Current Affairs Quiz - April 2025

Notes:
World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25th to raise awareness about malaria. It is a global initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to fight against malaria and work towards its elimination. The theme for this year is “Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” urging renewed action at all levels. Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It affects millions, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions, and remains a serious public health challenge.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh has received formal approval for the ₹2,100 crore Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park project. The project has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Textiles and will be the first integrated textile park of its kind in India. The PM MITRA Scheme aims to strengthen the Indian textile industry by enabling larger-scale operations. It seeks to reduce logistics costs by housing the entire value chain at one location. The scheme also aims to attract investment and enhance export potential. It is inspired by the 5F vision (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) of the Prime Minister. The scheme was implemented by the Ministry of Textiles.

Notes:
In line with the Union Budget 2025–26, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has introduced major trade facilitative measures for air cargo and transshipment to enhance logistics efficiency and simplify customs procedures. The CBIC is part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. It administers Customs, Central Excise, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST), and Narcotics, where applicable. The CBIC is headed by a Chairman, supported by Chief Commissioners and Director Generals across various zones. It also operates a Goods and Services Tax (GST) Intelligence Wing to monitor and prevent tax evasion.

Notes:
Odisha is the state where a farmer officially registered the indigenous paddy variety called Keonjhar Kalachampa. Keonjhar Kalachampa is known for its strong resilience against major diseases, pests, and the impacts of climate change. The Government of India officially recognized this variety in 2015. The Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) along with private companies have been actively producing and distributing this variety. The variety has special features like non-lodging ability, high yield, and adaptability to both early and late sowing seasons. Recently, Odisha has also launched a gene bank initiative to conserve native paddy seeds for up to 50 years under controlled conditions.

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:
India has once again been placed on the ‘priority watch’ list in the Special 301 Report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). It is an annual review published under the Trade Act of 1974. It identifies countries that do not provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) or fair access to US rights holders. The report has been released every year since 1989. It classifies countries as “priority foreign country”, “priority watch list”, or “watch list”. Countries on the priority watch list, like India, have serious IPR issues needing greater US attention.

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.

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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have recently launched formal hydrogen exploration initiatives. Hydrogen is seen as the fuel of the future due to its ability to help decarbonize the global economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Natural hydrogen, or white hydrogen, is hydrogen that naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust, unlike industrially produced hydrogen. It forms through geological processes such as serpentinisation, where water reacts with iron-rich rocks, radiolysis, the breakdown of water by radioactive rocks, and the decomposition of organic matter in deep geological formations.

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The 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) will take place on June 9-10 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The theme of the two-day conference is ‘Viksit Bharat: Civil Service and Digital Transformation.’ It will include six plenary sessions and six breakout sessions. The event is jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with Andhra Pradesh’s collaboration. The conference will discuss strategies to enhance public service quality and promote “minimum government, maximum governance.” National e-Gov Awards (NAeG) 2025 will be conferred, and notable leaders will participate, including Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister.