CURRENT AFFAIRS 04 April 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS

04 April, 2025

1.      PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF JUDGES ASSETS –

•        The Supreme Court (SC) resolved that all its judges will publicly declare their assets to the CJI for publication on the court’s website, following the discovery of large sums of cash at a Delhi High Court judge’s residence that reignited the debate on asset disclosure.

SC on Judges’ Asset Disclosure:

•        Legal Status: Judges are not legally bound to disclose assets publicly.

•        1997 SC Resolution: Judges must declare assets to the CJI, but not publicly.

•        2009 SC Decision: Allowed voluntary asset disclosure on the SC website, but not mandatory.

•        2019 SC Ruling: Held that judges’ assets are not personal information, bringing them under RTI Act.

•        High Court Scenario: As of March 2025, only 97 out of 770 (13%) HC judges have publicly declared assets.

•        Several HCs (Allahabad, Rajasthan, Bombay, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand) strongly opposed public disclosure and refused RTI requests on judges’ assets.          

2.      THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXTENDED THE ‘DISTURBED AREA’ STATUS UNDER THE ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ACT (AFSPA), 1958 ACROSS MANIPUR, EXCLUDING AREAS UNDER 13 POLICE STATIONS IN FIVE DISTRICTS, FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS  –

•        The Centre also extended AFSPA in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh until 30th September 2025.

•        AFSPA: It was passed by Parliament in September 1958 and implemented in response to escalating violence in the northeastern states, which the state governments were unable to control.

•        It enables certain special powers to be conferred upon members of the armed forces in “disturbed areas.”

•        Both the state and Union governments can issue notifications declaring certain areas as “disturbed”, granting the armed forces the authority under AFSPA.

•        In disturbed areas, armed forces personnel are empowered to use force (even lethal), arrest without warrant, and conduct searches without warrant to maintain public order and tackle threats. 

•        Under AFSPA, armed forces personnel are protected from legal proceedings for actions taken under the Act, unless prior sanction is obtained from the Central Government.      

3.      PARLIAMENT PASSED THE WAQF (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 –

•        The Indian Parliament recently passed significant legislative measures aimed at reforming the management of Waqf properties and strengthening their oversight. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were debated and approved in both houses of Parliament.

•        It was passed by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of Friday after a marathon 12-hour debate. With 128 votes in favor and 95 against, the bill received approval from the upper house, following the Lok Sabha’s clearance on Thursday with a 288-232 vote.

•        In addition, the Rajya Sabha also passed the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, after a 17-hour sitting that was adjourned at 4 a.m.

4.      RAJASTHAN TOPS SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN INDIAN RAILWAYS STATIONS AND SERVICE BUILDINGS –

•        Indian Railways has significantly expanded its solar energy infrastructure in alignment with the government’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability.

•        As of February 2025, the national transporter has installed 209 MW of solar power capacity across 2,249 railway stations and service buildings. This marks a 2.3 times increase in solar plant installations in the last five years (1,489 new units) compared to the previous five years (628 units).

•        Rajasthan leads the solar expansion with 275 installations, followed by Maharashtra (270) and West Bengal (237). The initiative is driven by Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the Round The Clock (RTC) hybrid power model, integrating solar and wind energy.

5.      CENTRE WITHHOLDS SSA FUNDS TO KERALA, TAMIL NADU, AND WEST BENGAL FOR FY 2024-25 –

•        As of March 27, 2025, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have not received any funds from the central share under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), despite having approved allocations for the financial year 2024–25.

•        This was revealed by Minister of State for Education Jayant Choudhary in a reply to a question raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha.

What is the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)-

•        The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the flagship school education scheme of the Ministry of Education, aiming to improve school infrastructure, provide textbooks, ensure teacher training, and fund salaries, among other critical components. It integrates three erstwhile schemes:

•        Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

•        Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

•        Teacher Education

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which state has topped in the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025 ?

          a) Odisha

          b) Madhya Pradesh

          c) Jharkhand

          d) Kerala

Q2.  Who has been appointed as the new chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) ?

          a) Deepak Mohanty

          b) S Raman

          c) T Rabi Sankar

          d) Ajay Bhushan Pandey

Q3.  What kind of satellite is “CARTOSAT-3” that was recently seen in news ?

          a) Earth Observation Satellite

          b) Communications Satellite

          c) Navigation Satellite

          d) Astronomical Satellite

Q4.  Consider the following statements about the Sentinelese tribe:

          1. The Sentinelese are believed to be one of the oldest human groups and have lived in complete isolation for thousands of years.

          2. The Indian government allows limited contact with the Sentinelese under strict health and safety protocols.

          3. One of the major reasons for restricting access to North Sentinel Island is the tribe’s lack of immunity to modern diseases.

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

          a) Only 1

          b) Only 2

          c) All three

          d) None

Explanation-

•        Statement 1 is correct. The Sentinelese are considered among the world’s oldest uncontacted tribes.

•        Statement 2 is incorrect. The Indian government enforces a strict no-contact policy to prevent any interaction with the Sentinelese.

•        Statement 3 is correct. The tribe lacks immunity to modern diseases, making even minor infections potentially fatal.

Q5. Match the following nuclear reactor types with their key characteristics:

          Which of the following is the correct match ?

          a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

          b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

          c) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

          d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

Explanation-

•        Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are factory-built, allowing quick deployment and scalability.

•        Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) use water as both coolant and neutron moderator, ensuring safe and efficient thermal regulation.

•        Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are designed to generate more fissile material (Pu-239) than they consume, making them highly fuel-efficient.

•        Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) operate with liquid fuel instead of solid fuel, enabling higher operating temperatures and enhanced safety features.

Answer Key