DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2025 (02nd May)

Appointment  The inaugural World Audio Visual &

1. Arvind Shrivastava assumes charge as Secretary, Entertainment Summit (WAVES) took place at
Department of Revenue the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
 The event featured a panel discussion titled
“Legends & Legacies: The Stories That Shaped
India’s Soul,” organized by the Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting.
 Cinematic icons Hema Malini, Mohanlal, and
Chiranjeevi participated, moderated by Akshay
Kumar.
 Hema Malini praised the initiative, emphasizing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for
WAVES and its importance for creators and
innovators.
 Senior bureaucrat Arvind Shrivastava took  WAVES 2025 aims to celebrate and advance
charge as the Secretary of the Department of
India's audio-visual and entertainment industry
Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
with more discussions and creative exchanges
 His appointment was approved by the
to come.
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on
April 18, 2025.
 A 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service National Affairs
(IAS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, 3. Centre forms High-Level Committee for disaster
Shrivastava brings with him extensive management oversight
experience in economic affairs and public
administration.
 Prior to this role, he served in the Prime
Minister’s Office (PMO), first as Joint Secretary
and later as Additional Secretary.
 He has previously held key positions in the
Ministry of Finance, including Joint Secretary
in the Budget Division under the Department of
Economic Affairs.
 His international experience includes a stint as
Development Officer at the Asian Development
Bank.  The Central government has formed a High-
Level Committee to oversee matters related to
Summit and Confrence the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
2. WAVES 2025 kicks off in Mumbai with star-
 The committee is chaired by Union Home
studded panel on Indian cinema’s soul
Minister Amit Shah and includes:
• Minister of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
• NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery
 The committee was constituted under the
powers of sub-section (2) of section 8B of the
Disaster Management Act, 2005.
 Its aim is to strengthen national preparedness
and response to disasters.

Page | 1
 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2025 (02nd May)
 The committee will guide policy decisions and quintal; conversely, it will decrease by ₹3.46 for
ensure coordinated efforts among various every 0.1% decrease in recovery.
ministries and agencies during disasters.  No deduction in price will occur if the recovery
 It focuses on enhancing resilience to natural and rate falls below 9.5%, with farmers receiving
man-made disasters, including floods, ₹329.05 per quintal in such cases.
earthquakes, pandemics, and industrial  The FRP was set based on recommendations
accidents. from the Commission for Agricultural Costs
 The formation promotes a multi-sectoral and Prices (CACP) and consultations with State
approach to disaster management, addressing governments and stakeholders.
the increased frequency of extreme weather  As of April 28, 2025, nearly 99.92% of cane
events and emergencies. dues for the 2023–24 season (₹1,11,782 crore)
 The panel is tasked with overseeing long-term had been cleared.
risk reduction measures and reviewing the  In the ongoing 2024–25 season, approximately
readiness of states and Union Territories to ₹85,094 crore of the ₹97,270 crore dues have
reinforce India’s disaster response mechanism. been paid (about 87% of the total).

4. Cabinet approves higher sugarcane FRP for Awards and Honours

2025–26 season 5. Shubha Dhananjay to receive National
Achievement Award from Srishti Institute of
Performing Arts

 The Union Cabinet approved the Fair and

Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the
2025–26 season at ₹355 per quintal for a basic
recovery rate of 10.25%.
 The decision was made by the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 Approximately five crore sugarcane farmers  Shubha Dhananjay, a renowned Bharatanatyam
and their families, along with about five lakh dancer and choreographer, is set to receive the
workers in sugar mills, will benefit from this National Achievement Award from the Srishti
new FRP. Institute of Performing Arts.
 The revised FRP represents a 4.41% increase  This award recognizes her outstanding
over the current season’s rate and is more than contributions to classical dance and her role in
double the estimated production cost of ₹173 promoting Indian performing arts.
per quintal.  This prestigious recognition is bestowed by
 For every 0.1% increase in recovery above the Rotary, acknowledging her significant
base rate, the FRP will increase by ₹3.46 per contributions to the field of classical dance.

Page | 2
 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2025 (02nd May)
 In addition to this accolade, Shubha Dhananjay  Punjab and Haryana led in infrastructure scores,
has been nominated for the South India Women while Kerala excelled in social indicators.
Achievers Awards (SIWAA) 2024 in the Art &  Andhra Pradesh ranked highest in governance
Culture category, further highlighting her metrics, including business environment and
influence and dedication to the arts. administrative strength.
 Karnataka also led in environmental
6. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka lead 2025 performance related to air quality and
CareEdge state rankings renewable energy.

