Daily Current Affairs- 7th April 2025

Daily Current Affairs 7th April 2025

Tamil Nadu's Economic Growth in 2024-25

In the News: Tamil Nadu has achieved a remarkable real economic growth rate of 9.69% for the fiscal year 2024-25, marking the highest growth among Indian states and the state's best performance in the past decade.  

Key Highlights:

• Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP): The GSDP increased from ₹15.71 lakh crore in 2023-24 to ₹17.23 lakh crore in 2024-25.
• Nominal Growth Rate: The state recorded a nominal growth rate of 14.02% during the same period.

Sectoral Contributions:

• Tertiary (Services) Sector: Grew by 12.7%, with significant contributions from:
  • Real estate and professional services: 13.6% growth.
  • Communication and broadcasting: 13% growth.
  • Trade, hotels, and restaurants: 11.7% growth.
• Secondary Sector: Experienced a 9% growth, driven by:
  • Construction: 10.6% growth.
  • Manufacturing: 8% growth.
• Primary Sector: Showed minimal growth at 0.15%, with:
  • Crop production declining by 5.93%.
  • Livestock growing by 3.84%.

Comparative Performance:

• Tamil Nadu's previous highest growth rate was 8.59% in 2017-18.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the state maintained a positive growth rate of 0.07%, unlike many other states that experienced negative growth.

Future Outlook:

• Economists suggest that if all sectors grow 0.5 percentage points higher than their current rates, Tamil Nadu's growth could reach around 10.7% in 2025-26.
• Sustained growth at this pace, coupled with increased exports, could position Tamil Nadu to become a $1 trillion economy by 2032-33.  

U.S. Supreme Court denies Tahawwur Rana’s application seeking stay on extradition to India

In the News: On April 7, 2025, the United States Supreme Court denied Tahawwur Hussain Rana's application seeking a stay on his extradition to India, bringing him closer to facing charges related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Factual Details:

• Background: Tahawwur Rana, 64, is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. He is accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which resulted in over 160 deaths, including six Americans.
• Legal Proceedings:
  • In February 2025, Rana filed an "Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus" with Associate Justice Elena Kagan of the U.S. Supreme Court, which was denied in March.
  • Subsequently, he renewed his application, directing it to Chief Justice John Roberts. The Supreme Court distributed the application for conference on April 4, 2025, and ultimately denied it on April 7, 2025.
• Extradition Approval: The U.S. administration approved Rana's extradition to India in February 2025, following a meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Charges in India: Rana is alleged to have provided support to his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley, in scouting targets for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization, facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• Next Steps: With the Supreme Court's denial of his plea, Rana's legal options in the U.S. are now limited, paving the way for his extradition to India to face trial. 

India yet to secure offshore campus from leading global universities: Parliamentary panel

In the News: A Parliamentary panel, chaired by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, has observed that India has yet to attract campuses from leading global universities, including Ivy League institutions, and has recommended intensified efforts to address this shortfall.

Key Observations:

• Absence of Top-Tier Foreign Campuses: Despite India's vast student market and governmental initiatives promoting collaborations and joint degree programs, no campuses from premier global universities—such as those in the Ivy League, New York University, or Carnegie Mellon University—have been established in India.
• Existing Foreign University Campuses in India:
  • University of Southampton (UK): Planning to set up a campus in India in 2025.
  • Deakin University and University of Wollongong (Australia): Established campuses in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
  • Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University (UK): Received approval for campuses in GIFT City.

Recommendations by the Parliamentary Panel:

• Attracting Prestigious Institutions: The Department of Higher Education should actively pursue the establishment of campuses by esteemed global universities to provide Indian students with access to top-tier international education domestically.
• Enhancing the 'Study in India' Programme: Launched in 2018, this initiative aims to attract international students and promote Indian higher education globally. Efforts are concentrated on regions including South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
• Supernumerary Seats for Foreign Students: The UGC permits institutions to reserve up to 25% of their seats as supernumerary for foreign students. Universities are encouraged to establish international affairs offices and alumni connect cells to facilitate this initiative.
• Promoting Collaborative Research: A scheme supporting joint research projects between Indian and foreign institutions is in place, focusing on areas like emerging technologies, energy, sustainability, food security, healthcare, and industry. To date, 787 joint research proposals have been approved, involving collaborations with 28 countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Australia, and France. 

India's Position in Global AI Investments

In the News: India has emerged as a significant player in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), securing the 10th position globally in terms of private AI investments.

• The ranking of India as 10th globally in private Artificial Intelligence (AI) investments, with $1.4 billion in 2023, was reported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its Technology and Innovation Report 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Investment Volume: In 2023, India attracted $1.4 billion in private AI investments, underscoring its growing prominence in the AI sector.
• Developing Country Status: Alongside China, India is one of the only two developing nations with substantial private investments in AI, highlighting its pivotal role in the global AI landscape.

Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index:

India's preparedness for adopting advanced technologies has seen notable improvement:

• Current Ranking: India advanced to the 36th position out of 170 countries in the 2024 'Readiness for Frontier Technologies' Index, up from 48th in 2022.
• Component Rankings:
  • Research and Development (R&D): 3rd place, reflecting strong scientific research capabilities.
  • Industrial Capacity: 10th place, indicating robust manufacturing and industrial infrastructure.
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Deployment: 99th place.
  • Skills: 113th place.
  • Access to Finance: 70th place.

Global Context:

• Leading Nations: The United States leads with $67 billion in private AI investments, accounting for 70% of the global total, followed by China with $7.8 billion 

The US has deployed six B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia amid rising tensions with Iran.

In the News: In late March 2025, the United States deployed six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, a strategic military base in the Indian Ocean, amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Key Details:

• Deployment Overview:
  • Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC, analyzed in early April 2025, revealed the presence of at least six B-2 bombers at Camp Thunder Cove on Diego Garcia.
  • This deployment represents nearly one-third of the U.S. Air Force's B-2 fleet, which comprises 19 operational aircraft.
• Strategic Significance:
  • Diego Garcia's location, approximately 2,400 miles from Iran's southern coast, positions it within striking distance of both Iran and Yemen.
  • The B-2 bombers are capable of carrying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bomb designed to target deeply buried structures, such as underground nuclear facilities.
• Context of Deployment:
  • The deployment coincides with increased U.S. military activities in the Middle East, including airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
  • S. officials have indicated that these movements serve as a deterrent to Iran's nuclear ambitions and its support for regional proxy groups.
• Regional Reactions:
  • Iran has issued warnings to neighbouring countries against assisting the U.S. in any potential military action, viewing such cooperation as hostile.
  • The international community has expressed concern over the potential for escalating conflict in the region. 

Hitesh Gulia First Indian Boxer to Win Gold at the World Boxing Cup

In the News: Hitesh Gulia has made history by becoming the first Indian boxer to clinch a gold medal at the World Boxing Cup. His victory came in the men's 70kg category at the inaugural tournament held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, in April 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Final Match: Gulia was set to face England's Odel Kamara in the final bout. However, Kamara withdrew due to injury, resulting in a walkover and securing the gold medal for Gulia.
• Semi-Final Performance: Prior to the final, Gulia showcased exceptional skill by defeating French Olympian Makan Traore in the semi-finals, demonstrating his readiness for top-tier competition.
• Team India's Overall Performance: The Indian boxing contingent concluded the tournament with an impressive medal tally:
  • Gold: Hitesh Gulia (70kg)
  • Silver: Abhinash Jamwal (65kg)
  • Bronze: Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin (60kg), and Vishal (90kg).

Background on Hitesh Gulia:

• Early Life and Training: Originating from Jhajjar, Haryana, Gulia began boxing at the age of 10 to improve his fitness. His dedication led him to join the Indian Navy through the sports quota in 2022, where he received advanced training under coach M. Suranjoy Singh.
• Domestic Achievements: Representing the Services team, Gulia secured gold medals at the Senior National Men's Boxing Championships in January 2025 and at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. 

 Breakthrough Prize 2025

In the News: The Breakthrough Prize, often referred to as the "Oscars of Science," is an annual award that honours significant advancements in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics. Established in 2013 by tech visionaries including Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki, the prize aims to celebrate scientists' achievements and inspire future generations in scientific exploration.

2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony:

• Date and Venue: The 11th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony took place on April 5, 2025, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
• Attendees: The event was attended by a blend of scientific luminaries and celebrities, including Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Gayle King, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek Pinault, Bill Gates, and Rupert Murdoch.

2025 Laureates and Their Contributions:

1. Life Sciences:
   • GLP-1 Hormone Research: Daniel J. Drucker, Joel Habener, Jens Juul Holst, Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, and Svetlana Mojsov were recognized for their discovery and characterization of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone. Their work has been instrumental in developing treatments for diabetes and obesity, leading to drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
   • Multiple Sclerosis Research: Stephen L. Hauser and Alberto Ascherio received the prize for transformative research on multiple sclerosis (MS). Hauser identified B cells as key drivers in MS, leading to effective B-cell-targeting therapies. Ascherio established a significant link between Epstein-Barr virus infection and increased MS risk.
   • Gene Editing Innovations: David R. Liu was honoured for developing base editing and prime editing technologies, which allow precise correction of genetic mutations without cutting the DNA double helix. These advancements have potential applications in treating various genetic diseases.
2. Fundamental Physics:
   • The prize was awarded to over 13,000 researchers from the ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb experiments at CERN for their contributions to understanding fundamental particles and forces.
3. Mathematics:
   • Dennis Gaitsgory was recognized for his work on the geometric Langlands program, providing deep insights into connections between number theory and geometry.

Significance of the Breakthrough Prize:

Each Breakthrough Prize carries a monetary award of $3 million, making it one of the most substantial in the scientific community. The prize not only acknowledges groundbreaking research but also aims to elevate public awareness of scientific achievements and inspire future innovation.