Current Context: Rajgir, Bihar, will host the Hero Asia Cup Hockey 2025 from August 29 to September 7 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium.

Key Highlights:

• MoU Signed: Hockey India and Bihar State Sports Authority formalized the agreement in Patna.
• Second International Event: Follows the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023, where India won.
• Participants: 8 teams – India, Pakistan, Japan, S.Korea, China, Malaysia, and two qualifiers from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF)Cup.

Historical Context:

• South Korea holds the most titles (5).
• India and Pakistan have won 3 times each

Current Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is organizing Startup Mahakumbh 2025 from April 3-5, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to empower Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs and celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

Key Highlights:

• Dharti Aaba Tribe Preneurs 2025 is a flagship initiative under MoTA, showcasing 45+ ST-founded startups incubated at institutions like IIM Calcutta and IIT Bhilai.
• Focus on promoting tribal entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

Objectives:

• Provide exposure to venture capitalists and investors.
• Foster inclusive growth and economic empowerment for tribal communities.
• Funding: Launch of a ₹50 crore Venture Capital Fund for tribal startups.

Current Context: The National Statistics Office (NSO) of India has released the Energy Statistics India 2025 report, offering insights into the country’s energy reserves, production, consumption, and trade for the fiscal year 2023-24.

Key Highlights

• Energy Supply & Consumption: Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) grew by 7.8%, reaching 9,03,158 KToE in FY 2023-24.
• Renewable Energy Potential: Total renewable potential: 21,09,655 MW.
• Wind: 11,63,856 MW (55%), Solar: 7,48,990 MW, Hydro: 1,33,410 MW.
• Major potential in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
• Installed Capacity Growth: Renewable energy capacity rose from 81,593 MW (2015) to 1,98,213 MW (2024), CAGR of 10.36%.
• Electricity Generation: From 2,05,608 GWh (2014-15) to 3,70,320 GWh (2023-24), CAGR of 6.76%.
• Per-Capita Energy Consumption: Increased from 14,682 MJ (2014-15) to 18,410 MJ (2023-24), CAGR of 2.55%.
• Transmission Losses: Reduced from 23% (2014-15) to 17% (2023-24).
• Sectoral Consumption: Industrial sector energy consumption grew from 2,42,418 Kilo Tonnes of Oil Equivalent(KToE) to 3,11,822 KToE (2014-2024).

Current Context: The “Levels and Trends in Child Mortality” report, released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME), highlights key global child mortality trends, with India showing significant achievements.

Key Achievements for India:

• 70% decline in under-five mortality rate.
• 61% decline in neonatal mortality rate.
• 4% reduction in stillbirths, ranking India 7th globally for progress in this area.

Factors Contributing to Improvements:

• Enhanced health infrastructure: Maternity homes, newborn care units, and trained health workers.
• Ayushman Bharat Scheme: Provides US$5500 health coverage per family, focusing on maternal and infant care.
• Data & surveillance improvements: Continuous monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
• Global Context: Despite India’s progress, in 2023, 8 million children died before age five, with many deaths preventable due to unequal healthcare access.

Current context: SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, set to launch soon, will take astronauts on a groundbreaking journey over Earth’s polar regions, areas previously unexplored by astronauts

Key Highlights

• Mission Name: Fram2, named after a historic Norwegian ship used in Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.
• Launch: Scheduled aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a Falcon 9 rocket.
• Astronauts: 4 astronauts on board for the mission.

Mission Objectives:

• 90-Degree Orbit: Achieve a steeper, 90° orbit compared to the standard 51.6° orbit.
• X-ray Imaging: First-ever X-ray images of astronauts to study spaceflight effects on the human body.
• Mushroom Cultivation: Test growing mushrooms in microgravity for sustainable food sources in future missions.
• STEVE Study: Investigate the atmospheric light phenomenon, Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancements (STEVE).
• Public Engagement: Fram2 competition allows amateur radio operators to decode images from space.
• Historical Context: First mission to fly over Earth’s polar regions, previously unexplored by astronauts.
• SpaceX History: SpaceX has completed five private astronaut missions, including Inspiration4 (2021).

Current Context: The 4th edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, a bilateral India-US Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, is scheduled from April 1–13, 2025, on India’s Eastern Seaboard.

Key Highlights:

• Objective: Enhance interoperability for HADR operations and establish a Combined Coordination Center (CCC) for efficient crisis response.
• Indian Participation:
• Naval Ships: INS Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai, Shakti (with helicopters & landing crafts).
• Air Force: P-8I, C-130, MI-17 Helicopters.
• Army: 91 Infantry Brigade, 12 Mech Infantry Battalion, Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT).
• US Participation:
• US Navy Ships Comstock & Ralph Johnson.
• US Marine Division Troops & Medical Teams.
• Harbour Phase (Apr 1-7, Visakhapatnam): Joint Flag Parade, media interaction, expert exchanges, and sports events.
• Sea Phase (Off Kakinada):
• Maritime, Amphibious, and HADR operations.
• Establishment of joint command center & medical camp.
• Closing Ceremony: April 13, 2025, onboard USS Comstock, Visakhapatnam.

Current Context: Andhra Pradesh CM launched the ‘Zero Poverty – P4’ initiative under the Swarna Andhra 2047 vision to achieve a poverty-free state by 2029.

About the P4 Initiative:

• P4 = Public, Private, People Partnership
• One of the 10 principles of the Swarna Andhra 2047 vision.
• Focuses on economic upliftment and inclusive growth.
• Key benefits include housing, sanitation, reliable power, high-speed internet, and entrepreneurship promotion.

Target Groups:

• Beneficiaries: ‘Bangaru Kutumbam’ (Golden Families) – the most economically deprived families.
• Supporters: ‘Margadarsis’ (Guides) – the top 10% wealthiest families, who adopt and support poor families.

Role of Margadarsis:

• Provide financial aid, mentorship, and business support.
• Assist in education, healthcare, and skill development.
• Ensure long-term sustainable upliftment of adopted families.

Current Context: Launched in response to a devastating earthquake in Myanmar, reflecting India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family).

• Mission: A humanitarian effort led by the Indian Army, providing urgent medical assistance to earthquake victims.
• Medical Support: A 118-member team from Shatrujeet Brigade set up a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre in Mandalay to handle trauma and emergency surgeries.
• Naval & Air Force Support:
• Two naval ships dispatched with 50 tonnes of relief supplies.
• Indian Air Force involved in delivering additional aid and personnel.
• Relief Supplies: Includes tents, blankets, food, medicines, and an 80-member NDRF team for search and rescue.
• Historical Context: Part of India’s strategy as a first responder in regional crises, following previous missions like Operation Dost in Turkey and Syria.

Current Context: Naini Lake in Nainital has recorded a 5-year low water level of 4.7 feet, raising concerns over water scarcity due to reduced snowfall, unregulated construction, and climate change.

Key Facts

• Type: Natural freshwater lake of tectonic origin.
• Shape: Crescent-shaped, formed by repeated landslides.
• Water Source: Fed by 26 major drains and subsurface inflows.
• Hydrological Balance: 50% of its water comes from subsurface inflows and outflows.
• Usage: Provides 76% of Nainital’s drinking water and supports tourism and boating.
• Location: Situated in Nainital, Uttarakhand, in the Kumaon region, surrounded by seven hills.

Current Context: The government has appointed IFS officer Nidhi Tiwari as the Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.