Current Affairs – March 09-10, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Religion} Iftar

Context (IE): Muslims worldwide observe fasting and break it at Iftar during Ramzan.

The word “Iftar” originates from an Arabic term meaning “breaking of the fast.”
Iftar is the evening meal at sunset before Maghrib namaz (evening prayer), marking the end of the daily Roza, while Sehri (Suhoor) is the pre-dawn meal during Ramzan.

Significance

Social & Cultural Bonding: Iftar is a communal event that strengthens relationships, promotes charity, and includes traditions like prayers and storytelling.
Spiritual Importance: Fasting reminds believers that sustenance comes from God, and Iftar is a moment of gratitude, discipline, and self-control.
Food Traditions: Dates are widely consumed, following the practice of Prophet Muhammad breaking his fast with them.
UNESCO Recognition: In 2023, Iftar was inscribed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage for fostering community ties, charity, and tradition.

{GS1 – PI – Movements} Farmer Movements in Punjab

Context (IE): Hundreds of farmers in Punjab were detained by the police while they were on the way to take part in Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) protest.

Key Demands

Withdrawal of national policy framework on agricultural marketing proposed by the central government.
Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

History of Farmer Movements in Punjab

The farmer movement in Punjab has been active since the early 20^th century, opposing various repressive laws imposed by the British.

Early Resistance Against British Rule

Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement (1907): One of the earliest and most significant such movements was started by Ajit Singh, uncle of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.
- This movement opposed three laws passed by the British government that were detrimental to farmers and forced the British to amend these laws.
Patiala and East Punjab States Union Muzara movement (1939 to 1942): Farmers in this movement fought for ownership rights to the land they had been tilling for generations.

Formation of Farmer Unions

Punjab unit of All India Kisan Sabha: Established in 1943.
Punjab unit of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU): Came into being in 1980, although its predecessor, the Punjab Khetibari Zamindara Union, had been formed in 1972.

During Emergency

During the 1980s, Punjab farmer unions faced significant challenges due to militancy in the state and the resultant strict regulations on public meetings and rallies.
However, at the local level, BKU remained active, addressing issues of farmers.
Post 1989, the Punjab unit of the BKU split into factions over several differences.

Current Status of the Unions

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM): A coalition of farmer unions from across the country continues to exist. In Punjab, 37 farmer unions are part of SKM.
Emergence of New Groups: Several groups have emerged due to ideological differences within unions. Examples include SKM Non-Political, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) etc.
- Both SKM Non-Political and KMM now represent over 100 unions across the country, with a significant presence in Punjab.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Virtual Digital Space *

Context (IE): The new Income Tax Bill 2025 defines Virtual digital space and grants tax authorities explicit powers to access digital accounts during searches and seizures.

Virtual Digital Space

Encompasses any digital realm where users interact, communicate, and conduct activities via computers or digital platforms.
Includes social media, online investment platforms, digital banking, email servers, and encrypted communication channels.

Key Changes in the Income Tax Bill, 2025

Introduces Section 247 to override access codes for virtual digital spaces during tax investigations.
Expands existing search and seizure powers under Section 132 of the IT Act 1961 to cover digital assets.
Tax authorities can now access digital books of accounts, emails, and encrypted financial data.

Need for Expanding Tax Powers to Digital Space

Rising Digital Transactions: Increasing shift towards online trading, crypto assets, and digital banking.
Digital Tax Evasion: Hidden income and undisclosed offshore digital transactions pose challenges for tax enforcement.
Technological Advancements: The law aligns with modern financial practices where tax-relevant data exists in digital formats.

How the Law Addresses Digital Tax Evasion

Grants power to search and seize electronic records, similar to physical financial documents.
Enables tax officials to override access restrictions on digital platforms to extract evidence.
Requires individuals to facilitate access to electronic records, including providing credentials.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} US-Iran Nuclear Deal Renegotiation

Context (IE | ToI): Trump withdrew the US from JCPOA, calling it flawed, and now seeks renegotiation.

JCPOA (2015)

Objective: Prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and ensure regional stability.
Participants: Iran, P5+1 (US, UK, France, China, Russia, Germany), and the European Union.
Iran’s Commitments: Limited uranium enrichment (max 3.67%), restricted centrifuges, controlled stockpiles of enriched uranium, and allowed IAEA monitoring.
Other Signatories’ Commitments: Sanctions relief, gradual lifting of arms and missile bans, and a “snapback” mechanism to reimpose sanctions if Iran violated terms.

