Weekly Current Affairs Test : 15th to 21st April 2025

BatEchoMon stands for Bat Echolocation Monitoring, India’s first real-time automated bat monitoring system. It was developed by Kadambari Deshpande and Vedant Barje under Jagdish Krishnaswamy at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru. It is part of the Long-Term Urban Ecological Observatory at IIHS’s School of Environment and Sustainability. BatEchoMon detects, records, analyses, and classifies bat sounds using echolocation. It uses an ultrasonic microphone, a Raspberry Pi microprocessor, solar-powered battery, and Wi-Fi unit. It activates at sunset and works through the night using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to identify bat calls.

The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a major step in India-Africa maritime cooperation. It is a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise jointly hosted by India and Tanzania to boost ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Eleven nations are participating: India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The aim is to enhance naval coordination and develop joint solutions to regional maritime challenges. It aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions. Indian Navy ships INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and INS Sunayna are deployed, with INS Sunayna part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission. The exercise runs for six days (April 13–18, 2025) with harbour and sea phases.

Camera traps at Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve in East Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh detected nine big cats, showing healthy wildlife presence. The reserve is surrounded by Tenga Reserve Forest (north), Doimara Reserve Forest (west), Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve (south), and Papum Reserve Forest (east). It lies in the Eastern Himalayas foothills, with Kameng River on the west and north, and Pakke River on the east. The area covers 862 sq.km and has a subtropical climate with cold winters. The Nyishi tribe lives here and actively supports conservation. It won the India Biodiversity Award 2016 for the Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as Monkey Fever, is rising in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka. It is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease first reported in 1957 from Kyasanur Forest, Karnataka. It is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), part of the Flavivirus genus and Flaviviridae family, linked to the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex. The virus spreads through hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera) and affects humans, monkeys, and rodents, but not through human-to-human contact.

India successfully tested the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), joining the US, China, and Russia as one of the few nations with this advanced technology. It is a 30-kilowatt laser-based weapon that can destroy helicopters, swarm drones, radars, and fixed-wing drones with high precision. It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its lab Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, in collaboration with academic and industrial partners. It uses an Electro Optic (EO) system and radar to identify targets and fires a laser beam to cause structural failure in seconds. This system is fast, accurate, and helps avoid collateral damage, while also reducing the use of costly ammunition in combat.

Telangana government launched the Bhu Bharati portal to make land record management simple, transparent, and accessible. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy launched it on 14th April 2025, marking Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s 135th birth anniversary. The portal replaces the Dharani portal, introduced by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government on 2nd November 2020 for agricultural land registration. Bhu Bharati was launched at Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hyderabad. It began as a pilot in four mandals – Khammam, Mulugu, Kodangal, and Kamareddy. The portal is based on the Telangana Bhu Bharathi (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the 800 megawatt (MW) 3rd unit of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamunanagar, Haryana on 14 April 2025. The new unit is an ultra-supercritical thermal plant, which uses less coal and produces lower carbon emissions compared to older plants. Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant is located in Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana. It is named after Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, a prominent freedom fighter and social reformer. It is operated by Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL), a government-owned company.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) launched the STELLAR Model, a new software tool for planning power generation, transmission, and storage with demand response. STELLAR stands for State-of-the-art, Totally indigenously developed Resource adequacy model. It helps Indian states and power distribution companies (discoms) create resource adequacy plans as per Ministry of Power’s June 2023 guidelines. The model ensures reliable electricity supply through smart planning of power resources. It supports integrated planning with demand response and meets changing yearly requirements. The tool is transparent, user-friendly, and made in India under CEA’s guidance. It is available free of cost to all states and discoms. It was developed with support from The Lantau Group (TLG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) recently led a protest in Pungro Town, Nagaland, against the fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border and the removal of the Free Movement Regime (FMR). The Yimkhiung tribe mainly lives in eastern Nagaland’s Kiphire district and nearby regions of Myanmar. Their villages are based on clans, and they follow a strong tradition of oral history, festivals, and communal land ownership. The international border divides the Yimkhiung people, separating families and ancestral lands they consider as one. The Yimkhiungrü language, part of the Sino-Tibetan family, is spoken by over 100,000 people. Tsüngkamnyo is their most important post-harvest festival.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global Financial Stability Report warned that high geopolitical risks may affect global financial and economic stability. It highlighted threats like conflicts, cyberattacks, and resource competition disrupting global supply chains. Shifts in global power, new trade alliances, and investment centers are changing traditional economic dynamics. The global tax system is becoming fragmented as some countries adopt a minimum global tax while others move away from shared tax rules. Workforce challenges such as ageing populations, low birth rates, cultural tensions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are also stressing economies and labour markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report. This report, published twice a year in April and October, provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, including emerging market financing.

