DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th March 2025

Syllabus:

• Mains – GS 2

Context: During his campaign, Donald Trump promised a new era of prosperity. Now, two months into his presidency, he cautions that lowering prices will be challenging and warns of short-term disruptions before restoring wealth to the U.S.

Background: –

• A chorus of economic analysts have warned in recent days that the risks of recession due to Trump’s policies are rising.

Key takeaways

Threatening/imposing import tariffs

• Trump has threatened import tariffs on all countries. Tariffs will most likely raise prices that US consumers pay. This will both raise inflation (the rate at which the general price level rises over the past year) and hit affordability (which takes into account the cumulative effect of all past inflations).
• Tariffs will also hit US firms as their import costs will go up, meaning they will not be able to produce in a cost-effective manner.
• Canada, the European Union, and China all are retaliating with their own tariffs. This will also hit the demand for US goods, and thus ultimately harm US producers.

Threatening to expand us territory

• Trump has repeatedly threatened to expand American territory by including sovereign countries as new “states” in the union. For example, Canada and Greenland.
• Such rhetoric has made all countries aware of an imperialist US. This extinguishes co-operation and trust built over decades, and blows away the US reputation as the global protector of national sovereignty and democratic values.

Backtracking on security guarantees

• The White House’s backtracking on US security guarantees to allies — through NATO and other ways — has alarmed many. Trump’s treatment of Ukraine President and his decision to withhold military intelligence in the middle of a war with Russia was unprecedented.
• The bottom line is that Trump’s stance has made the United States’ long-standing allies reconsider if Washington can be trusted anymore.

Cutting government spending

• Trump aims to reduce the federal workforce and cut government spending by eliminating programs and even entire departments.
• A big reason for American exceptionalism, especially after the Global Crisis of 2008 and the Covid, has been the big spending by US governments, fuelled by a loose monetary policy where the US printed money to fuel demand. (The US could do so because the US dollar is trusted and used the world over.)
• The government used this money to expand its welfare programmes. Thus, a sudden and sharp cut in government spending could take away the impetus it was providing to domestic demand and growth.

Deporting illegal immigrants

• Donald Trump has amped up action against illegal immigrants, deporting thousands.
• If millions are pulled out of the workforce over a short period, it can raise labour constraints. US producers may find that wages costs have risen far in excess of their ability to pass on the cost to their buyers.

Cutting taxes, initiating deregulation

• Trump is in favour of cutting taxes, as well initiating massive deregulation. The fact is that the fiscal room for providing tax relief can only happen when the existing spending comes down sharply, otherwise the deficit will continue to balloon.
• Over the decades, the US had built up regulations that aimed at providing safeguards for consumers and establishing guardrails against corporate malfeasance. Deregulation can then also lead to adverse impacts on the average consumer.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: During the ongoing Rajya Sabha session Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said that the government has not received any information about objections to the Great Nicobar Infrastructure project.

Background: –

• The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) infrastructure project was conceived by NITI Aayog and launched in 2021.

Key takeaways

• The Great Nicobar Island Development Project is a significant infrastructure initiative by the Government of India, aiming to transform the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island into a strategic hub for commerce, tourism, and defense.
• Key plans in the project include the construction of an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport with a peak hour capacity to handle 4,000 passengers, a township, and a gas and solar-based power plant.
• The project is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO). 
• It aligns with India’s Maritime Vision 2030 and is one of the key projects under the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. 
• It also gives an opportunity to leverage the strategic location of the island, which is roughly equidistant from Colombo in Sri Lanka to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast.

Additional Information – About Andaman & Nicobar

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 836 islands, split into two groups — the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south — by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.
• Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands, a sparsely inhabited 910-sq-km patch of mainly tropical rainforest in the southeastern Bay of Bengal. Indira Point on the island, India’s southernmost point, is only 90 nautical miles (less than 170 km) from Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago.
• Great Nicobar has two national parks (Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park), a biosphere reserve (Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve ), small populations of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal peoples, and a few thousand non-tribal settlers.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Mains – GS 2

Context: India stands at a critical juncture, caught between the anvil of technological disruption and the hammer of cultural nationalism. While the Union government champions economic independence and global technological leadership – its linguistic policies risk undermining these ambitions.

Background:

• The call by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief recently to reject English, western attire, and customs – echoed by Maharashtra’s push for Marathi use/promotion to be mandatory in government offices – reveals a deepening crisis.

