Current Context:   The 3rd edition of the Indian Navy’s Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium, Meghayan-25, was held on April 14, 2025, at Nausena Bhawan, Delhi, commemorating World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Day 2025.​

About

• Inauguration: Virtually inaugurated by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.​
• Theme: Aligned with WMO Day 2025 theme: “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together.”​
• Key Participants: Representatives from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Indian Air Force, Space Applications Center (SAC), ISRO, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M).​
• Keynote Address: Delivered by Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD and Honorary Vice President of WMO.​

Launches:

• MOSDAC-IN: Meteorological and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre – Indian Navy, a joint initiative between Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (DNOM) and SAC, providing customized satellite-derived weather products.
• “Sagarmanthan” Journal: Revival of the professional Meteorological and Oceanological journal after a decade.​

Current Context: The 6th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, DUSTLIK-VI, commenced on April 16, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune.​

About:

• Frequency: Annual; alternates between India and Uzbekistan.​
• Previous Edition: Termez District, Uzbekistan (April 2024).​

Participating Forces:

• India: 60 personnel from the JAT Regiment and Indian Air Force.​
• Uzbekistan: Personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.​

Key Activities:

• Establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level.​
• Execution of counter-terrorism missions such as population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations.​
• Employment of firepower, including air assets, to neutralize threats.​
• Utilization of helicopters for reconnaissance, observation, special heliborne operations (SHBO), and small team insertion and extraction (STIE).​

Current context: In a significant development for Arunachal Pradesh’s energy sector, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited has released ₹269.98 crore as land compensation for the  Etalin Hydroelectric Project (HEP).

Project Overview:

• Location: Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 3,097 MW
• Components: Two dams on the Dri and Tangon (Talo) rivers, and an underground powerhouse complex

Community Engagement:

• Affected Communities: Idu Mishmi tribe
• Concerns: Displacement, loss of ancestral land, and environmental impacts
• Initiatives: Establishment of a Community Conservation Area to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage

Environmental Considerations:

• Biodiversity Impact: Project area located in a biodiversity hotspot; previous Environmental Impact Assessments deemed inadequate
• Regulatory Oversight: Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has declined forest clearance in its current form; recommends reassessment and revised proposals ​

Current context: Supreme Court has issued a directive to the Telangana Wildlife Warden to take immediate steps to protect the wildlife affected by the destruction of 100 acres of the Kancha Gachibowli land, which is part of the larger forest ecosystem.

About

• Location: An urban forest near the University of Hyderabad, located within the IT corridor of Hyderabad.

Ecological Value:

• Known for its biodiversity, including Schedule-I species (protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972), rock formations, and as a carbon sink.

It is considered one of the last remaining green lungs in Hyderabad’s rapidly growing IT corridor.

• World Liver Day is observed annually on 19th April.
• Purpose: Raise awareness about liver diseases, their prevention, and early detection.
• 2025 Theme: “Food is Medicine”, highlighting the role of nutrition in liver health.
• Global Impact: Liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer, cause 20 lakh deaths globally each year.
• Organized by: Healthcare organizations, government health departments, hospitals, medical institutions, and NGOs, in collaboration with bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and local hepatological societies.

Current context :India’s batter Shreyas Iyer has been named the International Cricket Council (ICC )Men’s Player of the Month for March 2025.

Current Context: Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has been appointed Chairperson of the Indian Weightlifting Federation(IWLF) Athletes Commission, pledging to amplify athlete voices and ensure their well-being.

Current Context: World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway clinched the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025 in Paris, defeating American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.

Key Points:

• Match Result: Carlsen won with a5-0.5 victory over Nakamura.
• Prize Money: Carlsen earned 2 lakh US Dollars, Nakamura received 1.4 lakh US Dollars.
• Other Winners: Fabiano Caruana secured third place, earning 1 lakh US Dollars and a spot in the Las Vegas Grand Slam.
• Indian Presence: Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi secured fifth place, winning 50 thousand US Dollars after defeating Maxime Vacxhier-Lagrave of France.

Current Context: Telangana classifies heatwaves and sunstroke as state-specific disasters, aiming to enhance resilience and protect vulnerable groups.

About

• Heatwave Definition: Heatwaves occur when temperatures reach 40°C or more, or are 5-6°C above normal, with severe heatwaves exceeding 7°C.
• Impact: Heatwaves cause health issues, especially for the elderly, outdoor workers, and children, with Telangana recording 98 deaths in 2020.
• Relief Measures: The state provides ₹4 lakh ex-gratia relief, up from ₹50,000, funded through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
• National Exclusion: Heatwaves are not recognized as disasters by the Union government, limiting access to national relief funds, urging the need for national recognition.

Current Context: Released in April 2025, the IJR ranks states on their capacity to deliver justice, focusing on police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid.

About

• Ranking Overview: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana lead the rankings, with southern states dominating. Sikkim tops among smaller
• Police Force: The report highlights a gender gap and underrepresentation of Scheduled Castes and Tribes in senior police ranks. Many police stations lack basic infrastructure.
• Judiciary Concerns: India faces a severe judge shortage, with only 15 judges per million people. High court vacancies are high, and district courts are overwhelmed.
• Prison System: The national prison system is overcrowded, with undertrials constituting 76% of inmates. The healthcare system in prisons is
• Legal Aid Accessibility: Legal aid remains underfunded, with only ₹6 per capita spent annually on legal aid.
• State-Specific Insights: Tamil Nadu excels in prison management; Karnataka meets quotas for both police and judiciary; Uttar Pradesh and Bihar face significant challenges in overcrowding and police representation.