The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), under the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the Ministry of Defence, held the second Defence Literature Festival ‘Kalam & Kavach 2.0’ in New Delhi. The event was themed ‘Securing India’s Rise through Defence Reforms’ and focused on India’s journey to becoming a self-reliant and tech-driven military power. The festival supported the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) goal through defence manufacturing and procurement reforms. It emphasized integration across land, air, sea, cyber, and space for national security. The event aligned with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’. It highlighted stronger public-private partnerships and faster tech transfers to boost readiness. Kalam & Kavach 2.0 showed how literature, innovation, and strategy can together shape India’s defence future.

Two people in the United States are believed to have died recently from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare and incurable brain disorder. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) causes dementia and belongs to a group of diseases called prion disorders or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Its symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease but progress much faster and lead to death. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is very rare, with only 1 to 2 cases diagnosed per million people each year worldwide. It mostly affects older adults and is always serious. The disease is caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which damage the brain by turning healthy prions into harmful ones. These abnormal prions clump together in the brain, leading to nerve cell loss and severe brain damage.

Hockey Punjab, led by Hardik Singh, won the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship Trophy 2025 by defeating Hockey Madhya Pradesh 4-1 in the final. The final match of Division A was held on 15 April 2025 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the bronze medal by defeating Manipur Hockey 5-1. Hockey Punjab won their 5th title since the tournament began under Hockey India in 2011. The tournament was organised by Hockey India and held from 4 to 15 April 2025.

A new frog species named Leptobrachium aryatium was discovered in Garbhanga Reserve Forest near Guwahati, Assam, after a 21-year-long study. It was first studied in 2004 but misidentified as Leptobrachium smithi. The discovery site lies near Deepor Beel, a Ramsar wetland site, and is part of the Garbhanga-Rani-Deepar Beel elephant corridor. The species was named after Arya Vidyapeeth College, which helped transform the local area from a liquor brewing zone to an educational hub. The frog has orange-and-black eyes, a reticulated throat, and makes rhythmic dusk-time calls. Its identification was confirmed through morphology, DNA analysis, and bioacoustics.

Public sector banks (PSBs) have raised concerns about the slow uptake of the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme. These concerns relate to the implementation of the scheme. The PM Vidyalakshmi scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, provides financial support to meritorious students for higher education. It targets students admitted to India’s top 860 Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs), ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Students receiving other government scholarships or fee reimbursements are not eligible for this scheme. Students who discontinue studies or are dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons are also ineligible for the scheme’s benefits. Loans can be applied for through the PM Vidyalakshmi portal, which offers a seamless, digital application process by integrating with various banks.

The Indian Navy hosted the 3rd edition of its Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium called Meghayan-25. Meghayan-25 was organized to mark the formation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It also celebrated World Meteorological Day 2025, which is observed every year on 23rd March. The theme of Meghayan-25 was ‘Closing the Early Warning Gap Together’. This theme was aligned with the World Meteorological Day 2025 focus. The aim was to improve early warning systems for better climate and disaster preparedness. The event emphasized the need for global cooperation in weather monitoring and forecasting.

Bank of Maharashtra, a public sector bank, has become the first bank to install an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on a train in India. The ATM was installed on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express. This is the first time an ATM has been introduced on an Indian Railway train. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this update through his social media account. According to Indian Railways, this was a pilot project aimed at improving passenger convenience. The ATM was placed in a modified pantry car cubicle at the rear end of the coach. The cubicle has a shutter door for safety and easy access. If successful, this facility will be expanded to other trains. The initiative is part of the Indian Railway’s Innovative and Non-Revenue Ideas Scheme.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways called the breakthrough in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel a historic milestone. The tunnel is a 531-kilometre long, two-lane bi-directional tunnel with an escape passage. It is located on the Dharasu-Yamunotri section in Uttarakhand, connecting Silkyara and Barkot. The tunnel is part of National Highway-134 (NH-134), earlier known as NH-94. It is being built under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched the e-SEHAT App to improve healthcare access in the Union Territory. The app was developed by the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department. e-SEHAT stands for Electronic Solutions for Enabling Health Access Through Technology. It aims to serve both patients and healthcare providers like doctors and paramedics. The app allows users to access healthcare services in public and private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir. It provides details on doctor availability, appointment booking, diagnostic and surgical services, teleconsultation, and telemedicine.

