UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 2:(UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April (2025)

1. India China 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties

GS Paper 3:

2. India’s Agricultural Crossroads: Global Trade Integration vs Domestic Food Security

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Keeranatham Village Panchayat Model to Counter Plastic Waste

2. Left Wing Extremism in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Future Circular Collider

2. Mitathal and Tighrana Harappan Sites

3. Saturn and the Discovery of Its New Moons

4. Monetary Policy

5. INSV Tarini & Navika Sagar Parikrama II Expedition

6. Silicon-Carbon Batteries

Mapping:

7. Nigeria

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025

#### GS Paper 2 :

India China 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties

• Early Relations (1950s): India was the first non-socialist country to recognize PRC; 1954 Panchsheel Agreement was signed.

• Conflict Phase (1962): Relations soured post the Sino-Indian War due to unresolved border disputes.

• Normalization (1980s–2000s): Rajiv Gandhi’s 1988 visit to China restarted ties. Mechanisms like WMCC (2012) addressed border issues.

• Trade and Dialogue (2000s): Economic ties improved, with bilateral trade surpassing $138 billion by 2024.

• Recent Tensions: Doklam standoff (2017) and Galwan Valley clash (2020) strained relations significantly.

• Multilateral Forums: Active participation in BRICS, SCO, G20, and Global South initiatives.

• Cultural and Academic Exchanges: Increase in student exchange programs, art exhibitions, and tourism.

• Trade and Commerce: Despite border tensions, trade continues to be a strong pillar of cooperation.

• Climate & Global Governance: Common interests in climate change mitigation and equitable global order.

• Public Diplomacy: High-level visits, media dialogues, and people-to-people contacts continue.

• Border Dispute: Unresolved Line of Actual Control (LAC) issues, especially in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

• Strategic Rivalry: China’s close ties with Pakistan and its presence in Indian Ocean concerns India.

• Trade Imbalance: India faces a persistent trade deficit with China due to heavy reliance on Chinese imports.

• Perception Gap: China’s assertive policies conflict with India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy and sovereignty.

• Security Trust Deficit: Border militarisation and lack of transparency continue to undermine mutual trust.

• Strengthen Dialogue: Continue regular meetings under SR Mechanism and border management dialogues.

• Build Trust: Promote confidence-building measures like joint exercises and cultural diplomacy.

• Balanced Trade: Address trade imbalance through strategic investment partnerships and diversification.

• Multilateral Cooperation: Work jointly on global platforms to address climate, health, and peace issues.

• Focus on People: Encourage student, business, tourism, and academic exchanges to rebuild public trust.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025 GS Paper 3:

India’s Agricultural Crossroads: Global Trade Integration vs Domestic Food Security

• Boosts Export Revenues: Enhanced global access allows Indian produce like spices, rice, and mangoes to earn valuable foreign exchange.

• Encourages Technology Transfer: Trade agreements can attract foreign investment in Agri-tech and rural infrastructure.

• Improves Market Efficiency: Integration encourages better price discovery and competition, benefiting high-quality producers.

• Strengthens Diplomatic Ties: Trade partnerships align with India’s broader geopolitical strategy in forums like WTO and BRICS.

• Diversifies Supply Chains: Import of critical inputs like palm oil and fertilisers ensures production continuity.

• Supports Rural Livelihoods: Agriculture employs 42% of India’s workforce, mostly small and marginal farmers.

• Ensures Nutrition Stability: Self-reliant food production protects the poor from price shocks during global crises.

• Reduces Dependence on Imports: Domestic food resilience shields India from global supply disruptions.

• Preserves Political Stability: Food insecurity can lead to social unrest, especially in rural and agrarian regions.

• Empowers Strategic Sovereignty: Self-sufficiency in food enables policy autonomy without external pressure.

• Subsidy Wars: Developed countries offer heavy subsidies, distorting global agri-trade.

• Pressure from FTAs: Demands from nations like New Zealand for dairy access risk destabilising local producers.

• Illegal Imports: Despite bans, Chinese garlic enters India, collapsing prices for domestic growers.

• WTO Scrutiny: India’s MSP system is challenged by WTO norms, reducing policy flexibility.

• Dual Burden of Tariffs: High tariffs protect farmers but trigger retaliatory duties and limit export access.

• Calibrated Liberalisation: Gradually lower tariffs only in non-sensitive sectors while safeguarding core crops.

