UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 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 1 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April (2025)
• Role in a Risk Society: Women and the Unequal Burden
Role in a Risk Society: Women and the Unequal Burden
GS Paper 2:
• Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• SIPRI Report on Military Expenditure
SIPRI Report on Military Expenditure
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Padma Awards
Padma Awards
• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
• AIM4NatuRe initiative
AIM4NatuRe initiative
• Bio-Input Resource Centres
Bio-Input Resource Centres
• Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025
Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025
• Rafale-M Jets
Rafale-M Jets
Mapping:
• Sandy Cay Reef Dispute
Sandy Cay Reef Dispute
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April 2025
#### GS Paper 1 :
Role in a Risk Society: Women and the Unequal Burden
Syllabus: Women and Society
Source: TH
Context: The concept of “risk society,” coined by Ulrich Beck, highlights how modern crises amplify risks globally, with women disproportionately bearing the impact, especially in developing countries.
About Role in a Risk Society:
What is Risk Society?
• Risk society describes a phase where manufactured risks from technological and environmental developments dominate modern life, unlike the natural risks of the past.
• It focuses on managing risks rather than just distributing wealth, reflecting the unintended consequences of industrialization.
Features:
• Reflexive Modernization: Societies must constantly adapt to problems created by earlier technological advances.
• Globalized Risks: Threats like pandemics, nuclear disasters, and climate change transcend national boundaries.
• Unpredictability: Manufactured risks are complex, harder to foresee, and harder to control.
Three Distinctive Epochs of Modernity:
• Pre-Industrial Society: Risks were localized and natural, like famine and plagues, managed through traditional systems.
• Industrial Society: Urbanization and technological advances created new risks, including pollution and resource depletion.
• Risk Society: Today, human activities are the primary source of global, unpredictable hazards like nuclear accidents and pandemics.
Types of Risk:
• Natural Risk: Originates from natural phenomena like earthquakes, floods, or disease outbreaks.
• Originates from natural phenomena like earthquakes, floods, or disease outbreaks.
Example: The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was a major natural risk affecting millions.
• Manufactured Risk: Emerges from human activities, particularly industrial and technological development.
• Emerges from human activities, particularly industrial and technological development.
Example: The Chernobyl nuclear disaster (1986) caused lasting environmental and human health impacts.
Women and the Unequal Burden in Risk Society:
• Higher Exposure to Health Risks: Women’s roles in water collection and use of biomass fuels for cooking expose them to contaminated water and indoor air pollution
• Increased Disaster Mortality Risk: UNDP studies show women are 14 times more likely to die in climate disasters due to mobility restrictions, care responsibilities, and inadequate early warning access.
• Loss of Livelihood Security: Women in agriculture (43% of India’s rural workforce) suffer first when climate-induced droughts, floods, or soil degradation destroy crops and reduce rural income (FAO 2023 report).
• Invisible and Unpaid Care Burden: Post-disaster recovery tasks like caregiving, food preparation, and healthcare fall heavily on women without financial recognition.
• Water and Food Insecurity Amplification: Climate change-induced resource scarcity leads to women traveling longer distances for water and receiving less food during shortages.
Way Ahead:
• Gender-Disaggregated Disaster Data Systems: Mandate gender-sensitive risk assessments and data collection to design policies that directly target vulnerabilities
• Community-Led Natural Resource Management: Empower women-led cooperatives for water management, seed preservation, and sustainable farming.
• Climate-Resilient Social Protection Schemes: Expand MGNREGA-style cash-for-work programs post-disaster, prioritizing women-headed households for immediate recovery.
• Financial Access Reforms: Promote special microfinance and insurance packages for rural women to rebuild livelihoods after environmental or health crises.
• Inclusive Climate Governance: Set mandatory quotas for women’s representation in local climate adaptation bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions handling natural resource management.
Conclusion:
The concept of a risk society underscores the growing complexity and unpredictability of modern hazards. It also reveals the systemic inequalities that make women especially vulnerable to these risks. Ensuring gender equity in risk management is critical for building a resilient, sustainable future.
• Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (UPSC-2021)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April 2025 GS Paper 2:
Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha
Syllabus: Polity
Source: TH
Context: The 18th Lok Sabha, like the 17th, has not yet elected a Deputy Speaker, raising concerns about constitutional compliance and parliamentary conventions.
About Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha:
• Constitutional Article: Governed by Article 93 of the Constitution: mandates the House to elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be”.
• Selection: Elected by: Lok Sabha members from among themselves. Timing: After the Speaker’s election, the date is fixed by the Speaker. Convention: Deputy Speaker is usually from the Opposition, though not legally mandated.
• Elected by: Lok Sabha members from among themselves.
• Timing: After the Speaker’s election, the date is fixed by the Speaker.
• Convention: Deputy Speaker is usually from the Opposition, though not legally mandated.
• Powers and Functions: Presiding Role: Acts as Speaker when the latter is absent. Casting Vote: Exercises casting vote only in case of a tie when presiding. Committee Chairmanship: Automatically becomes chairperson of any parliamentary committee if appointed. Independence: Is not subordinate to the Speaker but directly responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• Presiding Role: Acts as Speaker when the latter is absent.
• Casting Vote: Exercises casting vote only in case of a tie when presiding.
• Committee Chairmanship: Automatically becomes chairperson of any parliamentary committee if appointed.
• Independence: Is not subordinate to the Speaker but directly responsible to the Lok Sabha.
Relevance of Deputy Speaker:
• Continuity of Proceedings: Ensures that House proceedings are never disrupted due to the Speaker’s absence.
• Institutional Neutrality: Upholds impartiality and balances legislative debates (S.C. Kashyap: Speaker cannot preside continuously without relief).
• Symbol of Bipartisanship: Historical practice of appointing Deputy Speaker from Opposition fosters cross-party cooperation and trust.
• Crisis Management: Acts decisively during emergencies like sudden Speaker vacancies.
E.g., M.A. Ayyangar acted after G.V. Mavalankar’s death in 1956.
Impact of Vacuum in Deputy Speaker’s Office:
• Weakens Institutional Continuity: In the Speaker’s absence, no designated authority leads to procedural disruptions and undermines smooth functioning of the Lok Sabha.
• Concentration of Procedural Power: Power centralizes in the Speaker alone, reducing checks and diluting the balance envisioned in parliamentary democracy.
• Erosion of Democratic Conventions: Ignoring the tradition of appointing a Deputy Speaker (often from Opposition) reduces bipartisan cooperation and trust in parliamentary processes.
• Risk During Emergencies: In events like sudden resignation, death, or removal of the Speaker, absence of a Deputy Speaker could trigger a leadership crisis, stalling legislative business.
Legislative Reform Needed:
• Fix a Time Frame: Amend Article 93 to mandate Deputy Speaker’s election within 60 days of first sitting.
• Trigger Mechanism: Allow the President, upon Cabinet advice, to initiate the election process if delayed.
• Strengthen Opposition Representation: Enforce conventions offering the post to an Opposition member to promote inclusivity and trust.
• Statutory Clarifications: Codify the roles and election timeline by amending the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
Conclusion:
The Office of the Deputy Speaker is not a ceremonial redundancy but a constitutional necessity for ensuring balance and resilience in Parliament. Prolonged vacancy weakens democratic processes and compromises institutional integrity. Timely election of the Deputy Speaker is essential for upholding constitutional democracy and restoring credibility in legislative functioning.
• “Once a speaker, always a speaker’ Do you think the practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (2020)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
SIPRI Report on Military Expenditure
Context: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report ‘Trends in World Military Expenditure 2024’, India’s military expenditure grew to $86.1 billion, nearly nine times that of Pakistan.
About SIPRI Report on Military Expenditure:
• Global Rank: India is 5th largest military spender in the world after the U.S., China, Russia, and Germany.
• Total Expenditure: $86.1 billion in 2024, a 1.6% increase over the previous year.
• Comparison with Pakistan: India’s spending was approximately 9 times higher than Pakistan’s $10.2 billion.
• Asia Context: China and India together contributed significantly to military spending growth in Asia and Oceania.
• Global Context: India is part of the top five spenders who collectively accounted for 60% of the global military expenditure.
Strategic Highlights:
• Domestic Procurement Focus: 75% of capital outlay earmarked for domestic defense production (22% of total military budget).
• Import Dependence: Still reliant on imports for advanced systems like combat aircraft and some critical technologies.
• Strategic Significance: Reinforces India’s positioning as a key player in Indo-Pacific security architecture amid rising regional tensions with China and Pakistan.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 2 (International Relations): India’s defense capabilities and strategic relations with neighboring countries (Pakistan, China).
