Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

On which date is National Civil Services Day observed every year?

(A) April 15th
(B) April 21st
(C) May 1st
(D) October 2nd

Show Answer

Answer: B)

Observed on: Celebrated every year on April 21 to honor the role of civil servants.
Organized by: Government of India, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
Significance: Commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s address to India’s first batch of civil servants in 1947 and honors excellence in public administration.

The Silkyara Tunnel is part of which larger infrastructure project?

(A) Atal Tunnel Project
(B) Char Dham All-Weather Road Project
(C) National Highways Development Project
(D) Himalayan Expressway Project

Show Answer

Answer: B)

Current context:Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand will be named after Baba Baukhnag.

Key Details

Type: Bi-directional, double-lane tunnel
Length: 4.531 km
Location: On the Yamunotri National Highway, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand
Project: Part of the Char Dham All-Weather Road Project
Impact: Will reduce the distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri by approximately 25 km
Baba Baukhnag: A revered local deity worshipped by communities in and around Uttarkashi district,Considered a guardian spirit of the mountains.

Read the following statements:
Statement 1: The Shinkansen trains will help India build the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, which is set to be completed by 2030.
Statement 2: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is 80% funded by JICA through a low-interest loan.
Which of the following is the correct option?

(A) Only Statement 1 is correct
(B) Only Statement 2 is correct
(C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct
(D) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are incorrect

Show Answer

Answer: B)

Current context: Japan will provide two Shinkansen trains (E5 and E3 models) to India for testing as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, marking a significant step in India’s high-speed rail ambitions.

Key Points

Shinkansen: Japan’s high-speed rail system, operational since 1964, is known for speed (up to 320 km/h), efficiency, and safety.
Models: The E5 model is the latest, reaching speeds of 320 km/h, while the E3 model still incorporates advanced safety features.
Collaboration: Japan will deliver the trains in early 2026, which will be used for testing and gathering data on environmental conditions to inform the development of future E10 trains (to be introduced by 2030).
Financial Aspects: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is 80% funded by a low-interest loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), covering an estimated cost of8 trillion yen.
Historical Context: The Shinkansen revolutionized rail travel in Japan, connecting Tokyo and Osaka in record time, and inspired high-speed rail systems in countries like China, France, and Spain.
Global Influence: The technology has spurred global high-speed rail projects, and China now boasts the world’s longest high-speed rail network.
Challenges & Innovations: Japan’s Shinkansen trains are engineered to withstand seismic activity in earthquake-prone regions, contributing to a perfect safety record.

Which of the following is NOT true regarding Retail Inflation in India?

(A) Retail inflation dropped to 4.6% in FY 2024–25, the lowest since 2018–19.
(B) Retail inflation refers to the rise in prices of goods/services consumed by households and is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
(C) The CPI is calculated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
(D) The base year for CPI calculation in India is 2012.

Show Answer

Answer: C)

Current Context: India’s retail inflation dropped to 4.6% in FY 2024–25, the lowest since 2018–19.

About Retail Inflation

Retail Inflation refers to the rise in prices of goods/services consumed by households.
It is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
CPI reflects the weighted average price of a basket of essential goods and services.
Movements in CPI affect purchasing power, interest rates, and monetary policy.

CPI in India

Calculated by: National Statistical Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Base Year:

Consider the following statements regarding Balikatan 2025:
1. Balikatan is primarily focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and military coordination between the US and the Philippines.
2. Japan will participate for the first time with 150 personnel from the Japan Self-Defense Forces and deploy a Mogami-class frigate.
3. The US will enhance its anti-ship capability with the inclusion of the NMESIS system, which is a part of its naval forces.
4. The exercise will specifically focus on defending Palawan and Luzon islands, with participation from over 20,000 troops.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(A) 1, 2, and 3 only
(B) 2, 3, and 4 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, and 4 only

Show Answer

Answer: A)

Current Context: The Philippines will host the Balikatan 2025 joint military exercise from April 21 to May 9, 2025.

About the Exercise –

Balikatan means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog.
Initiated in 2002, primarily between the US and the Philippines.
Focus areas:Humanitarian Assistance,Disaster Relief,Military Coordination & Readiness
Nations participating: United States, Japan, Australia.
Japan to formally participate for the first
Drills will focus on defending Palawan and Luzon islands , near the South China Sea and Luzon Strait.

Japan’s Role in 2025:

150 personnel from Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).
Deployment of a Mogami-class frigate.
US Military Deployment:Inclusion of NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) – enhances anti-ship capability.
Participation Size: Around 15,000–16,000 troops.
Observer Nations: Czech Republic, Poland, others.

Which of the following is true about the Taurus missiles?

(A) The Taurus missile has a range of 500 km.
(B) The Taurus missile is manufactured by the Russian military.
(C) The Taurus missile uses two navigation systems.
(D) The Taurus missile can only operate in daylight conditions.

