11 April 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Phule: a constant gardener of social revolution

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 11)

Early Life and Awakening

• Born in 1827 in a lower caste traditionally engaged in gardening.
• Faced caste discrimination at a wedding, which inspired him to challenge social inequality.
• Influenced by progressive education and rationalist literature.

Educational Reforms

• Started the first school for girls in 1848, followed by 18 more schools within three years.
• Opened night schools for workers and farmers by 1855.
• Faced opposition from orthodox sections of society.

Social Activism and Ideological Stand

• Opposed orthodox reformers and supported government efforts for social justice.
• Founded a truth-seeking society (Satya Shodhak Samaj) in 1873 to challenge upper-caste reform movements.
• Rejected the 1857 revolt, fearing it would restore oppressive rule.

Views on Caste and Slavery

• Compared caste-based discrimination to American slavery.
• Highlighted deep-rooted oppression under previous regimes.
• Advocated compulsory primary education and incentives for poor children.

Constructive Vision for Society

• Suggested reforms in agriculture, dam construction, and forest management.
• Encouraged involvement of soldiers in civil works to benefit both health and economy.

Religious Beliefs and Rationalism

• Criticized religious texts for promoting inequality.
• Called for universal human equality and rejected caste-based sacredness.
• Advocated gender equality and questioned male-dominated customs.

2. Indoor air pollution: can better design help protect our health?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

Outdoor vs Indoor Air Pollution

• Most people think of air pollution as an outdoor problem, but indoor air can also be harmful.
• In urban areas, people spend around 70–90% of their time indoors, yet indoor air quality is often overlooked.

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

• In rural India, indoor air pollution mainly comes from using solid fuels for cooking.
• In cities, indoor pollution arises from smoking, cooking, incense sticks, chemical cleaners, and mosquito coils.
• Building materials like paint, plaster, and furnishings also release harmful substances.
• Outdoor pollution can also enter buildings, especially in places with poor insulation.

Understanding Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• IAQ refers to the quality of air inside and around buildings.
• Poor IAQ can lead to health problems like eye and throat irritation, headaches, and fatigue.
• Long-term exposure may cause respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and even cancer.
• Crowded spaces with poor ventilation can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide and sickness.

Role of Design and Ventilation

• Lack of ventilation in buildings traps indoor air and increases pollution levels.
• Opening windows, allowing sunlight, and using indoor plants can improve air quality.
• In hospitals and other enclosed places, design strategies like using HEPA filters and reducing harmful materials are helpful.

Need for Healthy Building Practices

• Green building design is becoming more affordable and common after COVID-19.
• Healthy design includes good airflow, natural lighting, proper waste disposal, and fewer people in closed spaces.
• Retrofitting older buildings is possible but more difficult. Simple steps like opening windows and adding greenery still help.

3. Global order is disrupted by trade weaponization: Rajnath

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

Analysis of the news:

• The Defence Minister warned of weaponization of trade, finance, and monopolies over critical technologies, leading to decline in global institutions and rising unilateralism.
• The global geopolitical landscape is in flux, marked by de-globalisation, resource scarcity, migration, and climate concerns.
• New-age warfare now includes cyber, space, information, and drone-based combat, revolutionizing military strategies.
• He emphasised the role of AI, robotics, and quantum technologies in future wars.
• The Defence Ministry has designated 2025 as the “Year of Reforms” to initiate transformative changes.

4. Trump Pauses Tariffs, Targets China in Trade War Reset

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:                                                                               

Background: Escalating Tariff Tensions

• The US-China trade war intensified when China retaliated against US tariffs, prompting President Trump to impose even steeper duties.
• However, in a surprising twist, Trump later announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries, effectively narrowing the dispute to just China.

Selective Targeting and Strategic Focus

• While tariffs were paused for countries like India, they were sharply raised on Chinese imports—up to 125%.
• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised nations willing to negotiate, making it clear that the real showdown is between the US and China.
• The broader trade war, which once involved multiple countries, has now been narrowed down to its original target—China.

Why Baseline Tariffs Remain

• The standard 10% tariffs remain in place and are unlikely to be removed.
• The rationale behind them has shifted from national security to economic balancing to revenue generation.
• These baseline tariffs are expected to partially fund the Trump administration’s proposed tax cuts, giving them fiscal significance beyond trade policy.

Trump’s Persistent Tariff Ideology

• Trump’s belief in tariffs is not new. His consistent view, since the 1980s, is that trade deficits signify economic loss.
• This mindset, reinforced by his economic advisors like Peter Navarro, underpins his aggressive trade stance.
• Trump views surpluses as victories and believes tariffs can coerce countries like China into more “fair” trade arrangements.

