MoU signed between the Supreme Courts of India and Nepal

Context: On April 7, 2025, the Supreme Courts of India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance judicial cooperation.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) described the agreement as “lighting a new torch” in India-Nepal judicial relations.

MoU Highlights

• Collaboration in Legal Exchange:
  • Formalizes mechanisms for jurisprudential exchanges which aims to promote:
    • Judicial exchanges
    • Joint research
    • Training programmes
    • Seminars and mutual visits
• Inspiration from Each Other’s Jurisprudence:
  • India drew inspiration from Nepal’s landmark decision on LGBTQ rights and privacy, which contributed to decriminalizing Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
  • Nepal adopted India’s “Basic Structure Doctrine” for constitutional interpretation.
• Environmental Jurisprudence:
  • Recognizes Nepal’s innovative approach to “ecocide” and the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.

A Bear Market

Context: The S&P 500 (stock market index that tracks the performance of the largest 500 publicly traded US companies) has briefly entered bear market territory for the first time since 2022.

• Reason: The downfall witnessed in global markets is attributed to President Trump’s global tariffs.

About Bear Market

• A bear market is a Wall Street term for a sustained market downturn ie. when a stock index closes 20 percent from its last peak state.
  • A bear market (or for that matter, all types of market decline) takes place when investors are more motivated to sell than to buy stocks.
• Market Correction: A bear market is different from a market correction which occurs when there is a decline of at least 10% or more.
• Reasons for Market Decline:
  • A weak or slowing economy
  • The anticipation of an economic slowdown
  • Bubble Burst: Investor sentiment that the market is too hot and prices too high.
  • Unintended Events: Events such as wars, oil supply shocks, pandemics etc  can also spook investors, leading to a dip in the market.
• Consequence: 
  • Bear markets are sometimes precursors to recessions often leading to job losses as economies contract
  • It leads to a fall in speculative demand among residents, thereby reducing the aggregate cash flow of the capital sector in an economy.

Project Varsha

Context: India is building a new naval base for nuclear submarines and warships near Rambilli village, about 50 km from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh under Project Varsha.

About Project Varsha

• Key Features of the Base
  • Includes underground tunnels and submarine pens for stealth operations.
  • Can accommodate up to 12 nuclear submarines.
  • Provides protection against aerial surveillance and satellites.
    Built close to BARC Atchutapuram, giving access to advanced nuclear infrastructure.
  • Enables quick access to important sea routes like the Strait of Malacca.
• Strategic Importance
  • To strengthen India’s maritime strike power in the Bay of Bengal and the broader Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • Counters China’s dual-use naval bases such as:
    • Hambantota in Sri Lanka
    • BNS Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh

TruthTell Hackathon

Context: The TruthTell Hackathon initiative has been initiated by the government to focus on creating advanced AI-based tools. 

About TruthTell Hackathon

• Aim:  To develop innovative AI-powered solutions to combat misinformation in live broadcasting, addressing the rapid spread of false information in today’s digital media landscape.
• It is part of the Create in India Challenge – Season 1 under the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.
• Organized with support from:
• • India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA)
  • Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB)
  • Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY)
  • IndiaAI Mission

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

Context: During his  recent trip to Sri Lanka, PM Narendra Modi visited the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura.

• He described the tree as a “living symbol of peace, enlightenment, and spiritual continuity.”

About the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

• It is a Bo tree (Ficus religiosa, known as Pipal in Hindi) believed to have grown from a branch of the original Bodhgaya tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.
• The branch was brought to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta, daughter of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and a Buddhist nun.
• It survived acts of vandalism in 1929 and a violent attack by LTTE militants in 1985.

Cultural and Religious Significance

• Sanghamitta’s arrival with the tree is celebrated as the Uduvapa Poya festival every December.
• Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, once flourishing for over 1,300 years.

Sanghamitta’s Mission to Sri Lanka

• Sent by Emperor Ashoka following the Third Buddhist Council to spread Buddhism.
• Mahinda (Ashoka’s son) first converted King Devanampiya Tissa, leading to Sanghamitta’s invitation to ordain women.

About the Mahabodhi Tree in Bodhgaya

• The present tree is which was earlier destroyed several times by man-made misery and natural calamities.
• The original Bodhgaya tree was destroyed, possibly by Ashoka’s wife Tishyarakshita.
• The present tree at Bodhgaya is believed to  be probably the fifth succession of the original tree to have grown from the genetic material of the original.

Kashmir’s Spring Flowers

Context: A recent study has reported a shift in Kashmir’s spring flowering phenology of the model plant species Sternbergia vernalis, in response to the changing climate in Kashmir region of the Himalaya.

• Flowering phenology is the study of flowering patterns and cycles influenced by seasonal changes.

About Kashmir’s Spring Season

• Season: The Spring season in Kashmir typically starts from March till early May with its arrival marked by the blossoming of cherry and apple trees 
• Habitat Range: The flowers are found across the valley’s vast altitudinal range from 1,600 metres in the basin to over 4,500 metres at mountain peaks
• Endemic Flowers: Kashmir is a home to a variety of endemic plants, including indigenous bulbs, herbs, shrubs, and trees
  • Sternbergia vernalis (goul tour): It is a  golden-yellow flower that marks the arrival of spring
  • Daffodils: Its bright yellow and white hues symbolise renewal and have deep roots in Kashmiri folklore.
  • Colchicum luteum (veer kaum): A delicate yet vibrant bloom, often seen carpeting hillocks and grooves
  • Salix (braed mushuk): It is a plant with significant cultural and ecological value 
  • Viburnum grandiflorum (kulmansh): It is a shrub with large pink flowers

Hands-off Protests

Context: Thousands of people protested the Donald Trump administration’s policies at the “Hands-off” demonstrations.

