Daily Current Affairs- 26th March 2025

Daily Current Affairs 26th March 2025

Kerala becomes the first State in India to establish a Senior Citizens Commission

In the News: Kerala has become the first state in India to establish a Senior Citizens Commission aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of the elderly population. The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Bill on March 19, 2025.

Key Facts:

• Establishment Date: The Kerala Legislative Assembly enacted the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Bill on March 19, 2025, thereby establishing the Senior Citizens Commission.
• Composition of the Commission:
  • The commission will consist of one Chairperson.
  • It will include up to three members, with at least one woman and one representative from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes communities.
  • An Additional Secretary will serve as the Secretary of the commission.
  • A Joint Secretary from the law department will act as the Registrar.
• Tenure of Members: The members of the commission will serve a fixed term of three years.
• Context: As of 2021, 5% of Kerala's population comprised individuals aged 60 and above, the highest percentage among Indian states. This figure is projected to rise to 22.8% by 2036, highlighting the importance of dedicated initiatives for elderly welfare.
• Existing Support: The Kerala government currently provides a monthly pension of ₹1,600 under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme for individuals aged 60 and above with an annual income of Rs.1,00,000 or less.  

Centre notifies 24 per cent hike in salaries for MPs

In the News: On March 24, 2025, the Central Government of India announced a 24% increase in the salaries of Members of Parliament (MPs), effective retrospectively from April 1, 2023. This adjustment aligns with the Cost Inflation Index as specified under the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Key Details:

• Revised Salaries and Allowances:
  • Monthly Salary: Increased from ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,24,000.
  • Daily Allowance: Raised from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500, applicable when attending Parliament sessions or committee meetings.
  • Constituency Allowance: Enhanced from ₹70,000 to ₹87,000 per month.
  • Office Expenses: Increased from ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 per month.
• Pension Adjustments for Former MPs:
  • Base Pension: Increased from ₹25,000 to ₹31,000 per month.
  • Additional Pension: For each year of service exceeding five years, the additional pension has been raised from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 per month.
• Implementation Mechanism:
  • The revisions are based on the Cost Inflation Index to ensure automatic adjustments every five years, reducing the need for ad-hoc revisions.
  • This mechanism was established through amendments to the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act in 2018.
• Historical Context:
  • The previous salary revision occurred in 2018, when MPs' salaries were increased from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was a temporary 30% reduction in MPs' salaries for one year.
• Comparative Insights: The recent hike follows similar adjustments at the state level, such as the Karnataka government's approval of a 100% salary increase for its Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs. 

Govt proposes to abolish 6% Equalisation Levy

In the News: The Indian government has proposed abolishing the 6% Equalisation Levy on online advertising services provided by non-resident companies, effective April 1, 2025. This move is expected to benefit major tech companies such as Google and Meta.

• Equalisation Levy Overview: Introduced in 2016, the Equalisation Levy, often referred to as the "Google Tax," imposed a 6% tax on online advertising revenues earned by non-resident companies from Indian businesses.
• Proposed Abolition: As part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, the government aims to remove this levy starting April 1, 2025.
• Implications for Advertisers: The removal of the levy is anticipated to make online advertising more affordable, particularly benefiting startups and small enterprises in India. This could lead to increased advertising expenditures on platforms like Google and Meta.
• International Trade Context: The decision aligns with efforts to address concerns raised by the United States regarding digital services taxes. The U.S. had criticized such levies as discriminatory against American tech companies and had threatened reciprocal tariffs.
• Previous Related Measures: In August 2024, India had removed a 2% levy on non-resident e-commerce firms providing online services, following similar international negotiations.  

"Ex-ED chief Sanjay Mishra appointed to EAC-PM, Rajiv Gauba as NITI Aayog member"

In the News: The Indian government has announced the appointment of former Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra as a full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) and former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba as a full-time member of NITI Aayog.

