Articles on 24 June 2025

by Vajiram & Ravi - 24 June 2025

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily articles for 24 June 2025, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Dravidogecko Coonoor

June 24, 2025
Dravidogecko Coonoor

Dravidogecko Coonoor Latest News

Recently, a new species of gecko, believed to be present only around Coonoor, has been discovered in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.       

About Dravidogecko Coonoor 

  • It is the new species of gecko discovered in Coonoor Hills of the Upper Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India.
  • Habitat: It is found in a matrix of montane forests and monoculture plantations amidst human habitations.
  • It is noted in both urban as well as natural habitats, including the walls of a building, on the branches of plants, and in tree bark and wall crevices.
  • It is the only species of gecko endemic to the high elevation regions of the Western Ghats.
  • Following the discovery of the new gecko species in Coonoor, the number of Dravidogecko species found across the Western Ghats now stands at nine.

What is Gecko?

  • These are reptiles and are found on all the continents except Antarctica.
  • These colorful lizards have adapted to habitats from rainforests, to deserts, to cold mountain slopes.
  • These are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles.
  • Geckos are spread across six families: Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae.

Source: TH

Dravidogecko Coonoor FAQs

Q1: What is a reptile?

Ans: Reptiles are a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates characterized by their keratinous epidermal scales.

Q2: Where are the Western Ghats located?

Ans: A chain of mountains running parallel to India's western coast, approximately 30-50 km inland, the Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Estimates Committee of Parliament

June 24, 2025
Estimates Committee

Estimates Committee Latest News

The Lok Sabha Speaker recently inaugurated the national conference marking the platinum jubilee of the Parliamentary Estimates Committee in Mumbai’s Vidhan Bhavan complex.

About Estimates Committee

  • It was constituted for the first time in 1950.
  • It is a parliamentary committee consisting of 30 members, elected every year by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members, to examine the budget estimates of the Union Government.
  • The Chairperson of the Committee is appointed by the Speaker from amongst its members. 
  • A Minister cannot be elected as a member of the Committee and if a member after selection to the Committee is appointed a Minister, the member ceases to be a Member of the Committee from the date of such appointment. 
  • The term of office of the Committee is one year. 

Estimates Committee Functions

  • It has powers to examine the budget estimates and 
    • to report what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency, or administrative reform, consistent with the policy underlying the estimates, may be effected; 
    • to suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration; 
    • to examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates; and 
    • to suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament. 
  • The Committee may continue the examination of the estimates from time to time throughout the financial year and report to the House as its examination proceeds. 
  • It shall not be incumbent on the Committee to examine the entire estimates of any one year. 
  • The Demands for Grants may be finally voted on notwithstanding the fact that the Committee has made no report.  
  • The Committee does not exercise its functions in relation to such Public Undertakings as are allotted to the Committee on Public Undertakings by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha or by the Speaker. 

Estimates Committee Working

  • Soon after it is constituted, the Committee selects such of the estimates pertaining to a Ministry/Department of the Central Government or such of the statutory and other bodies of the Central Government as may seem fit to the Committee. 
  • The Committee also examines matters of special interest which may arise or come to light in the course of its work or which are specially referred to it by the House or the Speaker. 
  • The Committee, from time to time, appoints one or more Sub-Committees/Study Groups for carrying out detailed examinations of various subjects.
  • The observations/recommendations of the Committee are embodied in its Reports which are presented to Lok Sabha. 
  • The Ministry or Department concerned is required to take action on the observations/recommendations conclusions contained in the Report within a period of six months or as directed by the Committee. 
  • The replies of the Government are examined by the Committee and an Action Taken Report is presented to Lok Sabha.
  • The replies to the recommendations contained in the Action Taken Reports are laid on the Table of Lok Sabha in the form of Statements.

Source: IE

Estimates Committee FAQs

Q1: In which year was the Estimates Committee of Parliament first constituted?

Ans: 1950

Q2: How many members are there in the Estimates Committee?

Ans: 30

Q3: Who appoints the Chairperson of the Estimates Committee?

