Daily Current Affairs | April 5 2025

1) RBI’s Remittances Survey

• Findings of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) latest Remittances Survey released last month show a significant shift in India’s remittance sources.

• The Advanced Economies (AEs) — particularly the US, UK, Singapore, Canada, and Australia — together accounted for more than 50% total remittances in 2023-24, overtaking the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)for the first time.

Key Findings

• Increased Share of AEs : USA (27.7%), UK (10.8%), Singapore (6.6%), Canada (3.8%), and Australia (3.1%) lead remittance.

• Declining Share of GCC : Dropped from 46.7% (2016-17) to 37.9% (2023-24).

• Increased Share of Skilled Jobs : 78% of Indian migrants in the US work in high-paying sectors, sending larger sums.

• Student Mobility : 13.4 lakh Indian students abroad (Canada: 32%, US: 25.3%) boost remittances

Factors Behind this Change

• Skilled Migration Surge: STEM professionals in the US/UK earn more salaries than in jobs in Gulf countries. E.g. Indian IT workers in the US remit $15–20K/year.

• Education-Driven Migration: UK’s Graduate Visa and Canada’s PGWP attract students who later transition to high-paying jobs.

• Policy Support: Bilateral pacts like India-UK Mobility Partnership (2021) tripled Indian migrants to the UK.

• Economic Crisis in Gulf : Oil price volatility and nationalisation policies (e.g., UAE’s Emiratisation) reduced low-skilled jobs for Indians.

Consequences

• Trade Deficit : Remittances ($118.7B in 2023-24) fund 42% of India’s trade deficit.

• Less Dependence on Gulf : Lower exposure to oil-driven Gulf recessions.

• Regional Disparities : States like Kerala (Gulf-dependent) may face slowdowns, while Telangana/Karnataka (US-focused) benefit.

2) Technology & Innovation Report 2025

• India and China are the only developing countries in the world with significant private investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2023,” according UNCTAD report.

• The 2025 Technology and Innovation Report, issued by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has ranked India at 10th globally in private AI investments.

About the Report

• It is a global analytical report that evaluates how countries are prepared for and investing in frontier technologies, including AI, robotics, IoT, and biotechnology.

• It is published by UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

• It tracks a country’s performance on : AI Investment, Frontier Technology Readiness, ICT Access, Skill, R&D, Industrial Capacity and Access to Finance.

India’s Performance

• AI Investment (2023) : India ranks 10th worldwide in private Artificial Intelligence investments. Received $1.4 billion in AI funding in 2023.

• Frontier Technology Readiness Index (2024) : India ranks 36th out of 170 countries, improving from 48th in 2022. This reflects progress in policy support, human capital, and industrial capacity.

• AI Research & Innovation Strength : India listed among countries with strong AI scientific output alongside China, Germany, UK, and the US.

• India shows specialisation in nanotechnology, per patent share analysis.

3) Ottawa Convention

• NATO members Poland, Finland and all three Baltic states have queued up over the past few weeks to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia.

• The moves threaten to reverse decades of campaigning by activists who say there should be a global ban on landmines.

• Countries that quit the 1997 treaty will be able to start producing, using, stockpiling, & transferring landmines again.

About the Convention

• Also known as Mine Ban Treaty, it is a legally binding international agreement that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

• Adopted on 1997 and enforced from 1999.

• Membership - 164 countries which excludes USA, Russia, India, China & Israel.

• All European countries bordering Russia have announced plans to quit the global treaty, with the exception of Norway.

Threat of Landmines

• Anti-personnel landmines are generally hidden in the ground and designed to detonate automatically when someone steps on them or passes nearby.

• More than 80% of mine victims are civilians, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

• Role of Ottawa Convention :

  • Signatory countries were supposed to destroy all landmine stockpiles within four years, although not all have complied, according to the ICRC.

  • Provisions to assist victims, many of whom have lost limbs and suffer from other permanent disabilities.

4) Vibrant Villages Programme

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the Vibrant Villages Programme -II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), furthering its commitment for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 for ‘Safe, Secured & Vibrant land borders’.

• The Programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than Northern borders under VVP-I.

About VVP II

• It covers border villages beyond what was covered in VVP-I.

• It is implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs with financial outlay of ₹6,839 crore for the period 2024-25 to 2028-29.

• Coverage - 17 States/UTs including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, Gujarat, J&K, Ladakh, etc.

• Purpose - Quality of life in border villages, livelihood opportunities, national security, curb trans-border crime, enhance connectivity.

Key Features

• Basic Services Saturation : Focus on 4 key areas – all-weather roads (via PMGSY-IV), telecom, TV access, and electrification.

• Livelihood Opportunities : Boost rural income through cooperatives, SHGs, tourism, and handicraft promotion.

• Infrastructure Development : Includes SMART classrooms, village facilities, and cluster-based projects.

• Governance Support : A Cabinet Secretary-led committee to ease rules for effective implementation.

• Cultural and National Integration : Organising fairs, festivals, and official visits to promote national unity & cultural vibrancy.

• Development of Village Action Plans (VAPs) with community participation.

5) Initiatives at 6th BIMSTEC Summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced several India-led initiatives towards institution and capacity building in BIMSTEC.

• Some of these Initiatives are :

  • BODHI [BIMSTEC for Organised Development of Human Resource Infrastructure] under which training and scholarships would be provided to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats and others.

  • IMSTEC Centres of Excellence will be set up in India on Disaster Management, Sustainable Maritime Transport, Traditional Medicine, and Research and Training in Agriculture.

  • A pilot study by India to assess regional needs in Digital Public Infrastructure.

  • A capacity building programme for cancer care in the region

  • Establish BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and to organize BIMSTEC Business Summit every year in India.

  • Prime Minister welcomed signing of the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement, adoption of the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030.