Why Trump Withdrew from the Deal in 2018

Flawed Agreement: Called JCPOA “one-sided” and ineffective.
Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program: Deal did not restrict missile development, raising security concerns.
Iran’s Regional Influence: Iran-backed militias (Hezbollah, Houthis) remained active.
Sunset Clauses: Some restrictions were temporary, allowing Iran to expand its nuclear program later.
‘Maximum Pressure’ Policy: Over 1,500 US sanctions on Iran to target energy, finance & military sectors.

Impact of US Withdrawal (2018-2023)

Global Response: IAEA & European allies confirmed Iran’s compliance. Couldn’t prevent US withdrawal.
Iran’s Retaliation: Began rolling back JCPOA commitments, enriched uranium to 61% (above JCPOA limits), and escalated tensions after scientist Fakhrizadeh’s assassination.
Biden’s Failed Restoration Attempt: Vienna Talks (2021-2022) made progress but stalled as Iran supported Russia in 2023.
Economic Consequences for Iran: Severe crisis, currency collapse, and public protests (e.g., Mahsa Amini movement).

Mahsa Amini movement began in 2022 after the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman in Iran’s morality police custody for defying hijab rules. It sparked massive anti-government protests, led by women with the slogan “Zan–Zendegi–Azadi” (Woman–Life–Freedom), demanding freedom & rights.

Reasons for Trump Now Wanting to Renegotiate (2025)

Iran’s Economic Crisis: President Pezeshkian acknowledged financial and resource imbalances, making Iran more open to talks.
Changing Middle Eastern Landscape: Iran-Israel conflicts (2023-2024) escalated, Gulf states improved ties with Iran, and Houthi attacks disrupted trade routes.
US Strategic Shifts: Trump initiated direct talks with Hamas and balanced Israel’s security concerns with Middle East stability.

Challenges to a New Deal

Deep US-Iran Trust Deficit: Both Iranian conservatives and reformists blame Trump for JCPOA collapse.
Iran’s Negotiation Stance: Prefer talks with Europe, Russia & China; Refuses direct engagement with US.
Risk of Military Escalation: Failure of diplomacy could lead to increased nuclear activities and conflict.

Possible Outcomes

If Successful: De-escalation of tensions; economic relief for Iran; renewed nuclear restrictions.
No Deal / Status Quo: Continued nuclear escalation; further sanctions and regional instability.
Military Action: Risk of Middle East conflict, global economic disruption and oil market instability.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Vanuatu and Golden Passport *

Context (TH): Vanuatu PM orders cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport.

About Vanuatu

Vanuatu: A small island nation Comprising 83 volcanic islands, of which only 65 are inhabited.
Location: Situated in the South Pacific, east of Australia and north of New Zealand.
Capital City: Port Vila, located on Efate, the third-largest island.
Population: Approximately 307,800.
Languages: Bislama is the national language, while French and English are official languages.
Independence: Once known as New Hebrides, achieved independence from France and Britain in 1980.

Geographical Features

Largest Island: Espiritu Santo, covering about 32% of Vanuatu’s total land area.
Active Volcano: Mount Yasur on Tanna is one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the world.
Major Volcanic Eruption: Tombuk eruption occurred around 1,450 CE in Vanuatu. It destroyed Kuwae island and led to the formation of two new islands Epi and Tongoa.
Champagne Beach: The volcanic sea floor causes natural underwater bubbles to rise from the beach, so it’s apparently called Champagne Beach.
Blue Holes: Natural freshwater pools with deep cobalt blue shades surrounded by green forests.

Economy

Agriculture: Most of the population lives in rural areas and practices subsistence farming.
Major Revenue Sources: Offshore financial services and the sale of citizenship account for a significant chunk of Vanuatu’s revenue, as much as 30%.

Golden Passport Program

Vanuatu’s popular citizenship by investment (CBI) or “golden passport” program lets wealthy individuals buy Vanuatu passports by making major monetary contributions to the nation’s economy.
- The cost of Vanuatu citizenship ranges from $135,500 to $155,500 (Rs 1.18 cr to 1.35 cr).
Malta, Turkey, Montenegro, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Egypt also have CBI programs.

