Daily Current Affairs 02 August 2025 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 02 August 2025 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
White Paper on Blue Economy
Source: PIB
GS III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
Overview
- News in Brief
- Key Highlights of White Paper on Blue Economy
- What is the Blue Economy?
Why in the News?
Ministry of Earth Sciences has recently released a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth.”
News in Brief
- Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth” in collaboration with its strategic knowledge partner.
- As the nodal agency for the implementation of the Blue Economy in India, MoES has been actively working towards enhancing the visibility and effective implementation of blue economy initiatives across the nation.
- This white paper builds upon these efforts by providing a consolidated framework that aligns government actions, fosters cross-sectoral synergies, and promotes greater investment to unlock the vast potential of India’s ocean resources for sustainable and economic development.
Key Highlights of White Paper on Blue Economy
- Strategically leverage sustained investment in blue infrastructure, research and ocean innovation.
- It fosters public-private partnerships and targeted financial mechanisms.
- The paper outlines a roadmap to 2035, prioritising projects and building investor confidence to establish the blue economy .
The white paper identifies specific models demonstrating economic growth and environmental sustainability.
- Community-led seaweed cultivation in Odisha.
- This initiative addresses the socio-economic vulnerability of fishing communities due to dwindling fish stocks by offering seaweed cultivation as a low-investment, high-impact alternative livelihood.
- It provides supplementary income for over 10,000 coastal households and is estimated to absorb dissolved carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change mitigation and improving water quality.
- Kochi’s smart port transformation.
- Integrating digital twin technology this has led to improved operational efficiency, reduced vessel waiting times, and better resource utilisation, enhancing sustainability through precise environmental monitoring.
- Alang, Gujarat’s shipbreaking transformation
- Adhering to Hong Kong International Convention standards, Alang now maximises resource recovery.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ sustainable tourism
- Initiatives such as eco-friendly infrastructure and community-led eco-tours have generated significant revenue and created jobs, while bans on single-use plastics and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have helped preserve coral reefs and reduce waste in tourist zones.
What is the Blue Economy?
Economic activities related to the sea and the coasts
- According to the European Union
- Economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts.
- It covers a wide range of interlinked established and emerging sectors.
- World Bank About Blue Economy
- Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.
- Blue Economy seeks to promote economic development while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of ocean resources and the health of marine ecosystems.
- Recognizes the importance of addressing climate change, reducing marine pollution, and enhancing ocean resilience
Scope of Blue Economy
- According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ocean economy contributed USD 1.5 trillion to the global economy in 2010 and is projected to double by 2030.
- It encompasses various economic sectors, including fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, marine renewable energy, maritime transportation, and coastal infrastructure development and other related activities.
What are the challenges to the blue economy?
- The potential to develop the blue economy is limited by a series of challenges.
- For much of human history, aquatic ecosystems have been viewed and treated as limitless resources and largely cost-free repositories of waste.
- Unsustainable extraction from marine resources, such as unsustainable fishing
- Physical alterations and destruction of marine and coastal habitats and landscapes
- Marine pollution
- Impacts of climate change
Sustainable Activities in Blue Economy
- Harvesting and trade of marine living resources
- Extraction and use of marine nonliving resources (non-renewable)
- Use of renewable non-exhaustible natural forces (wind, wave, and tidal energy)
- Commerce and trade in and around the oceans
- Indirect contribution to economic activities and environments like carbon sequestration, coastal protection activities so on.
How Does Blue Economy Benefit India?
- India, with a long coastline, diversity in terms of fish and other ocean produce, and multiple tourism opportunities, blue economy is highly significant.
- Announced the setting up of five integrated aquaparks.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) would be stepped up to “enhance aquaculture productivity from the existing three to five tonnes per hectare.
- Double exports to Rs 1 lakh crore
- Generate 55 lakh employment opportunities shortly.
- With some 7,500 kilometres, India has a unique maritime position.
- There are nearly 199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year.
- Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million square kilometres.
Blue Economy Draft Policy Framework
- A draft policy framework on India’s Blue Economy was first released in July 2022.
- The policy document contained key recommendations on the National Accounting Framework for Blue Economy and Ocean Governance.
- Also recommendations for Coastal Marine Spatial Planning and Tourism Priority, Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture and Fish Processing. Manufacturing, Emerging Industries, Trade, Technology, Services and Skill Development, Logistics, Infrastructure and Shipping, Coastal and Deep-Sea Mining and Offshore Energy and Security, Strategic Dimensions and International Engagement.
- A National Blue Economy Advisory Council has been proposed to be set up.
- It will have the secretaries of relevant ministries and departments as members
- Include chief secretaries/principal secretaries of the coastal states and representatives from industry.
CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Overview
- News in Brief
- About CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
Why in the News?
A new blood group, previously unidentified anywhere in the world, has been discovered in a South Indian woman from Kolar district in Karnataka.
News in Brief
- This remarkable case came to light when a 38-year-old woman was admitted for cardiac surgery at a hospital in Kolar.
- Blood group was O Rh+, the most common blood group; however, none of the available O-positive blood units were compatible with her.
- The hospital escalated the case to the Advanced Immunohematology Reference Laboratory at the Rotary Bangalore TTK Blood Centre for further investigation.
- Using advanced serological techniques, our team found that her blood was ‘panreactive’, incompatible with all test samples.
About CRIB Blood Group Never Seen Before
- The CRIB blood group is a newly identified blood type outside the existing major systems like ABO and Rh.
- In recognition of its origin, the group has been officially named ‘CRIB’, with CR representing Cromer and IB standing for India, Bengaluru.
- Blood Group belongs to the INRA (Indian Rare Antigen) blood group system, which was officially recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in 2022.
- It is an entirely new antigen not fitting into the 43 known blood group systems previously recognised by the ISBT.
- Nature of Blood Group
- It is characterised by the absence of a high-prevalence antigen found in most people.
- This absence of a common antigen makes blood transfusions extremely complex, as only other CRIB-negative blood can be used, which is extremely rare.
What is a blood group?
- A blood group is classified based on specific antigens present on the surface of red blood cells. These antigens determine compatibility for transfusions.
| Blood Group | Antigens Present on RBCs |
| A | A antigen |
| B | B antigen |
| AB | A and B antigens |
| O | None |
| Rh+ | D antigen present |
| Rh- | No D antigen |
- Rare blood groups occur when individuals lack “high-frequency” antigens found in most populations, making it difficult to find compatible blood for transfusion.
Significance
- CRIB plays a crucial role in cases of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), where antibodies from the mother attack the red blood cells of the fetus.
- Identifying the CRIB group early in such cases could help prevent life-threatening complications during pregnancy.
Terms Used
- Antigens are molecules, usually proteins or sugars, found on the surface of red blood cells that can trigger an immune response.
- Rh(Rehsus) factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If the protein is present, the blood type is Rh-positive; if it’s absent, the blood type is Rh-negative
Global Report on Food Crises 2025
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Overview
- News in Brief
- Key Facts on Global Report on Food Crises 2025
- Reason for Acute Food Security
Why in the News?
The Global Report on Food Crises 2025 is out.
News in Brief
- More than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories experienced acute levels of hunger in 2024, according to the Global Report on Food Crises 2025 published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
- Acute food insecurity now affects 22.6 per cent of the assessed population, maintaining a grim trend of remaining above 20 per cent for five consecutive years.
Key Facts on Global Report on Food Crises 2025
About the Report
- The production of the GRFC 2025 is coordinated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).
- Release supported by Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC).
- It provides consensus-based analysis on acute food insecurity, acute malnutrition and population displacement in countries/territories identified as having food crises in 2024.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines hunger as food deprivation, or undernourishment, as the habitual consumption of too few calories to provide the minimum dietary energy an individual requires to live a healthy and productive life, given that person’s sex, age, stature, and physical activity level.
Key Facts in the report
- Out of the 65 countries/territories selected for the GRFC 2025, 53 had data meeting GRFC technical requirements.
- The report reveals that in 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger.
- This is an increase of almost 14 million people compared to 2023, while the number of people facing catastrophic levels of hunger reached a record high.
- Acute food insecurity and child malnutrition rose for the sixth consecutive year in 2024, pushing millions of people to the brink in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
- The list of the ten countries with the highest number of people facing acute food insecurity has remained unchanged since 2023.
- Each had over nine million people affected last year and collectively accounted for more than 196 million people, 66 per cent of the global total.
- Country with having worse level
- Nigeria, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone represented more than a quarter (28%) of the 295.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of acute hunger.
- Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen have consistently appeared on this list since 2016.
Reason for Acute Food Security
- Acute food insecurity is rarely driven by a single shock or hazard, but rather by the interaction between shocks and underlying poverty, structural weaknesses, and other vulnerability factors.
- Still, it is possible to identify a primary driver for each country/territory.
- Major reason
- Conflict remained the leading driver, impacting over 140 million people in areas such as the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, and others.
- Economic shocks, including inflation and currency devaluation, triggered hunger in 15 countries, affecting 59.4 million people—most notably in Afghanistan and Yemen.
- Extreme weather events impacted over 96 million people globally, with Southern Africa, Southern Asia, and the Horn of Africa among the worst-affected regions. These drivers continue to worsen food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in already fragile areas.
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