Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

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:
Around 300 Pakistani citizens of Indian origin from Sindh visited the Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, and offered prayers. The Dwarkadhish Temple, also called Jagat Mandir, is dedicated to Lord Krishna, known as Dwarkadhish or ‘King of Dwarka’. It is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, along with Badrinath, Rameshwaram, and Puri. Archaeological evidence suggests the original temple dates back to 200 BCE and was built by Vajranabha, Krishna’s great-grandson, over Krishna’s residence. The current temple was expanded in the 16th century with five stories and 72 limestone and sand pillars. It reflects 16th-century Chalukya architecture with carved mythical legends. It follows Pushtimarg tradition, based on teachings of 15th-century saint Vallabhacharya.

Notes:
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) launched a new Microdata Portal during the State Government Ministers’ Conference to improve data access and user experience. The portal, built with help from the World Bank Technology Team, uses a modern and secure technology stack. It stores national survey and economic census data and removes old technical issues. National Statistical System Training Academy (NSSTA) website was also launched to help with training information. MOSPI also showed a Proof of Concept (PoC) for an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) based tool to simplify National Industrial Classification (NIC) code search using natural language queries. These steps highlight MOSPI’s efforts to use technology for better data, planning, and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

Notes:
China has launched the “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye,” a 3.2-metre aperture radio and millimetre-wave telescope at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. It is designed to study interstellar gas like hydrogen and ammonia and to explore star formation in deep space. The telescope can operate in Antarctica’s extreme cold and strong winds, making it a major engineering success. It builds on China’s earlier Antarctic Survey Telescopes (AST3) projects. The telescope was developed by China Three Gorges University and Shanghai Normal University to boost China’s space science research.

Notes:
Ancient relics around 2,000 years old from the Megalithic Period were discovered in Manimoola village, Bandadukka, Kerala. A Megalith is a large stone used in building prehistoric monuments, either by itself or with other stones. These structures were made for burial purposes, called sepulchral, and for commemorative rituals, called non-sepulchral. Most Megaliths in India belong to the Iron Age, which lasted from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. Some megalithic sites in India are even older and go back to 2000 BCE, showing a long history of early human settlements.

Notes:
Citizens and environmentalists launched the ‘Save Bandipur’ protest in Karnataka after reports that the government may lift the night traffic ban on National Highway 766 (NH-766), which passes through Bandipur National Park. Bandipur National Park is a protected forest and tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka. It was first set up in 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore, covering 90 square kilometers. It became a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger and joined the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986 due to its rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

Notes:
The Amnesty International recently released the “Death Sentences and Executions 2024” Report. Amnesty International’s “Death Sentences and Executions 2024” report showed 1,518 recorded executions globally, the highest in nearly 10 years. This marked a 32% rise from 2023, and the highest total since 2015. Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for 91% of known executions. Iran executed at least 972 people, Saudi Arabia at least 345, and Iraq saw a jump from 16 to at least 63. China, North Korea, and Vietnam were not included due to lack of official data. The death penalty was reportedly used to silence protesters, minorities, and even individuals with mental disabilities.

Notes:
The 9th Global Technology Summit was inaugurated in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on 10 April 2025. It is a three-day event from 10 to 12 April and is India’s main platform to discuss geo-technology. The Global Technology Summit brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society from India and other countries. They discuss how technology is changing and how it affects global politics. The summit aims to build a shared approach that supports innovation while addressing everyone’s concerns. The theme of this edition is “Sambhavna,” which means possibility.

Notes:
Juspay, a Bengaluru-based payments infrastructure company, became India’s first unicorn of 2025 after raising 60 million in a Series D funding round. The round was led by Kedaara Capital, with participation from SoftBank and Accel, pushing Juspay’s valuation over 1 billion. The company plans to improve its technology using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and expand into international markets like Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America, Europe, United Kingdom (UK), and North America. Despite losing major clients like Razorpay and PhonePe, Juspay remains focused on AI-driven productivity and global growth to sustain its momentum.

Notes:
World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on April 11 to spread awareness about Parkinson’s Disease, a brain disorder that worsens over time and affects movement and coordination. The day was established in 1997 by Parkinson’s Europe and the World Health Organization (WHO) to honour Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the disease in 1817. Parkinson’s Disease affects over 10 million people globally, with nearly 1 million cases in India. The 2025 theme focuses on early diagnosis, understanding symptoms, and managing lifestyle for better outcomes.