Daily Current Affairs- 9th July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 9th July 2025

Bihar Reserves 35% Government Jobs for Domicile Women

In the News:  On July 8–9, 2025, the Bihar Cabinet under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved a major revision in its women’s reservation policy—restricting the 35% quota in government jobs to women who are permanent residents (domicile) of Bihar. This decision, announced ahead of state assembly elections, further includes the formation of a Bihar Youth Commission and support measures for differently-abled candidates.

Key Points:

• Quota Revision: The existing 35% horizontal reservation for women in state government jobs—originally available to all women regardless of origin—is now confined strictly to those with Bihar domicile status.
• Domicile Criteria Clarified: Eligible women must be permanent residents—having lived in Bihar for at least three years, owning property, or being married to a Bihari resident. Voter ID can serve as supporting evidence. 
• Exclusion of Non‑residents: Women from other states will henceforth compete under the general category, although current non‑resident women already employed retain their reserved positions.
• Associated Announcements: The Cabinet also approved forming the Bihar Youth Commission to promote local youth welfare, and expanded financial support to differently-abled candidates under schemes like ‘Sambal.’
• Pensions Boost: Monthly pensions for widowed and differently‑abled women increased from ₹400 to ₹1,000.
• Political Timing: The policy comes just before the October–November assembly elections, reflecting mounting calls for domicile-based reservations and seen as a strategy to strengthen support among local women voters. 

Banakacherla Project

In the News: In June 2025, a renewed interstate dispute emerged between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regarding the Polavaram–Banakacherla (Godavari–Krishna–Penna) river-linking initiative. The Andhra Pradesh government, led by CM Chandrababu Naidu, is fast‑tracking tenders and DPR preparation for the ₹80,000–82,000 crore project–aimed at diverting surplus Godavari floodwaters to drought‑prone Rayalaseema. Telangana, under CM Revanth Reddy, opposes the move, citing violations of the 2014 Reorganisation Act, tribunal awards, and procedural clearances .

Key Points:

• Project Scope & Cost: Aimed at linking Godavari floodwaters to Krishna and Penna basins via Polavaram right canal, tunnels under Nallamala forests, and lift schemes to Banakacherla reservoir. Estimated cost: ₹80,000–82,000 crore, covering ~40,000 acres including forest areas. The Centre may fund 50% under river-linking schemes, with 20% grant, 10% state, and 20% private under HAM .
• Water Volume & Sources: Seeks to divert approx. 200 TMC of 'surplus' flood water from Godavari annually (~3,000 TMC unused currently). AP maintains it uses only unallocated floodwaters, not infringing secured shares .
• Telangana’s Opposition:Telangana govt argues the project breaches the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and Godavari & Krishna tribunal awards.They demand project be put in abeyance until Apex Council approvals (KRMB, GRMB), CWC clearance, and environmental assessments are complete .
• Political & Legal Maneuvers:CM Revanth Reddy offered Ap a reciprocal 1,580 TMC share from Godavari/Krishna if they granted NOC for Telangana projects, cautioning legal action otherwise .Senior Telangana leaders, including BRS and Congress, urged Central intervention, an Apex Council meeting, and even public mobilization .
• Support & Critique within AP:AP’s Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu assured the project won't affect upstream states or violate agreements, reaffirming it's based solely on surplus waters .Conversely, retired officials & experts criticized it, highlighting potential high maintenance costs (~₹50,000 per acre), erosion of AP’s legal claim on Krishna waters, flood risks around Vijayawada, and contractor-driven concerns—urging alternatives like gravity-based links .
•  Centre & Technical Processes:AP government has begun issuing tenders, set to prepare DPR vetted by oversight bodies. Central govt raised queries about energy requirements for lift schemes and feasibility of handling simultaneous floodwaters Pending approvals from KRMB, GRMB, CWC, and potentially Apex Council remain roadblocks cited by Telangana . 

FATF Flags E‑Commerce in Terror Financing Risks
In the News: On July 8, 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released its “Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks,” warning that e‑commerce, digital payment platforms, and VPNs are increasingly being exploited to facilitate terrorist financing. Highlighting cases like India’s 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple incident, the report signals urgent gaps in surveillance and cross-border regulation .

Key Points:

• Exploitation of E‑Commerce Platforms: Terrorists are using online marketplaces (EPOMs) like Amazon to procure chemicals and bomb components, as seen in the Pulwama IED case. Aluminum powder and other materials were bought online and used in explosives . 
• Use of Online Payment Systems & VPNs: Digital payment services such as PayPal, plus VPNs, have been used to transfer funds anonymously across borders—for instance, the Gorakhnath attacker transferred around ₹669,841 via PayPal to ISIL-linked accounts while concealing his IP . 
• Complex Trade‑Based Money‑Laundering: E‑commerce transactions are being misused to disguise illicit value transfers—buying goods in one place and selling in another to access clean profits for funding.
• Structural Weaknesses in Regulation: FATF reports that 69% of jurisdictions lack sufficient capabilities to investigate and prosecute such terrorist financing cases effectively .
• State Sponsorship Concern: The report also highlights that some terrorist groups receive direct financial/logistical support from state actors, complicating detection efforts .
• Emerging Digital Trends: Increasing integration of diverse TF methods includes using virtual assets, crowdfunding, and gaming platforms to raise terror funds . 

