Daily Current Affairs and GK | 6 and 7 April 2025

Topic: International News

1. President Droupadi Murmu will visit Portugal and Slovakia from April 7-10, 2025.

• She will meet with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. 
• She will also meet Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. 
• She will meet the President of the National Assembly, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco. 
• She will hold meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. 
• This will be the first visit by an Indian President to Portugal in 27 years. 
• The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of India-Portugal diplomatic relations. 
• It will also be the first Indian Presidential visit to Slovakia in 29 years. 
• Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and Euro is its currency.
• Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. Its currency is Euro.
• India Portugal relations:
  • India Portugal relations began in 1947. India and Portugal signed defence cooperation MoU in January 2017.
  • Portugal ranks 51st in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India.
• India–Slovakia relations:
  • India–Slovakia relations were established in 1921. An MoU on defence cooperation was signed between India and Slovakia in 1995.
  • They cooperate well in the Space sector. The first Slovak satellite (SKcube) was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in June 2017.

Topic: Geography

2. New Chola inscription found on Somagiri Hills near Madurai.

• A new inscription linked to Rajaraja Chola, recently discovered atop Somagiri hills in Melavalavu near Melur, Madurai district, is being hailed by historians as a significant archaeological find.
• This inscription probably dates from around 1,000 AD.
• The inscription begins with the honorific title – Raja Raja Mummudichola, a unique salutation found in the region known as the Pandya country.
• The inscription mentions the reign of Rajaraja Chola in the Pandya region and describes how a military commander named Veeranarayana Pallavanarayana captured the region and ruled here.
• It also talks about a man called Malaiyappa Sambu who tried to reach the spot by digging steps on the rock where the temple was built.
• Thamizhthaasan, a cultural ecologist with the Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation, and Professor P. Devi Arivu Selvam, a temple architect and sculpture researcher, recently discovered this inscription during a field study.
• R. Udhaya Kumar and T. Muthupandi, research assistants at the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research in Madurai, copied the inscription.
• Chola Empire:
  • Vijayalaya Chola, the founder of the Chola Empire, founded this dynasty in the 9th century.
  • The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of southern India.
  • Chola empire was extended between river Tungabhadra in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
  • Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I were the real architects of this dynasty.
  • Rajaraja I is famous for constructing a famous temple known as Rajarajeshwara or Brihadesvara temple located at Tanjore.
  • Rajaraja II built the Darasuram Temple.
  • Rajendra Chola III was the last Chola ruler.

Topic: International News

3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Sri Lanka.

• PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka is the first by a foreign head of government since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office in September 2024. 
• The visit highlights a mutual commitment to "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future" between India and Sri Lanka. 
• Modi and Dissanayake discussed various issues, including regional stability, energy collaboration, and development projects. 
• President Dissanayake conferred upon PM Modi the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian honors in Sri Lanka. 
• The two leaders also virtually launched the Sampur Power Project.
• It is an energy initiative aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka's energy security. 
• India’s assistance helped complete a temperature-controlled warehouse in Dambulla and the installation of solar systems on 5,000 religious buildings in Sri Lanka. 
• PM Modi met with Tamil political leaders during the visit. 
• The Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Colombo.
• Key announcements from the visit included India’s support for Sri Lanka’s Unique Digital Identity initiative and the conversion of 100 million US dollars in loans to grants. 
• A 2.4 billion Lankan rupee development package for the Eastern Province was pledged.
• The Maho-Omanthai railway line was inaugurated. 
• Modi urged the timely implementation of the 13th Amendment and the holding of provincial elections. 
• The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was a result of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord.
• It provides for the creation of provincial councils having legislative and executive powers in areas like health, education, and local government.
• India-Sri Lanka relations:
  • India-Sri Lanka relations is more than 2,500 years old.
  • India is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner and Sri Lanka is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia.
  • India exports machinery, textiles, chemicals, and agricultural products to Sri Lanka and imports tea, spices, and garments.
  • Fisheries dispute have been a recurring issue in India-Sri Lanka relations.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu and inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge on 7 April 2025. 

• New Pamban Rail Bridge connects Rameswaram to the mainland and
• Its inauguration coincided with the Ram Navami festival. 
• It is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, marking a significant engineering achievement. 
• PM Modi also visited the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram to perform darshan and pooja. 
• Modi laid the foundation and dedicate several rail and road projects worth over 8,300 crore rupees to the nation. 
• The New Pamban Rail Bridge has deep cultural significance, linked to the Ramayana and the construction of Ram Setu.
• As per the Ramayana, the construction of Ram Setu was initiated from Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. 
• The bridge is built with stainless steel reinforcements, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints for long-lasting durability. 
• It is designed to support two rail tracks, ensuring it can handle future demands.