Ans: Speaker of Lok Sabha

Q4: What is the term of office of the Estimates Committee?

Ans: 1 year

Q5: Can the Estimates Committee examine the entire budget estimates of a year?

Ans: No, it is not required to examine the entire estimates.

Operation Midnight Hammer

June 24, 2025
Operation Midnight Hammer

Operation Midnight Hammer Latest News

The operation that the US launched on Iran was named Operation Midnight Hammer, the Pentagon announced recently.

About Operation Midnight Hammer

  • It is the codename for a covert U.S.–led military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities carried out around midnight on June 21–22, 2025. 
  • It aimed to cripple Iran's nuclear program.
  • The coordinated assault involved over 125 military aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers, the deployment of 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, and more than 30 Tomahawk missiles launched from US submarines in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
  • This attack was the first time that the United States used its largest bunker-busting bomb, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), in an operational conflict. 
  • Targeted Sites:
    • The operation targeted two uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz and one facility at Isfahan, which conducts several activities related to Iran’s nuclear program.
    • Natanz and Fordow are the only operational enrichment facilities in Iran. 
    • The US attacked Natanz and Fordow with B-2 bombers equipped with MOPs and only attacked Isfahan with Tomahawk cruise missiles. 

Why is Fordow so important?

  • Located deep within a mountain 29 kilometers north of the Iranian city of Qom, the Fordow uranium enrichment facility stands as a highly protected and strategically central site within Iran’s nuclear program. 
  • Its subterranean placement provides significant protection against potential aerial bombardment, a design choice indicative of its critical role. 
  • The facility is approximately 54,000 square feet and is believed to house 3,000 centrifuges.
  • Under the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran was explicitly prohibited from conducting enrichment activities at Fordow. 
  • However, following the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 during the first Trump administration, Iran resumed enrichment activities at the site.

Source: TOI

Operation Midnight Hammer FAQs

Q1: What was the main objective of Operation Midnight Hammer?

Ans: Disabling Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities.

Q2: Which advanced U.S. aircraft was used to drop bunker-buster bombs during the operation?

Ans: B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber

Q3: Which massive bunker-busting bomb was used for the first time in Operation Midnight Hammer?

Ans: GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)

Q4: Why is the Fordow nuclear facility considered strategically important?

Ans: It is located deep within a mountain, making it highly protected.

India’s First Off-Grid Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant

June 24, 2025
India's First off-Grid Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant

Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant Latest News

  • Adani Group recently commissioned India's first off-grid 5-megawatt green hydrogen pilot plant in Kutch, Gujarat.

About India's First Off-Grid Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant

  • Location: Kutch, Gujarat
  • It is a 5 MW green hydrogen plant developed by Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), the clean energy arm of Adani Enterprises Ltd.
    • An off-grid green hydrogen plant is a facility that produces hydrogen using electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, and is not connected to the main electrical grid. 
    • This means the plant relies entirely on its own renewable energy generation for the hydrogen production process.
  • The ANIL plant is fully powered by solar energy and works with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which enables it to operate completely off-grid.
  • It features a fully automated and controlled electrolyser system, which is designed to respond to real-time renewable energy inputs.
    • This provision, also known as a closed-loop system, aids in flexibility of operations, particularly in addressing the shifting nature of solar power, while ensuring efficiency, safety, and performance.
  • The initiative is aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a flagship Government of India programme that aims to reduce import dependence, improve energy self-sufficiency, and ramp up decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, all in fulfilment of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Source: TH

Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant FAQs

Q1: Where is India’s first off-grid green hydrogen pilot plant located?

Ans: Kutch, Gujarat

Q2: Which company developed India’s first off-grid green hydrogen pilot plant?

Ans: Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL)

Q3: What powers the off-grid green hydrogen plant in Kutch?

Ans: Solar energy with battery storage.

Q4: What technology is used at the plant to produce green hydrogen?

Ans: Electrolysis using renewable energy.