Why is Vanuatu’s citizenship Preferred?

Fast and Simple Citizenship: Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment program is the fastest and most simple citizenship program available.
Visa-free Entry to 113 Countries: The Henley Passport Index, 2025 ranks Vanuatu passport as 51^st strongest in the world (out of 199 countries), ahead of Saudi Arabia (57), China (59), and Indonesia (64).
- India offers 56 visa free destinations and ranks 80^th Henley Passport Index, 2025.
Zero Tax: It is free of personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and wealth tax.
- While Vanuatu does charge indirect taxes such as VAT, as well as tax on property transactions, rates are typically lower than other countries in the South Pacific.
- It also has lax reporting requirements, which make it a “strategic jurisdiction” for tax purposes.

Implications

Financial Incentive to be a Tax Haven: Vanuatu has faced multiple corruption scandals and allegations that its citizenship scheme and tax laws are being used by global criminal syndicates.
Money Laundering: Vanuatu’s taxation laws make the country an attractive site for money laundering.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Citizenship} New Passport Rules 2025

Context (TH | IE): Indian govt announced major passport rule changes.

Key Changes

Birth Certificate Mandatory: Individuals born on/after October 1, 2023, must submit a birth certificate as sole proof of date of birth.
Alternative Proof (For those born before October 1, 2023): School certificate, PAN card, Aadhaar, EPIC, driving license, LIC policy, or government records.
Colour-coded passports: Blue for ordinary citizens, white for government officials, red for diplomats.
Residential Address Removed: No longer printed on passports; embedded in a barcode for privacy.
Parents’ Names Removed: To protect personal information.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Comparison} Canada’s PM: Selection Process

Context (IE | TH): Mark Carney will become the next Prime Minister after winning the leadership vote.

Leadership Vote

Unlike Australia and Britain, where legislators choose the PM, Canada’s party leaders are selected through a leadership vote by registered party members.
The election follows a ranked ballot system across all 343 parliamentary constituencies (ridings).
Each riding is assigned 100 points, distributed based on the percentage of votes a candidate receives.

Ranked Ballot

Voting Process: Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Winning Requirement: A candidate needs more than 50% of total points to win. If no candidate secures 50%+ in the first round, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated.
Redistribution: Their votes are distributed to the second-choice candidates. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority.
Reason for Adoption: Ensures the winner has broad nationwide support rather than relying on concentrated votes in specific areas.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Clara Zetkin

Context (IE): Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of International Women’s Day, a movement that has endured for over a century and continues to be celebrated globally.

Born in 1857 in Germany, Clara Zetkin was a champion of socialism, feminism, and workers’ rights.
She was a member of the German Social Democratic Party. She Opposed fascism & the rise of Adolf Hitler. Forced into exile in the Soviet Union, where she passed away in 1933.

Credit: Indian Express

Contribution for Women Empowerment

Women’s Equality: While women were different from men, the two were equal. Women also need full political rights because such rights are weapons with which they can and must defend their interests.
Advocated Leadership Roles for Women: Within her party, too, she advocated the need to include women in leadership roles.
Opposed Discrimination of Women: She criticised “male chauvinism in public” and defended the women who spoke about prejudices held by men towards them, even within the socialist movement.
Highlighted Women’s Exploitation under Capitalism: She famously said, ‘Women who had been liberated from the economic dependence upon their husbands merely changed masters and are now subjugated by the capitalists. The slave of the husband became the slave of the employer’.
Global solidarity of Women: By organising and attending conferences, she sought to build global solidarity among socialist women.

International Women Day

Second International Conference of Working Women (1910): Held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Participants: 100 women from 17 countries – representing unions, socialist parties, and working women’s clubs came together.
International Women’s Day: Clara Zetkin tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. It was approved unanimously at the conference.
First Wave Feminism: Zetkin’s call was followed by several other protests and movements at the beginning of the 20^th century in the West as part of First Wave Feminism (mid-19^th century to 1920s).

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} 58^th Tiger Reserve *

Context (TH): Madhav National Park is the country’s 58^t^h & Madhya Pradesh’s 9^th tiger reserve. Earlier, India got its 57th tiger reserve in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh in 2024.

