Current Affairs Quiz 4th April 2025 Quiz

Exp. Kamal Haasan appointed as Chairman of FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee South

Actor Kamal Haasan has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Media and Entertainment Committee South.

This was announced during the FICCI’s Media and Entertainment Business Conclave South Connect 2025, which was held in Chennai.

Recent Appointments

• MD of Tata Group’s electronics retail chain Croma – Shibashish Roy
• MD of Ambuja Cements Limited – Ajay Kapur
• CEO and Whole-time Director of Ambuja Cements – Vinod Bahety
• Whole-time Director of Maruti Suzuki India – Sunil Kakkar
• Full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to PM (EAC-PM) – Sanjay Kumar Mishra (Former Chief of ED)

Exp. India and China Celebrate 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations

India and China celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations on April 1, 2025, with leaders from both nations exchanging messages, highlighting the importance of their bilateral ties.

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, advocated strong India-China relations based on non-alignment, Asian solidarity, and the Panchsheel principles of peaceful coexistence.

While Nehru envisioned India-China cooperation as crucial for the Global South, the relationship has experienced ups and downs, including border conflicts and two wars.

Exp. BHEL partners with Adani Energy Solutions for 6,000 MW HVDC Bhadla-Fatehpur transmission project

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has entered into a partnership with Rajasthan Part I Power Transmission Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL).

The joint venture will see the development of a 6,000 MW, ±800 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system that will transport renewable energy from Bhadla in Rajasthan to Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, with completion expected by 2029.

This project is a crucial step towards meeting India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and demonstrates BHEL’s continued commitment to India’s energy infrastructure and the Make in India initiative.

The HVDC link will play a pivotal role in facilitating bi-directional power flow, ensuring grid stability, and aiding in the smooth integration of renewable energy into the national grid.

This marks BHEL’s fourth major Ultra High Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC) transmission project. Previously, the company has executed the North-East Agra +800 kV, 6,000 MW, Raigarh-Pugalur +800 kV, 6,000 MW, and is currently involved in the Khavda-Nagpur +800 kV, 6,000 MW HVDC link, in collaboration with Hitachi Energy India.

Exp. Trump unveils ‘discounted’ reciprocal tariffs, India to be charged 27%

President Donald Trump unveiled “discounted” reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, including a 27% tariff on imports from India, effective April 9, 2025. The move is aimed at countering what Trump called unfair trade practices.

Trump highlighted that India levies a 52% tariff on US imports. The US, in turn, will impose roughly half that rate. Other affected countries include China (34%), the EU (20%), South Korea (25%), Japan (24%), and Taiwan (32%).

Despite concerns, SBI Research reports the tariffs may only lead to a 3–3.5% dip in Indian exports, thanks to India’s diversified export base, growing manufacturing and services sectors, and alternate trade routes.

Ahead of the announcement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington to discuss a potential bilateral trade agreement (BTA). Both nations aim to finalize a deal by the end of 2025, targeting $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Exp. Renowned Media Strategist Nikhil Singhal Honored with Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award

Nikhil Singhal, a distinguished media strategist, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide, and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, was honored with the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award.

The award ceremony, hosted by the Tapasya Foundation Trust, took place at the iconic Taj Lucknow.

This recognition highlights his remarkable contributions to the public relations industry and his exemplary leadership in strategic communication.

As President of Noida High Rise Federation, Nikhil has been instrumental in advocating for the rights and concerns of high-rise residents in Noida, ensuring effective communication between stakeholders and government authorities.

Awarded as ET Global Leader title by The Economic Times in 2021, Nikhil was also recognized as the Most Followed Indian Media Strategist by Khaleej Times in 2022. He was featured in the Times 40 Under 40 list in 2022, an honor that celebrates young leaders making a significant impact in their fields.

Exp. Andhra CM Launches P4 Poverty Eradication Scheme in Bapatla District

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu implemented the ‘P4 – Margadarsi Bangaru Kutumbam’ poverty eradication program at the village level in Kotha Gollapalem, Bapatla district, aiming to link affluent individuals with needy families to eliminate poverty.

Under the P4 initiative, two local affluent individuals, Vikram Narayana Rao and Vasantha Srinivasa Rao, were entrusted with supporting 30 families, collaborating with the Bapatla district collector to devise an action plan for effective implementation.

The launch coincided with the NTR Bharosa pension distribution program in Chinaganjam mandal, where Naidu emphasized the scheme’s role in poverty alleviation, alongside updates on rapid progress in Amaravati capital works and the Polavaram project.

