CURRENT AFFAIRS
17 July, 2025
1. UNION MINISTER URGES STATES TO STOP FORCED SALE OF NANO-FERTILISERS AND BIOSTIMULANTS WITH SUBSIDISED FERTILISERS –
• The Union Agriculture Minister has urged states to stop the forced sale of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants bundled with subsidised conventional fertilisers.
About Nano-Fertiliser and Biostimulants
• Nano-fertilisers are nutrient formulations at the nanoscale (1–100 nm) designed to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
• These are sprayed on crops and absorbed through leaves, reducing the need for bulk fertilisers.
• Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to enhance crop growth, yield, and resistance to stress, without being traditional nutrients or pesticides.
Concerns Raised
• Illegal Forced Sales: Retailers were allegedly forcing farmers to buy nano-fertilisers or biostimulants as a condition to access subsidised conventional fertilisers like urea and DAP.
• This practice violates the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
• As per the order it is essential to provide quality fertilisers at the right time, at affordable prices, and of standard quality.
• Quality and Efficacy Doubts: concerns over the performance of nano urea and biostimulants, citing inefficiency and questioning their usefulness during the 2025 Kharif Conference.
2. 10 YEARS OF SKILL INDIA MISSION –
• The 10th anniversary of Skill India Mission was observed on 15th July, World Youth Skills Day.
About Skill India Mission
• Launch and Vision: Launched in 2015, Skill India aims to create a skilled workforce across sectors through short-term training, apprenticeships, and vocational education.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
Objectives of Skill India
• Enhance employability of youth
• Bridge the industry-skill gap
• Promote entrepreneurship and traditional crafts
• Ensure inclusion of women, SCs/STs, and other marginalized groups
• Prepare a future-ready workforce aligned with new-age technologies.
Restructuring: In February 2025, the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26 the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26, merging Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme into a single Central Sector Scheme.
3. UN SDG REPORT 2025 –
• The 2025 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report reveals a worrying slowdown or reversal in progress across 35 per cent of targets. With only five years remaining to meet the 2030 Agenda, critical goals such as Zero Hunger, Quality Education, and Clean Water are most affected. The report puts stress on the urgent need for multilateral cooperation and financial reforms to reinvigorate global efforts.
Current Status of SDG Targets
• The report shows that 35 per cent of measurable targets under 14 of the 17 SDGs have stalled or moved backward. Particularly affected are SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG4 (Quality Education), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Between 50 and 57 per cent of targets in these areas are off-track. Other goals like Responsible Consumption (SDG12), Life Below Water (SDG14), and Peace and Justice (SDG16) also face setbacks.
4. PRIME MINISTER DHAN-DHAANYA KRISHI YOJANA –
• The Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) in 2025. This new agricultural scheme aims to develop 100 districts through the convergence of 36 schemes across 11 ministries.
• It has an annual budget of Rs 24,000 crore and will run for six years starting from the financial year 2025-26. The scheme focuses on improving agricultural productivity, sustainability, and credit availability in selected districts.
5. MASS DISPLACEMENT IN WEST BANK HITS HISTORIC HIGHS –
• The United Nations has reported an unprecedented surge in displacement in the West Bank in 2025. This marks the highest levels since Israel’s occupation began nearly six decades ago. The spike follows an Israeli military operation launched in January, causing widespread forced movement of Palestinian residents. Concerns about ethnic cleansing and violations of international law have intensified amid rising violence and demolitions.
Background
• The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. Over the years, military actions and settlement expansions have led to repeated displacements. The recent military operation, named “Iron Wall,” is the longest since the early 2000s second Intifada. It has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, impacting refugee camps in the northern West Bank.
Scale and Impact of Recent Displacements
• Since January 2025, approximately 30,000 Palestinians remain forcibly displaced. Israeli authorities have issued demolition orders for about 1,400 homes in this period. Since late 2023, demolitions displaced nearly 3,000 Palestinians across the West Bank. Additionally, settler violence has forced another 2,400 Palestinians, half of them children, to flee their homes. The combined effect has emptied large areas of their Palestinian population.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Where was India’s first water technology park named ‘Aqua Tech Park’ inaugurated ?
a) Odisha
b) Sikkim
c) Assam
d) Karnataka
Q2. Which country has launched the communication satellite, Dror-1 ?
a) China
b) Israel
c) France
d) Germany
Q3. Which ministry organized the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards ceremony ?
a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
b) Ministry of Jal Shakti
c) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
d) Ministry of Urban Development
Q4. Consider the following statements about the ADEETIE scheme:
• It is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aimed at promoting energy efficiency.
• The scheme provides a higher interest subvention for micro and small enterprises compared to medium enterprises.
• A key component of the scheme is providing technical handholding, including the preparation of Investment-grade energy audits (IGEA).
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect. The ADEETIE scheme (Assistance in Deploying Energy Efficient Technologies in Industries & Establishments). was launched by the Union Ministry of Power and is implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). While it deals with energy, attributing it to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is a common point of confusion that a well-prepared aspirant should be able to distinguish.
• Statement 2 is correct. The scheme is designed with a tiered financial support structure to specifically encourage smaller businesses. It offers a 5% interest subvention for Micro and Small Enterprises and a lower rate of 3% for Medium Enterprises, clearly favouring the former.
• Statement 3 is correct. Beyond just financial incentives, the scheme provides crucial technical support. This includes conducting detailed Investment-grade energy audits (IGEA) to identify potential savings, helping prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and offering monitoring and verification post-implementation. This “handholding” is vital for MSMEs that may lack in-house expertise.
Q5. With reference to the Genetically Modified (GM) maize trials being conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), consider the following statements:
• The trials are for the commercial cultivation and sale of GM maize seeds to farmers across Punjab.
• The genetic modification in this maize variant introduces traits for drought resistance and enhanced nutritional value.
• The trials have been initiated solely by Bayer, with PAU providing the land and the Department of Biotechnology offering post-trial subsidies.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect. The trials are explicitly described as non-commercial and confined biosafety research trials (BRL-I and BRL-II). Their purpose is to gather scientific data on agronomic performance and environmental safety under controlled conditions, not for immediate commercial release or sale to farmers. The objective is to inform policy, not to market a product.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The specific genetic traits being tested in this GM maize variant are herbicide tolerance (HT) and insect resistance (BT). There is no mention of traits for drought resistance or enhanced nutritional value in this particular trial. This tests the precision of the aspirant’s knowledge.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The trials are a collaborative effort where PAU is conducting the research implementation, Bayer is the technology developer, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is the regulatory authority that approves and oversees such trials. The DBT does not offer post-trial subsidies; its role is regulatory oversight.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | B | C | B | D |