Daily Current Affairs- 6th May 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 6th May 2025

Operation Sindoor

In the News: On May 6, 2025, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a precision military strike targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This action was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including a Nepali national. The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for cross-border attacks against India.

• Objective of the Operation: Operation Sindoor was initiated to neutralize terrorist camps and infrastructure linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which India holds responsible for orchestrating attacks on its soil. The operation focused on eliminating threats without targeting Pakistani military installations, thereby aiming to avoid escalation.
• Execution Details: The Indian Armed Forces conducted coordinated strikes using precision-guided munitions, drones, and real-time intelligence. The targeted sites included locations in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Sialkot. The operation was carried out without Indian aircraft entering Pakistani airspace, minimizing the risk of direct military confrontation.
• Casualties and Damage: According to Pakistani authorities, the strikes resulted in at least eight deaths, including a child, and injured 35 others. Pakistan reported that some civilian structures, including mosques, were affected. India has not confirmed these specific casualties but emphasized that the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure exclusively.
• International Reactions: The operation led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations. Pakistan condemned the strikes as an "act of war" and vowed retaliation. International leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and U.S. President Donald Trump, urged both countries to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
• Strategic Significance: Operation Sindoor represents one of India's most significant military actions within Pakistani territory in over five decades. It underscores India's evolving defense strategy, focusing on preemptive and precise strikes to counter terrorism while attempting to maintain regional stability. 

Government Orders Nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drills on May 7, 2025

In the News: In response to escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, the Indian government has mandated a comprehensive civil defence mock drill—codenamed Operation Abhyaas—across 244 districts on May 7, 2025. This initiative aims to assess and enhance the nation's preparedness for potential hostile attacks.

Key Points:

• Scope and Coordination: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is orchestrating the largest civil defence exercise since 1971. The drills will encompass major urban centers such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, as well as critical infrastructure sites including nuclear facilities and ports .
• Drill Components: The exercises will simulate wartime scenarios, incorporating:
  • Activation of air raid warning sirens.
  • Implementation of blackout protocols.
  • Evacuation drills and public training sessions.
  • Testing of communication systems and control rooms .
• Regional Highlights:
  • Delhi: Drills at 55 locations with activation of 60 air raid sirens at 4:00 PM .
  • Maharashtra: Exercises in 16 cities, including Mumbai and Pune, involving over 10,000 personnel.
  • Uttar Pradesh: A 10-minute blackout in Bareilly from 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM .
  • Tamil Nadu: Drills at Madras Atomic Power Station and Chennai Port Trust at 4:00 PM .
• Objective: The primary goal is to bolster civilian readiness and ensure efficient coordination among various agencies in the face of potential threats, thereby enhancing national security and resilience. 

Centre Hikes Sugarcane Price by 4.41% to Rs.355 per Quintal for 2025–26

In the News: On April 30, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a 4.41% increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane, setting it at ₹355 per quintal for the 2025–26 sugar season, which commences in October. This decision aims to support approximately 50 million sugarcane farmers and 500,000 workers in sugar mills and related sectors.

Key Points:

• Revised FRP: The FRP has been increased from ₹340 to ₹355 per quintal, applicable for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%.
• Recovery Rate Adjustments: For every 0.1% increase in sugar recovery above 10.25%, farmers will receive an additional ₹3.46 per quintal. Conversely, for every 0.1% decrease below 10.25%, the FRP will be reduced by ₹3.46 per quintal. However, no deductions will be made for recovery rates below 9.5%; in such cases, farmers will receive ₹329.05 per quintal.
• Cost of Production: The estimated cost of sugarcane production for the 2025–26 season is ₹173 per quintal. The new FRP of ₹355 per quintal represents a 105.2% return over the production cost, ensuring a significant profit margin for farmers.
• Determination Process: The FRP was determined based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and consultations with state governments and other stakeholders.
• Industry Implications: While the FRP hike benefits farmers, sugar mills have expressed concerns about increased raw material costs. Industry associations have suggested aligning the minimum selling price of sugar and ethanol procurement prices with the revised FRP to mitigate financial strain on mills. 

UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Signed

In the News: On May 6, 2025, the United Kingdom and India finalized a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after over three years of negotiations. This deal, the most significant post-Brexit trade pact for the UK, aims to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the world's fifth and sixth largest economies.

Key Points:

• Tariff Reductions:
  • India will reduce tariffs on British goods such as whisky, gin, cosmetics, medical devices, cars, airplane parts, and lamb.
  • Specifically, whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75%, with plans to reduce them further to 40% within ten years.
  • Automotive tariffs will fall from over 100% to 10% under a quota system.
• Trade Volume and Economic Impact:
  • The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) annually by 2040.
  • It is projected to add almost £5 billion ($6.7 billion) a year to the British economy.
• Export Benefits:
  • Within a decade, 85% of British exports and 99% of Indian exports will be tariff-free.
  • British exports like cosmetics, medical devices, and airplane parts will see tariff reductions.
  • Indian exports such as textiles, food, and jewelry will face no import duty in the UK.

