14 April 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Will Trump’s tariffs bring in a recession?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Reversal of U.S. Free Trade Policy

• Tariffs on imports from 60 countries have been increased even more, including 20% on the European Union, 27% on India, and 46% on Vietnam.
• Earlier, U.S. tariffs were around 2–3% for two decades, but now these are sharply raised.

Tariffs on Key Trading Partners

• In February, 25% tariffs were already placed on goods from Mexico and Canada, two of the U.S.’s biggest trade partners.
• The most severe impact is on imports from China, which now face 145% tariffs starting April 11.
• China supplies about one-sixth of all goods imported into the U.S.

Market and Global Reaction

• The sudden and steep tariff hike shocked global markets.
• Stock markets dropped sharply due to the uncertainty.
• China responded with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods, leading to fears of a global recession.
• On April 9, the U.S. paused the new tariffs for most countries for 90 days, except for China.

Trade Deficit and Globalisation

• The U.S. imports more than it exports, creating a trade deficit of $1,311 billion or 5% of its GDP in 2022.
• Despite this, it has continued global purchases due to the dominance of the U.S. dollar.
• China supports the dollar by buying U.S. treasury bonds, making both economies strongly linked.
• Globalisation has helped developing countries but also caused job losses in sectors like steel and automobiles in the U.S.

China’s Response Strategy

• China has reduced its reliance on exports and the U.S. economy.
• Its exports-to-GDP ratio dropped from 35% in 2012 to 19.7% in 2023.
• China has focused on technology, innovation, electric vehicles, and AI, and shifted production to other Asian countries to avoid tariffs.

Impact on India

• India exported goods worth $91 billion to the U.S. in 2022.
• The new U.S. tariffs could hurt India’s export income, though pharmaceuticals and services remain unaffected.
• With exports forming only 21.8% of India’s GDP, the damage may be limited.
• However, weak manufacturing capacity and limited impact of schemes like PLI remain challenges.
• India needs a strong industrial policy and more investment to face global trade shifts effectively.

2. India Maps Its Genes: Genome India Project Unlocks Path to Personalised Medicine and Ancestral Insights

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 12)

Analysis of the news:               

Medical Applications and Personalised Medicine

• The GIP holds transformative potential in healthcare. By identifying critical genetic variations responsible for disease susceptibility and drug response, the data can enable personalised treatment plans, improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.
• It also paves the way for population-specific healthcare strategies, especially for conditions like diabetes, which have strong genetic links in Indian communities.

Understanding Genetic Diversity

• Human DNA is 99.9% identical across individuals; it is the remaining 0.1% variability—around 3 to 4 million nucleotides—that determines individual uniqueness.
• Closed communities show less genetic diversity, while heterogeneous populations exhibit wider variation.
• GIP focuses on these unique segments, particularly the 1–2% critical mutations that influence traits, appearance, and health.

Establishing a Genetic Blueprint

• Using blood samples, the GIP captures germline sequences—the inherited genetic information.
• These sequences not only help in disease mapping but also provide clues to why certain treatments fail in some individuals.
• By building a robust genetic database, GIP aims to guide preventive health policies and rare disease management tailored to Indian genetics.

Evolutionary and Ancestral Insights

• Beyond medicine, GIP offers insights into population history and migration patterns.
• By comparing DNA from various communities and time periods, scientists can trace ancestry, track evolutionary changes, and understand how populations adapted to different environments.
• Such studies also help address deeper questions of identity and origins.

India’s Genomic Leap

• GIP is India’s answer to the global Human Genome Project, which lacked sufficient Indian representation.
• Given the enormous diversity in India’s population, this region-specific initiative fills a crucial gap and aims to build a comprehensive Indian gene bank, enhancing the country’s role in global genomic science.

3. Harbour phase of Indian Navy’s maiden initiative ‘Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement exercise’

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2121495 )

Analysis of the news:

• The event witnessed participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.
• The harbour phase of AIKEYME was launched aboard INS Chennai in the presence of key dignitaries from India and Tanzania.
• A Weapons Training Simulator in Arusha and a Defence Expo featuring 22 Indian companies were also inaugurated digitally.
• Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth emphasized “oneness and unity of purpose” to tackle maritime threats and called for enduring partnerships based on the principle of MAHASAGAR.
• Tanzania hailed the initiative as a strategic move for strengthening maritime cooperation, especially against piracy and trafficking.
• India gifted parachutes, defence books, and a Tri-Services War Gaming Simulator to Tanzania.
• The exercise symbolized a commitment to a free, open, and secure Indian Ocean region.

Prelims Facts

1. BatEchoMon: India’s first automated bat monitoring, detection system

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

What is BatEchoMon?