The Philippines confirmed the deployment of the United States anti-ship missile system NMESIS for this year’s Balikatan military exercises. NMESIS stands for Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. It is developed for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to support land-to-sea missile attacks. It uses the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the latest anti-ship missile of the United States Navy. The missile is mounted on an unmanned version of the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The vehicle platform is called Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires. Oshkosh Defense supplies the ROGUE Fires vehicle. The Naval Strike Missile is jointly made by Raytheon Missiles and Defense from the United States and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace from Norway.

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy. The exercise is planned to take place around the end of May 2025 in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The main aim is to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination between European forces and the Indian Navy. The proposal comes due to rising piracy and instability in the Red Sea region, especially near the Horn of Africa. Unlike regular Passage Exercises (PASSEX), this drill will include tactical manoeuvres, counter-piracy actions, and communication training. Operation ATALANTA, launched in 2008, is the European Union’s mission to fight piracy near Somalia.

The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has approved the declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve. It is the first wetland linked to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to receive such protection. The 30-acre lake is a key feeding and resting site for flamingos during high tide. A committee was formed after 17 flamingos died due to blocked tidal inlets in 2023. About 60 percent of the algae-filled lake has been cleared, helping flamingos return. Experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) warned that wetland loss may push birds near Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), raising bird strike risks.

Scientists have found strong signs of possible extraterrestrial life on the exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation. This is the second and more promising detection of life-related chemicals in the planet’s atmosphere. The findings were made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the most powerful space observatory, built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). A team from Cambridge University, led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, studied the planet’s atmosphere. They found chemical traces of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS). On Earth, these gases are produced only by marine phytoplankton and some bacteria. This raises the possibility of biological activity on K2-18b.

The classical Indian texts Natyashastra by Bharat Muni and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita have been added to the Memory of the World Register by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). This announcement was made by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 18 April 2025. With this, India now has a total of 14 inscriptions in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. UNESCO’s Executive Board met in Paris, France, on 17 April 2025 and approved 74 new entries. These 74 documentaries come from 72 countries and four international organisations. The new entries include topics like the scientific revolution, women’s historical contributions, and global cooperation.

World Heritage Day, also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed on April 18 each year. It aims to promote the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The day has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1983 and is organized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The theme for 2025 is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts,” emphasizing preparedness and resilience.

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a joint satellite mission by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is set to be launched in June 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II). This is the first radar-based Earth observation mission jointly developed by India and the United States. NISAR will map the entire Earth’s surface every 12 days to provide frequent and accurate data. It will track ecosystem changes, ice movements, vegetation shifts, sea level rise, groundwater levels, and natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and landslides.

China is set to unveil the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s highest bridge. The suspension bridge is under construction in Zhenfeng County, Guizhou Province, located 800 miles west of Shenzhen. Guizhou is known for impressive structures, with nearly half of the top 100 tallest bridges in the world situated there. The bridge will stand 625 meters (2,051 feet) above Beipan River, 200 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. It will surpass the Millau Viaduct in France, which held the record at 343 meters (1,125 feet). The bridge is 2,890 meters (9,482 feet) long and weighs 22,000 tons.

A recent study shows that the Mahadev Koli tribe holds rich medicinal and ecological knowledge useful for global climate resilience. The Mahadev Koli tribe is primarily found in the state of Maharashtra. They are named after their god Mahadev and live mainly in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra. They are mostly found in Pune, Ahmednagar, and Nasik districts and are classified as a Scheduled Tribe. They speak Marathi using the Devanagari script and have twenty-four exogamous clans, using clan names as surnames. They know over 50 native tree species used for traditional medicine. Tanaji Malusare, a heroic general in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army, belonged to this tribe and is known for his bravery in the Battle of Sinhagad.

Indian athletes won 11 medals at the 6th Asian Under-18 (U18) Athletics Championship 2025 held in Saudi Arabia from April 15 to 18. The event was organised by the Asian Athletics Association at Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Sports City. Athletes under 18 years from 31 Asian countries took part in the championship. India won one gold, five silver, and five bronze medals in total. Himanshu won the gold medal in the boys’ javelin throw event. In the previous 5th edition held in 2023 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, India had won 24 medals.

BRICS nations launched the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership to tackle land degradation, desertification, and soil fertility loss across 11 member countries. The announcement was made during the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil. This was the first agriculture meeting of the expanded BRICS, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. India was represented by Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. BRICS countries together represent 47% of the global population and contribute 36% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The meeting supported fair agricultural trade, stable global prices, and better returns for small farmers.