Current Affairs Exam

Torture & Police Reform

April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by rawan239

Custodial Torture Prevalence: CSDS survey reveals high acceptance of custodial violence among police personnel; 63% justified violence for serious crimes, 30% even for minor offences.
Institutional Support for Torture: 42% of police personnel supported torture in terror cases, 28% for history-sheeters. Disturbingly, some justified mob justice and extra-judicial killings.
Legal Safeguard Violations: Despite legal protections (Article 21, D.K. Basu guidelines), custodial norms are routinely violated due to institutional gaps.
Need for Police Reforms:
- Overburden and Shortage: Understaffing, long working hours, and stress contribute to inefficiency and potential corruption.
- Politicization: Political interference compromises police autonomy and leads to misuse of laws.
- Inadequate Training: Outdated training methods hinder effective investigation, particularly in modern crimes.
- Outdated Infrastructure: Lack of modern tools and technology hampers effective policing.
- Public Trust Deficit: Marginalized communities often distrust the police.
Discrepancies and Impunity: Conflicting data on custodial deaths; zero convictions in custodial death cases (2018-2022) reveals deep impunity.
Factors Contributing to Torture: Colonial police culture, lack of accountability, political pressure, inadequate training, and public support for shortcuts.
Support for Reforms: Majority of police personnel support human rights training, anti-torture mechanisms, and evidence-based interrogation.
Kerala exception: Kerala police show a high compliance rate to following legal norms during arrests.
Need for a Law against Torture: To be enacted by India while ratifying the UN Convention and taking effective steps to insulate the police from external pressures as mandated by
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the Supreme Court.

Lions of the Sea

April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by rawan239

Aggressive Sea Lion Behavior: Normally non-aggressive sea lions along the California coast are exhibiting violent behavior, including attacks on humans.
Cause: Domoic Acid: This aggression is attributed to domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia during algal blooms.
Neurotoxin Effects: Domoic acid affects sea lions’ neural networks, causing stress, muscle spasms, brain damage, and aggression.
Food Chain Contamination: The neurotoxin enters the marine food chain, affecting fish and then larger predators like sea lions.
Algal Blooms: Algal blooms are triggered by nutrient accumulation due to upwelling (caused by winds intensified by global warming) and effluent release. Runoff from wildfires is also suspected of disturbing marine ecology and contributing to bloom.
Human Risk: Domoic acid can be lethal to humans in high concentrations.
Ecological Importance: Sea lions are apex predators crucial for marine ecosystem balance and serve as bioindicators of ocean health.
Global Threats: Sea lions face threats from climate change, overfishing, and entanglement in marine debris.
Conservation Efforts: India collaborates via CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and enforces marine protected areas. Rehabilitation facilities exist for sea lions affected by algal blooms.

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Jyotiba Phule: Crusader

April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by rawan239

Birth Anniversary Tributes: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary, recognizing his contributions to social reform and the welfare of marginalized communities.
Modi’s Remarks: Modi called Phule a “true servant of humanity” who dedicated his life to the exploited and deprived, emphasizing his inspirational contribution to the country.
Shah’s Statement: Shah highlighted Phule’s commitment to empowering the backward and deprived, his pioneering role in women’s education, and his work through the Satyashodhak Samaj to free society from evils.
Phule’s Background: Born on April 11, 1827, in Maharashtra, Jyotirao Phule was a social reformer, educator, and writer known for his fight against caste discrimination and gender inequality.
Education & Reform: He established schools for girls and marginalized communities, founded night schools for working-class individuals, and started the Satyashodhak Samaj to promote social equality.
Women’s Rights Advocacy: Phule advocated for widow remarriage and fought against child marriage and female infanticide, with his wife Savitribai Phule becoming India’s first female teacher.
Literary Works: Authored “Gulamgiri” (Slavery) and “Shetkaryacha Asud” (Cultivator’s Whip), critiquing caste oppression and farmer exploitation.
Opposition to Caste System: He strongly opposed the caste system and Brahmanical traditions, calling for its abolition to achieve true social justice.
Satyashodhak Samaj: Phule formed the Satyashodhak Samaj to attain equal rights for peasants and lower castes, seeking truth and social equality.

