Daily Current Affairs

October 22, 2025

Current Affairs

Global Push for a Fossil Fuels Phase-Out Treaty

Context: At the IUCN World Conservation Congress (October 2025), members adopted Motion 042, formally recognising fossil fuel production as a direct threat to nature and biodiversity. This marks the first global conservation treaty proposal linking fossil fuels explicitly to biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.

About the IUCN World Conservation Congress

  • Held every four years, the IUCN Congress sets global priorities for nature conservation and sustainable development.
  • It brings together governments, scientists, and civil society to vote on conservation policies and motions shaping global environmental governance.
  • The 2025 Congress witnessed a broad coalition calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, modeled on nuclear disarmament frameworks.

About the UNFCCC

  • Adopted: 1992 (Rio Earth Summit) | Came into force: 1994
  • Secretariat: Bonn, Germany
  • Objective: To stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations and prevent harmful climate interference.
  • Conference of Parties (COP): The apex decision-making body.
    • COP28 (2023): Dubai, UAE
    • COP29 (2024): Baku, Azerbaijan
    • COP30 (2025): Belém, Brazil

About the IUCN

  • Founded: 1948 | HQ: Gland, Switzerland
  • Members: 1,400+ (includes states, NGOs, and scientific institutions)
  • Core Role: Acts as the global authority on biodiversity; maintains the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • The new motion strengthens IUCN’s push for legally binding mechanisms to phase out fossil fuel extraction.

Why a Global Treaty Matters

  • Scientific Consensus: Fossil fuels drive ~75% of global GHG emissions and nearly 90% of CO₂ output (UNEP, 2024).
  • Biodiversity Impact: Extraction and combustion are linked to 40% of land degradation and 80% biodiversity loss in ecosystems such as the Amazon and Congo Basins.
  • Economic Dimension: The IMF (2024) estimated global fossil fuel subsidies at $1.8 trillion, undermining renewable energy transitions.
  • Equity Principle: Developing nations demand financial and technological support for a just transition.

Global Production Snapshot (IEA, 2024)

ResourceTop ProducersGlobal Share
OilU.S. (17%), Saudi Arabia (13%), Russia (12%)42%
CoalChina (51%), India (10%), Indonesia (8%)69%
GasU.S. (23%), Russia (17%), Iran (6%)46%

India’s Position

  • India supports “phase-down” (not full phase-out) of fossil fuels, prioritising energy security and equity.
  • Focus remains on expanding renewables, energy efficiency, and green hydrogen to achieve Net Zero by 2070.

Conclusion

The IUCN’s 2025 resolution signifies a global paradigm shift — viewing fossil fuel production not merely as a climate issue but as a biodiversity emergency. The success of any treaty, however, will depend on equitable transitions, financial support, and political consensus between developed and developing economies.

State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) 2025

Context: The Ministry of Mines (MoM) has released the first-ever State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI), assessing and ranking States based on their readiness and performance in the mining sector. The initiative, reported by Business Standard and Times of India, aims to encourage reforms, strengthen federal cooperation, and promote responsible mineral development across India.

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Note: Map not to scale

About the SMRI

The State Mining Readiness Index is a benchmarking tool designed to evaluate States and Union Territories on their capacity to efficiently manage and develop non-coal mineral resources.

It aligns with the national goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat through enhanced domestic mineral exploration and sustainable mining.

Objectives of the Index:

  • To promote competitive federalism among States in the mining sector.
  • To encourage investment-friendly policies and attract private participation.
  • To foster sustainable and transparent mineral management.
  • To act as a performance monitoring tool for mining reforms.

Key Evaluation Parameters:

The Index evaluates States based on four key pillars:

  1. Auction Performance – Efficiency and transparency in mineral block auctions.
  2. Mine Operationalisation – Speed and success in converting auctioned blocks into operational mines.
  3. Exploration Efforts – Level of geological exploration and resource mapping.
  4. Sustainable Mining Practices – Environmental compliance, community engagement, and mine closure planning.

Ranking Highlights:

CategoryStates with High ReadinessMineral Endowment Type
Category AMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, GujaratMineral-rich States
Category BGoa, Uttar Pradesh, AssamModerate mineral endowment
Category CPunjab, Uttarakhand, TripuraLimited mineral endowment

Significance:

  • Enhances policy coherence between the Centre and States.
  • Promotes data-driven decision-making in the mineral sector.
  • Facilitates balanced regional development through sectoral competitiveness.
  • Supports India’s transition to a sustainable and self-reliant mineral economy.

Way Forward

  • Strengthen digital governance in mining through platforms like MCP (Mining Clearance Portal).
  • Expand geoscientific data sharing for faster exploration.
  • Integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into the SMRI framework.
  • Encourage capacity building for State mining departments.

