Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) plans to generate power from the 2000 megawatt Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project (LSHP), raising concerns about its impact downstream in Assam. The LSHP is a run-of-the-river project built on the Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, at the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It features a 116-meter-high concrete gravity dam from the riverbed and 130 meters from the foundation, with a length of 284 meters. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 1.37 cubic kilometers. The powerhouse has eight surface-mounted 250 megawatt Francis turbines on the river’s left bank.

Notes:
Researchers at Kyoto University conducted a Phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and side effects of stem cell therapy using dopaminergic progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder causing the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, which are vital for motor functions. Conventional treatment involves dopaminergic medications, but these do not restore lost neurons and may cause long-term side effects. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from adult somatic cells and reprogrammed to develop into any human cell type. iPSCs are used in treating diseases like diabetes, leukemia, and neurological disorders, and are important in drug testing and disease modeling.

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The Russian Ministry of Defence has, for the first time, acknowledged the threat from Ukraine’s new short-range ballistic missile called Sapsan. The Sapsan, also known as Hrim-2 or Grom-2, is a tactical ballistic missile system developed by Ukraine. It combines features of both a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher for flexible battlefield use. The export version of the Hrim-2 missile is capable of hitting fixed targets, both individual and group-based. Its range varies from 50 to 280 kilometers, making it effective for short-range precision strikes.

Notes:
National Civil Services Day is observed every year on April 21 by the Government of India to honour the dedication of civil servants who serve the nation. It was first celebrated in 2006 and marks the day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel called civil servants the “steel frame of India”. Patel addressed Administrative Services probationers at Metcalf House, Delhi, emphasizing the true spirit of public service. On this day, the Prime Minister of India gives the Prime Minister’s (PM) Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. These awards recognise outstanding work by officers in areas like innovation and district development. This year marks the 17th Civil Services Day, with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressing officers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has launched the Pink E Rickshaw Scheme to empower women and make them financially independent. It was officially launched by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on April 21, 2025, in Pune, where electric three-wheelers were distributed to selected women. The scheme is administered by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra. Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited is the official partner and will supply the electric three-wheelers. A total of 10,000 e-rickshaws will be given in eight districts, including Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Women aged between 20 and 50 years who are widows, divorcees, or from economically weaker sections will get preference under this scheme.

Notes:
On 17th Civil Services Day, the PoshanTracker App of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation category. The award was accepted by the Secretary of Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). A special session titled “Promoting Nutrition for Women and Children through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0” was held under Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi. The PoshanTracker also promotes citizen ownership and was praised for its impact.

Notes:
As of March 2025, over 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India have become service-ready under the BharatNet project. BharatNet was launched by the Government of India in October 2011 under the Ministry of Communications. The project aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet access to every Gram Panchayat across the country. BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity initiative. The initiative is crucial for bridging the digital divide and enhancing access to online services in rural areas.

Notes:
Recently, Indonesia and China reaffirmed their commitment to maritime cooperation amid rising tensions over Chinese activity near the Natuna Islands. Natuna Island, also known as Bunguran Island, is the largest in the Natuna Islands archipelago. It is located in the northernmost part of Indonesia’s Riau Islands Province in the South China Sea. The island lies roughly halfway between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo Island. It features Mount Ranai, the highest point on the island, which stands at 1,035 meters above sea level. This region is strategically important and often sees overlapping maritime claims.

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India and Nepal recently inaugurated the start of electromechanical works at the Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project to ensure its timely completion. The Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project is located on the Arun River, a tributary of the Kosi River, in Sankhuwasabha District of eastern Nepal. It is a 900 Megawatt (MW) Run-of-River scheme, which means it uses the river’s natural flow without needing a large reservoir.