Current Context: West Bengal launched the ‘Triple Elimination’ Initiative to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B by 2026 in collaboration with the William J. Clinton Foundation and WHO.

• Key Points:
  • Objective: Ensure disease-free births by integrating healthcare for HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B.
• Implementation:
  • Pilot launched in April 2024 in 4 districts; expanded statewide by March 2025.
  • State Task Force & Technical Advisory Group oversee progress.
• Screening & Treatment:
  • Mandatory screening for all pregnant women.
  • Institutional deliveries ensured to prevent transmission.
  • Newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers receive Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours.

Current context :Historian and former IAS officer Sanjeev Chopra released his latest book, The Great Conciliator: Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Transformation of India, offering insights into India’s second Prime Minister’s leadership and contributions.

• Key Highlights:
  • Explores Shastri’s political, social, and administrative journey.
  • Details his role in nation-building and economic policies.
  • Covers the formation of the Border Security Force (BSF).
  • Highlights his famous slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

Current Context: At the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 in Amman, Jordan, Deepak Punia and Udit secured silver medals, contributing to India’s overall medal tally.

• Key Points:
• Deepak Punia won silver in the 92kg freestyle category.
• Udit claimed silver in the 61kg freestyle division.
• Dinesh won bronze in the 125kg category after defeating Turkmenistan’s Zyyamuhammet Saparov.

India’s total medal count: 10 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze).

Current Context: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has achieved major milestones in FY 2024-25, with 55 crore beneficiaries and a total account balance of ₹2.5 lakh crore, reinforcing India’s financial inclusion efforts.

• Key Points:
• Launched: August 15, 2014, to provide banking access to the unbanked population.
• Accounts & Demographics:
  • 14 crore accounts as of March 2025.
  • 67% beneficiaries from rural/semi-urban areas.
  • Women account holders: 30.71 crore (56%).
• Financial Impact:
  • Average account balance: ₹4,726.
  • Enabled Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) and improved bank liquidity.
• Digital Growth:77 crore RuPay debit cards issued to promote digital transactions.
• Economic Influence:
• Financial inclusion index rose from 43.4 (2017) to 64.2 (2024).

Current Context: The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and global partners have completed a feasibility study on the Future Circular Collider (FCC), involving over 1,000 experts.

• Key Points
  • The FCC is planned as the successor to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with a 91 km circumference and a focus on Higgs boson research.
  • Aims to explore fundamental physics, including the origin of mass and the fate of the universe.
• Will operate in two phases:
  • 2046 – Electron-positron collider.
  • 2070 – Proton-proton collider.
• Potential applications in medicine, fusion energy, and advanced accelerators.

Current Context: The Indian government has launched ZooWIN, a digital platform for real-time tracking of anti-rabies vaccines and anti-snake venom.

• Developed by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) support, this initiative aims to enhance healthcare delivery and reduce fatalities from rabies and snakebites.

Key Points:

• Objective: Centralises vaccine data to improve coordination among healthcare, municipal, and veterinary services.
• Functionality: Uses eVIN infrastructure to track vaccine stocks in real time, ensuring timely availability.
• Pilot Implementation: Initially launched in five states, with training for healthcare officials at state and district levels.
• Public Awareness & Accessibility: Helps locate stocked health centers and spreads awareness about treatment options.

Collaborative Effort: Strengthens disease control through government and UNDP partnership

Current Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the NITI NCAER States Economic Forum on April 1, 2025. Developed by NITI Aayog and NCAER, the portal serves as a comprehensive data repository on India’s social, economic, and fiscal parameters spanning over three decades.

Key Points:

• Objective: Enhances analysis and transparency in state finances and socio-economic trends.
• Components of the Portal:
  • State Reports: Summaries of 28 states macro and fiscal conditions.
  • Data Repository: Covers demography, economy, fiscal, health, and education.
  • State Fiscal & Economic Dashboard: Visual data representation with historical trends.
  • Research & Commentary: Insights on state finances & fiscal policy management.
• Purpose & Benefits:
  • Consolidates sectoral data into one platform for better analysis.
  • Enables benchmarking of state data against national and other state figures.
  • Supports researchers and policymakers in evidence-based decision-making.

• April 4th marks the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, aimed at raising awareness about landmine threats and supporting demining efforts worldwide.
• Established by the UN in 2005, observed since 2006.
• Focuses on protecting war-affected communities, clearing landmines, and rehabilitating survivors.
• Highlights the need for international cooperation in mine action and post-conflict recovery.

Current Context: Shirley Botchwey assumed office as the 7th Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, becoming the first African woman to hold the position.

Current Context: Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin secured the 2025 Tashkent Open Agzamov Memorial title in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with an unbeaten score of 8/10.

Key Highlights:

• Defeated a strong field, including eight players rated above 2600.
• Strengthens India’s presence in the global chess circuit.