Current Affairs Quiz 5th, 6th and 7th April 2025 Quiz

Exp. Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) for financial years 2024-25 to 2028-29

The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Narendra Modi, today approved the Vibrant Villages Programme -II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), furthering its commitment for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 for ‘Safe, Secured & Vibrant land borders’.

The Programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the Northern border already covered under VVP-I.

With a total outlay of Rs.6,839 crore, the programme shall be implemented in select strategic villages in the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal till the FY 2028-29.

The objective is to improve living conditions, livelihood opportunities, internal security, and ensure integration of border populations as vital stakeholders in border safety.

Funding will support infrastructure development, value chain creation through cooperatives and SHGs, SMART education, tourism circuits, and other sustainable livelihood projects.

The programme will leverage technology platforms like PM Gati Shakti, and ensure saturation of services in four key areas: road, telecom, TV connectivity, and electrification through convergence with existing schemes.

Exp. Cabinet approves four multitracking projects to enhance Indian Railways capacity

The Union Cabinet has approved four major multitracking projects for Indian Railways, aiming to significantly enhance line capacity and improve both passenger and freight transportation across key routes.

With an estimated total cost of Rs. 18,658 crore, these projects will be completed by 2030-31 and are expected to streamline logistics, reduce costs, and support sustainable rail operations.

Spanning 1,247 kilometers across 15 districts in Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, the four approved projects are crucial for increasing the efficiency of transportation for essential commodities like coal, iron ore, and other minerals.

The four projects include the third and fourth line expansion between Sambalpur and Jarapda, the third and fourth line between Jharsuguda and Sason, the fifth and sixth line between Kharsia, Naya Raipur, and Parmalkasa, and the doubling of the Gondia-Balharshah track.

These projects are part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity. This initiative has been made possible through integrated planning and aims to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.

The projects will also see the construction of 19 new stations, improving access to important regions, including two aspirational districts—Gadchiroli and Rajnandgaon. This enhanced connectivity will benefit around 3,350 villages and approximately 47.25 million people.

Exp. Parliament passes the Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025

The Protection of Interest in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, marks the second major aviation reform under Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.

The bill aims to align India’s aircraft leasing and financing ecosystem with global standards, providing a critical boost to investor confidence in the country’s rapidly growing aviation market.

It builds on the framework of the Cape Town Convention of 2001, which sought to simplify and standardize international leasing agreements. Although India formally adopted this convention in 2008, gaps in legal enforcement led to higher leasing costs—typically 8 to 10 percent higher than in other nations. This legislation aims to address those gaps, ensuring legal certainty for aircraft financiers and reducing costs for Indian carriers.

India’s aviation sector has seen rapid growth, with annual passenger traffic doubling from 10.38 crore (Independence to 2014) to 22.81 crore by 2024, and the number of airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 159 in 2024.

The legislation supports the sector’s expansion—evidenced by aircraft numbers rising from 340 in 2014 to over 840 in 2024—while tackling challenges like high Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs, which constitute 45% of airline operational expenses.

Future plans include producing 2.5 crore liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2025, transitioning over 100 airports to renewable energy, and increasing Flight Training Organizations (FTOs) to meet the demand for 30,000-34,000 pilots over the next 10-15 years.

Exp. Prime Minister participates in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, Thailand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit hosted by Thailand, the current chair.

The theme of the Summit was – “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open”. It reflected the priorities of the leaders and the aspirations of the peoples of the BIMSTEC region, as well as the efforts of BIMSTEC in ensuring shared growth in times of global uncertainties.

To enhance capacity building and economic integration, PM Modi introduced the BODHI programme for youth skilling, proposed a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce, an annual BIMSTEC Business Summit, a Digital Public Infrastructure study, and a cancer care capacity-building initiative.

Strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties, India will host the BIMSTEC Athletics Meet in 2025, the first BIMSTEC Games in 2027, a Traditional Music Festival, and youth-focused events like a Young Leaders’ Summit, Hackathon, and Young Professional Visitors programme.

