UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 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 1 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April (2025)
• Ambedkar’s Contributions to Indian Economy
Ambedkar’s Contributions to Indian Economy
GS Paper 3:
• Cap-and-Trade India
Cap-and-Trade India
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• PEN-Plus approach
PEN-Plus approach
• Karad Sanitary Waste Management Model
Karad Sanitary Waste Management Model
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
• Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
• Colossal Squid
Colossal Squid
• Military Exercise in News
Military Exercise in News
Mapping:
• Red Sea
Red Sea
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April 2025
#### GS Paper 1 :
Ambedkar’s Contributions to Indian Economy
Syllabus: History
Source: IE
Context: On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti 2025, renewed attention is being given to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s contributions to India’s economic thought, highlighting his pioneering work in monetary policy, labour reforms, and land rights for Dalits.
About Ambedkar’s Contributions to Indian Economy:
• Foundation of Monetary Policy:
• Wrote The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution (1923), advocating a gold exchange standard. Influenced the setting up of the Reserve Bank of India in 1934.
• Wrote The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution (1923), advocating a gold exchange standard.
• Influenced the setting up of the Reserve Bank of India in 1934.
• Pioneering Fiscal Federalism:
• His thesis Provincial Decentralisation of Imperial Finance in British India (1921) led to conceptualising financial decentralization and Finance Commission of India.
• His thesis Provincial Decentralisation of Imperial Finance in British India (1921) led to conceptualising financial decentralization and Finance Commission of India.
• Labour Welfare Reforms:
• As Labour Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council, introduced 8-hour workday, maternity benefits, and dispute resolution boards. Set up employment exchanges across India.
• As Labour Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council, introduced 8-hour workday, maternity benefits, and dispute resolution boards.
• Set up employment exchanges across India.
• Water and Power Resource Development:
• Spearheaded projects like Central Water Commission, Damodar Valley Project, and Hirakud Dam, linking water management with economic growth.
• Spearheaded projects like Central Water Commission, Damodar Valley Project, and Hirakud Dam, linking water management with economic growth.
• Advocacy for Land Reforms and Dalit Empowerment:
• Proposed land distribution and separate settlements for Dalits to ensure economic independence. Advocated nationalisation of land and collectivisation of agriculture.
• Proposed land distribution and separate settlements for Dalits to ensure economic independence.
• Advocated nationalisation of land and collectivisation of agriculture.
• Economic Justice and Social Democracy:
• Linked economic empowerment to social dignity, arguing that social democracy is incomplete without economic justice.
• Linked economic empowerment to social dignity, arguing that social democracy is incomplete without economic justice.
• Industrialisation and Modernisation Vision:
• Supported state-led industrialisation to create jobs and break caste-based occupational immobility.
• Supported state-led industrialisation to create jobs and break caste-based occupational immobility.
• Anti-Inflationary Policies:
• Warned that inflation disproportionately affects the poor; advocated for monetary responsibility, a principle reflected in India’s modern inflation-targeting framework (like the 2016 Monetary Policy Framework).
• Warned that inflation disproportionately affects the poor; advocated for monetary responsibility, a principle reflected in India’s modern inflation-targeting framework (like the 2016 Monetary Policy Framework).
• Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate (UPSC-2015)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April 2025 GS Paper 3:
Cap-and-Trade India
Syllabus: Ecology
Source: DTE
Context: A recent study published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics confirmed that Surat’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the world’s first market for particulate emissions — reduced pollution by 20–30% and lowered compliance costs by 11%.
What is Cap-and-Trade?
Cap-and-Trade is a market-driven environmental policy where the government sets a maximum limit (cap) on the total level of pollution that can be emitted by industries.
• Under this system, companies are issued pollution permits that allow them to emit a specific number of pollutants.
• If a firm emits less than its permitted share, it can sell its unused permits to other firms struggling to meet their limits.
• This creates a financial incentive for industries to reduce pollution efficiently and invest in cleaner technologies, as doing so can turn into a profit opportunity.
How Does Cap-and-Trade Work?
• Regulatory Cap Setting: The government or regulatory authority sets a total emissions ceiling across all participating firms, based on environmental goals (e.g., air quality improvement, climate targets).
• The government or regulatory authority sets a total emissions ceiling across all participating firms, based on environmental goals (e.g., air quality improvement, climate targets).
• Permit Distribution: Pollution permits are then allocated: Free allocation to firms based on past emissions (grandfathering method). Auctioning a portion of permits, allowing the market to determine their price. Trading System Among Firms:
• Pollution permits are then allocated: Free allocation to firms based on past emissions (grandfathering method). Auctioning a portion of permits, allowing the market to determine their price.
