Daily Current Affairs — 26 May 2025
7 articles • UPSC Prelims & Mains
Oil Spill off Kerala Coast
Context A Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank 14 nautical miles off the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea, resulting in a significant oil leak, raising environmental concerns. What is an Oil Spill? An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs or wells into the environment, especially marine areas.
Tamil Nadu Adopted a Space Sector Policy
Context Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved the Space Industrial Policy, thereby following Karnataka and Gujarat in formulating a State-specific document. About Aim: To stimulate development and attract investments in the space sector. In 2023, the Union government came out with the Indian Space Policy 2023 to provide a framework to support the space ecosystem.
India’s Farm Trade and Impact of FTAs with US, EU and UK
In News India is negotiating trade agreements with the United States and European Union, which are both seeking tariff reductions and greater market access for their agricultural products. Status of India’s farm trade India’s agriculture exports rose by 6.4% to $51.9 billion in 2024–25, while overall goods exports remained nearly flat. However, agriculture imports surged by 17.2% to $38.5 billion, widening the trade gap.
India's Outward remittances Decreases under Liberalised Remittance Scheme
Context India’s outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) moderated by 6.85 percent year-on-year (YoY) to $29.56 billion in FY25, after reaching an all-time high of $31.73 billion in FY24. What is Outward Remittance? Outward remittance refers to the transfer of money in foreign currency by a resident of India to a person or entity outside India, for purposes such as education, travel, medical treatment, investment, or gifting.
India-Maldives 2nd High Level Core Group (HLCG) Meeting
Context Maldivian Foreign Minister has arrived in New Delhi to lead the Maldivian delegation at the 2nd High Level Core Group (HLCG) meeting. About Both foreign ministers will review the progress of the India–Maldives comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership. The India-Maldives vision document on a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership was adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President last year.
Maths of How India’s Coastline Lengthened without Gaining Land
In Context The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its 2023–24 report, updated India’s coastline length to 11,098.8 km, a significant increase from the previously recorded 7,516.6 km. Coastline Paradox Definition: The coastline paradox states that the length of a coastline depends on the scale at which it is measured. The more detailed the measurement (smaller ruler), the longer the coastline appears.
India Becomes the World's 4th Largest Economy
Context Recently, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam informed that India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy (nominal GDP), and poised to displace Germany in the next 2.5 to 3 years. Becoming the Third-Largest Economy The IMF projects that India will become the third-largest economy by 2028, with an expected GDP of $5.5 trillion by overtaking Germany.