Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th April 2025

The Indian Air Force (IAF) joined the INIOCHOS-25 exercise in Greece at the Andravida air base. This biennial multinational exercise, hosted by Greece’s Hellenic Air Force, simulates modern air warfare. The IAF deploys Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-78, and C-17 aircraft. Fifteen countries, including France, Israel, Italy, the UAE, and the US, participates. The exercise focuses on refining tactics in complex air operations and enhancing military cooperation. It offers an opportunity to improve skills, exchange knowledge, and share best practices in air combat.

A recent faunal survey by the Forest Department recorded 63 new species of odonates, butterflies, and birds in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in Malappuram district, Kerala, covering 227.97 sq.km on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary shares boundaries with Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala. The name ‘Karimpuzha’ comes from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of River Chaliyar. The terrain varies from 40 m to 2550 m, supporting rich biodiversity.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the report “Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well” at the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event in France on March 27-28, 2025. The report highlights poor nutritional quality in school meals and urges governments to improve food standards. In 2024, 47% of primary school students received school meals, but many lacked proper nutrition. In 2022, 27% of school meals were not designed with nutritionist input. Out of 187 countries, only 93 had school food policies, and 65% had cafeteria food standards. Childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while food insecurity remains a challenge. UNESCO recommends fresh, locally sourced food over ultra-processed options.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited successfully completed the trial run of Unit 2 (200 MW) of the Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh. The Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project is a run-of-the-river project in Sainj, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, harnessing the lower Parbati River, a tributary of the Beas River. A concrete gravity dam at Pulga village diverts water through a 31.52 km head race tunnel to a powerhouse in Suind village, Sainj Valley. The project has a total capacity of 800 MW (four units of 200 MW each). Once fully operational, it will generate 3,074 million units of electricity annually. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Private Limited owns 100% of the project.

Sarhul Festival is celebrated by Adivasi communities in Jharkhand and the Chotanagpur region to mark spring and the new year. Sarhul means “worship of the Sal tree”, symbolizing the union of the Sun and Earth for life. The Sal tree is sacred and believed to be the abode of Sarna Maa, the village deity. Three-day celebration includes cleaning, gathering Sal flowers, fasting, rituals at Sarna Sthals (Sacred Groves), sacrifices, prayers, and a community feast with Handia (rice beer). Tribes like Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia, and Ho celebrate it.

Lok Sabha passed a bill to establish Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Anand, Gujarat. The university is named after Tribhuvandas Patel, a pioneer of India’s cooperative movement. Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, and politician. He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and involved in movements like civil disobedience and rural development. He founded Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. (KDCMPUL) in 1946. Inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he fought against farmers’ exploitation by Polson Dairy. He served as President of Harijan Sevak Samiti from 1948 to 1983.

Ranchi is the first district in Jharkhand to launch a large-scale screening and management campaign for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). NAFLD, now called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), occurs due to fat buildup in the liver without heavy alcohol use. In contrast, Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Early-stage NAFLD is harmless but can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure if untreated. It increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is its severe form, which may cause liver cancer.

Rajgir, Bihar, will host the Hero Asia Cup Hockey 2025 in August. Hockey India and Bihar State Sports Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the event. The tournament will be held from August 29 to September 7 at Rajgir Hockey Stadium. This is Rajgir’s second international event after the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2023, where India won. The 12th edition will feature 8 teams, including India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, and Malaysia.

Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 62nd National Maritime Day and Merchant Navy Week at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. National Maritime Day is celebrated in India every year on April 5. It marks the maiden voyage of SS Loyalty, the first Indian-owned ship, from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919. Various ports and maritime organizations under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) honored the bravery and dedication of seafarers. The event highlighted India’s maritime excellence and contribution to global shipping.

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) CARTOSAT-3 satellite captured high-resolution images of earthquake damage in Myanmar. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025. Post-disaster images from March 29 were compared with pre-event data from March 18 to assess damage in Mandalay and Sagaing. CARTOSAT-3 is a third-generation agile advanced Earth observation satellite developed by ISRO. It replaces the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series and has high-resolution imaging capabilities. It was launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C47).

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched the four-day School Chale Hum campaign in Bhopal on April 1, 2025. All CM RISE Schools in the state will be renamed Maharishi Sandipani Vidyalaya. The Education Portal 3.0 was launched to digitize school education processes. The campaign runs from April 1-4, 2025, aiming to improve enrollment, retention, and timely textbook distribution. 5.6 crore textbooks (Classes 1-12), 1.02 crore Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) workbooks, and 26 lakh Bridge Course books will be provided for free.

