Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 7th April 2025

 State News

 1. New daily train to link Rameswaram to Chennai 

•  The pilgrimage town of Ra-meswaram will be connected to various parts of the country by 15 pairs of trains, a spokesperson of the Railway Ministry said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge on Sunday. 
•  A new daily train, the Tambaram-Rameswaram-Tambaram Express, covers a distance of 617 km from Tambaram in Chennai to Rameswaram in under 12 hours, with an average speed of about 53 kmph. 
•  The Tambaram-Rames-waram Express (train no. 16103) will depart from Tambaram at 6.05 p.m., and reach Rameswaram the following day at 5.45 a.m. The return train (16104) will start at 3.35 p.m. and reach Tambaram the next day at 3.10 a.m. 
•  Tiruvarur, Thiruthurai-poondi, Pattukottai, and Aranthangi are among the train's stops. "For the first time, it is covering the districts of Tiruvarur and Pattukottai," the spokesperson said. The other 14 pairs of trains are extensions from Mandapam to Rameswaram: two mail express trains from Chennai Egmore; three passenger trains from Madurai; one mail express from Tiruchi-rappalli; two tri weekly trains (one each from Tirupati and Kanyakumari); and six weekly trains (one each from Ayodhya, Coimbatore, Okha, Varanasi, Firozpur, and Bhubaneswar). 

Appointment and Resignation News

 2. Baby elected CPI(M) general secretary

•  Mr. Baby said the party would aim at building its independent strength besides seeking to achieve a coming together of Leftist forces. "We don't want to conceal the fact that there has been a decline in our strength. Unless we find out why this has happened, we will not be able to do a course correction," he said. With the aim of defeating the "neofascist BJP", the party would build a political opposition based on the circumstances prevailing in each State. In Kerala, where the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front is in power, the goal would be to retain power for a third term after the 2026 Assembly election, for which Mr. Vijayan would lead the party, he added. 

Infrastructure and Energy News 

3. Delhi Metro gears up to roll out three-coach train corridor by 2028

•   The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday announced plans to introduce the country's first metro corridor designed to operate with three-coach trains. The trains will operate on the Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block metro corridor, part of the Phase-IV of the metro project, aiming to boost last mile connectivity and facilitate smooth interchanges with existing metro corridors.
•  "Unlike most metro lines that use four-, six-, or eight-coach trains, this in-novative three-coach system has been developed to cater specifically to short-distance urban travel. The smaller train configuration will provide a cost-effective and agile solution, ensuring better frequency, operational efficiency, and accommodating a substantial number of daily commuters," a Delhi Metro spokesperson said.
•  The DMRC said the new corridor is being developed based on a realistic assessment of passenger flow, prioritising frequent and efficient metro services over short distances. 
•  Access to key areas
•   The new corridor will consist of eight stations - Lajpat Nagar (interchange with Pink and Violet lines), Andrews Ganj, GK-1, Chirag Delhi, Pushpa Bhawan, Saket Court, Pushpa Vihar, and Saket G Block (interchange with the Golden line) improving accessibility to key residential and commercial hubs in the city.
•   The corridor will span eight kilometres and be the second-smallest in the network, the DMRC said.
•  "In March 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project. The construction work has now begun, and the corridor is expected to be completed by 2028," a DMRC official said.

 Science and Technology News 

4. Semaglutide reduces cardiovascular event risk in diabetes patients: study 

•  Diabetes management should not be focused narrowly on blood sugar levels, but must concurrently work at protecting cardiac and renal health too, says a recent study that found daily oral sema-glutide (an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti obesity medication used for long-term weight management) could cut the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death by 14%. 
•  In a Phase 3 trial of people with diabetes, the study, called SOUL, tested Rybelsus Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug administered in oral form against a placebo, in trial partici-pants already receiving standard medications. 
• Semaglutide was approved in June 2021 for chronic weight management in those with obesity and at least one weight-related condition, in addition to diet and exercise. 
• The SOUL trial was initiated in 2019, with the key objective to demonstrate that oral semaglutide lowers the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (a composite end-point consisting of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke) compared with placebo, both added to standard of care in pa-tients with type 2 diabetes and established Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). 
•  "The SOUL trial demon-strates statistically significant reductions in the primary composite end-point of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), encompassing myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death, in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established CVD and/or CKD. The data reinforce oral semaglutide's role as the first and only approved oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) to achieve a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk within this high-risk population," V. Mohan, chairman, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, said. 
• A.G. Unnikrishnan, CEO and chief of endocrinology at the Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, said the SOUL trial has shown that it can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, regardless of whether participants were already using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i).