• Free allocation to firms based on past emissions (grandfathering method).
• Auctioning a portion of permits, allowing the market to determine their price.
• Trading System Among Firms:
• Companies that can cut emissions cheaply will do so and sell their surplus permits. Companies facing higher abatement costs can buy permits to remain compliant rather than investing heavily in immediate technology upgrades.
• Companies that can cut emissions cheaply will do so and sell their surplus permits.
• Companies facing higher abatement costs can buy permits to remain compliant rather than investing heavily in immediate technology upgrades.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance:
• Firms failing to hold sufficient permits for their actual emissions face strict financial penalties. Penalties ensure that it remains cheaper to comply by reducing pollution or buying permits rather than paying fines.
• Firms failing to hold sufficient permits for their actual emissions face strict financial penalties.
• Penalties ensure that it remains cheaper to comply by reducing pollution or buying permits rather than paying fines.
Challenges to Cap-and-Trade Model:
• Monitoring gaps: Effective cap-and-trade relies on precise, real-time emissions data, which demands continuous oversight and maintenance of monitoring systems.
E.g. Surat’s success was linked to CEMS installation.
• High initial setup cost: Setting up infrastructure like Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) can be financially burdensome, especially for small industries.
E.g. CEMS installation was mandatory for 317 industries.
• Market manipulation risk: Industries could collude to hoard permits, manipulate prices, and undermine the true spirit of emissions trading unless strict controls are enforced.
E.g. Weekly auctions were introduced to avoid hoarding.
• Sectoral variations: Pollution abatement costs differ across industries, creating uneven advantages where some firms may find it easier to profit from permit trading.
E.g. Cost of abatement varies greatly across sectors.
• Policy instability: Frequent and unpredictable changes in cap levels or trading rules can discourage long-term industrial investments in clean technologies.
E.g. Surat ETS cap was adjusted after pilot phase data review.
Way Ahead:
• Expand ETS to other cities: Scaling cap-and-trade to other polluted urban-industrial centers can maximize its impact and build a nationwide pollution control framework.
E.g. Delhi, Ahmedabad and others planning new pilots.
• Include more pollutants: Broaden the ETS to cover gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to comprehensively tackle industrial pollution.
E.g. Gujarat considering sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade next.
• Invest in CEMS technology: Boosting investments in reliable, tamper-proof CEMS technology will ensure greater transparency and regulatory efficiency.
E.g. CEMS critical for Surat’s verifiable data success.
• Set dynamic emission caps: Emission caps must be adaptable to account for seasonal pollution variations and industrial production cycles for better effectiveness.
E.g. Surat’s cap revised from 280 to 170 tonnes/month.
• Enhance stakeholder engagement: Active participation of industries, local bodies, and citizens through awareness campaigns can ensure broader acceptance and success.
E.g. Surat industries collaborated with GPCB during roll-out.
Conclusion:
Surat’s Emissions Trading Scheme proves that market-based solutions can effectively balance economic growth with environmental protection. Scaling such initiatives nationwide could be vital for achieving India’s clean air targets while fostering industrial efficiency.
• ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC-2017)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
PEN-Plus approach
Context: The WHO African Region released a report, highlighting that 20 African countries have expanded access to critical services for severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by adopting the PEN-Plus approach.
About PEN-Plus Approach:
• What it is? PEN-Plus stands for Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions Plus. It is an integrated healthcare model aimed at managing severe and chronic NCDs at secondary-level health facilities.
• PEN-Plus stands for Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions Plus.
• It is an integrated healthcare model aimed at managing severe and chronic NCDs at secondary-level health facilities.
• Nations using it: Successfully implemented in Rwanda, Liberia, Malawi, and now expanded to 20 African countries.
• Aim: To decentralize diagnosis and management of severe NCDs like type-1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, sickle-cell disease, severe hypertension, and persistent asthma. Ensure access to care for children and young adults living in extreme poverty.
• To decentralize diagnosis and management of severe NCDs like type-1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, sickle-cell disease, severe hypertension, and persistent asthma.
• Ensure access to care for children and young adults living in extreme poverty.
• How it works? Training nurses and clinical officers to deliver essential services like diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and psychosocial support. Expanding healthcare delivery to secondary-level health centers, close to rural and underserved communities.
• Training nurses and clinical officers to deliver essential services like diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and psychosocial support.
• Expanding healthcare delivery to secondary-level health centers, close to rural and underserved communities.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus
• GS Paper 2: Governance, Health Policies, Government interventions for vulnerable sections.
