Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Maharashtra government has reduced the stipend for about eight lakh women under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. These women also receive benefits from the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi (NSMN) scheme. Under the revised rule, they will now get Rs 500 per month instead of Rs 1,500 from the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. This is because they already receive Rs 1,000 monthly under the NSMN scheme. As per the scheme rules, the total financial help from the government per woman cannot exceed Rs 1,500. The Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched in 2024 to support women across Maharashtra.

Notes:
A rare golden tiger, also called a golden tabby tiger, was recently seen and photographed in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The golden tiger is not a separate subspecies but a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger caused by a genetic mutation. This mutation affects the production of black pigment, giving the tiger a pale golden coat with light orange stripes. Only four golden tigers are known to exist in the wild, and all are found in Kaziranga National Park. Their presence highlights the rich biodiversity and conservation success of the park.

Notes:
Mission Amrit Sarovar is helping rural people earn more by supporting activities like irrigation, fisheries, duck farming, water chestnut growing, and animal husbandry around water bodies. It was launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to promote water conservation and rural development. The mission plans to build or restore 75 water bodies in every district across India. It aims to fight groundwater depletion and water shortage by using both old and new methods. It works through a mix of government schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 15th Finance Commission Grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and state programs. Public donations through crowdfunding and Corporate Social Responsibility are also encouraged.

Notes:
India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu is expected to be commissioned next year. It marks a major step in the second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR is a 500 Megawatt electric (MWe) sodium-cooled reactor that uses fast neutrons instead of slow neutrons. It was developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), set up in 2003 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has predicted that wheat production from eight major states will reach 122.724 million tonnes by March 31, 2025. This estimate was made using satellite-based remote sensing technology for better accuracy and timely updates. ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has developed a system called CROP, which stands for Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress. CROP is a semi-automated and scalable system that monitors crop sowing, growth, and harvesting in near real-time. It mainly supports agricultural planning during the Rabi season. This comes as remote sensing in agriculture marks 50 years of global use.

Notes:
India has sent a second batch of batteries of the BrahMos missile system to the Philippines. BrahMos is a long-range supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms. It has a two-stage propulsion system. The first stage is a solid propellant booster that provides the initial supersonic speed. The second stage is a liquid ramjet that takes the missile close to a speed of 3 Mach during the cruise phase. It has a range of up to 290 kilometers. It uses “Fire and Forget” technology, which does not require further guidance after launch. It has shorter flight times, which means quicker target engagement and low dispersion.

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:
Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), faced severe flooding in April 2025 due to poor urban planning and twin sources of floodwater. The disaster was caused by both local rainfall and runoff from the Congo Central Province, which overwhelmed rivers like the Ndjili and Lukaya. This led to 70 deaths, 150 injuries, and displacement of over 21,000 people. It also damaged 73 healthcare facilities and disrupted water and transport systems. Kinshasa is one of 38 flood hotspots in the Congo Basin due to rapid urbanisation and twin flood sources. The crisis was worsened by ongoing instability in eastern DRC caused by the M23 armed group, leading to more displacement. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa after Algeria and the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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.