Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 April 2025

Topic: Sports

1. At the ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil secured gold medal in men’s 10m air rifle shooting.

• Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil is former world champion. This is his 2nd individual gold medal at an ISSF World Cup.
• Earlier, he won 10-meter air rifle title at the 2023 Cairo edition.
• Marcelo Julian Gutierrez won bronze with 230.1.
• India jointly leads the medal tally together with China.
• India and China picked up two gold, one silver, and one bronze till now.
• USA also won two golds and came at third place.
• Although Arjun Babuta made to the final, He missed top three in Buenos Aires.
• India’s Kiran Ankush Jadhav finished sixth. Patil’s victory was India’s fourth medal at the first ISSF World Cup of the season.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. Creation of Global Climate Council has been proposed by Brazil ahead of COP 30.

• As proposed by Brazil, it would be a new international body to accelerate global climate action.
• This year’s UN climate conference (Conference of the Parties – COP30) is scheduled to be held in Belem, a city in northern Brazil, in November 2025.
• Brazil proposed “Climate Change Council” under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The aim of the council would be to fast-track decisions made at COP meetings.
• Its aim would be to better coordinate international efforts, and make climate action more effective.

Topic: International News

3. The US Supreme Court rejected the plea of ​​26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to stop his extradition to India.

• The United States Supreme Court has denied the plea of Tahawwur Rana to stay his extradition to India, where he is wanted for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
• The Supreme Court website showed that Rana's application was “distributed for Conference of 4/4/2025” but was eventually rejected.
• The plea was filed by Rana after his extradition was approved by President Donald Trump following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February this year.
• On February 27, Rana had filed an “Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus”, through Associate Justice Elena Kagan.
• Rana claimed that extraditing him to India could lead to torture, citing his background as a Pakistani-origin Muslim.
• Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is accused of helping plan the 26/11 attacks, which killed over 174 people in Mumbai.
• He was convicted in the US for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistan-based terrorist group behind the attacks.
• Rana allegedly assisted his associate David Coleman Headley (Daood Gilani), a US citizen, by providing false credentials to scout targets in India.
• Headley was arrested in 2009 by US authorities and testified about Rana’s involvement in planning the attack.
• Rana is to be extradited based on the India-US Extradition Treaty signed by the two countries in 1997.
• The India-US Extradition Treaty is a bilateral agreement that allows the two countries to extradite individuals facing criminal charges or convictions.

Topic: International News

4. Trump confirmed that U.S. and Iran begin direct nuclear talks.

• On April 7, 2025, US President Donald Trump confirmed that direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran on Iran's nuclear program have officially begun.
• Trump told reporters the direct talks would begin on April 12.
• He stressed that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
• Trump also warned that Iran would be in "great danger" if diplomatic efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions failed.
• During his previous presidency (2017-2021), Trump withdrew the US from the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, which was negotiated during President Barack Obama's administration.
• The Trump administration had also imposed strict sanctions on Iran, which increased tensions between the two countries.
• The US and Iran have had no direct diplomatic relations since 1980.
• Relations were severed after Iranian revolutionaries stormed the US embassy in Tehran and held 53 diplomat’s hostage for 444 days.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. On the completion of 10 years of PMMY, PM Modi interacted with the beneficiaries in New Delhi on 8 April.

• India celebrated 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), launched in 2015 to provide collateral-free loans to micro enterprises and small businesses, particularly those without access to formal credit.
• Since its inception, PMMY has disbursed over 52 crore loans worth Rs 32.61 lakh crore, helping countless small-scale businesses emerge and grow in rural and urban India.
• 68% of Mudra loan recipients are women, indicating the important role the scheme plays in promoting women-led enterprises across the country.
• Between FY16 and FY25, the PM Mudra Yojana disbursement amount per woman grew by 13% year-on-year to Rs 62,679, while the incremental deposit amount per woman grew by 14% year-on-year to Rs 95,269.
• Half of all Mudra accounts are held by SC, ST, and OBC individuals, and 11% by minorities, reflecting the scheme’s inclusive nature and role in bringing socially disadvantaged groups into the financial mainstream.
• Credit to MSMEs grew from Rs 8.51 lakh crore in FY14 to Rs 27.25 lakh crore in FY24, and is projected to cross Rs 30 lakh crore in FY2025.
• The share of MSME loans in the bank's total credit increased from 15.8% in FY 2014 to about 20% in FY24.
• The proportion of Kishor loans (₹50,000–₹5 lakh) grew from 5.9% in FY16 to 44.7% in FY25, showing a clear transition from micro to more established small businesses.
• Tarun category loans (₹5–₹10 lakh) are also on the rise.
• The average size of loans has almost tripled – from Rs 38,000 in FY16 to Rs 72,000 in FY23 and Rs 1.02 lakh in FY25, indicating increasing confidence in borrowers and scaling up of enterprises.
• Tamil Nadu leads with loan disbursals of ₹3.23 lakh crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Bihar.
• Jammu & Kashmir tops among UTs, with ₹45,815 crore disbursed across over 21 lakh accounts.
• Under the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA), the scheme provides collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh through banks, NBFCs, and MFIs.
• It aims to fund the unfunded and build a self-reliant grassroots economy through inclusive finance.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. ‘City Key of Honour’ of Lisbon was conferred upon President Droupadi Murmu.