International News 

1. President Droupadi Murmu will visit Portugal and Slovakia from April 7-10, 2025. 

•  She will meet with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. 
•  She will also meet Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
•   She will meet the President of the National Assembly, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco. 
• She will hold meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. 
•  This will be the first visit by an Indian President to Portugal in 27 years. 
•  The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of India-Portugal diplomatic relations. 
•  It will also be the first Indian Presidential visit to Slovakia in 29 years.
•  Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and Euro is its currency. 
•  Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. Its currency is Euro.

 India Portugal relations: 

•  India Portugal relations began in 1947. India and Portugal signed defence cooperation MoU in January 2017. 
•  Portugal ranks 51st in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India. India–Slovakia relations: 
•  India–Slovakia relations were established in 1921. An MoU on defence cooperation was signed between 

India and Slovakia in 1995. 

• They cooperate well in the Space sector. The first Slovak satellite (SKcube) was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in June 2017. 

2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Sri Lanka.

•   PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka is the first by a foreign head of government since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office in September 2024. 
• The visit highlights a mutual commitment to "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future" between India and Sri Lanka. 
•  Modi and Dissanayake discussed various issues, including regional stability, energy collaboration, and development projects.
•  President Dissanayake conferred upon PM Modi the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian honors in Sri Lanka. 
•  The two leaders also virtually launched the Sampur Power Project. 
•  It is an energy initiative aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka's energy security. 
•  India’s assistance helped complete a temperature-controlled warehouse in Dambulla and the installation of solar systems on 5,000 religious buildings in Sri Lanka.
•   PM Modi met with Tamil political leaders during the visit. 
•  The Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Colombo. 
•  Key announcements from the visit included India’s support for Sri Lanka’s Unique Digital Identity initiative and the conversion of 100 million US dollars in loans to grants. 
•  A 2.4 billion Lankan rupee development package for the Eastern Province was pledged.
•   The Maho-Omanthai railway line was inaugurated. 
• Modi urged the timely implementation of the 13th Amendment and the holding of provincial elections. 
• The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was a result of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. 
•  It provides for the creation of provincial councils having legislative and executive powers in areas like health, education, and local government.

 India-Sri Lanka relations: 

•  India-Sri Lanka relations is more than 2,500 years old. 
•  India is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner and Sri Lanka is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia. 
•  India exports machinery, textiles, chemicals, and agricultural products to Sri Lanka and imports tea, spices, and garments. 
•  Fisheries dispute have been a recurring issue in India-Sri Lanka relations. 

3. 16 killed in US after deadly storms hit Central-Eastern part of the country. 

• 16 people died in a violent storm that hit central eastern USA, extending from Texas to Ohio.
•   National Weather Service has issued flash flood emergencies for different areas.

 Flash floods: 

•  It refers to sudden and rapid floods that occur within a short duration of heavy rainfall or other intense water accumulation events. 
•  Factors responsible for flash floods include heavy rainfall, dam failure, ice or debris jams or sudden release of water from glacial lakes. 
• Flash floods are highly intense and short-lived events while normal floods typically develop gradually over a period of days or weeks as a result of sustained rainfall or melting of snow. ○ They are localized events that occur due to intense rainfall or other events leading to quick collection of water. ○ Early warning systems can play an important role in mitigating the impact of flash floods. 

4. Hungary first European country to withdraw from the ICC 

• The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that his country is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hungary is the first European country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which was established in 2002.
•   The decision to withdraw from the ICC was announced by Viktor Orbán in the presence of the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a four-day official visit to Hungary. 
•  The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his alleged war crimes in Gaza.
•  Hungary, being the founder member of the ICC and a signatory to the 1998 Rome Statute, was under an obligation to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, the country is under no obligation to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. 

About International Criminal Court (ICC)

•   Established: 2002 
•  Based in: The Hague, Netherlands 
•  Members – 125 countries, including Hungary.
•   Legal Basis: Rome Statute (adopted in 1998, entered into force in 2002) 
•  Objective: To prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. 
•  Major powers like the USA, China, India, Israel, and Russia are not members. 

