Current Affair MCQ for 2025-04-12

Notes: The 9th Global Technology Summit was inaugurated in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on 10 April 2025. It is a three-day event from 10 to 12 April and is India’s main platform to discuss geo-technology. The Global Technology Summit brings together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society from India and other countries. They discuss how technology is changing and how it affects global politics. The summit aims to build a shared approach that supports innovation while addressing everyone’s concerns. The theme of this edition is “Sambhavna,” which means possibility.

Notes: The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to reduce import dependence and promote self-reliance in critical minerals. The mission supports India’s clean energy goals by ensuring a steady supply of key raw materials. Critical minerals are important for making modern technologies like batteries, electronics, and renewable energy systems. These minerals are also vital for national security and economic development. They are called “critical” because their supply is limited or controlled by few countries, creating risks. Their importance can change over time based on new technologies and global supply-demand shifts.

Notes: A study in Madagascar found that hantavirus is carried only by black rats, also called Rattus rattus, in rural areas. These rats came from Asia and were introduced to Madagascar between the 10th and 14th centuries, spreading widely since then. Researchers tested around 2,000 animals, but no native rodents, bats, or other small animals had the virus. Hantavirus is a rare but deadly virus spread by infected rodents. It transmits through contact with rodent urine, feces, or saliva, mainly through air particles or direct contact. Human-to-human spread is extremely rare, so environmental exposure is the key risk.

Notes: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by the Prime Minister, approved a ₹63,000-crore deal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy. Earlier, India planned to buy 126 jets under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender in 2007, but it was cancelled in 2015. A 2016 deal brought 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), delivered from 2019 to 2022. The new deal includes 22 Rafale-M single-seater jets for aircraft carriers and 4 twin-seater trainers for practice. These jets will fly from INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter made by Dassault Aviation. It can fly at Mach 1.8 and has a combat range of over 1000 kilometers, useful for various missions like air combat, ground attacks, and naval strikes.

Notes: The National Tribal Youth Festival is celebrated in Mizoram at the State Tribal Resource Centre, Kelsih, near Aizawl, starting from April 8. It is a four-day festival held to mark the 150th birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. The festival aims to honour tribal heroes and inspire patriotism among the youth and the general public. Top Mizo artists and members of the Mizo Zaimi Insuikhawm (MZI) are performing at the event. Cultural shows by the Mizo Cultural Organisation and other groups showcase a “Mosaic of Cultures.” Artists like Imnainla Jamir from Nagaland and Vawnchawi Vaiphei from Manipur are also part of the celebrations.

Notes: The Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) hosts the second edition of the STREE (Safety, Training, Respect, Empowerment and Equality) Summit to empower women in safety and security. The summit aims to tackle key safety challenges faced by women and promote a culture of respect, equality, and empowerment. The event includes panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops. Experts like lawyers, journalists, and health professionals will share insights to improve women’s safety and support their entrepreneurship.

Notes: Health authorities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have issued a public alert after a rise in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, raising fears of contamination in air conditioning systems. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, usually found in natural water bodies but can also grow in man-made systems like cooling towers. The bacteria can lead to two illnesses: Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a mild flu-like illness. Common symptoms include cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion or diarrhea. It spreads by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not from person to person. There is no vaccine, but antibiotic treatment is effective once diagnosed.

Notes: Recently, bioluminescent blue waves appeared in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala, drawing tourists but causing concerns about environmental degradation among ecologists and fishers. Bioluminescence is the natural light produced by organisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae when coastal waters are disturbed. The main cause of this glow is Noctiluca scintillans, a type of plankton known as “sea sparkle”. This glow happens due to chemical reactions in parts called scintillons, and it is usually blue but can appear red or brown depending on the plankton’s concentration. The phenomenon is most commonly seen between March and May, known locally as “Kavaru” in Malayalam.

Notes: World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on April 11 to spread awareness about Parkinson’s Disease, a brain disorder that worsens over time and affects movement and coordination. The day was established in 1997 by Parkinson’s Europe and the World Health Organization (WHO) to honour Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the disease in 1817. Parkinson’s Disease affects over 10 million people globally, with nearly 1 million cases in India. The 2025 theme focuses on early diagnosis, understanding symptoms, and managing lifestyle for better outcomes.

Notes: India recently showcased the BM-04 missile at the Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 defense exhibition in Hyderabad, highlighting its growing strength in conventional counterforce weapons. The BM-04 is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is 10.2 meters long, 1.2 meters in diameter, weighs 11,500 kg, and carries a 500 kg conventional warhead. With a range of 1,500 km and 30-meter circular error probability (CEP), it uses a two-stage solid-fuel system. It is canisterized and launched from a six-wheel indigenous transport erector launcher (TEL). It features a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for evasive flight paths and can be upgraded regularly to face evolving threats.