February 2025 Current Affairs Notes for UPSC, SSC, State PSC & Other Competitive Exams

Constitutional Provisions and Freebies

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs)

  • Article 38: State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people.

  • Article 39: Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State (e.g., equal pay for equal work, right to livelihood).

  • Article 41: Right to work, to education, and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement.

Supreme Court Judgements on Freebies

  • Subramaniyam Balaji Case (2013): SC held that promises of freebies in election manifestos do not amount to a "corrupt practice" under the Representation of People Act. However, the Court urged the Election Commission to frame guidelines.

  • Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v Union of India (Ongoing): Case addressing the fiscal burden and legality of freebies promised by political parties.

Status of Devolution to Panchayats

Constitutional Provisions

Top States in Devolution

Lowest States/UTs in Devolution

  • Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Ladakh – Weak Panchayat empowerment.

Geo-Economic Fragmentation (GEF)

  • Definition: Policy-driven reversal of global economic integration due to strategic concerns.

  • Examples:

    • Friendshoring: Supply chains shift to politically aligned countries (e.g., Apple shifting iPhone production from China to India).

    • Nearshoring: Outsourcing to nearby nations (e.g., German firms outsourcing to Poland).

India’s Neighbourhood First Policy

  • Genesis: Initiated in 2008, strengthened after 2014.

  • Objective: Deepen ties with immediate neighbors – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

  • Guiding Principles (5S Framework):

  • Approach: Non-reciprocal, outcome-oriented.

Triangular Partnership

  • Definition: Collaboration between traditional donors (e.g., USA, Japan), emerging economies (India), and developing nations.

  • Benefits:

    • Cost-effective solutions (68% projects under $1M budget).

    • Strengthens South-South cooperation.

    • Supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

India–USA Relations

  • Proposed Ten-Year Framework: Boost defense partnership.

  • Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA): Enhancing Indo-Pacific industry partnerships.

  • Joint Production: Javelin Missiles and Stryker Vehicles in India.

India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement

  • Background:

    • 1978: U.S. sanctions post-Pokhran-I.

    • 2005: Cooperation pact.

    • 2008: Final agreement under U.S. Atomic Energy Act.

  • Key Provisions:

India–France Relationship

  • Defense Exercises:

  • Horizon 2047: Roadmap marking 25 years of Strategic Partnership, setting vision till 2047.

Major and Minor Minerals

Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)

  • Corpus: ₹1 lakh crore.

  • Objective: Encourage innovative solutions for sustainable urbanization.

  • Focus Areas:

    • Cities as Growth Hubs.

    • Creative Redevelopment.

    • Water & Sanitation.

Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)

  • Operate in urban and semi-urban areas.

  • Registered under State Cooperative Societies Acts or Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

  • Dual regulation: Banking Regulation Act, 1949 & Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS).

Restructured Skill India Programme

  • Combines three schemes:

    • PMKVY 4.0 (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana).

    • PM-NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme).

    • Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS).

Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP)

  • Captures contributions of knowledge sectors, innovation, and intellectual assets in India’s growth.

AI for Entrepreneurship Micro-Learning Module

  • Collaboration: NSDC + Intel India.

  • Objective: Simplify AI concepts, promote entrepreneurial thinking.

E-Shram Microsites & Occupational Shortage Index (OSI)

  • E-Shram Microsites: State-specific digital platforms integrated with National e-Shram database.

  • OSI: Identifies workforce demand-supply gaps using ILO methodology and PLFS data.

Digital Payments Index (DPI)

  • Published by: RBI.

  • Objective: Measure extent of digitisation and adoption of online transactions.

Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs)

  • Organizations providing infrastructure for securities trading.

  • Regulated by: SEBI.

Algorithmic Trading

  • Automated buy/sell orders using preset conditions for precision.

Potash

  • Definition: Combination of potassium carbonate & salts.

  • Principal Ore: Sylvinite.

  • Uses:

    • Fertilizers (90% usage).

    • Water purification (Potash alum).

Global Capability Centers (GCCs)

  • Enhance global business operations by leveraging talent pools & tech innovations.

Regionalism in India

  • Definition: Shared identity due to ethnicity, language, culture.

  • First form post-independence: Demand for linguistic states after Potti Sriramalu’s hunger strike (1952).

Algorithmic Amplification & Radicalisation

  • Global Steps:

    • EU Digital Services Act (2023): Transparency in algorithms.

    • AI Moderation: YouTube reduced flagged extremist videos by 30%.

    • Christchurch Call: Against extremist content online.

Hybrid Warfare

  • Combines conventional (kinetic) & unconventional (non-kinetic) tactics.

