CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 January, 2025
1. DISPUTES RELATED TO INDUS WATER TREATY –
• The Neutral Expert (NE) appointed by the World Bank under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) declared that he is “competent” to adjudicate disputes concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
• This supports India’s stance to exclude the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), reinforcing its diplomatic and legal efforts to assert rights over the Indus waters.
Water Sharing Dispute:
• Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project: Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project (HEP) is located on the Kishanganga River (tributary of Jhelum) in J&K. Pakistan objected, claiming that water diversion for power generation violates the IWT.
• Ratle Hydroelectric Project: Ratle Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river project on the Chenab River in J&K, Pakistan raised concerns that the dam’s design, including the spillway gates, gives India excessive control over river flow.
Dispute Over Resolution Procedure:
• Pakistan objected to the Kishanganga and Ratle projects, initially requesting a NE under the IWT in 2015 but later sought adjudication by the PCA.
• India opposed this, emphasizing the IWT’s dispute resolution hierarchy, which prioritizes NE over PCA. In 2022, the World Bank initiated both NE and PCA processes.
• India boycotted the PCA while engaging with the NE, asserting that only the NE has the authority to resolve disputes under the IWT.
What is the Indus Waters Treaty-
• It is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan signed in 1960 under the aegis of the World Bank to divide the waters of the Indus River and its 5 tributaries (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab) between the countries.
2. IMPACT OF US POLICY SHIFTS ON INDIA –
• US President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders, including ending birthright citizenship, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, exiting the World Health Organization (WHO), and rejecting the global corporate minimum tax (GCMT) deal.
• These decisions carry significant implications on India, climate policy, and the lives of Indian professionals in the US.
What is the Impact of Revocation of Birthright Citizenship-
• Birthright Citizenship in US: In the US, there are two types of birthright citizenship ancestry-based and birthplace-based (jus soli) (right of the soil), which grants citizenship to individuals born on US soil, regardless of parental nationality.
• Executive Order: The order asserts that children born to noncitizen parents are not subject to US jurisdiction and therefore do not qualify for automatic citizenship.
• One of the main objectives of the executive order is to reduce “birth tourism,” where women travel to the US to give birth for automatic citizenship for their children.
• This policy will particularly impact families from countries like India and Mexico, where birth tourism has been prevalent.
3. INDIA RANKS 4TH IN GLOBAL FIREPOWER INDEX 2025 –
• India has been consistently ranked as the fourth most powerful military in the world, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. This ranking underscores India’s significant military capabilities, placing it just behind the United States, Russia, and China.
• The Global Firepower Index ranks 145 countries based on their conventional military strength across land, sea, and air. It evaluates over 60 factors, including manpower, natural resources, finance, and geography, without considering nuclear capabilities.
• In the 2025 edition of the Global Firepower Index, India maintains its position at number four, with a score of 0.1184. The index evaluates the military strength of 145 countries based on over 60 parameters, including manpower, natural resources, finance, and geography. A score of 0.0000 represents an ideal military strength, which no country possesses.
The top ten countries in the 2025 ranking are:
• United States of America – Score: 0.0744
• Russia – Score: 0.0788
• China – Score: 0.0788
• India – Score: 0.1184
• South Korea – Score: 0.1656
• United Kingdom – Score: 0.1785
• France – Score: 0.1878
• Japan – Score: 0.1839
• Turkey – Score: 0.1902
• Italy – Score: 0.2164
4. HALWA CEREMONY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE UNION BUDGET PROCESS –
• The Halwa ceremony, a long-standing tradition, will commence on the evening of January 24 at the North Block in Delhi, signaling the final stage of the Union Budget preparation ahead of its presentation on February 1, 2025.
• This ritual, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and accompanied by Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary, is an integral part of the budget-making process, symbolizing the end of the preparation phase and the beginning of the “lock-in” period.
5. TATA TOPS INDIA, APPLE LEADS GLOBALLY IN 2025 BRAND RANKINGS –
• In the latest Brand Finance Global 500 report for 2025, Tata Group has solidified its status as India’s most valuable brand, achieving a brand value of $31.6 billion—a 10% increase from the previous year.
• This marks the first time an Indian brand has surpassed the $30 billion threshold. Globally, Apple continues to dominate with a brand value of $574.5 billion, maintaining its lead over competitors.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Where was the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 organized ?
a) Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
b) Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir
c) New Delhi
d) Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
Q2. The Mannan community is primarily found in which state ?
a) Maharashtra
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kerala
d) Karnataka
Q3. What is the rank of India in the Global Firepower Index 2025 ?
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
d) Fourth
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Geographical Indication (GI) tag:
1. A Geographical Indication (GI) tag ensures legal protection and exclusive rights to use the tag for approved users only.
2. GI tags in India are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and are aligned with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS agreement.
3. A GI tag is valid for a period of 20 years.
How many of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
Statement 1 is correct. GI tag holders receive legal protection and exclusive rights to use the tag for approved users only.
Statement 2 is correct. GI tags are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in India and are aligned with the WTO’s TRIPS agreement.
Statement 3 is incorrect. GI tags remain valid for 10 years, not 20 years.
Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to the Bharat Ratna Award of India:
1. It is the second highest civilian award of the country after Padma Vibhushan.
2. The recommendations for the award is made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation-
The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954. The latter had three classes, namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg. These were subsequently renamed Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. It is treated on a different footing from the Padma Award.
Statement 2 is correct: The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. No formal recommendations are necessary for Bharat Ratna. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. The government (India) has conferred the Bharat Ratna Award on 45 persons till date.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
B | C | D | B | B |