16 JUNE 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS 2 – Governance, International Bodies, Welfare and Rights

1. FRA Cells – Structural Backbone for Forest Rights Implementation Topic: Tribal Empowerment | Decentralised Governance | Rights-based Policy

   For the first time since FRA, 2006, the Centre is funding 324 district- and state-level Forest Rights Act (FRA) cells under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan.

   FRA cells offer non-statutory yet crucial support: documentation assistance, Gram Sabha resolution support, land digitization, and habitation-to-village conversion.

   Aims to fix longstanding bottlenecks—coordination failure, state apathy, low outreach—which left over 14% claims unresolved as of March 2025.

Value Add: Use as a best practice for tribal inclusion, rights-based forest governance, and decentralized legal empowerment.

2. International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Topic: Maritime Governance | India’s Soft Power
   

   IALA transitioned from an NGO (1957) to an Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO) in 2024 with 200 members (80 national authorities).

   India is Vice President of the IALA Council (2nd session held in Nice, France).

   Focus: Unifying marine navigation systems, safety, maritime trade, and environmental cooperation.

Value Add: Use in GS2 IR answers on India’s maritime multilateralism (alongside IMO, IONS, SAGAR) and global norms in navigation tech.

🧭 GS 3 – Economy, Infrastructure, Digital Agriculture, Environment, Health, S&T

3. Digital Agriculture Mission – ₹6,000 Cr Push to AgriStack & Decision Support Topic: Digital Governance | Farmer-Centric Tech | Precision Agriculture

   AgriStack = a federated digital infrastructure with farmer registry + georeferenced maps + crop records linked to schemes like PM-KISAN, MSP, KCC.

   Krishi Decision Support System = data-fused insights from satellite, weather, soil, water to assist policymakers and farmers.

   Soil profile mapping targets 142M ha at 1:10,000 scale—crucial for location-specific advisories.

Value Add: Excellent citation for DPI in agriculture, JAM 2.0 model, and tech-driven policy precision. Use in digital inclusion + agri reforms.

4. Carbon Pricing – World Bank Report 2025 Topic: Climate Finance | Market-based Regulation | Energy Transition

   80 carbon pricing instruments exist today (from 5 in 2005); nearly 28% of global GHG emissions are now covered.

   Tools: Carbon Tax, Emission Trading Schemes (ETS), and Carbon Credits.

   India’s carbon credit market (under development) expected by mid-2026; part of LiFE strategy and NDC goals.

Value Add: Use in GS3 climate answers to show shift from regulation to incentive-led compliance. Quote revenue: USD 100B in 2024.

5. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) – Clarification on UPI Topic: Fintech | Digital Payments | MSME Economics
   

   MDR = fee businesses pay to payment service providers for processing digital transactions (via cards, UPI, etc.).

   It includes fees for issuing banks, acquiring banks, networks, and gateways; usually 1–3%.

   Government clarified that UPI will remain MDR-free—removing cost burdens from small businesses and consumers.

Value Add: Use in GS3 answers on financial inclusion, digital economy, and costless infrastructure supporting MSME digitization.

6. Statins – Cholesterol Drug With Anti-Sepsis Potential Topic: Public Health | Pharmacology | Non-Communicable Diseases

   Statins inhibit liver enzymes to reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol; lower heart disease and stroke risks.

   A new study finds they cut sepsis mortality by 40%—linked to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

   Interacts with other drugs; requires careful administration.

Value Add: Case for drug repurposing and preventive health policy. Use in NCD control, health system resilience, and pharma innovation.