- India has rolled over a $50 million-treasury bill to support Maldives.
- The rollover of the $50 million treasury bill helps provide temporary relief to the Maldives, which is grappling with significant debt and economic strain.
- Despite the economic challenges and tensions in bilateral relations, this extension of financial assistance underscores India's strategic interest in maintaining stable ties with the Maldives, a key partner in the Indian Ocean region.
- The transaction was carried out by the State Bank of India, reflecting India’s active involvement in supporting the Maldives' financial stability. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 14-05-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 14 May, 2025
PDF - The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has established a new regional office in Srinagar, committed ₹100 crore to improve three National Waterways in the region — River Chenab (NW-26), River Jhelum (NW-49), and River Ravi (NW-84).
- National Waterways Act, 2016 has declared 111 inland waterways as ‘National Waterways’ (NWs) in the country to promote shipping and navigation on them.
- The total length of NWs is 20,275 km spread across 24 States in the country.
- Currently, Indian operates to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari - Krishna rivers. Read More
Strengthening Inland Water Transport in India
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Inland Water Transport in India
- In a bid to boost consumer trust and farmer incomes, the central government is likely to introduce a nationwide Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS).
- Lower Input Costs: Natural farming requires fewer external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can reduce overall production costs for farmers.
- Ensures Better Health: As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated.
- The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.
- Environment Conservation: Natural Farming ensures better soil biology, improved agro-biodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints. Read More
Natural Farming Certification System
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Benefits of Natural Farming
- Denmark has launched the world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant in Kasso.
- About: Methanol (CH₃OH) is a light, volatile, and flammable liquid alcohol. Conventionally produced from natural gas and coal, it is used in chemicals, fuels, and plastics.
- Applications: Used in shipping fuel, plastic production, manufacturing fuel cells etc. Read More
World’s First Commercial-scale e-methanol Plant Opens in Denmark
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What is Methanol?
- At the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC-83) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a landmark vote was held to adopt a Market-Based Measure (MBM) for decarbonising international shipping.
- The International Chamber of Shipping advocated for a fixed levy per every tonne of CO₂ emitted.
- China proposed a market-driven approach where ships could trade compliance units and invest in alternative fuels.
- The European Union suggested a fixed Greenhouse Gas (GHG) levy, managed by an IMO-administered fund.
- India proposed a ‘bridging mechanism’, which would target only under-compliant ships to bear the financial burden, while rewarding those using Zero or Near-Zero (ZNZ) fuels. Read More
How is the Shipping Industry Tackling Emissions?
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MEPC-83 Proposals for emissions levy mechanisms
- The President of India paid tributes to Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, former President of India on his birth anniversary.
- Early Life and Career: Born in 1905, Ahmed pursued his education in Delhi and later at the University of Cambridge. Upon returning to India, he practiced law and joined the Indian National Congress.
- Role in Freedom Struggle: He actively participated in the individual Satyagraha and Quit India Movement for which he was arrested in 1942.
- He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Career in Independent India: He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952 and subsequently to the Lok Sabha in 1967. He held portfolios such as Food and Agriculture, Cooperation, Education, Industrial Development, and Company Laws. Read More