Evaporative Demand

June 24, 2025
Evaporative Demand

Evaporative Demand Latest News

The rising evaporative demand in India is exposing significant gaps in the country’s climate data and research.

About Evaporative Demand

  • Evaporative demand is a measure of how thirsty the atmosphere is. 
  • It determines the near-maximum of how much water will evaporate from a given piece of land if sufficient water is available.
  • It does not necessarily relate to actual evaporation rate, as if there is little water supply there can only be a small evaporation rate, no matter how large the demand.
  • It is driven by atmospheric factors including temperature, wind speed, humidity and cloud cover. 
  • Periods of high evaporative demand are connected to droughts and increased fire danger.
  • Tracking extended periods with above normal evaporative demand can be a useful way to detect drought onset, drought intensification, and elevated fire danger. 
  • Above normal temperatures, clear skies, and wind speed, and below normal humidity all drive evaporative demand up and lead to quicker drying at the surface. 
  • Soil moisture is reduced which leads to less water available for plants and vegetation becomes stressed and more flammable. 
  • When extended periods of below normal precipitation overlap with extended periods of above normal evaporative demand fuels become critically dry favoring rapidly spreading wildfires.

What is a Thirstwave?

  • It denotes three or more contiguous days of intense evaporative demand.
  • While heat waves are caused by particular temperature and wind patterns, a thirstwave is the product of temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed.
  • When temperatures rise, the consequences include more heat as well as the mechanics of water exchange between land and atmosphere, which in turn alters humidity, wind, and solar radiation.
  • In a warming world, the researchers found that thirstwaves have grown more intense, are more frequent, and are lasting longer.

Source: TH

Evaporative Demand FAQs

Q1: What does evaporative demand mean?

Ans: Evaporative demand is a measure of the extent to which the environ- ment is 'trying' to evaporate water

Q2: What atmospheric condition causes increased evaporative demand?

Ans: Above-normal temperatures

Q3: What does high evaporative demand indicate about surface moisture?

Ans: The surface is drying faster.

Q4: What is the relationship between evaporative demand and droughts?

Ans: High evaporative demand contributes to drought onset and intensification.

Q5: What impact does high evaporative demand have on vegetation?

Ans: Makes vegetation more flammable.

Sustainable Development Report 2025

June 24, 2025
Sustainable Development Report 2025

Sustainable Development Report 2025 Latest News

India ranks 99th on the 2025 SDG Index with a score of 67 in recently released Sustainable Development Report 2025.

About Sustainable Development Report 2025

  • It reviews progress made each year on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since their adoption by the 193 UN Member States in 2015.
  • It is published by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Also Read: Sustainable Development Report 2024

Highlights of the Sustainable Development Report 2025

  • India has for the first time secured a place among the top 100 out of 193 countries ranked for their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • The SDG progress has stalled at the global level, with only 17 per cent of the 17 targets adopted by the U.N. member countries in 2015 projected to be achieved by 2030.
  • It is said that conflicts, structural vulnerabilities and limited fiscal space impede SDG progress in many parts of the world.
  • European countries, especially the Nordic nations, continue to top the SDG Index, with Finland ranking first, Sweden second and Denmark third.
  • Many European countries face significant challenges including those related to climate and biodiversity, largely due to unsustainable consumption.
  • East and South Asia have outperformed all other global regions in terms of SDG progress since 2015 largely due to rapid socioeconomic development.
  • Most UN member states have made strong progress on targets related to access to basic services and infrastructure, including mobile broadband use (SDG 9), access to electricity (SDG 7), internet use (SDG 9), under-five mortality rate (SDG 3) and neonatal mortality (SDG 3).
  • Five targets show significant reversals in progress since 2015. These are obesity rate (SDG 2), press freedom (SDG 16), sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2), the Red List Index (SDG 15) and the Corruption Perceptions Index (SDG 16).
  • The report said the top three countries most committed to the UN multilateralism are Barbados (1), Jamaica (2) and Trinidad and Tobago (3).
  • Among G20 nations, Brazil (25) ranks highest, while Chile (7) leads among OECD countries.

