15 October 2025 Current Affairs (With PDF)

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“India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries” - NITI Aayog (2025)

The report outlines India’s roadmap to harness the Blue Economy - a key sector targeted to contribute US$100 billion by 2030. It emphasizes sustainable exploitation of deep-sea and offshore fisheries to ensure economic growth, livelihood security, and marine ecosystem conservation.

Key Findings

1. Current Status:

• India’s fisheries potential is estimated at 7.16 million tonnes, but a large portion remains untapped, especially in deep-sea regions.

2. Key Challenges:

a. Infrastructure & Technological Gaps:

• Only 90 fishing harbours in India are adequately equipped to handle large deep-sea vessels.
• Limited access to advanced vessels and navigation systems hampers offshore harvesting.

b. Regulatory Gaps:

• India lacks a comprehensive legal framework for fishing activities in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• This gap contributes to rising cases of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Key Initiatives

1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):

• Duration: FY 2020–21 to FY 2024–25
• Investment: ₹20,050 crore
• Focus: Sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
• Provides up to 60% financial assistance to traditional fishermen for conversion or acquisition of deep-sea and offshore fishing vessels.

2. Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF):

• Aims to modernize fisheries infrastructure and cold chain facilities.

3. National Fisheries Policy 2020:

• Promotes sustainable fishing, conservation, and welfare of fisher communities.

Recommendations & Way Forward

• Phased Policy Reforms: Introduce a multi-stage plan focusing on fleet modernization, data-based management, and sustainability.
• Subsidy Rationalization: Minimize and gradually phase out subsidies to reduce distortions and promote efficiency.
• Technological Integration: Encourage adoption of sonar, GPS, and onboard digital monitoring to ensure sustainable exploitation of resources.

Significance

The report underscores that a robust regulatory and technological framework for India’s deep-sea fisheries will:

• Strengthen maritime security and blue economy governance,
• Improve fisher incomes and exports, and
• Align India’s ocean policies with UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 – Life Below Water.

Several Initiatives Unveiled to Strengthen India’s Infrastructure Planning and Development Ecosystem

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched multiple initiatives marking four years of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) to enhance India’s integrated infrastructure planning, logistics efficiency, and regional development.

Key Initiatives

1. PM GatiShakti Public:

• Opens the PM GatiShakti NMP platform to the private sector.
• Developed by: Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).
• Powered by: National Geospatial Data Registry (NGDR).
• Enables broader access to geospatial data and advanced analytics, promoting evidence-based project planning.

2. PM GatiShakti - Offshore:

• A dedicated digital platform for integrated planning and management of offshore development.
• Supports data-driven decision-making for offshore wind farms, marine resources, and coastal infrastructure.
• Strengthens India’s Blue Economy and aligns with national maritime development goals.

3. PMGS District Master Plan (DMP) for 112 Aspirational Districts:

• Aims to strengthen data-driven local infrastructure development.
• Promotes holistic regional growth through area-based planning across sectors such as:
  - Healthcare and Education
  - Logistics and Industrial Development
  - Environmental and Resource Management

4. Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025:

• A flagship recognition initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• Rewards leadership, innovation, and sustainability in logistics.
• Aligned with the National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022 and PM GatiShakti vision.
• Focuses on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices and promoting Green Logistics.

5. PMGS NMP Dashboard:

• A comprehensive multi-sector monitoring system to track implementation progress.
• Provides real-time data analytics and actionable insights for policymakers.

About PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), 2021

• A transformative initiative for integrated infrastructure development in India.
• Integrates geospatial data from over 57 Central Ministries, Departments, and States/UTs.
• Enables synergy across sectors for efficient project planning and execution.
• Seven Engines of NMP: Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, Logistics Infrastructure

Significance

These initiatives collectively aim to make India’s infrastructure ecosystem more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven, bridging planning gaps and supporting the country’s goal of becoming a global logistics hub.

Key Initiatives Unveiled by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced several digital and financial innovation initiatives, including the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), a CBDC Retail Sandbox, and a pilot project for tokenisation of Certificates of Deposit (CDs) to strengthen India’s financial ecosystem.

