Current Affairs 17 April 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Fourth Edition of IJR 2025: Karnataka Tops in Justice Delivery Among Large States, WB Ranks LowestAccording to the fourth edition of the India Justice Report (IJR 2025) released on 15 April 2025, Karnataka(score – 6.78) has topped the list of 18 large and mid-sized Indian states (with population over 1 crore) in terms of justice delivery.It is the only state that fulfilled the reservation quotas for Scheduled Caste (SC), Schedule Tribes (ST), and Other Backward class (OBC) communities in both the police and judiciary.

• Karnataka is followed by Andhra Pradesh (AP)(6.32) at second place, Telangana(6.15) at third, Kerala at fourth, and Tamil Nadu (TN) at fifth among the large and mid-sized states in the IJR 2025.

i.Telangana made the biggest improvement, moving from 11th to 3rd place. West Bengal (WB) ranked lowest among the 18 large and mid-sized states. Karnataka got a score of 6.78 out of 10, while WB scored 3.63 overall.
ii.Among smaller states (with population upto 1 crore), Sikkim ranked first, followed by Himachal Pradesh (HP) at second place and Arunachal Pradesh (AR) at third while Goa was at the bottom.
iiiThe India Justice Report (IJR) is an annual publication initiated by Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Tata Trusts in 2019. The report evaluates how 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) of India are performing across four main pillars: police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid.
>> Read Full News

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated & Laid Foundation Stone of Development Projects worth Rs 10,000 Crore in HaryanaIn April 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 10,000 crore in Yamuna Nagar district, Haryana on the occasion of 135th birth anniversary(April 14, 2025) of the architect of Indian Constitution of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
i.PM Modi inaugurated the 3rd modern thermal power unit of 800 Mega Watt(MW)at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamuna Nagar at the cost of Rs 8,469 crore.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone of a Compressed Biogas(CBG) Plant under Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan(GOBARDhan) Yojana in Mukarabpur, YamunaNagar at the cost Rs 90 crore.
iii.PM Modi laid the foundation stone of a new terminal building at Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar, Haryana worth over Rs 410 crore.
About Haryana:
Chief Minister (CM)- Nayab Singh Saini
Governor- Bandaru Dattatraya
Capital- Chandigarh
Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS)- Kalesar WLS, Nahar WLS and Bir Shikargarh WLS
>> Read Full News

Telangana Becomes First Indian State to Implement SC Sub-CategorisationIn April 2025, the Government of Telangana notified the implementation of the ‘Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025’, through a gazette notification, marking it as the first state in India to implement sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs), also known as reservation within reservation, by classifying 59 SC sub-castes into three groups for reservations in education and employment.

• The Telangana Government based its decision on empirical data, including the social, economic, educational, employment, and political status of SC communities.

Background:
i.On August 1, 2024, a 7-judge Supreme Court of India (SCI) bench upheld the constitutional validity of sub-classifying SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure equitable reservation benefits.
ii.On March 18, 2025, the Telangana Legislative Assembly passed the SC sub-categorization Bill, aligning with the apex court’s verdict.
iii.The Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2025 received the Governor’s assent on April 8, 2025, and was subsequently published in the Telangana Gazette on April 14, 2025.
Three-Tier Categorisation:
The SCs have been divided into three groups from a total of 59 sub-castes:
1.Group-I (Most Backward Sub-Castes):

• 15 sub-castes (0.5% of Telangana’s SC population) are classified as “most backward.”
• Granted 1% reservation (double their population share) to enhance access to education and employment.

2.Group-II (Marginally Benefited Sub-Castes):

• 18 sub-castes receive marginal benefits.
• Allocated 9% reservation.

3.Group-III (Relatively Better Placed Sub-Castes):

• 26 sub-castes with better access to opportunities.
• Granted 5% reservation.

Note: Out of the total 59 sub-castes, 33 sub-castes continue in their earlier groups. Only 26 sub-castes, constituting 3.43% of the SC population, have been reclassified under the new categorisation.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister (CM) – Anumula Revanth Reddy
Governor – Jishnu Dev Varma
Capital – Hyderabad
Airports – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA), Ramagundam Airport

Overview of Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Visit to India From April 8-9, 2025Crown Prince of Dubai and United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Deputy Prime Minister (Dy PM) and Defence Minister, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was on his first two-day official visit to India from 8th to 9th April 2025. The visit follows an invitation extended by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi.

• PM Narendra Modi welcomed the Crown Prince to his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi (Delhi) where he presented a replica of the traditional cloak worn by the Sheikh’s grandfather.

i.​During his official visit to India, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum held a meeting with Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi.

• During the meeting, India has offered the Akash air defence missile system to the UAE.

iii.During the meeting, India and the UAE signed 8 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), aims to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, higher education, maritime services, logistics, and private sector engagement.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
President– Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin  Al Nahyan
Capital– Abu Dhabi
Currency– Dirham (AED)
>> Read Full News

Odisha Becomes 34th State to Implement AB PM-JAY SchemeIn April 2025, the Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana during an event in Cuttack, Odisha.

• The event was attended by Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha, Union Minister Jual Oram, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, along with several other dignitaries.

