CURRENT AFFAIRS
12 April, 2025
1. THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF JYOTIBA PHULE WAS OBSERVED ON 11TH APRIL, THE GREAT SOCIAL REFORMER, PHILOSOPHER AND WRITER –
• About: He was born on 11th April, 1827, and emerged as a pioneering social reformer who challenged Brahmanical orthodoxy, fought for the rights of Dalits and women, and laid the foundation for India’s social justice movements.
• Educational Reforms: Phule and his wife Savitribai opened India’s first girls’ school in 1848 and later started night schools (1855) for workers, farmers, and women in Pune.
Social Reforms-
• Opposed Orthodoxy: Phule opposed caste oppression, criticized Brahminical figures like Chiplunkar and Tilak, and supported the British to uplift the oppressed and women.
• Anti-Caste Movement: Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to fight caste hierarchy and, in Gulamgiri, compared caste oppression to American slavery.
• Deenbandhu, a Marathi weekly newspaper founded by Krishnarao Pandurang Bhalekar in 1877, served as an outlet for Satyashodhak Samaj.
• 1857 Revolt Critique: Viewed it as an upper-caste effort to restore Brahmin rule.
2. NEW PAMBAN BRIDGE –
• The Prime Minister inaugurated India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, the new Pamban Bridge, enhancing connectivity between Rameswaram and mainland India.
• It is designed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) under the Ministry of Railways, and is built to last over 100 years.
• It spans 2.07 km across the Palk Strait, replacing the 1914 Pamban Bridge which was a cantilever structure with a Scherzer Rolling Lift span.
• It features a 72.5-meter vertical lift span that rises 17 meters to allow ship passage.
• Designed for double tracks, it supports heavier, faster trains and smooth rail-maritime coordination.
• It joins globally recognized bridges like the Golden Gate (USA), Tower (UK), and Oresund (connect Denmark and Sweden) bridges.
• It has been built to withstand turbulent waters, cyclones, and seismic activity. During the 1964 tsunami, a passenger train was swept away from the old Pamban Bridge, although the bridge itself withstood the disaster.
• The construction of the old Pamban Bridge started in 1911 and was opened to traffic in 1914. It was India’s first sea bridge, built for trade.
3. BAISAKHI 2025 –
• Baisakhi, also called Vaisakhi, is a very important harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and other parts of North India. It marks the Sikh New Year and the beginning of the harvest season. Baisakhi is celebrated every year in April, usually on the 13th or 14th. In 2025, Baisakhi will be celebrated on Monday, April 14.
• According to Drik Panchang, Baisakhi in 2025 will be fall on April 14, Monday. The special moment of Vaishakhi Sankranti will happen on April 13 at 09:30 PM.
• Baisakhi has a deep religious meaning for Sikhs. On this day in 1699, the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa community in Anandpur Sahib.
• He told his followers that everyone is equal, and he ended the caste system in Sikhism. He also decalred that after him, the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, would be the eternal guide.
4. DRDO SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS RELEASE TRIALS OF LRGB ‘GAURAV’ FROM SU-30 MKI –
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted release trials of the Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ from the Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKI aircraft between April 8–10, 2025.
• The trials showcased the bomb’s capability to hit targets at a range close to 100 km with pin-point accuracy, highlighting a major achievement in India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and air-launched weapon systems.
Key Highlights of Gaurav Glide Bomb Trials
• Date of Trials: April 08–10, 2025
• Aircraft Used: Su-30 MKI (Indian Air Force)
• Trial Target: Land target on an island
• Range Achieved: Approximately 100 km
• Accuracy: Achieved pin-point precision
• Integration: Weapon integrated to multiple stations in different warhead configurations
Development Details
• Name of Weapon: Gaurav – Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB)
• Weight Class: 1,000 kg
5. MAURITIUS BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN COUNTRY TO SIGN ISA’S COUNTRY PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK –
• Mauritius has marked a historic milestone by becoming the first African nation and the fourth globally to sign the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• This strategic agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between ISA and Mauritius on clean energy initiatives, particularly solar energy, in line with the nation’s sustainable development and energy security goals.
• The CPF will serve as a blueprint for long-term solar energy collaboration, focusing on innovative and scalable technologies.
• First in Africa: Mauritius becomes the first African country to sign ISA’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Rafale-M (Marine) Fighter Jets have been acquired from which country ?
a) Russia
b) China
c) Japan
d) France
Q2. Where was the first-ever ‘Himalayan High-Altitude Atmospheric & Climate Centre’ launched ?
a) Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir
b) Dehradun, Uttarakhand
c) Mussoorie, Himachal Pradesh
d) Gangtok, Sikkim
Q3. PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4) is a space research platform developed by which space organization ?
a) European Space Agency (ESA)
b) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
c) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
d) China National Space Administration (CNSA)
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the RBI’s monetary policy stance:
Statement-I: The RBI’s decision to shift from a “neutral” to an “accommodative” stance suggests a higher probability of future rate hikes.
Statement-II: An accommodative stance indicates that the RBI may further reduce interest rates to support economic growth.
Which of the following is correct ?
a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
Explanation-
• An accommodative stance means a possibility of further rate cuts, not hikes. The RBI’s accommodative stance indicates a willingness to lower interest rates or maintain them at lower levels to support economic growth.
• This approach is adopted when inflation is under control, allowing the central bank to focus on boosting investment, consumption, and job creation.
• By shifting to an accommodative stance on April 9, 2025, along with a repo rate cut to 6%, the RBI signaled the possibility of further rate reductions if economic conditions require additional stimulus.
• However, this policy requires careful monitoring to prevent excessive inflation.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding India-UAE relations:
1. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has significantly increased bilateral trade between India and the UAE.
2. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is a joint initiative between India, UAE, and Saudi Arabia to enhance energy cooperation.
3. India and UAE have established a Defence Partnership Forum to deepen strategic collaboration.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct → CEPA has boosted India-UAE trade to USD 85 billion, with expectations to reach USD 100 billion in non-oil trade.
• Statement 2 is incorrect → IMEEC is a connectivity project linking India, the Middle East, and Europe, not just for energy but also for trade and infrastructure.
• Statement 3 is correct → The India-UAE Defence Partnership Forum was launched to enhance bilateral defense cooperation.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
D | A | B | D | A |