Key takeaways

• English, one of India’s official languages, and also the de-facto medium of higher education, remains accessible to just 10% of Indians.
• This staggering disparity is not incidental but also a product of political choices, creating two divergent tracks: privileged private-school students ride the wave of globalisation, while 65% of India’s children in government schools remain shackled by linguistic nationalism.

Global Best Practices: English as Economic Infrastructure

• While India debates language as identity, Asian peers treat English as economic infrastructure. China, South Korea, and Vietnam now prioritise English proficiency as a mass skill. 
• China’s mandate, in 2001, to teach English from primary school catalysed its shift from a low-value manufacturing economy to a dominant driver in the tech-driven economy. 
• The Gaokao, China’s national college entrance exam, includes a mandatory 150-point English section, highlighting its role in human capital development.
• As the BRI expanded China’s global infrastructure footprint, English became critical for diplomats, engineers and project managers interfacing with 140-plus partner nations. 
• State media now explicitly links English proficiency to “telling China’s story well”, transforming the language from a colonial relic to a soft power tool.

AI and the Future of Employment

• A recent NITI Aayog report highlights English proficiency as a major barrier to employment.
• The Future of Jobs Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum underscores English’s non-negotiable role: 86% of employers cite Al and data analytics as primary growth drivers, fields where English dominates research, patents, and collaboration.
• In advanced manufacturing, English enables a navigation of global supply chains, technical manuals, and Al-driven machinery.

Kerala’s Model: A Success Story and the Countdown to 2047

• Kerala teaches Malayalam and English from Class 1, ensuring linguistic coexistence and economic mobility. The Results: Higher STEM enrolment, employment prospects, and global adaptability.
• By 2050, India will constitute 23% of the global workforce. Without English proficiency, India’s demographic dividend could turn into a liability.
• India must treat English as an economic infrastructure. The choice is not between English and regional languages but between global competitiveness and obsolescence.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Centre has made operational “hubs” in four leading institutions to develop quantum computer technology and earmarked funds for them.

Background: –

• Quantum computers are a work-in-progress globally and exploit properties of the atom, which are only explainable by the principles of quantum mechanics. 

Key takeaways 

• The Union Cabinet, approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) in 2023 at a total cost of Rs.6003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31, aiming to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). 
• The Mission objectives include developing : 
  • intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. 
  • Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometers within India, long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km.
• The National Quantum Mission will focus on developing :
  • magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications, and navigation. 
  • It will also support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices. 
  • Single photon sources/detectors, and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing, and metrological applications.
• Mission Implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and National R&D institutes in the domains:
  • Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Communication
  • Quantum Sensing & Metrology
  • Quantum Materials & Devices
• The hubs which will focus on generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Parents and activists worry that the Ministry of Education’s Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID for school students could become near impossible to opt out from, even though the programme is supposed to be voluntary.

Background: –

• The APAAR ID system has also drawn scrutiny on data privacy and necessity grounds. 

Key takeaways

• The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID is a unique identification system designed for students in India. 
• It is part of the “One Nation, One Student ID” initiative launched by the government, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 20202.

key features and benefits of the APAAR ID:

• Lifelong Academic Identity: Each student is assigned a unique and permanent 12-digit ID that consolidates all their academic achievements, including degrees, scholarships, awards, and other credits.
• Seamless Academic Mobility: The APAAR ID facilitates smooth transitions between educational levels and institutions, making it easier for students to pursue further education.
• Digital Repository: Students can digitally store and retrieve comprehensive academic records, achievements, and co-curricular accomplishments.
• Integration with DigiLocker: Links with DigiLocker, allowing students to securely store and access essential documents like exam results and academic credentials.
• The APAAR ID will be linked to the student’s Aadhaar number for authentication and verification.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the Great Nicobar Island Development Project:

1. The project is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
2. It includes the construction of an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) and a greenfield international airport.
3. The project aligns with India’s Maritime Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
4. Great Nicobar Island is located to the north of the Ten Degree Channel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2, and 3 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Q2.) With reference to the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID, consider the following statements:

1. APAAR ID is a part of the “One Nation, One Student ID” initiative aligning with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
2. It provides a unique 12-digit academic identity to students for storing academic achievements.
3. The APAAR ID is mandatory for all school students in India.
4. It integrates with DigiLocker for secure digital storage of academic credentials.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2, and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Q3.) What is the purpose of the APAAR ID introduced under the National Education Policy 2020?

1. a) To provide a unique identification number for teachers
2. b) To create a lifetime student ID for tracking academic records
3. c) To monitor school infrastructure
4. d) To track government scholarships

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d