Daily Current Affairs - 14th October 2025

Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).

Economics Nobel Prize 2025

1. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt.

2. The award recognizes their contributions "for explaining innovation-driven economic growth."

3. One half of the prize has been awarded to Joel Mokyr.

   • Joel Mokyr is recognized "for identifying the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress."

4. The other half of the prize is jointly awarded to Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt.

   • Aghion and Howitt are honored "for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction."

5. All three economists observed that, for the first time in history, the past two centuries have witnessed sustained global economic growth.

Joel Mokyr’s Contribution

1. Joel Mokyr described the mechanisms that enable scientific breakthroughs and practical applications to enhance each other.

2. He explained how this interaction creates a self-generating process of technological advancement.

3. He identified the prerequisites for sustained economic growth.

4. One such prerequisite is the continual flow of useful knowledge.

5. Useful knowledge includes two types: Propositional Knowledge and Prescriptive Knowledge.

   • Propositional Knowledge demonstrates why something works (i.e., theoretical understanding or scientific principles).

   • Prescriptive Knowledge describes what is necessary for something to work (i.e., technical know-how or practical methods).

6. Another key factor is Commercial Knowledge.

   • Commercial Knowledge refers to the ability to transform ideas into commercial products or innovations.

7. Mokyr also emphasized the importance of Societal Openness to Change.

   • Societal Openness to Change refers to the willingness of society to accept, support, and adapt to innovations.

Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt’s Contribution

1. Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt developed the theory of Creative Destruction.

   • Creative Destruction is a process where innovation drives economic growth by replacing outdated products and technologies.

   • It is termed "creative" because it builds upon new and better innovations.

   • It is also "destructive" because it causes older products or technologies to become obsolete.

   • Obsolete products lose their commercial value, leading to the exit of companies that continue offering them.

2. Aghion and Howitt formulated a mathematical model to explain this process.

3. Their model captures how innovation-based competition leads to continuous economic development.

4. This model shows that new entrants in the market, using advanced technologies, displace incumbent firms.

5. Thus, Creative Destruction explains how technological progress both disrupts and propels economic systems.

First IUCN Green Status of Species Assessment for the Tiger Released

1. The first IUCN Green Status of Species assessment has been released for the Tiger (Panthera tigris).

2. In this assessment, the Tiger is classified as ‘Critically Depleted’.

   • The term ‘Critically Depleted’ indicates a severe decline in population due to both historical and ongoing threats.

3. The major threats to tigers include habitat loss, prey depletion, poaching, and regional extinctions.

Key Findings of the Assessment

1. The current population trend of tigers is decreasing.

2. The estimated number of mature individual tigers is between 2,608 and 3,905.

3. Tigers are now extinct in 9 out of the 24 areas that were evaluated.

4. Tigers remain threatened in all spatial units where they still persist.

5. The status of Conservation Legacy is assessed as High.

6. The Recovery Potential of the species is assessed as Medium.

About the IUCN Green Status of Species

1. The IUCN Green Status of Species was launched in 2012.

2. It is developed as a complementary tool to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

3. In 2020, it became an optional component of the Red List assessments.

4. The Green Status provides a framework to assess the recovery of species’ populations.

5. It also evaluates the impact of conservation efforts, alongside the risk of extinction.

6. The Green Status includes multiple categories such as Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, and Fully Recovered.

How Green Status Defines Species Recovery

1. A species is considered Fully Recovered when it exists in all parts of its historical range.

   • Historical range includes areas that were lost due to human impact.

2. The species must also be viable, meaning not at risk of extinction across its range.

3. Additionally, it must perform its ecological functions in all parts of its range.

4. These criteria together generate a Green Score.

5. The Green Score ranges from 0 to 100%, indicating how close a species is to full recovery.

About the Tiger (Panthera tigris)

1. The Tiger is the largest wild cat species in the world.

2. India holds almost 75% of the world’s wild tiger population.

3. Range countries for the tiger include Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, among others.

4. Tigers inhabit diverse ecosystems such as forests, savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and inland wetlands.

5. The tiger is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

6. It is also protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India).

7. Additionally, the tiger is included in Appendix I of CITES, which prohibits international trade in wild-caught tigers and their body parts.

India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries – Report by NITI Aayog

1. NITI Aayog has released a report titled “India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries.”

2. This strategy is critical as the Blue Economy is recognized as a core sector of India's economic growth.

3. India aims to develop a US$100 billion Blue Economy by 2030.

Key Findings of the Report

1. The report highlights that the overall potential of fisheries resources in India is estimated at 7.16 million tonnes.

2. This potential remains largely unexploited, especially in deep-sea and offshore areas.

Key Challenges Identified

1. The report identifies significant Infrastructure and Technological Gaps in the fisheries sector.

2. Currently, only 90 fishing harbours in India are adequately equipped to handle larger deep-sea fishing vessels.

3. Efficient harvesting of deep-sea resources continues to be a technological challenge.

4. The report also highlights Regulatory Gaps as a major concern.

5. India currently lacks specific regulatory laws for fishing operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

   • The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the area of sea beyond and adjacent to a country's territorial waters, where the country has special rights for exploration and use of marine resources.

