30 January 2025: Daily Current Affairs Updates

Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas) 2025 Why in the News: India observes Martyrs' Day every year on January 30 to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to honour his contribution towards the freedom of the country.

• Date and Observance:

• India observes Martyrs' Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day, on January 30 each year.

• It holds special significance as it marks the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

• Gandhi (Father of the Nation) was shot by Nathuram Godse at Birla House in New Delhi during an evening prayer meeting.

• Mahatma Gandhi's Contribution and Legacy:

• Mahatma Gandhi played a crucial role in India's struggle for independence by advocating non-violence and peaceful resistance.

• His efforts helped unite people against British rule through movements like the Non-cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Champaran Satyagraha, and the Khilafat Movement.

o. His philosophy of truth and non-violence influenced not just India but the world, inspiring global movements for justice and peace.

o. Every year, January 30 is observed as Mahatma Gandhi Punyatithi in remembrance of his life and ideals.

• Historical Background:

• On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was on his way to an evening prayer meeting at Birla Bhavan in Delhi

• He was accompanied by his grandnieces when he was confronted by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist.

• Godse fired three shots at Gandhi's chest, leading to his immediate death.

• According to historical accounts, Gandhi's last words were "Hey Ram."

• Godse opposed Gandhi's views on India's partition, which led to this tragic event.

• Significance of Martyrs' Day:

• Martyrs' Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for India's independence.

•. The day commemorates Gandhi's legacy and his unwavering commitment to non-violence and unity.

o. It reinforces the importance of peace, truth, and justice in society.

•. Gandhi's principles continue to inspire movements advocating non-violent resistance worldwide.

• Each year, on this day, citizens pay tribute to Gandhi and other martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation's freedom and progress. 2. Baltic Sea Why in the news: NATO said that it would deploy frigates, patrol aircraft and drones

in the Baltic Sea after a series of incidents where ships have damaged power and communications cables.

• Location and Formation:

• The Baltic Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean and is located in Northern Europe.

• It is the youngest sea on Earth, having formed approximately 10,000 to 15,000 years ago as glaciers receded following the last Ice Age.

• Bordering Countries and Coastline:

• The Baltic Sea has a coastline stretching around 8,000 km, shared by multiple nations, including Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, and Russia.

• Connections to Other Water Bodies:

• It links to the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits.

• The Baltic Sea is also connected to the White Sea via the White Sea Canal and to the North Sea's German Bight through the Kiel Canal.

Salinity and Water Characteristics:

• The Baltic Sea is considered the world's largest brackish inland water body. o Due to its shallow depth and the continuous inflow of freshwater from surrounding land, its salinity levels are lower than those of the world's oceans. 3. PM Fasal Bima Yojana Why in the news: The Union Government has decided to expand the ambit of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, to include crop damage by animals as a ground for payouts.

• Introduction:

• Launched on 18th February 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a crop insurance scheme under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture.

• The scheme is designed to offer financial security to farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities such as hailstorms, droughts, and famines, as well as damages due to pests and diseases.

• It provides cost-effective crop insurance to farmers across India and is implemented through a network of insurance companies and banks.

• Objectives of PMFBY:

• To extend financial support to farmers facing crop damage or loss due to unforeseen events.

• To stabilize farmers' income, ensuring continuity in agricultural activities.

• To promote the adoption of modern and advanced agricultural techniques.

• To encourage crop diversification, improve creditworthiness, enhance agricultural sector growth, and shield farmers from production risks.

• Eligibility Criteria:

• General Eligibility: All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, cultivating notified crops in designated areas, are eligible for coverage.

• Compulsory and Voluntary Components: Farmers who have availed Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from financial institutions for the notified crops are automatically covered. Non-loanee farmers can opt for the scheme on a voluntary basis.

• Additional Requirements:

• Farmers must have an insurable interest in the crops being insured

• They must possess a valid and authenticated land ownership certificate or a valid land tenure agreement.

• Farmers should not have received compensation for the same crop loss from any other source.

• Special provisions are made to ensure maximum participation of SC, ST, and women farmers under the scheme.

• Budget allocation and utilization must be proportional to land holdings of SC, ST, and general category farmers, along with women, in each state cluster.

• Benefits of PMFBY:

• Affordable Premiums:

Farmers pay a subsidized premium rate of 2% for Kharif food and oilseed crops.

For Rabi food and oilseed crops, the premium is 1.5%, while for annual commercial and horticultural crops, it is 5%.

The remaining premium is borne by the government.

For farmers in the North-Eastern States, Jammu, Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, the government covers the entire premium amount. 4. Wetland Accredited Cities List Why in the news: Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to join the global list of accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

• Wetland Accredited Cities:

• The Wetland City Accreditation is a voluntary recognition program that allows cities to gain international acknowledgment for their efforts in conserving and managing natural or human-made wetlands.

• This initiative was approved during the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) of the Ramsar Convention in 2015.

• Objective:

• The program seeks to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in urban and peri-urban areas.

• It aims to provide socio-economic benefits to local communities while promoting responsible management of wetland ecosystems.

• Accreditation Validity and Renewal:

• The Wetland City Accreditation is granted for a period of six years.

• Cities must meet specific criteria to maintain their accreditation, requiring a renewal process to ensure continued adherence to wetland conservation standards.

• Recognition for Wetland Conservation:

• The accreditation acknowledges cities that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in protecting and managing their urban wetlands.

• It emphasizes the significance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban settings and encourages cities to implement measures for their preservation.

• Accreditation Criteria:

• To receive formal accreditation, cities must comply with the six international criteria outlined in the Operational Guidance for Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

• Global Recognition:

• Since Ramsar COP13, a total of 74 cities across 17 countries have been officially designated as "Wetland Cities."