• GS Paper 3: Issues related to Health, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being).
• International Relations: Role of WHO, Global Health Initiatives, India’s learning from African public health innovations.
Karad Sanitary Waste Management Model
Context: Karad city in Maharashtra’s Satara district has achieved 100% safe segregation, collection, and disposal of sanitary and biomedical waste, setting a national benchmark.
About Karad Sanitary Waste Management Model:
• What it is? A comprehensive system ensuring complete safe disposal of sanitary waste through segregation, collection, and high-temperature incineration.
• A comprehensive system ensuring complete safe disposal of sanitary waste through segregation, collection, and high-temperature incineration.
• How It Works? Collection: Red bins placed at public toilets and garbage vehicles equipped with dedicated bins for sanitary waste. Processing: Waste is sent to a Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF), run by the Karad Hospital Association, incinerating at temperatures up to 1200°C. Monitoring: Real-time oversight by the State Pollution Control Board ensures environmental compliance. Community Engagement: Women-led awareness campaigns and sanitary facilities in schools (vending machines, incinerators). PPP Model: Municipal council manages collection; hospital association handles incineration, provided free of cost to citizens.
• Collection: Red bins placed at public toilets and garbage vehicles equipped with dedicated bins for sanitary waste.
• Processing: Waste is sent to a Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF), run by the Karad Hospital Association, incinerating at temperatures up to 1200°C.
• Monitoring: Real-time oversight by the State Pollution Control Board ensures environmental compliance.
• Community Engagement: Women-led awareness campaigns and sanitary facilities in schools (vending machines, incinerators).
• PPP Model: Municipal council manages collection; hospital association handles incineration, provided free of cost to citizens.
• Significance: Promotes hygiene, women’s health, and environmental safety. Acts as a scalable model for small and medium cities aiming for efficient sanitary waste management.
• Promotes hygiene, women’s health, and environmental safety.
• Acts as a scalable model for small and medium cities aiming for efficient sanitary waste management.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 2: Governance, Public Health Initiatives, Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Development.
• GS Paper 3: Environmental Pollution, Waste Management, Sustainable Urban Development.
• Essay Paper: Topics related to Urban Sanitation, Women and Hygiene, Public-Private Partnerships.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)
Source: ETE
Context: The Ministry of Mines has issued guidelines for establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to accelerate research, innovation, and extraction technologies in critical minerals.
About National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):
• What it is? The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a flagship initiative launched to ensure the secure, resilient, and sustainable supply of critical minerals essential for India’s clean energy transition, technological advancement, defence, and strategic sectors.
• The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a flagship initiative launched to ensure the secure, resilient, and sustainable supply of critical minerals essential for India’s clean energy transition, technological advancement, defence, and strategic sectors.
• Launched in: Union Budget 2024–25.
• Ministry: Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• Aim: To enhance exploration, mining, processing, recycling, and securing supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, nickel, and others. To support Net Zero 2070 goals, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and energy security.
• To enhance exploration, mining, processing, recycling, and securing supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, nickel, and others.
• To support Net Zero 2070 goals, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and energy security.
• Components of NCMM:
• Exploration and Mining: The Mission plans over 1200 exploration projects to identify critical mineral reserves and auction 100+ mineral blocks for commercial mining to boost domestic supply. Overseas Acquisition: It facilitates Indian public and private sector companies to acquire mineral assets abroad, particularly in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Chile, ensuring strategic resource security. Recycling and Circular Economy: The Mission promotes recycling of critical minerals by creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and offering incentives to reduce import dependence and environmental degradation. Research and Innovation: Establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) is planned to drive cutting-edge R&D in extraction, processing, beneficiation, and advanced critical mineral technologies. Skill Development: The Mission introduces specialized training programs, new academic courses, and scholarships to create a skilled workforce needed for India’s emerging critical minerals sector. Infrastructure Development: It focuses on building mineral processing parks and national stockpiles to strengthen India’s refining, storage, and distribution network for critical minerals.
• Exploration and Mining: The Mission plans over 1200 exploration projects to identify critical mineral reserves and auction 100+ mineral blocks for commercial mining to boost domestic supply.
• Overseas Acquisition: It facilitates Indian public and private sector companies to acquire mineral assets abroad, particularly in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Chile, ensuring strategic resource security.
• Recycling and Circular Economy: The Mission promotes recycling of critical minerals by creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and offering incentives to reduce import dependence and environmental degradation.
• Research and Innovation: Establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) is planned to drive cutting-edge R&D in extraction, processing, beneficiation, and advanced critical mineral technologies.
