Daily Current Affairs 2025  

07/01/2026

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CA-07/01/2026

• Exports Performance
  • Technology-intensive exports (electronics, machinery, chemicals) showed significant growth.
  • Automotive exports were analyzed in detail, focusing on competitiveness and structural strengths.
  • Services exports continued to be a major driver, especially IT and business services.
• Imports Trends
  • Import composition is shifting toward capital goods and intermediate inputs, signaling deeper integration into global supply chains.
  • Energy imports remained steady, but diversification efforts are visible.
• Structural Shifts
  • India’s trade basket is becoming more diversified and value-added.
  • Stronger role of global value chains (GVCs) in shaping India’s import-export dynamics.
• Policy Insights
  • The report emphasizes the need for competitiveness in automotive and technology sectors.
  • Advisory board includes experts from WTO, ICRIER, IIFT, UNESCAP, and Johns Hopkins University, ensuring a global perspective.

• Trade Deficit Surge
  • India’s trade deficit with FTA partners rose 59% year-on-year, reaching $26.7 billion.
  • Imports from FTA countries grew 10% to $65.3 billion, while exports fell 9% to $38.7 billion.
• Sectoral Trends
  • Electronics exports stood out as a bright spot, showing resilience and global competitiveness.
  • Automotive exports were highlighted as needing stronger competitiveness to balance FTA trade flows.
  • Imports were driven by energy and intermediate goods, reflecting demand recovery skewed toward imported inputs.

• In 2025, India signed FTAs with the United Kingdom and Oman, concluded negotiations with New Zealand, and saw the TEPA with EFTA nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) enter into force.
• Despite these agreements, early data shows exports contracting while imports expand, raising questions about India’s readiness to leverage FTAs effectively.

• For India’s economy: Rising deficits with FTA partners suggest India is importing more than it exports, especially in energy and capital goods. This could strain the current account balance.
• For policy: NITI Aayog stresses the need for greater competitiveness in existing FTAs, tariff rationalization, and production reorientation toward high-demand sectors like passenger vehicles.

• Type: Stratovolcano
• Height: ~5,426 m (17,802 ft)
• Location: Border of Puebla, Morelos, and State of Mexico; ~72 km southeast of Mexico City
• Nickname: Don Goyo (affectionate local name)
• Etymology: From Nahuatl popōcatepētl, meaning “Smoking Mountain”
• Current Status: Active, erupting as of January 2026

• Popocatépetl is paired with its “twin” volcano Iztaccíhuatl, forming part of Aztec mythology: a tragic love story of a warrior (Popocatépetl) and princess (Iztaccíhuatl).
• Ancient eruptions buried Aztec settlements and even pyramids under mudflows.
• Today, it remains a symbol of resilience and danger, visible from Mexico City on clear days.

• Definition: CRP is a protein made by the liver and released into the bloodstream when there is inflammation.
• Biological role: It is part of the innate immune system, binding to dead or dying cells and certain bacteria to activate the complement system.
• Gene location: In humans, the CRP gene is located on chromosome 1q23.2

• Healthcare providers use CRP tests to detect inflammation from bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and cardiovascular risk assessment via high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP).
• Levels guide sepsis treatment, monitor chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, and predict heart disease risk independently of cholesterol.​

CRP Level (mg/L)	Interpretation
< 1	Low risk of inflammation; minimal cardiovascular risk
1 – 3	Moderate risk; possible mild inflammation
> 3	High risk; significant inflammation or infection
> 10	Strong indication of acute infection or major inflammation

• Non-specific marker: CRP indicates inflammation presence but not its cause or location, requiring correlation with symptoms and other tests. 
• Temporary elevation: Levels can rise after surgery, trauma, or even intense exercise.
• Cardiac risk: High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) is specifically used for predicting heart attack or stroke risk, but should be interpreted alongside other risk factors.

• Location: About 350 km (200 miles) off Yemen’s coast, between the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea
• Size: ~3,796 km² (1,466 sq mi)
• Capital: Hadibu (population ~8,500)
• Population: Around 60,000, mostly Soqotri people
• Topography: Hajhir Mountains, highest peak Mashanig at 1,503 m

• Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari): Umbrella-shaped, produces red resin.
• Desert Rose (Adenium obesum socotranum): Bottle-shaped trunk, striking pink flowers.
• Socotra Starling, Socotra Sunbird, and other endemic birds.
• Over one-third of its plant species are found nowhere else on Earth.

• Saudi Arabia: Supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government led by the Presidential Leadership Council, aiming to preserve Yemen’s territorial unity.
• UAE: Backs the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group pushing for an independent South Yemen, especially around Aden and Mukalla.

• Yemen’s southern ports (Aden, Mukalla) are vital for trade and military logistics.
• Saudi Arabia fears losing influence if the UAE-backed STC dominates these areas, undermining Riyadh’s leverage over maritime routes.

• Yemen has a long history of north–south divisions. The UAE exploits southern separatist sentiment, while Saudi Arabia insists on unity to prevent further fragmentation.
• This ideological clash fuels direct military confrontations.

• Both nations initially intervened together in 2015 to counter Iran-backed Houthis.
• Now, their rivalry reflects a broader Gulf competition: Saudi Arabia seeks dominance as the region’s leader, while the UAE pursues independent influence in West Asia.

• Oil and trade routes: Control of southern Yemen secures access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint for global shipping.
• Military presence: The UAE has invested in southern militias and bases, while Saudi Arabia relies on airstrikes and government forces.