China’s Trade Dominance and Structural Challenges

• China’s dominance in global manufacturing, low domestic demand, and export-oriented growth have created global trade imbalances.
• Despite rising up the value chain, China continues to focus on low-cost exports, reducing its imports and worsening global asymmetries.
• Trump’s tariffs are aimed at correcting this structural imbalance, even if his methods are controversial.

Structural Flaws in the US Economy

• The US, by design, runs trade deficits—it consumes more than it produces. This makes tariffs self-defeating.
• Higher tariffs increase prices, dampen consumer spending, and inject uncertainty into investment decisions.
• While the US economy had been on a soft-landing path, tariffs disrupted that trajectory, raising inflation and tying the hands of the Federal Reserve on rate cuts.

Conclusion:

• Trump’s 90-day tariff pause is only a temporary reprieve, not a resolution.
• With no clarity on what follows, uncertainty continues to loom over global trade.
• The shift in US policy from a multilateral dispute to a bilateral standoff with China reveals the core of Trump’s trade strategy but its long-term efficacy remains questionable.

5. Navkar Mahamantra Divas: Celebrating Mahavir Jayanti

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120649 )

Bhagwan Mahavir:

Early Life and Background

• Bhagwan Mahavir was born in 599 BCE in Kundagrama, a suburb of Vaishali in present-day Bihar, India.
• His birth name was Vardhamana, meaning “one who grows”, as prosperity increased in his kingdom after his birth.
• He was born into a royal Kshatriya family, the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, who belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.

Renunciation and Spiritual Journey

• Despite growing up in luxury, Vardhamana was deeply inclined toward spirituality and detachment.
• At the age of 30, he renounced his royal life, family, and worldly possessions to pursue spiritual liberation.
• For 12 years, he practiced intense penance, meditation, and austerity, enduring hardship with equanimity.
• He attained Kevalajnana (infinite knowledge and perception) under a sal tree at the age of 42, thus becoming a Tirthankara (spiritual teacher).

Teachings and Principles

• Mahavir emphasized the Five Great Vows (Mahavratas):
  • Ahimsa (Non-violence)
  • Satya (Truth)
  • Asteya (Non-stealing)
  • Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
  • Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
• He taught that liberation (moksha) is possible through Right Faith (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra).
• He rejected caste distinctions and promoted equality, compassion, and self-discipline.

Legacy and Nirvana

• Bhagwan Mahavir attained nirvana (liberation) at the age of 72 in Pavapuri, Bihar.
• His teachings laid the foundation of Jainism, a religion rooted in non-violence and self-realization.
• His legacy continues to inspire millions worldwide to follow a life of peace, restraint, and truth.

Prelims Facts

1. Kerala duo develops eco-friendly edible wrappers

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 3)

Edible Food Wrapper Innovation:

They plan to work with CSIR, study market trends, and apply for a patent.

The innovation aims to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable living.

The wrapper is made using cellulose-producing bacteria as the base material.

It also contains emulsifiers from bacteria and essential oils from plants, which provide anti-microbial properties.

This helps in extending the shelf life of food items.

The wrapper is edible and decomposes within a month if discarded.

The product has a plastic-like appearance, which may aid in public acceptance.

2. What is Extradition?

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 14)

Analysis of the news:

What is Extradition?

• Extradition is the legal process by which one country formally surrenders an accused or convicted person to another country for prosecution or punishment.
• It is typically governed by a bilateral or multilateral treaty.
• The presence of a treaty does not guarantee extradition; most treaties include conditions under which extradition can be denied, such as political motives or lack of dual criminality.

The Legal Framework: Treaties and Conditions

• Modern extradition treaties follow the principle of dual criminality—offences must be punishable under the laws of both countries.
• Additionally, treaties contain exceptions, like political offences or cases lacking good faith, which can be grounds for refusal.
• India currently has extradition treaties with 48 countries and non-binding arrangements with 12 others.

Extradition Process: Legal and Diplomatic Hurdles

• The extradition process begins with a formal request from the country where the crime occurred.
• The requested nation then assesses the legal validity of the request and the charges.
• If approved, the individual is extradited after exhausting all legal appeals.
• In Rana’s case, a senior NIA team went to Los Angeles to bring him back.
• However, the process took over a decade, showcasing how extraditions can be prolonged and influenced by international relations.

Challenges and the Role of Diplomacy

• Despite formal treaties, extradition remains largely a diplomatic affair, with political sensitivities often delaying or derailing the process.
• Rana’s extradition was facilitated by support from the Biden administration, contrasting with the unresolved case of David Headley, who avoided extradition through a plea deal in the US.
• These cases highlight how political negotiations often outweigh purely legal considerations.

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