10 January 2025

• Diaspora: India's 18 million-strong diaspora remitted approximately $87 billion in 2021, consistently making India the world's largest remittance recipient.
• Environment: California wildfires in the Los Angeles area killed seven people and destroyed over 10,000 structures, driven by Santa Ana Winds.
• Infrastructure: National highways grew from 91,287 km (2014) to 1,46,195 km (2024), a 60% increase.
• Science: The Genome India Project sequenced 10,074 genomes from 99 ethnic groups, completing its first phase.
• Governance: Z-Morh Tunnel inauguration and Blue Flag beach certifications at Kappad and Chal in Kerala.

GS area: International Relations

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 in Bhubaneswar brought diaspora policy back into focus.

• Scale: 18 million Indians live abroad, per the Global Migration Report 2020.
• Remittances: Approximately $87 billion in 2021. India is consistently the world's top remittance recipient.
• Top host countries: UAE, USA, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
• Categories of overseas Indians:
  • NRI (Non-Resident Indian): An Indian citizen residing abroad for more than 182 days a year.
  • OCI (Overseas Citizen of India): A foreign national of Indian origin holding a lifelong multi-entry visa to India.
  • PIO (Person of Indian Origin): An older category merged into OCI in 2015.
• Government schemes: OCI Card, Know India Programme (KIP), Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), Social Security Agreements with bilateral partners.

Static linkage: Indian diaspora, international relations (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Disaster Management, Environment

Wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area in January 2025, causing significant destruction.

• Human cost: Seven deaths and more than 10,000 structures destroyed.
• Santa Ana Winds: Hot, dry, high-speed winds that blow from the inland desert toward the coast in southern California. They dramatically increase fire spread risk by desiccating vegetation and fanning flames.
• Geographic factors compounding risk: Dry Mediterranean climate, hilly terrain, and dense vegetation in the wildland-urban interface.
• Climate change link: Warming temperatures lengthen the fire season and increase the severity of drought, making fuel loads higher.
• Air quality impact: Wildfire smoke creates particulate matter (PM2.5) that travels hundreds of kilometres and causes respiratory illness.

Static linkage: Natural disasters, climate change (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Science and Technology (Biotechnology)

The Genome India Project, launched in January 2020 by the Department of Biotechnology, completed its first phase.

• Achievement: 10,074 whole-genome sequences collected from individuals across 99 ethnic groups.
• Blood samples: Over 19,000 samples collected and stored in the GenomeIndia Biobank.
• Repository: Genetic data held at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC).
• Significance: India's population carries immense genetic diversity because of its size, ethnic variety, and long history of endogamy (marriage within communities). A reference genome database for Indian populations would enable precision medicine tailored to Indian genetic backgrounds, improving drug responses and disease prediction.

Static linkage: Biotechnology, health (Science and Technology, GS Paper 3).

GS area: Environment, International Cooperation

Kappad Beach and Chal Beach in Kerala received Blue Flag certification in January 2025.

• Origin: Blue Flag certification started in France in 1985 and expanded globally in 2001.
• Awarded by: Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Denmark.
• Criteria: Four pillars: water quality, environmental management, safety, and environmental education.
• India's count: India has over 12 Blue Flag beaches across coastal states.
• Purpose: Promotes sustainable marine and freshwater practices. A Blue Flag beach meets international standards for cleanliness, safety, and ecological management.

Static linkage: Environment, coastal management (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Infrastructure, Economy

India's national highway network expanded significantly over the past decade.

• Growth: 91,287 km (2014) to 1,46,195 km (2024), a 60% increase.
• High-speed corridors: 93 km (2014) to 2,474 km (2024).
• Asset monetisation: Rs 15,968 crore realised in FY 2023-24 under the Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) model. The TOT model leases the revenue stream of existing toll roads to private operators in exchange for upfront payments.
• Vehicle scrapping facilities: Operating in 19 states and UTs, with 66 more under construction.

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (2021) uses GIS-based planning to coordinate road, rail, port, and logistics infrastructure.

Static linkage: Infrastructure, economy (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Governance (Environment)

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was in the news following a policy discussion on animal welfare enforcement.

• Established: 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• Headquarters: Ballabhgarh, Haryana (relocated from Chennai).
• Founder: Rukmini Devi Arundale, the classical dancer and animal welfare activist who convinced Parliament to enact the PCA Act.
• Ministry: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
• Functions: Promotes animal welfare, supports state boards, advises the government on animal welfare legislation, and ensures compliance.

Static linkage: Governance, animal welfare legislation (GS Paper 2).

• ICEGATE: The Indian Customs Electronic Gateway collects EXIM data from 500 or more locations and transmits it to the DGCIS (Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics). A double-counting error in gold import data for November 2024 was traced to a data migration issue between SEZ Online and ICEGATE systems.
• World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025: WEF was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab. Headquarters: Cologny, near Geneva. The report (bi-annual) covers 2025-2030 labour market trends. India ranked 2nd in the "Future of Work" category, after the USA, in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025.