CURRENT AFFAIRS
09 April, 2025
1. KASHMIR’S SPRING BLOOMS –
• Kashmir’s distinct agroclimatic conditions nurture a wide variety of endemic plants, especially spring blooms, which are crucial for the valley’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
• Distinct Agroclimatic Conditions: Kashmir’s altitudinal variations (1,600m to 4,500m) support diverse spring blooms like Colchicum luteum (veer kaum), Sternbergia vernalis (goul tour), and Viburnum grandiflorum (kulmansh) , thriving due to its harsh winters and mild springs.
• Ecological and Cultural Significance: These spring blooms provide vital ecosystem services by supporting pollinators essential for fruit tree pollination.
• They also have cultural significance, being used medicinally and deeply rooted in Kashmiri folklore.
• Threats: Unsustainable development, deforestation, and human encroachment threaten these spring blooms.
• Climate change is altering blooming patterns, causing premature flowering, disrupting natural seasonal cycles.
• Despite their importance, there are no dedicated conservation programs for spring blooms. Current protection comes from national parks like Salim Ali and wildlife sanctuaries like Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary.
2. SC VERDICT ON GOVERNORS’ POWERS OVER STATE BILLS –
• The Supreme Court (SC) of India, in the State of Tamil Nadu vs. Governor of Tamil Nadu, clarified that Governors must act on state bills in a time-bound manner, following the aid and advice of the council of ministers, as per Article 200, without independent discretion.
What is the SC’s Verdict on Governors’ Role in State Bills?
• Case Background: The Tamil Nadu Governor withheld assent to 10 Bills, delaying action under Article 200. The state government challenged this, citing constitutional violations and governance disruption.
• After the Governor withheld assent, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly re-enacted the Bills and sent them back. Instead of granting assent or returning them with comments, the Governor referred them to the President.
• SC’s Verdict: SC termed the Tamil Nadu Governor’s referral of re-enacted Bills to the President as “erroneous in law.”
• The Court ruled that there is no concept of “absolute veto” or “pocket veto” under Article 200 and stated that governors cannot indefinitely delay action on bills.
3. RBI MONETARY POLICY 2025: BI-MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS –
• The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has announced the outcome of its first policy review of the new financial year. RBI MPC voted unanimously for the repo rate to be reduced by 25 bps to 6%, effective immediately. The RBI MPC reduces the SDF rate to 5.75% and the MSF rate to 6.25%.
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its 54th meeting from April 7 to 9, 2025 under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India.
• The MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, and Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao attended the meeting. The remaining meetings for this year are scheduled for June 4–6, August 5–7, September 29–October 1, December 3–5, and February 4–6.
4. MADHAVPUR MELA INAUGURATED BY CHIEF MINISTER BHUPENDRA PATEL –
• The Madhavpur Mela, an annual fair celebrated in Madhavpur, Porbandar district, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel on April 6, 2025, marking the occasion of Ram Navami.
• This significant event commemorates the divine union of Lord Krishna of Dwarka and Rukmaniji of Arunachal Pradesh. The fair, which has gained national recognition since 2018, symbolizes cultural unity and devotion, bringing together traditions from different regions of India.
• The ceremony was graced by various dignitaries, including Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighting the festival’s growing significance as a cultural and religious landmark.
• Chief Minister Patel also inaugurated various pilgrimage facilities at the Rukmani Temple, underlining the government’s efforts to promote religious tourism and improve infrastructure in the region.
5. 10 YEARS OF PM MUDRA YOJANA –
• On 8th April 2025, India celebrates 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)—a flagship initiative launched in 2015 to fund the unfunded by offering collateral-free loans to micro and small enterprises.
• PMMY has democratized access to finance, transformed livelihoods, and shifted the economic narrative from job-seeking to job-creating, especially in semi-urban and rural India.
• Today, over 52 crore loans worth ₹32.61 lakh crore have been sanctioned under this transformative scheme, empowering entrepreneurs from all walks of life.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which state has reported the discovery of 2,000-year-old Megalithic relics in April 2025 ?
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Odisha
Q2. PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4) is a space research platform developed by which space organization ?
a) European Space Agency (ESA)
b) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
c) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
d) China National Space Administration (CNSA)
Q3. A rare long-snouted vine snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) has been rediscovered in which tiger reserve ?
a) Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
b) Bandipur Tiger Reserve
c) Kanha Tiger Reserve
d) Corbett Tiger Reserve
Q4. Consider the following statements about IUCN extinction categories:
1. “Extinct” species may still persist in extremely low numbers in inaccessible wild habitats.
2. “Least Concern” species have shown signs of population stress but are protected by law.
3. “Not Evaluated” refers to species that have not yet been formally assessed under IUCN criteria.
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Only Statement 3 is correct.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because “Extinct (EX)” means there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died, based on exhaustive surveys.
• Statement 2 is also incorrect. Least Concern (LC) species are those with stable or increasing populations, and while some may be protected, that is not a criterion for LC status.
• “Not Evaluated (NE)” simply means the species has not yet been assessed under IUCN’s global framework. This is different from DD (Data Deficient), where an evaluation has taken place, but data is lacking.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Tiger and its conservation:
1. It is the National Animal of India.
2. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
3. Maximum tiger population in India is currently found in Madhya Pradesh.
4. The Global Tiger Initiative is a UNDP-led effort for transboundary tiger conservation.
Which of the above statements are correct ?
a) 1, 3, and 4 only
b) 2, 3, and 4 only
c) 1, 2, and 4 only
d) 1, 2, and 3 only
Explanation-
• The tiger is India’s National Animal, symbolizing strength and biodiversity. It is protected under Appendix I of CITES, which prohibits international trade of wild tigers or their derivatives.
• As per the latest All India Tiger Estimation, Madhya Pradesh has surpassed Karnataka to host the maximum number of tigers. Statement 4 is incorrect.
• The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) was launched by the World Bank in 2008, not the UNDP, to coordinate tiger conservation across Asia. Thus, the correct answer is (a).
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
B | B | A | A | D |