Daily Current Affairs- 10th April 2025

Daily Current Affairs 10th April 2025

Panchayat Advancement Index ranks rural local bodies

In the News: On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the inaugural Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Baseline Report for the fiscal year 2022–23. This comprehensive index evaluates the performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India, aligning their progress with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through nine localized themes. 

About the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)

• Purpose: The PAI serves as a multi-dimensional tool to assess and measure the holistic development of Panchayats, facilitating evidence-based planning and promoting healthy competition among them.
• Structure: The index comprises 435 unique local indicators (331 mandatory and 104 optional), encompassing 566 data points across nine themes:
  1. Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods
  2. Healthy Panchayat
  3. Child-Friendly Panchayat
  4. Water-Sufficient Panchayat
  5. Clean and Green Panchayat
  6. Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
  7. Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat
  8. Good Governance
  9. Women-Friendly Panchayat
• Alignment: The PAI aligns with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), reflecting India's commitment to achieving the SDG 2030 Agenda through participatory, bottom-up development.

Performance Categories

Based on their scores, Panchayats are categorized into five tiers:

• Achiever: 90+ points (No Panchayat qualified in this category)
• Front Runner: 75–89 points (699 Panchayats, 0.3%)
• Performer: 60–74 points (77,298 Panchayats, 35.8%)
• Aspirant: 40–59 points (1,32,392 Panchayats, 61.2%)
• Beginner: Below 40 points (5,896 Panchayats, 2.7%)

State-Level Insights

• Top Performers: Gujarat led with 346 Front Runner Panchayats, followed by Telangana with 270. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh also recorded high numbers of Performer Panchayats.
• Areas Needing Improvement: States like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh had a significant share of Aspirant Panchayats, indicating areas requiring focused developmental efforts.  

India's First-Ever Climate Change Station

In the News: On April 8, 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India's first-ever High-Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Station at Mandlote village in Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. This pioneering facility, established by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, aims to monitor and analyse environmental shifts in the Himalayas, a region increasingly vulnerable to global warming, glacial retreat, and erratic weather patterns.

• Location: Mandlote village, Chenani, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Altitude: Approximately 2,250 meters above mean sea level.
• Inauguration Date: April 8, 2025.
• Inaugurated By: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology.
• Purpose: To conduct advanced studies on climate change, including rainfall patterns, cloudburst predictions, and atmospheric phenomena critical to the north-western Himalayas.
• Collaborations: The station also marked the launch of the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Project – ICE-Crunch, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, focusing on ice-nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei properties in the region.
• Significance: This facility is expected to boost scientific research, international collaboration, and climate resilience in one of India's most ecologically sensitive zones.
• Strategic Importance: The station enhances India's scientific capability and disaster preparedness in the Himalayas, contributing to the vision of “Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
• Community Engagement: Local residents expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting its potential to bring attention to environmental challenges in Jammu and Kashmir while fostering opportunities for scientific engagement and awareness.  

Cabinet Approves Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)

In the News: On April 9, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) as a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2025–2026. This initiative, with an initial outlay of ₹1,600 crore, aims to enhance irrigation efficiency and promote sustainable agricultural practices across India.

Key Features of M-CADWM

• Modernization of Irrigation Infrastructure: The scheme focuses on upgrading existing canal-based or other irrigation sources to supply water via underground, pressurized piped networks directly to farms up to one hectare in area.
• Integration of Advanced Technologies: Implementation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for real-time water accounting and management, aiming to significantly improve Water Use Efficiency (WUE).
• Empowerment of Water User Societies (WUS): Irrigation asset management will be transferred to WUS under the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) framework. These societies will receive support for five years and will be linked with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) or Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to strengthen their economic position.
• Pilot Projects Across Agro-Climatic Zones: Initial implementation through pilot projects in various agro-climatic zones via a challenge funding model to states. Insights from these pilots will inform the development of a National Plan for Command Area Development, set to launch in April 2026, aligning with the 16th Finance Commission cycle. 

Bangladesh Joins Artemis Accords

In the News: On April 8, 2025, Bangladesh became the 54th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, marking a significant step in its commitment to peaceful and cooperative space exploration. The signing ceremony took place in Dhaka, with Bangladesh's Secretary of Defense, Ashraf Uddin, representing the country. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tracey Jacobson and NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro, who delivered a pre-recorded message, also participated in the event.

• What Are the Artemis Accords?: Established in October 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, the Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding principles aimed at guiding civil space exploration and use. They emphasize peaceful purposes, transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, registration of space objects, preservation of space heritage, sustainable use of space resources, and deconfliction of activities.
• Bangladesh's Commitment: By signing the Accords, Bangladesh commits to the responsible and sustainable exploration of space, aligning with international norms and fostering collaboration with other nations. This move enhances Bangladesh's engagement with NASA and the global space community.
• Significance for Bangladesh: Joining the Artemis Accords positions Bangladesh as an emerging participant in space exploration, opening avenues for technological advancement, educational opportunities, and international partnerships. It reflects the country's dedication to contributing to global efforts in space science and exploration.
• Global Context: With Bangladesh's inclusion, the Artemis Accords now have 54 signatory countries, representing a broad international commitment to peaceful space exploration. The Accords serve as a framework for cooperation among nations in missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• Next Steps: Bangladesh's participation in the Artemis Accords is expected to lead to increased collaboration with NASA and other space agencies, fostering growth in its domestic space capabilities and contributing to global space initiatives. 

Naval Exercise INDRA-2025

In the News: The 14th edition of the bilateral naval exercise, INDRA-2025, between India and Russia, was conducted from March 28 to April 2, 2025, off the coast of Chennai in the Bay of Bengal. This exercise aimed to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies. 

• Phases of Exercise:
  • Harbour Phase: Held in Chennai from March 28 to 30, this phase included professional exchanges, ship visits, and sports activities to foster mutual understanding and camaraderie.
  • Sea Phase: Conducted in the Bay of Bengal from March 31 to April 2, featuring advanced naval drills such as tactical manoeuvrers, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, and helicopter cross-deck landings.
• Participating Units:
  • Indian Navy: Deployed INS Rana (a Rajput-class destroyer), INS Kuthar (a Khukri-class corvette), and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
  • Russian Navy: Participated with the corvettes Rezkiy and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, along with the medium sea tanker Pechenga from the Pacific Fleet.
• Objectives:
  • Enhance joint operational capabilities to counter maritime threats.
  • Promote mutual understanding and interoperability between the Indian and Russian navies.
  • Strengthen defense relations and contribute to regional maritime security.
• Historical Context: Exercise INDRA has been a cornerstone of India-Russia defense relations since its inception in 2003, symbolizing the long-term strategic partnership between the two nations.