9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 20th February, 2025

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 2

Trump’s policies create divisions between US and Europe

Source: The post Trump’s policies create divisions between US and Europe has been created, based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: Has Trumpism broken the Collective West?” published in “Indian Express” on 20th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- International Relations-Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: The article discusses growing divisions between the U.S. and Europe after Trump’s return. It explains how Trump’s policies on security, trade, and politics challenge Western unity. Russia and China benefit from this split. India remains cautious and focuses on its own interests.

For detailed information on Trump’s Second Term Reshapes America and World read this article hear

What Are the Recent Shifts in U.S. and European Relations?

1. Trump’s Peace Talks with Russia: U.S. President Trump initiated direct negotiations with Russia over Ukraine, bypassing Kyiv and Brussels.
2. Shock in Europe: Vice President JD Vance strongly criticized European mainstream parties at the Munich Security Conference, leaving some allies in tears.
3. Security Commitments: Trump wants to reduce America’s security role in Europe, raising concerns among NATO allies.
4. Trade Policies: Trump argues that the existing global trade system no longer benefits American workers and promotes bilateral trade deals.
5. Political Divide: Trump-backed conservatives are challenging liberal policies in the West, with figures like Elon Musk supporting right-wing parties in Europe.

How Has Russia Responded to the Western Divide?

1. Russia has promoted the idea of a “Collective West” to unite its people against Europe and the U.S.
2. The ongoing peace talks with the U.S. are viewed by Russia as a chance to regain its significant position in Europe, a status it held post-World War II but lost after the Soviet Union collapsed.
3. Russia sees the division within the West as an opportunity to restore its influence in the European regional order.
4. The expected summit between Putin and Trump could further Russia’s goal to reintegrate into Western economic and security structures.

What Role Does China Play in the Situation?

1. Exploiting Divisions: China benefits from the growing divide between the U.S. and its European allies, which weakens the “Collective West.”
2. Strategic Probing: China, like Russia, repeatedly tests the gaps in U.S. alliances, especially in Asia.
3. Potential Gains: An American withdrawal from Europe and Asia aligns with China’s strategic interests.
4. Negotiating with the U.S.: Despite criticizing the “Collective West,” China, like Russia, is eager to strike deals with Washington when beneficial.

How Is India Positioning Itself Amid These Changes?

1. India’s Cautious Approach: India no longer follows past anti-Western propaganda from Russia and China. It now critically assesses their rhetoric.
2. Engaging with Western Powers: India does not fully align with either side but actively seeks strategic agreements with Western nations.
3. Understanding the West’s Internal Conflict: India recognizes the growing divide between the U.S. and Europe and sees opportunities in these changes.
4. Seeking a Grand Bargain: Like Moscow and Beijing, India is ready to negotiate favorable deals with Western powers to protect its national interests.

Question for practice:

Evaluate how the growing divisions between the U.S. and Europe under Trump’s leadership impact global power dynamics, particularly in relation to Russia, China, and India.

Manipur faces President’s Rule amid political and ethnic turmoil

Source: The post Manipur faces President’s Rule amid political and ethnic turmoil has been created, based on the article “Manipur is in need of ‘greater common good’ politics” published in “The Hindu” on 20th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-Polity-issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure

Context: The article discusses the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13, 2025. It explains political struggles, ethnic tensions, and missed Assembly deadlines. It highlights different types of populism and urges sensitive governance to resolve conflicts and restore stability.

For detailed information on Manipur Crisis: Constitutional Breakdown, Judicial Delays, and Government Inaction read this article hear

Why was President’s Rule imposed in Manipur?

1. Constitutional Breakdown: Article 174 mandates that the gap between two Assembly sessions cannot exceed six months. This deadline expired on February 12, 2025.
2. Political Instability: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9, leading to a leadership crisis. The BJP faced internal conflicts over his replacement.
3. Ethnic Unrest: 20 months of lawlessness since May 3, 2023, made governance difficult.

What political struggles led to this crisis?

1. BJP’s Internal Conflict: Dissident MLAs wanted to remove Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The BJP’s central leadership likely forced his resignation on February 9, 2025.
2. No-Confidence Motion: The Congress planned to move a no-confidence motion. Rebel BJP MLAs were ready to support it, even at the risk of disqualification.
3. Assembly Crisis: Article 174 mandates that two sessions cannot be more than six months apart. The skipped winter session forced a February 10 Budget session, which was canceled.
4. Governor’s Role: Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla declared the session “null and void” on February 9, worsening the crisis.
5. Result: Without a Chief Minister or Assembly session, President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, 2025.

