Current Affairs 4/1/2025 India with Quiz - Unveils Sweeping Digital Reforms and Boosts Agri-Tech in a Day of Policy Action

On January 4, 2025, India's reform momentum continued with a sharp focus on modernizing its legal and agricultural frameworks. The day was marked by the unveiling of a landmark digital policy, a significant revamp of a flagship farmer welfare scheme, and new directives in corporate governance. These moves signal a determined effort to create a future-ready India.

Technology and Governance: The Digital India Act is Tabled

In what is being hailed as a watershed moment for India's technology landscape, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the first draft of the ambitious Digital India Act, 2025, for public consultation. This comprehensive piece of legislation is designed to replace the now-antiquated Information Technology Act of 2000, providing a modern legal framework to govern the nation's rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.

The draft act has several key pillars. Firstly, it introduces a forward-looking framework for the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), proposing a risk-based assessment system for AI applications to ensure ethical deployment and user safety. Secondly, it overhauls the rules for online content moderation and establishes a new accountability structure for social media intermediaries, aiming to make the internet safer for all users. Thirdly, it redefines the "safe harbor" provisions that protect platforms from liability for user-generated content, linking it to more stringent compliance measures. MeitY has invited feedback from all stakeholders, including tech companies, civil society, and the public, setting the stage for a robust debate on the future of the internet in India.

Agriculture: PM-KISAN 2.0 and the Push for Sustainability

In a major boost for the agricultural sector, the Prime Minister launched the second phase of the flagship Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, dubbed PM-KISAN 2.0. While retaining the core feature of providing direct income support to farmers, this revamped version introduces several new elements aimed at promoting technological adoption and sustainability.

A key innovation is the linking of the financial assistance to a new 'Agri-Tech Adoption Score'. This score will be calculated based on a farmer's use of modern agricultural practices, such as soil health cards, micro-irrigation, and digital crop monitoring tools. Farmers achieving a high score will be eligible for a small additional incentive. Furthermore, the scheme will now be deeply integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This integration aims to empower farmers by providing them with direct access to a wider market, enabling them to sell their produce to buyers across the country without relying heavily on intermediaries. This move is expected to improve price realization for farmers and foster a more efficient agricultural supply chain.

Corporate Governance: SEBI Mandates ESG Reporting

Reflecting a global shift towards sustainable investing, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a significant circular on corporate governance. Effective from the fiscal year 2025-26, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting will become mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies in India by market capitalization.

These companies will now be required to file an annual Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). The BRSR framework is a comprehensive disclosure mechanism that requires companies to report on their performance across various ESG parameters, such as carbon footprint, water usage, employee welfare policies, and corporate ethics.This mandate from SEBI is designed to enhance transparency and allow investors to make more informed decisions by evaluating the long-term sustainability and ethical impact of their investments.

Arts, Culture, and State-Level Initiatives

On the cultural front, the organizers of the world-renowned Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), which is held annually in January, announced their theme for the 2025 edition: "Ancient Futures: Weaving Traditional Narratives with Modern Technology." The theme aims to explore the intersection of ancient storytelling traditions, folklore, and mythology with modern technological mediums like AI, virtual reality, and digital archives. The announcement created a buzz in literary circles, promising a forward-thinking and innovative festival.

Meanwhile, at the state level, the Government of Tamil Nadu unveiled a new 'EV Port and Logistics' policy. Recognizing the state's growing prowess as an electric vehicle manufacturing hub, the policy aims to develop the Chennai and Thoothukudi ports into premier export hubs for EVs and their components. The policy includes incentives for creating dedicated EV logistics infrastructure, battery recycling plants near the ports, and skill development programs for the workforce, further strengthening the state's industrial ecosystem.