UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April (2025)
• India’s Elderly Population
India’s Elderly Population
• India Justice Report 2025
India Justice Report 2025
GS Paper 3:
• India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’
India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• NHAI Timeline for Land Acquisition
NHAI Timeline for Land Acquisition
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Ironwood TPU
Ironwood TPU
• Registration of Birth and Death
Registration of Birth and Death
• World Pandemic Treaty
World Pandemic Treaty
• India’s First Full-Stack Quantum Computer
India’s First Full-Stack Quantum Computer
• AQUASTAT
AQUASTAT
Mapping:
• Tuti Island
Tuti Island
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025
#### GS Paper 2 :
India’s Elderly Population
Syllabus: Vulnerable Section
Source: TH
Context: A 2025 feature highlights India’s increasing geriatric population and the urgent need for integrated healthcare, social security, and support services. With over 300 million elderly projected by 2050, India faces critical challenges in caring for its ageing citizens.
About India’s Elderly Population:
• In India, persons aged 60 and above are considered elderly as per government schemes and census classifications.
• As per 2020 Population Projections Report, India had 103.8 million elderly in 2011, expected to reach 193.4 million by 2031.
• By 2050, India’s senior citizen population may cross 300 million, driven by declining fertility and increased life expectancy.
Challenges Faced by Elderly in India:
• Multiple Morbidities: Ageing leads to multiple chronic illnesses, demanding lifelong medications and specialist care.
E.g. Geriatric patients at NCA often take 8–9 medications (polypharmacy).
• Mental Health Issues: Depression, dementia, and loneliness are rising, especially post-COVID and among elderly in nuclear families.
E.g. Elderline helpline reports increasing cases of abandonment and isolation.
• Economic Insecurity: Many elderly lack regular income, pensions, or health insurance, making long-term care unaffordable.
E.g. Expensive elderly insurance restricts access to treatment.
• Caregiver Crisis: With younger generations migrating, a shortage of trained caregivers and family support has emerged.
E.g. Tamil Nadu launched caregiver training to bridge demand-supply gap.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Few age-friendly hospitals, assisted living homes, or transport systems cater to senior needs.
E.g. Only a limited number of cities implement MBBL for elder-safe buildings.
Government Initiatives for Elderly Care:
• Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY): Offers elderly homes, continuous care centers, and Mobile Medicare Units.
• National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE): Provides dedicated healthcare at primary to tertiary levels.
• SACRED Portal: Enables re-employment of senior citizens and supports their dignity in work.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Distributes assistive devices to BPL seniors to aid mobility and independence.
• Social Pension Schemes (NSAP): IGNOAPS provides direct pension support to poor elderly aged 60–79.
Way Ahead:
• Expand Geriatric Infrastructure: Set up geriatric departments in every medical college and increase specialist doctors.
E.g. Tamil Nadu government advised to establish geriatric units in all medical colleges.
• Integrated Health & Social Care: Combine hospital care with community-level screening, follow-up, and home visits.
E.g. Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam brings medical services to the doorsteps of elderly.
• Regulate & Expand Assisted Living: Develop affordable, safe, and regulated elder homes and care centers.
E.g. Current assisted living options are unregulated and unaffordable for most.
• Promote Intergenerational Bonding: Sensitize children in schools to elderly needs and encourage family support.
E.g. Schools can integrate elderly empathy modules in curricula.
• Digital & Financial Inclusion: Enable elderly access to online services, banking, and social safety nets.
E.g. Senior Citizens helpline (14567) provides emergency and welfare support.
Conclusion:
India’s ageing population demands a paradigm shift from reactive to preventive, community-centric elderly care. Alongside health reforms, emotional, financial, and social support systems must evolve to ensure graceful ageing. The time to build an elder-inclusive society is now.
• Performance of welfare schemes that are implemented for vulnerable sections is not so effective due to the absence of their awareness and active involvement at all stages of the policy process. Discuss. (UPSC-2019)
India Justice Report 2025
Syllabus: Governance
Source: IT
Context: The India Justice Report 2025 revealed that no State/UT has met its own reserved quotas for women in the police force.
About India Justice Report 2025:
Aspect | Details
What it is? | A national ranking assessing capacity of States/UTs to deliver justice across four pillars.