 

Bombay High Court Declares Kanjurmarg a ‘Protected Forest’

In the News: On May 2, 2025, the Bombay High Court restored the status of approximately 120 hectares of land in Mumbai's Kanjurmarg area as a "protected forest," overturning a 2009 state government notification that had declassified the area for use as a dumping ground.

Key Points:

• Legal Background: The land in question was initially notified as a protected forest in 2008, following a 2005 High Court directive to protect mangroves. However, in 2009, the Maharashtra government issued a notification declassifying 119.91 hectares of this land to facilitate the creation of a landfill. The court found this de-notification to be legally unsustainable and in violation of the Forest Conservation Act.
• Court's Rationale: The division bench, comprising Justices Girish S. Kulkarni and Somasekhar Sundaresan, held that the 2008 notification was based on specific and clear factual review, including surveys and satellite imaging, and thus could not be dismissed as a clerical error. The 2009 de-notification lacked compliance with the due process stipulated under the Forest Conservation Act.
• Environmental Concerns: The court noted that the construction of walls around the landfill had stunted and denuded the mangroves, which would have otherwise grown in the area. This environmental degradation was a significant factor in the court's decision to restore the land's protected status.
• Impact on Waste Management: The Kanjurmarg landfill has been operational since 2016 and processes approximately 5,900 metric tonnes of Mumbai's daily solid waste. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) expressed concerns that shutting down the facility overnight could bring the city to a standstill, given the lack of alternative sites.
• Court's Directive: The High Court granted the BMC three months to comply with the consequences of the judgment, emphasizing that any future proposal to de-notify the land would need to adhere to the due process under the Forest Conservation Act. 

Human Development Index 2025: Global Overview and India's Progress

In the News: On May 6, 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its annual Human Development Report, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI.” The report highlights a concerning global slowdown in human development, marking the lowest progress in 35 years. Despite this, India improved its position, moving up three places to rank 130 out of 193 countries, reflecting advancements in health, education, and income.

Key Points:

• India's HDI Ranking: India ascended to the 130th position in the 2025 Human Development Index, up from 133 in the previous year. This improvement is attributed to sustained efforts in enhancing education, healthcare, and economic growth.
• HDI Score: India's HDI score increased from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700).
• Life Expectancy: Life expectancy at birth in India reached 72 years, the highest since the index's inception, indicating improvements in healthcare and living conditions.
• Gender Inequality: India's ranking on the Gender Inequality Index improved to 102 out of 193 countries, up from 108 in the previous year, showing progress in addressing gender disparities.
• Global Context: The 2025 report emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence in shaping human development. It warns of widening disparities between countries that can leverage AI for growth and those that cannot, potentially exacerbating global inequalities.
• Top and Bottom Performers: Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland top the HDI rankings, while South Sudan, Somalia, and the Central African Republic are at the bottom, highlighting persistent global disparities. 

Piprahwa Relics: Discovery, Significance, and Current Controversy

In the News: The Piprahwa relics, unearthed in 1898 in Uttar Pradesh, India, are believed to include the cremated remains of Gautama Buddha. Recently, a portion of these relics, specifically gem offerings, were slated for auction by Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The Indian government has intervened, asserting that these artifacts are sacred and should not be sold, demanding their repatriation.

Key Points:

• Discovery: In 1898, British engineer William Claxton Peppé excavated a stupa in Piprahwa, uncovering a stone coffer containing five reliquary vases. These vases held bone fragments, ashes, and over 1,800 gem offerings, including gold, pearls, and semi-precious stones.
• Significance: An inscription on one of the vases, written in Brahmi script, indicates that the relics belonged to the Buddha and were enshrined by members of his Sakya clan. This discovery is considered one of the earliest archaeological evidences linking physical remains to the historical Buddha.
• Distribution: Following the discovery, the British colonial administration gifted the bone relics to King Chulalongkorn of Siam (now Thailand), who distributed them among Buddhist communities. The majority of the gem offerings were sent to the Indian Museum in Kolkata, while Peppé retained a portion, referred to as "duplicate items."
• Current Controversy: In 2025, Chris Peppé, a descendant of William Peppé, planned to auction some of the retained gem relics through Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The Indian government issued a legal notice to halt the auction, asserting that the relics are sacred and integral to Buddhist heritage, and their sale violates cultural and religious sentiments. 

Telangana Hosts Miss World 2025

In the News: Telangana is hosting the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant from May 7 to May 31, 2025, with the grand finale scheduled at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad on May 31.

Key Points:

• Global Participation: Contestants from over 120 countries have arrived in Hyderabad to participate in the pageant.
• Opening Ceremony: The event officially commenced on May 10 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, featuring traditional Telangana folk and tribal dance performances.
• Cultural Showcases: Participants are engaged in various cultural activities, including heritage walks in Hyderabad, visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Ramappa Temple, and experiences of local crafts in Pochampally.
• Economic Impact: The event is expected to boost Telangana's tourism and hospitality sectors, with increased global visibility and potential investments.
• India's Representative: Nandini Gupta, Femina Miss India World 2023, is representing India in the competition.