5. PM Narendra Modi Conferred Sri Lanka’s Highest Honour for a Foreign Leader 

•  President Anura Kumara Dissanayake awarded the “Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation’s highest civilian honour for a foreign head of state, recognizing his strong and friendly ties with Sri Lanka. 
•  The award, established in 2008, is presented exclusively to heads of state or government for their outstanding contributions to strengthening Sri Lanka’s international friendships. 
•  Rich in symbolism, the award features the Dharma Chakra, Pun Kalasa, Navarathna, and the Sun and Moon, representing shared heritage, prosperity, enduring friendship, and an eternal bond between India and Sri Lanka. 
•  President Dissanayake emphasized Modi’s deserving nature, stating the award reflects Sri Lanka’s deep appreciation of the cultural, spiritual, and diplomatic relationship with India. 

State News 

6. New Chola inscription found on Somagiri Hills near Madurai. 

•  A new inscription linked to Rajaraja Chola, recently discovered atop Somagiri hills in Melavalavu near Melur, Madurai district, is being hailed by historians as a significant archaeological find. 
•  This inscription probably dates from around 1,000 AD.
•   The inscription begins with the honorific title – Raja Raja Mummudichola, a unique salutation found in the region known as the Pandya country.
•   The inscription mentions the reign of Rajaraja Chola in the Pandya region and describes how a military commander named Veeranarayana Pallavanarayana captured the region and ruled here. 
•  It also talks about a man called Malaiyappa Sambu who tried to reach the spot by digging steps on the rock where the temple was built. 
• Thamizhthaasan, a cultural ecologist with the Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation, and Professor P. Devi Arivu Selvam, a temple architect and sculpture researcher, recently discovered this inscription during a field study. 
•  R. Udhaya Kumar and T. Muthupandi, research assistants at the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research in Madurai, copied the inscription. Chola Empire: 
•  Vijayalaya Chola, the founder of the Chola Empire, founded this dynasty in the 9th century. 
•  The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of southern India. 
•  Chola empire was extended between river Tungabhadra in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
•   Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I were the real architects of this dynasty. 
• Rajaraja I is famous for constructing a famous temple known as Rajarajeshwara or Brihadesvara temple located at Tanjore.
• Rajaraja II built the Darasuram Temple. 
• Rajendra Chola III was the last Chola ruler. 

Infrastructure News 

7. New daily train to link Rameswaram to Chennai

•   The pilgrimage town of Ra-meswaram will be connected to various parts of the country by 15 pairs of trains, a spokesperson of the Railway Ministry said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge on Sunday. 
• A new daily train, the Tambaram-Rameswaram-Tambaram Express, covers a distance of 617 km from Tambaram in Chennai to Rameswaram in under 12 hours, with an average speed of about 53 kmph.
•   The Tambaram-Rames-waram Express (train no. 16103) will depart from Tambaram at 6.05 p.m., and reach Rameswaram the following day at 5.45 a.m. The return train (16104) will start at 3.35 p.m. and reach Tambaram the next day at 3.10 a.m. 
•  Tiruvarur, Thiruthurai-poondi, Pattukottai, and Aranthangi are among the train's stops. "For the first time, it is covering the districts of Tiruvarur and Pattukottai," the spokesperson said. The other 14 pairs of trains are extensions from Mandapam to Rameswaram: two mail express trains from Chennai Egmore; three passenger trains from Madurai; one mail express from Tiruchi-rappalli; two tri weekly trains (one each from Tirupati and Kanyakumari); and six weekly trains (one each from Ayodhya, Coimbatore, Okha, Varanasi, Firozpur, and Bhubaneswar).

