CURRENT AFFAIRS
04 February, 2025
1. GYAN BHARATAM MISSION AND NMM –
• The Union Budget 2025-26 has introduced the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, aimed at surveying, documenting, and conserving India’s vast manuscript heritage.
• Objective: The initiative seeks to conserve over one crore manuscripts housed in academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections.
• Budget Allocation: To accommodate this new initiative, the budget allocation for the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), has been increased from Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 60 crore.
National Manuscripts Mission (NMM)-
• NMM was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).
• It aims to preserve and make accessible India’s vast manuscript heritage.
• IGNCA was established in 1987 as an autonomous institution for research, academic pursuit, and dissemination in the arts.
2. GENDER BUDGET 2025-26 –
• The Gender Budget Statement (GBS) 2025-26 marks a significant step toward gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), with increased allocations and wider participation from ministries.
• Rise in Budget: The Gender Budget for FY 2025-26 is Rs 4.49 lakh crore (8.86% of total Union Budget 2025-26), a 37.5% increase from Rs 3.27 lakh crore in FY 2024-25.
• GBS 2025-26 is India’s largest-ever gender budget, boosting women’s welfare, education, and economic empowerment, with 49 ministries reporting gender-specific allocations.
• Parts of GBS 2025-26: The Gender Budget has been categorised into three parts.
3. GUJARAT APPOINTS PANEL FOR UNIFORM CIVIL CODE DRAFT –
• The Gujarat government has recently taken a significant step by appointing a panel to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the state. This panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, is tasked with preparing a detailed report within 45 days regarding the UCC’s potential implementation.
• The formation of the committee marks an important move toward the government’s aim of ensuring equal rights for all citizens, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a uniform law across India.
4. DEFENCE BUDGET 2025: KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ANALYSIS –
• The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated Rs 6,81,210.27 crore for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), reflecting a 9.53% increase over the previous year’s budget. This accounts for 13.45% of the Union Budget, making it the highest allocation among all ministries.
• The budget aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ and focuses on a technologically advanced and ‘Aatmanirbhar’ Armed Forces.
Key Highlights and Analysis of Defence Budget 2025
• Capital Outlay: Rs 1,80,000 crore (26.43%) for modernisation and infrastructure.
• Revenue Expenditure: Rs 3,11,732.30 crore (45.76%) for pay, allowances, and operational needs.
• Defence Pension: Rs 1,60,795 crore (23.60%) for 34 lakh pensioners.
• Civil Organisations: Rs 28,682.97 crore (4.21%).
5. SRI LANKA SEES RECORD DEFLATION IN 65 YEARS –
• Sri Lanka experienced its highest deflation rate in 65 years, with consumer prices falling by 4.0% in January 2025, according to official data.
• This marks the fifth consecutive month of deflation, highlighting the country’s economic transition after its worst financial crisis.
• The record deflation follows sharp reductions in electricity and fuel costs, while inflation, which peaked at 69.8% in September 2022, has drastically declined.
• The Sri Lankan government, under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, continues to implement IMF-backed economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which country is the host of 9th Asian Winter Games ?
a) China
b) India
c) Indonesia
d) Malaysia
Q2. What is the primary objective of the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme ?
a) Promoting English-language learning
b) Encouraging foreign-language education
c) Establishing new universities
d) Providing digital textbooks in Indian languages
Q3. Who has been named as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) ?
a) Mohana Singh
b) Narinder Chatrath
c) Aruna Kumar Datta
d) Shubhanshu Shukla
Q4. Which of the following criteria are used to determine Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) ?
1. A pre-agriculture level of technology.
2. A stagnant or declining population.
3. Low literacy.
4. A subsistence level of economy.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1, 2, and 3 only
b) 1, 2, 3, and 4
c) 2, 3, and 4 only
d) 1 and 4 only
Explanation-
All four criteria are used to determine Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), as follows:
1. Pre-agriculture level of technology – PVTGs often have a technology level that is not yet advanced beyond pre-agricultural stages.
2. Stagnant or declining population – These communities typically face population decline or stagnation due to various factors like isolation and marginalization.
3. Low literacy – PVTGs generally have low literacy rates, which is a significant marker of their socio-economic condition.
4. Subsistence level of economy – PVTGs typically depend on subsistence agriculture or hunting-gathering as their primary mode of livelihood, often without access to broader economic opportunities.
Q5. Consider the following statements:
1. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights such as equality (Article 14), abolition of untouchability (Article 17), and the right to life (Article 21), to manual scavenger people.
2. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger Act, 2013, focuses on the rehabilitation of manual scavengers but does not ban the practice itself.
3. The NAMASTE scheme encourages mechanized sanitation and aids in the rehabilitation of manual scavengers, providing an essential step toward eliminating the practice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) 2 and 3 only
c) Only 1 and 3
d) All of the above
Explanation-
Statement 1st is correct because The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights like equality, abolition of untouchability, and the right to life, which apply to all citizens, including manual scavengers.
Statement 2nd is incorrect because The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger Act, 2013, actually bans manual scavenging and also focuses on rehabilitation.
Statement 3rd is correct because The NAMASTE scheme promotes mechanized sanitation and helps in rehabilitating manual scavengers, which is a significant step toward eliminating the practice.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | D | D | B | C |