Daily Current Affairs 2025  

03/02/2026

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CA-03/02/2026

• Theme: In Minor Keys – exploring the emotional and spiritual resonance of minor tonalities, often linked to melancholy, but here reframed to highlight joy, solace, hope, and transcendence.
• Curator: Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025), a Senegalese curator known for her work on African and diasporic art. The Biennale will follow her vision posthumously, with her selected team continuing her project.

• India: Returning after 7 years with Geographies of Distance: remembering home. The pavilion explores themes of memory, home, and identity, supported by NMACC and Serendipity Arts Foundation.
• Pakistan: Featuring artist Faiza Butt under curator Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano, showcasing traditional aesthetics and cultural heritage.
• Azerbaijan: Presenting The Attention by Faig Ahmad, centered on carpets as cultural memory and inspired by poet Imadaddin Nasimi.

• Global Participation: Over 60 national pavilions already confirmed, making it one of the most diverse editions.
• Curatorial Vision: Kouoh’s theme emphasizes listening to “soul frequencies” and exploring the in-between spaces of human experience.
• Cultural Significance: Countries like India and Pakistan are returning after long absences, signaling renewed engagement with global art discourse.

• First International Journey: The relics, housed at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, are leaving India for the first time.
• Cultural Diplomacy: This initiative is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen Buddhist diplomacy and spiritual ties across Asia.
• Global Outreach: India has previously shared Buddhist heritage with countries like Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, and Russia.

• Devotee Participation: Thousands of monks, pilgrims, and lay devotees are expected to attend.
• Spiritual Significance: The exposition offers a rare opportunity to connect with Lord Buddha’s legacy through sacred relics.
• India–Sri Lanka Relations: Reinforces cultural and spiritual bonds between the two nations, complementing diplomatic ties

• Financial Autonomy: YIL’s Board can now approve capital expenditure projects, modernization, and equipment purchases up to ₹500 crore without government approval.
• Operational Independence: Greater flexibility in decision-making, procurement, and partnerships.
• Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Strengthens India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and exports.

• Defence Indigenisation: YIL has maximized local sourcing and manufacturing, reducing import dependence.
• Export Growth: From zero exports in 2021-22 to over ₹321 crore in 2024-25, YIL is now contributing to India’s defence exports.
• Product Range: Includes carbon fibre composites, medium & large calibre ammunition assemblies, armoured vehicles, artillery guns, main battle tanks, glass composites, aluminium alloys.

• Digital Policy Leadership: Develops and implements EU policies to make Europe fit for the digital age.
• Technology Regulation: Enforces rules for online platforms, digital markets, and artificial intelligence.
• Innovation & Funding: Supports and funds frontier technologies to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.
• Connectivity & Infrastructure: Promotes high‑speed internet, 5G, and digital infrastructure across member states.
• Digital Skills: Encourages training and education to boost digital literacy and workforce readiness.
• Data & AI: Works to unlock the potential of data and ensure Europe becomes a leader in AI innovation.

• Technological Sovereignty: Reduce dependence on non‑EU digital technologies.
• Digital Single Market: Ensure seamless digital services across EU member states.
• Cybersecurity: Strengthen Europe’s resilience against cyber threats.
• Media & Content: Support innovation in digital media and creative industries.

• Businesses: By setting fair competition rules in digital markets.
• Citizens: Through safer online environments and better connectivity.
• Governments: By providing frameworks for AI, data governance, and cybersecurity.

• Waste to Wealth: Transform cattle dung, agricultural residue, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge into renewable energy.
• Village Cleanliness: Reduce open dumping and burning of waste.
• Rural Income: Provide farmers and rural households with additional revenue streams.
• Energy Security: Promote biogas and compressed biogas as substitutes for fossil fuels.
• Circular Economy: Encourage sustainable practices by recycling waste into energy and organic manure.

• Compressed Biogas (CBG): Produced from organic waste, usable as a clean fuel alternative to LPG, petrol, and diesel.
• Bio‑CNG Plants: Infrastructure support for setting up plants across districts.
• Unified Registration Portal: A centralized platform for registering biogas/CBG plants.
• Multi‑Ministry Collaboration: Involves Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Department of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Drinking Water & Sanitation.

• Environmental: Reduces methane emissions, improves waste management, and curbs pollution.
• Economic: Generates rural employment and provides farmers with income from waste.
• Energy: Strengthens India’s renewable energy mix and reduces dependence on imported fuels.
• Agricultural: Produces organic manure, improving soil fertility and reducing chemical fertilizer use.

