17th FEBRUARY 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Overall exports up 7.21% in April-January 2024-25
- The country's export statistics for the April-January 2024-25 period have been released. Overall exports (goods and services) during the April-January 2024-25 period are estimated at US$ 682.59 billion. This was US$ 636.69 billion in April-January 2023-24. This is a growth of 7.21%.
- The overall value of merchandise exports during this period was US$ 358.91 billion, as compared to US$ 353.97 billion in April-January 2023-24. This has registered a growth of 1.39%.
- Non-petroleum exports increased from US$ 283.45 billion in April-January 2023-24 to US$ 305.84 billion in April-January 2024-25.
- Exports of electronic goods, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, rice, gems and jewellery increased in January 2025.
- Exports of electronic goods increased by 78.97% from US$ 2.29 billion in January 2024 to US$ 4.11 billion in January 2025.
- Exports of engineering goods increased by 7.44% from US$ 8.77 billion in January 2024 to US$ 9.42 billion in January 2025.
- Exports of pharmaceuticals increased by 21.46% from US$ 2.13 billion in January 2024 to US$ 2.59 billion in January 2025.
- Rice exports increased by 44.61% from US$ 0.95 billion in January 2024 to US$ 1.37 billion in January 2025.
- Gems and jewellery exports increased by 15.95% from US$ 2.59 billion in January 2024 to US$ 3 billion in January 2025.
- Total exports (merchandise and services combined) for January 2025 were estimated at US$ 74.97 billion. This is a growth of 9.72 percent compared to January 2024
- Under the Union Government's Deep Sea Operations, the Ministry of Earth Sciences had entrusted the National Institute of Ocean Technology with the task of designing and developing the 4th generation deep-sea submarine named "Matsya-6000" as part of the Samudrayan project.
- This state-of-the-art submarine is designed to accommodate three people within its small 2.1-meter diameter spherical hull. It is a significant milestone in India's ocean exploration capabilities.
- Following the completion of the design phase, various subsystems critical to the operation of Matsya-6000 were identified and developed. All the subsystems have been designed indigenously. They are currently undergoing complete integration and testing.
- To ensure seamless integration in its external structure, integrated dry tests were carried out with an operational range of 500 meters.
- The Central Government has approved the continuation of the Integrated PM-AASHA till the period of 15th Finance Commission i.e. 2025-26. The integrated PM-AASHA scheme will bring greater efficiency in the implementation of procurement activities.
- This will not only help in providing remunerative prices to farmers for their produce but will also ensure availability of essential agricultural produce at affordable prices to consumers.
- To encourage farmers to contribute to improving domestic pulse production and reduce dependence on imports, the Government has allowed procurement of dal, urad and lentil under the Price Support Scheme equivalent to 100% of the production in the procurement year 2024-25.
- Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, inaugurated the SilkTech-2025 International Conference organised by the Central Silk Board in New Delhi.
- The conference, SilkTech 2025, is being held as part of the Bharat Tex textile exhibition. The conference began today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in the presence of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.
- The International Conference on Emerging Technologies in Silk Industry was organized and hosted by the Research Institute of the Central Silk Board, Ranchi. The Minister of State for Textiles released two books on emerging technologies in silk industry during the conference.
- During the conference, 6 MoUs were signed between the Research and Development Institute of the Central Silk Board and other research institutes.
