Daily Current Affairs- 12th May 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 12th May 2025

Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra Collaborate on Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project

In the News: On May 10, 2025, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project. This initiative is heralded as the world's largest groundwater recharge scheme, aiming to enhance water security, boost irrigation, and foster sustainable development in both states.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: The Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project is a ₹19,244 crore initiative designed to recharge groundwater and improve irrigation facilities. It involves the development of three streams of the Tapti River, optimizing water use for agricultural and drinking purposes.
• Water Allocation: The project plans to utilize 31.13 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC) of water, with Madhya Pradesh allocated 11.76 TMC and Maharashtra 19.36 TMC.
• Irrigation Benefits: Upon completion, the project is expected to provide irrigation to 1,23,082 hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2,34,706 hectares in Maharashtra, significantly benefiting farmers in regions like Burhanpur, Khandwa, Jalgaon, Akola, Buldhana, and Amravati.
• Environmental Considerations: The project adopts a groundwater recharge-based approach, avoiding the displacement of villages and minimizing environmental impact. This method replaces an earlier plan that would have affected over 17,000 hectares of land and displaced around 14,000 people.
• Strategic Importance: Both states plan to petition the Central Government to designate the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project as a national scheme, similar to the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, to secure federal support and funding. 

India’s Total Fertility Rate Remains Steady at 2.0 in 2021

In the News: According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2021, released by the Registrar General of India, the country's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has remained constant at 2.0, the same as in 2020. This indicates a continued trend towards population stabilization, with significant implications for India's demographic landscape.

Key Points:

• Definition and Significance of TFR: The Total Fertility Rate represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years. A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level, which ensures a stable population size. India's TFR of 2.0 suggests it is below this replacement level, indicating a potential future decline in population growth.
• State-Level Variations:
  • Highest TFR: Bihar reported the highest TFR at 3.0, indicating higher fertility trends in the state.
  • Lowest TFR: Delhi and West Bengal recorded the lowest TFR at 1.4, well below the replacement level.
  • Other Notable States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Punjab have TFRs of 1.5, reflecting lower fertility rates.
• Demographic Shifts:
  • Decline in Child Population: The proportion of the population aged 0-14 years has decreased from 41.2% in 1971 to 24.8% in 2021.
  • Increase in Working-Age Population: The working-age group (15-59 years) has risen from 53.4% to 66.2% during the same period, presenting an opportunity for a demographic dividend.
  • Rise in Elderly Population: The share of individuals aged 60 and above has increased from 6% in 1971 to 9% in 2021, with Kerala having the highest elderly population at 14.4%.
• Changing Marriage Patterns: The mean age at effective marriage for females has increased from 19.3 years in 1990 to 22.5 years in 2021. This shift is attributed to improved female education, increased workforce participation, and greater awareness of reproductive health, contributing to lower fertility rates. 

US-China Trade Talks Conclude with Promising Deal in Geneva

In the News: On May 11, 2025, the United States and China concluded two days of intensive trade negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, resulting in a significant agreement to reduce tariffs and ease ongoing trade tensions. The deal marks a pivotal step towards stabilizing economic relations between the world's two largest economies.

Key Points:

• Tariff Reductions: The United States agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China committed to reducing tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%. These reductions are set for an initial 90-day period, providing a window for further negotiations.
• Joint Statement: Both nations issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of their bilateral economic relationship and agreed to establish a mechanism for continued discussions on economic and trade relations.
• Market Reactions: The announcement led to positive responses in global markets, with major stock indexes in the U.S., Asia, and Europe experiencing gains. The U.S. dollar also strengthened against major currencies following the news. 

Justice Surya Kant Appointed as NALSA Executive Chairman

In the News: On May 11, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), effective from May 14, 2025. He succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai, who is set to assume the position of the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

Key Points:

• Appointment Details: Justice Surya Kant's nomination as Executive Chairman of NALSA was made under Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Ministry of Law and Justice issued an official notification on May 9, 2025, confirming the appointment.
• Role and Responsibilities: As Executive Chairman, Justice Surya Kant will lead NALSA's mission to provide free and accessible legal aid to citizens across India, particularly those belonging to marginalized and economically weaker sections. His leadership is expected to reinforce the constitutional mandate of Article 39-A, which aims to ensure that justice is not denied to any citizen due to financial or social constraints.
• Professional Background: Prior to this appointment, Justice Surya Kant served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC). He has been recognized for his significant contributions towards legal aid and institutional reforms within the justice delivery system.
• Tenure: Justice Surya Kant is expected to hold the position of Executive Chairman of NALSA until November 23, 2025, after which he is anticipated to be elevated as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
• About NALSA: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, with the mandate to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society. The Chief Justice of India serves as the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, while the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the Executive Chairman. 

Bhuwan Ribhu Becomes First Indian Lawyer to Receive World Law Congress Honour for Child Rights

In the News: On May 6, 2025, Bhuwan Ribhu, a distinguished Indian lawyer and child rights activist, was awarded the prestigious 'Medal of Honour' by the World Jurist Association at the World Law Congress held in the Dominican Republic. This accolade recognizes his over two decades of unwavering commitment to child protection and legal reforms in India.

Key Points:

• Pioneering Legal Advocacy: Since 2005, Bhuwan Ribhu has filed over 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in India's Supreme Court and various High Courts, leading to landmark judgments on child trafficking, child marriage, and child sexual abuse. Notably, his efforts contributed to the Supreme Court's adoption of the UN Protocol's definition of trafficking, making it a criminal offense in India.
• Founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC): Ribhu established JRC, now the world's largest legal intervention network for child protection, encompassing over 250 organizations across India and extending its reach to countries like Nepal, Kenya, and the United States.
• Innovative Strategies: He introduced the PICKET framework—Policy, Institutions, Capacity-building, Knowledge, Economics, and Technology—to systematically address child rights issues. This strategy has been instrumental in national campaigns like Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, aiming to eradicate child marriage in India by 2030.
• Global Recognition: The World Jurist Association's Medal of Honour places Ribhu alongside eminent figures such as Nelson Mandela and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, acknowledging his significant contributions to justice and the rule of law. 

Soviet Kosmos 482 Crashes After 53 Years in Orbit

In the News: The Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos 482 re-entered Earth's atmosphere after more than five decades in orbit. Originally launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Union's Venera program aimed at exploring Venus, the spacecraft failed to escape Earth's gravity due to a rocket malfunction and remained in low Earth orbit until its recent descent.

Key Points:

• Mission Background: Kosmos 482 was launched on March 31, 1972, intended to deliver a lander to Venus. However, a malfunction in the upper stage of its launch vehicle prevented it from leaving Earth's orbit, resulting in the spacecraft being stranded in an elliptical orbit.
• Re-entry Details: The spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere at approximately 2:24 a.m. EDT (06:24 GMT) on May 10, 2025. The descent occurred over the Indian Ocean, west of Jakarta, Indonesia. No damage or injuries were reported from the re-entry.
• Spacecraft Specifications: The lander module of Kosmos 482 was designed to withstand the extreme conditions of Venus's atmosphere, featuring a robust heat shield and durable structure. Weighing approximately 1,091 pounds (495 kilograms) and measuring about 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter, the lander's construction may have allowed it to survive re-entry largely intact.
• Space Debris Concerns: The incident underscores the challenges posed by aging space debris. While the risk to human life from such re-entries remains low, with experts noting that the likelihood of injury is significantly less than that of being struck by lightning, the event highlights the need for continued monitoring and management of defunct satellites and other orbital debris.