CURRENT AFFAIRS
11 March, 2025
1. DESPITE BEING THE LARGEST PRODUCER AND EXPORTER OF SPICES, INDIA HOLDS ONLY 0.7% SHARE IN THE GLOBAL SEASONING MARKET WHICH WAS VALUED AT $14 BILLION IN 2024 –
• In comparison, China holds 12% and the U.S.A. 11% of the global seasoning market.
• Spices are natural plant substances that enhance the flavor, aroma, and color of food and beverages. Example: cinnamon, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cloves, and black pepper,etc.
• Many spices have medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. They elevate dishes with exotic and tantalizing flavors, making them essential in cuisines.
• India is a land of diverse agro climatic zones which helps the country to produce 76 out of the 109 different spice varieties listed by International Organization of Standardization (ISO).
2. INDIA’S LATEST AND MOST ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE, ASTRA MK-III, HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY RENAMED GANDIVA, AFTER ARJUNA’S LEGENDARY BOW FROM THE MAHABHARATA –
• Astra MK-III is a next-generation Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile designed for high-speed aerial combat and long-range engagements.
• Developed By: The missile is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Purpose: Astra MK-III is designed to engage and destroy high-speed, highly maneuverable enemy aircraft beyond visual range.
Features of Astra MK-III
• Technology Used: The Gandiva missile is powered by a Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) propulsion system, a cutting-edge technology that utilizes atmospheric oxygen as an oxidizer.
• This eliminates the need for onboard oxidizers, resulting in a lighter and more efficient design. Integrated with advanced radar and missile guidance systems for precision targeting.
• Range and Speed: Can hit targets up to 340 kilometers at an altitude of 20 km and 190 kilometers at 8 km altitude.
• The SFDR system allows the missile to sustain supersonic speeds, up to Mach 4.5, over extended ranges of 300–350 kilometres, depending on launch conditions.
• Launch speed ranges from 0.8 to 2.2 Mach, with engagement of target moving at speed of 2.0 to 3.6 Mach.
3. EMPOWERING UNORGANISED WORKERS: E-SHRAM AT 30.68 CRORE REGISTRATIONS –
• The e-Shram portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on August 26, 2021, to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). The portal aims to provide unorganised workers with a Universal Account Number (UAN) and link them to various social security and welfare schemes.
• As of March 3, 2025, more than 30.68 crore unorganised workers have registered on the portal, with women constituting 53.68% of the total registrations.
• To further enhance accessibility, the Ministry has introduced multilingual support, a mobile application, and integration with multiple social welfare schemes. The e-Shram – “One-Stop-Solution”, launched on October 21, 2024, aims to integrate various welfare programs to provide a single access point for workers.
4. VIRAT KOHLI AND ROHIT SHARMA BREAK YUVRAJ SINGH’S RECORD FOR MOST ICC FINAL APPEARANCES –
• The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final witnessed a historic moment as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma etched their names in the record books. By playing in their 9th ICC event final, they surpassed Yuvraj Singh’s record for the most appearances in ICC tournament finals.
• This milestone highlights their longevity and consistency in international cricket. Additionally, Ravindra Jadeja equaled Yuvraj’s record with his 8th final appearance.
5. CHINA INCREASES DEFENCE BUDGET BY 7.2% IN 2025 AMID RISING REGIONAL TENSIONS –
• China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget for 2025, continuing its efforts to modernize and expand its military capabilities. The budget, which amounts to approximately $245 billion, was revealed at the National People’s Congress (NPC), the annual legislative meeting of the country. With this move, China aims to reinforce its territorial claims, enhance military technologies, and counter the United States’ military presence in Asia.
