30 April 2025 Current Affairs

Russia’s Strategic Interests in Crimea

• Trump Suggests Crimea Will Remain with Russia, Blames Obama for Handing Region to Putin in Time Interview.
• Trump Urges Ukraine to Accept Peace Deal Acknowledging Russia’s 2014 Annexation of Crimea.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected Any Deal that involves ceding Ukrainian Territory, emphasizing that such an agreement would violate Ukraine’s Constitution.
• Commentators argue that accepting Trump’s proposal would be disastrous for Ukraine, as it could embolden Russia to eventually conquer all of Ukraine.
• Furthermore, such a concession might set a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes, notably China, regarding territorial ambitions, such as over Taiwan.

Crimea

• Crimea was part of Russia for centuries before being transferred to Ukraine in 1954 by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
• After Ousting of Pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014 by a Pro-Western Movement in Ukraine, Russian Forces swiftly Occupied Strategic Locations in Crimea.
• By Mid-March, Crimea was formally annexed by Russia following a Declaration of Independence and a request to join Russian Federation.

Strategic Importance of Crimea

• Geographic Significance: Crimea holds immense strategic value due to its geographic location, benefiting both Russia and the region itself.
• Russia’s Historical Quest for Warm Water Ports: Russia's Arctic Coastline Limits Winter Port Access, Driving Centuries-Long Quest for Warm Water Ports.
• Black Sea – Russia’s Gateway to Mediterranean: Russia's Key Access to Mediterranean, with Control of Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits Crucial for Naval and Economic Interests.
• Sevastopol: Sevastopol's Deep-Water Port in Crimea Key to Hosting Russia's Black Sea Fleet, Unlike Other Shallow Ports.
• Post-Soviet Disputes and Agreements: After Soviet Union's Collapse, 1997 Kharkiv Pact allowed Russia to retain its Naval Base in Sevastopol.
• This lease was extended until 2042, but Russia unilaterally ended agreement during its 2014 Annexation of Crimea.

Russia’s Strategic Motives for Annexation

• Securing Sevastopol: Renewed Lease in 2010 was opposed by New Ukrainian Leadership.

- Russia feared losing access to Naval Base in Sevastopol if Ukraine consolidated power.

• NATO Expansion Fears: Kremlin was alarmed by Prospect of Ukraine joining NATO, which would place Alliance on Russia’s Black Sea Border, undermining Russian Security Interests in what was once a "Soviet Lake".
• Crimea as a Launchpad for Invasion: Control over Crimea was seen as essential for Any Future Military Action in Ukraine.

- 2022 Invasion was partly enabled by Russia’s Fortified presence in Peninsula.

Gold Prices Cross Rs 1 lakh-mark For First Time

Gold Prices in India Surge Past ₹1 Lakh per 10 Grams, Reaching All-Time High.

Factors Influencing Gold prices

• Supply and Demand: Availability of Gold and Demand for it, both for Investment and Industrial Use, directly impact prices.

- Increased Mining Output can Lower Prices, while High Demand can raise them.

• Inflation: Gold is often seen as a Hedge Against Inflation. When Inflation rises, Investors flock to Gold to preserve their Purchasing Power, driving up prices.
• Interest Rates: Lower Interest Rates decrease Opportunity Cost of holding Gold, making it more attractive to Investors. Conversely, Higher Rates lead to Lower Gold Prices.
• Geopolitical Stability: Political Uncertainty or Conflict lead Investors to seek safety in Gold, boosting demand and prices.
• Currency Strength: Gold is typically priced in U.S. Dollars. A Weaker Dollar makes Gold Cheaper for Holders of Other Currencies, potentially Increasing Demand and Prices.
• Central Bank Policies: Actions by Central Banks, such as Gold Purchases or Sales, significantly Influence Market Prices. Central Banks often hold Gold as part of their reserves.
• Global Economic Conditions: Economic Downturns or Uncertainties lead to increased demand for gold as a Safe Haven.

Facts Related to Gold

• China is the World’s Largest Gold Producer followed by Russia and Australia.
• China is also the World’s Largest Gold Consumer followed by India.
• United States holds Largest Gold Reserves in the world, followed by Germany and Italy.