• India’s defense capabilities and strategic relations with neighboring countries (Pakistan, China).
• GS Paper 3 (Security and Defense): Internal security challenges and preparedness of Indian defense forces. Defense budget, modernization of armed forces, defense reforms.
• Internal security challenges and preparedness of Indian defense forces.
• Defense budget, modernization of armed forces, defense reforms.
• Essay Paper: Themes related to national security, strategic autonomy, and global power shifts.
• Themes related to national security, strategic autonomy, and global power shifts.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 April Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Padma Awards
Source: NDTV
Context: President of India conferred Padma Awards 2024 to 71 personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan, recognizing excellence across diverse fields.
About Padma Awards:
• What are Padma Awards?
• The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honors. They recognize exceptional and distinguished service across various fields involving public service.
• The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honors.
• They recognize exceptional and distinguished service across various fields involving public service.
• Origin:
• Instituted: 1954 Reclassified: In 1955 into three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
• Instituted: 1954
• Reclassified: In 1955 into three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
• Presented by: The President of India formally presents the awards at a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Selection Committee:
• Constituted by: The Prime Minister annually. Headed by: The Cabinet Secretary. Members: Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 4–6 eminent personalities.
• Constituted by: The Prime Minister annually.
• Headed by: The Cabinet Secretary.
• Members: Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 4–6 eminent personalities.
• Selection Criteria:
• Core Focus: Life-long achievements plus an element of public service. Scope: Achievements across fields like arts, social work, science, public affairs, trade, medicine, sports, literature, education, and civil service. Inclusivity: Open to all citizens regardless of race, occupation, or gender. Exceptions: Active government servants (excluding doctors/scientists) are not eligible. Posthumous Awards: Rare but permitted in highly deserving cases.
• Core Focus: Life-long achievements plus an element of public service.
• Scope: Achievements across fields like arts, social work, science, public affairs, trade, medicine, sports, literature, education, and civil service.
• Inclusivity: Open to all citizens regardless of race, occupation, or gender.
• Exceptions: Active government servants (excluding doctors/scientists) are not eligible.
• Posthumous Awards: Rare but permitted in highly deserving cases.
• Award Procedure:
• Nominations: Public can nominate and even self-nominations allowed. Screening: Padma Awards Committee shortlists nominees. Approval: Recommendations are sent to the Prime Minister and then to the President. Announcement: Made annually on the eve of Republic Day.
• Nominations: Public can nominate and even self-nominations allowed.
• Screening: Padma Awards Committee shortlists nominees.
• Approval: Recommendations are sent to the Prime Minister and then to the President.
• Announcement: Made annually on the eve of Republic Day.
• Limit: Maximum 120 awards annually, excluding posthumous/foreign/NRI/OCI awards.
• No Title Conferment: Awardees cannot use it as a prefix or suffix to their names.
• Discontinuity: 1978–1979: Discontinued by the Janata Party under PM Morarji Desai, citing inconsistency with democratic ideals. 1993–1997: Suspended due to PILs questioning their validity, but the Supreme Court upheld them in 1995 (Balaji Raghavan case). This led to full conferment resuming from 1997.
• 1978–1979: Discontinued by the Janata Party under PM Morarji Desai, citing inconsistency with democratic ideals.
• 1993–1997: Suspended due to PILs questioning their validity, but the Supreme Court upheld them in 1995 (Balaji Raghavan case). This led to full conferment resuming from 1997.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Source: DD News
Context: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched an aggressive strategy to recover Rs. 2.4 lakh crore of undisclosed income through intensified searches, raids, and data-driven actions.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT):
• What is CBDT?
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is a statutory authority responsible for administering direct tax laws in India. It functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is a statutory authority responsible for administering direct tax laws in India.
• It functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Established in: 1964
• Formed under: The Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, after the bifurcation of the Central Board of Revenue (1924).
• Ministry: Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• Objectives:
• Formulate policies for direct tax administration. Ensure effective enforcement and compliance of tax laws. Widen and deepen the tax base to promote fiscal stability. Promote transparency, voluntary compliance, and fight tax evasion.
• Formulate policies for direct tax administration.
• Ensure effective enforcement and compliance of tax laws.
• Widen and deepen the tax base to promote fiscal stability.
