CURRENT AFFAIRS
28 April, 2025
1. DR. K KASTURIRANGAN, FORMER INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO) CHAIRMAN (1994 TO 2003), PASSED AWAY IN BENGALURU –
What were the Contributions of Dr. K. Kasturirangan ?
• Leadership in ISRO: He played a pivotal role in the development of Chandrayaan-1 (2008), India’s first lunar mission, marking India’s entry into space exploration.
• He oversaw the successful operationalisation of key satellites such as the IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) series, INSAT (Indian National Satellite), and the launch of PSLV and GSLV.
• He was the Project Director for India’s first two experimental earth observation satellites, BHASKARA-I & II.
• Role in Remote Sensing and National Development: He played a key role in the National Natural Resource Management System (NNRMS), enabling satellite-based services for sectors like agriculture, water management, forestry, and health.
• Pioneering Space Applications: He initiated thematic space missions like EDUSAT (for tele-education), INSAT/GSAT (for telemedicine and communication), OCEANSAT (for oceanography), and CARTOSAT (for cartography), which directly impacted India’s social and economic development.
• Policy Contributions Beyond Science: After his tenure at ISRO, he served as a Rajya Sabha member and later, a member of the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog).
• He chaired the committee that drafted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• He chaired the committee responsible for reviewing the Western Ghats Ecology report.
• He recommended that instead of the whole, only 37% of the total area of Western Ghats be brought under Ecological Sensitive Area (ESA).
2. THE SUPREME COURT (SC) OF INDIA HAS DIRECTED THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NEERI) TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF NEARBY GLASS INDUSTRIAL UNITS ON THE TAJ MAHAL –
• The directive comes amid growing concerns over industrial pollution in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a sensitive area surrounding the world heritage site.
What are the Key Facts About Taj Mahal-
• Historical Background: Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and Ustad-Ahmad Lahori is credited as the chief architect.
• Construction started in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD; ancillary structures were completed by 1653 AD. It was built by artisans from across the Mughal Empire, Central Asia, and Iran.
• Location & Layout: Taj Mahal is situated on the right bank of Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is enclosed within a 17-hectare Mughal garden which follows the Timurid-Persian Charbagh layout with four subdivided quarters.
• Materials Used: Constructed with brick-in-lime mortar, red sandstone, and white marble (quarried from Makrana (Rajasthan) for the main structure).
• Extensive inlay work was done using gemstones like jade, crystal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc.
3. INDIA SIGNS $7.4 BILLION DEAL WITH FRANCE FOR RAFALE FIGHTER JETS –
• India signed a landmark agreement with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter aircraft worth approximately 630 billion rupees ($7.4 billion).
• This deal, which includes both single-seater and twin-seater versions of the fighter jets, aims to bolster India’s naval air power and strengthen its defence ties with France.
• The delivery of these aircraft is expected to be completed by 2030, with the deal providing both military and economic benefits, including the generation of jobs and business opportunities.
4. UDAN SCHEME COMPLETES 8 YEARS OF SUCCESS –
• India’s aviation sector has traditionally been dominated by large cities, with air travel often being a luxury only accessible to the elite. However, with the launch of the UDAN scheme in 2016, this narrative has changed.
• UDAN, an abbreviation of “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik,” aims to democratize aviation and make air travel affordable for the common man.
• This initiative aims to connect Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and underserved regions of India with major cities, boosting regional connectivity and economic development.
5. INDIA’S BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY: 171 MILLION LIFTED FROM EXTREME POVERTY IN A DECADE-
• In a remarkable display of progress, India has successfully lifted 171 million people from extreme poverty between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
• According to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, the proportion of people living on less than $2.15 a day fell dramatically from 16.2% to just 2.3% during this period.
• The reduction in poverty across both rural and urban areas reflects the success of government-led initiatives and economic reforms designed to empower the marginalized sections of society.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. PM MITRA Scheme was implemented by which ministry ?
a) Ministry of Textiles
b) Ministry of Agriculture
c) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
d) Ministry of Urban Development
Q2. Which organization conducted the ground test of the Scramjet Engine in India?
a) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
b) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
c) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
d) Indian Army Research Centre (IARC)
Q3. Which state is the host of Bharat Summit 2025 ?
a) Telangana
b) Gujarat
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Kerala
Q4. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The TRIPS Agreement mandates member countries to always prioritize patent protection over public health needs.
Statement-II: The Doha Declaration clarified that countries have the right to override patents to protect public health during emergencies.
Which one of the following is correct ?
a) Both Statement-I and II are correct and II explains I
b) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
c) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
d) Both Statement-I and II are incorrect
Explanation-
• TRIPS (1995) initially raised concerns about restricting access to affordable medicines.
• However, the Doha Declaration (2001) clarified that TRIPS should be interpreted to prioritize public health during emergencies (like pandemics), allowing measures like compulsory licensing.
• Thus, Statement-I is incorrect (patents are not prioritized over health unconditionally), and Statement-II is correct.
Q5. Consider the following facts regarding the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP):
1. It was formally inaugurated in 2005, alongside the start of truck trade.
2. The ICP is connected directly to National Highway 1.
3. India imported gypsum through this route.
4. Bilateral trade through Attari accounted for $37 billion annually.
How many of the above statements are correct ?
a) Only two
b) Only three
c) All four
d) Only one
Explanation-
• Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The Attari ICP provides direct access to National Highway 1, and India’s exports included straw reapers, while imports included gypsum.
• However, Statement 1 is incorrect — truck movements began in 2007, and the ICP was formally inaugurated in 2012 (not 2005).
• Statement 4 is also wrong — actual trade through Attari is around $2 billion annually, though the potential is $37 billion according to the World Bank.
• Thus, only three statements are correct.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | B | A | C | B |