Released by | Tata Trusts in collaboration with partners like CHRI, DAKSH, Vidhi Centre, TISS-Prayas etc.
Aim | To promote data-driven reforms by evaluating states on justice delivery using official government data.
Criteria | Ranks states on Police, Judiciary, Prisons, Legal Aid, and Human Rights Commissions, based on 5 filters: Human Resources, Budgets, Infrastructure, Workload, Diversity.
Positives Highlighted in IJR 2025:
• Southern states dominate: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu secured the top 5 ranks among large states.
E.g. Karnataka ranked 1st overall (score: 6.78/10).
• Increased gender representation: Female share in judiciary and police steadily rising across most states.
E.g. Bihar has the highest share of women in police among all states.
• Improved case clearance: High Courts maintained >100% disposal rate; subordinate courts also improved.
E.g. Over 86% of prisons now have video-conferencing facilities for trials.
• Tech adoption in judiciary: Digital filing, e-Sewa Kendras, and legal aid tracking via NALSA’s online system have improved access.
E.g. More live-streaming and expansion of NJDG platform.
• Prison Management Excellence: Tamil Nadu retained top position in prison management with 100% budget utilisation and optimal staff-inmate ratio.
Negatives / Gaps Identified:
• Women Quota Unmet: No State/UT fulfilled reserved quotas for women in police; <1,000 senior women officers exist.
E.g. Despite mandates, not even progressive states met gender quotas in senior policing.
• Infrastructure Gaps in Police: 17% of police stations have no CCTV; 30% lack women help desks.
E.g. SC-mandated CCTVs under Paramvir Singh guidelines not fully implemented.
• Low Legal Aid Spending: National average is just ₹6 per capita annually – least among all justice pillars.
E.g. Legal aid budgets declined in 19 states.
• Severe Judicial Backlog: 5 crore+ cases pending across court levels; 71% of cases in Bihar pending over 3 years.
E.g. HC vacancies >30% in some states like Gujarat.
• Prison Overcrowding & Undertrial Crisis: 76% of prisoners are undertrials, up from 66% in the last decade.
E.g. 176 prisons operate at over 200% capacity.
Suggested Reforms:
• Gender-Inclusive Recruitment: Enforce women reservation in senior police/judicial roles with transparent audits.
E.g. Mandatory mid-level lateral entry for women officers.
• Upgrade Police Infrastructure: Universal CCTV coverage, digitised FIR systems, and women help desks at every station.
• Judicial Staffing and AIJS: Standardised recruitment calendar and All India Judicial Service for lower courts.
E.g. Fast-track special courts to reduce pendency.
• Revamp Legal Aid Delivery: Strengthen community-based legal aid, taluka clinics, and PLV network.
E.g. Revise per capita budget and involve civil society.
• Prison Decongestion: Strengthen parole, open prisons, and ensure medical staffing in line with inmate population.
E.g. Implement Model Prison & Correctional Services Act 2023 with urgency.
• Performance-linked Justice Budgets: Reward states showing year-on-year improvement with increased funding.
E.g. Tie grants to vacancy reduction, training coverage, and tech use.
Conclusion:
The India Justice Report 2025 reflects India’s aspirations and challenges in making justice accessible, efficient, and inclusive. Despite digital tools and reforms, core capacity deficits remain unaddressed. A holistic, sustained, and accountable approach is essential to transform justice delivery across India.
• Who are entitled to receive free legal aid? Assess the role of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in rendering free legal aid in India (UPSC-2023)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025 GS Paper 3:
India, rising power demand and the ‘hydrogen factor’
Syllabus: Energy
Source: TH
Context: India’s energy experts have stressed the importance of integrating hydrogen production and nuclear power to meet rising energy demand.
India’s Energy Goals:
• Net Zero Target by 2070: India aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, requiring massive shifts in energy systems.
• 500 GW from Non-Fossil Sources by 2030: India plans to install 500 GW of non-fossil capacity (solar, wind, nuclear, hydro).
• Nuclear Energy Expansion: Government aims for 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 to meet base-load requirements.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: Focus on using renewable electricity for green hydrogen to decarbonise industries.
• Electrification of End-Use Sectors: Transition to electric vehicles, heat pumps, and electric furnaces to cut fossil fuel dependency.
