April 2025 Current Affairs Notes UPSC, SSC, Railways, and other competitive exams


1. Separation of Powers

  • Meaning: Division of government powers into Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.

  • Origin: Aristotle’s classification – deliberative, magisterial, and judicial functions.

  • Modern Theory: Propounded by Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws (1748).

2. Assent to State Bills

  • Article 200: Governor may – Grant Assent, Withhold, Return (except Money Bills), or Reserve for President.

  • Article 201: President can – Grant, Withhold, or Return (no obligation to assent even after reconsideration).

3. States’ Demand for Autonomy

  • Key Initiatives:

    • Inter-State Council (Art. 263).

    • Tax devolution increased (32% → 42%).

    • GST Council.

    • Reduced centrally sponsored schemes (130 → 75 → aim 50).

    • 73rd & 74th Amendments – Panchayats & Municipalities.

4. SVAMITVA Scheme (5 Years)

5. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha

6. Anti-Defection Law

  • Introduced: 52nd Amendment, 1985 (Tenth Schedule).

  • Key Judgments:

    • Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992) – Judicial review allowed.

    • Ravi S. Naik v. UOI (1994) – Speaker must act impartially.

    • 2020 Karnataka case – Suggestion to move power to independent tribunal.

7. Indus Waters Treaty (1960)

  • Between: India & Pakistan (mediated by World Bank).

  • Allocation: India – Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; Pakistan – Indus, Jhelum, Chenab.

  • Dispute resolution: Commission → Neutral Expert → Court of Arbitration.

8. Shimla Agreement (1972)

  • Signed after 1971 War.

  • Key Points: Bilateralism, normalization, LoC recognition, sovereignty respect.

9. String of Pearls vs Necklace of Diamonds

  • China’s strategy: Ports in Gwadar, Hambantota, Chittagong, Myanmar, Djibouti.

  • India’s counter: Bases in Chabahar, Oman, Singapore; SAGAR, QUAD, Act East.

10. Rare Earth Elements (REE)

  • Definition: 17 elements (high density & conductivity).

  • Examples: Cerium, Dysprosium, Europium, Lanthanum.

  • Sources: Bastnasite, Monazite.

11. India–UAE Relations

  • UAE: 4th largest oil source, 2nd largest LNG/LPG source.

  • UAE: 3rd largest trading partner.

  • Landmark: BAPS Mandir inaugurated.

12. BIMSTEC

  • Formed: 1997.

  • Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

  • Secretariat: Dhaka.

13. Indian Diaspora

  • PIO: Foreign citizens of Indian origin.

  • OCI: Post-2015 merged scheme.

  • NRI: Indian citizens abroad.

14. Sir Creek Dispute

  • 96-km estuary between Gujarat (India) & Sindh (Pakistan).

  • India’s Stand: Thalweg Principle.

15. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)

  • Launched: 2015.

  • Loan Categories:

    • Shishu: Up to ₹50,000.

    • Kishor: ₹50,001–₹5 lakh.

    • Tarun: ₹5–10 lakh.

    • Tarun Plus: ₹10–20 lakh.

16. One State, One RRB

  • Objective: Strengthen credit delivery & financial inclusion.

  • Benefits: Larger capital base, digital infra, rural lending boost.

17. India’s External Debt (2024–25)

  • Rise: 10.7% (valuation effect of USD).

  • Debt-to-GDP: 19.1%.

  • Stable debt service ratio.

18. MoSPI CAPEX Survey

  • Conducted by: NSO.

  • Highlight: Private Capex +66% (FY22–FY25).

  • Manufacturing: 48% share.

19. Coastal Shipping Bill 2025

  • Replaces Part XIV of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

  • Mandatory license for foreign vessels.

  • National Database for Coastal Shipping.

20. New Steel Policy 2025

  • Mandates domestic steel preference (>₹5 lakh).

  • Requires 50% Domestic Value Addition.

21. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)

  • Meaning: Banks must hold HQLAs for 30-day stress.

  • Origin: Basel III norms.

  • RBI revision: Lowered run-off factor on retail deposits.

22. Terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir

  • TRF: Offshoot of LeT.

  • India’s Response: Indus Treaty suspension, Attari post closure, airstrikes.

  • Decline in terror incidents since 2019.

23. India’s Defence Exports (2025)

  • Value: ₹23,622 crore.

  • Top buyers: USA, France, Armenia.

  • Export items: Akash, Tejas, Dhruv.

  • Target: ₹50,000 crore by 2029.

24. Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

  • India ratified: 1974.

  • Members: 188.

  • India’s domestic law: WMD (Prohibition) Act, 2005.

25. Similipal Tiger Reserve

  • Location: Mayurbhanj, Odisha.

  • Rivers: Burhabalanga, Palpala, Salandi.

  • Declared: 107th National Park of India.

26. International Big Cat Alliance

  • HQ: India.

  • Launch: 2023.

  • Members: 7 (including India, Cambodia, Nicaragua).

  • Aim: Conservation of 7 big cats.

27. AIM4NatuRe Initiative

  • Launched by FAO (Earth Day 2025).

  • Target: Restore 30% degraded ecosystems by 2030.

28. Aral Sea

  • Once world’s largest inland lake.

  • Location: Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan.

  • Disappearance: River diversion during Soviet era.

29. MARPOL Convention

  • Adopted: 1973.

  • Aim: Prevent marine pollution from ships.

  • Structured into six annexes.

30. Aryabhata Satellite

  • India’s first satellite (1975).

  • Launched by: USSR.

  • Purpose: X-ray astronomy, solar physics.

31. Satellite Orbits

  • LEO: <2000 km – Earth imaging, comms.

  • SSO: 600–800 km – Weather & land-use.

  • MEO: 2000–36000 km – Navigation.

  • GEO: 35,786 km – Telecom, GPS.

32. UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW)

33. Agriculture in Indus Valley Civilization

  • Crops: Wheat, Barley, Cotton, Rice (Lothal), Pulses, Fruits (dates, grapes).

  • Innovations: Granaries, irrigation evidence.

34. Vaikom Satyagraha

  • Location: Travancore, Kerala.

  • Leaders: T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, K. Kelappan.

  • Women Leaders: Nagammai, S.R. Kannamma.

  • Aim: End untouchability, promote equality.

35. Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

  • Youngest INC President (1897).

  • Judge, Member of Viceroy’s Council.

  • Advocate for women’s suffrage & equality.

36. Banarasi Shehnai & Tabla

  • Shehnai: GI tag, linked to Ustad Bismillah Khan.

  • Tabla: Banaras Gharana, founded by Pandit Ram Sahai.




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