Daily Current Affairs- 14th April 2025

Daily Current Affairs 14th April 2025

Telangana Becomes First State to Notify Categorisation of Scheduled Castes After Supreme Court Verdict

In the News: On April 14, 2025, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Telangana government issued a gazette notification implementing the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2025. This act introduces sub-categorisation within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) for reservations in education and government employment, making Telangana the first Indian state to enact such a measure following the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in August 2024. 

Legal Foundation The Supreme Court's seven-judge Constitution Bench ruled on August 1, 2024, that states are empowered to sub-classify SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits. This decision overturned the 2004 E.V. Chinnaiah judgment, which had previously prohibited such sub-classification. The Court recognized that SCs and STs are not homogeneous groups and that sub-categorisation can be a tool to achieve substantive equality.

Details of the Categorisation

Under the new act, the existing 15% reservation for SCs in Telangana is reallocated among three groups based on socio-economic indicators:

• Group I: Comprising 15 castes identified as the most disadvantaged, allocated 1% reservation.
• Group II: Including 18 castes with moderate access to benefits, allocated 9% reservation.
• Group III: Consisting of 26 relatively better-off castes, allocated 5% reservation.

This reallocation aims to address historical imbalances where certain sub-castes have disproportionately benefited from reservations. 

Ambedkar Jayanti: Honouring the Architect of the Indian Constitution

In the News: Ambedkar Jayanti, celebrated annually on April 14, marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, one of India’s most revered social reformers, jurists, and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. In 2025, the nation observed his 134th birth anniversary, with tributes paid across political, academic, and civil platforms. 

Factual Details

• Birth and Early Life: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow (now in Madhya Pradesh), into a Dalit Mahar family. Despite facing severe caste-based discrimination, he pursued higher education in India and abroad, earning doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
• Role in Constitution-Making: Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution. He emphasized social justice, equality, and individual liberty, ensuring constitutional guarantees against untouchability and caste-based discrimination.
• Social Reform and Dalit Upliftment: A lifelong advocate for the rights of the marginalized, Ambedkar fought against the oppressive caste system. He led movements for access to public water sources and temples and coined the slogan: "Educate, Agitate, Organize."
• Conversion to Buddhism: In 1956, Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with over 5 lakh followers, initiating the Dalit Buddhist Movement as a path away from caste oppression in Hindu society.
• Legacy: Ambedkar's legacy continues to shape India’s social justice policies, including reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). His writings, especially Annihilation of Caste, remain foundational texts in anti-caste discourse. 

National Recognition

• Public Holiday: Ambedkar Jayanti is a national public holiday observed across all Indian states and union territories.
• Statues and Memorials: His statues and portraits are found across the country; prominent memorials include Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai and Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
• UN Recognition: The United Nations has observed Ambedkar Jayanti in recent years to honor his contributions to human rights and equality. 

RBI MPC Changes Stance: Implications of an 'Accommodative' Policy for the Indian Economy

In the News:  On April 9, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shifted its monetary policy stance from 'neutral' to 'accommodative' after reducing the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.00%.

• This change indicates that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is now inclined towards either maintaining the current interest rates or further reducing them, effectively ruling out any immediate rate hikes.
• Such a stance is typically adopted to stimulate economic growth by making borrowing more affordable, thereby encouraging consumption and investment.
• Reasons Behind the Shift: The RBI's decision comes amid a backdrop of global economic uncertainties, notably the imposition of new U.S. tariffs that could adversely affect India's export sectors.
• Additionally, domestic indicators such as subdued inflation—forecasted at 4% for FY2026—and a downward revision of GDP growth projections to 6.5% have provided the central bank with the leeway to adopt a more growth-oriented policy without the immediate risk of fuelling inflation.  

Katy Perry and All-Female Crew Go to Space: A Historic Blue Origin Flight

In the News: On April 14, 2025, American pop icon Katy Perry joined an all-female crew on a suborbital spaceflight organized by Blue Origin, marking a significant milestone in the history of private space exploration. The mission, launched from Blue Origin’s Corn Ranch facility in West Texas, was carried out aboard the New Shepard rocket (NS-31) and lasted approximately 11 minutes, during which the crew experienced weightlessness and crossed the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.