Source: TH

Sustainable Development Report 2025 FAQs

Q1: What is the main content of the sustainable development Report?

Ans: The report assesses the progress of all 193 UN Member States on the SDGs.

Q2: What is the main concept of sustainable development?

Ans: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

India’s Crackdown on Child Labour: Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan Lead Rescues in 2024-25

June 24, 2025
Child Labour Rescues India 2024-25

Child Labour in India Latest News

  • Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan have emerged as the top three states in India for child labour rescues as well as for the number of arrests in child labour-related cases in 2024-25, a study by a network working in the field of child rights has shown.

Introduction

  • India witnessed a major surge in efforts to curb child labour in 2024-25, with over 53,000 children rescued across the country. 
  • A recent report from the child rights network Just Rights for Children (JRC) in collaboration with the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) sheds light on the scale of exploitation and the systemic challenges in eliminating child labour. 
  • The top three states in child labour rescues were Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan, accounting for a significant share of the nationwide crackdown.
  • The report, titled "Building the Case for Zero: How Prosecution Acts as a Tipping Point to End Child Labour", also offers a comprehensive roadmap for effective legal, educational, and rehabilitative interventions to break the cycle of exploitation.

Scale of the Rescue Operations

  • Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, JRC, through its network of over 250 NGOs, coordinated 38,889 rescue operations across 24 states and union territories in partnership with law enforcement agencies. 
  • This led to the rescue of 53,651 children, a large majority of whom were engaged in the worst forms of child labour.
  • The top five states by number of rescues were:
    • Telangana: 11,063 children
    • Bihar: 3,974 children
    • Rajasthan: 3,847 children
    • Uttar Pradesh: 3,804 children
    • Delhi: 2,588 children
  • These states also accounted for the highest number of arrests in child labour-related offences.

Alarming Trends in Exploitation

  • The report reveals that nearly 90% of rescued children were employed in sectors categorised under the worst forms of child labour as per ILO Convention 182, ratified by India. These included:
    • Spas and massage parlours
    • Orchestra troupes
    • Domestic labour
    • Informal entertainment services
  • In many instances, children were subjected to sexual exploitation, pornography, and prostitution, underscoring the urgency for focused legal intervention.

Legal and Enforcement Actions

  • Following the massive rescue operations:
    • 38,388 FIRs were registered
    • 5,809 arrests were made, 85% of them related to child labour
  • Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan not only led in rescue numbers but also in arrests, suggesting a stronger enforcement mechanism compared to other states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where enforcement gaps were noted despite high rescues.
  • The findings reiterate that prosecution serves as a deterrent, building public awareness and reducing the impunity with which exploiters operate.

Recommendations from the Report

  • Launch of a National Mission to End Child Labour, with dedicated financial and human resources.
  • Creation of district-level Child Labour Task Forces.
  • Establishment of a Child Labour Rehabilitation Fund.
  • Formulation of a comprehensive national rehabilitation policy.
  • Compulsory education till 18 years, extending beyond the current RTE mandate (up to 14 years).
  • State-specific policies aligned with local socio-economic challenges.
  • Zero-tolerance policy on child labour in government procurement.
  • Expansion of the list of hazardous occupations and processes under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.
  • Extension of the SDG 8.7 deadline to 2030 to realistically target the eradication of all forms of child labour.

Global and National Commitments

  • India is a signatory to the ILO Convention 182, which mandates the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. 
  • Although India has made strides in legal reforms and enforcement, the report calls for greater institutional convergence and stronger judicial and social frameworks.
  • The JRC emphasised that “justice for children trapped in the worst forms of child labour will only be achieved when the culprits are punished and robust mechanisms for the protection and rehabilitation of victims are in place.”

Child Labour in India FAQs

Q1: Which state recorded the highest number of child labour rescues in 2024-25?

Ans: Telangana reported the highest rescues with 11,063 children rescued.

Q2: What types of work were children commonly rescued from?

Ans: Most children were rescued from spas, massage parlours, orchestras, and other exploitative sectors.