• Promote transparency, voluntary compliance, and fight tax evasion.
• Members: The CBDT is composed of one Chairperson and 6 Members.
• Functions:
• Policy Making: Formulates and administers policies relating to direct taxes like income tax, corporate tax, and wealth tax (now abolished). Supervision: Oversees the functioning of the Income Tax Department. Investigation: Conducts searches, raids, and assessments to curb tax evasion and black money. International Cooperation: Facilitates tax treaties, international information exchange, and global tax compliance efforts. Taxpayer Services: Ensures ease of compliance through grievance redressal, e-filing platforms, and awareness initiatives. Legislative Initiatives: Drafts and reviews amendments to tax laws and regulations.
• Policy Making: Formulates and administers policies relating to direct taxes like income tax, corporate tax, and wealth tax (now abolished).
• Supervision: Oversees the functioning of the Income Tax Department.
• Investigation: Conducts searches, raids, and assessments to curb tax evasion and black money.
• International Cooperation: Facilitates tax treaties, international information exchange, and global tax compliance efforts.
• Taxpayer Services: Ensures ease of compliance through grievance redressal, e-filing platforms, and awareness initiatives.
• Legislative Initiatives: Drafts and reviews amendments to tax laws and regulations.
AIM4NatuRe initiative
Source: FAO
Context: FAO launched the AIM4NatuRe initiative with UK support to enhance global monitoring of ecosystem restoration under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework.
About AIM4NatuRe Initiative:
• What is AIM4NatuRe?
• Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Nature Restoration (AIM4NatuRe) is a global initiative to improve the monitoring and reporting of ecosystem restoration efforts.
• Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Nature Restoration (AIM4NatuRe) is a global initiative to improve the monitoring and reporting of ecosystem restoration efforts.
• Launched by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• Funding Partner: United Kingdom, contributing GBP 7 million.
• Objective:
• Strengthen countries’ ability to monitor and report restoration progress. Support achievement of Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
• Strengthen countries’ ability to monitor and report restoration progress.
• Support achievement of Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
• Features:
• Technology Driven: Leverages cutting-edge satellite and data analysis tools. Global Dataset Creation: Builds a harmonized global dataset on restoration. Capacity Development: Trains countries to use data-driven restoration tracking methods. Data Interoperability: Establishes standardized data formats for seamless integration across nations. Inclusivity Focus: Supports Indigenous Peoples’ monitoring efforts with pilot projects in Brazil and Peru. Expansion: Builds upon the success of FAO’s AIM4Forests programme, extending from forests to all ecosystems including wetlands, grasslands, and marine areas.
• Technology Driven: Leverages cutting-edge satellite and data analysis tools.
• Global Dataset Creation: Builds a harmonized global dataset on restoration.
• Capacity Development: Trains countries to use data-driven restoration tracking methods.
• Data Interoperability: Establishes standardized data formats for seamless integration across nations.
• Inclusivity Focus: Supports Indigenous Peoples’ monitoring efforts with pilot projects in Brazil and Peru.
• Expansion: Builds upon the success of FAO’s AIM4Forests programme, extending from forests to all ecosystems including wetlands, grasslands, and marine areas.
• Significance:
• Fosters transparency, accountability, and ownership of restoration goals. Bridges major data and reporting gaps — addressing the needs highlighted by 80% of countries in the CBD capacity survey. Promotes nature-based solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
• Fosters transparency, accountability, and ownership of restoration goals.
• Bridges major data and reporting gaps — addressing the needs highlighted by 80% of countries in the CBD capacity survey.
• Promotes nature-based solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
Bio-Input Resource Centres
Source: DTE
Context: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare released guidelines for setting up Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) to promote natural farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
About Bio-Input Resource Centres:
• What is Bio-Input Resource Centres?
• BRCs are cluster-level enterprises that provide farmers with locally prepared natural farming inputs like bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations. They also act as knowledge hubs to train and guide farmers transitioning to natural farming practices.
• BRCs are cluster-level enterprises that provide farmers with locally prepared natural farming inputs like bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations.
• They also act as knowledge hubs to train and guide farmers transitioning to natural farming practices.
• Established Under: Launched under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
• Objectives:
• Facilitate easy availability of quality bio-inputs for farmers. Support farmers with technical knowledge on natural farming methods. Promote the scaling-up of natural farming practices across villages.
