27 May 2025 Current Affairs

Issue: Rising civil-military tension in Bangladesh amid Rohingya crisis and fragile interim government

(a) Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
(b) Date: May 2025
(c) Context: Political instability following regime change, with increasing military resistance to humanitarian initiatives.

Main Pointers:

1. Sheikh Hasina Government Ousted (2024):

• Following mass protests, the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina was forced out of power in late 2024.
• Citizens cited authoritarianism, electoral rigging, and corruption as key reasons.

2. Caretaker Government under Muhammad Yunus:

• Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead the caretaker government in 2025 to restore democracy and organize elections.
• Seen as a symbol of neutrality and civil reform, Yunus gained international support.

3. Bangladesh Army Opposes Rohingya Corridor:

• The Bangladesh Army has rejected proposals to open a humanitarian corridor between Rakhine State (Myanmar) and Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees.
• Military leadership cites national security threats, cross-border terrorism, and the risk of insurgency and arms trafficking.

4. Threat of Military Coup or Civil Conflict:

• Growing divide between the caretaker civilian leadership and military establishment is raising fears of a potential military takeover or civil war.
• Army reportedly views Yunus’ policies as “soft” and fears foreign interference in internal security matters.

5. Fragile Democracy and Internal Tensions:

• The caretaker government is attempting to balance democratic transition, civil liberties, and international pressure.
• However, tensions could derail efforts and plunge Bangladesh into political chaos if not handled cautiously.

6. Rohingya Crisis Remains Unresolved:

• Bangladesh continues to host 1 million+ Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.
• Calls for repatriation and international mediation have made little progress.

Notes: Context and Background

1. Rohingya Muslims – A Stateless Minority

2. Bangladesh Political Timeline

3. Muhammad Yunus – Key Profile

4. Military’s Concerns & Possible Fallout

Insight – Why This Matters

• Highlights fragile democratic transitions and military interference in South Asia.
• Rohingya issue links refugee law, human rights, and regional geopolitics.
• Muhammad Yunus' situation shows tensions between civil governance and military authority.
• Exam-relevant themes:

- Asylum and refugee policy

- Constitutional crisis and interim governments

- Civil-military relations in democracies

• Pro Tip: Use this case to understand real-world challenges to international humanitarian law and the tension between security and human rights.
• Task for students – Make notes on UNHCR and UNHRC 
• UNHCR stands for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, while UNHRC stands for the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Issue: IMD rolls out higher-resolution rain forecasts via the new Bharat Forecast System (BFS)

(a) Location: New Delhi
(b) Date: May 2025
(c) Context: Improving short- and medium-term rainfall warnings down to panchayat level

Main Pointers:

1. BFS Adoption

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has formally adopted the Bharat Forecast System developed by IITM.
• Focus: 3-day and 7-day forecasts; long-range (monthly) unchanged.

2. Higher Resolution Grids

• Legacy model: 12 km × 12 km grid.
• BFS model: 6 km × 6 km grid (four-fold increase in spatial detail).

3. Operational First

• India becomes the only country providing 6 km resolution operational forecasts.

4. Improved Heavy-Rain Alerts

• Tested since 2002; shown better advance warning for extreme rainfall events.

5. Future Enhancements

• Doppler Weather Radars: 34 units to be installed next year to capture severe, sudden storms more accurately.

6. Local-Level Forecasting

• Upgraded from block-level to panchayat-level forecasts, benefiting village-scale planning.

Static Notes

1. India Meteorological Department (IMD)

2. Skymet Weather Services

3. Types of Monsoons in India

High-resolution forecasts are vital for agriculture, disaster management, and water resource planning, all topics that intersect with constitutional duties (e.g., state relief funds) and environmental governance.

Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Three Judges for Elevation

Context:

• The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud’s successor, CJI B.R. Gavai, recommended three judges for elevation to the apex court.
• This comes amid retirements that reduce the court’s strength from the sanctioned 34 to 30 by June 2025.

