Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the “One Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya One Sport” scheme to promote sports among girls studying in Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools (KGBVs). The scheme aims to give special sports training and promote the physical, mental, and social growth of girls from backward and underprivileged communities. It will help these girls prepare to compete at the national level in sports. In the pilot phase, two KGBV schools from each of the 73 districts, except Kanpur Dehat which has one, will be included. A sports committee in every school will select one sport based on the students’ interest and available resources. Sports experts will provide special training, and health check-ups and awareness sessions on nutrition and hygiene will be held.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is taking part in Exercise Desert Flag-10 from April 21 to May 8, 2025, at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Exercise Desert Flag is a major multinational air combat exercise that trains different air forces under realistic war-like conditions. IAF has deployed two powerful aircraft: MiG-29, an air superiority fighter, and Jaguar, a deep strike ground attack aircraft. This year is special as it marks 50 years since the MiG-29 was first launched. Air forces from 12 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, are also participating. The goal is to share knowledge, improve tactics, and boost coordination in complex air combat missions.

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Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and is one of the largest global movements for environmental protection. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is “OUR POWER, OUR PLANET,” calling for a major shift to renewable energy. It urges individuals, businesses, and governments to triple clean energy production by 2030. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, led by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues. Around 20 million Americans joined that day, making up 10% of the U.S. population. In 1990, Earth Day became a global event with over 200 million people from 141 countries participating. It reminds us of our shared duty to care for nature and tackle climate change.

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United States (US) air strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port have killed at least 80 people. Ras Isa Port is located on the Ras al-Mashawn Peninsula in Yemen. It lies along the Gulf of Aden, about 35 kilometers west of the city of Al Mahrah. The Marib–Ras Isa oil pipeline is a vital part of Yemen’s energy network. This pipeline connects the inland oil fields of Marib to the Ras Isa Marine Terminal on the Red Sea. The port plays a major role in Yemen’s oil exports and overall economic stability.

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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.

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The Rajasthan government has launched the One Time Settlement Scheme (OTS) to provide relief to farmers and small entrepreneurs while strengthening the financial position of land development banks. Announced in the 2025-26 budget, the first phase of the scheme will run from May 1 to September 30, 2025. The scheme applies to loans disbursed by the Rajasthan Minorities Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Limited (RMFDCC), overdue by March 31, 2024.

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The Karnataka government may soon increase the rates of medical procedures under the modified Yeshasvini health scheme. A committee led by Kudligi MLA Srinivas N.T., an eye specialist, has recommended up to 50% rise in rates for complex procedures like paediatric heart surgery, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology. The Yeshasvini Health scheme was launched by Karnataka government in 2003. It is one of India’s largest self-funded healthcare schemes. It was merged with other schemes under Arogya Karnataka in 2018 but relaunched in 2022–2023 due to public demand.

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The Bamiyan Buddhas were two massive statues carved in the 6th century CE into sandstone cliffs of the Bamiyan Valley in central Afghanistan. They stood at 174 feet and 115 feet tall and were named Salsal, meaning “light shines through the universe,” and Shamama, meaning “Queen Mother.” These statues belonged to the Gandhara School of Buddhist Art, known for mixing Indian, Persian, and Greco-Roman art styles. They symbolized a blend of Gupta, Sassanian, and Hellenistic influences and represented the cultural exchange along the Silk Road. The statues marked the spread of Buddhism across Central and South Asia from the 1st to 13th centuries. In recent context, the Taliban—who destroyed the statues in 2001—are reportedly showing a shift in their attitude toward heritage preservation, suggesting possible support for restoring historical sites.

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India became the world’s first country to successfully artificially breed the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) with the birth of the third chick at Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park. The technology and training for artificial insemination were obtained from the Abu Dhabi-based “International Fund for Houbara Conservation” and specialized training from the Wildlife Institute of India. The GIB is protected under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

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Following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted “Exercise Aakraman” (Attack). The exercise took place over a large area in the central sector and involved IAF’s mainstream fighter aircraft, led by Rafale combat jets. The IAF operates two Rafale squadrons based in Ambala and Hashimara, West Bengal. In a show of strength, fighter jets and transport aircraft were active through the night, flying close to the border areas. Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)-equipped aircraft conducted intense surveillance of enemy movements.