Daily Current Affairs- 3rd May 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd May 2025

India Bans All Imports from Pakistan Amid Escalating Tensions

In a decisive move on May 3, 2025, India imposed a comprehensive ban on all imports originating from or transiting through Pakistan. This action follows the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists lost their lives. India attributes the attack to Pakistan-based militants, a claim Islamabad denies.

• India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced an immediate halt to all imports from Pakistan, citing national security concerns.  The Directorate General of Shipping barred Pakistani-flagged ships from Indian ports and prohibited Indian vessels from docking in Pakistan.  India suspended all categories of mail and parcel exchanges from Pakistan via air and surface routes. India expelled Pakistani diplomats, suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals, and paused the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement.  In retaliation, Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats, closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and suspended the 1972 Shimla Agreement. 

India Recalls IMF Executive Director K.V. Subramanian Six Months Ahead of Term

In a significant development, the Indian government has prematurely terminated the tenure of Dr. Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian as Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), effective April 30, 2025. Appointed in November 2022 for a three-year term, Subramanian's recall comes six months before the scheduled end of his tenure. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the immediate termination of Subramanian's services as IMF Executive Director representing India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.

While no official explanation has been provided, sources indicate concerns over alleged impropriety related to the promotion of his book India @ 100 and violations of internal IMF protocols. 

India Conducts Maiden Flight-Trials of Stratospheric Airship Platform in Madhya Pradesh

On May 3, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the first flight-trials of its Stratospheric Airship Platform at the Sheopur trial site in Madhya Pradesh. Developed by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra, this achievement marks a significant milestone in India's pursuit of advanced high-altitude surveillance technologies. The airship ascended to an altitude of approximately 17 kilometers (around 56,000 feet) and remained airborne for 62 minutes, successfully transmitting data from onboard sensors to ground stations. 

Fertility Rate of 2.7 Children per Woman Needed to Avoid Extinction: Study

A recent study published in PLOS ONE challenges the long-held belief that a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is sufficient for population replacement. The research indicates that, due to factors like demographic fluctuations and childlessness, a higher fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman is necessary to reliably prevent eventual population extinction, especially in developed countries.

• Random variations in birth numbers and family sizes can lead to population decline over generations. A significant portion of the population remains childless, which impacts overall fertility rates and necessitates a higher average to maintain population levels.  Countries like the UK, with a fertility rate of 1.44, and others in Europe and East Asia, fall below the necessary threshold, raising concerns about long-term demographic sustainability 

Military Exercise DUSTLIK 2025: Strengthening India-Uzbekistan Defence Ties

The sixth edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, DUSTLIK-VI, commenced on April 16, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune, and concluded on April 28, 2025. This annual bilateral exercise, initiated in 2019, alternates between the two nations, with the previous edition held in Termez, Uzbekistan, in April 2024.

The Indian contingent comprised 60 personnel from a battalion of the JAT Regiment and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Uzbekistan side was represented by troops from the Uzbekistan Army.  Focused on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in Semi-Urban Scenarios, the exercise simulated responses to terrorist activities involving territorial seizures.