Reasons for Rising Energy Demand in India:
• Economic Growth Aspirations: India targets to become a developed economy, increasing energy use across sectors.
E.g. Per capita electricity use expected to triple by 2040.
• Population Growth and Urbanisation: Expanding cities and middle-class lifestyle adoption are intensifying energy needs.
E.g. Urban energy use per capita is double that of rural India.
• Industrial Decarbonisation: Transitioning steel, cement, and fertilizer sectors to clean inputs raises electricity demand.
E.g. Hydrogen replacing coal in iron ore reduction.
• Digital and Automation Push: Data centres, smart infrastructure, and AI systems require constant power supply.
E.g. IT and digital economy’s share in energy demand growing rapidly.
• Climate Adaptation Needs: More cooling, irrigation, and disaster mitigation require reliable electricity.
E.g. Power needed for flood pumps, drought irrigation, and cooling appliances.
Existing Solutions to Rising Demand:
• Renewable Energy Expansion: Solar, wind, and hydro projects have grown significantly in capacity.
• Base-Load Nuclear Power: Nuclear offers reliable, low-carbon electricity to complement intermittent sources.
• Battery Storage Systems: Used to store solar/wind energy for non-generating hours.
• Electrolyser-Based Hydrogen Production: Uses surplus electricity to produce green hydrogen for industries.
• Flexing Coal Plants Temporarily: Coal-fired plants are adjusted to balance renewable inputs during peak solar hours.
Challenges Faced by Existing Solutions:
• Intermittency of Renewables: Solar and wind can’t provide round-the-clock supply
E.g. Solar only works during daytime; wind is seasonal.
• Flexing Nuclear Is Cost-Inefficient: Nuclear has high capital cost and low marginal cost, making flexing uneconomical.
E.g. Variable costs remain same even at lower output.
• Battery Storage Still Expensive: Large-scale battery deployment faces cost and material challenges.
E.g. Lithium and rare-earth supply risks.
• Separate Treatment of Hydrogen & Storage: Hydrogen and electricity storage are treated as different systems, reducing synergy.
E.g. Parallel setups increase overall infrastructure cost.
• Lack of Clear Hydrogen Taxonomy: Green hydrogen is currently defined only through renewables, excluding nuclear.
E.g. Nuclear-based hydrogen is low-carbon but not officially “green.”
Way Ahead: Hydrogen as Solution
• Redefine Green Hydrogen as Low-Carbon: Adopt carbon threshold-based taxonomy to include nuclear-based hydrogen.
E.g. <2 kg CO₂/kg H₂ criterion aligns nuclear with green label.
• Synergise Hydrogen with Storage Systems: Combine electrolyser-based hydrogen and battery storage for economic efficiency.
E.g. Reduces need for curtailment and standalone batteries.
• Accelerate Nuclear Deployment: Invest in faster roll-out of PHWRs and BSRs using indigenous tech.
E.g. NPCIL’s 26-unit plan under execution.
• Incentivise Industrial Hydrogen Use: Encourage fertiliser, steel, and transport sectors to switch to green/low-carbon hydrogen.
E.g. Use surplus grid power to feed hydrogen electrolyzers during off-peak.
• Strengthen Grid Flexibility Tools: Deploy AI-based demand response and grid balancing systems.
E.g. Smart metering and load shaping via digital platforms.
Conclusion:
India’s path to clean energy leadership lies in integrating low-carbon nuclear, renewables, and hydrogen solutions efficiently. Synergising electricity storage and hydrogen can balance intermittent power and ensure round-the-clock clean energy. With the right policy push and strategic reforms, India can lead the global energy transition sustainably.
PYQ:
• With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy (UPSC-2018)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
NHAI Timeline for Land Acquisition
Context: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a 336-day timeline to streamline land acquisition and reduce project delays.
About NHAI Timeline for Land Acquisition:
What it is?
A structured, time-bound land acquisition framework introduced by NHAI to ensure timely possession, compensation, and mutation of land for highway projects.
• This includes weekly and fortnightly monitoring and mandatory use of the ‘Bhoomi Rashi’ portal to avoid cost overruns and administrative bottlenecks.
