Current affairs 30 January 2025

Soreng District Becomes India’s First Organic Fisheries Cluster.

• Soreng district in Sikkim has launched India's first organic fisheries cluster, focusing on eco-friendly fish farming without chemicals or pesticides.
• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated the initiative, with one village adopted for organic fishing on a pilot basis.
• The district plans to expand organic fish farming across all six blocks, with a focus on training & water harvesting.

India Allocates $2 Billion to Boost Critical Minerals Sector.

• India has identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, vital for its energy transition and industrial demands.
• The government plans to invest ₹16,300 crore with ₹8,700 crore from the National Mineral Exploration Trust and ₹4,000 crore from the Geological Survey of India.
• An initial allocation of over $300 million awaits approval, ahead of India's first offshore mineral auctions.

China Develops Seabed "Radar" to Detect High-Altitude Aircraft.

• Chinese scientists claim to have developed a seabed radar capable of tracking aircraft at altitudes of 5,000 meters from a depth of 1,000 meters.
• The radar enhances submarine capabilities, potentially transforming them from targets to hunters in naval warfare.
• Unlike conventional systems, it uses advanced acoustic sensors to overcome distortion from seawater layers and turbulence.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 Resumes with Direct Flights.

• India and China will resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in summer 2025, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
• Plans include direct flights and expert-level talks on shared water resources.
• The move aims to rebuild relations after the COVID-19 pause and border disengagement in Ladakh.

India & Oman Amend DTAA to Boost Tax Cooperation.

• India and Oman signed a protocol to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, aligning it with international cross-border taxation standards and simplifying tax procedures.
• Both countries also agreed to accelerate negotiations for an early signing of the proposed Free Trade Agreement.