Daily Current Affairs- 12th March 2025

Daily Current Affairs 12th March 2025

Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha

In the News: The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha, aims to modernize and consolidate India's immigration framework by repealing and replacing four existing laws:

• The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 , The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 , The Foreigners Act, 1946 and The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000

Key Provisions:

1. Mandatory Documentation: Individuals entering or exiting India must possess a valid passport or other travel documents. Foreign nationals are additionally required to have a valid visa, unless exempted under specific provisions.
2. Establishment of the Bureau of Immigration: A centralized Bureau of Immigration, led by a Commissioner, will oversee immigration functions. This body will be supported by Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, Chief Immigration Officers, and Immigration Officers appointed by the Central Government.
3. Registration Requirements: Foreign nationals are mandated to register with the designated Registration Officer upon arrival in India.
4. Obligations of Institutions: Educational institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, and similar entities admitting or accommodating foreign nationals are required to report such registrations to immigration authorities.
5. Movement Restrictions: The Central Government holds the authority to restrict the movement of foreign nationals, especially in protected or restricted areas, and can deny entry or residency to individuals deemed threats to national security, sovereignty, public health, or international relations. Decisions made by Immigration Officers in this context are deemed final and binding.
6. Carrier Responsibilities: Transport carriers are obligated to ensure that passengers possess valid travel documents. Non-compliance can result in fines up to ₹5 lakh and potential seizure of the transport vehicle if penalties remain unpaid.
7. Penalties for Violations: Entering India without valid documents may lead to imprisonment of up to five years and fines up to ₹5 lakh. Utilizing forged documents can attract imprisonment ranging from two to seven years, with fines between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Overstaying or violating visa conditions can result in imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to ₹3 lakh.
8. Enforcement Powers: Immigration officers are empowered to arrest individuals without a warrant if they are suspected of contravening the Act's provisions. The Central Government is also authorized to regulate the movement and presence of foreign nationals within India. 

Pashu Aushadhi Kendras

In the News: The Government of India has announced the launch of Pashu Aushadhi Kendras to provide affordable generic veterinary medicines to individuals engaged in animal husbandry and dairying.

Key Features:

• Affordable Veterinary Medicines: These Kendras will supply generic veterinary medicines to improve livestock health and reduce farmers' expenses.
• Ethnoveterinary Medicines: In addition to generic drugs, these centers will offer ethnoveterinary medicines based on traditional and indigenous knowledge for treating animal diseases.
• Operational Model: The stores will be managed by cooperative societies and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs), ensuring widespread accessibility.
• Financial Allocation: Under the revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), the Union Cabinet has allocated ₹75 crore specifically for the Pashu Aushadhi initiative.
• Significance: India's livestock population stands at approximately 535.78 million, with 302.79 million bovines, according to the 20th Livestock Census (2019).
• Implementation: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying will release operational guidelines for these stores. 

Retail inflation eases to a seven month low of 3.61% in February

In the News: India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased to a seven-month low of 3.61% in February 2025, down from 4.31% in January 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Food Inflation: The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) registered a year-on-year inflation rate of 75% in February 2025, a significant decline from 5.97% in January 2025.
• Rural vs. Urban Inflation:
  • Rural Areas: Headline inflation decreased to 3.79% in February 2025 from 4.59% in January 2025.
  • Urban Areas: Inflation dropped to 3.32% in February 2025 from 3.87% in January 2025.
• Contributing Factors: The decline in inflation is primarily attributed to falling vegetable prices and a favorable food price outlook.
• Implications for Monetary Policy: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) aims to maintain inflation within a target range of 2-6%. The current easing of inflation provides the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) with room to consider further rate cuts to stimulate economic growth. In February 2025, the RBI reduced the benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 6.25%, marking the first cut in nearly five years. 

India Supports Mauritius Claim over Chagos Archipelago

In the News: Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, India backed Mauritius’ claims over Chagos, a strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago that has long been at the centre of a dispute between Mauritius and the UK.

• In 1965, during the decolonization period, the UK separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Subsequently, between 1965 and 1973, the indigenous Chagossian population was forcibly removed to facilitate the establishment of a US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. This expulsion has been a focal point of international criticism and legal challenges.
• International Legal Developments: In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that the UK's continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago was unlawful and that the territory should be returned to Mauritius. The United Nations General Assembly subsequently passed a resolution affirming the ICJ's opinion and setting a six-month deadline for the UK's withdrawal, which the UK did not meet, maintaining its claim over the territory.
• Recent Developments: In October 2024, after prolonged negotiations and mounting international pressure, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This agreement allows the UK and the US to retain control over the strategic military base on Diego Garcia for an additional 99 years, ensuring its continued operation.

Ukraine accepts 30 Days Ceasefire with Russia

In the News: Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, aiming to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. This development follows discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. 

Key Developments:

• Ceasefire Proposal: The United States and Ukraine have called for a 30-day ceasefire as part of peace talks held in Saudi Arabia. President Trump announced the agreement, expressing hope that Russian President Putin would also agree to the ceasefire.
• S. Military Aid Resumption: The United States has lifted its suspension of military aid to Ukraine, resuming arms deliveries that were briefly paused.
• Russian Response: The Kremlin has stated that it needs to hear directly from the United States before commenting on the proposed ceasefire.
• Continued Hostilities: Despite the ceasefire proposal, Russian forces launched missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including President Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, resulting in civilian casualties.

International Reactions:

• European Support: European defence ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK met in Paris to discuss support for Ukraine and a unified military procurement approach.
• G7 Dynamics:S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to face a challenging reception from G7 allies due to recent U.S. policies, including new tariffs and the proposed ceasefire.  

6th Edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian

In the News: The 6th Edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian, a joint military exercise between India and Japan, was conducted from February 24 to March 9, 2025, at the East Fuji Training Area in Japan.

Key Highlights:

• Enhanced Scale: This edition marked a significant expansion, with participation elevated to a company-strength level, reflecting deepening defense cooperation between the two nations.
• Primary Focus: The exercise concentrated on counter-terrorism operations in urban settings, joint urban warfare, and operations under a United Nations mandate. Activities also encompassed United Nations peacekeeping operations, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
• Cultural Exchange: Troops engaged in cultural exchange activities, including a Yoga session organized by the Indian contingent and displays of traditional martial arts such as Kalari Payattu by Indian troops and Japanese martial arts by Japanese troops.
• Validation Phase: The exercise concluded with a 72-hour validation phase, where troops from both nations demonstrated their capability through a simulated joint counter-terrorism operation in an urban setting, incorporating specialized techniques such as heli-borne insertion, slithering, and storming.