Current Context:Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, 2025, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna. He will be the second Dalit to hold this position, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

Current context :The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has developed a new turmeric variety named IISR Surya, specifically designed for the masala and powdering industry.

Key Highlights:

• High Yield: IISR Surya is a high-yielding variety, producing 20–30% more compared to existing local varieties. Under optimal conditions, it can yield up to 41 tonnes per hectare.​
• Light-Coloured Rhizomes: The variety features light-colored rhizomes, making it ideal for powdering and catering to the preference for pale turmeric in specialty markets.​
• Pleasant Aroma: IISR Surya has a pleasant aroma, which is expected to increase its market appeal.​
• Market Demand: The demand for IISR Surya is particularly strong in Japan and Europe. The All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices (AICRPS) has recommended its cultivation in several states in India, including Kerala and Telangana, to boost local production and meet the increasing market demand.​
• Farmer Benefits: IISR Surya provides an opportunity for higher yields and better profitability. As local cultivars often yield poorly, IISR Surya offers a viable alternative that can enhance farmers’ incomes and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.​

Current Context:The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) recently felicitated five individuals from the Armed Forces with the prestigious MacGregor Memorial Medal Award.

About the Award:

• Institution: The MacGregor Memorial Medal was instituted in 1888 to honor Major General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, the founder of the United Service Institution (USI) of India, established in 1870.
• Purpose of USI: The USI was created to advance military knowledge and professional development among officers of the British Indian Army.
• Post-Independence Expansion (1986): The scope of the medal was expanded to include military expeditions and adventure activities, reflecting the changing nature of military service.
• Eligibility: The medal is awarded to all ranks (both serving and retired) of:Armed Forces,Territorial Army,Reserve Forces,Rashtriya Rifles&Assam Rifles
• Number of Awards: A total of 127 medals have been awarded to date, with 103 medals awarded prior to India’s independence.

Current Context: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released its report titled “Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under Pressure: Uncertainty Reshapes Global Economic Prospects”, highlighting significant challenges to global economic stability.​

Key Highlights:

• Global Growth Outlook: Projected to decelerate to 2.3% in 2025, down from 2.8% in 2024, indicating a shift toward recessionary conditions. ​
• Trade Dynamics: Late 2024 trade growth was driven by advance ordering before new tariffs; however, freight rates fell by 40% in early 2025, signaling a sharp decline in global trade activity. ​
• Policy Uncertainty: The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index reached its highest levels this century in early 2025, with concerns about shifting trade policies leading to financial turbulence. ​
• Development Finance Challenges: Official development assistance (ODA) is declining, with preliminary estimates suggesting an 18% drop from major donors between 2023 and 2025, jeopardizing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. ​
• Crisis for Developing Countries: Many developing countries face high debt, weak growth, and costly borrowing, with 35 out of 68 low-income countries in or near debt distress. ​
• South–South Trade: South–South trade now constitutes approximately one-third of global trade and is growing faster than the global average, especially within East and Southeast Asia.

Current Context: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently released reports indicating a significant slowdown in global economic growth for 2025.​

About

• Global Merchandise Trade Volume: Projected to decline by 0.2% in 2025, a sharp revision from earlier expectations of growth.​

Factors Contributing to Decline:

• S. Tariffs: Potential reciprocal tariffs could reduce global trade volume growth by 0.6 percentage points.
• Trade Policy Uncertainty: Widespread uncertainty may further decrease growth by 0.8 percentage point
• Worst-Case Scenario: If conditions worsen, trade could shrink by5% in 2025. ​

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.