Q3: How many FIRs were filed in relation to child labour in 2024-25?

Ans: A total of 38,388 FIRs were registered, with 85% related to child labour offences.

Q4: What major reforms have been recommended by the report?

Ans: The report calls for a National Mission, rehabilitation fund, and compulsory education up to 18 years.

Q5: What is the role of prosecution in curbing child labour?

Ans: Prosecution acts as a deterrent by instilling fear of legal consequences among perpetrators.

Ambubachi Mela

June 24, 2025
Ambubachi Mela

Ambubachi Mela Latest News

Thousands of devotees have arrived in Assam for the Kamakhya Temple’s annual Ambubachi Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in Northast India.

 About Ambubachi Mela

  • The Ambubachi festival is held during the monsoon, generally in June at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
  • It is a shrine to the Goddess Kamakhya and one of the most important centres of Tantrik Shaktism.
  • The period of Ambubachi is believed to be the period of the goddess’s annual menstruation, and the shrine is closed for this.
  • At the end of the period, the shrine’s doors are opened ceremonially and devotees flock for darshan of the deity.
  • The festival is associated with fertility, with the onset of monsoon, and the common historical association across cultures of the Earth as a fertile woman. The name ‘Ambubachi’ itself translates to water flowing.

Key Facts About the Kamakhya Temple  

  • It is situated on Nilachal Hill and adjoining the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.
  • It is one of the most revered centres of Tantric practices. It is regarded as one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. 

Temple Architecture of Kamakhya Temple

  • It had been modelled out of a combination of two different styles namely, the traditional nagara and Saracenic or Mughal style of architecture.
  • This unusual combination has been named the Nilachala Style of Architecture.
  • This is the only temple of Assam having a fully developed ground plan.
  • It consists of five chambers, garbhagriha, antarala, Jagan Mohan, bhogmandir  and natmandir or opera hall for performing traditional dance and music associated with sukti temples.
  • It is interesting to note that the superstructure of each of the above chambers exhibits different architectural features.
  • The main temple contains a modified Saracenic dome, the antarala carries a two-roofed design, the bhogmandir with five domes similar in appearance to the main temple and the natmandir having a shell-roof with apsidal end similar to some of the impermanent namghars or prayer halls found in Assam.

Source: IE

Ambubachi Mela FAQs

Q1: Who built the Kamakhya Temple?

Ans: The temple was erected by the Koch king Naranarayan in 1565.

Q2: Is Kamakhya a tantric temple?

Ans: Kamakhya Temples' Complex is widely recognized as the birthplace of a unique stream of Shakta Tantrism, the Kulachara Tantra Marga.

India-US Trade Deal Faces Resistance from Sugar and Soybean Sectors

June 24, 2025
India-US trade deal agriculture concerns

India-US Trade Deal Agriculture Concerns Latest News

  • As India and the US push to finalise a bilateral trade deal before the July 9 deadline, two major Indian agri-industries are expressing concern. 
  • The sugar industry opposes the import of ethanol and genetically modified (GM) maize for fuel blending, while the soybean processing industry is against GM soyabean imports. 
    • It should be noted that the US is the world’s top producer as well as exporter of both maize and fuel ethanol. 
    • Also, it is the second biggest producer and exporter of soybean after Brazil.
  • With the US seeking new markets amid geopolitical shifts, pressure is mounting on India to ease import restrictions. 
  • However, these domestic sectors fear such concessions could hurt local producers.

Ethanol Blending A Policy Success

  • India’s ethanol blending programme has grown significantly under the Modi government.
  • Average ethanol blending in petrol rose from 1.5% (2013-14) to 14.6% (2023-24).
  • In the current supply year (Nov 2024–May 2025), the blending ratio reached 18.8%, nearing the 20% target by 2025-26.

Shift from Sugarcane to Grains

  • Since 2018-19, sugar mills have started using grains (especially maize and surplus rice) alongside molasses for ethanol.
  • In 2024-25, 68% of the 1,047.9 crore litres of ethanol is grain-based.
  • Maize alone contributes 483.9 crore litres, overtaking sugarcane-based sources.