 Details of the All-Female Crew: The mission featured a diverse and accomplished all-women crew, making it the first all-female spaceflight since Valentina Tereshkova's solo mission in 1963. The participants included:

• Katy Perry, the Grammy-nominated singer and philanthropist, who expressed deep emotional connection to the mission by carrying a daisy in honor of her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom.
• Lauren Sánchez, an experienced pilot and journalist, who is also the fiancée of Amazon founder and Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos.
• Gayle King, a renowned CBS journalist and television personality, who openly overcame her fear of flying to participate in this spaceflight.
• Aisha Bowe, a former NASA aerospace engineer and a prominent advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
• Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who highlighted the emotional and symbolic importance of the flight for marginalized communities.
• Kerianne Flynn, a film producer and space enthusiast, who joined the mission to promote broader public engagement with science and exploration.

Highlights of the Flight Experience: The New Shepard rocket carried the crew over 100 kilometers above sea level, officially entering space and offering the passengers a rare view of Earth from beyond the atmosphere. During the brief period of microgravity, the crew floated freely within the capsule. Katy Perry reportedly sang “What a Wonderful World” while experiencing zero gravity, creating a moment that combined music, art, and science in a unique and symbolic way. Amanda Nguyen reflected on the journey as a powerful moment of healing, while Gayle King described the space environment as “remarkably peaceful,” contrasting it with her previously held anxieties. 

India Finishes Second Overall in First ISSF World Cup 2025 

In the News: India delivered a remarkable performance at the inaugural International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup of 2025, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from April 1 to April 10. The Indian shooting contingent secured a total of eight medals, comprising four gold, two silver, and two bronze, thereby finishing second overall in the medal tally, just behind China, which amassed eleven medals (five gold, three silver, and three bronze) . 

Gold Medalists

• Sift Kaur Samra: Clinched gold in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions
• Rudrankksh Patil: Secured gold in the Men's 10m Air Rifle
• Suruchi Singh: Achieved gold in the Women's 10m Air Pistol
• Vijayveer Sidhu: Made history by winning gold in the Men's 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol, becoming the first Indian to do so in this event at an ISSF World Cup .

 Silver Medalists

• Esha Singh: Earned silver in the Women's 25m Pistol
• Rudrankksh Patil & Arya Borse: Secured silver in the Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle

 Bronze Medalists

• Suruchi Singh & Saurabh Chaudhary: Won bronze in the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol
• Chain Singh: Obtained bronze in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions

 Notable Highlights

• The Indian shooting team showcased a blend of youth and experience, with an average age of just 21 among the gold medalists.
• Vijayveer Sidhu's victory in the Men's 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Indian to secure gold in this event at an ISSF World Cup .
• Suruchi Singh, at just 18 years old, demonstrated exceptional skill by winning gold in the Women's 10m Air Pistol and contributing to a bronze in the mixed team event.
• The team's performance is seen as a strong indicator of India's growing prowess in shooting sports, especially with the upcoming Paris Olympics on the horizon. 

P. Sivakami Honoured with Verchol Dalit Literary Award 2025

In the News: On April 13, 2025, P. Sivakami, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, acclaimed writer, and social activist, was conferred the Verchol Dalit Literary Award by the Neelam Cultural Centre, founded by filmmaker Pa. Ranjith.

• The award ceremony was held during the valedictory of the two-day Verchol Literary Gathering, part of the Vaanam Art Festival in Chennai.
• Along with the award, Sivakami received a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, acknowledging her significant contributions to Dalit literature and advocacy. 

Contributions to Dalit Literature

• Sivakami has been a pioneering voice in Dalit literature, using her writings to challenge dominant narratives and highlight the experiences of marginalized communities.
• In her acceptance speech, she emphasized that Dalit literature is a form of resistance, stating, "I used to think that I am sitting in a room and writing a story with beautiful aesthetics. But, I am actually fighting with so many people whose faces I don’t know. I have made many enemies."
• She highlighted the importance of writing in English to reach broader audiences and bring Dalit literature into mainstream discourse. 

Advocacy and Public Engagement

• Filmmaker Ranjith lauded Sivakami for her unwavering commitment to asserting Dalit identity, noting that "She has been involved in so many fields, but she has always asserted her Dalit identity in public. It is not an easy choice… Doing so will bring only slander rather than criticism and appreciation."
• Sivakami urged young individuals to believe in themselves rather than blindly following parties or personalities, emphasizing the need for self-confidence in driving social change.
• She also pointed out the challenges faced by Dalit writers, including antagonism from non-Dalit writers who may feel threatened by authentic Dalit narratives