• About Hands off Protests in United States: 
  • “Hands-off” was a slogan used in April 2025 by thousands of protesters across the United States.
  • It symbolized a demand for the government, particularly under Donald Trump’s second administration, to “keep its hands off” critical aspects of American life such as Healthcare, Social Security, Education, immigration etc.
• Triggers Causing The Movement: Budget cuts, deportations, rollback of social programs, exit from climate pacts.
• Slogans: “Hands off our government”, “Make America Think Again”, “Hate won’t make us great”

ESA’s Biomass Mission

Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the Biomass mission to map and monitor global forests.

Launch Details

• Launch Site: Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana
• Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). 
  • Sun-synchronous orbit ensures that the satellite passes over the same part of the Earth at roughly the same local solar time, providing consistent lighting for observations.
• Altitude: around 666 km above Earth.

Objective of the Biomass Mission

• Map and monitor the state of global forests.
• Fill the gap in data on above-ground biomass and forest height at large geographical scales.
• Improve understanding of forests’ role in the global carbon cycle.
• Quantify how carbon storage is changing with ongoing deforestation.
• Generate 3D images of forests from canopy to roots.

Unique Technology on Board

• Uses a long-wave P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with a 70 cm wavelength.
  • It can detect biomass on the forest floor and tree branches.
• First-of-its-kind: Biomass is the first satellite globally to carry a P-band SAR.
• Equipped with a massive 12-metre deployable antenna for sweeping coverage of Earth’s surface.
• Forest Weighing from Space: The satellite will “weigh” forests by estimating their biomass from space.

About ESA’s Earth Explorer programme

• It focuses on launching satellites to study different components of Earth’s system, including: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Lithosphere,Biosphere, Ionosphere and Land Surface.
• First mission: GOCE (2009–2013): mapped Earth’s gravity field.
• Latest mission before Biomass: EarthCARE (2024): focused on Earth’s radiative balance and cloud-aerosol interactions.

Qatargate

Context: At least two of Netanyahu’s aides are suspected of receiving payments from the Qatari government to promote Doha’s interests in Israel.

About Qatargate

Qatargate is a political scandal in Israel involving allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close aides were secretly paid by a representative of Qatar to promote Qatari interests in Israeli media and politics.

Digital Threat Report 2024

Context: The Government of India has launched the Digital Threat Report 2024 to enhance cybersecurity in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

About the Digital Threat Report 2024

• The Digital Threat Report 2024 is the first dedicated cybersecurity assessment focused on the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector in India.
• Published by: The report is a collaborative effort developed by:
  • CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) – India’s national cybersecurity agency.
  • CSIRT-Fin (Financial Sector Incident Response Team) – Specialized in managing cybersecurity incidents in the financial sector.
  • SISA – A global cybersecurity solutions provider known for its forensics-driven approach to digital payment security.

Key Highlights of the Digital Threat Report 2024

• Holistic Threat Analysis: Combines real-world data from forensic investigations (SISA), regulatory oversight (CERT-In), and financial incident response (CSIRT-Fin).
• Emerging Threat Landscape: Details AI-driven attacks, sophisticated fraud tactics, and system-level vulnerabilities.
• Sector-wide Vulnerability Mapping: Identifies common gaps in cyber defenses across the BFSI ecosystem.
• Actionable Recommendations: Offers guidance on preventive and detective controls across people, processes, and technology.

Navkar Mahamantra Divas

Context: Prime Minister Modi will lead celebrations in New Delhi on 9th April in chanting the sacred Jain Navkar Mahamantra.

About the Navkar Mahamantra

• The Navkar Mahamantra is the most revered and universal chant in Jainism
• It  honours the virtues of enlightened beings such as Arihants, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and all Sadhus. 
• Unlike other religious chants, it does not refer to any specific individual or deity, but instead focuses on spiritual ideals like non-violence, humility, and purity of thought.

Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honour for a foreigner from President Anura Kumar Dissanayake.

About Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana

• Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana honours Heads of State with whom Sri Lanka shares close ties.
• Instituted in 2008 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, it ranks above other Sri Lankan national honours for foreigners.
• The award comprises a citation and a silver medal studded with Navarathna gems, symbolizing prosperity, renewal, and shared heritage.
• Only four leaders have been honoured before, including Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Yasser Arafat.

Other Civilian Awards and Recognition for PM Modi

• This is PM Modi’s 22nd international honour.
• Previous notable recognitions include:
  • Order of Zayed (UAE)
  • Legion of Merit (USA)
  • Order of St. Andrew the Apostle (Russia)
  • King Hamad Order of the Renaissance (Bahrain).
• The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana stands as a testament to PM Modi’s role in strengthening India’s international relations, especially in South Asia.

DOWNLOAD PDF