19 March 2025 Current Affairs

   India Goods Trade Declines To 42 Months Low   

A 61% drop in gold and 30% drop in petroleum imports led to an overall 16.34% fall in goods imports in February, which resulted in India’s merchandise trade deficit shrinking to $14 billion, the lowest in 42 months.

India’s Trade Performance in February 2025: Key Highlights

1. Decline in Imports

a. Overall Imports:

• Fell by 16.34% in February 2025.

b. Gold Imports:

• Dropped by 61% from $6.15 billion in February 2024 to $2.34 billion in February 2025.

c.  Petroleum Imports:

• Declined by 29.5% to $11.9 billion from $16.9 billion in the previous year.

d.  Silver Imports:

• Fell sharply to $430 million from $1.7 billion last year.

e.  Other Notable Declines in Imports:

• Pearls, Precious & Semi-Precious Stones: -41.61%
• Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.: -35.63%
• Iron & Steel: -23.37%

2. Decline in Exports

a. Overall Exports:

• Declined by 11% to $36.91 billion in February 2025

b. Major Exports that Declined:

• Petroleum Products: -29%
• Organic & Inorganic Chemicals: -24.5%
• Gold & Jewellery: -20.74%

3. Goods with Increased Exports

• Tobacco: ⬆️ 26.76%
• Electronic Goods: ⬆️ 26.46%
• Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals (Including Processed Minerals): ⬆️ 24.25%
• Coffee: ⬆️ 22.32%
• Rice: ⬆️ 13.21%

4. Merchandise Trade Deficit Details

• Trade Deficit in February 2025: Reduced to $14 billion, the lowest in 42 months.
• Trade Deficit in January 2025: Was $19.5 billion, indicating a significant reduction in February.

5. Country-wise Export/Import Trends

a. Exports to the US:

• Increased by 10.4% in February 2025 to $7.9 billion.
• Rose by 9.1% in the April-February period to $76.4 billion.

b. Imports from China:

• Increased by 10.5% in the April-February period to $104 billion.

6. Components of Trade Deficit

a. Merchandise Trade Deficit:

• Difference between the value of goods imported and exported.
• India’s merchandise trade deficit in February 2025: $14 billion.

b. Service Trade Deficit/Surplus:

• Difference between services exported and imported.
• India often maintains a surplus in services, helping to balance the overall trade deficit.

c. Oil & Petroleum Products:

• Major component contributing to India’s trade deficit due to heavy reliance on crude oil imports.

d. Gold & Precious Metals:

• High gold imports typically widen India’s trade deficit.

e. Electronics & Machinery:

• Contribute significantly to imports, widening the trade deficit.

    US Urged To Declare SFJ As Terrorist Organization.    

India has asked the U.S. to list a Sikh separatist group as a terrorist organisation, an Indian government source said on Tuesday, more than a year after the U.S. said it had foiled a plot with Indian links to kill a leader of the group in the U.S.

India’s Request to the US to Designate SFJ as a Terrorist Organization: Key Highlights

1. Reason for the Request:

• SFJ promotes secessionist and pro-Khalistani activities.
• It is linked to Pakistan and other terrorist outfits.
• SFJ conducts anti-India activities on US soil.

2. SFJ’s Actions:

• Led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is designated a terrorist in India.
• Regularly threatens Indian political leaders and diplomats.
• Advocates violence and secessionism to create an independent Khalistan.
• Attempts to incite mutiny among Sikhs in the Indian Army and police.

US Response and Tulsi Gabbard’s Statements

1. Concerns Raised by Gabbard:

• US is deeply concerned about persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.
• Stated that the Trump administration is committed to defeating “Islamist terrorism” globally.

2. Remarks on Global Terrorism:

• Mentioned the threat of establishing an “Islamic Caliphate” by extremist groups.
• Indicated that such extremist ideologies threaten all non-Islamic communities and use violent means.
• Criticism of Bangladesh: Strong indictment of the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Dhaka.

3. US-India Defence Partnership:

• Reaffirmed the growing strength of the India-US bilateral defence partnership.
• Emphasized intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and maritime security.

Sikhs For Justice (SFJ): Brief Introduction and Background

1. Overview of SFJ

a. Full Name: Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)

b. Founded In: 2007, US-based organization.

c. Founder: Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

d. Headquarters: New York, USA

e. Main Objective: Advocates for the creation of a separate Khalistan (an independent Sikh state).

a. Goal:

• Promotes secession of Punjab from India to create Khalistan.

b. Methods:

• Organizes online campaigns, referendums, and propaganda to promote separatism.
• Calls for violence and incites mutiny among Sikh soldiers and police personnel.

c. Association with Pakistan:

• Alleged to have links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.

d. Legal Status in India:

• Declared a terrorist organization under the UAPA.
• Banned in India since 2019 and re-banned in 2024.

e. Referendum 2020 Campaign: 

• Attempted to hold an illegal referendum to demand Khalistan, which was blocked by the Indian government.

  February WPI Declines To 2.3%.  

India's wholesale price inflation was at 2.38% in February, in line with a print of 2.31% in January, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Monday. While wholesale inflation in primary articles declined, led by easing food article inflation, the month continued to witness an increase in prices of manufactured products.
 

India’s Wholesale Price Inflation (WPI) – February 2025: Key Highlights

1. WPI Overview for February 2025

• Inflation Rate:Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation stood at 2.38% in February 2025, slightly higher than 2.31% in January 2025.
• Data Source:Released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday.

2. Decline in Primary Articles Inflation

• Primary Articles: Overall inflation in primary articles declined.
• Food Articles: Easing food article inflation contributed to the decline.
• Vegetables: Price moderation was observed in vegetables, including potatoes.

3. Increase in Prices of Manufactured Products

• Manufactured Products:Prices continued to rise during the month, offsetting the decline in primary articles.
• Manufactured Inflation: Contributed significantly to keeping WPI inflation at the higher end.

Inflation: Meaning and Types

1. What is Inflation?

Definition: Inflation refers to the general rise in the prices of goods and services over time, leading to a reduction

in the purchasing power of money. Measured through indices such as:

• Consumer Price Index (CPI): Measures retail inflation at the consumer level.
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI): Measures inflation at the wholesale level before retail pricing.

2. Types of Inflation: Summary Table

  SC To Examine Appointment Of CAG  

The Supreme Court on Monday (March 17, 2025) decided to examine a plea challenging the sole prerogative of the Centre, acting through the President, to appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India: Key Highlights

1. Introduction to CAG

• Full Name: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
• Established By: Article 148 of the Indian Constitution.
• Role: CAG is the supreme audit authority in India, responsible for auditing government accounts.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.

• Appointment: Appointed by the President of India.
• Tenure: Holds office for a period of 6 years or until the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: Can be removed only through a process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge (impeachment by Parliament).

a. Audit of Union and State Government Accounts:

• Audits receipts and expenditure of the Union and State governments.
• Audits the accounts of autonomous bodies and authorities substantially funded by the government.

b. Audit of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs):

• Audits accounts of government-owned corporations.
• Reviews compliance with laws and efficiency of operations.

c. Audit of Government Grants:

• Ensures that government grants are utilized for the intended purposes.

d. Report Submission to Parliament:

• Submits audit reports to the President or Governor, who lays them before Parliament or State Legislature.

   EU hosts Humanitarian Aid for Syria  

On 17 March, during the ninth edition of the Brussels Conference on “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition” hosted by the European Union, the donor community pledged a total amount of €5.8 billion.

Brussels Conference on Syria – 17 March 2025: Key Highlights

1. Conference Overview

a. Event Name:

• 9th Edition of the Brussels Conference – “Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition”

b. Date:

• 17 March 2025

c. Host:

• European Union (EU)

d. Objective:

• Support Syria in its transition toward peace and stability.
• Provide financial assistance for rebuilding Syria and supporting refugees.

2. Financial Commitments and Pledges

• EU’s Role: Largest donor to Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees.
• Cumulative Assistance: Nearly €37 billion provided by the EU and its Member States since 2011.

3. Participants and Attendees

a. Representatives:

• EU Member States
• Neighbouring Countries
• Partner Countries

b. International Organisations:

• Including the UN and international financial institutions.

c. Syria’s Interim Foreign Minister:

• Al-Shaibani attended for the first time since the conference’s inception.

4. Historical Overview

• Ancient Civilization: Syria has a rich historical heritage dating back to ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.
• Independence: Gained independence from France in 1946.
• Ba'ath Party Rule: Ba'ath Party took control in 1963, with Hafez al-Assad ruling from 1971 to 2000, succeeded by Bashar al-Assad.

a. Start:

• Civil unrest began in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring.

b. Conflict Escalation:

• Protest movements turned into a prolonged civil war involving multiple factions and international players.

c. Humanitarian Crisis:

• Over 500,000 deaths.
• Millions of displaced Syrians internally and externally.
• Largest displacement crisis since World War II.

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