CURRENT AFFAIRS
22 April, 2025
1. ISRO SATELLITES FORECAST INDIA’S WHEAT PRODUCTION FOR 2024-25 –
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has used satellite technology to estimate India’s wheat production for the 2024-25 Rabi season.
• ISRO Monitored Wheat Crops using a system called Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress (CROP).
• Output Forecast: The forecast predicts a total output of 122.724 million tonnes from eight major wheat-growing states.
• Wheat Sown Area: Satellite data shows 330.8 lakh hectares under wheat cultivation by March 31, 2025 .
• Major Wheat-Producing States: The eight states contributing to the estimated production are:
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Punjab
E. Haryana
F. Bihar
G. Gujarat
H. Maharashtra
2. ARYABHATA: INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS SATELLITE –
• April 19, 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Aryabhata, India’s first indigenously built satellite.
• It laid the foundation of India’s space communication, scientific research, and satellite technology ecosystem.
• As of 2025, ISRO has launched 131 satellites, with 51 currently operational in orbit.
About Aryabhata Satellite
• Name: Aryabhata, after the ancient Indian astronomer (Aryabhata I – 476 to 550 CE).
• Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Launch Date: April 19, 1975.
Launch Vehicle & Site:
• Launched using Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket
• From Kapustin Yar, USSR (present-day Russia)
3. POSHAN TRACKER APPLICATION WINS PM’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2024 –
• The PoshanTracker Application, developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation (Centre) category.
• This recognition was announced during the 17th Civil Services Day held on April 21, 2025, in New Delhi. The award was received by Secretary Shri Anil Malik on behalf of the Ministry.
• The PoshanTracker has become an essential tool in advancing nutrition outcomes through tech-driven, data-centric governance under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0.
4. INDIA IMPOSES 12% TARIFF ON STEEL IMPORTS –
• In a decisive step to protect its domestic steel industry, the Government of India has announced the imposition of a 12% provisional safeguard duty on select categories of steel imports.
• The decision, which came into effect on April 21, 2025, is aimed at countering a surge in low-cost steel imports, especially from China, South Korea, and Japan. The move is being seen as a response to growing concerns within the industry about unfair competition and market distortion.
5. WORLD EARTH DAY 2025: DATE, HISTORY, THEME, AND SIGNIFICANCE –
• World Earth Day is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting actions to protect our planet. Celebrated annually, it serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable living and environmental stewardship.
• Earth Day 2025 will be observed on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This date has been consistently recognized worldwide since the event’s inception.
History of Earth Day
• The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, initiated by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Motivated by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and growing public concern over environmental degradation, Nelson envisioned a national teach-in to educate citizens about environmental issues.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. INS Chennai, that was recently seen in news, is part of which class of Indian Navy ships ?
a) Talwar-class
b) Kolkata-class
c) Shivalik-class
d) Rajput-class
Q2. Which country has introduced the world’s highest bridge, called the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge?
a) Japan
b) South Korea
c) China
d) Thailand
Q3. Which Indian state has officially approved DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve ?
a) Maharashtra
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Odisha
d) Karnataka
Q4. Match the Finance Commission Reports with their Key Focus Areas:
Select the correct code:
a) A-3, B-1, C-2
b) A-2, B-3, C-1
c) A-3, B-2, C-1
d) A-2, B-1, C-3
Explanation-
• The 13th Finance Commission proposed creating a Disaster Relief Fund and contributed towards GST transition planning.
• The 14th Finance Commission made a bold move by raising the states’ share in Union taxes from 32% to 42%, enhancing fiscal federalism.
• The 15th Finance Commission focused on performance-based grants, especially for local bodies, revenue deficit grants, and reforms in defence and health funding. Hence, a) is correct.
What is a Finance Commission?
• The Finance Commission in India is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Its primary function is to recommend the distribution of financial resources between the central government and the state governments.
• The Fifteenth Finance Commissionconstituted on 27th November 2017, made recommendations covering six years from 1st April 2020 through its Interim and Final Reports. These recommendations are valid up to the financial year 2025-26.
Q5. Which of the following are potential consequences of a GPS spoofing attack ?
1. Aircraft may be redirected to incorrect coordinates during autopilot navigation.
2. Banks may face real-time transaction failure due to time drift in GPS.
3. Naval vessels may misidentify their location, violating territorial waters.
4. Cyber attackers may gain root access to GPS satellites through spoofing.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) Only three
d) All four
Explanation–
• GPS spoofing is a cybersecurity threat in which false signals are transmitted to GPS receivers, causing them to miscalculate their location or time.
• Statement 1 is correct because aircraft, particularly during autopilot operations, heavily depend on GPS data for navigation. A spoofed signal could redirect them to erroneous coordinates, risking safety.
• Statement 2 is also correct since banking networks use GPS-based time synchronization for precise timestamping in financial transactions; spoofing can introduce subtle time drifts, leading to delays or mismatches.
• Statement 3 is valid as well; maritime vessels use GPS to navigate international waters, and a spoofed position can lead them to unknowingly violate territorial boundaries, potentially triggering diplomatic or military tensions.
• Statement 4 is incorrect — GPS spoofing deceives the end-user receiver, not the satellite infrastructure. Attackers cannot gain control over GPS satellites, as they are managed by secure ground control systems with no direct access via signal spoofing.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
B | C | A | A | C |