Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the report “Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well” at the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event in France on March 27-28, 2025. The report highlights poor nutritional quality in school meals and urges governments to improve food standards. In 2024, 47% of primary school students received school meals, but many lacked proper nutrition. In 2022, 27% of school meals were not designed with nutritionist input. Out of 187 countries, only 93 had school food policies, and 65% had cafeteria food standards. Childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while food insecurity remains a challenge. UNESCO recommends fresh, locally sourced food over ultra-processed options.

Notes:
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan inaugurated Techkriti 2025, Asia’s largest intercollegiate technical and entrepreneurial festival, at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. The event focused on modernization of the Indian Armed Forces and future challenges in Cyber, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum, and Cognitive domains. The theme “Panta Rhei” (Everything Flows) highlighted the continuous evolution of technology and innovation. A special Defence Expo ‘Rakshakriti’ showcased cutting-edge defence technology, fostering collaboration between armed forces, academia, and industry. The event promoted autonomous drones, advanced security tech, and reduced import dependence, inspiring students towards defence and technology careers.

Notes:
The Future Circular Collider (FCC) is a proposed $30 billion project by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It involves a 91 km circular tunnel beneath the Swiss-French border to accelerate and collide particles at record energies. Phase 1 (~2040) aims to generate Higgs bosons in large numbers, while Phase 2 (~2070) will collide protons at extreme energies. Supporters, including CERN leadership, call it the most powerful tool for studying nature. Critics argue it may drain funds, limiting investment in other scientific advancements. The project has sparked major divisions in the scientific community.

Notes:
The fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, a bilateral India-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, takes place from April 1 to 13, 2025, on the Eastern Seaboard. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and create Standard Operating Procedures for a Combined Coordination Center between Indian and US Joint Task Forces. Indian participants include naval ships, Army troops, Air Force aircraft, and a Rapid Action Medical Team. US participants include Navy ships and US Marine Division troops. The exercise includes a Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam and a Sea Phase near Kakinada.

Notes:
The government has launched ZooWIN, a digital platform to track real-time availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) nationwide. ZooWIN is similar to Co-WIN and U-WIN, centralizing data for better coordination among healthcare providers, municipal authorities, and veterinary services. It supports the Union Health Ministry’s efforts to combat rabies and snakebites under the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE). India records 3–4 million snakebites annually, causing around 50,000 deaths, half of the global snakebite mortality. The platform is initially piloted in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
The 37th Kathak Mahotsav 2025, organized by Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, concluded successfully. The six-day festival featured the world’s first-ever Kathak Literary Festival, along with seminars, exhibitions, and dance performances. All major Kathak gharanas—Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras, and Raigarh—were showcased through performances by renowned artists. The event was a landmark celebration of Kathak, bringing together scholars, dancers, and art enthusiasts.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds the Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) Program. It aims to improve India’s logistics infrastructure, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. It supports the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Focus areas include multimodal logistics, warehousing standardization, and digitalization in trade logistics. It enhances supply chain resilience, especially for India’s manufacturing sector. The program promotes gender inclusion through gender audits at land ports. SMILE aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat by improving domestic manufacturing and global trade integration.

Notes:
Researchers in China successfully transplanted a gene-modified pig liver into a human with brain death to evaluate its function. Xenotransplantation involves transplanting cells, tissues, or organs from non-human animals into humans. Early attempts at xenotransplantation began in the 1980s with heart transplants. Genetic modifications are necessary to prevent immune rejection of animal organs in humans. Post-transplant monitoring is essential to assess organ function and immune responses.

Notes:
The Sagarmala Programme, launched in March 2015, aims to revolutionize India’s maritime sector. It was launched by Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. India’s 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of waterways offer significant growth potential. It focuses on streamlining logistics, reducing costs, and improving trade competitiveness via efficient coastal and waterway networks. The program emphasizes port modernization, industrial growth, job creation, and sustainable development. The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 sets targets for shipbuilding and port handling, aiming to make India a top global maritime leader. 839 projects worth ₹5.79 lakh crores, with 272 completed, investing ₹1.41 lakh crore.

Notes:
A year-long “Cleanliness Drive” named Hnatlangpui was launched in Aizawl, Mizoram. It is a joint effort by the Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department, Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC), and the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA). The initiative aims to keep Mizoram clean, with a focus on waste management in Aizawl through a “Comprehensive Plan for Municipal Waste Management.” A Monitoring Committee will oversee the campaign, chaired by the UD & PA Secretary. A ‘Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility’ will be set up for hospitals and healthcare centers. The campaign will run until March next year.