6. The absence of regulation in the EEZ contributes to the rise of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

   • IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that violate conservation and management measures or occur outside legal frameworks.

Key Government Initiatives

1. One of the key initiatives is the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

2. PMMSY is a five-year scheme from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.

3. The total investment under PMMSY is ₹20,050 crore.

4. Under this scheme, the government provides financial support to traditional fishermen.

5. This includes up to 60% financial assistance for converting or acquiring deep-sea and offshore fishing vessels.

6. Other notable initiatives include the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

7. The National Fisheries Policy 2020 is another major step to support sustainable development of the fisheries sector.

Conclusion and Recommendations

1. The report proposes a multi-phase roadmap to strengthen India’s deep-sea and offshore fisheries.

2. The roadmap includes policy overhauls, including clearer regulations and strategic planning.

3. It also recommends fleet modernization to improve deep-sea fishing capacity.

4. The report emphasizes that all subsidies should be minimized.

5. It also recommends that subsidies be phased out gradually to ensure market-based sustainability.

Initiatives to Strengthen India’s Infrastructure Planning and Development Ecosystem

1. Several new initiatives have been launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2. These were announced during the commemoration of four years of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).

Key Initiatives Unveiled

1. PM GatiShakti Public

• PM GatiShakti Public opens the National Master Plan platform to the private sector for the first time.

• It has been developed by the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).

• The platform is powered by the National Geospatial Data Registry (NGDR).

• Geospatial data refers to data that is associated with a specific location on the Earth’s surface.

• The initiative enables wider access to geospatial data and advanced analytics for infrastructure planning.

2. PM GatiShakti – Offshore

• PM GatiShakti – Offshore is a dedicated digital platform for integrated offshore development.

• It supports multi-sectoral planning and management for offshore projects.

• The platform aims to strengthen India’s Blue Economy, which involves sustainable use of ocean resources.

• It enables data-driven decision-making for offshore projects such as wind farms, marine resources, and coastal infrastructure.

3. PMGS District Master Plan (DMP) for 112 Aspirational Districts

• The District Master Plan (DMP) initiative focuses on data-driven local infrastructure development.

• It is specifically designed for 112 Aspirational Districts, identified for rapid socio-economic development.

• The initiative promotes holistic regional growth using area-based planning.

• It covers key sectors including healthcare, education, logistics, industrial development, and environmental management.

4. Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025

• LEAPS 2025 is launched to recognize outstanding leadership and innovation in logistics sectors.

• It is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• LEAPS 2025 aligns with the vision of the National Logistics Policy (NLP), 2022.

• It also complements the goals of PM GatiShakti.

• The initiative emphasizes sustainability, ESG practices (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and Green Logistics.

• Green Logistics refers to environmentally sustainable practices in the transportation and supply chain sector.

5. PMGS NMP Dashboard

• The PMGS NMP Dashboard is a comprehensive multi-sector reporting system.

• It is designed for monitoring project progress and generating actionable insights.

About PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), 2021

1. The PM GatiShakti NMP was launched in 2021 to revolutionize infrastructure planning in India.

2. It integrates geospatial data from over 57 Central Ministries, Departments, and States/UTs.

3. The plan follows the “whole-of-government” approach, ensuring inter-ministerial coordination.

4. The Seven Engines of the NMP include Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, and Logistics Infrastructure.

Key Achievements of PM GatiShakti NMP

1. More than 600 infrastructure projects have been planned and mapped on the PM GatiShakti portal.

2. The Network Planning Group (NPG) has evaluated over 300 major infrastructure projects.

3. All 36 States and Union Territories have developed their own State Master Plan (SMP) portals.

4. These portals are aligned with the National Master Plan to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Vital Statistics of India based on Civil Registration System (CRS) Report – 2023

1. The 2023 CRS report has been released by the Registrar General of India (RGI).

2. The RGI functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

3. The report provides national-level data on births, deaths, and other vital events based on registrations.

Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)

1. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in India (excluding Sikkim) was 928 females per 1,000 males.

2. Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest SRB at 1,085 females per 1,000 males.