• Despite being the second-largest defence spender globally, after the U.S., many analysts believe China’s actual military expenditure could be 40% higher than the official figure due to unaccounted expenses in other budgetary sectors.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which of the following is a wildlife sanctuary located in Delhi?
a) Ranthambore National Park
b) Kaziranga National Park
c) Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
d) Jim Corbett National Park
Q2. Where was the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand played ?
a) Melbourne Cricket Ground
b) Lord’s Cricket Ground
c) Eden Gardens, Kolkata
d) Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Q3. What is the name of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise in 2025 ?
a) GARUDA SHAKTI
b) KHANJAR-XII
c) VAJRA PRAHAR
d) NOMADIC ELEPHANT
Q4. Which of the following best describes the concept of Reciprocal Tariffs in international trade ?
a) A trade policy where a country imposes tariffs equal to the tariff rates imposed by other nations on its exports.
b) A World Trade Organization (WTO) principle mandating member countries to charge the same tariffs on all trading partners.
c) A protectionist policy that only applies to agricultural products, preventing excessive subsidies in global markets.
d) A system where countries agree to reduce tariff rates in a mutual exchange, known as Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs).
Explanation-
• Option a is correct – Reciprocal Tariffs are retaliatory trade measures where a country matches the tariffs imposed by its trading partners.
• Option b is incorrect – The WTO follows the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) principle, which prevents discriminatory tariff rates.
• Option c is incorrect – Reciprocal tariffs apply to all goods and services, not just agriculture.
• Option d is incorrect – Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) are negotiated tariff reductions, not retaliatory tariffs.
What is a Reciprocal Tariff?
• A reciprocal tariff is a trade policy where a country imposes import duties equal to the tariffs charged on its exports by other nations.
• It is designed to counter trade imbalances and discourage unfair tariff policies by foreign governments.
How Does It Work?
• If a country imposes higher tariffs on U.S. goods, the U.S. will match the rate on imports from that nation.
• The policy applies to goods, services, and non-tariff barriers restricting U.S. market access.
• It aims to reduce trade deficits and encourage countries to lower their tariffs to maintain access to the U.S. market.
Does It Violate WTO Rules?
• Yes, it may contradict WTO principles, which advocate non-discriminatory trade policies under the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) rule.
• However, the U.S. can justify it under Article XXI (national security exception) or Article XX (general exceptions) of the WTO agreement.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding D Voters and their legal challenges:
1. Once a person is declared a D Voter, they permanently lose their right to apply for Indian citizenship.
2. D Voters are allowed to contest elections but cannot cast votes until their status is resolved.
3. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the final authority in deciding the citizenship status of a D Voter.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
Statement 1 is incorrect – A D Voter can regain citizenship through the Foreigners Tribunal if proven innocent.
Statement 2 is incorrect – D Voters cannot contest elections unless they regain full citizenship status.
Statement 3 is incorrect – The Election Commission does not decide citizenship status; that is the role of the Foreigners Tribunal.
Who are ‘D’ Voters?
‘D’ (Doubtful) voters are individuals whose Indian citizenship is under question, and they are barred from voting or contesting elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced this category in 1997 in Assam to identify those who failed to prove their citizenship.
Classification as ‘D’ Voters:
Any person whose citizenship status is in doubt during electoral roll verification is marked as a ‘D’ voter.
Cases are referred to Foreigners Tribunals (FTs), which decide whether the person is an Indian citizen or an illegal immigrant.
Families may have some members recognized as citizens while others are marked as ‘D’ voters, causing legal and social distress.
Rules Governing ‘D’ Voters:
The Citizenship Act, 1955, and the Citizenship Rules, 2003, do not define ‘D’ voters explicitly.
The 2003 Citizenship Rules mandate that details of individuals whose citizenship is doubtful be entered in the National Population Register (NPR) with a remark for further verification.
They are not allowed to vote or contest elections until they get clearance from the Foreigners Tribunal (FT).
Key Features of ‘D’ Voter Status:
Temporary Classification: The ‘D’ voter status cannot be prolonged indefinitely, and a final decision must be taken within a definite period.
Legal Recourse: Individuals can appeal to the Foreigners Tribunal and seek clearance for inclusion in NRC.
Detention & Deportation: If declared a foreigner, the person may be deported or placed in a detention center.
Impact on Families: Many cases involve split families, where some members are marked as ‘D’ voters while others hold Indian citizenship.
Plight of Detainees: Many Indian citizens have been detained, with no clear mechanism for their release even after years.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | D | B | A | D |