  • Example: China’s Three-Warfare Strategy – Psychological, Political, Legal.

Nuclear Disarmament: India’s Stand

  • NPT: Opposes (discriminatory).

  • CTBT: Not signed (fails to ensure disarmament).

  • TPNW: Not supported (lacks enforceable standards).

Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR)

  • Features:

    • Indigenous Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker.

    • Man-in-Loop control for real-time targeting.

Agri-NBSAPs (Agrifood National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans)

  • Helps integrate agrifood systems into biodiversity strategies.

  • Framework under Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Inland Mangrove of Guneri

  • Location: 45 km from Arabian Sea, 4 km from Kori Creek.

  • Unique inland ecosystem (only 8 worldwide).

  • Hosts 20 migratory & 25 resident bird species.

UN Habitat

  • Established: 1978.

  • Mission: Promote sustainable urban development.

  • Focus: Adequate shelter & city planning.

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

  • ‘Forever chemicals’: Resistant to oil, water, heat.

  • Uses: Nonstick cookware, food packaging, waterproof fabrics, firefighting gear.

Growth of India’s Solar Sector

  • Capacity growth: 2.82 GW (2014) → 100 GW (2025).

  • Solar share: 47% of total renewable energy.

  • Installations (2024):

    • Utility scale: 18.5 GW (2.8x from 2023).

    • Rooftop: 4.59 GW (53% increase).

  • Module capacity: 2 GW (2014) → 60 GW (2024); Target 100 GW (2030).

  • Top States: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.

Middle-Income Class in India

  • Share: 31% (2021) → 38% (2031) → 60% (2047).

  • Household debt: 38% of GDP (FY23).

Three-Language Formula

  • Constitutional: Article 351 (Promotion of Hindi).

  • Statutory: Right to Education Act, 2009.

  • Committees: Kothari Commission (1964–66).

  • Policies: NEP 1968, NEP 2020.

  • Initiatives: ASMITA, BHASINI, Bahubhasha Shabdkosh.

Quality Higher Education in India

  • GER: 0.4 (1950–51) → 28.4 (2021–22).

  • GPI: 0.87 (2011–12) → 1.01 (2021–22).

  • Research Share: 3.5% (2017) → 5.2% (2024).

  • Key Initiatives: NAAC, NIRF, ANRF.

Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G)

  • ODF Plus Villages: 95%.

  • Rural Sanitation: 39% (2014) → 100% (2019).

  • Jal Jeevan Mission:

    • 100% rural tap water coverage: 11 States/UTs.

    • Tap water connections: 3.23 cr (2019) → 15.44 cr (Feb 2025).

Nuclear Energy Mission

  • Launch: Union Budget 2025–26.

  • Allocation: ₹20,000 crore.

  • Target: 100 GW by 2047.

  • SMRs: 5 Small Modular Reactors by 2033.

Deep Ocean Mission

  • Launch: 2021 by Ministry of Earth Sciences.

  • Budget: ₹4077 cr over 5 years.

  • Purpose: Ocean technology, Blue Economy, combat climate change & pollution.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

  • Chronic, non-infectious: CVDs, cancers, diabetes, COPD.

  • Caused by: Genetics, lifestyle, environment.

China’s EAST Fusion Record

  • Achievement: Plasma sustained 1000+ sec at 100 million °C.

  • Significance: Step toward clean nuclear fusion energy.

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)

  • Formerly: IRNSS.

  • Satellites: 7 (3 geostationary, 4 inclined geosynchronous).

  • Coverage: India + 1500 km beyond.

Lunar Trailblazer Mission

  • Objective: Orbit ~100 km, study lunar water.

  • Significance: Supports human Moon missions (drinking water, oxygen, hydrogen fuel).

Manuscript

  • Handwritten text on paper, palm leaf, bark, etc.

  • Must be at least 75 years old.

  • Holds historical, scientific, aesthetic value.

Vijay Durg (Formerly Fort William, Kolkata)

  • On Hooghly River banks.

  • Site of Black Hole Tragedy (1756) by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula.

Tantric Buddhism

  • Transition from philosophy to practical methods (sadhana).

  • Vajrayana/Tantric Buddhism emphasizes esoteric healing & social transformation.

  • Prevalent in Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tibet.

Sahitya Akademi Awards

  • For outstanding literary works in 22 Schedule VIII languages + English + Rajasthani.

  • Award: Copper plaque + ₹1,00,000 cash prize.

Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

  • Provides digital books in Indian languages for students.

  • Complements ASMITA initiative for study material translation.



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