Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

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:
The United States President imposed a 10% tariff on imports from Heard and McDonald Islands, even though these islands have no known exports to the US. Heard and McDonald Islands are remote volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4,100 km from Perth, Australia, and 1,600 km from Antarctica. They are one of Australia’s seven external territories and are directly governed by the Australian government. Heard Island has Big Ben volcano with Mawson Peak, the highest mountain in Australia outside mainland and Tasmania. McDonald Island is smaller but has doubled in size due to volcanic eruptions in the 1990s and 2000s. These are the only volcanically active sub-Antarctic islands and are used to study earth’s crust, climate change, and glaciers. They are part of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site since 1997

Notes:
On 3rd April 2025, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European country to do so. The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals responsible for serious global crimes. It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal. The ICC was created by the Rome Statute, an international agreement adopted on 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute defines the Court’s powers, structure, and responsibilities and came into force on 1 July 2002. The ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

Notes:
Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which protects its unique identity and origin. The name “Kannadippaya” means ‘mirror mat’ due to its shiny, reflective design. It is made from the soft inner layers of reed bamboo, giving it excellent thermal qualities—warm in winter and cool in summer. This craft is mainly done by tribal communities like the Oorali, Mannan, Muthuva, Malayan, Kadar, Ulladan, Malayarayan, and Hill Pulaya in Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad districts.

Notes:
India urged BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to support the Baku to Belém Roadmap. It was adopted at Conference of the Parties 29 (COP29) in 2024. The roadmap aims to mobilize USD 1.3 trillion to help developing nations meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. It focuses on defining a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance post-2025 and ensuring finance is predictable, adequate, and accessible. As BRICS countries now represent 47% of the world’s population and 36% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), their united climate efforts are crucial for a fair global transition.

Notes:
The Amalsad Chikoo, named after a village in Navsari district of Gujarat, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique quality and strong link to the region. It is the third fruit from Gujarat to get a GI tag, after Gir Kesar Mango and Kutchhi Kharek (date). Gujarat accounts for 98% of India’s chikoo exports, with Navsari being the top producer.

Notes:
A new study shows that dense vegetation in Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha has decreased from 41.8% in 1993 to 37.1% in 2023. The sanctuary, located in Puri district, was declared on 23 April 1984 and spreads over 87 square kilometres. It lies on a sandy stretch with plantations of casuarina and cashew trees, between Puri and Konark along the coast. It is home to wildlife like spotted deer and blackbucks. The sanctuary is crossed by several small rivers including the Nuanai, Kusabhadra, Kadua, and Prachi Rivers.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India stopped deforestation in Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli forest after protests against land auctions for Information Technology (IT) development. Kancha Gachibowli is a rich urban forest near the University of Hyderabad, home to over 730 plant species and 220 bird species. The Telangana government planned to auction 400 acres of this land for IT infrastructure projects. Students, environmentalists, and civil society groups protested, demanding preservation of the forest’s biodiversity. The court’s stay aims to protect this ecologically important area while the matter is being legally reviewed.

Notes:
The Registrar General of India (RGI) has warned government and private hospitals for not reporting births and deaths on time, which is legally required. The Registrar General of India (RGI) is a permanent body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, created in 1949 by the Government of India. It is headed by the Registrar General and Ex-Officio Census Commissioner, usually a Joint Secretary-rank officer. The RGI manages the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, to ensure accurate civil registration. It also conducts the Census of India, providing data on population size, growth, and characteristics. Along with the Census, the RGI handles demographic and language surveys across the country.

Notes:
Former world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won gold in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2025 in Buenos Aires. This is his second individual ISSF World Cup gold, the first being in Cairo in 2023. The ISSF World Cup is organized by the International Shooting Sport Federation.