Daily Current Affairs- 3rd August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd August 2025

First Private Railway Station of Uttar Pradesh: Gomti Nagar Station, Lucknow

In the News: Indian Railways announced that Gomti Nagar Railway Station in Lucknow will become Uttar Pradesh’s first privately managed station, and the first such project in the North Eastern Railway zone. This initiative is being rolled out under the Integrated Station Facility Management System (ISFMS), with private operators now responsible for all passenger services except train operations, security, and ticketing.

Key Points

• Management Mode;: Operates under a hybrid model: Indian Railways retains control over train movement, security, and ticketing
  • Private consortiums manage: cleanliness & waste, waiting & retiring rooms, toilets, catering, parking, vending, digital displays, and commercial leasing.  
• Contract & Revenue Share: Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) will invite bidders and award 9-year operational licences, with an optional 3-year extension. RLDA retains 15% of license fees, 85% is remitted to Indian Railways. 
• Modern Amenities & Infrastructure Upgrades: Station is already equipped with solar rooftop panels, 14 lifts, 13 escalators, and newly constructed commercial blocks, along with a 28-meter-wide concourse and a 458-meter flyover   Plans include airport-style lounge, branded food courts, retail zones, and enhanced crowd flow systems.
• Pilot Project Within Smart Station Strategy: Gomti Nagar and Chandigarh station are the first two pilot stations under ISFMS within Indian Railways to test privatization of station amenities Gomti Nagar’s status was officially recognized in the PIB Year-End Review 2024 as the “first phase of Gomti Nagar Station of North Eastern Railway” redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

PM Ekta Malls (Prime Minister’s ‘Unity Malls’): National Roll‑Out for ODOP, GI & Handicrafts

In the News: The Union Government (Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance), based on recommendations from DPIIT, approved 27 states for the construction of PM Ekta Malls—special retail outlets dedicated to One District One Product (ODOP), Geographical Indication (GI), and local handicraft merchandise, under Part VI of SASCI 2023‑24. In the same fiscal, state-specific Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were sanctioned with funding nearing ₹4,796 crore. A pooled budget of ₹5,000 crore has been earmarked, with states offered one mall allocation (UP gets three due to scale), and land to be provided by state governments at no or minimal cost.

Key Points

• Scheme Launch & Objectives: The PM Ekta Mall scheme was first unveiled in the 2023–24 Union Budget to create unified retail spaces—preferably in state capitals, tourist or business hubs—for states and Union Territories to showcase ODOP and GI-tagged goods across a country‑wide ‘Unity Mall’ network.
• Budget & Approval Status: A total budget of ₹5,000 crore was set aside in SASCI Part‑VI; `27 states’ DPRs were approved in FY 2023‑24, with nearly ₹4,796 crore released for project initiation. States that have not yet commenced DPR finalisation include West Bengal, Delhi, J&K, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• State-wise Focus & Major Allocations
  • Uttar Pradesh (due to its craft diversity and scale) was allocated the maximum of ₹370.25 crore to build three Ekta Malls at Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi.
  • Major allocations also went to Madhya Pradesh (₹284 crore, Ujjain), Assam (₹226 crore, Guwahati), Tamil Nadu (₹223 crore, Chennai), Bihar (₹212.69 crore, Patna), Gujarat and Telangana (₹202 crore each).

• Operational Model: Under SASCI guidance, states must provide land (free or state-borne cost) and build as per DPR standards. Malls will be implemented on a first-come, first-serve basis, designed to host dedicated sections for each State/UT under a single branding model with robust connectivity, visibility, and retail infrastructure.
• Long-term Vision: These malls aim to become permanent marketplaces for local artisans and micro‑enterprises, providing premium retail presence and supply-chain visibility in major urban centres, promoting direct artisan-to-consumer linkages along the lines of global handicraft showrooms.

India Achieves 20% Ethanol Blending in Petrol

In the News: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that India had reached 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol—achieving this milestone five years ahead of the original 2030 deadline. The breakthrough was officially attained during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024‑25, marking a major chapter in India’s energy transition and rural advancement.

