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1. Which manuscripts of India were included by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Register in April 2025?
a. Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra
b. Bharatanatyam and Mahabharata
c. Puranas and Bharatnatyam
d. Ramayana and Bharatnatyam
Answer: a. Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra (India now has 14 documentary heritage collections.)
– On April 17, 2025, UNESCO added 74 new documentary heritages to the Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of collections to 570. Currently, India has 14 inscriptions listed in this register.
– The entries from 72 countries and 4 international organizations include themes such as the scientific revolution, the contribution of women in history, and major milestones in multilateralism.
Bhagavad Gita
– The Gita is regarded as a timeless philosophical and spiritual guide, and it has been translated into over 80 languages.
– Credit: Rishi Vyasa.
– Highlights: A dialogue of 700 verses between Krishna and Arjuna that explains profound spiritual, moral, and philosophical principles at the core of Hindu ideology.
Natyashastra
– This is an important treatise related to drama, performance, aesthetics, and classical arts. It is considered one of the most comprehensive documents on theatre and performance traditions.
– Author: Bharata Muni
– Highlights: A foundational text that details Indian classical dance, drama, music, and stagecraft; it establishes concepts like rasa (aesthetic essence), which continue to influence Indian arts.
Three Literary Works Included in 2024
– Illustrated manuscripts of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas
– Manuscript of Sahṛdayaloka-Sthāna: a foundational text of Indian poetics
– A 15th-century manuscript of Panchatantra fables
Memory of the World Register
– UNESCO’s MOW (Memory of the World) program is an international cooperation strategy.
– Its aim is to safeguard and facilitate access to rare and endangered heritage.
– According to its charter, UNESCO launched this initiative in 1992 to preserve and disseminate library collections.
What Types of Collections Are Added to This List?
– This list includes documentary collections such as books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, sound or video recordings that bear witness to the shared heritage of humanity.
UNESCO
– Established: November 16, 1945
– Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
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2. When is World Heritage Day celebrated?
a. 19 April
b. 18 April
c. 17 April
d. 16 April
Answer: b. 18 April
Theme of the Year 2025
– Heritage Under Threat from Disaster and Conflicts
– This day is observed annually by the United Nations (UN).
– It is celebrated to recognize efforts to preserve human heritage and the organizations working toward its protection.
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3. What interim decision did the Supreme Court give on the petitions filed in the case of Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025?
Ans: Until May 5, no waqf property — including those declared as “waqf by user” — will be denotified, and no appointments will be made to the Central Waqf Council or State Waqf Boards.
– A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice KV Viswanathan proposed issuing an interim order with three key directives.
What is Waqf?
– Waqf is an Islamic tradition in which an individual permanently donates their property for religious, social, or charitable purposes.
– In India, waqf properties have been managed under the Waqf Act, 1995. A Central Waqf Council functions under the Central Government, and each state has its own Waqf Board.
– However, changes have been introduced under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
What is the Controversy Around the New Law?
– Two non-Muslim members will be included in the Waqf Board. The Muslim community argues that this will affect religious freedom concerning waqf matters.
– Waqf properties will now be registered with the District Magistrate’s office. Opponents say this will increase government control and reduce the Waqf Board’s authority over its properties.
– Under the old law, a property could be declared “waqf by user” based on its usage. Under the new law, proof will be required, and existing waqf properties may be denotified.
What Are the Three Major Points in the Petitions?
– The petitioners argue that the new law violates several articles of the Constitution, including:
– Article 14 (Right to Equality),
– Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination),
– Article 25 (Freedom of Religion),
– Article 26 (Freedom to Manage Religious Affairs),
– Article 29 (Rights of Minorities), and
– Article 300A (Right to Property).
– The inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards and giving District Collectors the authority to make decisions on waqf properties increases government interference.
– The law is considered discriminatory towards the Muslim community, as similar restrictions are not imposed on trusts belonging to other religions.
Centre Given Seven Days to Respond
– On April 16, 2025, the Supreme Court held a hearing lasting about one hour on the Waqf Amendment Law. During this session, the Court granted the Central Government seven days to submit its reply.
– After the Centre files its response, the petitioners will have five days to submit their rejoinder.
– The next hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2025.
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4. Military exercise Dustlik was held between India and which country in Pune in April 2025?
a. Sri Lanka
b. Uzbekistan
c. Myanmar
d. Tajikistan
Answer: b. Uzbekistan
Dustlik Military Exercise
– When: 16 to 28 April 2025
– Where: Pune, India
– Edition: Sixth
– This exercise is an annual event, which is held alternately in India and Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan
– Capital: Tashkent
– President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
– Prime Minister: Abdulla Aripov
– Currency: Uzbek som
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5. Who has been appointed by the Central Government as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited?
a. Captain Ashutosh
b. Captain Jagmohan
c. Captain Avinash Sharma
d. Captain Rajat Singh
Answer: b. Captain Jagmohan (Former Navy Captain)
– Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 17 April 2025 on the proposal of the Department of Defense Production.
– He is currently the Director of Corporate Planning, Projects and Business Development at Goa Shipyard Limited.
Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
– It is India’s leading shipyard. Its main function is to build submarines and warships based on the facilities available in Mumbai and Nhava Yard.
