Current Affairs 15th February 2025
Current affairs 15th February 2025 by Saurabh Pandey Sir
U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Overview Key Initiatives and Collaborations Nuclear Collaboration
The U.S. and India are set to fully implement the 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement and collaborate on U.S.-designed nuclear reactors in India. Energy Partnership: The U.S. supports India’s membership in the International Energy Agency as part of their energy partnership. TRUST Initiative: Aims to enhance cooperation in critical and emerging technologies across various sectors, replacing the previous ICET framework. Investment in Supply Chains: U.S. investments, including a semiconductor fabrication unit in India, will be part of the TRUST initiative to build resilient supply chains. AI Infrastructure: A roadmap for accelerating infrastructure for artificial intelligence is also in the works between the two nations.
Multilateral Cooperation: The U.S. and India plan to strengthen multilateral cooperation through the Quad and convene partners of IMEC and I2U2 to announce new initiatives. Legal Mobility and Migration: Both countries agreed to streamline legal mobility for students and professionals while combating illegal migration and human trafficking. Summary: The U.S. and India are enhancing their partnership through nuclear collaboration, technology initiatives, and multilateral cooperation while addressing migration issues
The Teesta-3 Dam Rebuilding Proposal On January 27, 2025, an expert committee formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change made a significant recommendation: to rebuild the Teesta-3 dam on the Teesta River in Sikkim. This decision comes in the wake of a devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that occurred in October 2023, which not only destroyed the dam but also claimed over 100 lives and affected more than 80,000 people across four districts. Background of the Teesta-3 Dam The Teesta-3 dam has been a crucial hydroelectric power generation facility in Sikkim. However, the catastrophic GLOF from the South Lhonak Lake highlighted the vulnerabilities of such infrastructure in the face of climate change. The floodwaters acted like a battering ram, carrying debris downstream and exacerbating the destruction.
The 2023 GLOF Incident The GLOF was triggered by a slope failure on the moraine of the South Lhonak Lake, which sent rocks tumbling into the water and generated a massive ripple effect. Satellite data revealed that approximately 50 billion liters of water surged into the valley, leading to multiple landslides 30 to 40 kilometers downstream. Impact of the GLOF The aftermath of the GLOF was devastating. Not only did it result in loss of life, but it also caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure. The event underscored the urgent need to reassess the risks associated with large hydroelectric projects in the Himalayas. Understanding Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) GLOFs are sudden releases of water from glacial lakes, often triggered by climate change. As global temperatures rise, glaciers melt, leading to the formation of new lakes or the expansion of existing ones. This increased water volume can destabilize geological formations, creating new risks.