PARAKH RS Survey – India’s Learning Gaps in School Education

In the News: On July 9, 2025, the 2025 PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (RS) survey—India’s largest-ever assessment involving 21.15 lakh students from Grades 3, 6, and 9 across 781 districts—revealed troubling learning deficits in literacy, numeracy, science, and social science, prompting urgent calls for foundational education reforms and improved subject-specific outcomes .

Key Points:

• Survey Scope & Reach: 21,15,022 students assessed from 74,229 schools across 781 districts. Also included inputs from 2.7 lakh teachers/school leaders .
• Grade‑3 Findings (Foundational Stage): Only 55% could correctly order numbers up to 99; 54–58% could perform basic two-digit addition/subtraction . Language proficiency: ~67% vocabulary use, ~60% comprehension of short stories .
• Grade‑6 Highlights (Preparatory Stage): Math weaknesses: only 54% understood place value; only 29–38% dealt with fractions and real-life arithmetic problems. “The World Around Us”: 44% could identify surroundings; 38% made predictions; 56% understood community systems .
• Grade‑9 Performance (Middle Stage):Math/Science/social science deficits: only 31% understood number sets; 28% applied percentages; 37% explained natural phenomena; ~34% distinguished living vs non-living; ~45% grasped constitutional values; 54% had news comprehension
• Disparities & Trends:Steep drop in competency from Grades 3→9, particularly in applied learning . Rural/urban divide: rural better in Grade 3, urban outperformed later grades; gender gaps less pronounced but present Institutional differences: Kendriya Vidyalayas poor in Grade 3 maths but excelled in Grade 9 language .
• State/District Variations:Top performers: Punjab, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh across grades; Chandigarh & Dadra & Nagar Haveli in middle/upper grades . Lagging regions: Sahebganj (Jharkhand), Reasi & Rajouri (J&K) in Grade 3; various parts of Meghalaya & Arunachal in Grades 6 & 9 . Telangana showed marked improvement, moving from 36th to 26th in Grade 3, and similar gains in Grades 6 and 9 

Bulgaria to Join Eurozone as 21st Member from January 1, 2026

In the News: On July 8, 2025, EU finance ministers approved the final legal measures enabling Bulgaria to adopt the euro starting January 1, 2026. Once adopted, Bulgaria will become the 21st country in the eurozone—a milestone in its EU integration since joining in 2007 .

Key Points:

• Final Approval: The EU Council adopted three essential legal acts, including fixing the conversion rate at €1 = 1.95583 levs, officially recognizing Bulgaria as the 21st eurozone member effective January 1, 2026 . 
• Rigorous Convergence Criteria Met: Bulgaria met all Maastricht accession benchmarks—price stability, public finances, interest rates, and a stable ERM II exit rate of 1.95583 lev/€, with inflation at ~2.7% (below the 2.8% threshold). 
• Strong Institutional Backing: The European Parliament approved the move by a large margin (561–69–79), and the European Commission and ECB had issued favorable convergence assessments in early June .
• Economic Rationale: Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov projected that euro adoption would boost growth, purchasing power, investment inflows, and convergence toward EU living standards. Safeguards are planned to protect consumers—such as transparent pricing, no conversion fees, and monitoring framework .
• Public Reaction & Challenges: Surveys show public opinion is split (approx. 45% support vs. 53% opposition), with concerns over inflation and erosion of monetary sovereignty. Protests occurred; some political parties even proposed a referendum which was blocked as unconstitutional . 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Honoured with Brazil’s Highest Civilian Award

In the News: On July 8, 2025, during his state visit to Brazil following the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil’s highest civilian honour. The accolade—bestowed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—marks Modi’s 26th global award and reflects deepening diplomatic ties between India and Brazil .

Key Points: 

• Prestigious Award: Modi received the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross—the country’s most distinguished civilian honour—during a ceremony at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia on July 8, 2025 .
• Diplomatic Significance: The award recognises his “notable contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation across global platforms such as BRICS, G20, and UN,” as stated by the Brazilian government and MEA .
• Celebratory Welcome: Modi was received with a grand ceremonial welcome—114‑horse salute at Alvorada Palace and vibrant cultural performances by the Batala Mundo Afro‑Brazilian band at the airport—further symbolising the strong cultural and diplomatic ties.
• Expressing Gratitude: In public remarks, PM Modi expressed deep pride, stating the honour was “a moment of immense pride and emotion, not only for me, but also for 140 crore Indians.” He also thanked President Lula and the people of Brazil . 
• International Recognition: This marks Modi’s 26th international civilian honour, following awards from countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Cyprus, and more, showcasing his rising stature on the global stage. 

What is the European Union’s CBAM, and why has BRICS condemned and rejected it

In the News:  On July 8–9, 2025, the BRICS bloc formally “condemned and rejected” the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), characterizing it as a “unilateral, punitive and discriminatory protectionist measure” that undermines developing economies' ability to invest in their climate transitions and floods exports with disadvantageous costs .

Key Points:

• What is CBAM? A mechanism under the EU’s “Fit for 55” package, CBAM imposes a carbon price on imports of goods like steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen—equivalent to EU ETS prices—aiming to prevent ‘carbon leakage’ by internalising carbon costs.
• Purpose & Phase-in: Designed to level the playing field between EU and non‑EU producers by applying the same emissions costs to imports. Transitional reporting effective from October 2023–2025; full implementation begins January 1, 2026 .
• BRICS Standpoint: BRICS countries argue CBAM acts as a carbon tariff—“a carbon border tax … penaliz[ing] exporters lacking robust carbon pricing”. They view it as discriminatory: “not in line with international law… undermining their capacities to invest in their transitions and development priorities” .
• Trade & Development Implications: CBAM could increase export costs for developing nations, reduce export competitiveness, and disrupt global value chains. BRICS expressed concerns that CBAM diverts critical financial resources away from domestic climate action in emerging economies . 

Gene-Edited Japonica Rice

In the News: In July 2025, scientists at Delhi’s National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) announced the development of a CRISPR‑Cas9–edited japonica rice variety that significantly enhances phosphate uptake and yields—achieving up to 20% yield gain with full fertilizer, and a remarkable 40% boost when phosphate use is cut to just 10% of usual recommendations .

Key Points:

• Target Crop & Context: The improvement was engineered in the japonica rice cultivar “Nipponbare,” a model variety used for genetic studies . Japonica is high-starch, short-grain rice mainly grown in East Asia and ideal for controlled breeding .
• Genetic Editing Focus: Researchers targeted the phosphate transporter gene OsPHO1;2, essential for moving phosphorus from roots to shoots .A key repressor (OsWRKY6) regulating this gene was modified: instead of full removal, only a 30-base‐pair repressor-binding sequence was precisely deleted using CRISPR .This allowed increased OsPHO1;2 expression without disrupting other regulatory functions .
• Yield & Fertiliser Impact: Under full fertiliser use, edited lines yielded ~20% more.Impressively, even with just 10% of recommended phosphate, yields were 40% higher than controls . Enhanced phosphate absorption led to more panicles and seeds, while seed size and quality remained unchanged .
• Genome Integrity & Biosafety Measures:No foreign DNA (like Cas9 vector) remained in the final plant lines—they were removed by Mendelian segregation . Comprehensive checks (e.g., in silico predictions, genome scans) identified no off-target mutations  

Great Nicobar Project EIA Downplays Earthquake Risk
In the News:  In early July 2025, scrutiny intensified around the ₹72,000‑crore Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project (GNIP), after an IIT‑Kanpur report warned of significant seismic and tsunami hazards. Critics argue the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) minimizes these threats despite the region’s history as a high‑risk seismic zone, notably hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: GNIP includes an international container transshipment port, greenfield airport, township, cruise terminal, ship‑repair facilities, and a 450 MVA gas‑solar power plant, located around Galathea Bay on Great Nicobar Island.
• Seismic Risk Assessment: EIA prepared by Vimta Labs leans on a 2019 IIT‑Kanpur study, estimating a 420–750‑year return period for magnitude‑9+ quakes and 80–120 years for >7.5 magnitude events. It asserts that the likelihood of a repeat of the 2004 tsunami‑triggering quake is low.
• Criticism of EIA Methods: Experts highlight major gaps: EIA relies on secondary data, lacks site‑specific seismic and tsunami studies, and omits indications of strain accumulation and a 2,000‑year sediment record gap—all critical for accurate risk forecasting.
• Geological Sensitivity: The island lies on the Andaman–Sumatra subduction zone, historically active, with sediment records showing seven tsunamis over the past 8,000 years. Local fault lines and soil types also heighten seismic vulnerability and liquefaction risk.
• Expert & Regulatory Warnings: Scientists like Prof. C.P. Rajendran (NIAS) and Prof. Javed Malik (IIT‑Kanpur) stress the need for field‑based seismic analysis. The National Green Tribunal has mandated EIA reappraisal over ecological, geological, and tribal safety concerns.