Show Answer

Answer: A)

Current context Russia has stated that any Ukrainian strike using German Taurus missiles will be viewed as direct participation by Germany in the war.

Key Details

Type: Long-range cruise missile
Manufacturer: Used by German military (Bundeswehr)
Speed: Up to 1,170 km/h
Range: Effective at 500 km
Flight Altitude: Capable of flying at 35 meters above the ground, evading radar detection

Capabilities:

Operates in day, night, and all-weather conditions
Designed for terrain-following flight to avoid detection

Technology:

Mobile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Category II weapon
Uses four independent navigation systems for precision
Equipped with satellite-supported GPS that is jam-resistant
Purpose: Engineered to penetrate thick, hardened air defences through low-level flight

What is K2-18b, which has been mentioned in recent news?

(A) A super-Earth exoplanet located 120 light-years away, with potential signs of biosignatures detected in its atmosphere.
(B) A gas giant exoplanet situated 50 light-years away, known for its massive size and lack of atmosphere.
(C) A habitable-zone exoplanet 8.6 times the mass of Earth, orbiting a red dwarf star, with no signs of biosignatures.
(D) A rocky exoplanet located 200 light-years away, with an atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Show Answer

Answer: A)

Current context: K2-18b, an exoplanet located 120 light-years away, has shown signs of biosignatures.

Key Details

Gases Detected: Dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), gases linked to biological processes, have been detected for the first time beyond our solar system.
Potential Link to Life: These gases are produced by ocean organisms on Earth, suggesting a warm ocean environment on K2-18b.
Significance: The discovery has sparked theories about extraterrestrial life but remains inconclusive.

About K2-18b

Super Earth: 6 times the mass of Earth.
Habitable Zone: Positioned in a region where liquid water could exist.
Orbit: Orbits a red dwarf star, smaller than the Sun.
Exoplanets Discovery: Over 5,800 exoplanets discovered since the 1990s.
Hycean Worlds: Hypothetical planets with oceans and hydrogen-rich atmospheres, potentially suitable for microbial life.

Which two works have been recently included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register?

(A) Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra
(B) Vedas and Upanishads
(C) Mahabharata and Ramayana
(D) Manusmriti and Arthashastra

Show Answer

Answer: a)

Current context: The Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register on April 17, 2025, marking a major recognition of India’s rich cultural heritage.

This brings the total number of Indian inscriptions in the list to

Key Points

UNESCO Memory of the World Register: A prestigious list of documentary heritage collections, showcasing significant cultural and historical documents globally.
New Additions: 74 new collections, including the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra, are added, making the total number of inscriptions 570.
Global Recognition: The inclusion is a recognition of India’s timeless wisdom and culture, especially the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical and spiritual guide, and Natyashastra, a foundational treatise on performance art
Significance: The Gita has been translated into around 80 languages, while the Natyashastra remains one of the most comprehensive texts on theatre and performing arts.

Which city will host the cricket events at the 2028 Olympics?

(A) Los Angeles
(B) San Francisco
(C) Pomona
(D) Pasadena

Show Answer

Answer: c)

Current Context: The South California city of Pomona will host the cricket event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking cricket’s return to the Olympics after 128 years.

Key Highlights

Venue: Fairgrounds, Pomona, California.
Format: T20 format; 6 teams each in men’s and women’s categories.
Other sports added: Baseball/Softball, Flag Football, Lacrosse (Sixes), and Squash.

Historical relevance:

Last played in 1900 Paris Olympics.
T20 cricket featured in Asian Games (2010, 2014, 2023) and Commonwealth Games 2022 (Women’s event).

Which medical institutions in Himachal Pradesh will have District Integrated Public Health Laboratories (DIPHLs)?

(A) IGMC Shimla and Zonal Hospital Dharamshala
(B) District Hospital Una and Regional Hospital Solan
(C) JLNGMC Chamba and District Hospital Hamirpur
(D) CH Palampur and CH Bilaspur

Show Answer

Answer: c)

Current Context:Himachal Pradesh government has allocated ₹193.75 crore to boost healthcare through Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and District Integrated Public Health Laboratories (DIPHLs).

Key Details

Critical Care Blocks (CCBs):

Location: 50-bedded units at PHC Swahan (Bilaspur) & Civil Hospital Rohru (Shimla).
Infrastructure: Emergency services, ICUs, HDUs, isolation beds, OTs, dialysis units, labs.
Functionality: Operate regularly but can be isolated during health emergencies like COVID-19.
District Integrated Public Health Laboratories (DIPHLs):
Approved at: Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Govt. Medical College (Chamba) & District Hospital–Hamirpur.
Facilities: Pathology, haematology, cytology, biochemistry, microbiology under one roof.
Staffing: 1 pathologist, 1 microbiologist, 1 biochemist, 11 lab techs, 1 data entry operator, 2 sanitation

Additional Approval:

Equipment for mother & child hospital wings at:Kamla Nehru Hospital (Shimla),Regional Hospital (Una)
&Civil Hospital (Sundernagar)