Jan 8th 2025 Current Affairs

Index:

1. China’s Earthquake and Its Significance

  1. Key Facts about the Earthquake
  • Date & Time: January 7, 6:35 am IST.
  • Magnitude: 7.1 on the Richter scale.
  • Epicenter: Tingry County, Shigatse region, Tibetan China (10 km depth, 80 km north of Mt. Everest).
  • Casualties: As of reports, 95 dead, 130 injured, hundreds of houses flattened in China. Updates awaited from Nepal and other affected areas.
  • Tremors Felt: Kathmandu (Nepal), Thimphu (Bhutan), Kolkata (India).

 

  1. Location Significance
  • Geographical Significance:
    • Tingry County: Located in the Shigatse region of Tibet, ~4-5 km above sea level.
    • The region is a gateway to Mt. Everest and a popular tourist destination.
    • Spiritual Importance: The seat of the Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Geological Significance:
    • The earthquake occurred in the Lhasa terrane, a fragment of the Earth’s crust in the Tibetan Plateau.
    • The region is tectonically active due to the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, moving at ~60 mm/year.
    • This tension has led to repeated seismic activity; the region has experienced 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher since 1950.

 

  1. Relevance to Development Projects
  • Hydroelectric Dam:
    • The Lhasa terrane includes the site of the world’s largest hydroelectric-power dam, under construction by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
    • Energy Output: Estimated to generate 300 billion kWh/year.
    • India’s Concern:
      • Yarlung Tsangpo becomes the Brahmaputra River in India.
      • Potential impact on the river’s perennial flow affecting Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
    • Earthquake Risk to Infrastructure:
      • The region’s seismic activity poses risks to large-scale projects, such as dams, and the communities living downstream.

 

  1. Environmental Impacts
  • Himalayan Region as the “Third Pole”:
    • Holds vast water resources in rivers, glaciers, and lakes that millions depend on.
    • Earthquakes can:
      • Alter river courses.
      • Destabilize glaciers and lakes, increasing flood risks.
      • Accelerate climate vulnerabilities in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

 

  1. Causes of the Earthquake
  • Tectonic Movements:
    • The collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate (ongoing for 50 million years) created the Himalayan mountains.
    • Seismic activity occurs as the plates adjust to the tension caused by their movement.
    • The Indian Plate pushes into the Eurasian Plate at ~60 mm/year.
  • Seismic History of Lhasa Terrane:
    • Historical Data: Over 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6+ recorded since 1950.
    • Largest Quake: Magnitude 6.9 near Mainling in 2017, located 960 km east of Tingry County.

2. 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2025 in Odisha

  1. Key Facts
  • Event: 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD).
  • Dates: January 8-10, 2025.
  • Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • Theme: “Diaspora’s contribution to a Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
  • Delegates: Over 3,000 delegates from 70 countries.
  • Previous Edition: Held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in January 2023.

 

  1. Chief Guests & Key Dignitaries
  • Chief Guest: Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago (addressing virtually).
  • Guest of Honour (Youth PBD): Dr. Dev Pragad, CEO and co-owner of Newsweek.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi: To inaugurate the event and flag off the Pravasi Bharatiya Express.
  • President Droupadi Murmu: To chair the valedictory session and confer awards.
  • Ministerial Delegations: From Mauritius, Malaysia, and South Africa.

 

  1. Highlights of the Event
  2. Diaspora Engagement:
    • Focus on the Indian diaspora’s role as a “living bridge” between India and their adopted homelands.
    • Discussions on partnering with India to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
  3. Special Initiatives:
    • Pravasi Bharatiya Express:
      • A tourist train for the diaspora, flagged off remotely by the PM.
      • It will visit multiple tourist and religious destinations over three weeks.
    • Mandvi to Muscat Focus:
      • Showcasing rare documents and stories of migration from Gujarat’s Mandvi to Oman’s Muscat.
  1. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards:
    • 27 diaspora members from 24 countries to be honoured for their achievements and contributions.
  2. Plenary Sessions:
    • Chaired by Union Ministers and moderated by eminent Indians from various fields.

 

  1. Odisha’s Role & Preparation
  • Cultural Heritage Showcase:
    • Odisha to highlight its rich cultural heritage and traditions.
    • Identification of 21 tourist sites to be promoted to the diaspora.
  • Raghurajpur Visit:
    • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his wife visited Raghurajpur artists’ village, showcasing Odisha’s cultural richness.
  • Chief Secretary’s Statement: Focus on making the event comfortable and pleasurable for participants.

 

  1. Importance of the Event
  • Vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047: Strengthening the connection between India and its diaspora for developmental goals.
  • Diaspora’s Role:
    • Contribution to India’s economic, cultural, and social development.
    • Promoting India’s soft power and fostering international relations.
  • Global Networking: Opportunity for delegates from 70 nations to interact and collaborate with Indian counterparts.

Tourism Boost: Promotion of Odisha as a global tourist destination.

3. Inter-Ministerial Committee for AI Governance in India

  1. Context
  • The Union Government is focusing on the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to maximize its benefits while mitigating risks.
  • The IndiaAI Mission, under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), released a report on AI guidelines, seeking public feedback.

