Current Affairs One - Liner : 1st May 2025

National:

• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) issued guidelines on April 30, 2025, for setting up Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). BRCs will act as cluster-level hubs, providing bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic formulations to farmers. Each BRC will receive ₹1 lakh in two installments, supporting local customization based on soil conditions and farming needs.

• Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam issued India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond on April 29, 2025, raising ₹150 crore to fund a Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP). This initiative supports sustainable urban infrastructure and promotes treated water reuse for industrial applications.
• Under Operation Hawk 2025, the CBI cracked down on global child sexual exploitation networks, acting on U.S. intelligence inputs. Major arrests include Sheikh Muizz Ahmed (Mangalore) and Mukul Saini (Delhi), linked to coercing minors via Discord. Raids in Mumbai, Mangalore, and Delhi led to the recovery of electronic devices with CSAM.
• On April 30, 2025, the Government of India announced that caste-based data collection will be included in the next national census. The decision, made during a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting, aims to ensure transparent caste enumeration at the national level. This move is expected to improve policy planning in education, employment, and welfare.
• The Forbes India W-Power 2025 event, held on April 30, 2025, in Mumbai, celebrated 20 self-made Indian women. Honorees included Dr. Gita Gopinath, IMF First Deputy Managing Director; Manu Bhaker, Olympic shooting medalist; and Payal Kapadia, Cannes-winning filmmaker. The list, curated with L’Oréal Paris, recognizes achievements in finance, sports, and entertainment. 
• Rajasthan joined India’s first inter-state cheetah conservation corridor with Madhya Pradesh on April 30, 2025. This corridor covers 17,000 sq. km, linking protected habitats to ensure seamless cheetah movement. Rajasthan contributes 6,500 sq. km, integrating seven districts into the conservation network. This initiative aims to restore grassland ecosystems and strengthen wildlife protection efforts.
• On April 29, 2025, India officially revised its coastline length to 11,098.81 km, incorporating offshore islands and detailed mapping. The new measurement replaces the previous 7,561.60 km estimate based on outdated calculations. This update improves coastal management, disaster preparedness, and maritime security.
• On April 30, 2025, Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated Babuji Vanam, the world’s first Energy Transmission Garden, at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad. Developed with the Ministry of Culture, it uses Pranahuti energy transmission, featuring 40 medicinal tree species and eco-friendly infrastructure.
• On April 24, 2025, India conducted its first human gene therapy trial for haemophilia, led by BRIC-inStem (Bengaluru) and CMC Vellore. The therapy uses lentiviral vectors to introduce a functional gene, enabling Factor VIII production for blood clotting. It aims to reduce dependency on repeated infusions, improving patients’ quality of life.
  

International:

• On April 30, 2025, the United States and Ukraine signed a new economic partnership agreement to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. The U.S. will receive preferential access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals vital for clean energy and defense technologies. A joint investment fund will be created, with 50% of profits from new mineral licenses supporting Ukraine’s recovery.

Banking:

• The Department of Posts (DoP) partnered with SBI Mutual Fund on April 29, 2025, at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, to simplify mutual fund investor onboarding. The initiative provides doorstep KYC verification, ensuring secure and accessible financial services, especially in rural areas.
• On April 28, 2025, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched ClimateSafe, a parametric insurance product for climate-related risks. It offers automatic claim settlements within seven days based on predefined weather triggers like extreme heat or rainfall. Customers can select their risk location, period (1-30 days), and sum insured for customized coverage.
• On April 29, 2025, SEBI warned against opinion trading platforms, highlighting lack of regulation and high investor risks. These platforms allow users to bet on real-world events, using misleading financial terms to appear like legitimate investments. SEBI clarified that opinion trading is not a security, meaning such platforms are unregulated and lack investor protection.

MoUs:

• On April 29, 2025, State Bank of India (SBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) in New Delhi, India, to enhance banking services for border trade. This initiative covers 26 land ports along Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar to improve financial accessibility. It aims to modernize forex transactions, corporate salary packages, and digital banking solutions.

Reports:

• The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) placed India and seven other countries on its Priority Watch List in the 2025 Special 301 Report, released on April 29, 2025. Concerns for India include weak IP enforcement, high customs duties, trademark counterfeiting, and rampant online piracy. Other listed countries include China, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela.

Govt.Schemes:

• The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme was launched by MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi on April 29, 2025, to ensure standardized verification of green hydrogen production. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will oversee certification, verifying hydrogen is produced exclusively using renewable energy sources. This initiative boosts India’s global exports, with agreements to supply 4.12 lakh tonnes to Japan and Singapore.

Committees:

• The 46th PRAGATI meeting was held virtually on April 30, 2025, chaired by PM Narendra Modi and organized by the PMO. It included Union Ministers, Chief Secretaries, and senior officials, focusing on eight major projects worth ₹90,000 crore. Discussions covered roadways, railways, ports, waterways, urban planning, and welfare schemes. The aim was to accelerate infrastructure development, improve governance, and enhance beneficiary identification.
• On April 30, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a High-Level Committee in New Delhi, chaired by Amit Shah. Members include Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Suman Bery. The committee aims to enhance disaster preparedness, risk mitigation, and inter-ministerial coordination.

Apps & Portals: 

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a new digital CGHS platform on April 28, 2025, developed by C-DAC to enhance healthcare services. Key upgrades include PAN-based identification, Bharat Kosh integration, real-time tracking, and revamped CGHS mobile apps for seamless access.
• On April 22, 2025, the FAO launched the AIM4NatuRe Initiative to enhance global ecosystem restoration monitoring. Supported by the UK, it has a GBP 7 million (~USD 9 million) budget and uses advanced tracking tools. The initiative helps countries strengthen data collection and aims to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.

Important Days:

• Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day are celebrated on May 1 to mark the formation of these states in 1960 after the bifurcation of Bombay State. Maharashtra (Marathi-speaking) retained Mumbai as its capital, while Gujarat (Gujarati-speaking) initially had Ahmedabad, later shifted to Gandhinagar. The day symbolizes linguistic identity, self-governance, and cultural pride.
• International Labour Day, or May Day, is celebrated on May 1 to honor workers' contributions and labor rights. It commemorates the Haymarket Affair (1886), which led to the fight for an eight-hour workday. India’s first May Day celebration was in Madras (now Chennai) in 1923, led by Singaravelu Chettiar. The theme for 2025 is "Safety and Health of Workers", focusing on workplace well-being.

Appointments:

• Former R&AW Chief Alok Joshi was appointed as Chairman of the revamped National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) on April 30, 2025. The seven-member board includes experts from intelligence, armed forces, diplomacy, and law enforcement to enhance national security strategy.
• On May 1, 2025, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army Command, succeeding Lt Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar. He has extensive experience in border security, counter-terrorism, and military strategy. Previously, he served as DGMO and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy).

Awards & Honours:

• Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on May 1, 2025. This honor recognizes their exceptional achievements, including Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Questions:

Q.1 Which city issued India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond?
a) Ghaziabad
b) Pune
c) Surat
d) Bengaluru

Answer: a) Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam became the first in India to issue a Certified Green Municipal Bond, raising funds for sustainable urban projects.

Q.2 Which prestigious award was conferred upon Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on May 1, 2025?
a) Arjuna Award
b) Dronacharya Award
c) Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
d) Padma Shri

Answer: c) Indian badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award from Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on May 1, 2025.