National Statistics Office (NSO) releases the Provisional Estimates of Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25.

Key Highlights

• Real GDP (GDP at Constant Prices) has been estimated to grow by 6.5% in FY 2024-25 while Nominal GDP (GDP at Current Prices) has witnessed a growth rate of 9.8%. 
• Real Gross Value Added (GVA) is estimated at ₹171.87 lakh crore in the FY 2024-25 while Nominal GVA is estimated at ₹300.22 lakh crore.
• Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) has reported a 7.2% growth rate.
• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) has recorded 7.1% growth rate.

India’s Fiscal Deficit stood at 4.8% of GDP for FY2024-25, according to data released by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA), meeting the revised estimate set by the Union Budget FY2025-26.

About Fiscal Deficit

• Fiscal deficit is the difference between the government’s total expenditure and its total receipts excluding borrowing.
• Gross fiscal deficit = Total expenditure – (Revenue receipts + Non-debt creating capital receipts)
  • Non-debt creating capital receipts are receipts which are not borrowings and do not give rise to debt. E.g. recovery of loans, proceeds from sale of PSUs.

Telangana Government declared the Tiger Corridor Area connecting the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana with the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve

• Located in Sahyadri Mountain Ranges along the banks of River Godavari in Telangana.
• Situated in southern-most tip of Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) and Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh).
• Flora: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest. 
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Nilgai, Chinkara, Fox, Jackal etc. 

President of India presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards for 2025 to 15 nurses for their exemplary service in strengthening public health delivery. 

About National Florence Nightingale Awards

• It was instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973.
• It aims to recognize the meritorious services of nurses and is presented to Registered Nurses, Midwives, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Lady Health Visitors.
• Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, and a medal.

On its statehood day, Goa becomes the second state (after Mizoram) to achieve Full Functional Literacy under the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).

• ULLAS is a centrally sponsored initiative which focuses on imparting functional literacy and enrich learners with critical life skills. 

About Goa

• India’s smallest state located on the Western Coast.
• History: Formed part of Mauryan Empire, and came under rule of Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas of Malkhed, Vijayanagara Empire and Bahmani Sultans. 
  • In 1510 AD, Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur.
  • Liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961 and later formed as an Union Territory. 
• Major rivers: Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora etc.

Birch Glacier in Switzerland catastrophically failed, generating a massive landslide that has partially buried Blatten village. 

• The collapse of the Birch Glacier also impacted the Lonza River. 

Birch Glacier 

• Birch Glacier is located in the Lötschental valley in northern Switzerland. 
• Experts believe climate change played a central role in the glacier's collapse. 
  • Rising global temperatures have led to the rapid retreat of glaciers and the thawing of alpine permafrost, which acts as the glue holding mountain slopes together.
• Switzerland, home to the largest number of glaciers in Europe, has witnessed a dramatic loss of nearly 40% of its glacial volume since the year 2000.

Nearly 41 % of urban adolescents in government schools across north India suffer from folate or vitamin B9 deficiency: AIIMS

About Vitamin B9 (Folate or Folic Acid)

• Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9, water-soluble and naturally found in many foods.
• Function: Helps to form DNA and RNA and is involved in protein metabolism.
  • It is also needed to produce healthy red blood cells and is critical during periods of rapid growth, such as during pregnancy and fetal development.
• Sources of folate include: Dark green leafy vegetables, Beans, Peanuts etc.
• Folate deficiency leads to blockade of DNA synthesis and, inter alia, the symptoms of megaloblastic anemia. 

The fibre optics first-person-view (FPV) drones are being used in the Russia-Ukraine war.

About Fibre Optics First-Person-View (FPV) Drones

• They are wired kamikaze drones that use fibre optics instead of radio waves for navigation. 
  • Fibre optics uses very thin glass or plastic threads through which light can travel to carry information. It works on the principle of total internal reflection.
• The drone operator gets access to high-quality images at high speed, improving navigability and precision targeting.
• Features: Difficult to detect, immune from being electronically intercepted, longer battery life, more accurate navigation in difficult terrains.
• Drawbacks: Can be slower, and the cable could get entangled in obstacles.