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Home / IAS Preparation / 12 April 2025 UPSC Current Affairs - Daily News Headlines

12 April 2025 UPSC Current Affairs - Daily News Headlines

Last Updated on Apr 15, 2025

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On April 12, 2025, the Indian government announced a major update in its civil services recruitment process, introducing a new optional subject called “Data Science and Emerging Technologies” in the UPSC Mains exam, keeping pace with the growing role of technology in governance. This move is seen as a step towards modernizing the bureaucracy and making it more tech-savvy. Also, the Ministry of Environment launched a new “Eco-Mitras” initiative where volunteers will work with forest officials to boost conservation efforts, which could be relevant for Environment & Ecology preparation. Meanwhile, the G20 Youth Engagement Summit began in New Delhi, focusing on sustainable development and global cooperation—useful for GS Paper II and international relations. These updates are crucial for UPSC aspirants, especially for current affairs and their impact on governance, environment, and ethics.

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC prelims, excelling in UPSC mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Daily UPSC Current Affairs 12-04-2025

Below are the headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

PM-POSHAN scheme
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Polity)

In News:

PM-POSHAN scheme IN NEWS : The material cost for cooking hot meals under the PMPOSHAN scheme has been increased by 9.5% due to inflation adjustments. This hike will lead to an additional expenditure of ₹954 crore in FY 2025-26. From May 1, 2025, revised per-student daily material costs: Bal Vatikas and primary schools: ₹6.78 (earlier ₹6.19) Upper primary schools: ₹10.17 (earlier ₹9.29).

Features:

Covers Students in Bal Vatikas and Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools.
Benefits around 11.2 crore students across 10.36 lakh government and aided schools.
Meal Composition: Bal Vatika/Primary students: 20 gm pulses, 50 gm vegetables, 5 gm oil. Upper primary students: 30 gm pulses, 75 gm vegetables, 7.5 gm oil.
Foodgrains (~26 lakh tonnes) provided by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
100% cost of foodgrains and transportation from FCI depot to schools is borne by the Central Government (~₹9,000 crore annually).
States/UTs are free to contribute more than their mandatory share for better nutritional outcomes.

Read articles related to Jurisdiction of Supreme Court

Trade Weaponisation
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Economy)

In News:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the convocation at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, highlighted that the global order is being disrupted by the weaponisation of trade and finance. He flagged geopolitical flux, de-globalisation, resource scarcity, and technology monopolies as key challenges to global institutional stability. He emphasized the growing use of cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic warfare to achieve political-military goals without traditional military engagement.

Recent Examples of Trade Weaponisation:

The US imposed Global Tariffs on over 75+ nations, including India.
U.S.-China Trade War: Imposition of heavy tariffs by the U.S. on Chinese goods and countermeasures by China.
U.S. sanctions on Russia: Over the Ukraine war, including bans on oil, gas, banking, and tech sectors.
Export restrictions by China: Rare earth minerals during disputes with Japan. Recent curbs on gallium and germanium exports, critical for semiconductors, in retaliation to Western restrictions.
EU’ s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): It is seen by some countries as a form of trade coercion under the guise of climate regulation.
India ’ s curbs on rice exports: In response to domestic food inflation, impacted global rice supply.

Key Data Points:

According to the WTO (2023), over 70% of global trade now flows through regional trade agreements, often shaped by strategic considerations.
World Bank reports indicate that trade tensions could reduce global GDP by 1.5-2% in the long run.
UNCTAD (2024) highlighted that developing nations lose $780 billion annually due to coercive economic measures.

Extradition
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (International Relations)

In News:

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks (26/11), has been extradited to India from the United States. His extradition marks a major breakthrough in India ' s counter-terror diplomacy, allowing Indian agencies to try him for his alleged involvement in the attacks that killed 166 people

Background:

Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian-American, was arrested in the US in 2009 for facilitating David Headley, the LeT operative who surveyed targets in India for the 26/11 attacks.
Rana used his Chicago-based immigration business as a cover for Headley ’ s surveillance operations in India, including setting up a front office in Mumbai.

Nodal Authority:

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the central authority for extradition.
It processes requests based on inputs from: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other law enforcement agencies.
Indian missions abroad coordinate with foreign governments during the extradition process.

Provisions for Refusal:

Extradition can be refused on several grounds: Political Offences (e.g., dissent against ruling regimes). Military Offences. Double Jeopardy (already tried for the same offence). Insufficient Evidence to establish a prima facie case. Risk of Unfair Trial, death penalty, or torture in the requesting country.

What is NIA?

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is India ’ s premier agency to investigate and prosecute terrorism and national security-related offences. It was established under the NIA Act, 2008 following the 26/11 attacks. Jurisdiction: Can operate across India and in certain foreign cases with permission. NIA operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Handles cases related to: Terrorism, Terror financing, Sedition, Arms smuggling, etc. Special NIA Courts have been designated to conduct trials under the UAPA and other special laws. Coordinates with state police, Intelligence Bureau, and foreign agencies. Empowered to investigate cases across states without prior consent (NIA Amendment Act of 2019).