• Observed on the last Saturday of April, which fell on April26 in 2025, organized by the World Veterinary Association (WVA). ​
• The 2025 theme is “Animal Health Takes a Team”, emphasizing the collaborative efforts in veterinary care.​
• Engagement: Recognizes the contributions of veterinary professionals and promotes animal health and welfare.​
• Significance: Highlights the role of veterinarians in public health, food safety, and environmental protection

Current Context: The 9th Annual Inter College Sports, Games, and Athletic Meet commenced at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, with enthusiastic participation from students across four constituent colleges: Horticulture and Forestry Colleges at Nauni, Neri, and Thunag.

About

• Chief Guest: Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police, Solan.
• Objective: Promote holistic development, physical fitness, and sportsmanship.
• Participants: Over 360 students from four constituent colleges.
• Sports Events: Track & field (100m–10,000m, relays, jumps, throws), team sports (football, volleyball, basketball, etc.), chess.
• Highlights: Singh emphasized leadership, teamwork, and the importance of sports in well-being. Strong message against drug abuse.
• Goal: Foster physical fitness, leadership, and community spirit.

Current Context: Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy won the Pune Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25, finishing with 7/9 points, marking a major achievement for Indian chess on the international stage.

Key Highlights

• Winner: Koneru Humpy (7/9 points)
• Final Round: Defeated Nurgyul Salimova
• Runner-up: Zhu Jiner (China) — also scored 7/9 but ranked second on tiebreaks
• Third Place: Divya Deshmukh (5.5/9 points) — drew against Alina Kashlinskaya
• Event: Part of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Women’s Grand Prix series, hosted in Pune, India

Current context: Union Health Minister Dr. Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella (MR) Elimination Campaign 2025–26, reaffirming India’s target to eliminate both diseases .

Key Highlights:

• Campaign Aim:
• Achieve zero measles and rubella cases by 2026.
• Ensure >95% MR vaccine coverage across all districts.

Current Progress:

• MR first-dose coverage: 7%
• MR second-dose coverage: 92.2%
• 332 districts: Zero measles cases (Jan–Mar 2025)
• 487 districts: Zero rubella cases (Jan–Mar 2025)
• India awarded Measles and Rubella Champion Award 2024

Strategic Focus:

• Rapid outbreak response and inter-departmental coordination.
• Strengthened surveillance via Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
• Multilingual public awareness campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy.

Current context: The Indian Navy’s INS Surat successfully executed a precision cooperative engagement against a sea-skimming target in the Arabian Sea using the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM).

About MRSAM:

• Range: 70 km

Features:

• Dual guidance systems (command and active radar seeker), dual pulse solid motor, proximity fuse for effective target engagement.
• Capable of intercepting missiles, aircraft, bombs, and helicopters.
• Significance of the Test:
• The test marks a significant milestone in India’s naval and indigenous warship development.
• Highlights India’s growing military technology prowess.

Current Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped penalties for certain Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations at ₹2 lakh, replacing the earlier percentage-based system.

Key Highlights

• Act: Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (replaced Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973)
• New Change: Penalty capped at ₹2 lakh for specific FEMA contraventions
• Earlier System: Penalties ranged from 30% to 0.75% of the violation amount

Violations Covered:

• Failure to reinvest Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) proceeds within 180 days
• Delay in completing exports after advance receipts
• Gifting high-value shares to non-resident relatives without prior RBI approval

Objective:

• Reduce compliance burden for individuals and corporations
• Improve ease of doing business
• Promote a conducive environment for foreign investment

Current Context: Pakistan’s suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement marks a significant shift in India-Pakistan relations, following India’s actions after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The agreement, signed post-1971 Indo-Pakistani War, aimed to normalize ties.

Key Highlights

• Signatories: Indian PM Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
• Objective: Restore peace and establish bilateral

Provisions:

• Peaceful Resolution: Dispute resolution via direct talks.
• Respect for Sovereignty: Territorial integrity commitment.
• LoC: Maintenance of the Line of Control.
• Prisoner Release: Release of 93,000 Pakistani POWs.

Impact of Suspension:

• Tensions Escalate: Risk of increased conflict, particularly along the LoC.
• Shift in Strategy: Pakistan may seek international mediation on Kashmir, contradicting the agreement.

Current context: The Indian government has barred Pakistani nationals from availing benefits under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), citing security and diplomatic concerns.

Key Highlights:

Launched: 1992.

• Objective: To allow visa-free travel within SAARC nations for select categories of people such as dignitaries, officials, and business leaders.
• Mechanism: Eligible individuals receive SAARC Visa Stickers, valid for one year, issued by respective member countries.
• Privileges: Exempts sticker holders from needing a visa or facing travel restrictions, such as police reporting or filling extra entry forms across SAARC nations.
• India’s Decision:Pakistan nationals are now excluded from traveling to India under this scheme.

About SAARC:

• Established: December 8, 1985, in Dhaka.
• Members (8): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Purpose: Promote regional cooperation and economic integration in South Asia.

Current Context: The Syrian civil war (2011) turned Palmyra into a conflict zone, resulting in significant damage to its ancient monuments.

About :

• Location: An ancient city in central Syria, situated in an oasis surrounded by palms and nestled between the northern and southern Palmyrene mountain ranges.

Historical Significance:

• Human settlement dates back to the Neolithic period.
• First mentioned in historical records in the early second millennium BCE.
• Integrated into the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD.
• Located at a key junction on the Silk Road, Palmyra served as a significant trade and cultural hub, linking the Roman Empire, Persia, India, and China.

• Held on April 28, established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote safe and healthy workplaces. ​
• The 2025 theme focuses on “Revolutionizing health and safety: the role of AI and digitalization at work”, exploring how technology can enhance occupational safety.​
• Engagement: Encourages stakeholders to adopt innovative solutions for improving workplace health and safety.​
• Significance: Aims to reduce work-related accidents and diseases through proactive measures and awareness.​