Daily Current Affairs 14 April 2025 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 14 April 2025 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
GDP Base Year Revised
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Indian Economy
Overview
- News in Brief
- Purpose of Base Year Revision
Why in the News?
The Government of India recently proposed to revise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) base year along with base year of other macroeconomic metrics.
News in Brief
- GDP base year – The base year is the reference year used for comparing GDP figures across years to calculate real (inflation-adjusted) growth.
- Current base year in India – 2011–12.
- New proposed base year – 2022–23 (to be implemented from Feb 2026).
Purpose of Base Year Revision
- Reflect fundamental economic changes: By including developing industries, it more accurately depicts economic reality.
- Update data sources: Adding better, more recent data (such as digital databases or fresh surveys).
- By more precisely compensating for inflation, it enhances the measurement of actual growth.
- Reliable GDP estimates, which are crucial for allocating resources, help improve policymaking. Given that India is getting closer to being the third-largest economy in the world, investors expect reliable data.
How is the revision happening?
- Since Independence, it has been completed seven times and is updated every ten years, usually selecting years that ended in 1 (2001, 2011) to correspond with census data.
- Based on the National Statistical Commission’s (NSC) proposal, the GDP base year was changed every five years starting in 1999.
- Due to the interruptions in economic statistics brought on by GST (2017) and demonetisation (2016), 2017–18 is not utilized as the base year.
Impact on
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) – The base year for CPI, which is used to assess the rate of inflation faced by consumers, will be revised to 2023-24.
- Industrial Production (IIP) – The base year for IIP will also be revised to 2022-23.
- IIP tracks volume of production in manufacturing, mining, and electricity sectors and it is also used to gauge short-term economic activity and industrial health.
International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA)
Source: PIB
GS II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- About the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA)
Why in the News?
India, as IALA Vice President, attended the 2nd Council Session in Nice, France.
News in Brief
- Led by T.K. Ramachandran, the delegation showcased advancements in marine aids and invited members to events in Mumbai.
- Discussions covered IoT protocols, heritage conservation, and IALA’s 2025-26 plans.
- India’s leadership was lauded, reflecting its commitment to maritime safety, innovation, and global cooperation.
About the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA)
- International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) It is the global standard-setting body for Marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN).
- It ensures that physical aids (like lighthouses and buoys) and digital systems (like Vessel Traffic Services) are uniform across the world, which is critical for safe navigation.
- This work is vital as over 90% of global trade is conducted by sea.
- Standardised navigation aids prevent accidents, protect the marine environment, and ensure the smooth flow of commerce.
- IALA was founded in 1957 as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
- It officially became an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) in August 2024, after 34 countries, including India, ratified its new status.
India will host two major IALA events in Mumbai
- 3rd General Assembly in December 2025
- 21st IALA Conference in 2027.
Mission
- IALA’s motto, “Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet,” reflects its goals of harmonising navigation systems, reducing marine accidents, and promoting environmental protection.
Structure
- The General Assembly meets every four years to set priorities, while the Council (24 members, including India) meets twice a year to make decisions.
- Membership
- IALA includes 80 national authorities and 60 commercial firms among its 200 members.
- India has been a member since 1957 and a Council member since 1980, represented by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)
Source: Live Mint
GS III: India Economy
Overview
- News in Brief
- Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)
Why in the News?
The Finance Ministry dismissed claims of imposing MDR charges on UPI transactions as false and misleading.
News in Brief
- The Union Ministry of Finance has dismissed speculation about levying a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on transactions made through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), calling such claims “false, baseless, and misleading.”
- No such plan exists, and the government remains committed to promoting digital payments.
- UPI processed 18.68 billion transactions worth ₹25.14 lakh crore in May, reinforcing India’s lead in global real-time payments.
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)
- MDR is a fee that a merchant or business pays to their bank for accepting payments from customers via digital means like credit or debit cards.
- When a customer pays using a debit or credit card, the full amount is not credited to the merchant’s account. The bank deducts the MDR fee before settling the payment.
- MDR is shared among the following parties:
- Acquiring Bank – The bank that provides the card-swiping terminal to the merchant.
- Issuing Bank – The customer’s bank.
