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.

Current Context: India’s Anahat Singh and Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey emerged victorious at the Indian Open 2025 Professional Squash Association(PSA )Copper event in Mumbai.

Key Highlights:

• Anahat Singh clinched the women’s singles title, securing her second consecutive PSA title after the SRFI Indian Tour PSA Challenger in Chennai.
• Kareem El Torkey from Egypt won the men’s singles title.
• The tournament, with a $53,500 prize pool, was held at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai.

Current Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in INIOCHOS-25, a 12-day multinational air exercise hosted by Greece’s Hellenic Air Force at Andravida Air Base from April 1-11, 2025.

Key Highlights:

• IAF Contingent: Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-78, and C-17 aircraft.
• Objective: Enhance interoperability, coordination, and combat readiness in modern air warfare.
• Participation: 15 countries, integrating air and surface assets in realistic combat scenarios.

Significance:

• Strengthens India’s strategic partnerships.
• Provides mutual learning & tactical knowledge exchange.
• Improves joint operational capabilities in multinational settings.

Current Context: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan inaugurated Techkriti 2025, Asia’s largest intercollegiate technical and entrepreneurial festival, at IIT Kanpur.

About Techkriti 2025:

• Theme: “Panta Rhei” (Everything Flows) – signifies continuous evolution in technology and innovation.
• Key Focus: Showcasing cutting-edge technology, entrepreneurship, and collaboration in various domains.
• Special Feature: ‘Rakshakriti’ – A dedicated Defence Expo displaying advancements in defence technology.

Significance:

• Strengthens synergy between the armed forces, academia, and the defence industry.
• Provides a platform for budding technologists to engage with industry leaders and defence experts.

Current Context: The Adivasi community in Jharkhand and Chhotanagpur recently celebrated Sarhul, marking the arrival of spring and honoring nature.

Significance:

• Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is sacred, believed to house Sarna Maa, the village deity.
• Symbolizes Sun-Earth unity and sustains livelihoods.

Celebrations:

• Day 1: Pahan (priest) performs rituals, collects Sal flowers, cleans Sarna Sthals.
• Day 2: Rooster sacrifice, Sal flower offerings, traditional dances (Jadur, Gena).
• Day 3: Community feast, blessings, and handia (rice beer).

Historical & Cultural Relevance:

• Evolved from hunting to agricultural tradition.
• Spread to Assam, Nepal, Bhutan due to tribal displacement.
• Celebrated by Munda, Santal, Oraon tribes, preserving Adivasi identity.

Current Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, has approved the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project in Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).

About the Project

• Central Assistance: ₹3,652.56 crore, with a completion target of March 2029.
• Objective: Divert surplus water from Kosi River to irrigate the Mahananda basin in Bihar.

Key Features:

• Remodeling of the Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC).
• Extension of EKMC up to Mechi River.
• Linking Kosi and Mechi Rivers within Bihar.

Impact

• Irrigation expansion to 2,10,516 hectares in the Kharif season.
• Coverage in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts.
• Utilization of 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus Kosi water.
• Restoration of irrigation in 1.57 lakh hectares under EKMC’s command.