Madhav National Park

Location: The park is situated in Shivpuri district and is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills.
It was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja of Gwalior. It got the status of a National Park in 1958.
Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous mixed forest as well as Dry thorn forest.
Fauna: Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsinga, Chital, Barking Deer, Leopard, Jackal, Porcupine etc.
Flora: Kardhai, Salai, Dhaora and Khair. etc
Sakhya Sagar: A human-made reservoir within the Madhav National Park is a Ramsar site.

About Tiger Reserve

A tiger reserve in India is a designated area established under the Project Tiger initiative to ensure the conservation of tigers and their habitats.
Tiger reserves consist of extensive areas of land that include both a core zone and a buffer zone.
1. Core Area is designated as a national park or sanctuary, providing strict protections for wildlife.
2. Buffer Zone is a mix of forested and non-forested land that serves various uses.
  - These buffer zones act as transitional areas that support wildlife movement and habitat.

Process of Creating a Tiger Reserve

Area Identification: The state government identifies a suitable area for a tiger reserve based on the presence of a viable tiger population and appropriate habitat.
Proposal Submission to NTCA: The State submits a detailed proposal to the NTCA, which reviews and approves it before forwarding it to the Union Ministry of Environment for further consideration.
Preliminary Notification: Once this process is complete, the state government issues a preliminary notification under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, declaring the identified area as a tiger reserve.
Final Notification: After addressing any objections or proposed modifications, the state issues a final notification under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Read More > Project Tiger and National Tiger Conservation Authority.

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} China’s Autonomous AI Manus *

Context (IE |BT): China’s AI startup Monica has launched Manus, an advanced AI agent capable of autonomous thinking, planning & execution.

Manus is a general AI agent designed to perform complex real-world tasks independently in the cloud, completing tasks even if the user disconnects.
Advanced AI Autonomy: Manus bridges human cognition and machine execution, enabling high-level automation by managing 50 screens and interacting with tools.
Intelligent Web Navigation: Manus enhances AI-driven research and automates web interactions for smarter information retrieval.
Beyond Text Generation: Produces interactive elements, downloadable PDFs, spreadsheets, and presentations. Capable of generating research papers, stock analysis, interactive coursework & travel itineraries.
Personalization: Learns user preferences over time for better-tailored outputs.
Real-Time Workflow Display: Shows live progress while browsing, compiling, and analysing data.
Multi-Platform Integration: Utilizes various online tools like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram for enhanced automation.

Manus vs. OpenAI’s DeepResearch

Outperforms DeepResearch on the GAIA benchmark (metric for AI assistants in real-world applications).
Manus offers a fully autonomous workflow, requiring fewer prompts than DeepResearch.
Capable of planning and executing without human intervention, unlike conventional AI chatbots.

China’s Growing AI Dominance

Manus follows the success of DeepSeek-R1, another Chinese AI breakthrough.
Demonstrates China’s focus on low-cost, high-performance AI models that rival Western AI giants.
Signals China’s rising influence in AI-driven automation and research efficiency.

{Prelims – Sport} Swing Mechanics and Saliva Ban in Cricket

Context (IE): Appeals were made to lift the ban on using saliva to shine cricket balls, a restriction introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swing in Cricket

Swing refers to the lateral movement of a cricket ball in the air before landing on the pitch.
It occurs due to air pressure differences on either side of the ball caused by the seam, shine, and airflow.
The “boundary layer” of air around the ball influences its movement, and altering the airflow on one side creates a swing.

Types of Swing

Conventional Swing: A new ball swings towards the seam-tilted side due to air turbulence and pressure differences (Bernoulli’s principle).
Reverse Swing: An older ball swings opposite to the seam side as the rougher surface creates greater turbulence and pressure imbalance, effective at high speeds.

Bernoulli’s principle states that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases, creating a pressure difference. In cricket, this explains swing bowling, where airflow differences around the ball cause it to deviate in flight.

Legality of Swings

Ball Tampering: Illegal act of altering the ball’s condition through scratching, scuffing, or applying foreign substances.
Legal Maintenance: The fielding side can legally shine the ball using natural methods like rubbing.

Role of Saliva in Swing

Purpose: Shines one side of the ball to enhance contrast between smooth and rough sides.
Impact: A shinier side reduces air friction, aiding reverse swing and generating late movement.
Sugary Saliva: Chewing mints or candies increases saliva viscosity, improving polishing effectiveness.