Exp. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil launches Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS) Portal

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched the Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS) Portal in New Delhi, which automates the generation of weekly water storage bulletins, replacing the earlier manual system.

The portal monitors 161 key reservoirs (total live storage capacity of 182.375 BCM) and provides real-time updates, graphs, tables, and downloadable bulletins. It is accessible to decision-makers and the general public.

Bulletins are issued every Thursday and shared with agencies including PMO, NITI Aayog, IMD, MoJS, and various state governments. Advisories are released in case of critical storage situations.

Reservoir data support agriculture, power, domestic use, disaster management, and climate resilience, playing a critical role in ensuring water security and planning crop cycles across the country.

Exp. RPF Joins CEIR Portal to Enhance Mobile Recovery for Rail Passengers

After a successful pilot in the Northeast Frontier Railway, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has officially integrated with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, enabling recovery of lost or stolen mobile phones for passengers across India.

Through CEIR, RPF can now block the IMEI number of missing phones, making them unusable and deterring resale, while also leveraging tracking tools for quick recovery.

Passengers can report missing phones via Rail Madad (online or by dialing 139). RPF’s Zonal Cyber Cells will register the complaint on CEIR, block the device, and facilitate recovery and return.

RPF’s ongoing Operation Amanat has already returned property worth ₹84.03 crores to over 1.15 lakh passengers. The CEIR portal will further boost RPF’s ability to track and restore lost mobile phones efficiently.

Exp. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launches a new website of the Department of Water Resources, RD &GR based

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, launched a new website for the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) in New Delhi.

This initiative aligns with the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) framework, aiming to create a cohesive digital ecosystem across all government departments.

Key features of the new website include:

1. Consistent User Experience: The DBIM framework ensures a uniform look and feel across government websites, enhancing user navigation and accessibility.​
2. Enhanced Accessibility: The website complies with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), making it accessible to all citizens, including those with disabilities.​
3. Optimized Performance: With an optimized coding structure, the site offers faster load times and improved performance, benefiting users even in low-bandwidth areas.​
4. Mobile-Friendly Design: The responsive design ensures compatibility across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops.​
5. Centralized Content Management: A centralized content management system allows for efficient updates and maintenance, ensuring up-to-date information is readily available to the public.

Exp. Hungary first European country to withdraw from the ICC

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that his country is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hungary is the first European country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which was established in 2002.

The decision to withdraw from the ICC was announced by Viktor Orbán in the presence of the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a four-day official visit to Hungary.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Hungary, being the founder member of the ICC and a signatory to the 1998 Rome Statute, was under an obligation to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, the country is under no obligation to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.

About International Criminal Court (ICC)

• Established: 2002
• Based in: The Hague, Netherlands
• Members – 125 countries, including Hungary.
• Legal Basis: Rome Statute (adopted in 1998, entered into force in 2002)
• Objective: To prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.
• Major powers like the USA, China, India, Israel, and Russia are not members.

Exp. Lok Sabha Passes the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024.

The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, passed by the Lok Sabha, introduces a comprehensive legal structure to promote economical, reliable, and sustainable coastal transportation, reducing pressure on road and rail networks.

The bill removes the requirement of general trading licenses for Indian ships and simplifies coastal trade operations, aligning with the National Logistics Policy and supporting the “Make in India” initiative.

The bill regulates foreign vessel participation through specific licenses, encourages Indian ship ownership, boosts shipbuilding, port services, and employment, and aims to reduce logistics costs.

It proposes integration of coastal shipping with inland waterways and involves States and Union Territories in policy-making, promoting regional development and cooperative federalism.

Provisions include green clearance channels, reduced GST on bunker fuel, and a National Database for Coastal Shipping. The bill targets increasing coastal cargo traffic to 230 million tonnes by 2030 from 162 million tonnes in 2023-24.

Exp. 4 April – International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4th every year.

