Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
India has launched a unique scientific study to detect zoonotic diseases that may pass from birds to humans. The study is titled “Building a surveillance model for detecting zoonotic spillover in increased bird-human interaction settings using the One Health approach.” It will follow the One Health approach, which links the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is leading the initiative. The study will be carried out in selected bird sanctuaries and wetlands in Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. It aims to monitor human and bird health where their interactions are increasing.

Notes:
A recent international multicentre clinical study found that Semaglutide, a medicine for type 2 diabetes and obesity, can lower the risk of major heart-related events by 14%. Semaglutide is a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) that acts like a natural hormone to control blood sugar and appetite. It helps treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) by boosting insulin and lowering blood sugar levels. It also supports weight loss when combined with proper diet and exercise. Semaglutide is available as injections and oral tablets.

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:
India became the third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar energy in 2024, overtaking Germany, as per Ember’s Global Electricity Review. Wind and solar generated 10% of India’s electricity in 2024, and 15% globally. Clean energy sources like renewables and nuclear power made up 40.9% of global electricity – the highest since the 1940s. India added 24 gigawatts (GW) of solar in 2024, becoming the third-largest market after China and the US. Solar power contributed 7% of India’s electricity, doubling since 2021. India aims for 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). India also targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, but needs 20% more annual funding to meet it, according to Ember.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) marked its 10th anniversary in April 2025, celebrating its role in promoting small businesses and financial inclusion. PMMY, launched in 2015 by the Government of India, aims to provide affordable credit to micro and small enterprises. It helps integrate underserved entrepreneurs into the formal financial system through easy access to credit. Loans up to ₹10 lakh are given for non-farm income-generating activities like manufacturing, trading, services, and processing. Loan categories include Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,000–₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5–10 lakh) based on business stage. No direct subsidy is given, but loans under government-linked schemes with capital support can benefit from PMMY.

Notes:
The Future of Jobs Report 2025, which analyzes global labor market trends for the period of 2025-2030, was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025 stresses the need to align education with fast-changing global job demands. It highlights key forces shaping the job market by 2030, such as technology, demographics, green transition, and economic uncertainty. About 60% of employers see digital access and tech advancements as major change drivers. Nearly 50% of employers expect economic shifts to displace current jobs. Around 59 out of 100 workers will need training in tech skills, analytical thinking, and resilience. Demand will grow for roles like Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineers and Big Data specialists. The report calls for both technical and soft skills like adaptability, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended a workshop on Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2025 at his official residence, Mukhya Sevak Sadan. He launched the Bhagirath mobile app under the theme “Dhara Mera, Naula Mera, Gaon Mera, Prayas Mera” and released a brochure about the initiative. The Bhagirath app allows people to report endangered water sources in their area for revival and conservation. He highlighted the need to protect Naulas, Dharaas, and rain-fed rivers for sustainable water management. The government formed the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA) to coordinate these conservation efforts across departments.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) as a sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2025–2026 with ₹1600 crore outlay. The scheme aims to modernize irrigation water supply from canals or other sources to farm gates using underground pressurized piped systems for up to 1 hectare. It will use technologies like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Internet of Things (IoT) for water management and improve Water Use Efficiency (WUE). It will boost farm productivity and income. Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) to Water User Societies (WUS) will ensure sustainability. These societies will be supported and linked to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) or Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) for five years. The scheme aims to attract youth to modern irrigation methods.

Notes:
The first No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued through the new Digital Portal for National Waterways to develop a jetty at Malim on River Mandovi. Mandovi River, also called Mahadayi or Mhadei, is known as the lifeline of Goa. It merges with the Zuari River and both flow into the Arabian Sea, forming the Mormugao harbour. The river starts from around 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats, located in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Famous waterfalls on the river include Dudhsagar and Varapoha, and an important tributary is the River Mapusa.

Notes:
Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have issued a public alert after a rise in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, raising fears of contamination in air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, usually found in natural water bodies but can also grow in man-made systems like cooling towers. The bacteria can lead to two illnesses: Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness. Common symptoms include cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion or diarrhea. It spreads by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not from person to person. There is no vaccine, but antibiotic treatment is effective once diagnosed.