• Skill Development: The Mission introduces specialized training programs, new academic courses, and scholarships to create a skilled workforce needed for India’s emerging critical minerals sector.
• Infrastructure Development: It focuses on building mineral processing parks and national stockpiles to strengthen India’s refining, storage, and distribution network for critical minerals.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
Source: ZEE
Context: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is celebrating its 150th anniversary on April 17, 2025, in Mumbai, with Finance Minister of India attending the celebrations.
About Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE):
• What it is?
• BSE Ltd. is Asia’s oldest stock exchange and a major platform for trading equities, debt, mutual funds, derivatives, and commodities in India.
• Established in: 1875, originally as “The Native Share & Stock Brokers’ Association” founded by cotton merchant Premchand Roychand.
• History:
• Began informally under a banyan tree near Mumbai Town Hall.
• Shifted to Dalal Street in 1874 and formalized in 1875.
• Became the first exchange to be recognized under the Securities Contract Regulation Act, 1956.
• Introduced electronic trading in 1995, replacing the open outcry system.
• Partnered with the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative in 2012.
• Launched India INX (first international exchange) in 2016.
• Listed itself on National Stock Exchange in 2017.
• Key Features:
• Benchmark Index: Sensex (30 top-performing companies), launched in 1986.
• Market Capitalization: Surpassed $5 trillion in May 2024, ranking 6th largest globally.
• Product Offerings: Equities, stock futures/options, index derivatives, debt securities, ETFs, mutual funds.
• Listings: Over 5,000 companies, the highest among all global exchanges.
• Technological Advancement: Early mover in electronic trading systems through BOLT (BSE Online Trading)
Colossal Squid
Source: BBC
Context: For the first time in over a century, a juvenile colossal squid was filmed alive in its natural habitat at a depth of 600 meters in the Southern Ocean, marking a historic milestone in marine exploration.
About Colossal Squid:
• What it is? The colossal squid is the largest invertebrate species known, a massive deep-sea predator rarely observed in its natural habitat.
• The colossal squid is the largest invertebrate species known, a massive deep-sea predator rarely observed in its natural habitat.
• Scientific Name: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni.
• Category: It belongs to the class Cephalopoda, which includes octopuses, cuttlefish, and other squids.
• Habitat: It resides in the deep, cold waters of the Southern Ocean, particularly around Antarctica.
• Key Features: Physical: It can grow up to 14 meters (46 feet) in length and weigh up to 500 kilograms (1100 pounds), with the largest eyes in the animal kingdom. Biological: Females are larger than males. Their tentacles are equipped with sharp, rotating hooks adapted for predation and defense. Food Habits: It preys on large fish like the Patagonian toothfish, other squids, and occasionally battles with sperm whales. Reproduction: Specific mating behavior is unknown; however, it reproduces through internal fertilization. Juveniles are transparent and grow darker with maturity.
• Physical: It can grow up to 14 meters (46 feet) in length and weigh up to 500 kilograms (1100 pounds), with the largest eyes in the animal kingdom.
• Biological: Females are larger than males. Their tentacles are equipped with sharp, rotating hooks adapted for predation and defense.
• Food Habits: It preys on large fish like the Patagonian toothfish, other squids, and occasionally battles with sperm whales.
• Reproduction: Specific mating behavior is unknown; however, it reproduces through internal fertilization. Juveniles are transparent and grow darker with maturity.
Source: HT
Context: PETA praised the Trump administration’s recent move to phase out animal testing in federal research programs, adopting ethical alternatives like organoids and AI models.
About People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA):
• What it is? PETA is a global nonprofit animal rights organization advocating against animal cruelty and exploitation across various industries.
• PETA is a global nonprofit animal rights organization advocating against animal cruelty and exploitation across various industries.
• Established in: March 1980 by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco in the United States.
• Headquarters: Global HQ: Norfolk, Virginia, USA. India HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra (established in January 2000).
• Global HQ: Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
• India HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra (established in January 2000).
• Objective: To uphold the principle that “animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.”
• Functions: Conducts investigations and public education campaigns. Engages in legislative advocacy and celebrity partnerships. Promotes veganism, opposes animal testing, factory farming, fur farming, and animal use in entertainment. Operates rescue missions and works to implement animal welfare reforms globally.
• Conducts investigations and public education campaigns.
• Engages in legislative advocacy and celebrity partnerships.
• Promotes veganism, opposes animal testing, factory farming, fur farming, and animal use in entertainment.
• Operates rescue missions and works to implement animal welfare reforms globally.