Judges Recommended for Supreme Court:

• This marks the first Collegium resolution under CJI B.R. Gavai’s leadership.
• As of now, the SC working strength is 31, which will reduce to 30 after Justice Bela Trivedi's retirement on June 9, 2025.

Legal and Static Notes

1. Collegium System (Judicial Appointments)

2. NJAC – National Judicial Appointments Commission (2015)

3. History of the Supreme Court of India

4. Women in the Supreme Court of India

Why This Matters

• Legal GK: Collegium vs NJAC debate is a recurring constitutional issue.
• Current Affairs: SC appointments affect landmark judgments.
• Women in Judiciary: Empowerment and representation.
• Appointments Process: Linked to Separation of Powers and Judicial Independence.

Trump Temporarily Halts EU Tariffs After Call with Von der Leyen

• U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a proposed 50% tariff on European Union (EU) imports until July 9, following a “very nice call” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• Trump had threatened to impose the tariffs from June 1, citing frustration that trade negotiations were “going nowhere” and demanding a 20% reciprocal tariff on EU goods.
• Von der Leyen requested more time for negotiations, assuring Trump of the EU’s commitment to a fair and swift deal.
• The tariff delay brought temporary relief to European markets: Paris CAC 40 index rose by 1.1%; Frankfurt DAX climbed 1.6%; and London and Wall Street remained closed due to public holidays
• Analysts described this as part of the typical “Trump Pattern” - threats followed by concessions, often influencing market speculation and volatility.
• Trump's stop-start trade policy has raised fears of a global slowdown, inflation, and stock market instability.

GK Quick Notes

1. Difference Between Tariff and Tax

2. European Union (EU) – Snapshot

Global Trade Policy Insight

• Reciprocal Tariff: Imposing matching duties on goods if a partner country imposes high tariffs.
• Protectionism: Using tariffs to shield local industries from foreign competition.
• Free Trade Advocates: Argue for minimal tariffs under WTO rules to ensure fair global commerce.

Here's your news + notes based on the passage on India's and Pakistan's shifting arms deals, with key static GK, military strategy context, and clean bullet format for legal and general awareness prep:

Current Affairs Note

India Moves Away from Russia; Pakistan Leans on China for Arms Imports

1. India’s recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, used both indigenous defence systems and foreign-made weapons:

• Russia: Pechora and OSA-AK missiles
• Israel: SkyStriker drones
• Western countries: France (e.g. Rafale), U.K., and U.S.

2. India has reduced its arms dependence on Russia:

• 1990s: 96.5% of India's arms from Russia
• 2020s: Down to ~75%; France (9%), U.K. (5.5%), Israel (5%), U.S. (3%)

3. Pakistan has undergone a similar but opposite shift:

• 2000s: ~67% of weapons from U.S.
• 2020s: ~95% now sourced from China
• Other suppliers include Turkey (especially for UAVs)

4. India’s air power imports show stronger diversification:

• 2020s: 55%+ from France, U.K., and Israel
• Russia remains relevant but not dominant
• Pakistan’s air power imports now overwhelmingly come from China (50%-85% over the last three decades)

5. The U.S. remains the largest arms exporter globally, even if its role in South Asia declines:

• 2020s: 65% of global arms exports from U.S.
• Russia: Declined to 5% (post-Ukraine war)
• China: Under 2% globally, but 33% of Chinese exports go to Pakistan

GK Static & Military Notes

1. India's Defence Strategy Shift

2. Pakistan’s Supplier Evolution

3. Key Players in Global Arms Trade

India's Key Imported Air Assets

• Rafale Jets – from France
• Heron UAVs – from Israel
• Apache & Chinook Helicopters – from U.S.

Pakistan’s Foreign Air Assets

• PL-15 Missiles – from China
• Bayraktar UAVs – from Turkey
• JF-17 Fighters – China-Pakistan joint development

Strategic Insight 

• Shift reflects strategic diversification by India for self-reliance + Western alignment.
• Pakistan’s dependency on China shows regional bloc formation.
• U.S. still dominates globally, but its influence in South Asia is shrinking.