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PM-POSHAN

April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by rawan239

Increased Material Cost: The Government of India has approved a 9.5% hike in material cost under the PM-POSHAN scheme, effective from May 1, 2025. This translates to an additional central expenditure of ₹954 crore for the financial year 2025–26.
Revised Costs: The revised material cost per student per day is ₹6.78 for Balvatika/Primary (from ₹6.19) and ₹10.17 for Upper Primary (from ₹9.29). States/UTs can contribute more for enhanced nutrition.
Nutritional Norms: Balvatika/Primary students need 20g pulses, 50g vegetables, 5g oil. Upper Primary students need 30g pulses, 75g vegetables, 7.5g oil.
CPI-RL Data: Inflation data for the PM-POSHAN meal basket is supplied by the Labour Bureau using the Consumer Price Index – Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) from 600 villages across 20 states.
Scheme Overview: PM-POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme) provides one hot cooked meal per school day to 11.20 crore children in Balvatikas and Classes 1-8 in 10.36 lakh government/aided schools.
Objectives: The scheme aims to enhance nutritional status, improve enrollment, retention, and attendance, especially among disadvantaged children.
Central Contribution: The Centre also provides 26 lakh MT of food grains. The Centre bears

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100% cost of food grains (including ₹9,000 crore subsidy) and transportation.
Per Meal Cost: Including all components, the per meal cost is approximately ₹12.13 for Balvatika/Primary and ₹17.62 for Upper Primary.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme: PM-POSHAN is a Centrally sponsored scheme to provide nutritional support and enhance school participation of students.

India Halts BD Trans-Shipment

April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by rawan239

India ends transshipment facility for Bangladesh, effective April 8, 2025: This facility allowed Bangladeshi exports to transit through Indian ports and airports.
Reasoning:
- Congestion: MEA cited significant congestion at Indian ports and airports due to the facility, hindering Indian exports.
- Industry Pushback: The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) lobbied for the removal, arguing it favored Bangladesh and hurt Indian exporters in the competitive RMG sector.
- China Factor: Strategic concerns arose after a Bangladeshi official’s remarks in China describing Bangladesh as the “guardian of the ocean” for Northeast India, potentially facilitating Chinese influence near the Siliguri Corridor. Invitation of Chinese investment in Lalmonirhat Airbase was also noted.
Impact on Bangladesh: Higher export costs and potential delays for its USD 50 billion export sector, primarily RMG, affecting global competitiveness.
Impact on India: Signals strain in relations with Bangladesh and potential conflict with WTO’s GATT Article V and TFA Article 11, which ensure freedom of transit for landlocked nations.
Alternative Perspective: Some view the move as a response to Bangladesh’s growing ties with China, particularly near the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck).
MEA Clarification: The withdrawal doesn’t impact Bangladesh’s exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through India.
CBIC Notification: Officially rescinds the circular permitting transhipment of Bangladesh export cargo through Indian Land Customs Stations to ports/airports.

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INDRA-2025 Naval Drill

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 by rawan239

Exercise Name: Naval Exercise INDRA-2025
Edition: 14th
Participating Nations: India and Russia
Dates: March 28 to April 2, 2025
Location: Chennai (Harbour Phase) and Bay of Bengal (Sea Phase)
Phases:
- Harbour Phase: Expert exchanges, ship visits, sports in Chennai.
- Sea Phase: Tactical maneuvers, anti-air operations, helicopter landings in the Bay of Bengal.
Participating Ships: Russian ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, Aldar Tsydenzhapov; Indian warships Rana, Kuthar, and P-8I aircraft.
Objective:
- Enhance interoperability to counter maritime threats.
- Promote global peace and stability.
- Strengthen joint operations.
- Reinforce India-Russia defence ties.
- Enhance collective maritime security.
- Show commitment to rules-based maritime order.
Activities: Coordinated maneuvers, simulated engagements, exchange of best practices.
Significance:
- Cornerstone of India-Russia defence relations since 2003.
- Demonstrates shared commitment to maritime security.
- Addresses contemporary maritime security challenges.
- Fosters understanding of operational doctrines.
- Enhances the ability to operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments.

