Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister launched the P4 Bangaru Kutumbam-Margadarsi initiative in Velagapudi on Ugadi. P4 stands for Public-Private-People Partnership, a mission-mode initiative for social and economic transformation. It aims to eradicate poverty and uplift marginalised families by creating model families called “Bangaru Kutumbam.” The initiative targets over 2 million beneficiaries in the initial phase. It provides free gas cylinders, educational support, and women empowerment schemes. The initiative promotes inclusive development, governance innovation, and a replicable welfare model for other states.

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:
Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 62nd National Maritime Day and Merchant Navy Week at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. National Maritime Day is celebrated in India every year on April 5. It marks the maiden voyage of SS Loyalty, the first Indian-owned ship, from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919. Various ports and maritime organizations under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) honored the bravery and dedication of seafarers. The event highlighted India’s maritime excellence and contribution to global shipping.

Notes:
The Second World Health Organization (WHO) Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health was held in Cartagena, Colombia. It was co-organized by WHO, Colombia, and United Nations (UN) agencies, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The conference aimed to accelerate action for clean air, clean energy access, and climate change mitigation. Over 50 countries committed to reducing air pollution’s health impacts by 50% by 2040. India reaffirmed its commitment through actions under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Notes:
A rare set of copper plates from the early 15th century, during the reign of Devaraya I of the Sangama Dynasty, was unveiled in Bengaluru. Falcon Coins Gallery collaborated with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to present these historical artifacts. The plates are inscribed in Sanskrit and Kannada using Nāgarī characters and were issued during the coronation of Devaraya I. Unlike the traditional Varaha insignia of the Vijayanagara Empire, the seal on these plates features Vamana. Dated to Saka 1328 (1406 CE), they confirm the coronation date of Devaraya I. The inscriptions detail the genealogy of the Sangama Dynasty, tracing lineage from Chandra, Yadu, and Sangama to rulers like Harihara, Kampa, Bukka, Mãrapa, and Muddapa.

Notes:
India recorded 4,515 child adoptions in the financial year 2024-25, the highest ever. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) added 8,598 newly identified children to the adoption pool. CARA was established in 1990 and functions as a statutory body under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. It operates under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. CARA is the nodal agency for adoption of Indian children and regulates both in-country and inter-country adoptions. It manages adoptions through the Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS).

Notes:
New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter show unexpected atmospheric activity above and around the storm. The Great Red Spot is an anticyclone, a high-pressure system that creates a long-lasting storm. It is located in Jupiter’s Southern Hemisphere. It appears as a massive red spot, though the cause of its red color remains unknown. The storm extends above Jupiter’s main cloud layers and is the largest known storm in the Solar System. The storm has existed for at least 150 years and may be even older. Its long duration is linked to Jupiter’s gaseous composition, which lacks a solid surface that would dissipate the storm’s energy. Unlike hurricanes on Earth that weaken upon landfall, Jupiter’s storm remains active due to its deep atmosphere.

Notes:
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom and the Artificial Intelligence Security Institute (AI Security Institute) released the first-ever International Artificial Intelligence Safety Report 2025. The report warns about the growing threat of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) being created, stored, and shared using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. CSAM includes audio, video, and images showing sexually explicit content involving children. The United Kingdom is taking the first legal steps to tackle AI-generated CSAM. The World Economic Forum and Internet Watch Foundation also flagged rising risks of AI-fueled CSAM online. The Government of India is urged to update its laws to fight these new dangers effectively.

Notes:
Assam launched the ‘Lakhpati Baideo’ scheme to empower women entrepreneurs with financial help and training. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the scheme will benefit 40 lakh women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It gives ₹10,000 as seed money in the first year, ₹25,000 in the second year, and ₹50,000 in the third year depending on business success. The scheme aims to promote rural entrepreneurship and boost women’s financial independence.

Notes:
A United States (U.S.) national was arrested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for allegedly entering the prohibited tribal reserve area of North Sentinel Island. North Sentinel Island is part of the Andaman Islands, an Indian Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal. It is located west of the central Andaman Islands and covers about 60 square kilometers. The island is densely forested, surrounded by a shallow reef, and home to the Sentinelese tribe. The Sentinelese are believed to be direct descendants of the first humans who migrated from Africa around 60,000 years ago. They have lived in isolation for thousands of years, resisting contact with the outside world. The island is protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, 1956, prohibiting anyone from approaching within 5 nautical miles.