• Facilitate easy availability of quality bio-inputs for farmers.
• Support farmers with technical knowledge on natural farming methods.
• Promote the scaling-up of natural farming practices across villages.
• Features:
• Financial Support: Rs. 1 lakh per centre in two tranches of Rs. 50,000 each. Entrepreneur Eligibility: Must practice or be willing to adopt natural farming. Customized Inputs: Inputs to be developed based on local soil, crop patterns, and farmer needs. Training Support: Train farmers on botanical extracts, bio-input preparations, and pest management tools. For-Profit Model: BRCs are intended to be sustainable ventures supporting local economies. Market Facilitation: Explore convergence with FPOs, SRLMs, and agriculture marketing boards.
• Financial Support: Rs. 1 lakh per centre in two tranches of Rs. 50,000 each.
• Entrepreneur Eligibility: Must practice or be willing to adopt natural farming.
• Customized Inputs: Inputs to be developed based on local soil, crop patterns, and farmer needs.
• Training Support: Train farmers on botanical extracts, bio-input preparations, and pest management tools.
• For-Profit Model: BRCs are intended to be sustainable ventures supporting local economies.
• Market Facilitation: Explore convergence with FPOs, SRLMs, and agriculture marketing boards.
About National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
• What is NMNF?
• NMNF is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at promoting chemical-free, sustainable agriculture rooted in local agro-ecology and indigenous knowledge.
• NMNF is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at promoting chemical-free, sustainable agriculture rooted in local agro-ecology and indigenous knowledge.
• Objectives:
• Promote natural farming to ensure safe and nutritious food. Reduce dependency on external chemical inputs and lower cultivation costs. Build healthy soil ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
• Promote natural farming to ensure safe and nutritious food.
• Reduce dependency on external chemical inputs and lower cultivation costs.
• Build healthy soil ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025
Source: IE
Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released the Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025, to operationalize India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and help achieve climate commitments.
About Draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025:
• What it is? The GEI Target Rules, 2025 establish mandatory emission intensity reduction targets for energy-intensive industries. These rules are integral to India’s broader strategy to promote low-carbon industrial growth.
• The GEI Target Rules, 2025 establish mandatory emission intensity reduction targets for energy-intensive industries.
• These rules are integral to India’s broader strategy to promote low-carbon industrial growth.
• Released By: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
• Objectives: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity in key sectors. Operationalize the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023. Enable India to meet its Paris Agreement commitment of reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Promote sustainable, innovative, and climate-resilient industrial practices.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity in key sectors.
• Operationalize the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.
• Enable India to meet its Paris Agreement commitment of reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
• Promote sustainable, innovative, and climate-resilient industrial practices.
• Features: Baseline Year: 2023–24 emissions intensity levels established. Reduction Timeline: Targets applicable for 2025–26 and 2026–27. Sector Focus: Aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper industries. Coverage: 282 industrial units across 13 aluminium plants, 186 cement plants, 53 pulp & paper plants, and 30 chlor-alkali plants. Compliance Mechanism: Carbon credits awarded for emission reductions; penalties for non-compliance. Trading Platform: Carbon credits to be traded under the Indian Carbon Market, monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Enforcement Authority: Central Pollution Control Board to oversee penalties for non-compliance.
• Baseline Year: 2023–24 emissions intensity levels established.
• Reduction Timeline: Targets applicable for 2025–26 and 2026–27.
• Sector Focus: Aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp & paper industries.
• Coverage: 282 industrial units across 13 aluminium plants, 186 cement plants, 53 pulp & paper plants, and 30 chlor-alkali plants.
• Compliance Mechanism: Carbon credits awarded for emission reductions; penalties for non-compliance.
• Trading Platform: Carbon credits to be traded under the Indian Carbon Market, monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
• Enforcement Authority: Central Pollution Control Board to oversee penalties for non-compliance.
Rafale-M Jets
Source: IT
Context: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale-M) jets from France, enhancing India’s maritime strike capabilities amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.
About Rafale-M Jets:
What is Rafale-M Jets?
• Rafale-M is the carrier-borne variant of Dassault Aviation’s 4.5-generation Rafale fighter jet, designed specifically for naval operations from aircraft carriers.
• It offers multirole capabilities — air superiority, deep strike, reconnaissance, nuclear deterrence, and anti-ship missions.
