News in Shorts: 01 December 2025

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Financing India Projects

Context: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed over $800 million in loans and a technical assistance grant to support major development initiatives across four states.

Projects financed by ADB

• Maharashtra – Power Distribution Enhancement Programme ($500 million)
  • By 2028, the programme will deliver daytime solar electricity to ~9 lakh farmers, upgrade substations, expand distribution lines, and install a 500 MWh battery storage system.
• Madhya Pradesh – Indore Metro Rail Project (¥27.14 billion / $190.6 million)
  • The financing supports construction of an 8.62-km underground metro corridor with seven stations to improve mobility in dense urban pockets.
  • It enhances multimodal integration, improves access to markets and education hubs, and targets operational readiness by January 2030.
• Gujarat – Skills Development Programme ($109.97 million)
  • It upgrades 11 mega ITIs, sets up centres of excellence, and expands industry–academia partnerships through a hub-and-spoke model.
• Assam – SWIFT Project (Technical Assistance Grant: $1 million)
  • It aims to enhance biodiversity, boost fisher livelihoods, and prepare institutional frameworks for the SWIFT (Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation) project.

About ADB

• ADB is a regional multilateral development bank promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth across Asia-Pacific.
• Established: 19 December 1966; Headquarters: Metro Manila, Philippines.
• Members: 69 countries (50 from Asia-Pacific).
• Voting Rights: Based on capital subscription.
• Share: Japan and the USA hold the largest share (~15.6% each) followed by China (~6.5%), India (~6.3%), and Australia (~5.8%). 

India and ADB

• India is a founding member (1966) and among the largest borrowers for infrastructure and energy projects.
• ADB supports India’s goals in renewable energy, transport modernisation, urban development, skilling, and climate resilience.
• India hosts several major ADB-financed metros (Mumbai Metro and Chennai Metro),  industrial corridors under National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) and power sector reforms.

Schrodinger’s Economy

Context: India’s latest GDP data presents a paradox: real GDP is rising strongly, while nominal GDP is slowing sharply, creating a situation where the economy appears to be simultaneously booming and weakening – a “Schrödinger’s economy.”

Recent GDP Data

• Higher real GDP Growth:  Real GDP grew 8.2% in Q2, after 7.8% in Q1
• Declining Nominal Growth: Nominal GDP slowed from 10.7% (Mar) to 8.8% (Jun) to 8.7% (Sep).

What is Schrödinger’s economy ?

• Schrödinger’s Economy refers to an economy that appears to be simultaneously weak and strong, just like Schrödinger’s cat in quantum physics which is both alive and dead until observed.
• It highlights mixed or contradictory economic signals, making it difficult to assess the true health of the economy.
• Origin of the Term: Inspired by physicist Erwin Schrödinger’s thought experiment.

Burtele Foot

Context: Scientists have identified the 3.4-million-year-old “Burtele Foot” fossils from Ethiopia as belonging to Australopithecus deyiremeda, clarifying coexistence among early human ancestors.

About the “Burtele Foot”

• The “Burtele Foot” refers to eight fossilised foot bones discovered in 2009 at Burtele in Ethiopia’s Afar region.
• These fossils have now been linked to Australopithecus deyiremeda, an early hominin.
  • A hominin is a link between the last common ancestor shared with chimpanzees and modern humans, representing a group of species that includes modern humans and all our extinct ancestors since that split. 
  • This lineage includes genera like Homo, Australopithecus, and Ardipithecus.
• The identification became possible after the nearby discovery of 25 teeth and a child’s jawbone belonging to the same species.

Key Features of  “ Australopithecus deyiremeda ”

• The species was bipedal but retained an opposable big toe, indicating strong climbing ability alongside upright walking.
• The foot structure shows that A. deyiremeda walked differently, pushing off from the second toe instead of the big toe like A. afarensis and modern humans.
• Chemical analysis of tooth enamel indicates a tree- and shrub-based diet, unlike the broader dietary range of A. afarensis.
• The fossils demonstrate the coexistence of two closely related hominins A. deyiremeda and A. afarensis between 3.5–3.3 million years ago.

Significance

• The findings provide the clearest evidence that early human evolution was not linear, with multiple hominin species living simultaneously.
• The coexistence reflects distinct ecological adaptations, including different locomotion styles and plant-based diets that reduced direct competition.
• The fossils enhance understanding of evolutionary experimentation in human bipedality, showing varied foot, leg, and pelvis adaptations emerging at different times.

Mannar Uruli

Context: The Prime Minister’s reference to Mannar Uruli  in Mann Ki Baat received an enthusiastic response from artisans in Kerala.

About Mannar Uruli

• Mannar Uruli is a traditional bronze kitchen vessel crafted in Mannar, Kerala, known for its long-standing metalwork heritage.
• Mannar hosts over 200 skilled craftsmen, with century-old establishments like PRM maintaining high-quality metal casting traditions.
• Features of Urli
  • The Mannar Uruli is made from high-grade bronze, ensuring durability, heat retention, and safety for daily cooking activities.
  • The vessel functions like a natural casserole, retaining the heat of cooked dishes for several hours, enhancing its utility in Kerala households.
• Applications of Urli
  • The bronze uruli is widely used for preparing payasam, deep-frying, and slow-cooking traditional dishes in Kerala’s culinary culture.
  • The metal composition is considered non-hazardous and offers health benefits associated with cooking in traditional bronze utensils.
  • The vessels are available in sizes ranging from 10 inches to 24 inches, making them suitable for both household and ceremonial cooking needs.

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