• Sanjay Kumar Mishra's Appointment:
  • Position: Full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
  • Background: Mishra is a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre.
  • Previous Role: Served as the Director of the Enforcement Directorate until September 15, 2023.
  • Tenure as ED Chief: His term ended after the Supreme Court curtailed his extended tenure following petitions challenging multiple extensions granted by the government.
  • EAC-PM Overview: The EAC-PM is an independent body that advises the Union government, specifically the Prime Minister, on economic and related issues.
  • Current Chairman: Economist Suman Bery, who also serves as the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• Rajiv Gauba's Appointment:
  • Position: Full-time member of NITI Aayog.
  • Background: Gauba is a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Jharkhand cadre.
  • Previous Roles:
    • Served as the Cabinet Secretary for five years, from 2019 to August 2024.
    • Held positions including Union Home Secretary, Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand.
  • NITI Aayog Overview: NITI Aayog is the government's apex think tank, responsible for formulating strategic and long-term policies and programs.
  • Current Members: With Gauba's appointment, the full-time members include:
    • Vijay Kumar Saraswat (former DRDO Chief).
    • Ramesh Chand (Agriculture Expert).
    • Vinod Paul (Public Health Expert).
    • Arvind Virmani (Economist).
  • Leadership: Suman Bery serves as the Vice Chairperson, and B.V.R. Subrahmanyam is the CEO of NITI Aayog.  

U.S. religious freedom panel urges sanctions against India’s R&AW

In the News: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended targeted sanctions against India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), citing alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists. The commission's annual report also highlights a deterioration in the treatment of religious minorities in India.

• USCIRF Recommendations:
  • The commission advises the U.S. government to designate India as a "country of particular concern" due to ongoing violations of religious freedom.
  • It calls for imposing targeted sanctions on R&AW and individuals, including former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav, linked to alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada.
• Allegations Against R&AW:
  • Since 2023, there have been claims of India's involvement in targeting Sikh separatists abroad, complicating U.S.-India relations.
  • The U.S. charged ex-Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S.-based Sikh separatist leader.
• Concerns Over Religious Freedom in India:
  • The report notes that in 2024, conditions for religious freedom in India continued to deteriorate, with increased attacks and discrimination against religious minorities.
  • It accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of promoting hateful rhetoric and disinformation against Muslims and other religious minorities during the 2024 election campaign. 

Global Energy Report 2025

In the News: The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Global Energy Review 2025 on March 24, 2025, providing a comprehensive analysis of global energy trends for the year 2024

Key Findings:

• Global Energy Demand Growth:
  • In 2024, global energy demand increased by 2.2%, surpassing the average annual growth rate of 1.3% observed between 2013 and 2023.
  • Emerging and developing economies accounted for over 80% of this growth, with China and India leading in absolute terms.
• Electricity Consumption Surge:
  • Electricity demand grew by 4.3% in 2024, nearly double the rate of overall energy demand growth.
  • Factors contributing to this surge included increased cooling needs due to extreme temperatures, industrial consumption, electrification of transport, and expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence applications.
• Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power Expansion:
  • Renewable energy sources and nuclear power collectively accounted for 80% of the growth in global electricity generation in 2024.
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity experienced record-breaking expansion, contributing significantly to the increase in renewable energy generation.
• Fossil Fuel Consumption Trends:
  • Natural gas demand rose by 2.7% (115 billion cubic meters), marking the strongest growth among fossil fuels.
  • Oil demand growth slowed to 0.8%, with oil's share of total energy demand falling below 30% for the first time in five decades.
  • Coal demand increased by 1%, primarily driven by heightened electricity consumption for cooling during intense heatwaves in China and India.
• Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions:
  • Energy sector carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions reached a new record in 2024, increasing by 0.8% to 37.8 billion tonnes.
  • Record-high temperatures significantly contributed to this rise; if global weather patterns from 2023 had persisted, approximately half of the emissions increase would have been avoided.
  • The rapid adoption of clean energy technologies since 2019 has mitigated potential emissions, preventing an additional 2.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, equivalent to 7% of global emissions.
• Regional Insights:
  • China's energy demand growth slowed to under 3% in 2024, half the rate observed in 2023, yet it remained the largest contributor to global demand growth in absolute terms.
  • India experienced the second-largest absolute increase in energy demand, surpassing the combined growth of all advanced economies.
  • Advanced economies saw a notable return to growth in energy demand after several years of decline, with the United States experiencing the third-largest absolute demand growth in 2024.
• Technological Developments:
  • Global sales of electric cars rose by over 25% in 2024, surpassing 17 million units and accounting for one-fifth of all car sales, aligning with the IEA's projections.
  • The installed capacity of data centers globally increased by an estimated 20%, or around 15 gigawatts (GW), mostly in the United States and China, contributing to the surge in electricity demand.