Framework & Timeline (336 Days Total):
• Step-by-step process: NHAI prepares the draft plan, uploads it on the Bhoomi Rashi portal, issues a public notification, and allows 21 days for objections by landowners.
• Finalisation: After resolving objections, authorities secure Right of Way, disburse compensation, and complete possession and land mutation.
• Monitoring: Progress is reviewed weekly by the Project Director and fortnightly by the Regional Officer, with serious delays reported to the Chief General Manager.
Significance:
• Reduces delay in infrastructure rollout, which leads to massive cost escalations.
• Ensures procedural transparency through Bhoomi Rashi digital monitoring.
• Improves coordination among central and state agencies for land records and compensation.
• Encourages accountability through fixed timelines and reporting hierarchy.
Relevance in UPSC Exam:
• GS Paper 2 (Governance), this showcases efforts to improve policy implementation, bureaucratic accountability, and Centre-State coordination in land-related matters.
• GS Paper 3 (Infrastructure), it is a key example of how administrative delays and land acquisition bottlenecks impact national development projects.
• Essay/Ethics, it can be used as a real-world case study on governance reforms, public service efficiency, and use of digital tools in infrastructure planning.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Ironwood TPU
Source: IE
Context: Google has launched Ironwood, its seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) to accelerate AI model processing.
About Ironwood TPU:
• What it is? Ironwood is the latest TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) developed by Google, designed exclusively for high-performance artificial intelligence workloads.
• Ironwood is the latest TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) developed by Google, designed exclusively for high-performance artificial intelligence workloads.
• Developed by: Google Cloud’s AI Infrastructure team.
• Feature:
• AI-Specific Design: Ironwood is an ASIC chip built to process tensors—fundamental to machine learning.
• Faster Training: It significantly reduces AI model training time from weeks to just hours.
• Highly Specialised: More focused than CPUs/GPUs, it handles matrix operations and neural networks
• Google Ecosystem Backbone: Powers AI in Google Search, YouTube, and DeepMind
• Cloud-Ready Scalability: Fully integrated with Google Cloud to support large-scale AI applications.
Key Differences between TPU vs GPU vs CPU:
Feature | CPU (Central Processing Unit) | GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) | TPU (Tensor Processing Unit)
Nature | General-purpose processor | Parallel processor, mainly for visual and AI tasks | Application-specific processor for machine learning
Primary Use | Handles routine computing and sequential operations | Ideal for graphics rendering and ML parallel tasks | Specialised for deep learning tensor computations
Cores | 2–16 per chip | Thousands per chip for simultaneous task execution | Fewer, highly specialised cores for AI matrix operations
Performance | Efficient in sequential tasks | Better for concurrent, parallel tasks | Fastest in training and inference of ML models
Flexibility | Highly versatile | Moderately flexible | Narrow-purpose, highly optimised
Example Use | Word processing, browsing, OS control | Gaming, video editing, ML model training | Google Search AI, YouTube AI, DeepMind models
Registration of Birth and Death
Source: TH
Context: The Registrar General of India (RGI) issued a circular in March, warning hospitals for non-compliance in registering births and deaths within 21 days.
• The circular noted that 10% of such events go unregistered, despite the 2023 amendment to the Registration of Birth and Death Act mandating 100% digital registration.
About Registration of Birth and Death:
• What is it? A statutory process under the Civil Registration System (CRS) that mandates the recording of every birth and death occurring in India.
• A statutory process under the Civil Registration System (CRS) that mandates the recording of every birth and death occurring in India.
• Governing Authority: Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) oversees the system. Chief Registrars are appointed by State governments, and Registrars operate at local levels (panchayats, municipalities).
• Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) oversees the system.
• Chief Registrars are appointed by State governments, and Registrars operate at local levels (panchayats, municipalities).
• Governing Law: Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, amended in 2023, makes digital registration mandatory. Section 23(2) of the Act penalises negligence by registrars with a fine (enhanced to ₹1,000 from ₹50 in the amendment). Registration Procedure: Government hospitals act as official registrars. Private hospitals must report events to registrars. Registration must be done within 21 days of the event. Post October 1, 2023, all records are maintained digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal. 2023 Amendment Highlights: Birth certificates from CRS are now the sole valid document for proving date of birth for: School admissions, Government jobs, Marriage registration, and Electoral rolls and property registration. Data from CRS will automatically update the: National Population Register (NPR), Ration card database, and Other central schemes.
• Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, amended in 2023, makes digital registration mandatory. Section 23(2) of the Act penalises negligence by registrars with a fine (enhanced to ₹1,000 from ₹50 in the amendment).
• Section 23(2) of the Act penalises negligence by registrars with a fine (enhanced to ₹1,000 from ₹50 in the amendment).
• Registration Procedure: Government hospitals act as official registrars. Private hospitals must report events to registrars. Registration must be done within 21 days of the event. Post October 1, 2023, all records are maintained digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.
• Government hospitals act as official registrars.
• Private hospitals must report events to registrars.
• Registration must be done within 21 days of the event.
• Post October 1, 2023, all records are maintained digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.
• 2023 Amendment Highlights: Birth certificates from CRS are now the sole valid document for proving date of birth for: School admissions, Government jobs, Marriage registration, and Electoral rolls and property registration. Data from CRS will automatically update the: National Population Register (NPR), Ration card database, and Other central schemes.
• Birth certificates from CRS are now the sole valid document for proving date of birth for: School admissions, Government jobs, Marriage registration, and Electoral rolls and property registration.
• Data from CRS will automatically update the: National Population Register (NPR), Ration card database, and Other central schemes.
World Pandemic Treaty
Source: CNN
Context: After over three years of negotiations, WHO Member States finalised the draft World Pandemic Treaty to boost global pandemic preparedness.
About World Pandemic Treaty:
• What it is? A legally binding international instrument aimed at strengthening global response to future pandemics.
• A legally binding international instrument aimed at strengthening global response to future pandemics.
• Developed by: Negotiated by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), constituted under WHO in December 2021.
• Aim: To improve pandemic prevention, preparedness, and equitable response, using a One Health approach involving human, animal, and environmental health.
• Key Features: Establishes pathogen access and benefit-sharing systems. Strengthens global supply chains and logistics for health emergencies. Promotes technology and knowledge transfer for vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Mobilises skilled global health workforce and supports geographically balanced R&D capacities. Respects national sovereignty — does not allow WHO to mandate lockdowns, travel bans, or vaccines.
• Establishes pathogen access and benefit-sharing systems.
• Strengthens global supply chains and logistics for health emergencies.
• Promotes technology and knowledge transfer for vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
• Mobilises skilled global health workforce and supports geographically balanced R&D capacities.
• Respects national sovereignty — does not allow WHO to mandate lockdowns, travel bans, or vaccines.
About the World Health Organization (WHO):
• Established in: 1948, as a specialized agency of the United Nations focusing on international public health.
• Headquarters: Based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Core Objectives:
• Promote universal health coverage.
• Combat disease outbreaks, ensure health security, and advance public well-being.
• Support countries in policy development, emergency preparedness, and health system strengthening.
• Governance Structure:
• World Health Assembly (WHA): Highest decision-making body; meets annually.
• Secretariat: Executes WHA’s decisions under the Director-General.
• Regional Offices: Six regional offices coordinate implementation (e.g., South-East Asia, Africa).
• Funding Mechanism:
• Assessed contributions: Mandatory membership dues.
• Voluntary contributions: Additional funding from countries, UN bodies, private sector, and philanthropies.
India’s First Full-Stack Quantum Computer
Source: PIB
Context: On World Quantum Day 2025, Bengaluru-based QpiAI launched India’s first full-stack quantum computer with 25 qubits.
• The innovation is part of India’s broader efforts under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to lead in quantum technologies.
About India’s First Full-Stack Quantum Computer:
• What it is? QpiAI-Indus is India’s first full-stack quantum system, integrating quantum hardware, software, and AI-enhanced hybrid computing.
• QpiAI-Indus is India’s first full-stack quantum system, integrating quantum hardware, software, and AI-enhanced hybrid computing.
• Developed by: Created by QpiAI, a DST-supported startup under the National Quantum Mission.
• Key Features: Powered by 25 superconducting qubits. Equipped with next-gen Quantum-HPC platforms and AI-integrated software. Supports scalable control systems for real-world quantum applications.
• Powered by 25 superconducting qubits.
