8 April 2025 Current Affairs

Pamban Bridge Reconstructed: A Historic Link Reborn

On April 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly constructed Pamban Bridge, replacing the iconic 110-year-old sea bridge that connected Rameswaram to the Indian mainland.
The original bridge, opened in 1914, was India’s first sea bridge and a vital link for both transport and strategic access.
The new structure reflects technological upgrades while retaining the legacy of its historic predecessor.

Background of the Pamban Bridge

• Commissioned in 1914 to connect Mandapam (mainland) to Rameswaram island.
• First sea bridge in India, stretching across the Palk Strait.
• Featured a double-leaf bascule (Scherzer rolling lift) span to allow ship passage.
• Withstood many cyclones, including the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone, though services to Dhanushkodi were permanently suspended after that disaster.
• Named after the nearby town of Pamban.

Key Points from the Current Update

• The new Pamban bridge inaugurated in April 2025 replaces the aging 110-year-old structure.
• The original proposal in 1876 to connect India and Sri Lanka via Adam’s Bridge (Ram Setu) was dropped due to high costs.
• A more feasible alternative was implemented in 1906:

- A railway line from Madurai to Dhanushkodi via Rameswaram

- A steamer service from Dhanushkodi to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon)

• The Pamban bridge served as a crucial segment in this transport route.
• The original structure had 145 piers and stood 12.5 meters above sea level.
• The modernization reflects India's focus on reviving strategic and heritage infrastructure.

India’s Push for Ivy League Campuses and International Academic Collaborations

A recent Parliamentary panel report has highlighted that while India has made progress in attracting foreign universities, no top-tier global institutions like Ivy League universities have yet set up campuses in the country.
The report, tabled in the Rajya Sabha and headed by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, urges the Department of Higher Education to intensify efforts in this direction.
This comes amid growing interest from international institutions and the government's push to globalize Indian higher education.

Background: Foreign Universities in India

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) released guidelines in 2023 for setting up campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.
• GIFT City, Gujarat has emerged as a hub for such initiatives.

- Deakin University and University of Wollongong (Australia) already have campuses there.

- Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University (UK) have approvals to set up campuses.

• Southampton University (UK) is also in the process of establishing a campus in India.
• However, no U.S. university, including Ivy League institutions such as Harvard, Yale, or Columbia, has initiated a campus in India so far.

Key Observations by the Parliamentary Panel

• India’s vast student market is attracting attention from international universities.
• However, the absence of top global universities like the Ivy Leagues is a gap that must be addressed.
• The panel has recommended targeted efforts to bring such institutions into India.

‘Study in India’ (SII) and Global Academic Collaboration

• Launched in 2018, SII aims to attract foreign students by promoting Indian education globally.
• UGC guidelines allow up to 25% supernumerary seats for foreign students.
• Institutions are encouraged to set up international affairs offices and alumni connect cells.

Academic and Research Collaboration

• Joint research proposals between Indian and foreign institutions are being promoted.
• Collaborations include 28 nations, such as the U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia, and France.
• Focus areas:

- Emerging technologies

- Energy & sustainability

- Food security

- Healthcare

- Industry

• 787 joint proposals approved under the scheme so far.
• Results include international conferences, workshops, and joint publications.

Global Tariff Shock Triggers Major Selloff In Indian Markets

Black Monday haunts stock markets, indices fall 3%

30-share BSE Sensex crashes 2,226.79 points or 2.95% to settle at 73,137.90; NSE Nifty tumbles 742.85 points or 3.24% to settle at 22,161.60

What Happened on April 6–7, 2025?

A steep market crash occurred as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 26% “reciprocal tariff” on India and other trading partners.
The move triggered fears of a global trade war, with recession worries looming large.
Indian indices suffered sharp declines, mimicking the Wall Street rout and selloffs across Europe and Asia.

• Mid-caps dropped 7.3%, small-caps plummeted by 10%
• Only Hindustan Unilever (HUL) stayed in green: up 0.25% at ₹2,250.15
• Major losers:

- Tata Steel (down 7.73%)

- Larsen & Toubro, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys, ICICI Bank

Global Fallout of Trump’s Tariff Move

• Trump announced a 26% tariff on Indian goods on April 2, 2025
• Major U.S. indices reacted sharply:

-  Dow Jones: −1,213 points (−3.17%)

- S&P 500: −3.57%

- Nasdaq: −4.00% (confirmed bear market)

• Investors shifted towards safer assets like government bonds

Global Markets Tumble in Tandem

• European STOXX 600 fell 5.8% - worst since COVID-19 crash
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 slumped 7.8%, lowest since October 2023

- All 225 stocks ended in red

- Japanese banks saw a 17%+ decline

Sectoral Analysis & Economic Risks (India)

• All 13 key sectors on Nifty/Sensex ended in red
• India Ratings warned of second-order impacts: Chemicals, textiles, steel, and industrial machinery may face pressure due to global supply shifts
• Investment sentiment likely to remain cautious
• Analysts call for monetary and fiscal policy support to cushion slowdown risks

ANI Vs Wikipedia – Defamation Case.

The Delhi High Court recently passed a significant order in a defamation suit filed by ANI Media Pvt. Ltd. against Wikipedia and certain of its administrators. The case centered around allegedly defamatory content posted and locked on ANI’s Wikipedia page. The Court granted interim relief to ANI, emphasizing the intermediary's responsibility in hosting accurate and neutral information.

Key Highlights of the Case

1. Parties Involved:

• Plaintiff: ANI Media Pvt. Ltd., a leading multimedia news agency in India.
• Defendant 1: Wikipedia (operated by Wikimedia Foundation Inc., USA).
• Defendants 2 to 4: Wikipedia administrators with editorial and blocking privileges.

2. Plaintiff’s Allegations:

• Edits since Feb 2019 introduced false and defamatory content.
• Administrators reverted corrections, including those based on credible sources like BBC.
• Page was locked from public editing on 27 May 2024.
• A cease-and-desist notice issued on 13 June 2024 was ignored.
• Defamatory claims included:

- Being a government mouthpiece,

- Spreading fake news,

- Mistreating employees,

- Declining journalistic quality.

3. Court’s Observations:

• Wikipedia’s neutrality policy was violated as content relied on opinion pieces, not neutral reporting.
• Single Publication Rule did not apply since the edits were not verbatim reproductions.
• Defendant 1, though an intermediary, had a fiduciary duty to prevent publication of harmful content.
• Impugned statements were ex-facie defamatory and distorted original sources.

4. Relief Granted:

• Court restrained Wikipedia and its administrators from publishing/republishing defamatory content.
• Ordered removal of the existing defamatory content.
• Directed lifting of the protection status on ANI’s page.
• Noted failure of Defendants 2–4 to appear or file a reply.

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