How has President’s Rule been used in Manipur before?

1. Manipur has experienced President’s Rule 11 times, including the latest on February 13, 2025.
2. According to a 2016 RTI reply, it had President’s Rule 10 times before.
3. This makes Manipur one of the most politically unstable States in India.
4. Ethnic diversity contributes to instability, with 33 Scheduled Tribes, mainly Nagas and Kuki-Zos, alongside Meiteis, Pangals, and non-tribal groups.
5. Frequent political conflicts and governance failures have led to repeated constitutional breakdowns.
6. The latest crisis arose from missed Assembly deadlines, BJP infighting, and ethnic unrest.

How did populism fuel ethnic tensions?

1. Types of Populism: The book Righteous Demagogues (2024) defines three populism types – Reordering, Additive, and Quotidian.
2. Biren Singh’s Policies: His government targeted Kuki-Zo tribes through crackdowns on forest encroachment, poppy cultivation, and illegal migration.
3. Ethnic Polarization: His actions were harsh and humiliating, increasing hostility.
4. Political Rivalry: Opponents exploited ethnic fears to strengthen their base.

What are the challenges ahead?

President’s Rule may not last long, and BJP might return to power soon. However, several challenges remain:

• Cross-border movement must be controlled but managed carefully.
• Poppy eradication and forest conservation should continue but with sensitivity.
• Ethnic hostilities must end, and governance should focus on common welfare rather than ethnic populism.

Manipur became a full-fledged State in 1972 and has had diverse leadership in the past. The future should focus on inclusive governance, where leaders emerge based on merit rather than ethnic loyalty.

Question for practice:

Examine how political instability and ethnic tensions contributed to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13, 2025.

GS PAPER - 3

Strengthening telecom networks ensures resilience during disasters

Source: The post Strengthening telecom networks ensures resilience during disasters has been created, based on the article “On building resilient telecom infrastructure” published in “The Hindu” on 20th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Disaster Management

Context: The article discusses how disasters impact telecom networks and how to protect them. It highlights power failures, damaged cables, and high-speed winds as major risks. It suggests solutions like stronger infrastructure, better planning, underground cables, and financial support to ensure telecom resilience during disasters.

Why Are Telecom Networks Important During Disasters?

1. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) released a report on improving telecom networks in disasters.
2. The report, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, addresses the vulnerabilities of telecom infrastructure during calamities like cyclones and earthquakes.
3. Telecom networks help disaster management authorities communicate quickly. This is crucial when lives and property are at risk.
4. They connect local municipalities with State and Union governments. A working telecom system ensures faster coordination and response.

For detailed information on Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure read this article hear

How Do Disasters Impact Telecom Networks?

1. Damage to Towers: High-speed winds can break towers.
2. Cable Breakage: Overland cables can snap, disrupting communication.
3. Undersea Cable Issues: Coastal regions are vulnerable because they connect India to the global internet. Damaged landing stations can cause major disruptions.
4. Power Failures: Most disruptions happen due to electricity loss. Data analysis since 2016 shows power issues are the main reason for telecom failures.

What Immediate Steps Can Be Taken to Reduce Disruptions?

1. Ensure Power Supply: Power failures are the main cause of outages, so restoring electricity is crucial.
2. Provide Emergency Fuel: Odisha officials give 50 litres of fuel to telecom operators to keep networks running.
3. Use Real-Time Monitoring: The Department of Telecommunications tracks outages and directs resources quickly.
4. Raise Generator Placement: Keeping diesel generators above flood levels prevents failures.

How Can Networks Be Strengthened for Long-Term Resilience?

1. Build Stronger Towers: Coastal towers should withstand high wind speeds to reduce damage.
2. Implement Underground Cables: The “dig-once” policy protects telecom infrastructure from surface-level damage.
3. Use Disaster Risk Modelling: Telecom planning should include hazard vulnerability assessments.
4. Adopt Parametric Insurance: Financial protection ensures quick recovery and better disaster-proofing.
5. Stronger Coordination: Sharing real-time damage reports helps in faster repairs.

Conclusion

Disaster-proof telecom networks need strong infrastructure, smart planning, and financial support. Small but effective changes can prevent major failures. Investing in resilience will help India’s telecom networks stay operational during emergencies.

