Current Affairs Overview: 17 February 2025

In today's discussion, we will cover the significant current affairs from 17 February 2025. This includes important statistics from the 2011 Census in India, recent international events, and notable achievements in various fields.

Key Highlights

1. Census 2011 Overview
   The 2011 Census in India was the 15th national census and the 7th since independence. The total population recorded was 121.9 crores, making India the second most populous country after China at that time. The census is conducted every ten years, with the first census occurring in 1871 under the British rule.

2. Population Growth Trends

   • From 2001 to 2011, the population growth rate was 17.7%.
   • The male population was recorded at 51.4%, while the female population was at 48.5%.
   • The state with the highest population density is Bihar, with 1106 persons per square kilometer, while Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest density at just 17 persons per square kilometer.

3. Significant States and Union Territories

   • Largest State by Area: Rajasthan
   • Smallest State by Area: Goa
   • Most Populous State: Uttar Pradesh, accounting for 16.51% of India's total population.
   • Least Populous State: Sikkim, with a population of just 0.05 crores.

4. Sex Ratio and Literacy Rates

   • The overall sex ratio in India was 943 females for every 1000 males. Kerala had the highest sex ratio at 1084, while Haryana had the lowest at 879.
   • The literacy rate in India was recorded at 73%, with Kerala having the highest literacy rate at 94% and Bihar the lowest at 61.8%.

International Developments

1. Climate Risk Index
   According to the Climate Risk Index 2025 by Germanwatch, India ranked 6th among the countries most affected by climate change. The index highlights the vulnerability of nations to climate-related disasters.

2. Meta's Waterworth Project
   Meta announced a significant project to lay a 50,000 km underwater cable between India and the USA, aimed at enhancing connectivity and data transfer capabilities.

3. Economic Developments

   • The Indian government is set to introduce a new income tax bill aimed at replacing the Income Tax Act of 1961. This bill will focus on virtual assets, NGOs, and simplifying tax laws.