Daily Current Affairs- 31st July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 31st July 2025

Maharashtra to Celebrate MS Swaminathan’s Birth Anniversary as Sustainable Agriculture Day

In the News: The Maharashtra government officially declared that August 7—Dr Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan’s birth anniversary—will be observed annually as Sustainable Agriculture Day in the state. The decision honours his monumental contributions to agricultural transformation and food security.

Key Points:

• Designation of August 7: With a Government Resolution issued on July 30, 2025, Maharashtra will observe August 7 each year as Sustainable Agriculture Day, marking the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna‑winner M.S. Swaminathan.
• Tribute to Legacy: The state honours Swaminathan, widely recognized as the architect of India’s Green Revolution, whose innovations in high‑yield wheat and rice varieties helped India achieve food self‑sufficiency.
• Bio‑Happiness Centres: All agricultural universities in Maharashtra have been directed to establish Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Bio‑Happiness Centres. These centres will focus on themes like sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation technologies, and food security.
• Statewide Commemoration Activities: The agriculture commissioner will issue guidelines to organize events across Maharashtra on August 7. Awards named after Dr. Swaminathan will also be instituted to encourage excellence in sustainable farming practices. 
• Recognition of M.S. Swaminathan: Born on August 7, 1925, Swaminathan passed away on September 28, 2023. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024. His vision of the “Evergreen Revolution”—sustainable productivity without ecological harm—garnered global recognition, including acknowledgement from the United Nations.

India Revives Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project

In the News: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation, issued international tenders for the long-delayed 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River—marking a major strategic shift following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

Key Points:

• Project Revival after Decades: First conceived in the 1960s, the Sawalkote project lay dormant for over 40 years due to administrative hurdles, environmental clearances, and treaty-related objections from Pakistan. Its revival follows India placing the IWT in abeyance in April 2025.
• Major Hydroelectric Capacity: The project will generate 1,856 MW via a run‑of‑the‑river design, featuring a 192.5 m gravity dam and eight 225 MW turbine units plus a 56 MW environmental flow station. Estimated cost: ₹22,704–22,705 crore.
•  Tendering and Timeline: NHPC floated tenders internationally on July 29 (per NHPC notification) and by July 31 media reported bids open until September 10. Completion expected across two phases within about 113 months. 
• National Importance & Strategic Assertion: The project has been classified as a matter of national importance, enabling fast‑tracked approvals and bypassing prior notification to Pakistan under IWT. It signals India’s intent to assert use of western river resources.
• Regional Development Impact: Located near Sidhu village, Ramban district (approx. 120 km from Jammu, 130 km from Srinagar), the project is expected to energize J&K’s infrastructure and boost energy self‑sufficiency. Around a dozen villages and hundreds of families will be affected and relocated. 
• Linked Hydropower Expansion: Sawalkote is one of six hydropower projects being revived in J&K post-IWT suspension—including Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kirthai I & II (1,320 MW), Parnai (38 MW), and Ratle (850 MW)—together expected to add over 5,000 MW. 
• Legal & Diplomatic Context: India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in April 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam, arguing prior terms were one-sided. Suspension exempts it from notifying Pakistan or sharing water‑data before advancing projects like Sawalkote.
•  Timeline & Organizational Roles: NHPC assumed majority control through a BOOT model; J&K Power Development Corporation remains a partner. The Forest Advisory Committee has approved land transfer of around 847 hectares of reserved forest for the project. Completion is slated by around 2035.

USA Will Explore Pakistan Oil Reserves Amid India Trade Deal

In the News:  U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new trade agreement with Pakistan that includes U.S. support to develop Pakistan’s massive oil reserves in exchange for reduced tariffs on Pakistani exports. Trump also hinted that Pakistan may one day export oil to India .

Key Points:

• Trade‑Energy Deal Framework: The agreement allows U.S. involvement in exploring and developing Pakistan’s largely undeveloped oil reserves, particularly in provinces like Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Tariffs and Economic Incentives: As part of the package, Pakistan will receive lowered U.S. import tariffs, bolstering its export competitiveness. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and the U.S. stood at around $7.3 billion in 2024.
• U.S. Rhetoric & India Implication: Trump explicitly suggested that “maybe they’ll be selling oil to India some day,” signaling a possible shift in South Asian energy dynamics.
•  India–U.S. Trade Tensions: The announcement coincided with the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports starting August 1 (later clarified to August 7), sending a strong message amid ongoing India trade negotiations.
• Limited Pakistani Oil Reserves: Analysts question the scale of Pakistan’s oil holdings—its proven reserves are estimated at just 234–353 million barrels, ranking it around the 50th globally. Critics call the phrasing “massive” potentially overstated.
•  Geopolitical Strategy: The deal appears to be a strategic move by the U.S. to deepen influence in South Asia, balancing China and signalling strong ties with Pakistan—possibly at India’s diplomatic expense.
• Pending Details: No specific exploration or drilling sites have been disclosed yet. The U.S. is reportedly in the process of selecting an American oil company to lead the initiative.