Millers' Concerns Over Ethanol Imports

  • Sugar millers are worried that sugarcane is losing importance as more ethanol is now being made from grains like maize. 
  • They fear that if India starts importing ethanol or genetically modified (GM) maize, sugarcane will be pushed aside even more. 
  • Since sugar consumption in India is not growing, millers see their future in energy—like ethanol-blended diesel or aviation fuel—rather than in producing sugar.

Food vs Fuel Debate

  • Millers argue ethanol from sugarcane avoids food/feed conflicts.
    • Unlike maize, sugar isn’t a key livestock or poultry feed.
    • Diverting maize to fuel may strain supply for animal feed, affecting dairy, poultry, and egg sectors.

India A Key Market for US Ethanol

  • The US exported 724.5 crore litres of ethanol in 2024, with India as the third largest buyer (70.8 crore litres worth $441.3 million).
  • India restricts ethanol imports to non-fuel industrial use and under licence.

NITI Aayog Push for GM Maize Imports

  • A working paper suggests importing cheaper US GM maize for ethanol.
  • Its byproduct (DDGS - distiller’s dried grains with solubles) can be exported to avoid domestic feed concerns.
  • Authors claim this will help India meet biofuel targets without disturbing local food chains.

Concerns of India’s Soyabean Industry

A NITI Aayog paper suggests importing soyabean, extracting oil for domestic use, and exporting the leftover GM-based de-oiled cake (meal).

SOPA's Opposition to the Plan

  • The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) rejects the proposal due to logistical and economic challenges:
    • Most solvent extraction units are located inland (MP, Maharashtra), far from ports.
    • Transporting imported beans from ports to plants and then exporting the meal is not cost-effective.
    • Such a policy threatens the livelihood of nearly 7 million soyabean farmers.

Limited Domestic Demand vs. China

  • India processes 11–12 million tonnes of soyabean yearly, with most meal used domestically for food and feed.
  • Only ~2 million tonnes is exported, unlike China which crushes over 100 million tonnes annually for its massive livestock industry.

Fears of Foreign Dominance

  • If GM meal cannot be sold domestically, processing must shift closer to ports for export.
  • This could invite dominance by global agri-trading giants (e.g., ADM, Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus), pushing out domestic processors.

Import Duty Cuts Add Pressure

  • Recently, the Centre reduced the import duty on crude soyabean, palm, and sunflower oil from 27.5% to 16.5%.
  • SOPA fears this will undercut local processors by making imported oils cheaper, forcing many to shut or operate below capacity.

Falling Soyabean Prices Hurt Farmers

  • Soyabean is currently trading at ₹4,300–₹4,350/quintal in MP and Maharashtra—well below the MSP of ₹5,328.
  • Cheap imports of oil or seed could further depress prices and cause farmers to shift to other crops.

Source IE | CNBCTV18

India-US Trade Deal Agriculture Concerns FAQs

Q1: Why is the sugar industry opposing the trade deal?

Ans: Because it fears ethanol and GM maize imports will marginalise sugarcane in India’s biofuel program.

Q2: What does SOPA say about soyabean imports?

Ans: SOPA warns soy imports harm local processors and threaten the livelihood of 7 million farmers.

Q3: What role does ethanol play in India’s energy plans?

Ans: Ethanol-blended fuel is India’s renewable energy priority, targeting 20% blending by 2025-26.

Q4: How are imports affecting soybean farmers?

Ans: Soy prices have fallen below MSP; cheap imports risk shifting farmer interest to other crops.

Q5: What is NITI Aayog's stance on GM imports?

Ans: It suggests importing GM maize and soyabean to meet ethanol goals and export byproducts abroad.

Iran Retaliates with Missile Strikes on US Bases in Qatar

June 24, 2025
Iran missile strike US base

Iran Missile Strike US Base Latest News

  • A day after the US struck Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, Iran retaliated by launching missile attacks on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which serves as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command.

