MLC Daily Current Affairs – 22 April 2025

Today in History (April 22^nd,1921)

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from the Indian Civil Service. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose did resign from the Indian Civil Service (ICS). He resigned on April 22, 1921, at the age of 24. His resignation was primarily motivated by his desire to actively participate in the Indian freedom struggle rather than serving under the British Raj. He addressed his resignation letter to Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India.

Summary of Today’s News

Modi, Vance see ‘significant progress’ in trade talks

In a significant diplomatic engagement, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance visited India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to review and strengthen bilateral ties. The high-level meeting aimed at progressing towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), while also touching on strategic cooperation and cultural diplomacy. Although no new agreements were announced, the visit reflected deepening relations between the two nations amid global and regional challenges.

• Meeting Overview:
  • PM Modi met U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance in New Delhi to review India-U.S. bilateral relations.
  • Vance was accompanied by his family and senior U.S. officials.
  • The visit included a private dinner hosted by PM Modi at his residence.
• Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA):
  • Both leaders welcomed “significant progress” in BTA negotiations.
  • Finalisation of Terms of Reference for talks was formally announced.
  • Upcoming BTA discussions to be held in Washington this week.
• Key Discussion Themes:
  • Focus on cooperation in energy, defense, and strategic technologies.
  • Emphasis on welfare-driven trade that benefits workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
  • Discussion on aligning Trump’s “Make America Great Again” and India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” visions.
• Unaddressed Issues:
  • No mention of contentious topics like U.S. tariffs or student visa restrictions.
  • TRUST Technology Partnership, expected to be launched, was not announced.
  • No reference to India’s digital equalisation levy or agricultural market access.
• Geopolitical Context:
  • The leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, though specific conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza were not mentioned.
• Cultural and Personal Aspects:
  • The Vance family engaged in cultural activities, including visits to Akshardham temple and Cottage Emporium.
  • Original plans to visit Red Fort were cancelled.
  • Vice-President Vance expressed condolences after the sudden demise of Pope Francis, which briefly cast uncertainty on the visit.
• Itinerary Highlights:
  • Tuesday: Private and cultural engagements in Jaipur, including Amer Fort and a public address at Rajasthan International Centre.
  • Wednesday: Visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra before returning to Jaipur.
  • Thursday: Departure back to the U.S.

Bengal violence: SC debates limits of power in issuing directions on plea

In the wake of recent communal violence in West Bengal following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Supreme Court of India was urged to direct the Union government to intervene using its emergency powers. The plea, however, triggered a broader judicial introspection about the boundaries between the judiciary and the other branches of government, amid rising debates on separation of powers and judicial overreach.

Key Points in Structured Format:

• Supreme Court’s Involvement:
  • The Supreme Court heard a request from advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain seeking the invocation of Article 355 of the Constitution to deploy emergency measures in West Bengal due to ongoing violence.
  • Article 355 obligates the Union government to protect states from both external aggression and internal disturbance, and to ensure state governance adheres to constitutional provisions.
• Judicial Reflections on Separation of Powers:
  • Justice B.R. Gavai raised a critical constitutional question: Would directing the Union to act under Article 355 constitute judicial overreach into Executive or Legislative functions?
  • He highlighted the sensitivity of such directions, especially in light of recent criticisms suggesting that the judiciary is straying into the roles traditionally reserved for other branches of government.
• Reference to Recent Controversies:
  • Justice Gavai’s comments were contextualized against the backdrop of an April 8 judgment in which the court had set timelines for the President and Governors to clear pending Bills.
  • This decision drew sharp criticism from Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who accused the judiciary of acting like a “super-Parliament”, thereby intensifying the ongoing debate on judicial activism.
• Response to the Plea:
  • Although Mr. Jain requested an urgent hearing on Tuesday, the court instructed him to formally file the plea for consideration.
  • Justice Gavai posed a rhetorical challenge: “You want us to issue a writ of mandamus to the Union government to deploy paramilitary forces… Will it not be interfering with the Legislative and Executive domains?”
  • This exchange underscores a growing judicial caution around overstepping constitutional boundaries, especially when adjudicating matters of state intervention and national governance.

Successful Second Docking of ISRO’s SpaDeX Satellites

In a major milestone for India’s space technology capabilities, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the second docking of its two satellites under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. This significant achievement places India alongside a select group of nations capable of satellite docking operations, a critical step for future manned and advanced space missions.

Key Highlights:

• ✅ Successful Second Docking:
  • ISRO executed the second docking between two satellites — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target).
  • This marks the second successful attempt of docking under the SpaDeX mission.
• 🚀 Mission Overview:
  • The mission, named SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment), is aimed at developing and demonstrating critical technologies for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking.
  • The satellites were launched aboard PSLV-C60 on 30 December 2024.
• 📅 Timeline of Events:
  • First Docking: 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM.
  • First Undocking: 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM.
  • Second Docking: Successfully conducted, as confirmed by Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
• 🌍 Global Achievement:
  • With this mission, India became the fourth country to successfully perform a satellite docking experiment, after the S., Russia, and China.
• 🔧 Future Significance and Applications:
  • Paves the way for:
    • Manned lunar missions and sample return missions.
    • Construction and operation of an Indian space station.
    • Development of in-space robotics and composite spacecraft control.
    • Power transfer between docked spacecraft, vital for post-undocking operations and payload management.
  • 📢 Official Confirmation:
    • The news was announced by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
  • 🔬 Upcoming Plans:
  • Further experiments under the SpaDeX mission are scheduled within the next two weeks.