Current Affairs — February 2025
17 articles analyzed
Executive Summary
February 2025 saw continued Trump-era disruption with tariff escalation against the EU, China, Mexico, and Canada, alongside the controversial Gold Card residency program. DOGE under Elon Musk sent 'reply or resign' emails to federal employees, sparking institutional conflict. India's diplomatic engagement included Jaishankar's UN Peacekeeping commitments and four Indian firms facing US sanctions under CAATSA. Domestically, Bengaluru's Namma Metro fare hike sparked public protests on urban transport governance. PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana was launched for crop diversification. Environmental concerns included Punjab wetland degradation and Mumbai's unusual February heatwave from anticyclonic conditions. Cultural highlights included PM Modi attending jhumur tribal dance celebrations in Guwahati. Security governance debates centered on facial recognition at Mumbai's Mantralaya and VIP security downgrade protocols.
Monthly Current Affairs Journal — February 2025
Executive Summary
February 2025 was characterized by the deepening impact of Trump's second term on global trade and governance. Tariff threats against the EU, alongside existing measures on China, Mexico, and Canada, signalled growing protectionism. The DOGE initiative under Musk's leadership disrupted US federal bureaucracy with mass emails demanding productivity reports. India faced sanctions on four firms under CAATSA provisions, highlighting the India-Russia-US triangular dynamic.
Domestically, the Bengaluru Namma Metro fare hike triggered commuter protests, raising questions about urban transport pricing, subsidy models, and public consultation in fare fixation. The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana launch targeted crop diversification and farmer welfare. Environmental stories included Punjab's declining migratory birds at wetlands and Mumbai's anomalous February heat from anticyclonic conditions.
Subject-wise Highlights
GS Paper-I: History, Society & Geography
- Jhumur Tribal Dance: PM Modi attended the 'biggest ever' jhumur event in Guwahati, highlighting Northeast India's tribal heritage. Jhumur is a traditional dance of the tea garden communities of Assam, reflecting Adivasi cultural identity.
- Mumbai February Heatwave: Anticyclonic conditions over the Arabian Sea suppressed convection and trapped heat, creating unusual winter warming — relevant to urban heat island effect and climate anomalies.
- World Wetlands Day: Punjab's wetlands (Harike, Kanjli, Ropar) face declining migratory bird populations due to habitat degradation, pesticide contamination, and encroachment. India has 80 Ramsar sites.
GS Paper-II: Polity, Governance & International Relations
- Trump's Trade War: Tariffs against EU, China, Mexico, and Canada reflect neo-mercantilist policy. Impact on WTO rules-based order and India's export competitiveness.
- DOGE and Bureaucratic Reform: Musk's 'reply or resign' email to federal employees raised questions about political interference in civil service autonomy — comparable to India's debates on lateral entry.
- Golden Visa Programs: Trump's Gold Card ($5M) builds on residency-by-investment trends globally. Relevant for studying citizenship, NRI investment, and immigration policy.
- UN Peacekeeping: Jaishankar's reaffirmation of India's commitments highlights India as a top troop contributor. Relevant for UNSC permanent seat aspirations.
- US Sanctions on Indian Firms: CAATSA implications for India-Russia defence cooperation, particularly S-400 purchases.
- Security Governance: VIP security downgrade in Maharashtra raises questions about threat assessment protocols and security resource allocation.
- Facial Recognition at Mantralaya: Surveillance technology deployment in government buildings raises privacy concerns under Puttaswamy judgment framework.
GS Paper-III: Economy, Environment & S&T
- Namma Metro Fare Hike: Governance of urban transport — BMRCL's fare fixation process, public consultation requirements, and the subsidy vs. cost-recovery debate for metro systems.
- PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: Crop diversification scheme targeting 100 low-productivity districts. Links to food security, MSP debates, and sustainable agriculture.
- Wetland Conservation: Ramsar Convention obligations, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), and migratory bird protection under CMS.
Key Terms and Concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CAATSA | Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act — US law targeting Russia, Iran, North Korea |
| Golden Visa | Residency/citizenship granted in exchange for significant financial investment |
| DOGE | Department of Government Efficiency — Trump initiative led by Elon Musk |
| Ramsar Convention | International treaty for wetland conservation (1971), India has 80 sites |
| Anticyclone | High-pressure system with descending air, suppressing cloud formation and trapping heat |
| BMRCL | Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited — operates Namma Metro |
| UN Peacekeeping | Operations maintaining peace in conflict zones; India is a top troop contributor |
| Facial Recognition System | Biometric surveillance technology using facial features for identification |
| Jhumur | Traditional dance of Assam's tea garden Adivasi communities |
| PM-DKKY | Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana — crop diversification scheme for 100 low-productivity districts |
| Urban Heat Island | Urban areas significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activities |
Practice Topics
- Trump's tariff policy and its impact on the WTO rules-based trading system
- Civil service autonomy vs. political control — DOGE lessons for India's lateral entry debate
- Urban transport governance — fare fixation, subsidy models, and public consultation
- India-Russia-US triangle — navigating CAATSA while maintaining strategic autonomy
- Wetland conservation and Ramsar obligations — declining migratory bird populations
- Surveillance technology and privacy rights — Puttaswamy judgment framework
- India's UN Peacekeeping contributions and UNSC permanent seat aspirations
- Agricultural diversification schemes — PM-DKKY and food security
- Immigration policy and golden visa programs — global trends
- Climate anomalies — anticyclonic heatwaves and urban heat island effects