- Card Networks – Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, etc.
- Payment Aggregators/Gateways – Razorpay, PayU, etc
- The MDR is calculated as a percentage of the transaction value.
- This rate is not arbitrary and usually ranges from 1% to 3%, depending on several factors like the merchant’s transaction volume, the type of card used (credit cards often have higher MDR than debit cards), and whether the transaction is domestic or international.
Challenges and Controversies
- Zero MDR Policy Impact: Disincentivised banks and payment service providers, as they bear infrastructure costs but receive no revenue from UPI/RuPay.
- Raises concerns about sustainability and innovation in digital payment infrastructure.
- Merchant Resistance: High MDR on credit card transactions often discourages merchants from accepting cards.
Salmonella Infection
Source: Hindustan Times
GS III: Science and Technology
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Salmonella Infection
Why in the News?
- A Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated eggs has sickened 79 people across seven US states, with 21 hospitalised.
- Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.
The provided image is only for representation purposes
News in Brief
- Investigations by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have traced the source to brown cage-free and organic eggs from a California-based company.
- This has prompted a recall of about 1.7 million dozen eggs.
- Prevent infection by cooking eggs thoroughly, washing hands, and avoiding raw or undercooked foods.
About Salmonella Infection
- Salmonella is a group of bacteria that commonly causes a foodborne illness known as salmonellosis.
- These bacteria reside in the intestinal tracts of animals and humans and are shed through faeces.
- Transmission
- Humans are mostly infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacteria.
- Common Sources
- Raw or undercooked meat (chicken, beef, turkey), eggs, unpasteurized milk and dairy products, and unwashed fruits and vegetables are common carriers.
- Cross-Contamination
- The bacteria can also spread through improper food handling, such as not washing hands after using the restroom or handling raw meat, which then contaminates other surfaces or food.
- Salmonella is contagious and can be transmitted from person to person through the faecal-oral route, though this is less common than foodborne transmission.
- It can also be spread through contact with infected pets, especially reptiles and birds.
Symptoms
- Diarrhoea (sometimes bloody)
- Fever and chills
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea, vomiting, and headache
How to Safeguard?
- Simple hygiene and food safety practices are the best defence.
- Ensure meat, poultry, and eggs are cooked to a safe internal temperature.
- Steer clear of raw eggs (in doughs or dressings) and unpasteurized dairy products.
Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2025
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2025
- Need for Exercise
Why in the News?
Passage Exercise (PASSEX) was conducted in the North Arabian Sea by the Indian Navy and the UK Royal Navy.
News in Brief
- Adding to the initiatives aimed at bolstering India-UK defence ties, the Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and P8I aircraft participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the North Arabian Sea.
- The Indian Navy on Tuesday said the exercise involved the UK Carrier Strike Group, comprising HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond.
- The multi-faceted naval exercise was conducted on 9 and 10 June 2025, and involved “unified control of integral helicopters, tactical manoeuvres, coordinated anti-submarine operations and professional exchange of officers.
About Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2025
- Multi-faceted naval exercise showcasing a shared commitment to maritime security and robust bilateral ties.
- It involved unified control of integral helicopters, tactical manoeuvres, coordinated anti-submarine operations and professional exchange of officers.
- Participating Nations
- India – INS Tabar (stealth frigate) and P-8I long-range maritime aircraft.
- United Kingdom – HMS Prince of Wales (aircraft carrier) and HMS Richmond (frigate) of the UK Carrier Strike Group.
Objectives and Importance
- Enhance collaboration between the Indian and Royal Navies to improve interoperability.
- Strengthen coordination in anti-submarine warfare and conduct joint maritime operations.
- Share expertise and best practices to reaffirm commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Importance
- India-United Kingdom bilateral partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2021, with a 10-year (2030) Roadmap.
- The 2030 Roadmap includes commitments to deepen cooperation on health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.
Need for Exercise
- Decided based on the nature and requirements of specific exercise.
- Expenditure incurred also varies
- Helps in constructive engagements in operational terms and enhances the skills of our armed forces.
- This is a continuous process relevant steps are taken from time to time to engage friendly countries and to enhance the scope of exercises based on the principle of mutual benefit and our own strategic requirements.
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