Conclusion

The State Mining Readiness Index marks a crucial step toward modernising India’s mining ecosystem. By linking performance to reforms, it encourages States to adopt best practices in mineral exploration, sustainability, and governance—building a resilient foundation for India’s economic growth.

First Local Transmission of Mpox Clade I Strain in the U.S.

Context: The United States has reported the first suspected local transmission of the Clade I Mpox strain, with no international travel link identified. The confirmation raises public health concerns, as Clade I is considered more virulent than the Clade II strain that caused the global 2022 outbreak.
This incident marks a potential shift in the epidemiology of Mpox, signaling community-level spread within North America.

About Mpox

  • Causative Agent: Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) is a zoonotic viral infection caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV), belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, closely related to smallpox.
  • Transmission: Occurs via contact with infectious lesions, body fluids, contaminated materials, or respiratory droplets from infected individuals or animals.
  • Symptoms: Fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, and characteristic painful skin lesions (often on face, hands, and genital areas).
  • Severity: Children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are more prone to complications such as secondary infections and pneumonia.

Clades of Mpox

  • Clade I:
    • Geographic Origin: Central Africa (mainly Congo Basin).
    • Fatality Rate: 1–10%.
    • Severity: More virulent and transmissible.
  • Clade II (A & B):
    • Origin: West Africa.
    • Fatality Rate: <1–4%.
    • Responsible for 2022 Global Outbreak.

Treatment and Prevention

  • Treatment: No specific antiviral cure exists. However, Tecovirimat (TPOXX) and Brincidofovir are used under emergency authorisations to manage severe infections.
  • Vaccination:
    • Jynneos (Imvamune/Imvanex) by Bavarian Nordic is the approved vaccine offering cross-protection against both Mpox clades.
    • Target groups include healthcare workers, laboratory staff, and close contacts of confirmed cases.
  • Public Health Response: Enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, and isolation remain critical for containment.

India’s Status

Between December 2024 and March 2025, India recorded 10 confirmed cases of Clade 1b Mpox, all traced to travel from Gulf countries.

There has been no community transmission reported domestically so far. India continues to follow WHO-recommended surveillance and vaccination guidelines under the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Significance

  • The local transmission of Clade I indicates the virus’s capacity to adapt and spread beyond endemic regions.
  • It underscores the need for genomic monitoring, rapid diagnostics, and international cooperation under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework.

India and FAO Celebrate 80 Years of Partnership

Context: On World Food Day 2025, India and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) marked 80 years of partnership, highlighting India’s journey from food scarcity to self-sufficiency and global leadership in sustainable agriculture.
The collaboration symbolises India’s long-standing commitment to achieving food and nutritional security through innovation, inclusivity, and international cooperation.

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India’s Achievements in Food Security:

  • Resilient Agriculture Base: Despite having less than 4% of the world’s arable land and freshwater, India ensures food self-sufficiency and price stability through efficient policies and technological advances.
  • Public Distribution & Welfare: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) guarantees subsidised food to over 800 million beneficiaries, supported by MSP (Minimum Support Price) and public stockholding systems.
  • Empowering Small Farmers: With 146 million small and marginal cultivators, India’s targeted interventions — like PM-KISAN, Fasal Bima Yojana, and Soil Health Card Scheme — form the backbone of its agri-economy.
  • Agri-Tech & Sustainability: Digital platforms like eNAM, Kisan Drone Initiative, and Millet Mission are redefining productivity, market access, and climate resilience.

About the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO):

  • Founded: 1945
  • Headquarters: Rome, Italy
  • Membership: 194 countries; operations in over 130 nations
  • Motto: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life for all
  • Role: FAO acts as the custodian for 62 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting data-driven policymaking and international coordination in food systems.

India–FAO Partnership Highlights:

  1. Founding Membership:
    India has been associated with FAO since its inception in 1945, actively shaping agricultural and food policies.
  2. Post-Independence Collaboration:
    FAO’s early technical assistance supported India’s Green Revolution and development of its agricultural research institutions.
  3. Recent Initiatives:
    • Blue Ports Initiative: Promoting sustainable fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
    • Millets Promotion: Jointly led the International Year of Millets (2023) campaign to global success.
    • Climate-Smart Agriculture: Collaborative projects for resilient crop systems and biodiversity conservation.

Significance:

  • Strengthens India’s global leadership in food and nutrition governance.
  • Reinforces SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) through inclusive, sustainable agricultural models.
  • Enhances South–South Cooperation, allowing India to share best practices with developing nations.

Conclusion:

The 80-year India–FAO partnership reflects a shared vision for a hunger-free, sustainable, and equitable world. As India transitions from food security to nutrition security, this collaboration will continue to drive innovations in agriculture, climate resilience, and rural development for decades to come.

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