Daily Current Affairs- 18th April 2025

Daily Current Affairs 18th April 2025

Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra Added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

In the News: On April 17, 2025, UNESCO inscribed the manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra into its prestigious Memory of the World Register. This recognition honours their profound influence on global philosophical thought and performing arts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this as a "proud moment for every Indian across the world," emphasizing the timeless wisdom these texts embody.  

About the Bhagavad Gita

• Origin: Part of the Mahabharata, specifically the Bhishma Parva (Chapters 23–40).
• Structure: Comprises 700 verses across 18 chapters.
• Essence: A dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna, addressing moral dilemmas and the path to righteousness.
• Philosophical Significance: Synthesizes various Indian philosophies, including Vedic, Sankhya, Yoga, and Bhakti traditions. It introduces concepts like Karma Yoga (path of action), Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), and Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge). 

About the Natyashastra

• Authorship: Attributed to sage Bharata Muni.
• Composition Period: Estimated between 200 BCE and 200 CE.
• Content: An extensive treatise on performing arts, encompassing drama, dance, music, stage design, and aesthetics.
• Key Concepts: Introduces the Rasa theory, detailing nine emotions (rasas) that performers aim to evoke in audiences. It also elaborates on Bhava (expressions), Abhinaya (acting techniques), and the integration of music and dance. 

UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

• Purpose: Established in 1992, the register aims to preserve and promote documentary heritage of global significance.
• India's Contribution: With the inclusion of the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra, India now has 14 entries in the register, highlighting its rich cultural and intellectual legacy.  

Uttarakhand's 'Adarsh Sanskrit Village' Programme

In the News: On April 15, 2025, the Uttarakhand government approved the 'Adarsh Sanskrit Village' programme, aiming to promote Sanskrit by integrating it into daily life across selected villages.

Objectives of the Programme

• Cultural Preservation: To rejuvenate Sanskrit, the state's second official language since 2010, and reconnect communities with India's philosophical and spiritual heritage.
• Inclusive Education: Encouraging participation from all community members, including marginalized groups, to foster inclusivity.
• Daily Usage: Promoting the use of Sanskrit in everyday conversations, rituals, and public signage to make it a living language.  

Implementation Strategy

• Instructor Recruitment: Thirteen instructors will be appointed, each receiving ₹20,000 per month. Candidates will undergo a selection process and training at the Sanskrit Academy in Haridwar.
• Curriculum Development: A structured syllabus will include texts like the Vedas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, aiming to make Sanskrit accessible and relevant.
• Community Engagement: Local committees, including gram pradhans, will oversee the programme's operations, ensuring community involvement and sustainability.  

UK Supreme Court Defines 'Woman' Based on Biological Sex

In the News: On April 16, 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, determining that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer exclusively to biological sex. This decision excludes transgender women, even those with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs), from the legal definition of "woman" under the Act.  

Background of the Case

• Initiation: The case was brought forward by the advocacy group For Women Scotland, challenging the Scottish Government's guidance that included transgender women with GRCs in the definition of "woman" for public board appointments.
• Legal Journey: After initial rulings in favor of the Scottish Government, For Women Scotland appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that such inclusion conflated sex and gender, potentially undermining sex-based rights.

Key Points from the Ruling

• Definition of 'Woman': The Court unanimously held that "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act pertain to biological sex assigned at birth.
• Exclusion of GRC Holders: Transgender individuals with GRCs are not encompassed within the legal definition of "woman" for the purposes of the Act.
• Implications for Single-Sex Spaces: The ruling permits, but does not mandate, the exclusion of transgender women from single-sex spaces such as shelters, hospital wards, and prisons.
• Protection Against Discrimination: The Court emphasized that transgender individuals remain protected under the Equality Act's provision for "gender reassignment," safeguarding them from discrimination and harassment.  

Reactions and Implications

• Supporters' Viewpoint: Advocacy groups like For Women Scotland and public figures such as J.K. Rowling lauded the decision as a reinforcement of women's rights based on biological realities.
• Critics' Concerns: Organizations including Scottish Trans and Amnesty International UK expressed apprehension that the ruling could lead to increased exclusion of transgender individuals from essential services and spaces.
• Policy Revisions: In light of the ruling, institutions like police forces and hospitals are reassessing their policies concerning transgender inclusion in single-sex spaces.  

