Mar 05, 2025 | Current Affairs for UPSC, State PCS & other Govt. Exams

On March 4, 2025, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that India's circular economy has the potential to create a market worth over USD 2 trillion and generate nearly 10 million jobs by 2050.

He made this announcement while speaking on the second day of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum for the India and Pacific region in Jaipur.

He also noted that the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) is organized annually, with the 2025 edition taking place in São Paulo, Brazil. India has expressed its willingness to host the WCEF in 2026.

A major highlight of the session was the launch of the SBM Waste to Wealth PMS Portal, an innovative online platform developed under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).

The session also marked the release of the IFC Document Reference Guide: Business Models and Economic Assistance for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Projects. Additionally, the event saw the launch of India’s Circular Sutra: A Compendium of Best Practices in 3R & Circular Economy.

The Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) presented its latest study, offering a detailed outlook on solid waste management (SWM) practices in cities with populations exceeding one million.

On March 4, 2025, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, flagged off India's first fleet of hydrogen-powered truck trials in New Delhi.

With an allocation of ₹19,744 crore, the National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to position India as a global leader in hydrogen production, storage, and application across various sectors.

India's Green Hydrogen Targets for 2030:
- Production: 5 million metric tons (MMT) of Green Hydrogen annually
- Electrolyser Capacity: 60-100 GW
- Renewable Energy Capacity: 125 GW dedicated to hydrogen production

These initiatives are expected to:
- Reduce 50 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually
- Save ₹1 lakh crore in energy imports
- Attract ₹8 lakh crore in investments

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023.

India's first dedicated solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has successfully captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel.’ Launched on September 2, 2023, and placed in its designated orbit on January 6, 2024, Aditya-L1 is positioned at Lagrange Point L1, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

This strategic location allows the observatory to continuously monitor the Sun without any eclipses or obstructions, ensuring uninterrupted data collection.

India has launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), a multi-nation alliance aimed at fostering city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships for sustainable urban development.

This was announced during the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum on Asia and the Pacific in Jaipur.

A MoU for City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) was signed, strengthening urban sustainability efforts.

PM Modi emphasized the importance of 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and the circular economy in ensuring sustainable urban growth and resource efficiency.

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, announced that ₹1,800 crore worth of agreements will be signed under C-3, benefiting 18 cities across 14 states. These projects will serve as lighthouse models for other urban centers.

The Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific was launched in 2009 to promote sustainable waste management, resource efficiency, and circular economy principles across the region.

A major milestone was the adoption of the Hanoi 3R Declaration (2013-2023), which set 33 voluntary goals for transitioning towards a resource-efficient and circular economy.

PM Modi recently inaugurated Vantara, an advanced animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation center in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.

WAVES India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge, part of the Create in India initiatives, invites drone pilots and filmmakers to showcase India's breathtaking beauty and diversity through aerial cinematography.

Organized by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, this challenge is a precursor to the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES).

Scheduled from May 1–4, 2025, at Jio World Convention Centre and Jio World Gardens in Mumbai, WAVES is making its debut as a dynamic hub-and-spoke platform aimed at uniting the entire Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector.

The summit is structured around four key pillars:

- Broadcasting & Infotainment – Focused on the evolving landscape of media, information dissemination, and entertainment.
- AVGC-XR – Covering Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
- Digital Media & Innovation – Highlighting advancements in digital content creation.
- Films – Exploring storytelling, production, and industry trends.

The India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge falls under the Broadcasting & Infotainment pillar, emphasizing the transformative role of aerial cinematography in modern media.