• Transparency Issues: Reports highlight lack of clear data on operational CBG plants.
• Implementation Gaps: Some states lag in setting up functional plants.
• Awareness & Training: Farmers and local bodies need more capacity‑building support.

• Launched by: Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India
• Purpose: To build a centralized Aadhaar-authenticated database of unorganized workers (National Database of Unorganized Workers – NDUW).
• Target Group: Migrant workers, construction workers, gig/platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, agricultural workers, and other informal sector workers.

• Accidental Insurance: ₹2 lakh for death or permanent disability, ₹1 lakh for partial disability under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
• Direct Access to Welfare Schemes: Workers can easily avail benefits of government programs like pensions, maternity benefits, and skill development schemes.
• Portability: Migrant workers can access benefits across states.
• Financial Inclusion: Helps workers open bank accounts and receive direct benefit transfers.

• Eligibility: Any unorganized worker aged 16–59 years.
• Documents Required:
  • Aadhaar number
  • Mobile number linked with Aadhaar
  • Bank account details
• How to Register:
  • Online via e-SHRAM portal or UMANG app
  • Offline at Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India
• Cost: Free of charge.

• Awareness Gap: Many workers are unaware of the scheme or face digital literacy barriers.
• Aadhaar Dependency: Workers without Aadhaar or mobile-linked Aadhaar face difficulties.
• Implementation Issues: Ensuring benefits reach workers directly without middlemen remains a challenge.

• Digital Platform: The NCS portal (www.ncs.gov.in) provides a one-stop solution for job seekers, employers, and training providers.
• Launch Date: Dedicated to the nation on 20 July 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Mission Mode Project: Implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment under the Directorate General of Employment (DGE).
• Career Centres: Transforms over 1,000 employment exchanges into IT-enabled career centers.
• Helpline: Multi-lingual helpline available Tuesday to Sunday, 8 AM – 8 PM at 1514.

• Job Matching: Connects job seekers with employers across sectors.
• Career Counseling & Vocational Guidance: Helps youth and students plan career paths.
• Skill Development: Provides information on training programs and courses.
• Apprenticeships & Internships: Facilitates opportunities for practical learning.
• Special Focus: Enhances female labor force participation and supports SC/ST candidates with free coaching/training.

• Zomato, Zepto, Quikr, Foundit: Posting job vacancies, including gig work.
• Mentor Together: Providing mentorship opportunities.
• Skill Development Institutes: Linking candidates to training programs.

• Awareness Gap: Many rural job seekers are unaware of the portal.
• Digital Divide: Limited access in remote areas with poor internet connectivity.
• Skill Mismatch: Need for better alignment between training programs and industry demand.

• Full exemption of BCD on 17 cancer-related drugs and medicines.
• Exemptions extended for nuclear power project imports till 2035.
• Duty-free imports allowed for capital goods used in lithium-ion battery and energy storage manufacturing.
• Exemptions on aircraft components, microwave oven parts, and seafood processing inputs.

• A type of customs duty imposed on imported goods when they enter India.
• Legal Basis: Levied under Section 12 of the Customs Act, 1962 and determined by the First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.
• Applicability: Charged on nearly all imported goods unless specifically exempted.
• Calculation: Based on the assessable value of goods (CIF value – cost, insurance, freight).
• Purpose:
  • Protect Indian manufacturers from cheap foreign imports.
  • Regulate inflow of restricted/prohibited goods.
  • Generate revenue for the government.

Type of Duty	Purpose
Basic Customs Duty (BCD)	Standard tax on imports to protect domestic industry.
Countervailing Duty (CVD)	To offset excise duty on similar domestic goods.
Anti-Dumping Duty	To prevent dumping of goods at unfairly low prices.
Safeguard Duty	Temporary protection against sudden import surges.
IGST on Imports	Integrated GST applied on imports to align with GST framework.

• Frequent Policy Changes: Exemptions and rates are revised annually in the Union Budget.
• Sector-Specific Impact: Industries like pharma, electronics, and renewable energy often benefit from exemptions.
• Compliance Requirement: Importers must classify goods correctly under HS codes to avoid penalties.
• Trade Impact: High BCD can make imports costly, encouraging domestic production but raising consumer prices.

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