Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

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A study found that Bonobos use vocal communication with compositionality, meaning they combine sounds to create new meanings like human language Compositionality is the ability to join meaningful sounds or words into larger structures where the full meaning depends on both the parts and their arrangement Bonobos share 98.7% of their DNA with humans, just like chimpanzees, making them our closest relatives They are slightly smaller, leaner, and darker than chimpanzees, and live in peaceful, female-led groups Bonobos are found only in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Their status is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List

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Startup QNu Labs has launched the world’s first unique platform called Q-Shield. Q-Shield allows smooth cryptography management across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid setups. It offers a full solution to secure sensitive data both while moving (in transit) and when stored (at rest). It helps enterprises safeguard their critical infrastructure. Critical Infrastructure includes key sectors like the Communications Sector and Energy Sector, where any threat or disruption can harm national security and the economy.

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India sent military aircraft to Myanmar with earthquake relief under Operation Brahma. During the mission, some Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft faced Global Positioning System (GPS) spoofing attacks. GPS spoofing is a cyberattack where false GPS signals are sent to confuse the location of GPS-enabled devices. It uses a nearby radio transmitter to overpower real satellite signals and send fake coordinates. These false signals can mislead aircraft, goods, or people by showing wrong locations. There are two main types: rebroadcasting past signals, known as meaconing, and generating fake satellite signals. This attack poses serious risks to navigation and safety.

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Bank of Maharashtra, a public sector bank, has become the first bank to install an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on a train in India. The ATM was installed on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express. This is the first time an ATM has been introduced on an Indian Railway train. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this update through his social media account. According to Indian Railways, this was a pilot project aimed at improving passenger convenience. The ATM was placed in a modified pantry car cubicle at the rear end of the coach. The cubicle has a shutter door for safety and easy access. If successful, this facility will be expanded to other trains. The initiative is part of the Indian Railway’s Innovative and Non-Revenue Ideas Scheme.

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In 2024–25, the United States (US) remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth year in a row. Bilateral trade between India and the US reached $131.84 billion. China continued as India’s second-largest trading partner, with trade rising to $127.7 billion. India’s trade deficit with China increased sharply to $99.2 billion, marking a 17% rise from the previous year. China was India’s top trading partner from 2013–14 to 2017–18 and again in 2020–21. Since 2021–22, the US has consistently held the top position in India’s global trade rankings.

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Uttar Pradesh has ranked first in India for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Processing Enterprises Upgradation Scheme (PMFME). The average loan approval time in Uttar Pradesh is 101 days, compared to 110 days in Bihar and 190 days in Telangana. Uttar Pradesh has achieved a 14% growth in loan disbursement under the scheme. The state spent Rs 250 crore more than in 2024. For the year 2025–26, the budget for Uttar Pradesh increased by 56%, with an additional Rs 300 crore allocated. The PMFME scheme was launched in 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Abhiyaan to support micro food enterprises.

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China is set to unveil the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s highest bridge. The suspension bridge is under construction in Zhenfeng County, Guizhou Province, located 800 miles west of Shenzhen. Guizhou is known for impressive structures, with nearly half of the top 100 tallest bridges in the world situated there. The bridge will stand 625 meters (2,051 feet) above Beipan River, 200 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. It will surpass the Millau Viaduct in France, which held the record at 343 meters (1,125 feet). The bridge is 2,890 meters (9,482 feet) long and weighs 22,000 tons.

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Indian athletes won 11 medals at the 6th Asian Under-18 (U18) Athletics Championship 2025 held in Saudi Arabia from April 15 to 18. The event was organised by the Asian Athletics Association at Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City. Athletes under 18 years from 31 Asian countries took part in the championship. India won one gold, five silver, and five bronze medals in total. Himanshu won the gold medal in the boys’ javelin throw event. In the previous 5th edition held in 2023 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, India had won 24 medals.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on May 2, 2025. It will be India’s first semi-automated and truly deep-water international container transshipment port. The project is being developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Kerala government, the Central government, and Adani Ports. Its location near major international shipping lanes will boost India’s trade and make Kerala a key maritime hub. The port will reduce shipping time, handle large vessels, increase trade with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and create jobs and growth for Kerala. Adani Ports already operates many ports across India and abroad, including in Israel, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.

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Recently, Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT), India’s largest world-class cruise terminal, was inaugurated. It is developed under the Cruise Bharat Mission 2024 to promote India as a top global cruise destination. Cruise Bharat Mission aims to double cruise passenger traffic by 2029 and cruise ship calls from 254 in 2024 to 500 by 2030. The mission supports India’s vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism. It will be implemented in three phases from 2024 to 2029. MICT is a key step in enhancing infrastructure and boosting the cruise tourism economy in India.