 8. Delhi Metro gears up to roll out three-coach train corridor by 2028 

•  The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday announced plans to introduce the country's first metro corridor designed to operate with three-coach trains. The trains will operate on the Lajpat Nagar to Saket G Block metro corridor, part of the Phase-IV of the metro project, aiming to boost last mile connectivity and facilitate smooth interchanges with existing metro corridors. 
•  "Unlike most metro lines that use four-, six-, or eight-coach trains, this in-novative three-coach system has been developed to cater specifically to short-distance urban travel. The smaller train configuration will provide a cost-effective and agile solution, ensuring better frequency, operational efficiency, and accommodating a substantial number of daily commuters," a Delhi Metro spokesperson said. 
• The DMRC said the new corridor is being developed based on a realistic assessment of passenger flow, prioritising frequent and efficient metro services over short distances. 
•  Access to key areas 
•  The new corridor will consist of eight stations - Lajpat Nagar (interchange with Pink and Violet lines), Andrews Ganj, GK-1, Chirag
•  Delhi, Pushpa Bhawan, Saket Court, Pushpa Vihar, and Saket G Block (interchange with the Golden line) improving accessibility to key residential and commercial hubs in the city. 
•  The corridor will span eight kilometres and be the second-smallest in the network, the DMRC said. "In March 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project. The construction work has now begun, and the corridor is expected to be completed by 2028," a DMRC official said. 

9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu and inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge on 7 April 2025. 

•  New Pamban Rail Bridge connects Rameswaram to the mainland. 
•  Its inauguration coincided with the Ram Navami festival 
•  It is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, marking a significant engineering achievement. 
•  PM Modi also visited the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram to perform darshan and pooja. 
• Modi laid the foundation and dedicate several rail and road projects worth over 8,300 crore rupees to the nation. 
•  The New Pamban Rail Bridge has deep cultural significance, linked to the Ramayana and the construction of Ram Setu. 
•  As per the Ramayana, the construction of Ram Setu was initiated from Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. 
•  The bridge is built with stainless steel reinforcements, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints for long-lasting durability. 
•  It is designed to support two rail tracks, ensuring it can handle future demands. 

10. Madhavpur Ghed fair is being organized in Gujarat. 

•  Madhavpur Ghed fair, annual five day fair, is being organized at Madhavpur in the Porbandar district of Gujarat. 
• It is observed every year to celebrate the union of Krishna and Rukmini, uniting the culture of Western and Northeastern India. 
•  The festival realizes the PM’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. 
•  Gujarat Tourism and the Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities are jointly organizing this event. 
•  This year, cultural programmes are also being organized in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Dwarka and Somnath as part of the celebration. 
•  Rann Utsav, International Kite Festival, Modhera Dance festival, Bhavnath Fair, etc, are some other fairs and festival organised in Gujarat 

Defence News 

11. INS Sunayna has been flagged off by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the Indian Ocean ship SAGAR at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka on 5 April 2025. 

•  SAGAR stands for ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region.’ 
•  It is an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation with nations in the Indian Ocean region. 
•  The event marked the 10th anniversary of the SAGAR initiative. It also coincided with National Maritime Day. 
•  Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR represents India’s commitment to peace, prosperity, and shared security in the maritime domain. 
•  INS Sunayna is Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel. It will sail from Karwar as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region). 
•  The ship is carrying 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations. 
•  INS Sunayna will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria. 

National News 

12. An MoU has been signed between Union Health Ministry and the Delhi Government. 

• The purpose of MoU is to roll out Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Delhi. 
• The program offers 5 lakh rupees in health coverage per family annually. 
• The Delhi government will add another 5 lakh rupees. This will increase the total to 10 lakh rupees per family each year. 
• As per Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, over 6,50,000 eligible families in Delhi will benefit from the program. 
•  He said that the share of health treatment costs was 62% in 2014. This has reduced to 38%. 
•  Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the distribution of health cards for the scheme will start on the 10th of this month. 
• The Delhi government has allocated over 2,100 crore rupees for the scheme. 
•  Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched in 2018. 
• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health coverage program in the world, covering secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. 
• The scheme benefits over 12 crore families from vulnerable backgrounds, reaching approximately 55 crore people, who represent the bottom 40% of the population. 

Important Day News 

13. World Health Day: 7 April 

•  World Health Day is celebrated globally on 7 April to raise awareness about global health issues. 
•  On this day in 1948, World Health Organization was founded. 
•  This year, the theme of World Health Day is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”.
•   This year, World Health Day will launch a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health.
•   The campaign is to reduce preventable deaths and improve health outcomes for women and infants.
•  Each year, 300,000 women die from pregnancy complications, and 4 million babies die or are stillborn, many preventable. This equals 1 preventable death every 7 seconds. 
•  Current trends show 80% of countries won’t meet 2030 targets for reducing maternal and newborn deaths. 