• It was developed by Kadambari Deshpande and Vedant Barje at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru.
• The system records, processes, and analyses bat echolocation calls in real-time.
• It uses Audiomoth as an ultrasonic detector and a Raspberry Pi microprocessor for data processing.
• BatEchoMon isolates bat calls, identifies species using a convolutional neural network, and generates spectrograms and statistical data.
• It is solar-powered, modular, and can function for up to eight days without sunlight.
• The device significantly reduces manual data processing time.
• Currently, it can identify 6–7 common bat species, with plans to expand its database.

What BatEchoMon is used for:

• Monitoring bat activity by recording and analysing echolocation calls in real time.
• Identifying bat species based on their unique call frequencies and patterns.
• Studying bat behaviour and ecology across different habitats and times.
• Generating statistical data on species-wise activity, peak hours, and call frequency.
• Reducing manual effort in analysing large volumes of acoustic data.
• Supporting ecological research by providing faster and more accurate data.
• Expanding bat research in urban, peri-urban, and forested areas.
• Creating reference datasets for lesser-known Indian bat species.
• Assisting conservation efforts by understanding bat population dynamics.

2. Kerala temple opens sacred space to all sections

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 1)

Analysis of the news:

• Earlier, access to the inner quarter was restricted to Brahmin, Marar, and Warrier communities, with limited entry for others only during festivals.
• This change came after a campaign by Pilicode Ninav Purush Swayaamsahaya Sangham, a reformist men’s self-help group.
• The group formed the Janakiya Samithi, a people’s committee that mobilised socio-cultural and political organisations.
• They petitioned the Tantri (head priest), the Devaswom Minister, and the temple board for caste-free access.
• On the eve of Vishu festival, 16 devotees entered the inner sanctum, followed by many others.
• The move is seen as a landmark step towards inclusivity, with permanent access for all devotees now ensured.

3. ESA’s Biomass Mission to Weigh World’s Forests and Track Carbon from Space

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 12)

Analysis of the news:

Objective: Weighing the World’s Forests

• Forests absorb around 16 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually and store over 861 gigatonnes of carbon, yet there is limited large-scale data on forest biomass and height.
• The mission aims to map and monitor above-ground forest biomass, enabling scientists to assess carbon storage and track changes over time, especially due to deforestation.

Technology: Pioneering Satellite Imaging

• Biomass will use a P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) — the first satellite to do so — capable of penetrating forest canopies with 70 cm wavelength radar waves.
• It features a 12-meter deployable antenna that will help produce 3D images of forests, measuring biomass from treetop to roots.

Significance: Climate and Deforestation Monitoring

• With 3.7 million hectares of tropical forest lost in 2023 alone, accounting for 6% of global CO₂ emissions, the mission will help monitor such losses and their climate impact.
• It will also improve understanding of carbon flow dynamics between forests and the atmosphere, aiding climate models and policymaking.

Additional Applications: Beyond Forests

• Apart from forests, the Biomass mission will track Antarctic ice sheet movement and generate digital terrain models of dense vegetation areas.
• This broadens its utility in studying climate change, topography, and environmental resilience.

Earth Explorer Programme: A Broader Vision

• Biomass is the seventh mission under ESA’s Earth Explorer programme, which provides key data about Earth’s land, oceans, ice, and atmosphere.
• Previous missions like GOCE (2009) and EarthCARE (2024) have contributed significantly to understanding ocean circulation and Earth’s radiative balance.

4. Breakthrough Study Reveals Promising New Treatment for Rare and Aggressive SRCC Colorectal Cancer

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 12)

Analysis of the news:

What is SRCC?

• Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC), known for its rapid spread, resistance to conventional therapies, and poor prognosis.
• It is named for its unique microscopic appearance resembling a signet ring.

Prevalence in India

• While SRCC constitutes only about 1% of CRC cases globally, it disproportionately affects patients in India—10 times more frequently—especially younger individuals.
• It is commonly diagnosed at advanced stages due to its tendency to metastasize to the peritoneum, worsening outcomes.

Scientific Breakthrough

• A multidisciplinary team at ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre, developed patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs)—lab-grown models of SRCC tumors that mimic human tumor behavior.
• These are some of the first living biobanks of SRCC globally.

Key Findings

• Resistance Mechanism: The models revealed molecular reasons for SRCC’s resistance to conventional chemotherapy.
  
  
• Drug Testing: The team tested numerous drug combinations and identified a novel three-drug combo that effectively shrank tumors and limited their spread in lab settings.
  
  

Future Implications

• These findings provide a crucial step toward personalized therapy for SRCC.
• The success of preclinical models supports the need for Phase 1 clinical trials, offering hope for more effective treatment strategies against this deadly cancer subtype.

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