{"id":3818,"date":"2025-04-29T11:08:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T11:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawentranceindia.com\/blogs\/?p=3818"},"modified":"2025-04-29T12:15:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:15:16","slug":"mlc-daily-current-affairs-29-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawentranceindia.com\/blogs\/mlc-daily-current-affairs-29-april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"MLC Daily Current Affairs – 29 April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today in History (April 29th<\/sup>,1769)<\/h1>\n

On this day, Scottish engineer James Watt’s patent for a steam engine with a separate condenser got enrolled.<\/p>\n

Summary of Today’s News<\/strong><\/h2>\n

India and France Seal \u20b964,000 Crore Deal for 26 Rafale-M Fighter Jets <\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Rafale-M-Fighter-Jets-Deal\"<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Agreement Finalised<\/strong>: India and France have finalized an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy, valued at nearly \u20b964,000 crore.<\/li>\n
  • Deliveries are scheduled to begin from mid-2028 and be completed by 2030.<\/li>\n
  • Signing of IGA<\/strong>: The agreement was signed remotely by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and France\u2019s Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This deal includes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Training, simulator, associated equipment, and weapons.<\/li>\n
    • Performance-based logistics.<\/li>\n
    • Additional equipment for the Indian Air Force’s existing Rafale fleet.<\/li>\n
    • Transfer of technology for integrating indigenous weapons like the Astra air-to-air missile.<\/li>\n
    • Training<\/strong>: Aircraft crew will undergo training both in France and India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Job Creation & Infrastructure<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • A production facility for Rafale fuselage and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) facilities for engines, sensors, and weapons will be set up in India.<\/li>\n
      • The deal is expected to generate thousands of jobs and benefit numerous MSMEs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        UNSC’s Tepid Response to Pahalgam Attack Highlights Diplomatic Challenges<\/span><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned the Pahalgam terror attack but the statement was viewed as weak and inadequate.<\/li>\n
        • The statement expressed condolences to India and Nepal (which lost a citizen), and reaffirmed the global threat posed by terrorism.<\/li>\n
        • It failed to:\n
            \n
          • Name The Resistance Front (TRF)<\/strong>, which initially claimed responsibility.<\/li>\n
          • Acknowledge TRF’s links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)<\/strong>, a UN-designated terror outfit.<\/li>\n
          • Mention intent to target non-Muslims, an act aimed at inciting communal violence.<\/li>\n
          • Refer to cooperation with the Indian government, as had been done in past statements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • The statement was seen as \u201cwatered down\u201d<\/strong> due to Pakistan\u2019s current UNSC membership (2025\u201326) and China\u2019s historical support for Pakistan<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
          • Negotiated by France<\/strong>, the UNSC President, but lacked strong input from key members like the U.S., Russia, and the U.K.<\/strong><\/li>\n
          • India is likely to:\n
              \n
            • Push for a stronger statement at the UN General Assembly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
            • Seek designation of TRF and involved terrorists<\/strong> under UNSC sanctions, similar to Masood Azhar post-Pulwama.<\/li>\n
            • Revive efforts at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)<\/strong> and push for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism<\/strong> at the UN.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Little hope is placed on Pakistan’s cooperation<\/strong>, based on past failures post-Mumbai (2008), Pathankot (2016), and Pulwama (2019).<\/li>\n
            • A multi-pronged global strategy<\/strong> and persistent diplomatic effort<\/strong> (as shown in the Tahawwur Rana case) are essential for justice and long-term peace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Global Military Spending Surges in 2024<\/span><\/h3>\n

              \"Global-Military-Spending-Surges-in-2024\"<\/p>\n

                \n
              • According to SIPRI’s 2024 report<\/strong>, India’s military spending was nearly nine times<\/strong> higher than Pakistan\u2019s.<\/li>\n
              • India spent $86.1 billion<\/strong>, up 1.6% from the previous year, ranking 5th globally<\/strong> in defense expenditure.<\/li>\n
              • Pakistan\u2019s defense budget was $10.2 billion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
              • Top 5 global military spenders<\/strong>: United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India \u2014 together accounting for 60% of global military expenditure<\/strong> ($1,635 billion).<\/li>\n
              • China<\/strong>:\n
                  \n
                • Spent $314 billion<\/strong>, up 7%, marking 30 consecutive years of military growth<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                • Accounted for 50% of all military spending in Asia and Oceania<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                • Focused on modernization, cyberwarfare, and nuclear expansion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Europe<\/strong>:\n
                    \n
                  • Military spending rose 17% to $693 billion<\/strong>, driven largely by the Ukraine war<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                  • Spending now exceeds Cold War levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • Russia<\/strong>:\n
                      \n
                    • Spent $149 billion<\/strong>, a 38% increase<\/strong> from 2023 and double the 2015 level<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                    • Defense spending made up 7.1% of GDP<\/strong> and 19% of total government spending<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Ukraine<\/strong>:\n
                        \n
                      • Spent $64.7 billion<\/strong>, a 2.9% rise<\/strong>, equal to 43% of Russia\u2019s spending<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                      • Military burden was highest globally, with 34% of its GDP<\/strong> allocated to defense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        India Blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels, Rebukes BBC Over Pahalgam Attack Coverage<\/span><\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        • The Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels<\/strong> for spreading provocative, communal, and misleading content<\/strong>, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                        • One blocked channel had a subscriber base of 14.6 million<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                        • The decision was made following a recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                        • Blocked channels include Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Bol News, and Geo News<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                        • Simultaneously, India sent a formal letter to the BBC<\/strong>, objecting to its use of the term \u201cmilitants\u201d instead of \u201cterrorists\u201d<\/strong> in its coverage of the Pahalgam attack.<\/li>\n
                        • The External Affairs Ministry<\/strong> conveyed India’s strong sentiments to Jackie Martin, BBC’s India head.<\/li>\n
                        • The External Publicity Division<\/strong> will monitor BBC\u2019s future reporting<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
                        • A BBC spokesperson<\/strong> responded, stating the outlet aimed to report the incident accurately, impartially, and responsibly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n