Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) partnered with the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE) to launch the ‘I Am Circular’ Coffee Table Book. The book celebrates India’s innovation in driving the circular economy forward, focusing on sustainability and responsible growth. A circular economy focuses on reusing, recycling, and reducing waste. The event promoted tech-integrated sustainable development and featured 30 groundbreaking Indian innovations. These innovations are transforming the circular economy with smart, scalable, and sustainable practices. The book showcases India’s role in driving forward circular economy initiatives.

Notes:
Recently, concerns were raised when the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) called for proposals using GenomeIndia data without sharing important phenotype data details. Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase (PI-CheCK) was launched by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on December 7, 2023. The project aims to build India-specific risk prediction models for cardio-metabolic diseases like diabetes, liver, and heart diseases. It is India’s first pan-India longitudinal health study focused on cardio-metabolic health.

Notes:
The women of the Lanjia Saora tribal group in Gunupur, Rayagada district, Odisha, celebrate the mango harvest with traditional dance. The Lanjia Saora are a culturally rich subgroup of the Saora tribe. The Lanjia Saora tribe is primarily found in Odisha, specifically in the forested hills of Gajapati and Rayagada districts. They speak Saora, a Mundari language of the Austroasiatic family. The Lanjia Saora perform vibrant dances with spontaneous songs, using brass pipes, cymbals, and gongs.

Notes:
Scientists from China, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) recently studied the inner workings of Uturuncu, a “zombie” volcano in Bolivia, and found that there is no immediate risk of eruption. Uturuncu is a stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Bolivia and is made up mainly of dacitic lava domes and flows. It sits on top of a massive underground magma reservoir called the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB), which extends under southern Bolivia, northern Chile, and northern Argentina. Uturuncu is called a “zombie” volcano because it shows signs of activity without actual eruptions.

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare recently released guidelines for establishing Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) to promote natural farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) are cluster-level enterprises that provide farmers with locally prepared natural farming inputs like bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations. BRCs also serve as knowledge hubs to train and support farmers who are transitioning to natural farming practices. The initiative was launched under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). The objectives of BRCs include ensuring easy access to quality bio-inputs, offering technical support on natural farming methods, and promoting the adoption of natural farming across rural areas.

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India Post has launched ‘Gyan Post’ to improve access to education by delivering books and study materials across the country. It allows affordable postal delivery of only non-commercial, educational content to bridge learning gaps. Real-time tracking is provided to ensure transparency and timely delivery. Materials with advertisements or business purposes are not allowed under this scheme. Each book must clearly mention the name of the printer or publisher as per the official guidelines. The pricing is concessional, with ₹20 for parcels up to 300 grams and ₹100 for packages up to 5 kilograms.

Notes:
Mackinac Island is a small island city in northern Michigan, United States. It is located where Lake Huron meets Lake Michigan, two of the Great Lakes of North America. The island covers about 4.35 square miles and is known for its natural beauty and peaceful environment. It is surrounded by limestone cliffs and rises up to 339 feet in the eastern part. A unique feature is that motor vehicles are banned, making horses the main mode of transport. Recently, the island gained attention again as a rare car-free haven in America’s car manufacturing state.

Notes:
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has been appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) and will take charge on May 14, 2025, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The appointment of the Chief Justice of India is guided by Article 124(2) of the Constitution, which empowers the President of India to appoint the CJI. Article 126 allows for the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice if needed.

Notes:
Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have found a new way to improve green hydrogen production. They created a special heterostructure using Copper Tungsten Oxide and Copper Oxide. This structure uses the Built-In Electric Field (BIEF) effect to boost the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). The Copper Tungsten Oxide nanoparticles are grown over a Cu(OH)₂ base, forming a p-n heterojunction with an uneven electronic setup. This BIEF helps in better proton adsorption and desorption. Green hydrogen, made from water using clean energy, is a pollution-free fuel of the future.

Notes:
A rare inscription from the time of Vikramaditya I of the Badami Chalukya dynasty was recently found at Madapura Lake in Davangere district, Karnataka. Vikramaditya I ruled from 644 Common Era (CE) to 681 CE. He became king after the defeat of his father Pulakeshin II by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. His most important military success was the recapture of Vatapi, the Chalukya capital, from the Pallavas. He supported temple architecture and encouraged the construction of freestanding temples, a key feature of Chalukya style. The inscription offers new insights into his rule and regional history.