Military Exercise in News
Source: News on Air
Context: Recently, Exercise DUSTLIK-6 with Uzbekistan commenced in Pune, while Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 with the US concluded in Andhra Pradesh.
About Military Exercise in News:
• Exercise DUSTLIK-6: Host Nation: India (Pune, Maharashtra) Participating Nations: India and Uzbekistan Objective: Enhance tactical coordination in sub-conventional operations. Exchange best practices in joint military procedures.
• Host Nation: India (Pune, Maharashtra)
• Participating Nations: India and Uzbekistan
• Objective: Enhance tactical coordination in sub-conventional operations. Exchange best practices in joint military procedures.
• Enhance tactical coordination in sub-conventional operations.
• Exchange best practices in joint military procedures.
• Deepen defence partnership with Central Asia.
• Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025: Host Nation: India (Duvvada Firing Range, Andhra Pradesh) Participating Nations: India and the United States Objective: Improve interoperability in amphibious warfare. Sharpen preparedness for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
• Host Nation: India (Duvvada Firing Range, Andhra Pradesh)
• Participating Nations: India and the United States
• Objective: Improve interoperability in amphibious warfare. Sharpen preparedness for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
• Improve interoperability in amphibious warfare.
• Sharpen preparedness for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 17 April 2025 Mapping:
Red Sea
Source: DD News
Context: Environmentalists have raised alarms as Egypt plans large-scale tourism development at Ras Hankorab Beach, part of the Red Sea’s fragile marine ecosystem, risking biodiversity loss amid efforts to boost tourism revenue.
About the Red Sea:
• What is the Red Sea? A semi-enclosed tropical sea, part of the Indian Ocean, stretching 1,930 kmfrom the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Connectsto the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal and to the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Aden. Surface Area: ~438,000 sq km.
• A semi-enclosed tropical sea, part of the Indian Ocean, stretching 1,930 kmfrom the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• Connectsto the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal and to the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Aden.
• Surface Area: ~438,000 sq km.
• Neighbouring Countries: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
• Key Features & Facts: Geological Significance: Formed by the rift between African & Arabian tectonic plates(still widening at ~15 mm/year). Contains hot brine poolsand active volcanic zones (e.g., Jabal Al-Ṭāʾir Island). Unique Marine Ecosystem: Home to coral reefs resistant to climate change, vital for global marine biodiversity. Supports endangered specieslike hawksbill turtles and dugongs. Economic & Strategic Importance: Major Shipping Route: 12% of global trade passes through, linking Europe & Asia. Tourism Hub: Famous for diving (e.g., Blue Hole), generating billions in revenue. Climate & Salinity: One of the warmest and saltiest seas(up to 41°C in summer). Named for occasional red algal blooms(Trichodesmium erythraeum). Environmental Threats: Over-tourism, coastal development, and oil spills endanger marine life. Coral bleachingrisks due to rising sea temperatures.
• Geological Significance: Formed by the rift between African & Arabian tectonic plates(still widening at ~15 mm/year). Contains hot brine poolsand active volcanic zones (e.g., Jabal Al-Ṭāʾir Island).
• Formed by the rift between African & Arabian tectonic plates(still widening at ~15 mm/year).
• Contains hot brine poolsand active volcanic zones (e.g., Jabal Al-Ṭāʾir Island).
• Unique Marine Ecosystem: Home to coral reefs resistant to climate change, vital for global marine biodiversity. Supports endangered specieslike hawksbill turtles and dugongs.
• Home to coral reefs resistant to climate change, vital for global marine biodiversity.
• Supports endangered specieslike hawksbill turtles and dugongs.
• Economic & Strategic Importance: Major Shipping Route: 12% of global trade passes through, linking Europe & Asia. Tourism Hub: Famous for diving (e.g., Blue Hole), generating billions in revenue.
• Major Shipping Route: 12% of global trade passes through, linking Europe & Asia.
• Tourism Hub: Famous for diving (e.g., Blue Hole), generating billions in revenue.
• Climate & Salinity: One of the warmest and saltiest seas(up to 41°C in summer). Named for occasional red algal blooms(Trichodesmium erythraeum).
• One of the warmest and saltiest seas(up to 41°C in summer).
• Named for occasional red algal blooms(Trichodesmium erythraeum).
• Environmental Threats: Over-tourism, coastal development, and oil spills endanger marine life. Coral bleachingrisks due to rising sea temperatures.
• Over-tourism, coastal development, and oil spills endanger marine life.
• Coral bleachingrisks due to rising sea temperatures.
Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary (17 Apr 2025)
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