 

  1. Key Recommendations
  2. Inter-Ministerial AI Coordination Committee:
    • Proposed to oversee AI governance in India.
    • Ensures collaboration across ministries to address the multidisciplinary impact of AI.
  3. Technical Secretariat:
    • To be housed within the IT Ministry.
    • Functions:
      • Pooling expertise from various departments and regulators.
      • Mapping stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.
      • Assessing risks related to AI systems.
      • Conducting AI-related research.
  1. Light Regulatory Framework:
    • Focus on maximizing economic and societal gains from AI.
    • Use of regulations as “guardrails” to minimize potential harms.

 

  1. Principles for AI Governance

The report outlines several key principles to guide the development, deployment, and regulation of AI systems in India:

  1. Transparency: Ensure meaningful disclosure of AI systems’ development processes and capabilities.
  2. Accountability: Developers and deployers of AI systems must take responsibility for their applications.
  3. Safety, Reliability, and Robustness: AI systems should be designed to ensure safety and reliability.
  4. Privacy and Security: Safeguarding personal data and ensuring robust cybersecurity for AI systems.
  5. Fairness and Non-Discrimination: Prevent bias in AI systems to ensure equitable outcomes.
  6. Human-Centric and Ethical Values: AI systems should adhere to the principle of “do no harm” and uphold human dignity.
  7. Inclusive and Sustainable Innovation: AI innovations should distribute benefits equitably across society.
  8. Digital by Design Governance: Leverage digital technologies to operationalize these principles.

 

  1. Implications for India
  2. Maximizing AI’s Potential:
    • Aligning AI governance with India’s vision for a tech-driven economy.
    • Strengthening India’s global position in AI innovation and adoption.
  3. Risk Mitigation:
    • Preventing misuse of AI systems while promoting ethical practices.
    • Addressing concerns related to privacy, bias, and safety.
  4. Strengthening Institutions:
    • Creation of a technical secretariat and inter-ministerial committee will foster multidisciplinary collaboration.
  5. Societal Benefits:
    • Equitable distribution of AI’s benefits to bridge socio-economic gaps.
    • Human-centric AI applications for sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture.

 

  1. Way Forward
  1. Stakeholder Engagement:
    • Continued public consultations to refine AI governance frameworks.
    • Involvement of academia, industry, and civil society in policymaking.
  2. Capacity Building:
    • Training government officials and regulators in AI-related domains.
    • Promoting research and development in AI technologies.
  3. Global Collaboration:
    • Aligning India’s AI policies with global standards and practices.

Strengthening partnerships for AI innovation and ethical governance.

4. Understanding the Drop in School Enrolments in India Insights from UDISE+ Reports - Infographics

5. IED Blasts in Bijapur and the Naxal Insurgency

  1. Context
  • Incident: On January 6, 2025, an IED blast in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, killed eight security personnel and a civilian driver.
  • Perpetrators: The attack is attributed to the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a left-wing extremist organization.
  1. Key Details
  2. Nature of the Attack:
    • Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs): Heavy explosives were camouflaged and planted strategically.
    • Planned with precision; the last similar attack occurred in Dantewada in April 2023.
    • Indicates the CPI(Maoist)’s capacity for coordinated attacks despite weakening influence.
  3. Casualties in 2024:
    • Security Forces: 24 personnel killed.
    • Insurgents: 296 killed in anti-Maoist operations.
    • Civilians: 80 deaths.

 

  1. Current State of the CPI (Maoist)
  • Flailing Insurgency:
    • The organization struggles to maintain its presence, particularly in its last bastion—the Abujmarh jungles and Bastar region.
    • Continued reliance on violence reflects its ideological commitment to armed rebellion.
  • Historical Context:
    • Originated in the early 2000s after merging various Naxalite groups.
    • Central ideology revolves around violent methods for achieving its goals.

 

  1. Implications
  1. Setback for Security Forces:
    • The attack marks a significant loss early in 2025.
    • It underscores the need for better intelligence and preparedness in Maoist-dominated regions.
  2. Challenge for Anti-Insurgency Operations:
    • Intensified operations may increase civilian casualties, potentially fueling Maoist propaganda about state repression.
    • A balanced approach is necessary to avoid alienating local communities.
  3. Potential for Retaliation: Security forces may ramp up operations, risking collateral damage.

 

  1. Way Forward
  2. Military Strategy:
    • Enhance operational efficiency and intelligence gathering to counter Maoist activities.
    • Ensure the safety of civilians during anti-Maoist campaigns to maintain public trust.
  3. Ceasefire and Negotiation:
    • Leverage civil society actors to explore avenues for a ceasefire agreement.
    • Use negotiations to reintegrate disillusioned cadres into the mainstream.
  4. Development and Rehabilitation:
    • Address the root causes of the insurgency, such as poverty, displacement, and lack of governance in tribal areas.
    • Promote development projects and inclusive policies to reduce Maoist influence.
  5. Countering Propaganda:
    • Strengthen communication to counter Maoist narratives of state repression.

Build trust with local communities through outreach programs.

6. GDP Forecast and Breakdown – Analysis Infographic

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