Question for practice:

Discuss the impact of disasters on telecom networks and the measures to enhance their resilience.

Indian rupee keeps losing value

Source: The post Indian rupee keeps losing value has been created, based on the article “RBI’s rupee challenge” published in “Indian Express” on 20th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy

Context: The article discusses the depreciation of the Indian rupee and the RBI’s role in managing it. It explains how market forces, inflation, trade deficits, and capital flows influence the rupee’s value. It warns of risks like currency crises due to volatile capital movements.

For detailed information on Rupee’s Fall Driven by Stronger US Dollar read this article hear

What is the status of Indian Rupee?

1. The Indian rupee has been depreciating steadily over the years. In 2010-11, the exchange rate was ₹45.56 per USD, but by 2023-24, it reached ₹82.78 per USD.
2. The rupee has weakened every year except 2017-18. Since September 2024, its monthly average value has also declined.

What Causes the Rupee to Depreciate?

1. Higher Inflation in India: Inflation in India is generally higher than in international markets. This reduces the purchasing power of the rupee faster than the US dollar. Higher inflation also increases import costs, such as oil, which further weakens the rupee.
2. Trade and Current Account Deficits: India imports more goods and services than it exports. Even large remittances from Indians abroad cannot fill this gap. This forces India to rely on foreign capital inflows to cover deficits and build foreign exchange reserves.

Why Can’t Market-Driven Exchange Rates Stop Depreciation?

1 The rupee’s value depends on capital inflows and outflows. Since India opened its capital account in the 1990s, portfolio investments have been volatile.

2.,Unlike Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or commercial bank lending, portfolio investments enter and exit quickly, making the rupee unstable.

What Are the Risks of Letting the Rupee Depreciate?

1. Capital Flight: If investors expect the rupee to fall, they may withdraw funds, worsening the depreciation.
2. Foreign Exchange Reserve Drain: The RBI intervenes to control volatility using forex reserves. However, excessive intervention can weaken reserves and investor confidence.
3. Risk of Currency Crisis: Some countries have faced sharp currency collapses in recent decades. India has avoided this, but the risk remains due to the rupee’s history of sudden declines.

What Role Does the RBI Play?

1. The RBI intervenes in the forex market to prevent sudden and significant fluctuations in the rupee’s value.
2. However, its actions can sometimes spur capital outflows if investors expect the rupee to fall sharply, complicating the RBI’s efforts.
3. India’s persistent trade deficits and reliance on volatile capital flows make the economy vulnerable to3. currency crises.
4. Despite the RBI’s efforts to stabilize the rupee, India’s structural economic issues, such as a lack of competitive exports and dependence on foreign capital, pose ongoing challenges to maintaining a stable exchange rate.

Question for practice:

Examine the factors contributing to the depreciation of the Indian rupee and the risks associated with it.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM)

News: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) to harmonize the government’s digital presence.

About DBIM

• DBIM aims to revolutionize India’s digital governance by establishing a consistent, secure, and inclusive digital identity across government platforms.
• Objectives of DBIM
  • Aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Reform, Perform, and Transform.”
  • Enhances citizen-centric digital governance.
  • Simplifies and standardizes government websites and services for accessibility and inclusivity.
  • Strengthens the “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” approach with Uniform Governance.

Key Features of DBIM

1. DBIM Toolkit – Ensures uniformity in digital identity across government platforms.
2. Gov.In CMS – Streamlined website management system for government websites.
3. Central Content Publishing System (CCPS) – Centralized content governance for consistent messaging.
4. Social Media Guidelines – Standardized digital communication for ministries and departments.

Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, 1999

News: The Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, 1999 is in the spotlight due to its application in the Torres investment scam, a major financial fraud that has impacted nearly 125,000 investors.

About Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act, 1999

• The Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 (MPID Act) was enacted to safeguard investors from fraudulent financial establishments that collect money under false promises and later default on repayments.
• The Act provides for the attachment, sale, and distribution of assets belonging to such financial entities to ensure that depositors can recover their funds.