Safeguarding Taj Mahal

Supreme Court Orders NEERI to Assess Environmental Impact of Glass Industries on Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal

• Commissioned By: 5th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Chief Architect: Ustad-Ahmad Lahori
• Construction started in 1631 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
• Situated on Right Bank of Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• In 1983, UNESCO inscribed Taj Mahal on World Heritage List.
• Renowned as one of 7 Wonders of the World.
• Declared a Centrally Protected Monument of National Importance in 1920.
• Managed By: Archaeological Survey of India.

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute

• Established in 1958.
• Premier Research Institute under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• Plays a vital role in Environmental Management, Pollution Control and Sustainable Development through R&D, Policy Development and Technology Innovation. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Science and Technology
• HQ: Nagpur

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)

• Defined Area of 10,400 sq km around Taj Mahal.
• Purpose: To protect Monument from Pollution. 
• Comprises Monuments including 3 World Heritage Sites: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
• Brought into focus by Supreme Court’s 1996 Judgment (M.C. Mehta vs Union of India), which banned Use of Coal/Coke by Industries in Zone and mandated a shift to Cleaner Fuels like natural gas.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Jal Shakti Ministry Seeks Additional ₹2.79 Lakh Crore to Complete Jal Jeevan Mission.

Jal Jeevan Mission

1. Launched in 2019.

• Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban): Launched in Budget 2021-22 under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to ensure Universal Water Tap Connections in All Statutory Towns, aligning with SDG-6.

2. Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme

• 50:50 Fund-Sharing Model between Centre and States.
• 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States and 100% for UTs.

3. Aim: To provide Functional Household Tap Connections to All Rural Households by 2024.

• Har Ghar Jal: Ensuring 55 Litres Per Capita Per Day of Safe, Adequate Drinking Water to Every Rural Household.

4. Features: Emphasises Conjunctive Use of Conserved Water; Drinking Water Source Augmentation, Drinking Water Supply System, Greywater Reuse, Local Water Resource Management.

5. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti

Emissions Trading Scheme

Surat Emissions Trading Scheme: World’s 1st Market – Based Approach to Combat Particulate Pollution.

Emissions Trading Scheme

• Also referred to as "Cap-and-Trade".
• Regulatory Tool that aims to Reduce Air Pollution by introducing Economic Incentives.
• Under ETS, a Cap is imposed on Total Permissible Emissions.

- Industries receive Emission Permits, which can be Bought and Sold, allowing Companies to Trade Pollution Rights.

- Cleaner Industries can Sell their Unused Permits to Polluting Units, creating an Economic Incentive for Pollution Reduction

Surat Emissions Trading Scheme

• Launched in 2019.
• World’s 1st ETS focused on Trading Particulate Pollution (not CO₂).
• India’s 1st Emissions Market for Any Pollutant.

CROP

ISRO Projects Wheat Output at 122.724 Million Tonnes Using Satellite Technology.

CROP

• CROP stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress.
• Semi-Automated and Scalable Framework.
• Objective: To enable Near Real-Time Monitoring of Crop Sowing, Growth and Harvesting across Different Seasons, especially during Rabi Season in India.

- Top 5 Wheat-Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Punjab > Haryana

• Technological Components: EOS-04 (RISAT-1A), EOS-06 (Oceansat-3), Resourcesat-2A.
• Developed By: National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO)

Strait of Gibraltar

Sayoni Das Becomes 1st Asian Woman to Swim Across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Strait of Gibraltar

• Water Body separating Europe from Africa.
• Connects Mediterranean Sea to Atlantic Ocean.

- Only Natural Link between Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

• Narrowest Point between Morocco’s Point Cires and Spain’s Point Marroquí.
• Bordering Countries: Spain, British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, African Country of Morocco, Spanish Enclave of Ceuta.
• Important Port: Moroccan Port of Tanger-Med, near Tangier.
• Mahuadanr (Jharkhand): India’s First and Only Wolf Sanctuary Explores Link Between Tribal Culture and Wolf Behavior.