CURRENT AFFAIRS
12 March, 2025
1. INDIA 2ND LARGEST ARMS IMPORTER: SIPRI –
• India’s share of global arms imports fell to 8.3% in 2020–24, making it the 2nd-largest arms importer, after Ukraine, as per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report.
Key Findings of the Report on Arms Trade-
• India: India’s arms imports declined by 9.3% compared to 2015-19. Russia remained India’s top supplier, but its share dropped from 72% (2010-14) to 36% (2020-24).
• France emerged as India’s second-largest supplier (28% of its total exports went to India).
• India’s Neighbors: Pakistan’s Arms Imports Grew by 61%. China supplied 81% of Pakistan’s total arms imports.
• For the first time since 1990-94, China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers as its arms imports declined by 64%, reflecting a stronger domestic defense industry.
2. THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) MARKS 55 YEARS ON 5TH MARCH, 2025 –
• It was approved by the UN General Assembly on 12th June, 1968 and came into force on 5th March, 1970.
• About NPT: It is the only multilateral binding treaty for Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to disarmament while promoting peaceful nuclear energy use.
• Key Provisions: It defines NWS as countries possessing nuclear weapons before 1st January, 1967 (USA, UK, France, China, and USSR/Russia).
• Non-nuclear states agree not to develop nuclear weapons, while nuclear states pledge not to transfer them.
• It allows peaceful use of nuclear energy and provides a withdrawal option if national security is threatened.
• Membership: 191 members with 5 NWS (US, Russia, UK, France & China). India is not a member.
3. DIFFERENT NAMES OF HOLI IN INDIA: RANG PANCHAMI, SHIGMO, YAOSANG & MORE –
• Holi is known by different names across India, each with unique traditions and celebrations. Here are some of the names of Holi in different region:
A. Rang Panchami
B. Shigmo
C. Dol Purnima/ Dol Jatra
D. Yaosang
E. Dhulandi/ Dhuleti
F. Phagwah/ Phaghu
G. Lathmar Holi
H. Hola Mohalla
4. TOP 10 LARGEST ARMS IMPORTING COUNTRIES (2020–2024): SIPRI REPORT –
• The latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has unveiled the top 10 largest arms-importing countries from 2020 to 2024.
• A key highlight of this report is the emergence of Ukraine as the world’s largest arms importer, surpassing all other nations due to its ongoing war with Russia.
• Additionally, India continues to be a dominant player, ranking as the second-largest arms importer globally.
5. CISF RAISING DAY 2025: HISTORY, SIGNIFICANCE, AND CELEBRATIONS –
• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising Day is observed annually on March 10 to honor the contributions of the CISF in safeguarding critical government and private sector infrastructure in India.
• In 2025, India celebrates the 56th CISF Raising Day, with a grand event held in Thakkolam, Tamil Nadu, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Dr. L. Murugan, and CISF Director General Shri Rajvinder Singh Bhatti.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana has been launched by which state/UT government ?
a) Delhi
b) Uttarakhand
c) Jammu and Kashmir
d) Bihar
Q2. Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report has been published by which institution ?
a) World Economic Forum (WEF)
b) Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)
c) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
d) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Q3. Which ministry has launched the IndiaAI compute portal and dataset platform AIKosha ?
a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
c) Ministry of Communications
d) Ministry of Science and Technology
Q4. Consider the following statements with reference to tiger conservation efforts in India:
1. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by the Government of India to protect the endangered Bengal tigers.
2. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that provides financial assistance to state governments.
3. India currently has 58 tiger reserves, covering about 2.3% of the country’s total land area.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) Only 1 and 2
d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation-
• Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by the Government of India to conserve the declining population of tigers. There are currently 58 tiger reserves in India, covering about 2.3% of the country’s total land area.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a government statutory body that works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and ensures implementation of policy decisions for tiger conservation. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Ganges Water Treaty:
1. The Ganges Water Treaty, signed in 1996, ensures equitable water distribution from the Ganges River between India and Bangladesh.
2. The treaty will expire in 2026, and discussions are already underway to address its renewal.
3. The Joint River Commission (JRC), established in 1972, only manages the Ganges River between India and Bangladesh.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) Only 1
d) 1 and 3
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct. The Ganges Water Treaty, signed in 1996, ensures the equitable sharing of water from the Ganges River between India and Bangladesh.
Statement 2 is correct. The treaty is set to expire in 2026, and discussions have already begun to address its renewal, along with other related water-sharing issues.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Joint River Commission (JRC) manages not only the Ganges River but also 54 other trans-boundary rivers shared between India and Bangladesh.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | B | B | A | A |