Key Provisions of the MPID Act

1. Applicability:
   • The Act applies to financial establishments that accept deposits from the public but fail to return the money along with the promised benefits (interest, bonus, or profits).
   • The term financial establishment excludes banks and institutions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or other regulatory bodies.
2. Punishment for Fraudulent Financial Entities:
   • Any person responsible for defaulting on deposits—promoters, directors, partners, managers, or employees—can face up to six years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
3. Attachment and Sale of Properties:
   • The government can attach money, properties, and other assets acquired by the fraudulent financial establishment.
   • Once an attachment order is issued, a designated court can make it absolute and order the sale of assets.
   • The sale proceeds are equitably distributed among defrauded depositors.
4. Fast-Track Mechanism for Investors’ Relief:
   • Unlike regular criminal proceedings that can take years, the MPID Act provides a speedy process for investors to reclaim their money.
   • The law ensures that legal expenses do not become a burden on depositors seeking justice.

Significance of the MPID Act

• Protects investors—especially from middle-class and lower-income groups—from Ponzi schemes and fraudulent financial firms.
• Ensures that defrauded investors can recover their money through a structured attachment and liquidation process.
• Strengthens state enforcement against financial fraud, independent of existing banking and corporate laws.

Global Sea Ice Cover Hits Record Low

News: Global sea ice cover has dropped to a record low, with the combined extent of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice reaching just 15.76 million sq km over the five days leading up to February 13, 2025.

About Sea Ice

• Free-floating ice in the polar regions, distinct from icebergs, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves (which form on land). It expands in winter and melts in summer, but some ice persists year-round.
• As of February 13, global sea ice extent dropped to 15.76 million sq km, breaking the previous record of 15.93 million sq km (Jan-Feb 2023).
• Arctic and Antarctic sea ice levels are at or near historical lows, based on satellite data since the 1970s.

Reasons Behind the Dip

• Warm Air & Warm Oceans: Warmer temperatures delay freezing and accelerate melting.
• Ice-Breaking Winds: Antarctic sea ice, being thinner and more mobile, is easily fragmented.
• Storms in the Arctic: Broke apart ice in Barents and Bering Seas.
• Delayed Freezing: Unusually warm waters in Hudson Bay slowed ice formation.

Consequences of Reduced Sea Ice

• Increased Heat Absorption: Less ice means more sunlight is absorbed, raising temperatures further.
• Polar Warming Acceleration: Polar regions are heating faster than the rest of the planet.
• Disruption of Ocean Currents: Freshwater from melting ice lowers ocean salinity, slowing water circulation.
• Impact on Marine Life: Disruptions in food chains and habitat loss.
• Threat to Ice Shelves: Slower ocean currents weaken ice shelf stability, leading to further sea-level rise.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II

News: INSV Tarini reached Port Stanley on 18 February 2025. This marks the third and most challenging phase of the voyage.

About Navika Sagar Parikrama II

• Navika Sagar Parikrama II is a pioneering circumnavigation expedition by the Indian Navy.
• It is led by two women officers, showcasing India’s commitment to gender empowerment in maritime sectors.
• The voyage demonstrates the resilience, skill, and self-reliance of the Indian Navy’s personnel.
• The vessel INSV Tarini set sail from Goa, India. It is navigating across the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
• The crew encountered three cyclones and navigated the treacherous Drake Passage.
• They crossed Cape Horn and passed through Point Nemo, the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility.
• The vessel will continue its journey towards Cape Town, South Africa. The final leg of the expedition will lead back to India.

Mission Objectives

• Promote ocean sailing and adventure sports.
• Encourage women’s participation in maritime and defence sectors.
• Highlight India’s rich maritime heritage and Naval traditions.
• Strengthen global goodwill and naval diplomacy.

Bacteria made Band Aid for plants

News: Scientists have discovered a bacterial cellulose bandage that can significantly speed up healing in plants, marking a potential revolution in agriculture and plant care.

About Bacteria-Made Band-Aid

• Bacterial cellulose, a natural polymer produced by certain bacteria, has long been used in human medicine for wound healing.
• Now, researchers have found that it works just as effectively on plants.
• A recent study, published showed that when applied to plant wounds, these cellulose patches accelerated healing by more than 80% compared to untreated cuts.

How It Works

• When plants suffer from injuries—whether due to pruning, environmental damage, or grafting—bacterial cellulose forms a protective layer, reducing infection risk and promoting faster regeneration.
• Researchers found that plants treated with these patches not only healed quicker but also improved their ability to grow new shoots from cuttings, a process called vegetative propagation.
•  The bacterial cellulose patches could:
  • Enhance grafting success in horticulture
  • Protect and preserve cuttings in commercial plant propagation
  • Serve as a growth medium in laboratory research