Sports News

 14. Hitesh Gulia wins Gold medal at World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025. 

• Hitesh Gulia won the Gold Medal in the men’s 70 kg category at the World Boxing Cup 2025 held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
• . He was handed a walkover as his opponent Odel Kamara of England was injured.
•   Another Indian Boxer Abhinash Jamwal won the silver medal at the men’s 65 kg category as he lost to Yuri Reis of Brazil with 0-5 in the finals. 
•  Earlier, India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin (60kg) and Vishal (90kg) won the bronze medals. 
• The Indian contingent won a total of six medals, including a gold, a silver and 4 bronze medals. 
• This year three World Boxing Cups are scheduled- one is hosted by Brazil, and the other two will be hosted by Kazakhstan and India in June-July and November, respectively.

 15. Semaglutide reduces cardiovascular event risk in diabetes patients: study 

•  Diabetes management should not be focused narrowly on blood sugar levels, but must concurrently work at protecting cardiac and renal health too, says a recent study that found daily oral sema-glutide (an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti obesity medication used for long-term weight management) could cut the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death by 14%. 
• In a Phase 3 trial of people with diabetes, the study, called SOUL, tested Rybelsus Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug administered in oral form against a placebo, in trial partici-pants already receiving standard medications.
•   Semaglutide was approved in June 2021 for chronic weight management in those with obesity and at least one weight-related condition, in addition to diet and exercise. 
•  The SOUL trial was initiated in 2019, with the key objective to demonstrate that oral semaglutide lowers the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (a composite end-point consisting of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke) compared with placebo, both added to standard of care in pa-tients with type 2 diabetes and established Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). 
•  "The SOUL trial demon-strates statistically significant reductions in the primary composite end-point of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), encompassing myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death, in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established CVD and/or CKD. The data reinforce oral semaglutide's role as the first and only approved oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) to achieve a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk within this high-risk population," V. Mohan, chairman, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, said. 
•  A.G. Unnikrishnan, CEO and chief of endocrinology at the Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, said the SOUL trial has shown that it can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, regardless of whether participants were already using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). 

Schemes and Committees News 

16. Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) for financial years 2024-25 to 2028-29 

• 
  
•  The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Narendra Modi, approved the Vibrant Villages Programme -II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), furthering its commitment for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 for ‘Safe, Secured & Vibrant land borders’.
•   The Programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the Northern border already covered under VVP-I.  With a total outlay of Rs.6,839 crore, the programme shall be implemented in select strategic villages in the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal till the FY 2028-29. 
•  The objective is to improve living conditions, livelihood opportunities, internal security, and ensure integration of border populations as vital stakeholders in border safety. 
•  Funding will support infrastructure development, value chain creation through cooperatives and SHGs, SMART education, tourism circuits, and other sustainable livelihood projects. 
•  The programme will leverage technology platforms like PM Gati Shakti, and ensure saturation of services in four key areas: road, telecom, TV connectivity, and electrification through convergence with existing schemes. 

Science and Technology News 

17. RPF Joins CEIR Portal to Enhance Mobile Recovery for Rail Passengers 

•  After a successful pilot in the Northeast Frontier Railway, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has officially integrated with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, enabling recovery of lost or stolen mobile phones for passengers across India. 
•  Through CEIR, RPF can now block the IMEI number of missing phones, making them unusable and deterring resale, while also leveraging tracking tools for quick recovery. 
•  Passengers can report missing phones via Rail Madad (online or by dialing 139). RPF’s Zonal Cyber Cells will register the complaint on CEIR, block the device, and facilitate recovery and return. 
•  RPF’s ongoing Operation Amanat has already returned property worth ₹03 crores to over 1.15 lakh passengers. The CEIR portal will further boost RPF’s ability to track and restore lost mobile phones efficiently. 

18. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launches a new website of the Department of Water Resources, RD &GR based 

•  Union Minister of Jal Shakti, R. Patil, launched a new website for the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) in New Delhi. 
•  This initiative aligns with the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) framework, aiming to create a cohesive digital ecosystem across all government departments. 
•  Key features of the new website include: 
•  Consistent User Experience: The DBIM framework ensures a uniform look and feel across government websites, enhancing user navigation and accessibility. 
•  Enhanced Accessibility: The website complies with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), making it accessible to all citizens, including those with disabilities. 
•  Optimized Performance: With an optimized coding structure, the site offers faster load times and improved performance, benefiting users even in low-bandwidth areas. 
•  Mobile-Friendly Design: The responsive design ensures compatibility across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. 
• Centralized Content Management: A centralized content management system allows for efficient updates and maintenance, ensuring up-to-date information is readily available to the public.

 19. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil launches Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS) Portal 

• Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched the Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System (RSMS) Portal in New Delhi, which automates the generation of weekly water storage bulletins, replacing the earlier manual system.
•   The portal monitors 161 key reservoirs (total live storage capacity of 182.375 BCM) and provides real-time updates, graphs, tables, and downloadable bulletins. It is accessible to decision-makers and the general public.
•  Bulletins are issued every Thursday and shared with agencies including PMO, NITI Aayog, IMD, MoJS, and various state governments. Advisories are released in case of critical storage situations. 
• Reservoir data support agriculture, power, domestic use, disaster management, and climate resilience, playing a critical role in ensuring water security and planning crop cycles across the country. 

Appointment News 

20. Baby elected CPI(M) general secretary 

• Mr. Baby said the party would aim at building its independent strength besides seeking to achieve a coming together of Leftist forces. "We don't want to conceal the fact that there has been a decline in our strength. Unless we find out why this has happened, we will not be able to do a course correction," he said. With the aim of defeating the "neofascist BJP", the party would build a political opposition based on the circumstances prevailing in each State. In Kerala, where the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front is in power, the goal would be to retain power for a third term after the 2026 Assembly election, for which Mr. Vijayan would lead the party, he added. 

21. CCI chief Ravneet Kaur gets addl charge as NFRA Chairperson 

•  Competition Commission of India (CCI) chief Ravneet Kaur has been given the additional charge as the NFRA Chairperson. 
• After the completion of his three-year tenure, Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey retired as the Chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) on March 31. 
•  The additional charge will be for a period of three months starting from April 1, 2025 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. 

Recent Appointments

•  MD of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL); a subsidiary of Indian IOCL – H Shankar 
• President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) – Mohsin Naqvi (Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board) 
•  Chairman of FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee South– Kamal Haasan appointed as 
•  MD of Tata Group’s electronics retail chain Croma – Shibashish Roy
•  MD of Ambuja Cements Limited – Ajay Kapur 

22. SC Ralhan takes charge of new FIEO president 

•  SC Ralhan has taken over as the new president of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), replacing Ashwani Kumar. 
•  Ralhan brings over 50 years of experience in exports, particularly in the engineering and hand tools industry, to his new role. 
•  Ravikant Kapur, an industry veteran from the textiles sector, has taken charge as the vice-president of FIEO. 

Award News 

23. Sudarsan Pattnaik Becomes First Indian to Win Fred Darrington Sand Art Award

•   Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has become the first Indian to receive the prestigious Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for his outstanding contributions to sand art.
•  The award was presented during the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England. 
• To mark the occasion, Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high sculpture of Lord Ganesha carrying the message of “World Peace”. The award holds special significance this year as it commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary British sculptor Fred Darrington. 
•  Sudarshan Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, has participated in over 65 international sand art festivals and championships. His work, often blending spiritual themes with social messages, has earned him widespread recognition – but the Weymouth award marks a new high. 
•  The Sandworld exhibition at Lodmoor Park, known for its massive, detailed sand sculptures created using just sand and water, features works from artists across the world. But this year, it’s a message from India – carved in sand and rooted in peace – that’s leaving the deepest impression.

 Recent Award 

• Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award – Nikhil Singhal
•   Ugadi Award from the Andhra Pradesh government – Historian and archaeologist MyNaa Swamy 
• 59th Jnanpith Award – Vinod Kumar Shukla (for Deewar Mein Ek Khirki Rehti Thi)
•  Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024 – Veteran Sculptor Ram Sutar
•   Oeko-Tex certification from Germany for Eri silk – North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation 
•  Stockholm Water Prize 2025 – Austrian hydrologist Günter Blöschl (for his groundbreaking contributions to flood risk management and water resource engineering)