3. Jharkhand recorded the lowest SRB at 899 females per 1,000 males.

Institutional Births and Deaths

1. The share of institutional births (excluding Sikkim) was 74.7%.

2. The share of institutional deaths (excluding Sikkim) was 24%.

3. Institutional births or deaths refer to those that occur in a medical or healthcare facility.

Registered Births – Trends and Statistics

1. The number of registered births in 2023 decreased by 0.9% compared to 2022.

2. The Level of Registration (LoR) of Births was 98.4%.

3. The LoR indicates the percentage of actual births that are officially registered.

4. The number of births registered in urban areas was higher than in rural areas.

Registered Deaths – Trends and Statistics

1. The number of registered deaths in 2023 increased by 0.1% compared to 2022.

2. The Level of Registration (LoR) of Deaths was 97.2%.

3. The number of deaths registered in rural areas was higher than in urban areas.

Infant Deaths and Gender Trends

1. The number of infant deaths increased in 2023 compared to 2022.

   • Infant deaths refer to deaths of children under one year of age.

2. Birth and death registrations for males were higher than for females in both rural and urban areas.

State-wise Performance

1. 21 States/UTs achieved 100% Level of Registration of Births.

2. 19 States/UTs achieved 100% Level of Registration of Deaths.

About Civil Registration System (CRS)

1. The Civil Registration System (CRS) is a unified and continuous process for recording vital events.

2. It records births, deaths, and stillbirths, but not marriages or divorces.

3. CRS operates under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969.

4. The RBD Act makes it compulsory to report every birth and death to the local Registrar.

Recent Amendments in CRS (2023)

1. The 2023 Amendment to the RBD Act enabled digital registration of births and deaths.

2. It also provided for the creation of national and state-level vital event databases.

3. These changes are aimed at enhancing data accessibility, accuracy, and integration with other services.

Israel–Gaza Peace Deal

1. A major breakthrough has occurred in the Israel–Gaza conflict with the release of 48 hostages.

2. Simultaneously, Israeli forces have withdrawn from Gaza City to a designated “yellow line.”

3. The “yellow line” refers to a pre-agreed boundary that serves as a temporary line of control for Israeli withdrawal.

4. This development marks a key outcome of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

Background of the Conflict

1. The war had lasted for over two years, beginning on October 7, 2023.

2. The prolonged conflict resulted in widespread humanitarian, security, and political consequences across the region.

About the Israel–Hamas Ceasefire and Peace Deal

1. The peace agreement is based on a 20-point plan proposed by the President of the United States.

2. The plan includes a comprehensive ceasefire between the two sides.

3. It also includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces to agreed positions.

4. Another major clause is the release of all hostages held by both sides.

Mediation and International Involvement

1. The peace deal was mediated by multiple international actors.

2. The key mediators included the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

3. These countries played a central role in facilitating negotiations and securing mutual concessions.

India’s Stand on the Peace Deal

1. India welcomed the peace efforts and emphasized the importance of regional peace and stability.

2. India expressed support for multilateral diplomacy, which involves multiple countries working together to resolve conflicts.

3. India’s response reflects its balanced West Asia policy.

4. This policy involves maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel, Palestine, and key Arab nations.

5. India’s approach aims to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence in the region without taking sides.

Vishwas Scheme – Launched to Reduce EPF Litigation

1. The ‘Vishwas Scheme’ was recently launched during the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT).

2. The CBT is the apex decision-making body for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

About the Central Board of Trustees (CBT)

1. The CBT is a tri-partite board that includes representatives from the Central Government, State Governments, Employers, and Employees.

2. The CBT is assisted by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in implementing decisions.

3. The CBT operates three major social security schemes:

   • These include the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952, the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995, and the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976.

About the Vishwas Scheme

1. The main objective of the Vishwas Scheme is to reduce litigation related to Provident Fund dues.

2. The scheme does this by offering rationalised penal damages for delayed remittances.

3. A common reason for legal disputes has been the imposition of high penal damages for belated payment of Provident Fund dues.

4. The Provident Fund (PF) is a retirement savings scheme where both the employee and employer contribute a fixed percentage of the employee’s salary every month.

Duration of the Scheme

1. The Vishwas Scheme will be operational for a period of 6 months initially.

2. The scheme is also extendable by an additional six months, based on requirement.

Inflation in India – Recent Trends

1. India’s Retail Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has fallen to its lowest level since June 2017.

2. This decline is primarily due to the base effect and falling food prices.

   • The base effect refers to the impact of comparing current prices to unusually high or low prices in the same period of the previous year.

Core Inflation on the Rise

1. Despite falling headline inflation, core inflation has risen sharply to a two-year high.

   • Core inflation excludes volatile items like food and energy, focusing on prices of goods and services that change more gradually.

2. The increase in core inflation is mainly driven by surging gold and silver prices.

About Consumer Price Index (CPI)

1. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the monthly change in prices of a fixed basket of goods and services.

