CURRENT AFFAIRS
02 May, 2025
1. WAVES 2025 SUMMIT AND ORANGE ECONOMY –
• On May 1, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the WAVES 2025 Summit in Mumbai, highlighting India’s emerging leadership in the ‘orange economy’.
• WAVES 2025 covered diverse sectors: Films, TV, Radio, Broadcasting, Animation, Gaming, Comics, Advertising, and emerging technologies such as Generative AI, AR/VR/XR, and digital media platforms.
• Launch of WAVES Bazaar: WAVES Bazaar is a global e-marketplace launched to connect Indian content creators with international markets, enabling project pitching, funding access, and global collaboration.
• Funds for Creators Economy: Ahead of the Summit, the Centre last month announced a $1 billion fund to give a boost to India’s emerging creator economy.
2. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD (NSAB) –
• The Government has reorganised the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) amid rising tensions with Pakistan, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack.
As part of the reorganization
• Alok Joshi, former Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has been appointed as the new Chairman of the NSAB.
• Seven new members have been inducted into the board.
About the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)
• Constitution and Background
• Established: It was established in December 1998 as an advisory body composed of eminent persons outside the government.
• Composition: The board draws experts from diverse fields such as industry, media, and civil society, offering independent perspectives on national security matters.
Primary Function
• Long-term Analysis and Perspectives: The NSAB provides long-term strategic analysis and perspectives on national security issues.
• Advisory Role to NSC: It advises the National Security Council (NSC) and recommends solutions and policy options for the issues referred to it by the NSC.
3. CHEETAH CORRIDOR PROJECT –
• A Cheetah Corridor is being set up as part of India’s wildlife conservation efforts. The initiative is designed to facilitate the movement of cheetahs across regions, thereby expanding their natural habitat.
Project Details
• The Cheetah Corridor will cover 17,000 square kilometres.
• It will stretch across 27 districts in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• This planned corridor includes 13 districts in Rajasthan, 2 in Uttar Pradesh, and 12 in Madhya Pradesh, aiming to create a continuous path for cheetahs to move freely.
• It will interlink several protected areas, including Shahabad Conservation Reserve, Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukundra Wildlife Sanctuary, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhav National Park and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
4. GANGA EXPRESSWAY NIGHT LANDING –
• In a landmark event, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to enable night landings for fighter jets on an expressway. This achievement was marked by the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducting trials on a newly constructed 3.5-kilometre airstrip along the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur. This airstrip is strategically important for defence preparedness, particularly during times of national emergencies.
Ganga Expressway
• Ganga Expressway is a greenfield expressway project in Uttar Pradesh, aiming to connect Western UP (Meerut) with Eastern UP (Prayagraj).
• Total Length: 594 km
• The expressway passes through 12 districts: Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj
Strategic Importance:
• Improves East-West connectivity in UP
• Links with other expressways: Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, and Purvanchal Expressway
• Boosts connectivity to Delhi from Eastern UP
• Facilitates last-mile access to rural areas
5. INDIA REMAINS 4TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN WORLD, US AT NO. 1 –
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which Indian city has issued India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond ?
a) Pune
b) Indore
c) Ghaziabad
d) Bengaluru
Q2. Which two organizations jointly developed the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) ?
a) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
b) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
c) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Q3. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under which ministry ?
a) Ministry of Law and Justice
b) Ministry of Home Affairs
c) Ministry of Finance
d) Ministry of Science and Technology
Q4. Consider the following statements about Aryabhata satellite:
1. It was designed for interplanetary exploration.
2. It had onboard propulsion systems for orbital adjustments.
3. It was built to study the sun, space radiation, and upper atmosphere.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Only statement 3 is correct.
• Aryabhata was a scientific satellite, designed to perform experiments in solar physics, X-ray astronomy, and ionospheric studies.
• Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. Aryabhata was not intended for interplanetary missions—it was an Earth-orbiting satellite. It also lacked any onboard propulsion to adjust orbit, as it was a passive satellite launched into a fixed low Earth orbit. This minimal design reflected both budget constraints and India’s nascent technological capabilities at the time.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding ISRO’s CROP framework.
1. It assists in pest outbreak predictions using space-based data.
2. It improves food security by enabling early yield forecasting.
3. It supports agricultural decision-making by fusing multi-sensor data.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• The CROP system contributes to pest and disease management by enabling early detection of anomalies via satellite signatures.
• It aids food security planning by allowing early yield estimation well before harvest.
• Its use of multi-sensor fusion (radar + optical) significantly enhances data reliability and applicability in agri-policy.
• About Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress (CROP):
• What it is? A semi-automated, scalable remote sensing framework developed to monitor crop sowing, growth, and harvesting stages in near real-time.
• Developed by: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Objective:
• To enable systematic, timely, and scalable monitoring of agricultural crops using satellite data.
• To provide accurate crop condition assessments supporting early agricultural planning and food security strategies.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | B | B | A | C |