The annual crude birth rates for Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala are declining at twice the rate of the national average.
About
The data from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2021, was released by the Registrar General of India.
The SRS is the largest demographic survey in the country, meant to provide annual estimates on fertility and mortality indicators such as birth rates, death rates, etc.
The crude birth rate (CBR) is a demographic measure that indicates the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population during a specific time period, usually a year.
In FY 2024-25, Major Ports registered an impressive annual growth rate of 4.3% in cargo handling, increasing from 819 million tonnes in FY 2023-24 to ~855 million tonnes in FY 2024-25.
About
Average Turnaround Time (TRT) improved by 48%, reducing from 96 hours in FY 2014-15 to 49.5 hours in FY 2024-25.
Major Ports' financial performance has been equally impressive, with total income more than doubling over the past decade, registering a 7.5% CAGR over 10 years.
Operational efficiency also improved significantly, with the operating ratio declining from 64.7% in FY 2014-15 to 42.3% in FY 2024-25.
Private sector participation has been instrumental in this transformation, with investments in PPP projects at Major Ports increasing threefold.
Colombia formally agreed to join China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
China's Economic Influence & US Concerns
China is now the largest trading partner of several Latin American countries (Brazil, Chile, Peru).
China is expanding its footprint through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while the U.S. views Chinese presence near strategic locations like the Panama Canal as a national security threat.
The U.S. accuses China of trapping countries in unsustainable debt for geopolitical leverage.
Recently, the Union Minister of State for Communications, at the Bharat 6G International Conference, said that India has emerged as one of the top six nations globally in 6G patent filings.
Promise of 6G Technology
Sub-millisecond latency for ultra-fast connectivity.
Intelligent self-healing networks to enhance reliability.
Volumetric connectivity, extending from underwater to aerospace applications.
AI-native networks to enhance automation and efficiency.
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a Semiconductor Unit in Uttar Pradesh.
What is a Semiconductor?
Job Creation: Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in India create many direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Reduced Dependence on Imports: Establishing more domestic semiconductor industries will enhance the country's self-reliance and resilience in times of geopolitical tensions or disruptions in global supply chains.
Import Dependency: India imported ₹1.71 lakh crore worth of semiconductors in 2024. Nearly 38% came from China.
Export Opportunities: India's semiconductor market is projected to grow from $22 billion (2019) to $110 billion by 2030.
India launched its first cluster of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds for the cement sector.
About Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
Definition: Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to a set of technologies that involve capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sources like power plants and industrial facilities and then converting them into useful products.
Process: The first step involves separating CO2 from other gases emitted by industrial processes or even directly from the atmosphere (Direct Air Capture - DAC). Various technologies like solvent absorption, membrane separation, and adsorption are used for this purpose.
Examples of CO2 Utilisation: Injecting CO2 into oil reservoirs to increase oil extraction, CO2 can be combined with hydrogen to create synthetic fuels like methanol, ethanol or captured CO2 can be used to produce concrete, cement alternatives, and other construction materials.
According to a report more than 84% of the plastic waste collected in Himalayan region is posing serious environmental and systemic challenges.
About
According to data gathered from the Himalayan Cleanup (THC) 2024, conducted across nine Himalayan states, over 1.2 lakh pieces of waste were audited—88% of which were plastic.
Within plastic waste, 84.2% was attributed to food and beverage packaging, and 71% of this was non-recyclable.
Sikkim and Darjeeling (West Bengal) emerged as the top contributors in terms of volume, followed by Ladakh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand.
The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development held a non-deal investors meeting in Hong Kong.
About NaBFID
It is a specialised Development Finance Institution (DFI), established in 2021 under the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
Ministry: Ministry of Finance.
It is aimed at supporting the country's infrastructure sector, which can significantly gain from an enabling credit flow by means of attractive instruments and channelized investment.
The Bank was set up with the essential objectives of addressing the gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure development, strengthening the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India, and sustainably boosting the country's economy.
