5 April 2025

• Economy: RBI's Remittances Survey 2025 showed a structural shift: advanced economies now account for over 50 per cent of inbound remittances to India, surpassing the Gulf's share for the first time.
• Governance: Vibrant Villages Programme-II details confirmed coverage of 17 states and union territories. The Meenakari craft received spotlight as a traditional art form of Jaipur.
• Technology: UNCTAD's Technology and Innovation Report 2025 ranked India 36th in frontier technologies readiness, up from 48th in 2022.
• Environment: The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve's biodiversity profile re-entered prelims coverage.

GS area: Economy, International Relations

The Reserve Bank of India released its annual Remittances Survey for 2025. The headline finding is a historic shift in the source geography of money sent to India.

• Advanced economies overtake Gulf: Advanced economies now account for over 50 per cent of India's inbound remittances. The Gulf Cooperation Council's share has fallen from 46.7 per cent in 2016-17 to 37.9 per cent in 2023-24.
• Country breakdown: The USA is the single largest source at 27.7 per cent. The UK contributes 10.8 per cent, Singapore 6.6 per cent, Canada 3.8 per cent, and Australia 3.1 per cent.
• Skilled migration: 78 per cent of Indian migrants in the United States work in high-paying sectors including information technology, finance, and healthcare.
• Total remittances: India received 118.7 billion dollars in remittances in 2023-24, which funds approximately 42 per cent of India's trade deficit.

The shift from Gulf to advanced economies reflects a change in the composition of migration. Earlier waves were dominated by low-skilled construction and hospitality workers in the Gulf. Recent outflows are increasingly of high-skilled professionals to the West.

Static linkage: Balance of payments, migration and diaspora (GS-3 Economy).

GS area: Economy, Science and Technology

UNCTAD released its Technology and Innovation Report 2025, which ranks countries on readiness for frontier technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and clean energy.

• India's overall rank: 36th globally. This is an improvement from 48th in 2022.
• AI investment: India ranked 10th globally with 1.4 billion dollars in AI funding in 2023.
• Component rankings: India ranked 3rd in research and development activity, 10th in industrial capacity, 99th in ICT access, and 113th in skills development.
• Specialisation: Nanotechnology is identified as India's frontier specialisation.
• Critical gap: ICT access rank of 99 and skills rank of 113 show that the digital divide between cities and rural areas remains the principal bottleneck.

Static linkage: Science and technology policy, India's digital economy (GS-3).

GS area: Social Issues, Governance

Analysis on 5 April 2025 examined structural failures in India's education system for SC, ST, and OBC students.

• ASER 2023 finding: Only 12 per cent of rural schools have functional libraries.
• Coaching dominance: 90 per cent of IIT entrance toppers come from elite coaching hubs, primarily in Rajasthan and parts of Bihar.
• Dalit girls: 32 per cent of Dalit girls drop out by secondary school.
• Government schemes: SHREYAS (scholarships for OBC, EBC, and DNT students), National Fellowship for SC/ST/OBC for MPhil and PhD studies, Ambedkar Interest Subsidy Scheme for education loans, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao for girl child education.

Static linkage: Social justice and welfare, education (GS-2).

GS area: Art and Culture

Meenakari is the art of enamelling metal or ceramic surfaces with coloured glass. It is one of the few traditional crafts that retain active commercial production.

• Etymology: Derived from "Meena" (heaven or sky) and "Kari" (to do or work).
• Origin: Safavid Iran. The Mughals adopted and perfected the craft in India.
• Indian hub: Jaipur, Rajasthan, is the centre of Meenakari production. The city is known for red, green, and white Mughal-style motifs.
• Materials: Gold, silver, copper, and brass are enamelled with geometric, floral, or animal patterns.
• GI status: Jaipur Meenakari holds Geographical Indication status, protecting the craft's identity.

Static linkage: Indian art and culture (GS-1).

GS area: International Relations

The 6th BIMSTEC Summit and the Ukraine peace conversation highlighted the Global South's potential as a mediator.

• India's UN peacekeeping record: India has deployed 290,000 peacekeepers across more than 50 UN missions. In 2007, India fielded the first all-women UN peace unit, deployed in Liberia.
• Global South role: The Global South, encompassing Africa, Asia, and Latin America, is proposed as a neutral mediation alternative to NATO-aligned involvement in the Ukraine peace process.
• Advanced economies and remittances: The linkage between migration and economic ties with advanced economies strengthens India's diplomatic leverage.

Static linkage: UN peacekeeping, India's foreign policy, multilateralism (GS-2 IR).

• UN plastic pollution resolution: The UN Human Rights Council recognised for the first time that plastic pollution, ocean protection, and the right to a healthy environment are linked. The resolution strengthens the accountability framework under the proposed Global Plastics Treaty.
• Ottawa Convention geography (continued): European Baltic states withdrew from the treaty citing Russian threats. The remaining 164 signatories retain commitment but enforcement gaps persist in conflict zones.