Topic: Defence

5. INS Sunayna has been flagged off by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the Indian Ocean ship SAGAR at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka on 5 April 2025. 

• SAGAR stands for ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region.’ 
• It is an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation with nations in the Indian Ocean region. 
• The event marked the 10th anniversary of the SAGAR initiative. It also coincided with National Maritime Day. 
• Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR represents India’s commitment to peace, prosperity, and shared security in the maritime domain. 
• INS Sunayna is Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel. It will sail from Karwar as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region).
• The ship is carrying 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations.
• INS Sunayna will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. A MoU has been signed between Union Health Ministry and the Delhi Government.

• The purpose of MoU is to roll out Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Delhi. 
• The program offers 5 lakh rupees in health coverage per family annually. 
• The Delhi government will add another 5 lakh rupees. This will increase the total to 10 lakh rupees per family each year. 
• As per Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, over 6,50,000 eligible families in Delhi will benefit from the program. 
• He said that the share of health treatment costs was 62% in 2014. This has reduced to 38%. 
• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the distribution of health cards for the scheme will start on the 10th of this month. 
• The Delhi government has allocated over 2,100 crore rupees for the scheme. 
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched in 2018.
• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health coverage program in the world, covering secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. 
• The scheme benefits over 12 crore families from vulnerable backgrounds, reaching approximately 55 crore people, who represent the bottom 40% of the population.

Topic: Important Days

7. World Health Day: 7 April

• World Health Day is celebrated globally on 7 April to raise awareness about global health issues.
• On this day in 1948, World Health Organization was founded.
• This year, the theme of World Health Day is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”.
• This year, World Health Day will launch a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health.
• The campaign is to reduce preventable deaths and improve health outcomes for women and infants.
• Each year, 300,000 women die from pregnancy complications, and 4 million babies die or are stillborn, many preventable. This equals 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.
• Current trends show 80% of countries won’t meet 2030 targets for reducing maternal and newborn deaths.

Topic: Geography

8. 16 killed in US after deadly storms hit Central-Eastern part of the country. 

• 16 people died in a violent storm that hit central eastern USA, extending from Texas to Ohio.
• National Weather Service has issued flash flood emergencies for different areas.
• Flash floods:
  • It refers to sudden and rapid floods that occur within a short duration of heavy rainfall or other intense water accumulation events.
  • Factors responsible for flash floods include heavy rainfall, dam failure, ice or debris jams or sudden release of water from glacial lakes.
  • Flash floods are highly intense and short-lived events while normal floods typically develop gradually over a period of days or weeks as a result of sustained rainfall or melting of snow.
  • They are localized events that occur due to intense rainfall or other events leading to quick collection of water.
  • Early warning systems can play an important role in mitigating the impact of flash floods.

Topic: Art and Culture

9. Madhavpur Ghed fair is being organized in Gujarat.

• Madhavpur Ghed fair, annual five day fair, is being organized at Madhavpur in the Porbandar district of Gujarat.
• It is observed every year to celebrate the union of Krishna and Rukmini, uniting the culture of Western and Northeastern India.
• The festival realizes the PM’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.
• Gujarat Tourism and the Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities are jointly organizing this event.
• This year, cultural programmes are also being organized in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Dwarka and Somnath as part of the celebration.
• Rann Utsav, International Kite Festival, Modhera Dance festival, Bhavnath Fair, etc, are some other fairs and festival organised in Gujarat.

Topic: Sports

10. Hitesh Gulia wins Gold medal at World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025.

• Hitesh Gulia won the Gold Medal in the men’s 70 kg category at the World Boxing Cup 2025 held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
• He was handed a walkover as his opponent Odel Kamara of England was injured.
• Another Indian Boxer Abhinash Jamwal won the silver medal at the men’s 65 kg category as he lost to Yuri Reis of Brazil with 0-5 in the finals.
• Earlier, India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin (60kg) and Vishal (90kg) won the bronze medals.
• The Indian contingent won a total of six medals, including a gold, a silver and 4 bronze medals.
• This year three World Boxing Cups are scheduled- one is hosted by Brazil, and the other two will be hosted by Kazakhstan and India in June-July and November, respectively.

(Source: News on AIR)