TODAY CURRENT AFFAIRS-Januray 29,2025

1. AI Innovation: DeepSeek's New AI Models

Key Developments

• Chinese startup DeepSeek launched DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-v3 AI models, challenging U.S. firms like OpenAI's GPT-4.
• Cost Efficiency: Developed under $6 million, with operational costs 50x lower than GPT-4.

Market Impact

• Nvidia's market value fell by $0.5 trillion after the announcement.
• DeepSeek's AI Assistant surpassed ChatGPT as the top free app on Apple's App Store.

Controversies

• Concerns over alleged use of 50,000 restricted Nvidia H100 chips.
• Data security issues due to China's strict regulations.

2. Health Crisis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Outbreak in India

Cause & Symptoms

• Linked to Campylobacter jejuni (contaminated food/water).
• Symptoms include muscle weakness, paralysis, respiratory issues.

Public Health Response

• Rapid response teams collecting water samples.
• Treatment: Plasma exchange/IV immunoglobulin within 2 weeks.

Concerns

• Hygiene failures in urban areas.
• India's largest suspected GBS outbreak (Global incidence: 1-2 per 100,000 people).

3. Tungsten Mining Controversy in Tamil Nadu

Importance of Tungsten

• A strategic mineral crucial for defense and high-tech industries.
• India imports 95% of its tungsten.

Political & Environmental Concerns

• Auction annulled due to proximity to Arittapatti, Tamil Nadu's first biodiversity heritage site.
• Debate: Resource security vs. ecological preservation.

4. India's Foreign Policy Challenges

Budget Constraints

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) allocated only 0.4% of total budget (needs at least 1% to meet global ambitions).

Key Diplomatic Issues

• Maldives: "India Out" campaign.
• Myanmar: Political instability.
• Bangladesh: Potential regime change.
• Bhutan: Largest aid recipient (focus on hydropower).

Shift in Financial Strategy

• 45% of foreign aid now in the form of loans (Grants reduced by 10% in 2024-25).

5. First-Ever Classification of Denotified Tribes (DNTs)

Study by

• Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI)
• Tribal Research Institutes (TRI)

Findings

• 179 communities recommended for SC/ST/OBC inclusion.
• 85 communities identified for classification for the first time.
• 63 communities untraceable due to assimilation/migration.

Why It Matters?

• Denotified tribes were historically labeled as "criminal" under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1924 (repealed in 1949).
• Political & Social Impact: States debating whether to classify them as SC, ST, OBC, or a separate DNT category.

6. ASER 2024: Post-COVID Learning Recovery in Rural India

Key Findings

• Surveyed 6.5 lakh children (3-16 years) in 605 rural villages.
• Reading Levels:
  • Class 3: 23.4% can read Class 2 text (up from 16.3% in 2022).
  • Class 5: 44.8% can read Class 2 text (vs. 38.5% in 2022).

Concerns

• 76.6% of Class 3 students still lack grade-appropriate reading skills.

7. ISRO's GSLV-F15 Mission

• Carrying navigation satellite NVS-02.

Historic Milestones:

• First launch: SLV-3 E10 in 1979 (led by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam).
• Chandrayaan (2008, 2019, 2023), Aditya-L1 (2023), PSLV-C37 (104 satellites in 2017).

8. WHO's New Dietary Guidelines on Salt

Recommendations

• Replace regular salt with potassium-enriched salt (except for pregnant women, children, kidney patients).
• Aim: Reduce sodium intake to <2g/day to prevent hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, strokes.

9. India-Sri Lanka Fishermen Dispute

Recent Incident

• Sri Lankan Navy fired at an Indian fishing boat, injuring 2 and arresting 13.

Diplomatic Response:

• India lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka.
• 540 Indian fishermen arrested in 2023 for illegal fishing.

10. Impact of Immigration on U.S. Economy

• 55% of U.S. billion-dollar startups founded by immigrants.
• A 10% increase in foreign STEM workers → 0.5-0.7% rise in native wages.
• H-1B visa holders create 183 jobs per American over 7 years.

Policy Recommendations

• Flexible visa caps & fast-track processing for critical skills.

11. Allahabad High Court on Child Marriage Annulment

Case: Sanjay Chaudhary v. Guddan (2024)

• Annulled a child marriage (man: 12 years, woman: 9 years).
• Criticized gender disparity in marriage age laws (PCMA, 2006).

Proposed Reforms

• Set uniform marriage age at 18 (aligning with the Majority Act, 1875).

12. Birthright Citizenship in the U.S.

Trump's Executive Order

• Attempted to exclude children of non-citizens from birthright citizenship.
• Defined "mother" and "father" biologically, excluding LGBTQ+ parents.

Why It Was Blocked?

• Federal judge called it "blatantly unconstitutional".
• Birthright citizenship protected under the 14th Amendment.

Next Steps

• Trump may seek a constitutional amendment (requiring 2/3rd Congress approval + 3/4th state ratification).

13. India's Budget Overview

Major Components

• Expenditure:
  • Revenue (salaries, subsidies, pensions).
  • Capital (infrastructure, assets).
• Receipts:
  • Revenue (taxes, dividends).
  • Capital (borrowings, disinvestment).

Deficit Indicators

• Fiscal Deficit: Total Expenditure > Total Revenue.
• Revenue Deficit: Revenue Expenditure > Revenue Receipts.

Challenges

• Balancing growth vs. fiscal discipline.
• Revenue mobilization (tax collection).
• Social sector allocations (health, education).

14. ANI vs. OpenAI Copyright Lawsuit

Case Details

• ANI & publishers sued OpenAI for copyright infringement (AI training data).
• OpenAI argued for arbitration in California courts.
• Court appointed legal experts; next hearing in two weeks.

Implications

• Legal framework for AI & data sovereignty.
• Global tech accountability.

NOTE: The information provided is based on current affairs reported in The Hindu newspaper, dated 29 January 2025.