Global Trade Outlook and Statistics 2025

In the News:  The World Trade Organization (WTO) projects a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade for 2025, a significant downgrade from the earlier forecast of 3.0% growth.

• Services Trade: While goods trade faces challenges, services trade is expected to grow by 0% in 2025, down from 6.8% in 2024, indicating a slowdown in this sector as well.
• Global GDP: The WTO anticipates global GDP growth to slow to 2% in 2025, reflecting the broader economic impact of trade disruptions.
• Escalating Tariffs: The resurgence of U.S. tariffs, including a blanket 10% on all imports and up to 145% on Chinese products, has intensified trade tensions, leading to significant disruptions in global supply chains.
• S.-China Decoupling: Bilateral trade between the U.S. and China is projected to fall by 81%, with potential to reach a 91% decline without exemptions for certain products like smartphones. This decoupling poses risks of global economic fragmentation.
• Policy Uncertainty: The unpredictability of trade policies, shifting from a rules-based to a deals-based system, has made reliable forecasting challenging, further dampening investor confidence.  

Regional Impacts

• North America: Expected to be the most affected, with exports projected to decline by 6% and imports by 9.6%, primarily due to the U.S.'s aggressive tariff policies.
• Asia: While facing reduced demand from North America, Asian economies may see increased exports to other regions as they redirect trade flows, potentially growing by 4–9% outside North America.
• Developing Economies: Facing a "perfect storm" of external financial pressures, unsustainable debt, and weakening domestic growth, these countries are particularly vulnerable to the current trade environment.

Trade Patterns and Sectoral Trends

• Tariff Escalation: Developing countries often face higher tariffs on value-added goods compared to raw materials, discouraging industrialization and integration into global value chains.
• Sectoral Performance: While sectors like agri-food, communication technology, and transport have seen gains, industries such as apparel and extractives are experiencing slowdowns due to weaker demand and policy shifts.  

Outlook and Recommendations

• Potential Recovery: The WTO forecasts a modest recovery in global merchandise trade with a 5% growth in 2026, contingent on improved macroeconomic conditions and stabilized trade policies.
• Policy Coordination: UNCTAD emphasizes the need for stronger international policy coordination and regional trade integration to mitigate the risks of economic fragmentation and support vulnerable economies.  

Portrait of Palestinian Boy Wins 2025 World Press Photo of the Year

In the News: On April 17, 2025, the World Press Photo Foundation announced the winner of its prestigious Photo of the Year award: a poignant portrait of nine-year-old Palestinian boy, Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The photograph, taken by Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, captures Mahmoud's quiet resilience and the profound human cost of the ongoing conflict.  

About the Photograph

• Subject: Mahmoud Ajjour, aged nine, was severely injured in March 2024 while fleeing with his family during an Israeli attack on Gaza City. As he turned back to urge his family to move faster, an explosion severed one of his arms and mutilated the other.
• Photographer: Samar Abu Elouf, a Gaza-born photojournalist, was evacuated to Doha, Qatar, in December 2023. She now resides in the same apartment complex as Mahmoud and has been documenting the lives of fellow Gazans displaced by the conflict.
• Composition: The image portrays Mahmoud bathed in warm light, gazing out of a window. His expression reflects both innocence and the weight of his trauma, emphasizing the stark reality of war's impact on children.  

Broader Context

• Humanitarian Impact: According to the United Nations, by December 2024, Gaza had the highest per capita number of child amputees globally.
• Ongoing Conflict: The Israeli offensive, launched after Hamas's attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has resulted in over 51,000 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being women and children.
• About the Photographer: Samar Abu Elouf began her photography career in Gaza, capturing daily life amidst conflict. Her work has been recognized internationally, earning awards such as the 2023 George Polk Award for Photojournalism and the 2024 UNICEF Photo of the Year.
• Exhibition and Recognition: The winning photograph was selected from over 59,000 entries submitted by nearly 3,800 photographers across 141 countries. It will be featured in the World Press Photo Exhibition 2025, touring more than 60 cities worldwide. 

Finalists

• "Night Crossing" by John Moore: Depicts Chinese migrants warming themselves after crossing ... .–Mexico border, highlighting the challenges of migration.
• "Droughts in the Amazon" by Musuk Nolte: Shows a young man carrying food across ... -up riverbed in Brazil's Amazon basin, emphasizing the effects of climate change.