– Established in: 1934
– Headquarters: Mumbai Maharashtra
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6. Based on the Supreme Court’s decision, which two states implemented Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-classification reservation in April 2025?
a. Maharashtra and Telangana
b. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
c. Kerala and Uttar Pradesh
d. Odisha and Punjab
Answer: b. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
– Telangana became the first state to formally implement SC sub-categorization by issuing a gazette notification on April 14, 2025. The Act had received the Governor’s assent on April 8.
– Following this, the Andhra Pradesh government also implemented a similar ordinance.
What is Sub-Categorization?
– It means “reservation within reservation.”
– According to the notification, Scheduled Castes in both states are now divided into three categories: Group I, II, and III.
What Did the Supreme Court Decide?
– On August 1, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment upholding the constitutional validity of sub-categorization among SCs and STs.
– The decision aimed to ensure that the most marginalized and needy groups within these communities receive a separate share of reservation.
– The Court clarified that dividing Scheduled Castes based on constituent castes does not violate Article 341 of the Constitution.
Note:
– Haryana was the first state to implement SC sub-categorization in 2024, immediately after the Supreme Court’s judgment.
– However, Bihar had already implemented a similar categorization earlier, by distinguishing between Dalits and Mahadalits.
Telangana
– Chief Minister: Revanth Reddy
– Governor: Jishnu Dev Varma
– Capital: Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh
– Chief Minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
– Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer
– Capital: Amaravati
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7. How many medals did India win including four gold medals in the ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires?
a. 15
b. 10
c. 08
d. 06
Answer: c. 08 (Four gold, two silver and two bronze medals)
– With eight medals, India secured the second position in the ISSF World Cup 2025 medal tally in Buenos Aires.
– China topped the chart with a total of 11 medals — 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 3 Bronze.
Names of Indian medal winners
– Gold medal in women’s 50m rifle 3 position – Sift Kaur Samra
– Gold medal in men’s 10m air rifle – Rudraksh Patil
– Gold medal in women’s 10m air pistol – Suruchi Singh
– Gold medal in men’s 25m rapid fire pistol – Vijayveer Sidhu
– Silver medal in women’s 25m pistol – Isha Singh
– Silver medal in mixed 10m air rifle – Arya Borse/Rudraksh Patil
– Bronze medal in 10m air pistol mixed team – Saurabh Chaudhary/Suruchi Singh
– Bronze medal in men’s 50m rifle 3 position – Chain Singh
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):
– ISSF is the governing body for Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol, and shotgun (clay target) disciplines, as well as many non-Olympic shooting events.
– It was founded in 1907 as the International Shooting Union and renamed to ISSF in 1998.
– Headquarters: Munich, Germany
– President: Luciano Rossi
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8. When is Save Elephant Day celebrated?
a. 19 April
b. 18 April
c. 17 April
d. 16 April
Answer: d. 16 April
– This day was celebrated for the first time in the year 2012.
– It is observed to raise awareness about the threats faced by elephants and the various challenges they encounter for survival.
– Currently, three species of elephants are found across Africa and Asia.
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9. When is World Hemophilia Day observed?
a. 19 April
b. 18 April
c. 17 April
d. 16 April
Answer: c. 17 April
Theme 2025
– Access for all: Women and girls bleed too
– The purpose of observing this day is to raise awareness among people about this serious medical condition.
– When we get injured, blood often starts to flow out from the body.
– After a while, a blood clot forms at the site of the injury.
– This prevents excessive blood loss, and the clotting factors needed for this process are present in our platelets.
– When the body lacks certain specific proteins, blood does not clot properly — this condition is known as Hemophilia.
– This day is observed in honor of the birthday of Frank Schnabel, founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.
World Federation of Hemophilia
– Established: 1963
– Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
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10. Which cinema’s veteran actor Bank Janardhanan died on 17 April 2025?
a. Kannada cinema
b. Tamil cinema
c. Malayalam cinema
d. Hindi cinema
Answer: a. Kannada cinema
– ‘Bank’ Janardhan passed away on Monday, April 14, at 2 AM in a private hospital in the city. He was 76 years old.
– He had been a part of the cinema industry for over four decades and had worked in more than 500 films and television shows.
– He acted in several popular films, including ‘Shh Shh’, ‘Tarlé Nan Maga’, and ‘Beliappa Bangarappa’.
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11. Who has been elected as the Chairman of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) Athletes Commission?
a. Karnam Malleswari
b. Sangeeta Chanu
c. Mirabai Chanu
d. Sonali Sharma
Answer: c. Mirabai Chanu
– S. Satish Kumar has been elected as Vice President. He is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
– Mirabai Chanu is one of India’s most respected weightlifters.
– Both of them will serve a four-year term.
About Mirabai Chanu
– Born in Manipur, Chanu started learning the art of weightlifting while collecting firewood during her childhood.
– In 2020, she won a silver medal in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman athlete to do so.
– Later, in 2022, at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, she won the gold medal in weightlifting.
About the Commission
– The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) Athletes Commission is a body established with the purpose of protecting the interests of athletes, including their views in the federation’s decision-making process, and promoting transparency.
Objectives:
– Representing the voice of weightlifting athletes within the federation.
– Ensuring the participation of athletes in the creation of sports-related policies.
– Protecting the rights and needs of athletes.
Structure:
– The commission includes both former and current athletes.
– Members are usually selected through elections or nominations from athletes.
Importance:
– The commission acts as a bridge between athletes and the federation.
– It helps in advising on topics such as training, competitions, welfare programs, and doping prevention.
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