PDF Download: Click here
1. Which country deported illegal Indians handcuffed and chained to India by military plane?
a. Canada
b. China
c. France
d. USA
Answer: d. USA
– America Deported 104 Illegal Indian Immigrants on February 5, 2025, via Military Aircraft C-17 Globemaster
Brutal Treatment
– A 40-year-old man from Tahli village in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was among the 104 “illegal” immigrants deported by the U.S. in the first batch.
– He told The Indian Express, “We were handcuffed for 40 hours, our legs were chained, and we were not allowed to move an inch from our seats. After repeated requests, we were dragged to the restroom. The crew members would open the toilet door and push us inside.”
– Describing the journey as “worse than hell,” Harvinder said they could barely eat properly for 40 hours.
– He added, “They forced us to eat while being handcuffed. We requested the security personnel to remove the handcuffs for a few minutes, but no one listened. The journey was not only physically painful but also mentally exhausting…” He also mentioned that a “kind” crew member gave them fruits.
Reasons for Deportation
– Individuals attempted to enter the U.S. illegally, often through irregular border crossings.
– Valid visa holders overstayed beyond their permitted duration.
– Some deported individuals committed crimes that affected their legal status.
– Others had no legal basis to remain in the country.
What is Trump’s Stance?
– After taking the oath as the President of the United States on January 20, 2025, Trump addressed the issue of illegal immigrants, saying, “We are removing the worst, most vicious criminals. These are murderers. These are the worst you can ever imagine. We are deporting them first.”
– Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which granted U.S. authorities the power to detain and deport illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities. Following this, a list of 1.5 million illegal immigrants was prepared, including 20,407 Indians.
Why is Trump Using Expensive Military Aircraft for Deportations?
– Using military aircraft for deportations is unusual in the U.S. and is also extremely costly.
– The estimated operational cost of a C-17 military transport aircraft is $28,500 per hour. The deportation flight to India is the longest such flight ever. Previously, similar flights have been conducted to Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and Ecuador. A military plane was also sent to Colombia, but the country opted to bring back its citizens using its own aircraft.
– Deporting immigrants via military planes is five times more expensive than commercial flights.
– Symbolism plays a role—Trump has frequently referred to illegal immigrants as “aliens” and “criminals” who have “invaded” America.
– The sight of immigrants being transported on military planes appears to reinforce Trump’s hardline stance on such “crimes.” The use of shackles and handcuffs during deportation aligns with this messaging.
Even in 2024, 1,100 Indians Were Deported—But with Dignity
– The U.S. also deported Indian citizens during its fiscal year 2023-24. (Note: The U.S. fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.)
– Back then, special charter planes and commercial flights were used for deportations. No handcuffs were used during transportation.
When a Small Country Like Colombia Objected
– Colombia has a population of 52.6 million and is about one-third the size of India in terms of land area.
– When the U.S. attempted to deport Colombian immigrants using a C-17 military cargo plane, Colombian President Gustavo Petro opposed it and denied permission for the U.S. aircraft to land. The C-17 had to return mid-air to the U.S.
– Instead, Colombia sent two aircraft of its own to the U.S. to bring back its citizens with dignity.
– When the deportation flight landed in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, President Gustavo Petro personally boarded the plane and addressed his citizens, saying:
“You are now free and on your own land. Do not despair. The government will provide all possible assistance and financial aid to help you live a life of dignity in Colombia.”
How Many Illegal Indian Immigrants Were Caught Over the Years?
– 2023-24: 90,415 Indians
– 2022-23: 96,917 Indians
– 2021-22: 63,927 Indians
– 2020-21: 30,662 Indians
– 2019-20: 19,883 Indians
Entering Illegally and Seeking Refugee Status
– According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US-CBP) data, between October 2023 and September 2024, 2.9 million illegal immigrants were caught trying to enter the U.S. Among them, 90,415 were Indians.
– These Indian immigrants often claim they feel unsafe in India to seek protection under international laws, which recognize such individuals as refugees.
Over 700,000 Illegal Indian Immigrants in the U.S.
– Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla tweeted that in a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs, it was revealed that the U.S. is deporting 700,000 Indians. Many of them have lived in the U.S. for decades and have no ties left in India. “Now what will they do?” he questioned.
– A report from American think tank Pew Research Center states that 725,000 illegal Indian immigrants reside in the U.S. This makes Indians the third-largest group of illegal immigrants, after Mexico and El Salvador.