State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025

In the News: The SOFI 2025 report, jointly produced by FAO, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, and IFAD, was released on July 28, 2025. It warns that high food price inflation continues to erode purchasing power—especially among low‑income groups—pushing hundreds of millions toward hunger and malnutrition. The report calls for urgent action to get SDG 2 (Zero Hunger by 2030) back on track.

Key Points:

• Hunger levels and trends: In 2024, 673 million people (≈ 8.2% of the world’s population) faced hunger—a slight decline from 2023, yet still significantly above pre-COVID levels (between 638–720 million).
• Drivers of food insecurity: Persistent food price inflation—stemming from COVID-era fiscal‑monetary stimulus, supply‑chain disruption, the Ukraine war, rising energy/fertilizer costs, and climate‑induced crop failures—is undermining access to nutritious diets.
• Regional disparities: Hunger is increasing in most parts of Africa and Western Asia, with over 20% of Africa’s population undernourished and nearly 60% of the world’s hungry projected to reside there by 2030. Meanwhile, South and Southeast Asia and Latin America showed improvements thanks to stronger food policies and social programs.
•  Nutrition trends and SDG 2 outlook: Although undernutrition and child stunting have improved modestly in some regions, global progress toward SDG 2 remains off‑track. Obesity and micronutrient deficiencies persist alongside hunger, highlighting the double burden of malnutrition. The report estimates 512 million people will remain chronically undernourished by 2030 if no course correction occurs.
•  Impact on children: Rising food prices and poverty are fueling child malnutrition, including wasting and stunting. Hunger hotspots—such as Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali—face elevated famine risk. Despite aid efforts, funding cuts and conflict hamper nutrition interventions.
• Policy solutions and resilience: The report calls for coordinated policies spanning resilient food systems, social protection, investments in agriculture, climate‑smart infrastructure, and improved transparency. A “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health is emphasized. Strengthening institutional innovation and reducing barriers to healthy diet access are also prioritized.

India and UAE Sign Agreement on Maritime Security and Safety Cooperation

In the News: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the UAE National Guard Command signed a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)‑approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi during the 13th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting. The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable maritime environment in the region.

Key Points:

• Strategic MoU Signing: The MoU between ICG and UAE National Guard Command was signed during the JDCC meeting by DG Paramesh Sivamani (ICG) and Brigadier Staff Khalid Obaid Thani Al Shamsi in the presence of top-level defence officials.
•  Scope of Cooperation: This partnership—India's 10th maritime pact with friendly nations—focuses on core Coast Guard functions:
  • Maritime Search & Rescue (M‑SAR)
  • Combating transnational maritime crimes
  • Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE)
  • Marine Pollution Response (MPR)
  • Joint capacity‑building and professional exchange
• Defence Framework-Level Support: The agreement was approved by India’s CCS, reinforcing its alignment with the Government of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
• Broader Defence Agenda: The signature took place during the 13th JDCC—held at secretary level for the first time—which also established commitments to enhance military training cooperation, information sharing, and joint defence industry initiatives like small arms manufacturing and AI-enabled technologies development. 
• Operational Enhancement via Information Sharing: As part of the agreement, India and the UAE will cooperate on maritime security through real-time information sharing, improving situational awareness and coordinated response to threats.
• Context of Deepening Ties: The MoU is part of a larger push to elevate India–UAE defence collaboration across multiple domains—including Army, Navy, and inaugural Air‑to‑Air Staff Talks held July 28–29, 2025. India will also attend the Dubai Air Show in November 2025 to further boost defence industry engagement.

Kaziranga Bird Census: Tracking Grassland Birds Through Acoustic Monitoring

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the July 2025 edition of his Mann Ki Baat radio programme, highlighted India’s first-ever grassland bird census carried out in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Conducted using acoustic sound‐recording devices analyzed with artificial intelligence, the survey identified 43 grassland bird species, including several rare and endangered ones, without disturbing their habitat. It was carried out across 185 sites between March 18 and May 25, 2025.

Key Points:

• Pioneering Census in India: For the first time in the country, a targeted grassland bird census was implemented in Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve. It recorded 43 species, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species, all per IUCN Red List criteria.
•  Advanced Methodology: The survey employed passive acoustic monitoring during the birds’ breeding season (March–May). Recorders placed in tall trees near grasslands captured bird vocalizations. The audio data were processed using spectrogram analysis and AI‑based tools such as BirdNET for species identification. Survey coverage included 29 locations over three‐day cycles using six recorders.
• Focus on Threatened & Endemic Species: The census prioritized 10 globally threatened or Brahmaputra floodplain‐endemic species—including Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, Finn’s Weaver, Black‑breasted Parrotbill, and others.
•  Conservation Breakthrough: A notable discovery was a breeding colony of over 85 nests of the endangered Finn’s Weaver, indicating viable grassland habitat and effective management.
• Ecological Insight: Grassland birds were described as vital indicators of floodplain ecosystem health—akin to a BMI for human health. Their presence reflects habitat integrity in the Brahmaputra wetlands.
• Threats Ahead: Assam has lost approximately 70% of its grasslands over the last four decades due to overgrazing, land conversion, ecological succession, and the effects of climate change. These trends threaten the survival of grassland specialist species, some of which are endemic.