About Andhra Pradesh

• Capital – Amaravati
• Chief Minister – N Chandrababu Naidu
• Deputy CM – Pawan Kalyan
• Governor – Abdul Nazeer
• Legislative Assembly Seat – 175

Exp. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi appointed President of Asian Cricket Council

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was appointed as the new President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Naqvi, who has served as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman since February 2024 will assume the role immediately. He succeeds Shammi Silva, President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Under Naqvi, the PCB recently hosted the Champions Trophy – an ICC event after 29 years.  

Exp. India Post Partners with Nippon India Mutual Fund to Enhance KYC Verification Services

Department of Posts (DoP) has signed an MoU with Nippon India Mutual Fund to provide door-to-door KYC verification services for their investors.

This partnership aims to streamline the KYC process, ensuring convenience, security, and compliance for investors across India.

The door-to-door KYC service will offer investors the convenience of completing the process from home, a crucial benefit for the investors especially the elderly. This partnership aligns with the Government of India’s emphasis on Jan Nivesh, the initiative aimed at promoting financial inclusion for the common masses.

Exp. H Shankar appointed as Managing Director of CPCL

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of H Shankar as the Managing Director (MD) of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Shankar, who was serving as Director (Technical) at CPCL, has assumed the role with effective from April 1. Previously, he has been holding additional charge as Managing Director of CPCL since July 16, 2024.

Shankar’s tenure as MD of CPCL will continue until his superannuation on March 31, 2029, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.  

Exp. Salman Khan named brand ambassador for 10X Zarda King rice

Salman Khan has been appointed brand ambassador for GRM Overseas Limited’s premium basmati rice brand, 10X Zarda King, and stars in their new “#RishtaMubarak” campaign celebrating food’s role in building relationships.

The campaign emphasizes tradition and togetherness, aligning with Khan’s family-friendly image to promote the brand’s biryani-focused rice offerings.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Salman Khan – GRM Overseas Wheat Flour
• Vidya Balan – Federal Bank
• Shubman Gill – Tyre brand MRFs
• Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh – American clothing brand, Levi’s
• PV Sindhu – PUMA India
• Tata Mumbai Marathon – Mo Farah
• MS Dhoni – Eurogrip Tyres

Exp. Veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar passes away

Veteran actor and director Manoj Kumar passed away in Mumbai. He was 87.

The legendary Bollywood actor was well-known by his nickname ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his patriotic films. He was a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri in 1992 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015 for his immense contribution to Indian cinema for decades.

Born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami, Kumar has shaped the narrative of patriotic movies in Bollywood and has delivered classics like Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981).  

Exp. Federal Bank launches Fed StarBiz credit card for business customers

Federal Bank has launched Fed StarBiz, a credit card designed for business customers.

This has been launched by Federal Bank in collaboration with NPCI, an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India and Visa, a global payments technology company.

Fed StarBiz is designed to cater to the unique needs of SME customers, offering a range of features and benefits that enhance financial management and convenience.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Federal Bank launches Fed StarBiz credit card for business customers in collaboration with NPCI and Visa
• IDFC FIRST Bank authorised by CPAO for pension disbursement
• Bank of Baroda Unveils ‘mDigiNext’ App to Enhance Corporate Cash Management
• HDFC Bank introduced the Embassy Fixed Deposit, a specialized foreign currency term deposit scheme exclusively available in USD, targeting diplomats, non-diplomatic staff, and diplomatic missions as eligible investors.

Exp. Mundra becomes first Indian port to handle 200 MMT cargo in FY25

Mundra port in Gujarat has become the first Indian port to cross 200 million metric tonnes of annual cargo volumes during the financial year 2025.

The port handled 200.7 MMT of cargo during FY25. During FY25, all the ports of APSEZ collectively handled 450.2 MMT cargo volume, a seven percent year-on-year growth compared to previous year.

The growth was led by growth in containers which grew by 20 percent year-on-year. The volumes of liquid and gas volumes handled grew at nine percent. In the just ended fiscal, logistics rail volume stood at 0.64 million TEUs — a growth of 8 percent.  

Exp. Indian equestrian Niharika Singhania clinches gold at Azelhof CSI Lier in Belgium

In a remarkable display of skill and dedication, young Indian equestrian player Niharika Singhania has clinched first position in the prestigious Azelhof CSI Lier equestrian competition held in Belgium.

Competing against international participants, Niharika demonstrated exceptional talent and composure to bring home gold. Niharika participated in the Two Phases special event, riding on Hotese Charboniere. She finished the event with 40.72 and 40.34 penalty points.