Paper cutting of the day | 31 st October 2025

1) India gets 6-month waiver for Iran port

U.S. relief on sanctions against Chabahar in force from Wednesday, says MEA; essential supplies to Afghanistan can now be sent through the port

📰 Current Affairs: India Gets 6-Month Waiver for Iran's Chabahar Port

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the U.S. has granted India a six-month waiver on its sanctions against Iran's Chabahar port, a crucial development for regional connectivity and humanitarian aid.

❓ Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the primary significance of the U.S. sanctions waiver for India's operations at Chabahar?

A: The primary significance is the continued flow of essential humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan. The port provides India with a vital, direct, and non-Pakistani land route to supply necessities like food grains and medical products to the landlocked country. It also keeps India's broader strategic goal of accessing Central Asian and Russian markets alive.

Q2: Which U.S. law threatens to expose parties involved in the Chabahar project to sanctions?

A: The law is the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA). The article mentions that the U.S. Department of State's planned revocation of the previous waiver would have exposed anyone associated with the Chabahar project to sanctions under this Act.

Q3: When did India first become associated with the Chabahar port project?

A: India's association with the Chabahar port project began at least since 2005, when it first entered into an agreement with Iran to develop the port. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar was signed in 2015.

Q4: Why was the initial sanctions waiver granted by the Trump administration in 2018?

A: The initial waiver was granted because the port operations were aimed at helping the development needs of the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, providing a humanitarian and commercial transit route that bypassed Pakistan.

Q5: What is the current status of the waiver and who confirmed the news in India?

A: The U.S. has granted a six-month waiver on the sanctions, which took effect from October 29. The news was officially confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, on Thursday.

2)Jemimah’s gem helps India knock out Australia

The No. 3 adds 167 for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet; the Women in Blue pull off the highest successful chase in the 50-over format and will meet South Africa in the final

🏏 Current Affairs Q&A: Women's ODI World Cup 2025 Semi-Final

Here are some questions and answers based on India's record-breaking victory against Australia and the tournament's context:

Questions

 * Which two teams contested the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semi-final described in the text?

 * Who was the Player of the Match for India in the semi-final, and what was her score?

 * India achieved the highest successful chase in Women's ODI history. What was the target they successfully chased down?

 * Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur shared a crucial partnership. What was the total number of runs they added for the third wicket?

 * Against which team will India play in the final of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025?

 * Who was the top scorer for Australia in their innings, and what was her score?

 * What was the previous highest successful chase in the 50-over format before India broke the record in the semi-final? (Hint: The record was recently set in the same tournament).

Answers

 * The two teams were India and Australia.

 * The Player of the Match was Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored an unbeaten 127 runs (off 134 balls).

 * India successfully chased a target of 339 runs, winning by five wickets with nine balls to spare. They reached a final score of 341/5 in 48.3 overs.

 * Jemimah Rodrigues and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89 runs) added 167 runs for the third wicket.

 * India will meet South Africa in the final.

 * The top scorer for Australia was Phoebe Litchfield, who scored 119 runs (aided by Ellyse Perry's 77 and Ashleigh Gardner's 63).

 * The previous highest successful chase in Women's ODI history was 331 runs, achieved by Australia against India in the group stage of this very tournament on October 12, 2025, in Visakhapatnam.

3)Trump cuts tariffs on China after meeting Xi

🇺🇸🇨🇳 Current Affairs Q&A: Trump-Xi Meeting and Trade Agreements

Here are some current affairs questions and answers based on the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping:

Questions

 * Which specific tariff did President Trump cut for China, and what was the reason for this original tariff?

 * What was the total combined tariff rate on China after the announced cut?

 * What key commodity did China agree to start buying from the U.S., and what was the agreed-upon annual volume for the next three years?

 * Besides the commodity purchase, what other significant trade concession did China agree to concerning rare earth elements?

 * What was the former tariff rate on the Chinese goods related to the reason mentioned in Question 1?

Answers

 * President Trump announced he would cut the tariff implemented as punishment for China's selling of chemicals used to make fentanyl from 20% to 10%.

 * The total combined tariff rate on China was brought down from 57% to 47%.

 * China agreed to start buying U.S. soybeans, with a commitment to purchase 25 million tonnes annually for the next three years.

 * China agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements, a critical component in high-tech manufacturing. The arrangement for the supply of rare earth materials is reportedly a one-year agreement, expected to be extended.

 * The former tariff rate on the Chinese goods related to the fentanyl issue was 20%.

You can find more details on the trade deal and its implications in this video: Trump says US to cut tariffs on China to 47% after ‘amazing’ meeting with Xi, teases major outcomes ahead.

4)DU faces backlash over bid to promote cow welfare summit

Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the main reason for the "wave of outrage" among Delhi University's academic circles?

A1: The outrage stems from the DU administration asking its affiliated colleges to promote the 'Rashtriya Godhan Summit' on cow welfare while simultaneously cancelling a long-running, prestigious seminar titled 'Land, Property and Democracy'.

Q2: What is the focus of the 'Rashtriya Godhan Summit'?

A2: The five-day summit focuses on the "welfare of cows and promotion of cow-based sustainable innovations."

Q3: Which long-running seminar was cancelled by the DU administration?

A3: The seminar cancelled was 'Land, Property and Democracy', which was scheduled to be held at the Delhi School of Economics (DSE).

Q4: What was the stated reason given by DU Registrar Vikas Gupta for the cancellation of the seminar?

A4: The Registrar stated that the seminar was cancelled because the departments had not sought prior approval from the academic branch, despite repeated reminders. He added that other departmental talks were also cancelled for the same reason.

Q5: Who resigned following the cancellation of the DSE seminar, and what was her reason?

A5: Nandini Sundar, the convener of DSE's Friday Colloquium, resigned. She stated that she could "no longer guarantee the intellectual integrity of the research colloquium."

Q6: How did faculty members like Abha Dev Habib and Rudrashish Chakraborty interpret the contrast in DU's two communications (promoting the cow summit and cancelling the seminar)?

A6:

Abha Dev Habib viewed it as a "conscious move away from scientific temper and academic integrity towards the promotion of an unscientific and regressive political agenda."

Rudrashish Chakraborty suggested the unilateral cancellation "smacks of an intention to undermine critical thinking and academic autonomy."

5)DUSIB floats tenders for 54 Atal canteens

6)FIR filed for asking MDU workers to share sanitary pad photos for leave

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7)Punjab farmers warn of protests, seek withdrawal of stubble-burning cases

Over 30 unions to submit memorandums to Deputy Commissioners on November 4; leaders flag shortage of machinery, demand compensation and solutions for clearing fields for next sowing

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18)CAQM bans entry of old commercial vehicles as air quality deteriorates

Only CNG, LNG, electric vehicles and those compliant with BS-VI norms to be allowed into Delhi from November 1; govt. lifts one-year limit on NOC applications for deregistered vehicles; move will help in reducing pollution, says Transport Minister

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