The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini reached Cape Town, South Africa, in its final international stop of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II global circumnavigation. INSV Tarini is a 56-foot, indigenously built sailing vessel commissioned in February 2017 by the Indian Navy. It was built by Aquarius Shipyard Ltd., Goa, under the Make in India initiative. It has advanced navigation, satellite communication, and emergency steering for extreme conditions. It was named after the Tara-Tarini hill shrine in Odisha, historically revered by sailors. The expedition began on October 2, 2024, covering 23,400 nautical miles across three oceans and three major capes in eight months.

China launched new military drills named “Strait Thunder-2025A” in the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait. A strait is a narrow body of water connecting two larger water bodies. The Taiwan Strait, also called the Black Ditch, was named Formosa (“Beautiful”) by Portuguese navigators in the late 16th century. It lies between China’s Fukien province and Taiwan, connecting the South China Sea and the East China Sea. This strait is a major global shipping route, with 44% of the world’s container fleet passing through. The Median Line, or Davis Line, runs through it but is not recognized by China.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, to implement international agreements on aviation leasing. It aligns with the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention, 2001) and its Protocol on Aircraft Equipment. India signed these agreements in 2008. The bill secures rights over aircraft, helicopters, and engines, ensuring legal clarity. It empowers the central government to make rules and designates the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the registry authority for aircraft registration and de-registration, protecting creditors and aviation stakeholders under clear legal guidelines.

The Indian Army’s Air Defence warriors from the White Tiger Division demonstrated their operational skills in a live missile-firing exercise using the 9K33 Osa-AK missile system. The 9K33 Osa-AK is a Russian-built, highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air defence missile system. It was developed in the 1960s and fielded by the Soviet Union in 1972. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designates it as “SA-8 Gecko.” The missile system has a length of 9.1 meters, a width of 2.78 meters, and weighs up to 18 tonnes. It integrates the transporter-erector-launcher and radar (TELAR) for independent detection, tracking, and engagement of aerial threats.

The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) by NITI Aayog assesses the fiscal health of Indian states. It covers 18 major states that contribute significantly to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public expenditure, revenue, and fiscal stability. Odisha ranks first in the index, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. As states handle two-thirds of public spending and one-third of total revenue, their fiscal health is crucial for national economic stability. The index uses data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the financial year 2022-23 to compare and benchmark fiscal performance. It helps policymakers make informed decisions to improve fiscal sustainability and resilience. The index evaluates tax buoyancy, which measures how responsive a state’s tax revenue is to its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth. It assesses revenue generation, including own tax and non-tax receipts.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented since 2021-22. It has three components: ‘Adarsh Gram’, ‘Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of Scheduled Caste (SC) Communities’, and ‘Hostel’. The scheme aims to improve socio-economic indicators in SC-dominated villages by ensuring infrastructure and services. It reduces poverty by generating employment through skill development and income-generating schemes. 25 states submitted Perspective Plans for 2023-26, and Rs. 457.82 Crore was released for 8146 projects, including 987 for skill development in 2023-25. In 2024-25, 4,991 villages were declared as Adarsh Gram. The Hostel component provides residential facilities in quality institutions and schools to boost SC literacy and enrolment. A total of 891 hostels have been sanctioned under PM-AJAY, including 27 in 2024-25. In 2024-25, Rs. 6.64 Crore was used for administrative expenses under PM-AJAY.

New observations of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter show unexpected atmospheric activity above and around the storm. The Great Red Spot is an anticyclone, a high-pressure system that creates a long-lasting storm. It is located in Jupiter’s Southern Hemisphere. It appears as a massive red spot, though the cause of its red color remains unknown. The storm extends above Jupiter’s main cloud layers and is the largest known storm in the Solar System. The storm has existed for at least 150 years and may be even older. Its long duration is linked to Jupiter’s gaseous composition, which lacks a solid surface that would dissipate the storm’s energy. Unlike hurricanes on Earth that weaken upon landfall, Jupiter’s storm remains active due to its deep atmosphere.

Rajasthan has the highest number of railway stations with installed solar power plants, totaling 275 stations. This information was provided by Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the Lok Sabha on 2nd April 2025. During the financial year 2024-25, India added 25 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, including 6 GW of solar energy. As of 31st March 2025, the total installed solar power capacity in the country has reached 21 GW. Indian Railways aims to achieve 100% electrification by 2025-26 and become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030. Indian Railways aims to install 20 GW of solar power capacity on its vacant land by 2030.