– Between February 2019 and March 2023, around 150,000 Indians were arrested while attempting illegal entry at the U.S. border. Most of them were from Gujarat and Punjab.
The “Donkey Route” for Illegal Migration
– The “Donkey Route” is an illegal immigration technique used by many Indians to enter the U.S. and other countries.
– In December 2023, the Bollywood movie Dunki highlighted how illegal immigrants suffer extreme hardships while attempting to enter the U.S., often ruining their lives in the process.
—-
India-U.S. Bilateral Relations
Early Years (Post-Independence to Cold War)
– India and the U.S. established formal diplomatic ties in 1947, shortly after India’s independence. India adopted a non-alignment policy, maintaining neutral relations with both the Soviet Union and the U.S.
– However, during the Cold War, India’s close ties with the Soviet Union often led to strained relations with the U.S., especially after the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation.
Post-Cold War Relations
– With the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, India-U.S. relations gradually improved.
– Economic reforms in India during the 1990s created new opportunities for stronger trade ties.
– India’s 1998 nuclear tests initially led to U.S. sanctions, but relations improved after the Kargil War and President Bill Clinton’s visit to India in 2000.
Strategic Partnership (Post-2000s)
– A major milestone was the 2008 U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, allowing India access to nuclear technology despite not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
– Since then, defense cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, and energy collaboration have significantly deepened.
U.S.-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation (2023)
– Announced in 2023, this roadmap is a comprehensive plan to enhance defense collaboration between India and the U.S.
– It focuses on the joint production and co-development of defense systems and technologies.
– The goal is to reduce India’s reliance on defense imports and promote self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defense manufacturing.
Key Areas of India-U.S. Collaboration
– Jet Engines: Joint production and technology transfer for fighter jet engines.
– Unmanned Platforms: Co-development of drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
– Ammunition and Ground Mobility Systems : Enhancing India’s production capacity for munitions and ground defense systems.
Significance of the Defense Roadmap
– Strengthens India-U.S. strategic partnership and enhances India’s defense capabilities.
– Opens doors for collaboration between defense companies in both countries.
– Facilitates the development of cutting-edge military technologies for defense applications.
————–
2. According to WHO, what is the estimated percentage increase in cancer cases and deaths in the South-East Asia region by the year 2050?
a. 75%
b. 77%
c. 85%
d. 89%
Answer: c. 85%
– In 2022, the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) reported 2.4 million new cancer cases, including:
– 56,000 children diagnosed with cancer
– 1.5 million deaths
– Among all WHO regions, SEAR had the highest cases of lip and oral cavity cancer, cervical cancer, and childhood cancer.
– WHO estimates that by 2050, the number of new cases and deaths will increase by 85%.
Countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR)
– SEAR consists of 11 member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
– Each of the 11 member countries has a WHO country office.
– SEAR is one of the six WHO regions, accounting for over a quarter of the world’s population.
– The WHO South-East Asia Regional Office is headquartered in New Delhi, India.
– The establishment of the South-East Asia Regional Office was approved in 1948 during the First World Health Assembly.
– In November 1948, the regional office was set up in New Delhi.
– The first five member countries were Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
– Over time, the region expanded to include 11 member countries.
Initiatives for Cancer Prevention
– Eight countries have launched national HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination programs, which can help prevent cervical cancer.
– Additionally, 10 countries are implementing the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
– Seven countries have an active population-based cancer registry system to collect cancer data.
– Advanced cancer treatment facilities in 10 countries are reaching a significant portion of patients in need.
– The World Health Organization (WHO) supports these efforts and collaborates with all member countries to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment.
World Cancer Day
– Observed annually on February 4.
– 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Charter against Cancer.
– The Paris Charter was established to strengthen the global fight against cancer in the new millennium.
– Theme for this year: “United by Unique”, emphasizing collective efforts in the fight against cancer.
– WHO recognizes that every patient’s experience is unique and acknowledges the crucial role of doctors, families, friends, and communities in patient care.
————–
3. Who has become the interim President of Syria?
a. Ahmed al-Sharaa
b. Abu Mohammed al-Julani
c. Bashar al-Assad
d. Sultan al-Atrash
Answer: a. Ahmed al-Sharaa
– Ahmed Al-Shara, the former Islamic rebel leader, has been appointed as the interim president of Syria.
– His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a major attack on December 8, 2024, which forced Bashar al-Assad to flee the country. Following this, Russia granted asylum to Assad and his family.
– The announcement of Al-Shara’s appointment was made during a meeting of former rebel groups held in Damascus on January 29, 2025.
– According to Sana News Agency, the announcement was made by Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, the spokesperson for the military operations of Syria’s new government.
– The 2012 Constitution of Syria was suspended, and the Assad-era term was abolished.
US Reward for Al-Sharaa
– The United States had previously placed a reward of $10 million on Al-Sharaa, but this reward was revoked in January 2025 after a US delegation visited Damascus and met him.
Former Al-Qaeda Ties
– Ahmed Al-Sharaa, once known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that led the December 2024 attack to remove Assad from power.
– The group was once linked to al-Qaeda, but later denounced its former ties with the terror group.
Syria at a Glance
– Capital: Damascus
– Currency: Syrian Pound
– Population: 23.2 million (2023)
– Neighboring Countries: Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon
– Sea: Mediterranean Sea
————–
4. Where was the 13th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Ekuverin’ between India and Maldives held?
a. Hulhumale, Maldives
b. Uttarakhand, India
c. Mafilafushi, Maldives
d. Rajasthan, India
Answer: c. Mafilafushi, Maldives
– Ekuverin means ‘friend’.
– It is a bilateral annual exercise.
– It is held alternately in India and Maldives.
– The exercise began on 2 February 2025.
– The exercise will last for 14 days.
– The event began at the Composite Training Center, Mafilafushi.
– Mafilafushi is one of the uninhabited islands of the Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives.
Maldives
– The Maldives is a country and archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. And it is southwest of Sri Lanka and India.
– The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia.
– President: Mohammed Muizzu
– Capital: Male
– Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
—————
5. Indian-origin global business leader and musician Chandrika Tandon received the Grammy Award 2025 for which album?
a. Triveni
b. Chandrika Tandon
c. Radhika Vekariya
d. Anushka Shankar
Answer: a. Triveni
– Chandrika Tandon, an Indian-American global business leader and musician, has won a Grammy Award for her album Triveni.
– She won the award in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category.
– Chandrika Tandon was raised in Chennai and is the older sister of Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo.
Triveni Album
– At 71 years old, Chandrika Tandon collaborated with South African flutist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Iru Matsumoto to create the Triveni album.
– The album, named after the confluence of three rivers, presents ancient Vedic mantras while also representing their three different styles.
Grammy Awards 2025
– The 2025 Grammy Awards mark the 67th edition of the prestigious awards.
– The ceremony took place on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, USA.
– A total of 94 categories were awarded at the 2025 Grammys.
– The Grammy Award, originally called the Gramophone Award, is presented by the Recording Academy to recognize achievements in the music industry.
– The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, to honor artists’ musical achievements for the year 1958.
– The Grammy Awards are one of the three major annual music award ceremonies globally, along with the American Music Awards and the Billboard Music Awards.
—————-
6. Who became the first black woman to win a Grammy in the country music category in 50 years?
a. Louis Armstrong
b. Taylor Swift
c. Beyonce
d. Patti Smith
Answer: c. Beyonce
– Beyoncé won the Best Country Album award for her album Cowboy Carter.
– The Cowboy Carter album focuses on American culture, highlighting contributions made by Black artists who were often overlooked and not promoted.
– Beyoncé also won the Best Country Duo/Group Performance Grammy for the song “II Most Wanted”, which she performed with Miley Cyrus.
– Therefore, in 2025, Beyoncé won two Grammy Awards.
Beyoncé entered the 2025 Grammy Awards with 11 nominations.
– Her hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em” was also nominated in several categories, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Country Song.
– With her latest wins, Beyoncé now has a total of 34 Grammy Awards.
————–
7. Who won the prestigious Album of the Year award at the Grammy Awards ceremony 2025?
a. Diabolic
b. Beyonce
c. Kosha Dillz
d. Kendrick Lamar
Answer: b. Beyonce
– Beyoncé finally won the prestigious Album of the Year award at the 2025 Grammys, after having been nominated four times previously.
– She entered the competition with her album “Cowboy Carter” with as many as 11 nominations.
– With 99 nominations over the course of her career, she has become the most nominated artist in Grammy history.
—————
8. Who won the Song of the Year award at the Grammy Awards ceremony 2025?
a. Diabolic
b. Kosha Dills
c. Eminem
d. Kendrick Lamar
Answer: d. Kendrick Lamar
– American rapper Kendrick Lamar won this award for “Not Like Us.”
– Kendrick Lamar won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video for “Not Like Us.”
Some important awards from the 2025 Grammys:
– Best Pop Vocal Album – “Short ‘n’ Sweet” – Sabrina Carpenter
– Best Pop Solo Performance – “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
– Best Dance/Electronic Recording – “Neverender” – Justice and Tame Impala
– Best Pop Dance Recording – “Won Dutch” – Charli XCX
– Best Rap Album – “Alligator Bites Never Heal” – Doechii
– Best Rap Song – “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
– Best Rap Performance – “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
– Best Rock Performance – “Now and Then” – The Beatles
– Best Rock Album – “Hackney Diamonds” – The Rolling Stones
– Best Americana Performance – “American Dreaming” – Sierra Ferrell
– Best Americana Album – “Trail of Flowers” – Sierra Ferrell
– Best Folk Album – “Woodland” – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
– Best Country Album – “Cowboy Carter” – Beyoncé
– Best Country Song – “The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves
– Best Latin Pop Album – “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” – Shakira
– Best Jazz Vocal Album – “A Joyful Holiday” – Samara Joy
– Songwriter of the Year – Non-Classical – Amy Allen
– Producer of the Year – Non-Classical – Daniel Nigro
– Producer of the Year – Classical – Ellen Marton
– Best Comedy Album – “Dreamer” – Dave Chappelle
—————-
9. Who won the title of Tata Steel Masters 2025 chess tournament?
a. D Gukesh
b. Anish Giri
c. Vidit Gujarati
d. R Praggnanandhaa
Answer: d. R Praggnanandhaa
– R. Praggnanandhaa defeated World Champion D. Gukesh 2-1 in the tiebreaker on February 2, 2025, to win the title of this tournament.
– R. Praggnanandhaa became the second Indian to win this title.
– Before him, Vishwanathan Anand had won this title five times (1989, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006), two of which were joint wins.
R. Praggnanandhaa
– He is an Indian Grandmaster, 19 years old.
– Full name: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.
– He was born on August 10, 2005, in Chennai.
– He is the younger brother of Indian chess player Vaishali Rameshbabu.
Tata Steel Masters 2025 Tournament
– This tournament has been held since 1938.
– This was the 87th edition.
– It was held from January 17 to February 2, 2025, in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
– The tournament is a single round-robin featuring the world’s top fourteen players.
– This means there are 13 rounds, where each player faces every other player once.
– If players are tied in the last round, a tiebreak match is held to determine the final result.
—————-
10. Who will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS)?
a. Shubhanshu Shukla
b. Tibor Kapu
c. Avni sharma
d. Prashant Nair
Answer: a. Shubhanshu Shukla
– 38-year-old Shubanshu Shukla, an officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been selected as the pilot for NASA’s Axiom Mission 4.
– NASA and its international partners announced on January 30, 2025, that they have approved the crew for the mission.
– Soon, they will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
– He will be the first Indian to go to the ISS.
– He is a fighter pilot and combat leader.
– The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson.
– Along with her, mission specialists Slawoj Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu will go on the Axiom Mission 4 between April and June 2025.
– Shubanshu is currently undergoing training for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.
– This is India’s first manned space mission.
What is the Axiom-4 Mission?
– Under the Axiom-4 mission, 4 astronauts will travel to the ISS, including 1 astronaut from ISRO.
– The mission will include Peggy Whitson from Axiom Space, Shubanshu Shukla from ISRO, Slawoj Uznanski from ESA, and Tibor Kapu from the Hungarian Space Agency Hunar. All selected members have several hours of flight experience.
– The Axiom-4 mission will be launched using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
– SpaceX will provide the launch vehicle for the mission, and its Crew Dragon capsule will carry the crew.
– NASA has stated that the mission will last for 14 days.
About Shubanshu Shukla:
– He was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow (U.P.).
– He completed his NDA (National Defence Academy) course in 2005.
– He is a test pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of flying experience.
– He has flown various aircraft, including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and N-32.
– In August 2024, Shukla was announced as the pilot for the Axiom Mission 4.
PDF Download: Click here
