Current Affair MCQ for 2025-04-20

Notes: The Indian Navy hosted the 3rd edition of its Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium called Meghayan-25. Meghayan-25 was organized to mark the formation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It also celebrated World Meteorological Day 2025, which is observed every year on 23rd March. The theme of Meghayan-25 was ‘Closing the Early Warning Gap Together’. This theme was aligned with the World Meteorological Day 2025 focus. The aim was to improve early warning systems for better climate and disaster preparedness. The event emphasized the need for global cooperation in weather monitoring and forecasting.

Notes: Bank of Maharashtra, a public sector bank, has become the first bank to install an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on a train in India. The ATM was installed on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express. This is the first time an ATM has been introduced on an Indian Railway train. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this update through his social media account. According to Indian Railways, this was a pilot project aimed at improving passenger convenience. The ATM was placed in a modified pantry car cubicle at the rear end of the coach. The cubicle has a shutter door for safety and easy access. If successful, this facility will be expanded to other trains. The initiative is part of the Indian Railway’s Innovative and Non-Revenue Ideas Scheme.

Notes: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways called the breakthrough in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel a historic milestone. The tunnel is a 531-kilometre long, two-lane bi-directional tunnel with an escape passage. It is located on the Dharasu-Yamunotri section in Uttarakhand, connecting Silkyara and Barkot. The tunnel is part of National Highway-134 (NH-134), earlier known as NH-94. It is being built under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode.

Notes: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched the e-SEHAT App to improve healthcare access in the Union Territory. The app was developed by the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department. e-SEHAT stands for Electronic Solutions for Enabling Health Access Through Technology. It aims to serve both patients and healthcare providers like doctors and paramedics. The app allows users to access healthcare services in public and private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir. It provides details on doctor availability, appointment booking, diagnostic and surgical services, teleconsultation, and telemedicine.

Notes: The Philippines confirmed the deployment of the United States anti-ship missile system NMESIS for this year’s Balikatan military exercises. NMESIS stands for Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. It is developed for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to support land-to-sea missile attacks. It uses the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), the latest anti-ship missile of the United States Navy. The missile is mounted on an unmanned version of the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The vehicle platform is called Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires. Oshkosh Defense supplies the ROGUE Fires vehicle. The Naval Strike Missile is jointly made by Raytheon Missiles and Defense from the United States and Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace from Norway.

Notes: The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy. The exercise is planned to take place around the end of May 2025 in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The main aim is to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination between European forces and the Indian Navy. The proposal comes due to rising piracy and instability in the Red Sea region, especially near the Horn of Africa. Unlike regular Passage Exercises (PASSEX), this drill will include tactical manoeuvres, counter-piracy actions, and communication training. Operation ATALANTA, launched in 2008, is the European Union’s mission to fight piracy near Somalia.

Notes: The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has approved the declaration of DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve. It is the first wetland linked to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to receive such protection. The 30-acre lake is a key feeding and resting site for flamingos during high tide. A committee was formed after 17 flamingos died due to blocked tidal inlets in 2023. About 60 percent of the algae-filled lake has been cleared, helping flamingos return. Experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) warned that wetland loss may push birds near Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), raising bird strike risks.

Notes: Scientists have found strong signs of possible extraterrestrial life on the exoplanet K2-18b, located 124 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation. This is the second and more promising detection of life-related chemicals in the planet’s atmosphere. The findings were made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the most powerful space observatory, built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). A team from Cambridge University, led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, studied the planet’s atmosphere. They found chemical traces of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS). On Earth, these gases are produced only by marine phytoplankton and some bacteria. This raises the possibility of biological activity on K2-18b.

Notes: The classical Indian texts Natyashastra by Bharat Muni and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita have been added to the Memory of the World Register by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). This announcement was made by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 18 April 2025. With this, India now has a total of 14 inscriptions in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. UNESCO’s Executive Board met in Paris, France, on 17 April 2025 and approved 74 new entries. These 74 documentaries come from 72 countries and four international organisations. The new entries include topics like the scientific revolution, women’s historical contributions, and global cooperation.

Notes: World Heritage Day, also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed on April 18 each year. It aims to promote the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The day has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1983 and is organized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The theme for 2025 is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts,” emphasizing preparedness and resilience.