7. MP first state to launch AI-based real-time forest

alert system

 Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka are the  Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to
top-performing states in the 2025 CareEdge implement an AI-based real-time alert system
Ratings State Ranking. for active forest management.
 The rankings assess states across seven pillars:  The system uses satellite images, mobile
economic, fiscal, infrastructure, financial feedback, and machine learning to detect land
development, social, governance, and encroachment, land use changes, and forest
environment, using 50 indicators. degradation.
 Maharashtra ranked first overall, with strong  It is being piloted in five sensitive forest
performance in financial, economic, fiscal, and divisions: Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur,
social metrics. and Khandwa, known for encroachment and
 Gujarat excelled in economic performance, tree felling incidents.
leading in per capita GSDP, FDI, and gross  The AI alert system analyzes multi-temporal
fixed capital formation. satellite data through Google Earth Engine to
 Karnataka distinguished itself with high scores identify changes and sends alerts to field staff
in industrial and environmental indicators. via a mobile app for verification.
 Western states (Maharashtra and Gujarat)  The system was conceptualized by Guna
performed well in fiscal and economic Divisional Forest Officer Akshay Rathore,
parameters, while southern states (Karnataka) integrating satellite data, AI, and field feedback
excelled in governance, environment, and social in a continuous improvement cycle.
outcomes.  Alerts generated include over 20 features, such
 Goa ranked highest among north-east, hilly, and as pixel change alerts and field verification
small states, showing strength in financial through GPS-tagged photos, voice notes, and
development, infrastructure, and fiscal comments.
indicators.  Real-time monitoring occurs via the Divisional
 Odisha topped the fiscal pillar, with strong Forest Officer's dashboard, with alerts
results in revenue deficit, interest payments, and categorized by various filters.
debt levels.

Page | 3
 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2025 (02nd May)
 The mobile app allows field staff to take action
on-site and submit survey data, including
images and GPS information, featuring geo-
fencing and distance measurement capabilities.

8. Kamla Persad-Bissessar serves second term as

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched

three surveys to improve its monetary policy
framework.
 The surveys focus on inflation expectations and
consumer confidence among households, both
urban and rural.
 Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be the next Prime 1. Inflation Expectations Survey of Households
Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. (IESH):
 Her party, the United National Congress, won  Conducted across 19 cities.
the parliamentary election.  Gathers subjective assessments of price
 This victory marks a comeback for the 73-year- movements based on individual consumption
old who previously served as Prime Minister patterns.
from 2010 to 2015.  Aims to understand public sentiment regarding
 She is the only woman to have led Trinidad and inflation to shape monetary policy.
Tobago. 2. Urban Consumer Confidence Survey
 In her victory speech, she pledged to fulfill (UCCS):
election promises.  Assesses household sentiments about the
 She attributed the victory to the support of the economy in urban areas.
people, highlighting commitments to:  Collects qualitative data on economic
perceptions, including employment, prices, and
• Ensure senior citizens keep their pensions.
income.
• Provide public servants with rightful salary
 Involves responses from 19 cities for a
increases.
comprehensive view of urban attitudes.
• Reopen the children's hospital.
3. Rural Consumer Confidence Survey
• Create over 50,000 jobs.
(RCCS):
 The snap election was called after former Prime
 Targets households in rural and semi-urban
Minister Keith Rowley resigned due to rising
areas across 31 states and Union Territories.
living costs, trade issues, and high crime rates.
 Gathers perceptions and expectations regarding
the economy, employment, prices, and personal
News related to RBI
income.
9. RBI launches 3 key surveys for monetary policy
 Important for understanding the rural economic
input
outlook.
 These surveys provide crucial insights that
inform the RBI's monetary policy decisions,

Page | 4
 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2025 (02nd May)
aiding in the prediction of inflation and  Other members include:
economic growth trends. • Former Western Air Commander Air
 The results from these surveys will be especially Marshal PM Sinha
relevant for the upcoming Monetary Policy • Former Southern Army Commander Lt Gen
Committee meeting scheduled for June 4-6, AK Singh
2025. • Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (all retired
military officers)
Appointment • Rajiv Ranjan Verma (retired Indian Police
10. Ex-RAW Chief Alok Joshi Appointed Head of Service officer)
Revamped National Security Board • Manmohan Singh (retired Indian Police
Service officer)
• B Venkatesh Varma (retired Indian Foreign
Service officer)
 The NSAB is a multi-disciplinary body
consisting of eminent persons outside the
government.
 Its primary function is to provide long-term
analysis to the National Security Council.
 The board also recommends solutions and
 The Indian government reconstituted the
policy options for issues raised by the National
National Security Advisory Board (NSAB).
Security Council.
 Former R&AW chief Alok Joshi was appointed
as the chairman of the NSAB.

Page | 5