Daily Current Affairs
(17/16 – Mar – 25)
1. UN Chief Antonio Guterres has announced the UN80 Initiative as the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary in 2025 –
• Financial Crisis and Budget Constraints: The UN faces a liquidity crisis for the seventh consecutive year.
• The 2025 UN budget is $3.7 billion, covering political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic, and social affairs.
• The US has yet to confirm how much it will contribute to the 2025 budget.
• Key Contributors and Payment Uncertainty
• The US and China are the top contributors to the UN’s regular budget:
• US share: 22% (largest contributor) but owes $1.5 billion in arrears.
• China’s share: 20% (increased by 5% in 2025). China has assured full payment but has not specified the timeline.
• As of March 7, 2025, only 73 member states had paid their full assessments.
• Spending Cuts and Hiring Freeze: Due to financial uncertainty, the UN has:
• Reduced spending by up to 20%.
• Imposed a hiring freeze.
• Remained cautious with financial planning between January and August 2025.
2. India’s wheat production is estimated to reach a record high of 115.3 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2024-25 –
• This represents a 2% increase compared to 113.3 MMT produced in 2023-24.
About Wheat Production in India
• Wheat is a Rabi crop, sown between October-December and harvested during April-June.
• Wheat is India’s second most important cereal crop after rice and serves as a staple food crop in the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
• Wheat is a rich source of Calcium, Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Iron.
• Wheat Cultivation Area: Wheat ranks as India’s second-largest crop after paddy in terms of area coverage.
• In 2023-24, the total area under wheat cultivation stood at 318.33 lakh hectares.
• Top Wheat-Producing States in India: Uttar Pradesh is the largest wheat-producing state, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• Major Export Destinations (2023-24): India exported wheat to Nepal, Iraq, South Korea, UAE, and Mongolia.
• India accounts for less than 1% of the global wheat trade.
3. Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approved by the Centre: A Major Leap in Lunar Exploration –
• India’s space ambitions have reached new heights with the approval of the Chandrayaan-5 mission, announced by ISRO Chairman V Narayanan on March 16, 2025.
• This mission will be executed in collaboration with Japan and aims to conduct an advanced study of the Moon’s surface.
• Unlike Chandrayaan-3, which carried the 25 kg rover ‘Pragyan’, Chandrayaan-5 will deploy a heavier 250 kg rover, enhancing India’s lunar exploration capabilities.
4. What is Raisina Dialogue 2025 ? –
• The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing global challenges. Hosted annually in New Delhi, this dialogue brings together world leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and scholars to engage in discussions shaping the international order.
• The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue is set to take place from March 17 to March 19, 2025. This milestone event will once again serve as a critical platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation among nations, highlighting India’s pivotal role in global affairs.
5. India Generated $143 Million by Launching Foreign Satellites Since 2015 –
• India has emerged as a global space leader, generating USD 143 million in foreign exchange revenue by launching 393 foreign satellites from 34 countries between 2015 and 2024.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched these satellites on board PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV launch vehicles.
• This achievement has strengthened India’s position in the global space economy and paved the way for future ambitious missions like Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035.
MCQ Quiz
Q1. How many ponds per district are targeted for construction and rejuvenation under Mission Amrit Sarovar ?
a) 75
b) 50
c) 25
d) 100
Q2. What is the primary reason cited for replacing the Indian Rupee symbol in the Tamil Nadu budget logo ?
a) To align with digital currency adoption
b) As a form of cultural assertion
c) To comply with RBI regulations
d) To promote tourism in Tamil Nadu
Q3. Which edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was held in 2025 ?
a) 3rd
b) 5th
c) 4th
d) 6th
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and its functions:
• SIPRI is an intergovernmental organization under the United Nations that tracks global arms transfers and military expenditure.
• SIPRI publishes the “Trends in International Arms Transfers” report, which provides an analysis of major arms exporters and importers.
• SIPRI’s research focuses solely on arms trade and does not include nuclear disarmament or geopolitical conflicts.
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 – SIPRI is an independent research institute, not a UN-affiliated body. It was established in 1966 in Sweden.
• Statement 2 is correct – SIPRI publishes the “Trends in International Arms Transfers” report to track major exporters and importers of arms.
• Statement 3 is incorrect – SIPRI’s research covers arms trade, nuclear disarmament, conflicts, and international security.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
• What is SIPRI-
• SIPRI is an independent international institute focused on research in conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament.
• Establishment
• Founded in 1966 in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Functions & Significance
• Analyzes trends in global arms trade and their impact on international security.
• Monitors military spending of nations and their strategic implications.
• Provides data-driven insights for policymakers on global defence dynamics.
Q5. Which of the following statements best explains why INS Imphal is considered a significant advancement in India’s naval capabilities ?
a) It is the first Indian warship to be powered entirely by nuclear propulsion.
b) It is India’s first warship to be capable of deploying supersonic cruise missiles.
c) It has been designed with stealth features to reduce radar cross-section.
d) It is India’s first aircraft carrier capable of operating fifth-generation fighter jets.
Explanation-
INS Imphal features a low radar cross-section design, reducing its detectability.
It is not nuclear-powered, nor an aircraft carrier.
While it carries BrahMos, India already had other warships capable of deploying supersonic cruise missiles.
What is INS Imphal?
INS Imphal is a Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy.
It is the third indigenous stealth destroyer, commissioned in December 2023.
Built by: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.