The day aims to raise awareness about the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) on communities and to promote assistance in mine action.

Theme 2025 – Safe Futures Start Here

Exp. CCI chief Ravneet Kaur gets addl charge as NFRA Chairperson

Competition Commission of India (CCI) chief Ravneet Kaur has been given the additional charge as the NFRA Chairperson.

After the completion of his three-year tenure, Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey retired as the Chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) on March 31.

The additional charge will be for a period of three months starting from April 1, 2025 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.

Recent Appointments

• MD of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL); a subsidiary of Indian IOCL – H Shankar
• President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) – Mohsin Naqvi (Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board)
• Chairman of FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee South– Kamal Haasan appointed as
• MD of Tata Group’s electronics retail chain Croma – Shibashish Roy
• MD of Ambuja Cements Limited – Ajay Kapur

Exp. SC Ralhan takes charge of new FIEO president

SC Ralhan has taken over as the new president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), replacing Ashwani Kumar.

Ralhan brings over 50 years of experience in exports, particularly in the engineering and hand tools industry, to his new role.

Ravikant Kapur, an industry veteran from the textiles sector, has taken charge as the vice-president of FIEO.  

Exp. 5 April – National Maritime Day

National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5th every year to commemorate the contributions of the maritime industry to the Indian economy.

The objective of National Maritime Day is to promote awareness about the importance of the maritime industry, recognize the achievements of Indian seafarers, and highlight the role of shipping in international trade and commerce.

The day marks the anniversary of the first Indian shipping company, the Scindia Steam Navigation Company, which was established in 1919 and began its operations on April 5, 1919.

Exp. Sudarsan Pattnaik Becomes First Indian to Win Fred Darrington Sand Art Award

Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has become the first Indian to receive the prestigious Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for his outstanding contributions to sand art.

The award was presented during the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England.

To mark the occasion, Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high sculpture of Lord Ganesha carrying the message of “World Peace”. The award holds special significance this year as it commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary British sculptor Fred Darrington.

Sudarshan Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, has participated in over 65 international sand art festivals and championships. His work, often blending spiritual themes with social messages, has earned him widespread recognition – but the Weymouth award marks a new high.

The Sandworld exhibition at Lodmoor Park, known for its massive, detailed sand sculptures created using just sand and water, features works from artists across the world. But this year, it’s a message from India – carved in sand and rooted in peace – that’s leaving the deepest impression.

Recent Award

• Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award – Nikhil Singhal
• Ugadi Award from the Andhra Pradesh government – Historian and archaeologist MyNaa Swamy
• 59th Jnanpith Award – Vinod Kumar Shukla (for Deewar Mein Ek Khirki Rehti Thi)
• Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024 – Veteran Sculptor Ram Sutar
• Oeko-Tex certification from Germany for Eri silk – North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation
• Stockholm Water Prize 2025 – Austrian hydrologist Günter Blöschl (for his groundbreaking contributions to flood risk management and water resource engineering)

Exp. PM Narendra Modi Conferred Sri Lanka’s Highest Honour for a Foreign Leader

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake awarded the “Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation’s highest civilian honour for a foreign head of state, recognizing his strong and friendly ties with Sri Lanka.

The award, established in 2008, is presented exclusively to heads of state or government for their outstanding contributions to strengthening Sri Lanka’s international friendships.

Rich in symbolism, the award features the Dharma Chakra, Pun Kalasa, Navarathna, and the Sun and Moon, representing shared heritage, prosperity, enduring friendship, and an eternal bond between India and Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake emphasized Modi’s deserving nature, stating the award reflects Sri Lanka’s deep appreciation of the cultural, spiritual, and diplomatic relationship with India.

Exp. 7 April – World Health Day

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7, marking the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 and highlighting global health awareness.

The day promotes universal health coverage, mental well-being, and equitable access to healthcare, aiming to build a healthier, fairer world for all.

Theme 2025 – Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures