CURRENT AFFAIRS

On May 22, 2025, under a historic agreement, the United Kingdom has announced to hand over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This agreement has ended the decades-old rule of the British administration on the Indian Ocean archipelago, which has been the subject of ongoing legal and diplomatic disputes since the separation of the islands from Mauritius in 1965.

After Operation Sindoor, India has decided to send seven teams of all-party MPs (total 59 members) for global diplomatic outreach on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It includes MPs from the ruling party as well as the opposition and diplomatic officials.

Vietnam announced a 10-year Golden Visa to attract Indian investors, tourists and digital workers.

A 27-member delegation of the European Commission College of Commissioners paid a two-day visit to India from 27-28 February 2025. Out of the 27 Commissioners, 22 are part of the delegation led by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

After the terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government has taken several big decisions against Pakistan.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released its Global Trade Outlook Report for 2025, which forecasts a 0.2% decline in global merchandise trade.

Recently, Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attack, has been extradited from the US to India. Extradition treaties in India are governed by the 'Extradition Act, 1962'.

On April 9, 2025, the US has imposed new sanctions on Iran's nuclear program ahead of nuclear talks with Iran. Iran's development of nuclear weapons can pose a serious threat to the Middle East as well as overall global security.

Recently Indonesia has agreed to join the New Development Bank established by the BRICS group.

The 14th Meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Conference and Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism will be held in New Delhi from March 19 to 20, 2025.