Recent Agreement Between India and France:
• Procurement: 26 Rafale-M jets worth ₹63,000 crore through a government-to-government deal.
• Breakdown: 22 single-seaters + 4 twin-seater trainers, including weapons, simulators, crew training, and logistics support for five years.
• Timeline: Deliveries to begin in 2029 and complete by 2031.
• Compatibility: Will operate from INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.
Key Features of Rafale-M Jet:
• Advanced Weapons: Equipped with Meteor air-to-air missiles, SCALP cruise missiles (range 560 km), and Exocet anti-ship missiles.
• Superior Sensors: RBE2-AA AESA radar, Front Sector Optronics (FSO), and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite for long-range detection and survivability.
• Carrier-Adapted Design: Reinforced airframe, corrosion resistance, folding wings, and stronger undercarriage for maritime conditions.
• Multifunctionality: Capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions during a single sortie; service ceiling of 50,000 feet.
• Data Fusion Capability: Integrates information from sensors to present pilots with a consolidated operational picture.
Competition:
• Against China: Shenyang J-15:
• Shenyang J-15:
• Primary 4.5-generation carrier-based multirole fighter. Known as the “Flying Shark”; 59 jets currently in service.
• Primary 4.5-generation carrier-based multirole fighter. Known as the “Flying Shark”; 59 jets currently in service.
• Primary 4.5-generation carrier-based multirole fighter.
• Known as the “Flying Shark”; 59 jets currently in service.
• Shenyang J-11:
• 4th-generation air superiority fighters. 50 jets currently operational.
• 4th-generation air superiority fighters. 50 jets currently operational.
• 4th-generation air superiority fighters.
• 50 jets currently operational.
• Against Pakistan:
• Pakistan has no carrier and thus no naval fighter jets. Pakistan’s JF-17 and F-16 jets are fighter aircraft used by the Pakistan Air Force.
• Pakistan has no carrier and thus no naval fighter jets.
• Pakistan’s JF-17 and F-16 jets are fighter aircraft used by the Pakistan Air Force.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS –29 April 2025 Mapping:
Sandy Cay Reef Dispute
Source: TH
Context: China and the Philippines traded accusations over the Sandy Cay reef dispute in the South China Sea, escalating maritime tensions as both nations assert sovereignty.
About Sandy Cay Reef:
• Located in: Sandy Cay Reef lies in the northern Thitu Reefs, within the Spratly Islands, South China Sea. It is situated approximately northwest of Thitu Island and northeast of Subi Reef.
• It is situated approximately northwest of Thitu Island and northeast of Subi Reef.
• Disputed Between: China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In 2025, China claimed to have implemented “maritime control” over Sandy Cay, while the Philippines strongly rejected the claim.
• China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
• In 2025, China claimed to have implemented “maritime control” over Sandy Cay, while the Philippines strongly rejected the claim.
• Other Location in News: Thitu Island (Pag-asa): Administered by the Philippines, with a military base and a Coast Guard station. Subi Reef: Heavily militarized by China and located near Sandy Cay.
• Thitu Island (Pag-asa): Administered by the Philippines, with a military base and a Coast Guard station.
• Subi Reef: Heavily militarized by China and located near Sandy Cay.
About South China Sea:
• Located in: An arm of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Southeast Asia and East Asia.
• Nations Bordering: China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• Disputed Islands and Claimants: Spratly Islands: Disputed among China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. Paracel Islands: Claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Scarborough Shoal: Contested between China and the Philippines.
• Spratly Islands: Disputed among China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
• Paracel Islands: Claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
• Scarborough Shoal: Contested between China and the Philippines.
• Rivers Flowing into South China Sea: Mekong River (Vietnam), Red River (Vietnam) and Pearl (Zhu) River (China).
• Other Features: China Sea Basin: Deepest part, with depths reaching up to 5,016 meters. Sunda Shelf: Broad, shallow shelf connecting South China Sea to the Gulf of Thailand and Java Sea. Key Straits: Taiwan Strait, Luzon Strait, Strait of Malacca.
• China Sea Basin: Deepest part, with depths reaching up to 5,016 meters.
• Sunda Shelf: Broad, shallow shelf connecting South China Sea to the Gulf of Thailand and Java Sea.
• Key Straits: Taiwan Strait, Luzon Strait, Strait of Malacca.
Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary (29 Apr 2025)
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