and development of sports.
- R. Vaishali Rameshbabu is an Indian chess grandmaster: Achievements Vaishali is India’s third female grandmaster and the 84th grandmaster overall. She is also the first woman to earn the title in a sibling duo with her brother, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Playing style Vaishali is known for her aggressive and dynamic playing style. Some of her most played openings include the Indian Game, Sicilian Defense: Canal Attack, and Sicilian Defense: Open, Najdorf Variation. Clinches bronze at world blitz chess championship.
- Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, launched the book Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages in New Delhi. The event, attended by Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and ICHR Chairman.
- India’s first coastal and wader birds census is being organized at Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary located in Jamnagar (Gujarat). It will be organized from 3 to 5 January 2025. It is being done by the Gujarat Forest Department in collaboration with Bird Conservation Society Gujarat, an NGO. Wader birds: Wader birds are birds that are found around reservoirs, ponds, rivers, lakes, seas, or other water bodies. They do most of their activities like feeding, nesting, and living near water. Examples include cranes, storks, shoebills, ibises, herons, and flamingos.
- A diverse crowd, including locals, students, and international visitors, thronged the Golconda Fort on Friday (January 3) to check out an impressive array of weaponry displayed at the ‘Know Your Army Mela 2025’. The event was organized under the auspices of Headquarters Telangana and Andhra Sub Area (HQ TASA) and coordinated by the Artillery Centre, Hyderabad.
- Bhuvnesh Kumar recently took charge as CEO of UIDAI (the organization responsible for storing and processing all the biometric data and Aadhaar verification). The Centre on Monday assigned senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vitul Kumar to officiate charge for the post of Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) upon the retirement of the incumbent force chief Anish Dayal Singh on December 31, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the significance of the school enrollment data for 2023-24?
- The school enrollment rate dropped to 24.8 crore students, a 6% decline from the previous year. This drop is attributed to new data collection methods that eliminated duplicate enrollments in government and private schools.
2. What is ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX)?
- SpaDeX is a mission by ISRO to develop and demonstrate docking and undocking technology for spacecraft. It uses two small satellites (SDX01 and SDX02) docked in a 476-km low-Earth orbit and makes India the fourth country to achieve this feat after the USA, Russia, and China.
3. What is special about the Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagsheer’?
- Vagsheer is the sixth Scorpene submarine under Project-75, capable of anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and more. It is named after a deep-sea predator and will join the Navy after sea trials.
4. What are the major causes of nitrate contamination in groundwater?
- Nitrate contamination occurs due to:
- Overuse of fertilizers.
- Poor septic system management.
- Animal waste.
- Treated wastewater.
- Natural bacterial processes and precipitation.
5. What is the Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PPIRP)?
- Introduced in April 2021, PPIRP is a faster insolvency resolution mechanism for MSMEs. It involves pre-agreed resolution plans between debtors and creditors, approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
6. What are the key features of the Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing (NPFAM)?
- The policy includes:
- Minimum 1 market per 80 sq. km.
- Warehouses and cold storages declared as sub-market yards.
- Development of 300 Grameen Haats annually.
- Integration of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with futures platforms.
7. What does the ISFR 2023 report reveal about India’s forest cover?
- India’s total forest and tree cover is 25.17% of the country’s geographical area. Forest cover is 21.76% while tree cover accounts for 3.41%.
8. Why is the Rs. 72,000-crore infrastructure project at Great Nicobar controversial?
- The project faces opposition due to its potential impact on the island’s indigenous tribes and fragile ecosystem. It involves infrastructure development on a tropical rainforest island with rich biodiversity.
9. What makes INS Surat a unique warship?
- INS Surat is India’s first AI-enabled warship equipped with advanced weapons like BrahMos missiles and Barak 8ER surface-to-air missiles. It is also the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built.
10. What is China’s new hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River?
- China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam, producing 300 billion kWh annually, surpassing the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam.
11. What awards were highlighted in this week’s current affairs?
- Recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award include:
- Manu Bhaker, Harmanpreet Kaur, D Gukesh, and Praveen Kumar.
12. What is India’s first coastal and wader birds census?
- This census, conducted at Marine National Park, Jamnagar, aims to track bird species like cranes, storks, and flamingos in their habitats near water bodies.
