Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
Sunbird is a nuclear fusion-powered rocket developed by Pulsar Fusion, a British startup, to transform interplanetary travel with much faster speeds. It could reach up to 805,000 km/h, surpassing the current fastest object, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which travels at 692,000 km/h. With this speed, Sunbird could reduce travel time to Mars by almost half and reach Pluto in just 4 years. A major orbital test is planned in 2027, showing progress in next-generation space propulsion. Nuclear fusion, which powers Sunbird, fuses atoms like stars do, giving high energy with minimal radioactive waste, unlike nuclear fission.

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Farmer leaders, environmentalists, religious heads, and advocates are protesting the proposed Bandura Nala water diversion project in the Mahadayi River basin. The Mahadayi River, also known as Mandovi or Mhadei, is a rain-fed river shared by Karnataka and Goa for their water needs. It originates from Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, flows briefly through Maharashtra, and then enters Goa, where it empties into the Arabian Sea at Panaji. Out of its 111-km total length, about 76 km lies in Goa. Important tributaries include Rogaro, Kushavati, Nanorem, Nanuz, Valvota, and Mapusa. The river also hosts the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary on Chorao Island, and the towns of Panaji and Old Goa lie on its left bank.

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India, along with 62 countries, supported the world’s first global carbon tax on the shipping sector, approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the global body that adopted the first global carbon tax on the shipping industry. A Carbon Tax is a type of environmental tax charged on the carbon content in fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by making pollution more expensive and promoting clean energy alternatives. The tax is calculated based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or other GHGs released. It encourages a market-based climate solution, making industries shift to greener practices.

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The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a major step in India-Africa maritime cooperation. It is a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise jointly hosted by India and Tanzania to boost ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Eleven nations are participating: India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The aim is to enhance naval coordination and develop joint solutions to regional maritime challenges. It aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions. Indian Navy ships INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and INS Sunayna are deployed, with INS Sunayna part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission. The exercise runs for six days (April 13–18, 2025) with harbour and sea phases.

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World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14 to raise awareness about the devastating impact of Chagas disease. The theme for World Chagas Disease Day 2025 is “Prevent, Control, Care: Everyone’s role in Chagas disease,” emphasizing the need for accessible healthcare and ongoing patient support. Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, found in the feces of the triatomine bug. It primarily affects regions in South America, Central America, and Mexico. If untreated, Chagas disease can lead to serious heart and digestive issues. Early treatment targets killing the parasite, while chronic cases focus on managing symptoms.

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Maharashtra government has decided to rename Khultabad to its original name Ratnapur, restoring its historical identity. The town was originally called Ratnapur, but its name was changed to Khultabad during the Mughal era. It is located about 25 kilometers from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). The town is historically significant as it houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, as well as the graves of his son Azam Shah and Asaf Jah I, the founder of the Hyderabad Nizam dynasty.

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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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NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Unlocking 25+ Billion Export Potential – India’s Hand & Power Tools Sector’. It highlights how the Hand and Power Tools sector can boost India’s economic growth. The global market for these tools is valued at 100 billion and may grow to 190 billion by 2035. India exports only 600 million in hand tools and 470 million in power tools, with very low market shares. The report suggests India can target 25 billion in exports and generate 35 lakh jobs by gaining 10% in power tools and 25% in hand tools. India can achieve this by encouraging innovation, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and improving industrial infrastructure. The tools sector is a pillar of global manufacturing and can support India’s goal of becoming Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Growth in construction and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets can boost Make in India and expand India’s global footprint by $25 billion.

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The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has developed a new turmeric variety called IISR Surya for the masala industry. IISR Surya has a light-coloured rhizome suited for modern turmeric powder production. It was developed after ten years of focused research by IISR scientists through clonal selection from their turmeric germplasm conservatory. The variety offers a 20% to 30% higher yield than existing light-coloured types and can yield up to 41 tonnes per hectare. It contains 2% to 3% curcumin, matching other light-coloured varieties. IISR Surya is recommended for cultivation in Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. It aims to help farmers, reduce market shortages, and support both domestic and export demand.

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The Indian Navy hosted the 3rd edition of its Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium called Meghayan-25. Meghayan-25 was organized to mark the formation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It also celebrated World Meteorological Day 2025, which is observed every year on 23rd March. The theme of Meghayan-25 was ‘Closing the Early Warning Gap Together’. This theme was aligned with the World Meteorological Day 2025 focus. The aim was to improve early warning systems for better climate and disaster preparedness. The event emphasized the need for global cooperation in weather monitoring and forecasting.