January 2025 was warmest on record despite La Nina’s cooling effect

Context: According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), January 2025 was the warmest January ever recorded, continuing the trend of rising global temperatures.

Record-Breaking Global Temperatures

• January 2025 recorded an average global temperature of 13.23°C, which is 0.09°C warmer than January 2024, the previous record-holder.
• The temperature was 0.79°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.75°C higher than pre-industrial levels.
• Global temperatures have remained above the 1.5°C mark for 18 of the last 19 months.

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Impact of La Nina on Global Climate

• La Niña is a climate pattern where the central Pacific Ocean’s surface waters cool, influencing global weather patterns.
• It typically brings:
  • Stronger monsoons and heavier rainfall in India.
  • Droughts in parts of Africa and South America.
  • A slight cooling of global temperatures, unlike El Nino, which causes warming.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)

• The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is a European Union program that provides reliable and up-to-date climate data and analysis. 
• It is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission.
• C3S has been instrumental in reporting record-breaking global temperatures, extreme weather events, and ocean warming, helping to highlight the accelerating impact of climate change.

Aero India 2025

Context: The 15th edition of the biennial Aero India was inaugurated at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in  Bengaluru.

About Aero India

• It is Asia’s largest air show. 
• Theme: This year’s theme is “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities.”
• Nodal Ministry: It is organized by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
• The event features thrilling aerobatic displays by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and global aero vendors.
• It brings together industry leaders, government officials, technology experts, and defence strategists from around the world.

100 GW Solar Power Capacity

Context: India has achieved a major milestone by crossing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity which has strengthened India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy and helped to move it closer to its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030.

Key highlights of the Solar Power Milestone

• Rapid Growth in the Solar Sector
  • Solar capacity has grown by 3450% in the last decade, increasing from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in 2025.
  • As of January 31, 2025, India has 100.33 GW installed, with 84.10 GW under implementation and 47.49 GW under tendering.
• Solar Energy Leading Renewable Growth
  • Solar power accounts for 47% of India’s total renewable energy capacity.
  • In 2024, 24.5 GW of new solar capacity was added, twice the amount installed in 2023.
  • Utility-scale solar projects contributed 18.5 GW, almost 2.8 times more than in 2023.
  • Top-performing states include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Rooftop Solar Sector Expansion
  • The rooftop solar sector added 4.59 GW in 2024, a 53% increase from 2023.
  • The PM SuryaGhar Muft Bijli Yojana has led to 9 lakh rooftop solar installations, promoting household solar adoption.
• India’s Growing Solar Manufacturing
  • In 2014, India had only 2 GW of solar module production capacity.
  • By 2024, this increased to 60 GW, making India a major global player in solar manufacturing.

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Dibru Saikhowa National Park

Context: The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recently recommended the use of Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology inside Dibru Saikhowa National Park.

• This approval is strictly for research and development (R&D) purposes, ensuring that the technology is utilized without causing harm to the park’s ecosystem.

About Dibru Saikhowa National Park

• Status: Dibru Saikhowa National Park is designated as both a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve.
  • It has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, highlighting its significance for avian conservation.
• Location: It is situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam, India.
• Rivers: The park is naturally enclosed by multiple rivers:
  • To the north, it is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers.
  • To the south, it is bordered by the Dibru River.
• Vegetation and Biodiversity: The park hosts a diverse range of forest ecosystems, including:
  • Semi-evergreen forests, Deciduous forests, Littoral and swamp forests and  Patches of wet evergreen forests
  • It contains the largest Salix swamp forest in northeastern India, which is a critical habitat for several species.
  • The park is most renowned for housing rare white-winged wood ducks and feral horses, which are among its most distinctive wildlife species.
• Associated Wetland: Maguri Motapung wetland, a significant ecological zone, is a part of the Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve. It serves as a habitat for various migratory birds and aquatic species.
• Indigenous Communities: Several indigenous tribal communities inhabit the national park and its surrounding areas.
  • The major tribes residing in the region include Mishings, Sonowal Kacharis and Deoris.

Swavalambini: Women Entrepreneurship Programme

Context: In a significant push towards promoting women entrepreneurship in the northeast, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog launched Swavalambini – a Women Entrepreneurship Programme – in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

About Swavalambini

• Joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) & NITI Aayog.
• Implemented by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE).

Objectives

• Equip female students with entrepreneurial mindset, skills, mentorship, and funding support.
• Promote women-led enterprises and job creation.
• Provide a structured stage-wise entrepreneurial process: Awareness; Development; Mentorship; Funding support

Key Features of the Programme

• Training Modules:
  • Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): Introduces 600 female students to entrepreneurship as a viable career option through a 2-day session covering basic entrepreneurial concepts.
  • Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): For 300 selected students, providing a 40-hour intensive training covering:
    • Training and skilling
    • Access to finance
    • Market linkages
    • Compliance and legal support
    • Business services
    • Networking opportunities
  • This is followed by six months of mentorship and handholding support to help participants develop their ideas into sustainable businesses.
• Faculty Development Programme (FDP): A 5-day training for faculty members in HEIs to enhance their ability to mentor students in entrepreneurship.

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Article 371

Context: A regional party in poll-bound Meghalaya has indicated that bringing the State under the purview of Article 371 could help resume rat-hole coal mining, which has been banned since April 2014.

About Article 371

• Article 371 of the Constitution of India provides special provisions for certain states. 
• These provisions protect the interests of these states, especially those with distinct cultural identities or tribal populations.

Special Provisions for Some States

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