Key Highlights

• Accelerated Progress: Ethanol blending steadily increased: 10% by June 2022, 12.06% in ESY 2022‑23, 14.60% in ESY 2023‑24, and 17.98% by 28 Feb 2025, culminating in the 20% milestone in mid‑2025.
• Production Surge & Supply: Ethanol supply grew from 38 crore litres (2013‑14) to 661.1 crore litres by June 2025—a nearly 17× increase, sufficient to sustain full E20 blending.
• Economic & Environmental Benefits India saved approximately ₹1.36 lakh crore in foreign exchange by substituting fossil fuels. Distilleries earned ₹1.96 lakh crore; farmers received ₹1.18 lakh crore boosting rural incomes and sugarcane-supported ethanol value chain. CO₂ emissions were reduced by about 698 lakh tonnes, aiding climate mitigation goals.
• Policy Measures Driving Change: In 2022, the National Policy on Biofuels accelerated the E20 target to ESY 2025‑26. Measures included interest subvention schemes, expanding feedstocks (grains, sugarcane, maize, agricultural residue), reduced GST (5%) on ethanol, Long-Term Offtake Agreements with Dedicated Ethanol Plants (DEPs), and introduction of flex-fuel vehicle norms.
• Roadmap & Tech Readiness: Engine compatibility for E20 (with minor hardware or tuning adjustments) was validated; SIAM affirmed minimal performance or wear issues. A public roadmap (2020–25) outlined strategic steps: feedstock diversification, capacity expansion to 1,700 crore litre/year, and logistics efficiencies.

Tiger Introduction in Debrigarh Sanctuary – Odisha’s Big‑Cat Conservation Drive

In the News: On 29 July 2025, marking International Tiger Day, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha announced that the Odisha government has received technical approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to convert Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary into a Tiger Reserve and to introduce tigers into its ecosystem. An expert committee has been set up to identify core and buffer zones; once finalized, steps will be taken to relocate tigers to the sanctuary. 

Key Points

• Pending Notification, NTCA Approval Since 2023: Although NTCA’s technical committee had cleared the sanctuary in January 2023, following the natural movement of a tiger into Debrigarh which previously had none—the Odisha government has yet to formally notify it as a tiger reserve. 
• Expert Committee & Zoning Plan: Chaired by ex-NTCA member secretary Anup Nayak, the committee includes Wildlife Institute of India scientist Dr Bivash Pandav and academic Hema Kumar Nayak. It will delineate a ≈353 km² core devoid of habitation and calculate buffer zones before tiger introduction. 
• Debrigarh’s Status & Biodiversity: Covering ~346.9 km², near Hirakud Dam in Bargarh, Debrigarh is a UNESCO-recognized sanctuary since 1985. It supports over 40 mammal species including leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, chousingha, dholes, and migratory birds, making it ideal for big‑cat restoration. 
• Historical Relocation Challenges in Odisha: The Satkosia release of tigress Sundari (2018) failed tragically when the female earned a reputation due to alleged human conflict; the male, Mahavir, died in a poacher trap. In contrast, Similipal Tiger Reserve’s last-year relocation of Jamuna and Zeenat was ~80% successful, though Zeenat briefly wandered into neighbouring states before returning to her territory. These cases inform risk mitigation strategies for Debrigarh. 
• Prey Supplementation & Community Engagement: NTCA recommends prey species translocation to ensure sustainable food chains. The state plans to hold gram sabhas across 54 buffer villages, ensuring local participation in the reserve’s declaration and long‑term coexistence strategies. 

AIFF Appoints Khalid Jamil as Head Coach of India Senior Men’s Football Team

In the News: The All India Football Federation (AIFF), via its Executive Committee (EC) (virtually chaired by President Kalyan Chaubey), officially appointed Khalid Jamil as the next head coach of the Indian Senior Men’s National Football Team, a historic first for the national side in 13 years.  

Key Points

• Appointment & Process: Khalid Jamil was selected during an EC meeting following a recommendation by the AIFF’s Technical Committee. A SWOT exercise evaluated him alongside Stephen Constantine and Štefan Tarkovič, and a majority ruled in favour of making Jamil the head coach for the team’s upcoming fixtures.
• Historical Significance: Jamil becomes the first Indian to be appointed as permanent head coach of the senior team since Savio Medeira (2011–12) marking a notable shift back to domestic leadership .
• Coach Profile & Credentials: An ex-international midfielder with over 40 caps for India, Jamil holds an AFC Pro License. He shot to fame by leading Aizawl FC to a miraculous I‑League title in 2017, followed by strong performances with NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC (including an ISL semifinal and Super Cup final in 2024).
• Rationale & Selection Strategy: Senior advisors like former national coach Armando Colaco and football legend Shabbir Ali urged the EC to favour an Indian coach, citing the need to nurture home‑grown talent. Technical panel Chair IM Vijayan pointed out that India achieved its highest FIFA rankings under Indian coaches like Sukhwinder Singh and Syed Nayeemuddin. Jamil’s dual recognition as AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year (2023–24 & 2024–25) reinforced his candidacy 
• Immediate Challenges & Fixture Schedule: With the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 and back-to-back AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers vs Singapore scheduled within weeks, Jamil inherits a tight timeline to rebuild team confidence and tactical identity