Alternatives to Saliva

Sweat: Legal but less effective due to lack of mucus; excess sweat softens ball, reducing bounce & speed.
Artificial Substances: Vaseline and wax are banned; lighter substances fail to create weight contrast for reverse swing.
Dual Ball Usage: In ODIs, two balls per inning limit wear and tear, making swing generation harder.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Diseases} Kidney Disease and Painkillers

Context (TH): World Kidney Day on March 13 highlights concerns about the impact of painkillers, particularly NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), on kidney health.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

CKD is diagnosed when eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for ≥3 months or if kidney damage markers (urinary/structural abnormalities) are present.
Prevalence: Affects 3-10% of the Indian population.
Severity: Advanced CKD may require renal replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation).
High-Risk Groups: People with kidney conditions, the elderly, children, chronic illness patients (diabetes, hypertension, cardiac diseases) and dehydrated individuals face higher CKD risks.

Common Causes of Kidney Disease

Diabetes Mellitus & Hypertension: Leading causes of kidney damage due to chronic high blood sugar and pressure.
Obesity: Increases risk by causing metabolic disturbances.
Inflammation and Urological Issues: Autoimmune disorders and urinary tract obstructions contribute to kidney damage.
Nephrotoxic Medications: Certain medicines, especially NSAIDs, directly harm kidney function.
Painkillers: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac, ketorolac) and banned drugs like nimesulide are widely used for pain relief but can harm kidney health.

How NSAIDs Affect the Kidneys

Prostaglandin Inhibition: NSAIDs reduce prostaglandins, essential for kidney blood flow, leading to reduced perfusion and kidney tubule damage.
Increased Serum Creatinine: Impaired kidney function leads to elevated creatinine levels, an indicator of kidney dysfunction.
Interstitial Nephritis: NSAIDs can trigger kidney inflammation, worsening kidney damage.
Minimal Change Nephropathy: Excessive protein leakage due to NSAID-induced kidney damage causes body swelling.

Other Nephrotoxic Drugs Increasing Kidney Risk

Antibiotics: Amikacin and streptomycin used for infections can damage kidneys.
Diuretics: Furosemide used in cardiac failure can cause dehydration and worsening kidney function.
Antihypertensives: Blood pressure medications, if causing hypotension, may reduce kidney perfusion.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Drugs like pantoprazole and omeprazole, used for acidity, also contribute to kidney disease.
Combined Toxicity: Using NSAIDs with these drugs amplifies nephrotoxicity significantly.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Women in Global Indices

Context (IE): On International Women’s Day, global indices assessing gender equality highlight progress and challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5) by 2030.

Key Global Indices on Gender Equality

Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI)

Published annually by the World Economic Forum.
Measures Gender Parity: Assesses Economic Participation, Education, Health & Political Empowerment.
Rankings: Iceland leads, followed by Finland and Norway; India ranks 129^th, down from 127 in 2023.

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Published by UNDP: Featured in the Human Development Report, it measures gender disparities in Reproductive Health, Empowerment and Labour Market.
India’s Performance (2022): Ranked 108/193, better than South Asia’s and the global average.

Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI)

Published by UNDP to assess biases against women in politics, education, economy & physical integrity.
Key finding: 9 out of 10 people hold biases against women globally.
India’s bias rate: 99.22%, limiting women’s freedoms and leadership opportunities.

Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI)

Developed by UNDP and UN Women to measure women’s health, education, inclusion, decision-making, and violence against women.
India’s WEI score: 0.52 (higher score indicates greater empowerment).

Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI)

Developed by UNDP and UN Women to assess gender achievements in health, education, financial inclusion, and decision-making.
India’s GGPI Score: 0.560, indicating significant gaps in gender equality.

India’s Progress in Gender-Related SDGs

NITI Aayog SDG Index

Evaluates states and UTs on progress in health, education, gender, economy, institutions, climate change, and environment.
India’s SDG Index improved from 36 (2018) to 49 (2023-24).

Gender Budget Statement (GBS)

Introduced in FY 2005-06 as part of the Union Budget.
Not a separate budget for women, but an accounting exercise to track allocations for gender-schemes.
FY 2025-26 allocation: ₹4.49 lakh crore (37% increase from FY 2024-25), reflecting greater prioritisation for women and girls.

Also refer to Global Gender Gap Index 2024; HDI Report.