Current affairs 24 April 2025

Amaravati to be World’s First Fully Renewable-Powered City.

• Amaravati, the planned capital of Andhra Pradesh, aims to become the world’s first city powered entirely by renewable energy, targeting 2,700 MW of green energy.
• The project, costing Rs 65,000 crore, integrates solar, wind, and hydropower to meet all electricity needs sustainably.
• Set to launch this month, it will serve as a global benchmark for urban sustainability.

1% TCS on Luxury Goods Over ₹10 Lakh.

• A 1% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is now applicable to luxury goods priced above ₹10 lakh, including items like watches, handbags, and yachts.
• Introduced by the Finance Act, 2024, the provision aims to enhance monitoring of high-value purchases and promote financial transparency.
• Sellers must comply with TCS requirements, and buyers will face stricter KYC norms during purchases.

Bihar Entrepreneur Launches "Modi Memento Museum".

• Yamuna Sikariya, an entrepreneur from Motihari, Bihar, has established the state’s first Modi Memento Museum, showcasing 56 auctioned souvenirs gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The museum honors the Prime Minister’s Namami Gange initiative, with proceeds from the auction funding the Ganga River rejuvenation project.
• It serves as a tribute to Modi’s leadership and environmental efforts.

MeitY Launches "I Am Circular" Coffee Table Book.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the I Am Circular Coffee Table Book, celebrating 30 innovations in India’s circular economy, curated by the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE).
• The book highlights solutions from the nationwide I Am Circular Challenge, focusing on sustainability themes like design, nature integration, and resource use.

New Microcontinent Found Between Greenland and Canada.

• Researchers discovered the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent, a previously unknown landmass beneath the Davis Strait.
• The microcontinent, composed of thick continental crust, formed during Greenland and North America's separation.
• This discovery emphasizes the role of lithospheric structures in tectonic plate movements and suggests microcontinents are more common.