• Discovery Timeline: Specimens were first collected in 2008 but misidentified. Only after 15 years of DNA and morphological analysis was it confirmed as a distinct species in 2026.
• Habitat: Found in the forested hills of Mizoram, particularly around Aizawl and Reiek.
• Behavior: Semi-fossorial (burrows underground), nocturnal, and rarely seen. This explains why it remained hidden for so long.
• Size & Appearance: Very small and slender, typical of reed snakes. Its cryptic lifestyle makes it difficult to observe.
• Family: Belongs to the genus Calamaria (reed snakes), which has 69 known species worldwide.
• Conservation Status: Tentatively assessed as Least Concern under IUCN criteria, since it occurs across multiple locations and faces no major threats.
• Scientific Importance: Highlights India’s underexplored biodiversity and the importance of DNA research in correcting misidentifications.

• Location: Buldhana district, Maharashtra, near Khamgaon town and the Dnyanganga River.
• Area: Approximately 205 sq. km.
• Established: 1996.
• Terrain: Undulating land with gentle hill slopes, interspersed with lakes and forest patches.
• Conservation Role: Dnyanganga is part of Maharashtra’s broader tiger conservation network, linked with Melghat and Painganga.

• Mammals: Leopards, sloth bears, barking deer, blue bulls (nilgai), spotted deer, hyenas, jungle cats, jackals.
• Birds: Around 150 species, making it a hotspot for birdwatching.
• Reptiles & Others: Various snakes, lizards, and amphibians thrive in its diverse habitats.
• Recent Highlight: A rescued tiger cub (PKT7CP1) was relocated here in January 2026 for rewilding, marking a significant conservation effort.

• Location: Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters (north, south, east, southwest of Taiwan)
• Forces Involved: PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Coast Guard
• Operations Simulated:
  • Blockade of ports and strategic areas
  • Precision strikes and rapid landing drills
  • Sea-air combat readiness patrols
  • “Three-dimensional deterrence” beyond Taiwan’s island chain
• Political Context:
  • Came after U.S. approval of a major $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan
  • Part of ongoing Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis (since August 2022)
  • Messaging aimed at both Taipei and Washington

• China framed the exercise as a warning against "Taiwan separatist forces" and external interference, rehearsing encirclement to deter independence and foreign aid.
• It tested PLA joint operations, weapon effectiveness, and messaging to influence Taiwan, U.S., and allies' decision-making amid U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.​​

• Escalation Risk: Such exercises blur the line between drills and actual conflict, raising chances of miscalculation.
• Taiwan’s Response: Taiwan scrambled jets and deployed naval assets to monitor PLA movements.
• U.S. & Allies: Pentagon assessed drills as coercive signaling; Japan expressed concern given its proximity.
• Global Trade: Any real blockade of Taiwan would disrupt semiconductor supply chains, affecting global markets.

• Government Schemes: Policies like the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and state-level horticulture initiatives have boosted farmer participation.
• Modern Practices: Adoption of advanced irrigation, crop rotation, and mechanization has improved yields.
• Disease-Resistant Varieties: New okra hybrids resistant to yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) and other pests have reduced crop losses, ensuring stable farmer incomes.
• Market Linkages: The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2026 in Rajkot will showcase horticultural achievements, attracting investment and strengthening value chains.

• Climate:
  • Warm, humid conditions are ideal.
  • Optimal temperature: 20–35°C.
  • Sensitive to frost, so unsuitable for cold regions.
• Soil:

• Prefers sandy loam to clay loam with good drainage.
• Rich organic matter enhances yield.
• Heavy soils require ridge sowing.

• Shape & Area: Trapezium-shaped zone covering 10,400 km² (4,000 sq mi).
• Location: Includes parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, covering Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Vrindavan, Hathras, and Bharatpur.
• Monuments Protected: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Plus 40+ other monuments of national and cultural importance.
• Establishment: Notified on 30 December 1996 after the Supreme Court case M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, which highlighted the threat of industrial and vehicular pollution to the Taj Mahal.
• Authority: Governed by the Taj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority

• Supreme Court Orders: Industries using coal/coke were directed to switch to cleaner fuels or relocate outside TTZ.
• Tree Protection: In March 2025, the Supreme Court ordered a tree census in TTZ to prevent illegal felling, reinforcing the Uttar Pradesh Tree Protection Act, 1976.
• Pollution Control: Strict monitoring of industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and construction activities.

• Definition: A coordinated international tax policy ensuring large multinational corporations pay at least 15% tax on profits in every jurisdiction where they operate.
• Purpose:
  • Prevents profit shifting to tax havens.
  • Establishes a floor under tax competition.
  • Promotes fairness in global taxation.

• OECD Agreement Finalized: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed a revised deal exempting U.S. companies from certain foreign taxes.
• 145+ Countries Onboard: Nations updated the 2021 pact to accommodate U.S. concerns while keeping the 15% baseline intact.
• Exemptions for U.S. Multinationals: Washington argued competitiveness and sovereignty issues; carve-outs now shield American firms.
• Criticism: Experts warn exemptions may weaken global tax revenues and undermine fairness.

• Revenue Loss: Exemptions could reduce expected global tax collections.
• Fairness Concerns: Smaller nations argue the carve-outs favor U.S. corporations disproportionately.
• Implementation Complexity: Aligning national laws with OECD standards remains difficult.
• Geopolitical Tensions: U.S. pushback highlights ongoing struggles between global cooperation and national sovereignty.

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