A rare Binturong was captured on a camera trap by the Wildlife Trust of India’s Garo Green Spine project team in Narang Wari Village Reserve Forest, Meghalaya. The forest is in the buffer zone of Balpakram National Park. The Binturong, also known as the bearcat, is the largest civet in India. It is an omnivorous mammal found in dense forests of Southeast Asia. Its range extends from Nepal, India, and Bhutan to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Balpakram National Park, located in Meghalaya, is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes. It is situated in the West Garo Hills district, about 134 km from Shillong. The park is called the “Land of Perpetual Winds” due to strong winds across the plateau.

The Union Cabinet approved the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) with an outlay of ₹6,839 crore for border villages. Vibrant Villages Programme was launched in 2023 for the all-round development of villages near the International Border. The first phase covered villages in 46 blocks along the northern border in 19 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. Under the programme, 17 border villages will be developed as tourist destinations. The second phase will cover Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab to boost livelihood, prosperity, and safety. Vibrant Villages Programme is implemented by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The United States President imposed a 10% tariff on imports from Heard and McDonald Islands, even though these islands have no known exports to the US. Heard and McDonald Islands are remote volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about 4,100 km from Perth, Australia, and 1,600 km from Antarctica. They are one of Australia’s seven external territories and are directly governed by the Australian government. Heard Island has Big Ben volcano with Mawson Peak, the highest mountain in Australia outside mainland and Tasmania. McDonald Island is smaller but has doubled in size due to volcanic eruptions in the 1990s and 2000s. These are the only volcanically active sub-Antarctic islands and are used to study earth’s crust, climate change, and glaciers. They are part of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site since 1997

On 3rd April 2025, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European country to do so. The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals responsible for serious global crimes. It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal. The ICC was created by the Rome Statute, an international agreement adopted on 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute defines the Court’s powers, structure, and responsibilities and came into force on 1 July 2002. The ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which protects its unique identity and origin. The name “Kannadippaya” means ‘mirror mat’ due to its shiny, reflective design. It is made from the soft inner layers of reed bamboo, giving it excellent thermal qualities—warm in winter and cool in summer. This craft is mainly done by tribal communities like the Oorali, Mannan, Muthuva, Malayan, Kadar, Ulladan, Malayarayan, and Hill Pulaya in Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad districts.

Delhi’s forest and wildlife department will install 45 motion-based camera traps in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to monitor and collect data on wildlife. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is in the South Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range, on the Delhi-Haryana border. It forms part of the Southern Ridge and connects with the Indo-Gangetic Plain, making it rich in biodiversity. The sanctuary is a key segment of the North Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor, which begins at Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, passes through Haryana districts, and reaches the Delhi Ridge.

Assam government will withdraw Foreigner Tribunal cases filed against the indigenous Koch-Rajbongshi community. The Koch-Rajbongshi community is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in the states of Assam and West Bengal, with significant populations also residing in parts of Meghalaya. The Koch-Rajbongshi community is primarily found in the northeastern region of India, particularly in the states of Assam and West Bengal, with significant populations also residing in parts of Meghalaya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the ‘Mithra Vibhushana’ medal from the Government of Sri Lanka for strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties and shared cultural heritage. This is the highest civilian honour of Sri Lanka, instituted in 2008 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The award was given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at a ceremony in Colombo. It is the 22nd international award given to PM Modi by a foreign nation. The medal features the Dharma Chakra for Buddhist heritage, Pun Kalasa for prosperity, Navarathna for deep friendship, and the Sun and Moon for eternal relations.

The seventh edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be held in five cities of Bihar from May 4 to 15, 2025. Bihar will also host the Khelo India Para Games in the same month. Khelo India initiative was launched in 2018 to boost sports culture and identify young talent for the Olympics. It includes youth, university, and winter games to promote talent development. It focuses on building and upgrading sports infrastructure across India. Khelo India Centres and Academies offer expert coaching in various sports. It promotes fitness, inclusiveness, gender equality, disability sports, and indigenous games.

The indigenously developed Hansa-3 trainer aircraft has been approved for training aircrew to get pilot licences. It will now be manufactured in India by private industry. Hansa-3 is India’s first indigenous flying trainer aircraft. It was designed and developed by the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-NAL), Bangalore. It was built to meet the needs of Indian flying clubs. It is ideal for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) because of its low cost, simple operation, and low fuel consumption.

A major archaeological discovery in Lefkada, Greece, revealed the first ancient Greek theater ever found in the Ionian Islands. The Ionian Islands are located off the western coast of Greece in the eastern Ionian Sea, covering 2,306.94 square kilometers. They are also known as “Heptanese,” meaning “Seven Islands,” which include Corfu (Kerkyra), Paxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Kythira. Kefalonia is the largest, with Mount Ainos as the highest point at 1,628 meters. Historically, they were ruled by Venice, later by Russian and Turkish forces, and finally ceded to Greece by Britain in 1864.