24 March 2025 Current Affairs

Trends in International Arms Transfers 2024: SIPRI

India Ranked Second-Largest Arms Importer Between 2020 and 2024, Says SIPRI Data.

Global Arms Trade

1. Top 5 Arms Importers (35%): Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan.

2. Between 2020 and 2024, Ukraine became Largest Importer of Major Arms globally, with imports increasing nearly 100-fold compared to 2015-2019 period.

• Ukraine received 8.8% of Global Arms Imports during this time.

3. In Asia and Oceania, 4 Countries-India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia—ranked among Top 10 Largest Arms Importers in the world during 2020-2024.

4. India was 2nd Largest Arms Importer, although its trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.

• Russia remained Largest Supplier of Arms to India, accounting for 36% of India's Arms Imports, a decline from 55% in 2015-2019 and 72% in 2010-2014.
• India emerged as Biggest Arms Export Destination for both Russia and France.

In terms of Global Arms Exports

1. Top 5 Arms Exporters (72%): USA, France, Russia, China and Germany.

2. U.S. increased its share to 43% of Global Arms Exports, while Russia’s share dropped by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of Global Arms Exports.

• This placed Russia behind France, which became 2nd Largest Arms Exporter, with a 9.6% share.
• India received Largest Share of French Arms Exports (28%), almost double the share that went to All European Countries Combined (15%).

3. Russia delivered Major Arms to 33 Countries between 2020 and 2024, with 2/3rd of those shipments going to just 3 Countries: India (38%), China (17%) and Kazakhstan (11%).

4. European Arms Imports grew by 155% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 periods as Continent Significantly Rearmed itself.

5. China accounted for 5.9% of Global Arms Exports in 2020–24.

• China dropped out of Top 10 Arms Importers List for the first time since 1990-94, reflecting its expanding domestic industrial base.
• Pakistan’s Arms Imports grew by 61% from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024, with China accounting for 81% of Pakistan's Arms Imports during 2020-2024, up from 74% in 2015-2019.

India’s Initiatives to Reduce Arms Imports

1. Defence Budget (2024-25): Indian Government has allocated Rs 6.21 Lakh Crore for defence in 2024-25 Budget.

2. Defence Production and Exports: India's Defence Production reached a record Rs 1.27 Lakh Crore in 2023-24, marking a 174% increase since 2014-15.

• Top 3 Export Destinations for India’s Defence Products in same year were US, France, and Armenia.

3. Positive Indigenization Lists: India has released 5 Positive Indigenization Lists which outline defence items that are now restricted from import, ensuring that these products are manufactured within the country.

4. Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020: Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 has shifted focus towards domestic procurement, prioritizing Indian-made products over foreign purchases.

5. Defence Industrial Corridors: To further boost the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem, 2 Defence Industrial Corridors have been established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

6. Private Sector and FDI Participation: Indian defence sector has seen an increase in private sector participation, with 21% of total defence production now coming from private players.

• The sector also enjoys 74% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the Automatic Route and 100% FDI through the Government Route.

7. Research and Innovation: iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative is helping foster innovation by supporting startups and MSMEs in developing cutting-edge military technologies.

8. Future Defence Goals: India is targeting Rs 1.75 lakh crore in defence production by 2025, with an ambitious goal of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029.

TB Control Campaign

India's 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign Identifies Over 6.1 Lakh Cases, with 4.3 Lakh Diagnoses in 455 High-Burden Districts. India continues to face the world’s largest TB epidemic.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• TB is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria.
• Primarily affects the lungs, but can also impact the pleura, lymph nodes, intestines, spine, and brain.
• TB is a communicable, airborne disease that spreads through close contact with an infected person.

Drug-Resistant TB

• MDR-TB (Multidrug-Resistant TB): This strain does not respond to first-line drugs isoniazid and rifampicin and requires second-line treatments, such as bedaquiline.
• XDR-TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant TB): A more severe form of TB that is resistant to most second-line drugs, limiting treatment options.

Indian Initiatives To Tackle TB

1. 100-Day TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: This new strategy focuses on the early identification of TB through innovative methods such as door-to-door screenings using ultraportable hand-held X-ray units.

• Special emphasis is placed on high-risk populations, including diabetics, smokers, and individuals living with HIV.
• Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) are used to confirm positive X-ray results, enabling the detection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic TB cases.

2. BPaLM Regimen: Under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), the Indian government introduced the BPaLM Regimen for the treatment of MDR-TB.

• The regimen combines four drugs: Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin.
• Pretomanid is a newly approved anti-TB drug that is licensed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

3. Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: This initiative provides nutritional support to TB patients.

• In October 2024, the monthly financial assistance was increased from ₹500 to ₹1,000 to help improve patient recovery.

4.Ni-kshay Mitra Scheme: Initially, this scheme provided nutritional support exclusively to TB patients, but it has since been expanded to include their family members as well.

5. NI-KSHAY Portal: SA digital patient management system designed to track TB cases, monitor treatment progress, and provide comprehensive patient support under NTEP.

Bills of Lading Bill, 2024

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Introduces Bills of Lading Bill, 2025.

Bills of Lading Bill, 2024

1. Bill aims to replace Indian Bills of Lading Act 1856, a colonial-era statute that currently governs maritime shipping.

• Existing Law is Outdated, Consisting of Just 3 Sections and fails to meet needs of modern global trade and shipping industry.

2. Aim: To modernize and streamline legal framework governing shipping documents.

• To provide a comprehensive, up-to-date and user-friendly approach to maritime shipping.

Key Features

• Alignment with Global Standards: Bill updates India’s maritime shipping laws to align with international standards, ensuring that India’s regulations remain competitive and relevant in global trade.
• Simplified Provisions: Language of the law is simplified, and provisions are reorganized for clearer understanding, without altering underlying substance.
• Empowerment of Central Government: Bill grants Central Government the authority to issue directions for effective implementation of the law.
• Transitional Provisions: A standard repeal and saving clause will be included to ensure a smooth transition from old law to new framework.

Alawite Community

Alawite Community in Syria Faces Escalating Violence in Coastal Cities Amid Reported 'Revenge Attacks' by New Government.

Alawites

1. Religious Background: Alawites are an Offshoot of Shi’ite Islam.

• Term Alawite itself derives from "Follower of Ali," referring to Ali ibn Abi Talib, Cousin and Son-In-Law of Prophet Mohammad, who holds a central place in Shi’a Islam.

2. Origins: Alawite Sect traces its origins back to 9th and 10th Centuries with teachings of Mohammad ibn Nusayr, a religious figure in Iraq.

3. Population: Alawites make up roughly 12% of Syria’s Population.

• They form 2nd Largest Religious Group in the country after Sunni Muslim.

4. Beliefs and Practices: Alawite beliefs combine elements of Shi’ite Islam, Christianity and Ancient Iranian Religious Practices.

India’s Wheat Production Estimated to Hit Record High

India's Wheat Production for 2024-25 Estimated at Record 115.3 Million Metric Tonnes.

Wheat Production in India (2023-24)

• Area: Area under wheat cultivation in 2023-24 is recorded at 318.33 lakh hectares.
• Production: Wheat production is estimated at 113.92 million tonnes for the same period.
• Ranking: Wheat is the second-largest crop in India, following paddy, in terms of area coverage.
• Top Wheat-Producing States: Uttar Pradesh is leading wheat producer, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
• Major Export Destinations (2023-24): Primary destinations for Indian wheat exports include Nepal, Iraq, South Korea, UAE, and Mongolia.