Daily Current Affairs
(27 – Feb – 25)
1. Gallantry Award for ICG Personnel –
• The Defence Minister conferred gallantry, distinguished service, and meritorious service medals to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel for their exemplary service.
• About Gallantry Awards- They honor bravery in the Armed Forces, other forces, and civilians and are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day.
• Order of precedence of the Award- Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.
• ICG is a maritime security force responsible for enforcing maritime laws and operates under the Ministry of Defence.
• It was established on 1st February 1977 and became an independent armed force on 18th August 1978 with the enactment of the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
• In 1972, UNCLOS granted EEZs to coastal states. India enacted the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976, claiming 2.01 million sq km of ocean necessitating policing for which ICG was required.
• It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters (upto 12 nautical miles (nm)) including contiguous zone (upto 24 nm) and EEZ (up to 200 nm) of India.
2. An independent Member of Parliament (MP), has approached the High Court over concerns regarding the potential loss of his Lok Sabha seat due to prolonged absence –
• Article 101 of the Constitution of India deals with the vacation of seats, disqualifications, and dual membership in Parliament.
• As per Article 101(4) of the Constitution, if an MP remains absent from all meetings of the House for 60 days without permission, the House may declare their seat vacant.
• However, this period excludes days when the House is prorogued or adjourned for more than 4 consecutive days.
• This provision is intended to ensure that MPs actively participate in legislative proceedings.
• A seat is vacated only when the House formally declares it vacant through a vote, not automatically.
• Barjinder Singh Hamdard, a Rajya Sabha MP, was disqualified in 2000 under Article 101(4) for sustained absence.
3. India’s First Hyperloop Test Track: A High-Speed Revolution –
• IIT Madras, in collaboration with Indian Railways, has launched India’s first hyperloop test track, marking a major step toward revolutionizing high-speed transportation.
• This 422-meter-long facility, located within the IIT Madras campus, is expected to pave the way for ultra-fast travel, potentially cutting down long intercity journeys to just a few minutes.
• The hyperloop system uses electromagnetically levitated pods inside vacuum tubes, reducing air resistance and allowing speeds comparable to airplanes.
4. Friedrich Merz Ascends as Germany’s New Chancellor –
• In a major political development, Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is set to take over as Germany’s next chancellor.
• His party, in alliance with the Christian Social Union (CSU), secured victory in the 2025 federal elections, marking a shift in Germany’s leadership after the tenure of Olaf Scholz.
• At 69, Merz will be the oldest person to assume the role since Konrad Adenauer in 1949. His rise to power signifies a return of conservative leadership, with policies that could impact both Germany’s domestic governance and its role in global affairs.
5. Punjab Schools to Compulsorily Teach Punjabi –
• The Punjab government has made it mandatory for all schools in the state, irrespective of their educational board, to teach Punjabi as a main and compulsory subject.
• Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the decision through a fresh notification, applicable immediately. This move ensures that Punjabi remains a core part of school curricula under various boards, including PSEB, CBSE, and CISCE. The decision follows concerns over the alleged removal of Punjabi from the CBSE’s Class 10 regional language list.
MCQ Quiz
Q1.Who is set to become Germany’s next chancellor after the 2025 national election ?
a) Olaf Scholz
b) Friedrich Merz
c) Angela Merkel
d) Annalena Baerbock
Q2. Which Hyderabad-based startup is set to launch the ELEVATION-1 satellite ?
a) Skyroot Aerospace
b) Agnikul Cosmos
c) XDLINX Spacelabs
d) Bellatrix Aerospace
Q3. What does PRISM stand for in the context of India-Australia space collaboration ?
a) Promoting Research in Space Missions
b) Perspectives on Regulatory Issues in Strategic Markets
c) Policy Reform in Space Management
d) Partnership for Research in Space and Manufacturing
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding internet shutdowns in India:
1. India has the highest number of internet shutdowns in 2024 among democratic nations, with 84 shutdowns recorded.
2. Internet shutdowns in India were primarily linked to government job placement exams and educational purposes.
3. The revised Telecommunications Act 2023 and Telecom Suspension Rules 2024 introduced an independent mechanism for reviewing internet shutdown orders in India.
How many of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct: India experienced 84 internet shutdowns in 2024, the highest number among democratic nations, according to the report by Access Now.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: While some shutdowns were related to government job placement exams, most were linked to protests and communal violence, not primarily educational purposes.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The revised Telecommunications Act 2023 and Telecom Suspension Rules 2024 do not introduce an independent mechanism for reviewing shutdown orders. These laws still retain provisions from the colonial-era Telegraph Act of 1885 without sufficient oversight.
Q5. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is strategically important because it connects which two major water bodies ?
a) Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
b) Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden
c) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
d) Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea
Explanation-
• The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, making it a critical maritime chokepoint for shipping between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal.