Mon Feb 17 18:20:00 UTC 2025: ## India Launches Joint Mineral Initiative with US; Euclid Telescope Reveals Einstein Ring

**New Delhi/Washington D.C.** – India and the United States have launched a new bilateral initiative, “Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology” (TRUST), to cooperate on the recovery and processing of critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. The announcement, made during Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Washington, focuses on reducing technology transfer barriers and enhancing high-tech commerce. However, the initiative does not directly lead to India’s induction into the US-led Minerals Security Finance Network, as India already joined that network in September 2023.

Separately, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid telescope has captured an image of a rare “Einstein ring,” a phenomenon of gravitational lensing where a massive celestial body distorts light from a more distant object. This contradicts earlier reports attributing the discovery to NASA.

Other news highlights include:

* **Young Professionals Scheme:** The India-UK Young Professionals Scheme (YPS), allowing young adults from both countries to live and work in each other’s nations for up to two years, continues to be implemented, with applications opening next week.
* **Constitution Illustrations:** Debate continues in the Indian Parliament regarding the 22 illustrations in the original signed copy of the Indian Constitution, with concerns raised about their absence in many commercially available copies.
* **Green Bonds:** India’s efforts to utilize green bonds to fund its low-carbon transition are facing challenges due to weak investor demand, resulting in reduced allocations for key schemes.
* **PMDKY parameters:** The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY) will cover 100 districts based on low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit parameters.
* **Horizon 2047 Roadmap:** India and France reviewed the “Horizon 2047” Roadmap, a strategic partnership plan agreed upon two years ago, during Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to France.
* **Mazargues Indian Memorial:** Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron paid tribute at the Mazargues War Cemetery, commemorating Indian soldiers who fought for Britain in World Wars I and II.
* **IRIS Space Controller:** ISRO and IIT Madras have jointly developed the Indigenous RISCV Controller for Space Applications (IRIS), built on the SHAKTI processor.
* **President’s Rule:** President’s rule has been imposed in Manipur. While Manipur and Uttar Pradesh have seen the most frequent instances of President’s Rule, Jammu & Kashmir has spent the longest cumulative time under central control.
* **Corruption Perceptions Index:** India ranked 96th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, which assesses perceived levels of *public* sector corruption.
* **BRICS Membership:** The BRICS group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with several new members.
* **International Criminal Court (ICC):** The United States, China, and Russia are among the notable countries that are not members of the International Criminal Court.
* **Income Tax Bill 2025:** The new bill introduces the concept of a “tax year” instead of the existing “assessment year” and defines “virtual digital space” for tax purposes.

A separate incident reported a deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, resulting in 18 fatalities, many due to traumatic asphyxia caused by overcrowding.

Read More