GK Current Affairs 2nd March 2025
India-EU Relations: Key Discussions and Collaborations
India and the European Union (EU) are engaging in high-level discussions across multiple sectors, strengthening their partnership through economic, environmental, and security cooperation.
Major Highlights:
| Topic | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Environmental & Economic Talks | European Commission President visited India for discussions on trade and sustainability. |
| Carbon Tax Concerns | India opposes the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which may impact Indian exports from January 2026. India cites violation of the climate equity principle of "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities." |
| Free Trade Agreement (FTA) | Negotiations are underway, with a target to finalize by end of 2025. |
| Technology & Digital Cooperation | The India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), launched in 2022, focuses on strategic tech and semiconductors. |
| Green Energy Cooperation | India-EU Green Hydrogen Cooperation Initiative aims at sustainable energy transition. |
| Defence & Security | Strengthened Indo-Pacific security cooperation. |
| Space Cooperation | Collaboration on Proba-3, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan. |
| Skilled Migration | Indian professionals receive a significant number of EU Blue Cards, easing skilled workforce migration. |
Three-Language Policy Controversy
Conflict Between Tamil Nadu & Union Government
The Indian government’s three-language policy has sparked opposition, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Key Aspects:
| Aspect | Details |
| Policy Structure | Promotes three languages: 1) Mother Tongue, 2) Hindi (National Language), 3) English (International Language). |
| Tamil Nadu’s Opposition | Opposes Hindi imposition; led to withholding of central funds. |
| New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 | Advocates the three-language formula but faces regional resistance. |
Panchayat Development Index (PDI)
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released the first Panchayat Development Index update since 2014.
Index Overview:
| Parameter | Key Insights |
| Evaluation Criteria | Governance, finance, functionaries, capacity-building, and accountability. |
| Top Performing States | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. |
| Improving States | Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have shown significant progress. |
| Women's Representation | National average has seen a slight increase. |
(Representative Graph - Growth of Panchayat Performance Over Time)
Delimitation Concerns in Southern States
Southern states express concerns about the potential redrawing of electoral boundaries, which may reduce their representation.
Background & Concerns:
| Aspect | Details |
| What is Delimitation? | Adjusting constituency sizes based on population changes. |
| Historical Context | Indira Gandhi froze delimitation in 1976 for 25 years, later extended. |
| Southern States' Worries | Fear losing representation due to lower population growth compared to northern states. |
India’s Port Standardisation Initiative
The government is working on modernizing major ports to boost efficiency.
Key Initiatives:
| Initiative | Objective |
| "One Nation One Port" | Standardizes processes across ports. |
| Sagar Aankalan | Enhances digital tracking and logistics. |
| Bharat Global Port Consortium | Promotes global port collaborations. |
UN Resolution on Ukraine War
A United Nations resolution for peace in Ukraine led to surprising global voting alignments.
Resolution Highlights:
| Aspect | Details |
| Proposal | European nations condemned Russia's attack and demanded reparations. |
| Voting | Russia & US opposed; India & China abstained. |
Disaster Risk & Resilience Framework
The Department of Telecommunications and CDRI unveiled a system to minimize disaster impact on infrastructure.
Framework Components:
| Dimension | Description |
| Technical | Upgrading infrastructure for disaster resistance. |
| Operational | Enhancing emergency response mechanisms. |
| Policy | Formulating new governance strategies. |
| Financial | Allocating funds for disaster resilience projects. |
| Capacity Building | Training personnel and institutions. |
National Science Day 2024
Celebrated annually to honor C.V. Raman's discovery of the Raman Effect, for which he won the Nobel Prize in 1930.
Theme for 2024:
"Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat."
(Representative Image - National Science Day Event)