• Negotiate Investment-Focused FTAs: Focus more on Agri-investment and tech sharing than tariff cuts.

• Strengthen Domestic Competitiveness: Invest in storage, logistics, and seed innovation to empower Indian farmers.

• Enhance Import Surveillance: Tighten customs checks to prevent illegal or substandard imports.

• Push WTO Reform: Advocate for transparent, equitable subsidy norms in global platforms to ensure fair play.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Keeranatham Village Panchayat Model to Counter Plastic Waste

• What it is: A grassroots-level campaign that rewards citizens for collecting and depositing plastic waste at the panchayat office.

• How it works: Residents are encouraged to bring plastic waste to the office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and receive ₹10 per kg in return.

Significance:

• Community Involvement: The initiative promotes behavioural change by involving the public in the mission to make the village plastic-free.

• Environmental Impact: It aims to protect soil health, reduce non-biodegradable waste, and promote sustainable waste disposal.

• Scalability: This low-cost, reward-based model can be replicated in other panchayats and urban local bodies across India.

• GS Paper II – Governance:

• GS Paper III – Environment:

• Essay/Case Studies (Ethics/GS IV):

Left Wing Extremism in India

• Left-Wing Extremism or Naxalism refers to armed insurgency led by Maoist groups espousing communist ideologies.

• They operate mainly in forested, tribal-dominated areas of Central and Eastern India, demanding land, rights, and justice for marginalized groups through violent means.

• Districts Affected by LWE: Reduced from 38 to 18.

• Most-affected districts: Down from 12 to 6, mainly in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand.

• India’s Target: Eradicate LWE by March 31, 2026.

• Security Response: Deployment of CRPF, Greyhounds, CoBRA units and setting up of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in core Maoist zones.

• Developmental Measures: Special Central Assistance (SCA) Scheme which provide ₹30 crore for most-affected districts and ₹10 crore for districts of concern.

• Administrative Interventions: Civic Action Programmes to win local support along with establishment of Eklavya Model Schools and mobile towers in remote areas.

• Technology-Based Policing: Use of drones, GPS mapping, real-time intelligence sharing, and geospatial surveillance.

• Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy: Financial incentives and vocational training for surrendered Maoists.

• GS-3 Syllabus Coverage:

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Future Circular Collider

• What is it? A proposed next-generation particle collider by CERN to replace the existing 27-km LHC.

• Proposed by: CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), the world’s leading particle physics research institute.

• Location:

• Need and Aim:

• Key Features:

• Phase I (2040s): Focus on precision studies of Standard Model particles.

• Phase II (2070): High-energy proton and heavy ion collisions to explore unknown physics.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Mitathal and Tighrana Harappan Sites

• Location:

• Key Features & Importance:

• Mitathal Site:

• Tighrana Site:

• Uniqueness:

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Saturn and the Discovery of Its New Moons

• What is the Discovery?

• Saturn’s Moon Count:

• How Are These Moons Formed?

• Significance of the Discovery:

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Monetary Policy

• What is Monetary Policy?

• Objective: Its aim is to regulate inflation, maintain currency stability, and boost economic growth through effective liquidity and credit control.

• Authority in India: Managed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the RBI Act, 1934.

• 1935: RBI’s first monetary policy fixed the Bank Rate at 3.5% and introduced Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).

• Origins:

• Open Market Operations (OMO), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), and exchange rate management became part of the policy framework later.

• Modern policies now use the Repo Rate as the key benchmark.

• Quantitative Instruments:

• Qualitative Instruments:

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)

INSV Tarini & Navika Sagar Parikrama II Expedition

• What it is: INSV Tarini is a 56-foot indigenously-built sailing vessel, part of the Indian Navy since 2017.

• Captains: Commanded by Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, both women naval officers.

• Features:

• What it is: A women-led global circumnavigation mission by Indian Navy using INSV Tarini.

• Launch Date: October 2, 2024, flagged off by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi from Goa.

• Key Features:

• Significance:

Silicon-Carbon Batteries

• What is Silicon-Carbon Batteries?

• Key Features of Silicon-Carbon Batteries:

• Why It’s Replacing Lithium-Ion Batteries?

• Limitations of Silicon-Carbon Batteries:

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 April 2025 Mapping:

Nigeria

• Location: Nigeria is located in West Africa.

• Capital: Abuja (since 1991).

• Neighbouring Nations: Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea)

• Geographical Features:

• Unique Features:

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