About the Initiatives

1. Unified Lending Interface (ULI):

• Nature: Envisioned as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the credit ecosystem.
• Purpose: Aggregates data from multiple sources (e.g., income, tax, credit history) and makes it available to lenders for better credit assessment and faster loan delivery.
• Goal: Enhance efficiency, reduce lending risks, and promote financial inclusion through data-driven credit decisions.

2. CBDC Retail Sandbox:

a. Objective: To enable fintech firms to innovate and test Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based retail payment solutions in a controlled environment.

b. About CBDC:

• A digital version of a nation’s fiat currency, issued and regulated by the Central Bank.
• Offers secure, low-cost, and efficient digital transactions while reducing dependency on physical cash.

3. Tokenisation of Certificates of Deposit (CDs) (Pilot Project):

a. Aim: Facilitate faster settlements, improve liquidity, and enhance market transparency through blockchain-based tokenisation.

b. About Tokenisation: Refers to creating a digital representation (“token”) of a real-world asset (like stocks, bonds, or CDs) on a distributed ledger or blockchain.

c. About Certificates of Deposit (CDs):

• Type: Negotiable money market instrument.
• Issuer: Banks and other eligible financial institutions.
• Form: Issued in dematerialised form or as a Promissory Note.
• Maturity Period: Ranges from 7 days to one year.

Significance

These initiatives reflect RBI’s broader push toward a digitally resilient, transparent, and inclusive financial system, integrating emerging technologies such as blockchain, data aggregation, and digital currencies into India’s credit and money markets.

Economics Nobel Prize 2025

Awardees: Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt

Reason: “For explaining innovation-driven economic growth.”

Prize Distribution

• One half of the prize: Joel Mokyr - For identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress.
• Other half (jointly): Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt - For developing the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction.

Key Contributions

Joel Mokyr

1. Explained how scientific discoveries and practical innovations interact to form a self-sustaining process of growth.

2. Highlighted essential conditions for long-term growth:

• Flow of Useful Knowledge, which includes:
  - Propositional knowledge: explains why something works.
• - Prescriptive knowledge: describes how something can be made to work.
• Commercial Knowledge: converting ideas into products and businesses.
• Societal Openness to Change: a culture that supports innovation and experimentation.

Philippe Aghion & Peter Howitt

• Developed the theory of “Creative Destruction”, a central concept in innovation economics.
• Meaning: Economic growth occurs when new innovations replace old technologies, causing outdated products or firms to lose relevance.
• Their mathematical model demonstrated how innovation-driven competition fuels sustained productivity and income growth.
• The process is called creative because it drives progress, and destructive because it displaces older, less efficient systems.

First IUCN Green Status Assessment for Tiger Released

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released the first-ever Green Status of Species assessment for the Tiger (Panthera tigris), classifying it as ‘Critically Depleted’, highlighting the species’ severe historical decline and ongoing threats.

Key Findings

• Population Trend: Decreasing - Current global estimate (mature individuals): 2,608–3,905
• Status across Range: Tigers are extinct in 9 of the 24 evaluated regions and remain threatened in all areas of persistence.
• Conservation Legacy: High
• Recovery Potential: Medium
• Major Threats: Habitat loss, prey depletion, poaching, and regional extinctions.

About IUCN Green Status of Species

• Launched: 2012; integrated into the IUCN Red List framework in 2020 as an optional component.
• Purpose: Assesses species recovery and conservation impact, complementing extinction risk analysis.
• Categories: Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, Fully Recovered, etc.

Definition of Full Recovery

A species is considered fully recovered if:

• It occupies its entire historical range.
• It is viable (not at risk of extinction) across that range.
• It performs its ecological roles throughout its habitat.

Each species is assigned a “Green Score” (0–100%), reflecting proximity to full recovery.

About the Tiger (Panthera tigris)

1. Description:

• Largest wild cat species globally.

2. Range Countries:

• India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, among others.

3. Habitat:

• Forests, savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and inland wetlands.

4. Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I

5. Global Share:

• India hosts nearly 75% of the world’s wild tiger population.

Vital Statistics of India Based on Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2023 Released

The Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, released the Vital Statistics of India based on Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2023, providing key insights into the country’s demographic trends.

Key Highlights

1. Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB):

928 females per 1,000 males (excluding Sikkim).

• Highest: Arunachal Pradesh (1,085)
• Lowest: Jharkhand (899)

2. Institutional Coverage:

• Institutional births: 74.7%
• Institutional deaths: 24%

3. Birth Registration:

• Registered births decreased by 0.9% from 2022.
• Level of Registration (LoR): 98.4%
• Higher registration in urban than rural areas.

4. Death Registration:

• Registered deaths increased by 0.1% from 2022.
• Level of Registration (LoR): 97.2%
• Deaths registered more in rural than urban areas.

5. Infant Deaths:

• Slight increase from 2022.

6. Full Registration Achievement:

• Births: 21 States/UTs achieved 100% registration.
• Deaths: 19 States/UTs achieved 100% registration.

Birth and death registrations were higher for males than females across both urban and rural areas.

About the Civil Registration System (CRS)

• A unified national system for recording births, deaths, and stillbirths (excluding marriages and divorces).
• Governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which mandates compulsory reporting to the Registrar.
• The 2023 Amendment to the Act introduced digital registration and the creation of national and state-level databases, improving efficiency and accuracy in vital statistics management.

Israel–Gaza Peace Deal

After more than two years of conflict that began on October 7, 2023, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and peace deal, marking a significant breakthrough in the Gaza conflict.

Key Developments

• Hostage Release: 48 hostages were freed as part of the initial phase of the peace accord.
• Israeli Withdrawal: Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City to a designated “yellow line”, creating a security buffer zone.
• War Duration: The conflict spanned over two years, causing extensive humanitarian and infrastructural damage in Gaza.

About the Israel–Hamas Ceasefire and Peace Deal

1. Framework:

Based on a 20-point peace plan proposed by the U.S. President, outlining:

• A complete ceasefire,
• Israeli withdrawal to agreed lines, and
• Release of all hostages in a phased manner.

2. Mediators:

• The peace process was jointly facilitated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

India’s Stand

• India welcomed the peace efforts, emphasizing the need for regional stability and restoration of normalcy.
• Reaffirmed support for multilateral diplomacy and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
• The stance aligns with India’s balanced West Asia policy, maintaining constructive relations with Israel, Palestine, and the broader Arab world.

Vishwas Scheme

The ‘Vishwas Scheme’ was launched during the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), to promote trust and voluntary compliance among employers.

About the Central Board of Trustees (CBT)

1. Nature:

• A tri-partite body comprising representatives from the Central and State Governments, employers, and employees.

2. Assisting Body:

• Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

3. Administers:

• Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952
• Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995
• Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976

About the Vishwas Scheme

1. Objective:

• To reduce litigation by rationalising penal damages imposed on employers for delayed remittance of Provident Fund (PF) dues.

2. Rationale:

• High penal charges on belated PF payments have been a major source of legal disputes between employers and the EPFO.

3. Operational Period:

• Initially valid for 6 months,
• Extendable by another 6 months if required.

4. Key Benefit:

• Provides employers an opportunity to settle pending dues with reduced penalties, promoting compliance and easing administrative burden.

Port Pasni

Pakistan has reportedly offered the United States the opportunity to develop and operate Port Pasni, envisioning it as a gateway for U.S. access to Pakistan’s critical minerals and maritime trade routes.

About Pasni Port

1. Location:

• Situated in the Gwadar district, Balochistan province, along the Arabian Sea coast.

2. Strategic Significance:

• Lies approximately 70 miles east of the China-operated Gwadar Port and 178 miles west of Iran’s Chabahar Port.
• Serves as a potential trade and logistics hub connecting South Asia, West Asia, and Central Asia.
• Its proximity to key regional ports enhances its value in the evolving geopolitical and geo-economic competition in the Arabian Sea region.

Contextual Insight

• The proposal may indicate Pakistan’s effort to diversify foreign partnerships beyond China and attract U.S. strategic investment in the maritime and minerals sectors.
• It could also reshape regional connectivity dynamics, particularly concerning Gwadar (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and Chabahar (India-Iran connectivity project).

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