2. The CPI is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

RBI’s Inflation Target

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) follows an inflation-targeting framework.

2. The RBI’s tolerance band for CPI inflation is 4% ± 2%, meaning it seeks to maintain inflation between 2% and 6%.

Port Pasni

Recently Pakistan has offered the US the opportunity to develop and operate Port Pasni, as per reports

• The port is envisioned as the gateway for US to Pakistan’s critical minerals. 

About Pasni Port 

• Location: Gwadar district in Balochistan province, along the Arabian Sea. 

• Strategic Significance:  

  • It is located close to 70 miles from the China-operated Gwadar Port and 178 miles from Iran’s Chabahar Port.

  • Its location makes it an ideal hub for trade routes linking South, West and Central Asia. 

Rhodamine B

1. Rhodamine B is a water-soluble fluorescent synthetic dye known for its bright pink colour.

2. It is widely used in scientific research and various industries such as textiles, paper, and leather.

3. However, Rhodamine B is toxic and may cause damage to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

4. Additionally, it is classified as carcinogenic, meaning it has the potential to cause cancer.

5. Environmentally, Rhodamine B is considered a contaminant because it is reported to persist in water, causing pollution concerns.

6. Due to its toxicity and environmental impact, Rhodamine B is banned in products like food and cosmetics.

7. Scientists have developed an effective and sensitive detection method for toxic molecules such as Rhodamine B.

8. This method leverages the coffee-ring effect, a spontaneous phenomenon where capillary flow in a drying droplet moves solutes from the center to the edge.

9. The coffee-ring effect causes all solutes within a droplet to accumulate along the droplet’s edge, making detection easier.

10. The detection technique also incorporates nanotechnology applications, enhancing sensitivity to identify Rhodamine B at low concentrations.

Tipping Point – Coral Reefs and Global Climate Stability

1. Warm-water coral reefs have now crossed their thermal tipping point, according to recent assessments.

2. This has triggered irreversible dieback, meaning the loss of coral ecosystems cannot be reversed under current warming trends.

What is a Tipping Point? (As per IPCC)

1. A tipping point is a critical threshold in a system, beyond which significant and potentially irreversible changes occur.

2. This definition has been provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

3. Tipping points are usually associated with climate or ecological systems that are stable up to a limit.

4. Once this limit is breached, the system rapidly shifts into a new, often undesirable state.

Tipping Points Are Interconnected

1. Tipping points are interlinked, meaning crossing one can increase the likelihood of others being crossed.

2. This creates a cascading effect, where the failure of one system accelerates the collapse of others.

3. Such cascading failures pose a significant threat to planetary stability and climate equilibrium.

Other Planetary Systems at Risk of Tipping

1. Several other critical Earth systems are also at risk of crossing tipping points.

2. These include the Amazon rainforest, which could shift from a carbon sink to a carbon source.

3. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is at risk of slowing or collapsing.

4. The Sub-Polar Gyre (SPG), an ocean current system, is also vulnerable to destabilisation.

5. Land permafrost regions may thaw, releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases like methane.

6. Mountain glaciers are retreating globally, threatening water supplies and increasing sea level rise.

Key Initiatives Unveiled by RBI

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently unveiled several key digital and financial initiatives.

2. These include the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), CBDC Retail Sandbox, and a pilot for tokenisation of Certificates of Deposit (CDs).

Unified Lending Interface (ULI)

1. The ULI is envisioned as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

   • Digital Public Infrastructure refers to foundational digital systems that are open, interoperable, and accessible for public and private innovation.

2. ULI will aggregate data from multiple sources to support credit decision-making.

3. This aggregated data will be made available to lenders for better credit assessment of borrowers.

4. The ULI aims to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of credit delivery in the financial ecosystem.

CBDC Retail Sandbox

1. The CBDC Retail Sandbox has been introduced to allow fintech firms to test and innovate digital currency solutions.

   • A CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) is a digital version of fiat currency issued and regulated by a central bank.

2. The sandbox provides a controlled testing environment for retail CBDC use-cases before broader deployment.

Tokenisation of Certificates of Deposit (CDs)

1. RBI also launched a pilot project for tokenisation of Certificates of Deposit (CDs).

   • Tokenisation is the process of creating a digital token that represents a real-world asset, such as CDs, on a blockchain or distributed ledger.

2. This process aims to facilitate faster settlements, improve liquidity, and enhance transparency in money market instruments.

   • A Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a negotiable money market instrument.

3. CDs are issued in dematerialised form or as a promissory note by banks or eligible financial institutions.

4. CDs are issued against funds deposited with the bank and are considered short-term instruments.

5. The maturity period of a CD can be up to one year, with a minimum period of 7 days.