• On April 7, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the prestigious ‘City Key of Honour’ of Lisbon City by the Mayor of Lisbon during a ceremonial event at Lisbon’s historic City Hall.
• The “Key to the City” of Lisbon is the highest honour awarded by the City of Lisbon.
• This is the first state visit by an Indian President to Portugal in 27 years, the last being President K R Narayanan's visit in 1998.
• President Murmu is on a historic four-day state visit to Portugal and Slovakia from April 7 to 10.
• The visit comes during a milestone year as India and Portugal commemorate 50 years of formal diplomatic relations, which are evolving into a forward-looking, multifaceted partnership.
• To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, the President also released a commemorative stamp showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage that unites India and Portugal.
• President Murmu appreciated Portugal’s efforts in strengthening India-EU ties.
• She highlighted that the first India-EU Summit was held in 2000, during Portugal’s EU Presidency.
• In May 2021, the historic “India-EU Plus 27” Leadership Summit was held in Portugal, once again under the Portuguese Presidency.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Telangana

7. A decision to drop the charges against University of Hyderabad students has been taken by the Telangana government.

• These students were involved in protests over tree cutting on 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli near university. 
• Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka instructed the police to dismiss the cases filed against the students. 
• A three-member ministerial panel was formed to address the land dispute. 
• The University of Hyderabad Teachers’ Association and civil society groups presented a list of demands to the committee. 
• Their requests included removing police from the University of Hyderabad campus and lifting the prohibitory orders. 
• They also asked for the charges against the protesting students to be dropped. 
• The groups sought the immediate release of two students who are in judicial custody. 
• Additionally, they urged that faculty and researchers be allowed to conduct a damage assessment survey on the land. 
• The three-member ministerial panel clarified that police presence was necessary. 
• This was to protect the 400 acres of land as required by Supreme Court orders.
• The ministerial committee comprised Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers D Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
• Kancha Gachibowli land issue:
  • University of Hyderabad students are protesting the auction of a 400-acre land parcel, Kancha Gachibowli.
  • They claim the land belongs to the university. The land was originally part of the university's 2,324 acres.
  • Over time, the government claimed ownership of the land. Legal disputes have arisen over its ownership.

Topic: Art and Culture

8. The renovated tribal museum at ITDA headquarters in Bhadrachalam has been formally inaugurated by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.

• Bhadrachalam is a town of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
• Governor commended the Bhadrachalam Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) for preserving and showcasing tribal cultural heritage.    
• He toured the museum. He interacted with tribal individuals. 
• The tribal people displayed their handicrafts in a setting designed to resemble a tribal village. 
• The museum has been renovated by ITDA.
• The renovation aims to provide insight into the tribal lifestyle and cultural history. 
• Celestial Coronation (Pattabhishekam) of Lord Rama was carried out at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam. 
• The ceremony took place in Mithila Stadium within the temple grounds. 
• Priests moved the festival deities from the main temple to the mandapam. 
• Governor Jishnu Dev Varma participated in the Celestial Coronation. 
• He presented Pattu Vastralu to the deity, following temple customs. 
• Thousands of devotees attended the Celestial Coronation.
• Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Rama and located on banks of Godavari River.
• It is located in the town of Bhadrachalam in east Telangana, India. It is also revered as Dakshina Ayodhya.

Topic: State News/Haryana

9. Three-language formula for classes 9 and 10 starting in 2025 has been introduced by Haryana School Education Board, Bhiwani.

• The board has decided to introduce the three-language formula in classes 9th and 10th in all affiliated government and non-government schools.
• The decision will be implemented for class 9 from the 2025-26 academic year. 
• It will be applied to class 10 from the 2026-27 academic year. 
• Board Chairman Prof. (Dr.) Pawan Kumar made the announcement that under National Education Policy-2020, students in these classes will now study seven subjects. 
• Six of these subjects will be compulsory, and one will be optional. 
• Class 9 students must choose one language from Sanskrit, Urdu, or Punjabi. 
• This will be chosen as a compulsory language in addition to Hindi and English. 
• Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, class 10 students will also have to take an extra compulsory subject. 
• The Education Board has sent an official letter about these changes to all District Education Officers in the state.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. More than 1,700 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches are currently running across the country under the Palna Scheme.

• As per government, 1,761 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches are operating across the country under Palna Scheme.
• The Palna Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme. 
• It provides high-quality crèche services in a safe environment for children aged six months to six years. 
• The funding for this scheme is shared between the central and state governments. 
• The ratio is 60:40, except in Northeast and special category states. 
• In Northeast and special category states, the ratio is 90:10. 
• The scheme includes two types of crèches: standalone crèches and Anganwadi-cum-crèches. 
• The Maternity Benefit Act has been amended by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 
• It now requires all establishments with 50 or more employees to provide a crèche facility. 
• The Palna Scheme ensures that all mothers can access crèche facilities regardless of their employment status. 
• As per Ministry of Women and Child Development, 1,284 standalone crèches are operational across India.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development aims to set up 17,000 new Anganwadi-cum-Crèches under the scheme in 2024-25. 
• So far, 11,395 Anganwadi-cum-Crèches have been approved. 
• These are located across 34 states and union territories.
• In 2022, government reorganized and renamed National Creche Scheme as Palna Scheme under sub scheme ‘Samarthya’ of ‘Mission Shakti’. 

(Source: PIB)