Current Affairs - February 9, 2025 Current Affairs

The M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, has seized control of Goma, a key city in eastern DR Congo, and is advancing towards South Kivu province. This has intensified the long-standing instability in the mineral-rich region. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and large-scale displacement, with humanitarian conditions worsening. The situation poses a significant threat to regional stability, as tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo continue to escalate. The UN and international actors have expressed serious concerns over the potential for cross-border conflicts and the broader impact on the Great Lakes region.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed three successive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) off the Odisha coast. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the VSHORADS system, which is designed to neutralize aerial threats, including drones, flying at very low altitudes and high speeds. The successful trials demonstrate the system's capabilities and its potential to enhance India's air defence capabilities.

The U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft landed in Amritsar, carrying around 100 Indian nationals deported from the United States for illegal immigration. This was notable because the deportation was conducted using a military transport aircraft instead of commercial repatriation flights. The Punjab Police took charge of the deportees upon arrival, and many of them were from districts like Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala. This event highlights the U.S.’s strict immigration policies and the ongoing collaboration between India and the U.S. in handling illegal migration cases.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched in 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household by 2024. Initially, only 17% of rural households had tap water connections, but as of 2024, the coverage increased to 80%. To ensure complete access and sustainable infrastructure, the mission has been extended until 2028. This extension focuses on improving service delivery, public participation, and maintenance of rural water supply systems. JJM is expected to bring significant health benefits, save time for rural households, and contribute to a reduction in child mortality through access to safe drinking water.

India emerged as the champion of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa in the final held in Malaysia. This victory marks India’s second title in the tournament's history, following their maiden win in 2023 against England. The ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is a prestigious international competition that features national teams competing in the T20 format. Governed by the ICC, the tournament plays a vital role in nurturing young cricketing talent. The win further establishes India's dominance in women's cricket at the junior level.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps), bringing it down to 6.25%. This marks the first rate cut in 57 months, reflecting a shift in the RBI’s policy stance after a series of rate hikes since 2022. The move is aimed at supporting economic growth while keeping inflation in check. A lower repo rate typically results in reduced borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, stimulating demand in key sectors such as housing and automobiles. Despite the cut, the RBI remains cautious due to global uncertainties and inflation risks.

The 3rd India-Japan Steel Dialogue took place in New Delhi as part of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the steel sector signed in 2020. The discussions focused on economic developments, steel trade, and technological collaboration. India assured ease of doing business for Japanese companies, while Japan reaffirmed its support for investments in advanced steel technologies. Both nations also discussed the impact of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM) on the steel industry. This dialogue strengthens bilateral cooperation in the steel sector, promoting sustainable growth and innovation.

TROPEX-25 is a biennial large-scale military exercise conducted in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It involves around 65 Indian Navy ships, 9 submarines, and over 80 aircraft, along with assets from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The exercise focuses on validating the Indian Navy’s maritime operational strategies and enhancing joint operational readiness against various threats, including conventional, asymmetric, and hybrid threats. By conducting TROPEX-25 in the Indian Ocean, India ensures the protection of its maritime interests, strengthens fleet management capabilities, and refines its combat readiness in real-world maritime scenarios.

Maharashtra has mandated the use of Marathi in all official communication across government, semi-government, and local self-government bodies. Marathi was designated as the official language of Maharashtra in 1960 and attained the status of a classical language in 2024. The Indian Constitution allows states to choose their official languages under Article 345. Other states, such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, have also implemented language policies to promote their regional languages. These policies aim to preserve linguistic heritage while ensuring accessibility and governance for local populations.

India ranks as the 3rd largest digitalized economy globally, behind the United States and China, according to the State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) Report 2024. Despite this strong position in overall digitalisation, India ranks 12th among G20 nations in terms of individual user digitalisation. The digital economy contributed 11.74% to India’s GDP in 2022-23, with projections to reach 13.42% by 2024-25. By 2029-30, it is expected to contribute 20% of GDP, surpassing both agriculture and manufacturing. The report also highlights disparities in digitalisation levels across different Indian states.

The Ministry of Finance, through its Department of Expenditure (DoE), issued a circular on January 29 cautioning government officials against using AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek on official devices. The advisory was driven by concerns over data confidentiality and the risk of sensitive government information being accessed or exposed. The Finance Secretary approved the decision, making it an official directive across government departments. The government is adopting a cautious stance on AI tools, aiming to balance their potential benefits with the need for data security and privacy in handling official documents and communications.