Global US Military Footprint

  • According to a July 2024 Congressional Research Service report, the US operates at least 128 overseas military bases across 51 countries. 
  • In the Middle East, under CENTCOM, the US maintains key bases in Qatar (Al Udeid), Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, with additional deployments in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Yemen. 
  • These bases support surveillance, combat, airlift, missile defence, and counterterrorism operations, with major installations like Al Udeid and Bahrain’s Fifth Fleet serving as strategic regional hubs.

About Al Udeid

  • Al Udeid Air Base is located in the desert near Doha, Qatar, about 190 km south of Iran. It is the largest US military base in the Middle East.

Strategic Role

  • Established in 1996, Al Udeid serves as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing operations from Egypt to Kazakhstan.
    • Al Udeid is CENTCOM’s forward headquarters. The main CENTCOM headquarters is in Florida.
  • Al Udeid is also linked to other US activities in Qatar. A nearby former army base, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used to process Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022.

Multinational Presence

  • The base hosts around 10,000 troops and accommodates forces from the US Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Force, the UK’s Royal Air Force, and other allied nations.

Infrastructure and Capabilities

  • Al Udeid’s long runways support rapid deployment, making it key for US force projection. 
  • It has been critical in operations across Iraq, Afghanistan, and humanitarian efforts like the Kabul evacuation in 2021.

Qatari Investment

  • Qatar has invested over $8 billion in upgrading Al Udeid’s infrastructure, keeping it modern and reducing the financial burden on US taxpayers.

India Monitors Tensions After Iranian Strike in Qatar

  • Delhi is closely watching the situation in Qatar after Iran launched a military attack on the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base.
  • The Indian embassy issued an alert advising the over 8.3 lakh Indians in Qatar to remain calm, follow local news and Qatari authority instructions, and stay updated via the embassy’s social media channels.

India-Qatar: A Strong Bilateral Relationship

  • India shares deep political and economic ties with Qatar:
  • PM Narendra Modi visited Doha twice—June 2016 and February 2024.
  • India maintains high-level contacts with Qatar's leadership.
  • In February 2025, during the visit of Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, both the countries announced the elevation of India-Qatar ties to a Strategic Partnership.

Indian Diaspora in Qatar

  • There are over 835,000 Indian nationals residing in Qatar as on December 2023.
    • Indian community comprises around 27% of total population of Qatar.
  • Indians form the largest expatriate community in Qatar, engaged in diverse sectors such as healthcare, education, construction, IT, media, and finance.
  • Over 60,000 Indian students attend 19 Indian schools, with approx. 4,500 Indian teachers and staff.

Indian Business Presence

  • Over 20,000 Indian companies operate in Qatar across sectors like infrastructure, energy, IT, and communications.
  • Notable companies include L&T, Shapoorji Pallonji, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Lulu Group, Malabar, and Tanishq.
  • Indian investment in Qatar exceeded $350 million between 2017 and 2025, per Invest Qatar.

Energy Cooperation between India and Qatar

  • Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India (10.74 MMT for US$ 8.32 billion in FY 2022-23), accounting for over 48% of India's global LNG imports. 
  • Qatar is also India’s largest supplier of LPG (5.33 MMT for US$ 4.04 billion in FY 2022-23) accounting for 29% of India’s total LPG imports.

Source: IE | IE | TH

Iran Missile Strike US Base FAQs

Q1: Why did Iran strike US bases in Qatar?

Ans: In retaliation for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Q2: What is the strategic importance of Al Udeid Air Base?

Ans: It is CENTCOM’s forward HQ, housing 10,000 troops and key military assets.

Q3: How did India respond to the missile strikes?

Ans: India issued an alert for its 835,000 citizens in Qatar, urging calm and caution.

Q4: How many US bases exist overseas?

Ans: The US operates at least 128 overseas bases across 51 countries, per the 2024 CRS report.

Q5: What’s the role of Qatar in US defense?

Ans: Qatar hosts CENTCOM’s forward HQ and invested $8 billion in Al Udeid’s military infrastructure.

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