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Arctic Biome

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 by rawan239

Arctic Tundra as a Carbon Source: The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ), including the Arctic tundra, is shifting from a carbon sink to a carbon source due to increased wildfires and permafrost thaw.
NOAA’s 2024 Arctic Report Card: Confirms that frequent fires and fossil fuel pollution are turning the Arctic tundra into a carbon source.
Nature Climate Change Study (2025): Found that over 30% of the ABZ has stopped sequestering carbon and is now releasing it.
Permafrost Thaw: Rising temperatures cause permafrost to thaw, releasing carbon dioxide and methane, accelerating global warming.
Wildfire Feedback
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Loop: Wildfires release carbon, increasing global warming, which thaws more permafrost, leading to more fires and emissions.
Key Areas of Carbon Emission: Alaska accounts for 44% of new ABZ emissions, with northern Europe and Siberia contributing 25% and 13% respectively.
Loss of Carbon Absorption: Carbon emissions from the longer, non-summer months in the ABZ have surpassed carbon dioxide absorption during the summer.
Extreme Weather Events: Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, releasing large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.
India’s Involvement: India studies climate impacts in the Arctic via its Himadri research station and participates in the Arctic Council, focusing on sustainable development.
Global Wildfires: Fires in Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Japan released substantial carbon, highlighting
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the global scale of carbon emissions from wildfires,

Ottawa Treaty

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 by rawan239

Withdrawals from the Ottawa Convention: Several NATO members, including Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are withdrawing from the 1997 Ottawa Convention (Landmine Treaty).
Reason for Withdrawal: Increased security threats from Russia, amid the Russia-Ukraine war, are the primary reason. Countries fear Russia may re-arm during a ceasefire and pose a greater danger. They also want to level the playing field with Russia, which is not a signatory to the treaty.
Ottawa Convention (1997): It bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Signatories must destroy stockpiles within 4 years, clear mined areas, and assist victims.
Impact of Withdrawals: Countries can resume producing, using, stockpiling, and transferring landmines.
Funding Cuts: Global demining efforts are suffering from significant cuts in US funding. The US has historically been the largest funder of
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mine action.
Civilian Victims: Over 80% of landmine victims are civilians. Ukraine is now the most mined country globally, with a high number of civilian casualties.
Stockpile Obligations: The convention requires countries to destroy landmine stockpiles within four years, but compliance is not universal.
Cluster Munitions: Some countries withdrawing from the Landmine Treaty are also considering leaving the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The US, which is not a signatory, transferred cluster munitions to Ukraine in
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2023.

Bear Market

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 by rawan239

Definition: A bear market is characterized by a sustained decline of 20% or more in a stock market index or individual security from a recent peak.
S&P 500: The S&P 500 recently briefly entered bear market territory for the first time since 2022.
Investor Sentiment: Bear markets are typically associated with widespread investor pessimism and large-scale selling of assets.
Causes: Bear markets can be triggered by weak economic conditions, anticipated slowdowns, overvalued markets, or external events like wars or oil supply shocks.
Recession Link: Bear markets often precede recessions (economic slowdowns), but not always.
Frequency: Historically, US stocks have entered bear market territory roughly every 6 years.
Duration: In the US, bear markets have lasted about 18.9 months on average.
Global Examples: The Indian stock market experienced a severe bear market during the 2008 global financial crisis, with the Nifty 50 index dropping over 35%.
Investor Action: A “bear” is an investor who expects prices to decline and sells borrowed securities hoping to buy them back cheaper
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later (selling short).

Market Correction: A market correction is a decline of at least 10%, while a bear market is a decline of at least 20%.

Akash SAM

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 by rawan239

India offers Akash SAM to UAE: India has offered its indigenous Akash air defence missile system to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Increased Defence Cooperation: India and the UAE aim to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, including military exercises, training exchanges, defence-industrial collaboration, joint projects, R&D, and technology transfer.
Export Push: India is actively promoting the export of Akash, Pinaka, and BrahMos missile systems to friendly nations, particularly in the Gulf and ASEAN regions.
Akash SAM Features: Akash is a short-range surface-to-air missile with a range of 4.5 to 25 km, designed to protect vulnerable areas from air attacks, capable of engaging multiple targets and has ECCM features.
Indigenous Development: Akash is designed and developed by India’s DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).
First Foreign Buyer: Armenia is the first foreign country to purchase the Akash missile system.
Make in India & Emirates: Focus on complementarities between India’s “Make-in-India” and the UAE’s “Make-in-Emirates” initiatives.
Trilateral Cooperation: India and the UAE are collaborating with France in a trilateral framework for defence, technology, energy, and environment.
Joint Exercises: India, UAE, and France conducted “Desert Knight” air combat exercise and maritime partnership exercise to enhance military interoperability.
Existing Indian Exports: India
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has already exported BrahMos to the Philippines.