CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 April, 2025
1. INDIA HAS SET AN AMBITIOUS TARGET OF INSTALLING 500 GW OF NON-FOSSIL FUEL CAPACITY BY 2030, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE) SOURCES LIKE SOLAR AND WIND –
What is Renewable Energy-
• Renewable energy is energy derived from natural, constantly replenished sources like sunlight, wind, water (hydropower), and biomass.
• Unlike fossil fuels, it is sustainable, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes a cleaner environment.
India’s Renewable Energy Goals
• 2030 Goal: Achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity.
• Short-Term Milestone: Generate 50% of total energy capacity from renewable sources by 2030.
• Current Progress: Reached 217.62 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity as of January 2025.
• Net-Zero Commitment: Attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
• However, a closer analysis reveals that these targets may not be enough to meet the country’s rapidly growing electricity demand while ensuring grid stability and reducing reliance on coal.
2. 5 YEARS OF SVAMITVA SCHEME –
About SVAMITVA Scheme
• SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central Sector Scheme.
• Launch: It was launched nationwide on National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April), 2021 as a reformative step to provide rural households with legal ownership of residential properties.
• Nodal Ministry and Implementing Partners: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with State Revenue and Panchayati Raj Departments, Survey of India, and National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) for technology support.
Objectives
• Create accurate land records to aid rural planning and reduce disputes.
• Enable rural citizens to monetize their property and access formal credit.
• Support property tax determination for Gram Panchayats or State exchequers.
• Develop GIS-based maps for multi-sectoral usage and better Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).
3. PAKISTAN SUSPENDS SIMLA AGREEMENT AND CLOSES BORDER, AIRSPACE, TRADE WITH INDIA –
Suspension of Shimla Agreement (1972)-
• Pakistan has put the agreement in abeyance, citing India’s alleged involvement in terrorism and violations of international law in Kashmir.
• The Shimla Agreement had upheld the sanctity of the Line of Control (LoC).
Closure of Wagah Border Crossing
• The border is closed with immediate effect.
• All cross-border movement through Wagah is suspended.
• Deadline of April 30 set for those with valid travel endorsements to return.
Suspension of All Trade with India
• Bilateral trade has been completely paused.
• Trade via land routes, sea, and air are impacted.
• Airspace Closure
• Indian airlines are now banned from using Pakistani airspace.
• This affects major commercial flight routes over Pakistan.
• All Bilateral Agreements Suspended
• Apart from Simla Agreement, all other agreements are under review and suspension.
4. CCS FULL FORM, KNOW ABOUT ITS ROLE, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS –
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is one of the most important decision-making bodies of the Government of India. It takes care of matters related to the country’s safety and security.
• This committee makes final decisions on defense policies, key appointments in security forces and big security-related expenses.
Full Form of CCS
• The full form of CCS is Cabinet Committee on Security. It is a top-level committee of the Indian government that takes final decisions on national security, defense and related matters. It includes the Prime Minister and key ministers, and helps keep the country safe from both internal and external threats.
Role of the Cabinet Committee on Security
• The CCS talks about and decides on many important topics related to India’s national security. It looks under defense planning, law and order, internal security and how to deal with threats. It also discusses deals with other countries that affect India’s safety.
Members of the ICS
The Cabinet Committee on Security has five main members:
• The Prime Minister
• The Minister of Defense
• The Minister of Home Affairs
• The Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs
• The Minister of External Affairs
5. INDIA SHINES AT 2025 ISSF WORLD CUP LIMA WITH 7 MEDALS, FINISHES THIRD OVERALL –
• India’s shooting squad wrapped up a strong performance at the 2025 ISSF World Cup held in Lima, Peru, securing a total of seven medals—two gold, four silver, and one bronze—to finish third in the overall medal tally, just behind China and the United States.
• The competition, hosted from April 13 to 22, featured over 400 shooters from 43 countries. India’s 42-member squad was one of the largest at the event. Key performers like Suruchi Singh and Saurabh Chaudhary helped India qualify for the ISSF World Cup Final 2025 to be held in Doha, Qatar, in December.
Highlights of India’s Campaign
• Location: Lima, Peru
• Dates: April 13–22, 2025
• Participants: Over 400 shooters from 43 nations
• India’s Squad: 42-member team, second largest after China
• India’s Medal Tally: 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze – Total 7 medals
• India’s Rank: 3rd on the medal table
• Significance: Gold medalists qualify for 2025 ISSF World Cup Final in Doha (Dec 4–9)
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. What percentage safeguard duty has the Indian government imposed on certain steel imports ?
a) 8%
b) 10%
c) 12%
d) 15%
Q2. India and the United States are in the final stages of negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement. Which of the following leaders recently expressed satisfaction over the progress of the agreement ?
a) Joe Biden and Narendra Modi
b) Kamala Harris and Amit Shah
c) JD Vance and Narendra Modi
d) Janet Yellen and Nirmala Sitharaman
Q3. Which launch vehicle carried the satellites SDX-01 and SDX-02 into space for the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) ?
a) GSLV Mk III
b) PSLV-C60
c) GSLV
d) PSLV-C45
Q4. Which of the following milestones was NOT associated with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ?
a) First exchange to launch a global depository receipt (GDR) in India
b) First Indian exchange to join the UN’s Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative
c) Launch of Sensex as India’s first stock market index
d) First exchange in India to introduce electronic trading through BOLT
Explanation-
• While the BSE has achieved many firsts in Indian financial history, the launch of global depository receipts (GDRs) is not credited to it. GDRs are generally issued by companies abroad and are not exclusive to any Indian exchange.
• In BSE was the first exchange in India to introduce electronic trading through BOLT in 1995, launched Sensex in 1986 as India’s first index, and was also the first Indian exchange to partner with the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative in 2012. Hence, option (a) is not a valid milestone and is the correct answer.
About Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE):
What it is?
• BSE Ltd. is Asia’s oldest stock exchange and a major platform for trading equities, debt, mutual funds, derivatives, and commodities in India.
• Established in: 1875, originally as “The Native Share & Stock Brokers’ Association” founded by cotton merchant Premchand Roychand.
Q5. Which of the following best characterizes the significance of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 in India’s evolving maritime strategy ?
a) Strengthening bilateral maritime trade routes with ASEAN nations
b) Strengthening bilateral maritime trade routes with ASEAN nations
c) Enhancing amphibious interoperability with a Quad member for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations
d) Creating a trilateral naval command with the USA and Australia in the Indian Ocean
Explanation-
• The core objective of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 is centered around enhancing interoperability in amphibious warfare, especially in the context of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
• Given the increasing frequency of climate disasters, such capability has strategic implications beyond conventional military preparedness—it helps India assert its role as a first responder in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly alongside a Quad partner like the US.
• The inclusion of amphibious and HADR elements underlines India’s focus on multi-domain interoperability, a central theme in its maritime strategy. This does not involve EU or ASEAN maritime trade routes directly, nor is it structured as a trilateral naval command.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | C | B | A | C |