Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
A recent faunal survey by the Forest Department recorded 63 new species of odonates, butterflies, and birds in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in Malappuram district, Kerala, covering 227.97 sq.km on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary shares boundaries with Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala. The name ‘Karimpuzha’ comes from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of River Chaliyar. The terrain varies from 40 m to 2550 m, supporting rich biodiversity.

Notes:
The Green Credit Programme (GCP) was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) despite concerns from the Law Ministry over its legal validity. Green Credit (GC) is an incentive unit for engaging in environmentally positive activities and can be traded like carbon credits. The Green Credit Programme (GCP) operates under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It aims to increase forest cover, promote sustainable practices, and reward pro-environmental actions. Individuals, communities, and industries can earn Green Credits by participating in afforestation, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture. These credits can be sold to industries needing to meet environmental obligations like compensatory afforestation.

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:
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) CARTOSAT-3 satellite captured high-resolution images of earthquake damage in Myanmar. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025. Post-disaster images from March 29 were compared with pre-event data from March 18 to assess damage in Mandalay and Sagaing. CARTOSAT-3 is a third-generation agile advanced Earth observation satellite developed by ISRO. It replaces the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series and has high-resolution imaging capabilities. It was launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C47).

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh became the first state in India to adopt an Agrivoltaic project. Agrivoltaic systems, also known as solar farming, allow farmers to generate electricity while growing crops. In this system, solar panels are installed on agricultural land using Photovoltaic (PV) technology.

Notes:
India’s Nihal Sarin won the 2025 Tashkent Open Agzamov Memorial Chess title in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster remained unbeaten, scoring 8 out of 10 points. He outperformed a strong field, including eight players rated above 2600 Elo. With this victory, Nihal gained 7.1 Elo rating points. His live rating now stands at 2694, bringing him close to the prestigious 2700 Elo mark.

Notes:
The Rajya Sabha passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, to implement international agreements on aviation leasing. It aligns with the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention, 2001) and its Protocol on Aircraft Equipment. India signed these agreements in 2008. The bill secures rights over aircraft, helicopters, and engines, ensuring legal clarity. It empowers the central government to make rules and designates the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the registry authority for aircraft registration and de-registration, protecting creditors and aviation stakeholders under clear legal guidelines.

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:
Indian women’s hockey stalwart Vandana Katariya has announced her retirement from international hockey after a career spanning over 15 years. She played 320 international matches and scored 158 goals, making her the most-capped player in Indian women’s hockey history. Vandana made her senior team debut in 2009. She became the first and only Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. She received the Arjuna Award in 2021 and the Padma Shri in 2022 for her contributions to Indian hockey. She received the Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

Notes:
The gates of Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, have been opened for tourists. The park is located along the upper catchment of the Bhagirathi River. Its northeastern section forms the international boundary between India and Tibet (China). It shares borders with Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind National Park. The park covers 2,390 sq km of mountainous terrain in the Garhwal Himalayas. Major peaks include Chaukhamba I, Satopanth, Chaukhamba II, Chaukhamba III, and Kedarnath Main. The park houses the Gangotri Glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganges River.