Who conferred the Honorary Doctorate to President Droupadi Murmu?

The Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia awarded the Honorary Doctorate.

11th April 2025 Current Affairs | Daily GK Update & Top News for Exams |

National News

President Droupadi Murmu Conferred Honorary Doctorate in Slovakia

President Droupadi Murmu was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia, on the final day of her four-day state visit to Slovakia and Portugal.
The recognition celebrates her distinguished public service, advocacy for social justice, education, women’s empowerment, and cultural preservation.
It highlights her efforts in promoting inclusive governance and her significant contributions to the recognition of the Santhali language, symbolizing India’s growing global influence.

PM Modi Unveils ₹3,880-Crore Development Push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched and laid the foundation for over ₹3,880 crore worth of development projects in Varanasi, focusing on infrastructure, energy, education, law enforcement, public welfare, and cultural heritage.
Major highlights include ₹980+ crore in road connectivity (flyovers, underpass, Ring Road bridge), ₹1,820 crore in energy projects (400 KV & 220 KV substations), new colleges, libraries, and Anganwadis, Jal Jeevan Mission schemes (₹345 crore), ghat redevelopment, solar power plant, and support for MSMEs and rural artisans.
The initiative also includes Ayushman health cards, GI certifications for local products, and a ₹105 crore bonus for dairy farmers, aiming to modernize the city while preserving its heritage.

India’s National Critical Mineral Mission for a Sustainable Future 2025 Launched

India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), launched in 2025, aims to secure vital minerals for green energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles (EVs), and battery storage.
Led by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and coordinated by the Ministry of Mines, the mission focuses on reducing import dependency, enhancing domestic exploration, and forming global partnerships.
Key minerals identified include lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), and nickel. The mission’s objectives include expanding mining, processing, and recycling capabilities, while fostering innovation and R&D.
Notable initiatives include exploration drives, fast-track reforms, and global asset acquisition agreements with countries like Argentina and Australia.

International News

Japan Builds World’s First 3D-Printed Train Station in Record Time

West Japan Railway Company (JR West) has achieved a groundbreaking feat by constructing the world’s first 3D-printed train station, Hatsushima Station, in Arida City, Wakayama Prefecture.
The station, built in under six hours, replaces a 1948 wooden facility and showcases the potential of 3D printing in transforming public infrastructure.
Collaborating with Serendix, a Japanese construction technology firm, the project significantly reduced construction time and costs while minimizing labor and service disruption.
This innovation is crucial for addressing Japan’s aging population and workforce shortages, offering a model for future rural infrastructure development.

India Supports Sierra Leone’s USD 990,000 Aid Through UN Partnership

India has announced a USD 990,000 financial grant to Sierra Leone under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for a project titled “Enabling Economic Independence for Specially Abled Persons”, aimed at empowering persons with disabilities in rural areas.
Implemented with UNDP, the initiative focuses on skills training, technology access, work cooperatives, and micro-loans, aligning with Sierra Leone’s national priorities.
This reflects India’s commitment to inclusive development, South-South cooperation, and sustainability, further strengthening its developmental ties with Sierra Leone, which also benefits from Lines of Credit, e-VBAB, ITEC, and ICCR scholarships.

State News

Khultabad to be Renamed ‘Ratnapur’ A Cultural Reclamation Move by Maharashtra Government

In a move to revive pre-Mughal heritage, the Maharashtra government has announced the renaming of Khultabad to its original name, Ratnapur, on April 8, 2025, by Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat.
Located in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, Khultabad—home to Aurangzeb’s tomb, along with graves of Azam Shah and Asaf Jah I—was renamed during the Mughal era.
The decision, part of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s effort to restore historical and cultural identities, is presented as a restoration, not a political act. Shirsat criticized Aurangzeb as a “tyrant,” fueling debates over the monument’s protected status.

Kerala & Tamil Nadu Unite for Nilgiri Tahr Census 2025

The Nilgiri Tahr Census 2025 will be jointly conducted by Kerala and Tamil Nadu from April 24–27, 2025, to mark the 50th anniversary of Eravikulam National Park, home to the largest population of the vulnerable Nilgiri Tahr, endemic to the Western Ghats.
With over 1,300 participants using modern tools like camera traps, pellet sampling, and the bounded count method, the census aims to monitor and estimate the population and distribution of the species.
The event will span 265 census blocks across both states, reinforcing conservation efforts for this key montane ecosystem indicator.

Economy News

ADB Projected India Economy Grow By 6.7% in FY2025

India’s economy shows resilient growth amid global uncertainties, with the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2025 projecting GDP growth of 6.7% in FY2025 and 6.8% in FY2026, fueled by strong domestic demand, rising rural incomes, and moderating inflation.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) attributes this momentum to supportive fiscal and monetary policies, while the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its FY2025 forecast to 6.5%, citing global trade challenges and policy uncertainties.
Growth is also driven by increased consumption from the urban middle class and affluent households with higher disposable income.

Awards News

UP Police Investigation Portal Wins SKOCH Award for Excellence in Police & Safety

The Uttar Pradesh Police‘s Investigation, Prosecution and Conviction Portal won the prestigious SKOCH Award in the “Police & Safety” category on April 9, 2025, recognizing its role in modernizing law enforcement through digital infrastructure.
Developed by the Technical Services Unit, the portal enhances the tracking of serious crimes like mafia-related offenses, POCSO, and rape, ensuring faster investigations, timely chargesheet filings, and improved court trial efficiency.
The initiative boosts transparency, accountability, and accelerates justice delivery, rebuilding public confidence in the policing system.

