Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
A rare golden tiger, also called a golden tabby tiger, was recently spotted in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. It is not a separate subspecies but a colour variant of the Bengal tiger. Only four golden tigers are known to exist in the wild, all in Kaziranga. The colour is due to a mutation in the wideband gene, which increases the reddish-yellow pigment called pheomelanin. Both tiger parents must carry this mutated gene for the golden colour to appear. The colour itself is harmless, but it may result from inbreeding, which can cause genetic weaknesses.

Notes:
April 13 is observed as Siachen Day to honour the Indian Army’s Operation Meghdoot, launched in 1984 to secure the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. Indian troops captured Bilafond La Pass, gaining a major strategic edge in Kashmir. The operation was led by Lieutenant General Manohar Lal Chibber, Lieutenant General P.N. Hoon, and Major General Shiv Sharma. It was supported by the Indian Air Force (IAF) using aircraft like An-12, An-32, IL-76, and helicopters Mi-17, Chetak, and Cheetah. Siachen guards routes to Gilgit Baltistan, Shaksgam Valley, and the Karakoram Pass, making it vital for national security.

Notes:
The Saras Mk2, India’s first multi-purpose civilian aircraft in the light transport aircraft category, is set for its test flight in December 2027. It is a 19-seater aircraft developed by National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Saras Mk2 is an upgraded version of the earlier Saras Mk1 model. It is designed for multiple uses, such as medical emergencies, disaster relief, and passenger transport. It will help improve air connectivity between Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 cities across India.

Notes:
Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as Monkey Fever, is rising in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka. It is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease first reported in 1957 from Kyasanur Forest, Karnataka. It is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), part of the Flavivirus genus and Flaviviridae family, linked to the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex. The virus spreads through hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera) and affects humans, monkeys, and rodents, but not through human-to-human contact.

Notes:
India and Italy recently agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, and high technology. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is a transport and trade infrastructure project connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe. It was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by India, the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (US) during the G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi. IMEEC is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), introduced at the G7 Summit 2021 in the United Kingdom.

Notes:
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) launched the STELLAR Model, a new software tool for planning power generation, transmission, and storage with demand response. STELLAR stands for State-of-the-art, Totally indigenously developed Resource adequacy model. It helps Indian states and power distribution companies (discoms) create resource adequacy plans as per Ministry of Power’s June 2023 guidelines. The model ensures reliable electricity supply through smart planning of power resources. It supports integrated planning with demand response and meets changing yearly requirements. The tool is transparent, user-friendly, and made in India under CEA’s guidance. It is available free of cost to all states and discoms. It was developed with support from The Lantau Group (TLG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global Financial Stability Report warned that high geopolitical risks may affect global financial and economic stability. It highlighted threats like conflicts, cyberattacks, and resource competition disrupting global supply chains. Shifts in global power, new trade alliances, and investment centers are changing traditional economic dynamics. The global tax system is becoming fragmented as some countries adopt a minimum global tax while others move away from shared tax rules. Workforce challenges such as ageing populations, low birth rates, cultural tensions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are also stressing economies and labour markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report. This report, published twice a year in April and October, provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, including emerging market financing.

Notes:
World number one Magnus Carlsen won the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam held in Paris. He defeated Hikaru Nakamura 1.5–0.5 by winning the first game and drawing the second. This was Carlsen’s first Grand Slam title in this new freestyle format. He won a prize of $200,000, showing his strength in a format blending creativity with classical chess. Caruana earned a spot in the next Grand Slam event in the United States of America (USA) this July. The Paris event featured top-level players and a fresh approach to chess.

Notes:
Five military personnel were awarded the MacGregor Memorial Medal by the Chief of Defence Staff for their outstanding work in military reconnaissance, exploration, and adventure for the years 2023 and 2024. The medal was established on 3rd July 1888 to honour General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, who founded the United Service Institution of India (USI). It was originally given for military reconnaissance and exploratory missions during British Army campaigns in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and Burma. After India’s independence, the scope was expanded to include adventure activities. The medal is open to all ranks, both serving and retired, from the Indian Armed Forces, Territorial Army, and Assam Rifles.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has recently conducted a survey to map the population of mugger crocodiles in the state. The mugger crocodile, also called the marsh crocodile, is one of the 24 living species of crocodilians in the world. It lives in freshwater habitats like marshes, lakes, rivers, and even artificial ponds. In India, it is found in 15 states, with large populations in the middle Ganges basin in Bihar and Jharkhand, and the Chambal basin in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. It is also found in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and south-eastern Iran. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the mugger crocodile is classified as Vulnerable.