• Equipped with next-gen Quantum-HPC platforms and AI-integrated software.
• Supports scalable control systems for real-world quantum applications.
• Sectors Impacted: Enables solutions in drug discovery, life sciences, logistics, climate action, and materials science.
About National Quantum Mission (NQM):
• What it is? A strategic national initiative to develop and deploy quantum technologies across computing, communication, sensing, and materials.
• A strategic national initiative to develop and deploy quantum technologies across computing, communication, sensing, and materials.
• Launched in: Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2023, with a total budget of ₹6,003.65 crore (2023–2031).
• Nodal Organisation: Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Core Objectives: Build intermediate-scale quantum computers (50–1000 qubits). Develop quantum communication networks, secure quantum satellites, and atomic clocks. Promote quantum sensing, metrology, and quantum-grade materials.
• Build intermediate-scale quantum computers (50–1000 qubits).
• Develop quantum communication networks, secure quantum satellites, and atomic clocks.
• Promote quantum sensing, metrology, and quantum-grade materials.
• Mission Components: Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) for: Quantum Computing Quantum Communication Quantum Sensing & Metrology Quantum Materials & Devices Promote basic & applied research, innovation, and global competitiveness in quantum technologies.
• Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) for: Quantum Computing Quantum Communication Quantum Sensing & Metrology Quantum Materials & Devices
• Quantum Computing
• Quantum Communication
• Quantum Sensing & Metrology
• Quantum Materials & Devices
• Promote basic & applied research, innovation, and global competitiveness in quantum technologies.
AQUASTAT
Source: FAO
Context: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) celebrated 30 years of AQUASTAT, the world’s leading water-agriculture data platform.
• The event featured the launch of the new AQUASTAT Dissemination Platform, enhancing access to global water data, aligned with SDG 6.
About AQUASTAT:
• What it is? AQUASTAT is FAO’s global database on water resources and agricultural water management, providing open-access data on more than 180 variables across countries.
• AQUASTAT is FAO’s global database on water resources and agricultural water management, providing open-access data on more than 180 variables across countries.
• Established by: Initiated in the 1990s by FAO’s Land and Water Division.
• Launched by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• Core Objectives:
• Monitor water use and irrigation globally. Track Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.4 on water use efficiency and water stress. Support policy-making, planning, and international cooperation on water governance.
• Monitor water use and irrigation globally.
• Track Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.4 on water use efficiency and water stress.
• Support policy-making, planning, and international cooperation on water governance.
• Key Functions & Features:
• Data Coverage: Covers water resources, irrigation infrastructure, and efficiency indicators from 1960 onward. Dissemination Platform: New version features interactive maps, multilingual support, CSV/Excel downloads, and advanced search tools. Used in Global Reports: Informs UN World Water Development Report, and supports national SDG reporting. Collaborative Model: Engages member states to validate data and strengthen country-level capacity.
• Data Coverage: Covers water resources, irrigation infrastructure, and efficiency indicators from 1960 onward.
• Dissemination Platform: New version features interactive maps, multilingual support, CSV/Excel downloads, and advanced search tools.
• Used in Global Reports: Informs UN World Water Development Report, and supports national SDG reporting.
• Collaborative Model: Engages member states to validate data and strengthen country-level capacity.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 April 2025 Mapping:
Tuti Island
Source: TH
Context: After two years of violent civil war, Sudan’s Tuti Island has been reclaimed by the national army, but lies devastated and depopulated.
About Tuti Island:
• Location: Tuti Island lies at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers.
• Bordering Urban Centres: It is surrounded by the “Three Towns” – Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri (Khartoum North).
• Agricultural Significance: Known as “Khartoum’s Garden”, it supplied a major portion of the capital’s fruits and vegetables, with manual farming practices still in use.
About Sudan:
• Location: Sudan is situated in Northeast Africa, south of Egypt, with a strategic position along the Red Sea coast.
• Capital: Khartoum
• Neighbouring Countries: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Red Sea, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya.
• Geological Features:
• River System: Dominated by the Nile River, formed by the Blue Nile and White Nile merging at Khartoum.
• Mountains: Includes Nuba Mountains, Marrah Mountains, and Red Sea Hills.
Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary (16 Apr 2025)
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