Breakthrough Prize 2025: Honouring the Frontiers of Modern Science

The 2025 Breakthrough Prizes, dubbed the “Oscars of Science”, honored pioneering achievements in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics at a star-studded ceremony in Santa Monica on April 5, 2025.
Key highlights included recognition for the discovery of GLP-1 hormone enabling Ozempic & Wegovy (Daniel J. Drucker & team), breakthroughs in Multiple Sclerosis treatment (Alberto Ascherio & Stephen L. Hauser), and advances in gene-editing by David R. Liu. In Physics, over 13,500 scientists from CERN’s LHC collaborations (ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, LHCb) were awarded for deepening our understanding of the Higgs boson and fundamental forces.
Mathematician Dennis Gaitsgory won for proving the geometric Langlands conjecture.
Additional awards included New Horizons and Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes supporting early-career researchers and women mathematicians.

Introduction of Best Stunt Design Category at the 100th Academy Awards (2027)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the introduction of a Best Stunt Design category starting with the 100th Oscars in 2028.
This historic decision recognizes the crucial contributions of stunt professionals in filmmaking, following years of advocacy by industry figures.
It marks a significant milestone in cinema history, acknowledging stunt work as an essential aspect of modern filmmaking that has long been overlooked in traditional awards categories.

Ranks & Reports News

First Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) Report Released – Gujarat & Telangana Lead

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released the inaugural Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) baseline report for FY 2022–23, offering a data-driven framework to assess the performance of 2.5 lakh+ Gram Panchayats (GPs) across nine Localized Sustainable Development Goal (LSDG) themes.
With 2,16,285 GPs having validated data, the PAI promotes evidence-based planning, inclusive governance, and accountability at the grassroots.
GPs were categorized as Front Runners, Performers, Aspirants, and Beginners, with no Achievers in this round. Gujarat (346) and Telangana (270) topped in Front Runner GPs.
While Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh had the highest share of Aspirants, signaling areas for improvement in rural governance.

Summits & Conferences News

Hyderabad to Host STREE Summit 2025 on Women’s Safety and Empowerment

The Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) is set to host the second edition of the STREE Summit on April 15, 2025, focusing on women’s safety, security, and empowerment.
Supported by HCSC Chairperson C.V. Anand, the summit will bring together professionals, advocates, and experts to address the challenges women face and develop actionable solutions.
The event aims to foster collaboration, promote gender equality, and provide a platform for sharing practical strategies to enhance women’s safety.

Schemes News

Cabinet Approves Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with a total outlay of ₹1,600 crore for 2025–2026.
Aimed at enhancing irrigation infrastructure, the scheme focuses on modernizing water supply networks, improving water-use efficiency, and promoting micro-irrigation through pressurized underground piping systems, targeting support of up to 1 hectare per farmer.
It also serves as a precursor to a national irrigation plan from April 2026 during the 16th Finance Commission period.

Sports News

UK Set to Host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, being the only valid bidder, as confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The joint bid by England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland positions the UK to host its first women’s World Cup, with Wembley Stadium likely to stage the final.
This follows successful events like UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and aligns with FIFA’s continental rotation policy.
With the 48-team expansion expected to continue, the final decision will be made at the 2026 FIFA Congress, after formal bids are submitted in winter 2025.

Science & Technology News

How Black Rats and Land Use Are Driving Hantavirus Risk in Madagascar

A new international study published in Ecology and Evolution has found that black rats (Rattus rattus) are the sole carriers of hantavirus in rural areas near Marojejy National Park, Madagascar.
Nearly 2,000 animals were tested, but only black rats, especially older and larger ones, tested positive, with infections mainly occurring in farmlands, not homes or rainforests.
The research, by UC Santa Barbara, Duke University, and University of Réunion, highlights how human land use changes like farming and deforestation significantly increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, emphasizing the critical link between environmental change and eco-health.

Important Days News

World Parkinson’s Day 2025, Date, History, Symptoms

World Parkinson’s Day, observed annually on April 11, raises global awareness about Parkinson’s Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting over 10 million people worldwide, including nearly 1 million in India.
Established in 1997 by Parkinson’s Europe and the WHO, the day honors Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the condition in 1817.
The 2025 theme emphasizes early diagnosis, symptom awareness, and lifestyle management. Parkinson’s primarily affects those over 60, but 10–15% of cases occur in younger individuals.
The red tulip, symbolizing hope, unity, and strength, is the global emblem of the Parkinson’s community.

National Safe Motherhood Day 2025, Date, Theme, Significance, Challenges

National Safe Motherhood Day, observed on April 11 in India, marks the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi and highlights the importance of maternal healthcare.
Initiated by the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI) in 2003, the day focuses on raising awareness about maternal health, reproductive rights, and promoting quality healthcare for pregnant and lactating women.
Despite progress, many women, especially in rural and marginalized communities, still lack timely access to care.
The 2025 theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” emphasizes ensuring safe outcomes for both mother and baby.
Key objectives include reducing maternal mortality, advocating for skilled birth attendance, and addressing malnutrition.