CURRENT AFFAIRS
28 February, 2025
1. INDIA’S PROPOSED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.K –
• India has signed 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and six preferential trade pacts to boost exports and ensure better market access for Indian industries.
India’s Exports to UK (FY24): $12.9 billion-
• Limited impact on exports as half of Indian products already enter the UK with low or no tariffs.
• No additional benefits for petroleum, medicines, diamonds, machine parts, aircraft, and wooden furniture (already tariff-free).
• Potential tariff reduction benefits for textiles, footwear, carpets, marine products, grapes, and mangoes.
2. INDIA’S SPACE ECONOMY –
• The Department of Space has highlighted that India’s Space economy is expected to increase five-fold from 8.4p bn $ to 44 bn $ in a few years making value addition in the Indian economy and moving towards Viksit Bharat @2047.
• Current Value: India’s space industry is valued at approximately $8.4 billion, contributing 2% to the global space economy.
• Government Spending: Annual spending on space programs is approximately $2 billion.
• Satellite Launches and Revenue: Since 1999, India has launched 381 satellites for 34 countries, generating $279 million in revenues.
• Global Position: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the sixth-largest national space agency in the world.
• Future Potential: India’s space economy could grow to ₹35,200 crore ($44 billion) by 2033, capturing 8% of the global share.
3. INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES NAVAL ANTI-SHIP MISSILE –
• India has successfully conducted the test-firing of a first-of-its-kind Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR) from Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from an Indian Naval Seaking helicopter and successfully demonstrated its precision strike capability.
• This achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s defense and naval warfare capabilities.
4. MADHYA PRADESH NOW HOME TO INDIA’S HIGHEST VULTURE POPULATION –
• Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the state with the highest vulture population in India, marking a major success in wildlife conservation. According to the first phase of the 2025 vulture census, the state’s vulture population has reached 12,981, a significant increase from 10,845 in 2024 and 8,397 in 2019.
• This steady rise highlights the effectiveness of conservation measures implemented over the years. The vulture census, which began in 2016, plays a crucial role in tracking population trends and ensuring the survival of these important scavengers.
5. RECORD-BREAKING MASS NESTING OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES AT RUSHIKULYA BEACH –
• In a spectacular natural event, nearly 700,000 Olive Ridley turtles have laid eggs at the Rushikulya rookery in Odisha’s Ganjam district during the eight-day arribada (Spanish for mass nesting) that concluded on February 23, 2025.
• This marks a record-breaking number, especially significant as the endangered marine species had skipped nesting at the beach the previous year.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Every year the National Science Day is celebrated on 28th February. In which year did Sir C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the Raman Effect ?
a) 1928
b) 1930
c) 1947
d) 1954
Q2. What is the full form of SWAYATT in the context of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) ?
a) Startups, Women & Youth Advancement Through Technology
b) Startups, Women & Youth Alliance for Trade and Technology
c) Startups, Women & Youth Advantage through e-Transactions
d) Smart Women & Young Entrepreneurs for Trade & Transactions
Q3. Which decommissioned Indian Navy ship has been handed over to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) ?
a) INS Guldar
b) INS Sindhurakshak
c) INS Vikrant
d) INS Kalvari
Q4. Consider the following statements about the Citizenship Act, 1955 and Section 6A of the Act:
1. The Citizenship Act, 1955 bars illegal immigrants from obtaining citizenship in India.
2. Section 6A was inserted to address the specific demographic challenges in Assam post-1971 due to illegal migration.
3.Citizenship in India is governed under Part II of the Indian Constitution, and matters of citizenship fall under the Union List.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct because the Citizenship Act, 1955 explicitly bars illegal immigrants—those entering without valid documents or overstaying beyond the permitted period—from obtaining citizenship.
• Statement 2 is correct, as Section 6A was introduced after the Assam Accord in 1985 to manage the issue of large-scale illegal migration into Assam post the Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Statement 3 is correct because citizenship is dealt with under Part II of the Constitution, and related matters fall under the Union List, which is managed by the central government.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Mekong River:
1. The Mekong River is the longest river in Asia.
2. The Mekong River originates from the Tibetan Plateau and flows into the Bay of Bengal.
3. The entire length of the Mekong River is navigable year-round for large vessels.
How many of the above statements is/are incorrect ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect because the Mekong is Asia’s third-longest river, not the longest (the Yangtze River is the longest in Asia).
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the Mekong River flows into the South China Sea, not the Bay of Bengal.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the Mekong River is not navigable year-round for large vessels due to its natural barriers and seasonal changes.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
B | C | A | D | C |