CURRENT AFFAIRS
17 April, 2025
1. JUSTICE B.R. GAVAI SET TO BECOME THE 52ND CJI –
• Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai to be appointed as the 52nd CJI.
• Justice B.R. Gavai, currently is the second-most senior Supreme Court judge and will become the 2nd Dalit CJI after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (2007).
• Key Judgments by Justice B.R. Gavai: Upheld 2016 demonetisation and he is a part of the Bench that upheld abrogation of Article 370.
• He was part of the Constitution Bench that struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme (Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India).
• In the State of Punjab v Davinder Singh (2024), he advocated applying the creamy layer principle to SCs/STs to ensure “real equality” in affirmative action.
Chief Justice of India
• A Supreme Court judge, including the CJI, is appointed by the President under Article 124 (2).
• The senior-most judge is designated as CJI based on length of service ( it is customary practice, not a legal requirement ).
• To qualify as CJI, one must be a citizen of India, have served as a High Court judge for 5 years or as an advocate for 10 years, or be a distinguished jurist in the President’s opinion.
• The CJI can only be removed by the President after an address by Parliament, supported by a special majority in both Houses.
2. THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA PAID TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE IN 1919 AND HONORED SIR CHETTUR SANKARAN NAIR, THE NATIONALIST JURIST WHO FOUGHT A LANDMARK LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST A BRITISH OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRE –
• What was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre-
• About: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on 13th April 1919, when hundreds of innocent Indians were killed by troops of the British Indian Army, mostly Gurkhas, on orders of Brigadier-General REH Dyer.
• The people had assembled peacefully to protest against the Rowlatt Act of 1919.
• Jallianwala Bagh is a historic garden and memorial near the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
• Background: Mahatma Gandhi had called for a non-violent satyagraha (first mass strike), against the Rowlatt Act starting with a hartal on 6th April 1919.
• In Punjab, on 9th April, nationalist leaders Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested without reason and taken to an unknown place.
• This led to widespread anger, and on 10th April, thousands of Indians came out in protest. In response, the British imposed martial law, giving full authority to Brigadier-General Dyer.
• Day of the Incident: On 13th April, which was Baisakhi, a large number of villagers unaware of the restrictions gathered at Jallianwala Bagh.
• Dyer reached the spot with troops, blocked the only exit, and ordered firing on the unarmed crowd. Over 1,000 men, women, and children were killed.
3. INDIA-UZBEKISTAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE DUSTLIK-VI BEGINS AT AUNDH, PUNE –
• The 6th edition of Exercise DUSTLIK, a bilateral joint military drill between India and Uzbekistan, commenced on April 16, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune.
• The exercise, which will run until April 28, 2025, aims to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, develop joint tactical interoperability, and enhance coordination between the armed forces of both nations. DUSTLIK is held alternately in India and Uzbekistan, with the previous edition hosted in Termez District, Uzbekistan, in April 2024.
Key Highlights of Exercise DUSTLIK-VI (2025)
• Name of Exercise: DUSTLIK-VI (6th edition)
• Location: Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune, Maharashtra, India
• Dates: April 16–28, 2025
• Participating Countries: India and Uzbekistan
• Frequency: Annual; alternates between both countries
4. HIMACHAL PRADESH DAY IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON 15TH APRIL TO MARK THE FORMATION OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S PROVINCE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH ON 15TH APRIL 1948 –
• Background: It became a Part C state on 26th January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India, later a Union Territory on 1st November 1956, and expanded in 1966 with hill areas from Punjab.
• It attained full statehood on 25th January 1971, becoming India’s 18th state under the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970.
• Etymology: The name “Himachal” is derived from Sanskrit, “Hima” (snow) and “Anchal” (lap) aptly describing its geography nestled in the Himalayas.
• Borders: Himachal Pradesh shares its borders with the Indian union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.
• Internationally, it shares a border with China.
• Economy: Himachal Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product for 2024-25 is Rs. 2.27 trillion (USD 27.27 billion). Exports in FY25 (until August) totaled USD 223.20 million, with drug formulations and biologicals contributing 69.5% of the total.
• Cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in Himachal Pradesh from 2019 to 2023 totaled USD 246.74 million.
5. INDIA’S TRADE DYNAMICS IN FY25 SURPLUS WITH US WIDENS, DEFICIT WITH CHINA DEEPENS –
• India’s foreign trade figures for FY2024–25 reflect divergent trends with major global partners. While exports to the United States rose significantly, widening the trade surplus, the trade deficit with China deepened further due to higher imports and declining exports.
• China retained its top position as India’s largest import source, while the US continued to be the leading destination for Indian exports.
Trade with the United States (FY25)
• Exports to the US: $86.5 billion (↑ 11.59% from $77.5 billion in FY24)
• Imports from the US: $45.3 billion (↑ 7.44% from $42.19 billion)
• Trade surplus with the US: $41.2 billion (↑ from $35.4 billion in FY24)
• Exports to China: $14.25 billion (↓ 14.49% from $16.66 billion in FY24)
• Imports from China: $113.45 billion (↑ 11.52% from $101.7 billion)
• Trade deficit with China: $99.2 billion (↑ from $85.1 billion in FY24)
• Key import drivers from China: Electronics, EV batteries, solar cells, industrial inputs
• Commentary: PLI schemes are pushing demand for imported components from China.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which institution has developed India’s first automated bat monitoring system called BatEchoMon?
a) Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru
b) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
c) Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
d) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee
Q2. Which bird has been designated as the state bird of Himachal Pradesh ?
a) Himalayan Monal
b) Western Tragopan
c) Koklass Pheasant
d) Indian Peafowl
Q3. Which country topped the medal tally at the ISSF World Cup 2025 ?
a) USA
b) Russia
c) India
d) China
Q4. With reference to the Cheetah Project Steering Committee, consider the following:
1. It functions under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
2. It is responsible for implementing wildlife tourism plans in national parks.
3. It monitors progress and advises on policy decisions for Project Cheetah.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation-
• The Cheetah Project Steering Committee was constituted in May 2023 under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• It plays a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of Project Cheetah, which aims to reintroduce cheetahs into India’s wild habitats. The committee is tasked with monitoring the project’s progress, addressing emerging challenges such as mortality, habitat readiness, and protocol violations, and advising on policy decisions to ensure the project’s success.
• While it engages with aspects of conservation and training, it is not directly responsible for planning wildlife tourism, which is generally handled by separate state and central tourism or forest departments.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India:
1. The Naxalite movement originated in 1967 in Naxalbari, West Bengal, and was inspired by Mao Zedong’s principles of protracted people’s war.
2. The Red Corridor covers more than 200 districts across 20 states and is primarily influenced by socio-economic underdevelopment, tribal alienation, and weak governance.
3. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana remain the most affected states due to Maoist activities, despite the decline in LWE-related violence.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct as the Naxalite movement began in 1967 in Naxalbari, inspired by Mao’s protracted people’s war.
• Statement 2 is accurate, as socio-economic underdevelopment, tribal alienation, and weak governance have fueled LWE in the Red Corridor.
• Statement 3 is incorrect since Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have largely controlled Maoist activity through counter-insurgency efforts.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | B | D | B | A |