Current Affairs One - Liner : 5th April 2025

National:

• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Festival 2025 in New Delhi on April 2, 2025. This national event featured debates on critical topics like One Nation, One Election, with 105 finalists participating. It aimed to inspire leadership among youth while strengthening democratic engagement. The festival concluded with the National Youth Awards and Youth Parliament Awards 2025.

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have teamed up to improve mobile phone security for train passengers in India. Announced around April 3, 2025, the collaboration integrates the DoT’s Sanchar Saathi CEIR portal with RPF’s efforts to track and recover lost or stolen phones reported via Rail Madad or helpline 139.
• On April 3, 2025, HIL Ltd, part of the CK Birla Group, rebranded itself as BirlaNu Ltd to emphasize innovation and sustainability. With 32 manufacturing facilities across India and Europe, it aims to strengthen its global presence. The company focuses on advanced solutions like Organic Based Stabilizers (OBS) and significant capacity expansion.
• The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025, aiming to enhance coastal trade and green transport. Introduced by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the bill includes provisions for licensing foreign vessels and developing a National Coastal Shipping Strategic Plan.
• On April 3, 2025, Parliament passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, aligning Indian aviation laws with the Cape Town Convention of 2001. The bill reduces aircraft leasing costs, boosts investor confidence, and ensures legal clarity for aviation financing.
• The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025 was passed by Parliament on April 3, 2025, aligning India's aviation ecosystem with the Cape Town Convention. Introduced by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the bill aims to reduce aircraft leasing costs, boost investor confidence, and streamline leasing processes.
• On April 2, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved four railway projects with an investment of ₹18,658 crore, covering 15 districts in Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. These projects will add 1,247 km to the railway network, reducing congestion and boosting freight capacity. Part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, they aim to improve connectivity and drive economic growth.

Banking:

• Securis Finance, a subsidiary of FirstPay Technologies, secured an RBI NBFC licence on April 3, 2025, to offer education loans. It plans to disburse ₹100 crore in the first year across major educational hubs, with loan amounts ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh. The company aims to scale its loan book to ₹1,000 crore by 2030, supporting over 100,000 students annually.
• India Post and Nippon India Mutual Fund launched door-to-door KYC services on April 3, 2025, to simplify mutual fund onboarding. It targets senior citizens, rural investors, and others with mobility challenges, promoting financial inclusion under the Jan Nivesh initiative.

MoUs:

• On April 4, 2025, India Assist signed an MoU in the UAE to launch UAE Assist, offering real-time travel assistance to UAE visa holders. The initiative targets 40 million inbound visitors annually, providing emergency support and enhancing travel experiences. This marks India Assist's entry into the global market, paving the way for future expansions.

Reports:

• The report titled "How Does Climate Change Impact Women and Children Across Agroecological Zones in India" was released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on April 4, 2025. It highlights the vulnerability of women and children, particularly in rural areas, to climate hazards like floods and droughts.

Defence:

• The DRDO and Indian Army conducted four successful flight tests of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) on April 3 and 4, 2025, at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. These tests validated its capability to intercept aerial targets at various ranges and altitudes. Developed jointly with Israel Aerospace Industries, the system enhances India's air defense.
• The Ministry of Defence granted approval on April 4, 2025, for civil aircraft operations at Adilabad airfield, Telangana. This historic airfield, from the Nizam era, will serve both civil and Indian Air Force (IAF) operations. Future plans include an IAF training facility and civil infrastructure development by the Airports Authority of India.
• On April 3, 2025, Paras Defence partnered with MicroCon Vision, an Israeli firm, to supply advanced drone camera technology to India. The collaboration focuses on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads like EO/IR seekers. It aims to reduce costs by 50-60%, strengthening India's defence self-reliance and boosting the growing drone market.
• On April 3, 2025, South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace signed a USD 253.6 million deal with L&T to supply 100 K9 Vajra-T howitzers to the Indian Army. These artillery systems are optimized for diverse terrains, including high altitudes. The agreement involves 60% localization, boosting India’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

Important Days:

• The International Day of Conscience, celebrated annually on April 5th, was established by the UN in 2019 to emphasize ethical behavior and global harmony. The 2025 theme, "Leave No One Behind", promotes moral accountability and justice. It encourages individuals to reflect on values and contribute to a peaceful and sustainable world.

Appointments:

• On April 3, 2025, Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was appointed as President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). He succeeded Shammi Silva of Sri Lanka and will serve a two-year tenure.
• On April 5, 2025, senior IPS officer Seema Agrawal was appointed as the new DGP/Director of Fire and Rescue Services. This followed the retirement of the previous DGP. Simultaneously, the State Government carried out a transfer of seven other IPS officers.

Awards & Honours:

• The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been honored with the SKOCH 2025 Award for its flagship project, the Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. This recognition was presented at the 100th SKOCH Summit held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on April 4, 2025.
• On April 5, 2025, PM Narendra Modi received Sri Lanka's highest civilian honor, the Mithra Vibhushana, from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The award acknowledges Modi's efforts in strengthening bilateral ties and shared cultural heritage. Instituted in 2008, it features symbols like the Dharma Chakra and Pun Kalasa.

Obituaries:

• Renowned Malayalam linguist Venugopala Panikkar passed away on April 2, 2025, at the age of 79 in Kozhikode, Kerala. A Sahitya Akademi Awardee, he was celebrated for his contributions to linguistics and Malayalam literature, including his acclaimed work "Bhashartham."

Questions:

Q.1 What is the new name of HIL Ltd as of April 3, 2025?
a) BirlaGreen Ltd
b) BirlaSmart Ltd
c) BirlaNu Ltd
d) BirlaEco Ltd

Answer: c) HIL Ltd, part of the CK Birla Group, was rebranded as BirlaNu Ltd to reflect a new identity focused on innovation and sustainability.

Q.2 Which portal was integrated with RPF to enhance mobile phone recovery?
a) DigiLocker
b) CEIR (Sanchar Saathi)
c) mParivahan
d) Aarogya Setu

Answer: b) The Sanchar Saathi CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) portal, run by the DoT, was linked with RPF to trace and block lost/stolen mobile phones reported by train passengers.