Note: Odisha became the 34th state in India to implement the AB PM-JAY scheme.
Key Features of AB PM-JAY:
i.Beneficiaries: Approximately 1.03 crore families, totaling around 3.52 crore individuals in Odisha, will benefit from the integrated health coverage.
ii.Health Coverage: Each family will get health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year. Senior citizens aged 70 or above can also get free medical treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh, no matter their income level.
iii.Hospital Network: Around 29,000 hospitals, within and outside Odisha, will accept the new health cards issued under the scheme.
About Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana:
i.The Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana aims to offer healthcare services to economically weaker citizens of Odisha.
ii.Under the scheme, eligible citizens will receive free healthcare coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh in rural areas and Rs. 6 lakh in urban areas.
iii.All permanent residents of Odisha selected under the scheme are eligible to avail the benefits.
Note: The Government of Odisha has renamed the earlier Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) to Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.
Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana:
i.Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana was launched to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
ii.This initiative aims to ensure that the elderly population has access to necessary medical treatments without financial burden.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UAE Elected Chair of INTERPOL Committee on GovernanceIn April 2025, the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been elected to chair International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)’s Committee on Governance, one of the key advisory bodies of INTERPOL. With this, UAE became the 1st country to chair this newly formed standing committee, and will serve 2 year-term.

• Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director General (DG) of the International Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Interior (UAE) got 67% of the total votes from the representatives of INTERPOL member states during the committee’s session held at Lyon, France.
• As part of the committee’s mandate, UAE will be responsible for steering discussions on INTERPOL’s governance, representing the committee in reports to the General Assembly and the Executive Committee and ensuring co-ordination among member states to enhance the functioning of INTERPOL.

About INTERPOL’s Committee on Governance:
i.The committee was established in November 2024 by a resolution during the 92nd General Assembly of INTERPOL held in Glasgow, the United Kingdom (UK).
ii.The committee is entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the review of INTERPOL’s statutes, regulations, and related documents, proposing necessary amendments or clarifications.
iii.It comprises of high-level experts in governance and international law from member states which ensures wider, inclusive participation of many member states in the committee’s work.
iv.It will also provide assistance to the General Assembly on how to interpret and enhance the foundational legal frameworks, thus ensuring transparency and efficiency in its operations.
About International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL):
Secretary General- Valdecy Urquiza (Brazil)
Headquarters- Lyon, France
Established- 1923

BANKING & FINANCE

PNB Launched 34 New Products on its 131st Foundation DayPunjab National Bank (PNB), India’s first Swadeshi Bank and a premier state-owned bank, launched 34 new banking products and services, marking its 131st foundation day (12 April, 2025) at its Headquarters in Dwarka, New Delhi (Delhi).

• The event was attended by M Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF); Ashok Chandra, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PNB; Kalyan Kumar, M. Paramasivam, Bibhu Prasad Mahapatra, and D. Surendran. Executive Directors (EDs) of PNB, among others.

i.The 34 new offerings include 12 customer-centric deposit schemes and 10 digital transformation products, reinforcing PNB’s commitment to financial inclusion and digital innovation.
ii.The customer-centric deposit schemes target salaried professionals, women, defence personnel, farmers, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), senior citizens, students, and youth,
iii.The digital transformation products include a Quick Response (QR)-based customer feedback, live-chat assistant “Pihu,” and new internal banking functionalities for enhanced customer service.
>> Read Full News

NPCI Revises UPI Framework with New Transaction LimitsIn April 2025, the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced significant revisions to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) framework, focusing on enhancing security and curbing fraud risks effective from 4th April 2025.

• The major changes include the discontinuation of international Quick Response (QR) code payments, limits on domestic QR code transactions with unverified merchants, and stricter wallet reload protocols.

Key Revisions:
International QR Code Payments Discontinued:

• NPCI has banned QR-based international UPI transactions, specifically the “QR Share & Pay” method, effective from April 4, 2025.
• Indian users abroad, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), will no longer be able to scan QR codes shared via messaging apps like WhatsApp or other social media platforms for making payments.
• Live, in-person scanning at merchant locations overseas will still be possible, but the convenience of scanning saved QR codes will no longer be allowed.

Domestic Transaction Cap on QR Payments:

• A limit of Rs.2,000 per transaction has been set for QR Share & Pay transactions made to non-verified offline merchants within India.
• This measure aims to limit fraud in peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions and encourages the formal registration of small merchants.

Prohibition on Collect Requests for Wallet Reloading:

• NPCI has prohibited merchants from initiating collect requests to load prepaid wallets or gift cards, which had been prone to exploitation in scams.
• Users will now need to initiate wallet reloads themselves, using “push requests” to enhance control and reduce unauthorised deductions.

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Dilip Asbe
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 2008

RBI Imposes Rs. 3.20 Lakh Penalty on Citibank for FEMA Violations
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 3,20,000 on New York (United State of America,USA) based Citibank N.A. for contravention of  Section 10 (4) of FEMA, 1999, which mandates adherence to the regulations governing foreign exchange transactions.

• The penalty was levied under Section 11(3) of FEMA for the bank’s failure in conducting proper due diligence while processing inward remittances.
• The action was taken because Citibank N.A. failed to undertake the necessary due diligence while processing inward remittances from a Foreign Currency Account opened by one of its constituents.

i.TheRBI had issued a Show Cause Notice to Citibank N.A., seeking an explanation for the alleged violation. The bank responded with a written reply and also presented oral submissions.
ii.After careful consideration of the facts and the bank’s response, the RBI concluded that the identified violations were substantiated and warranted the imposition of a monetary penalty.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Telangana & Godrej Capital Signed MoU to Enhance Credit Access for MSMEs
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Godrej Capital Limited, the financial services arm of Godrej Industries Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government of Telangana to boost growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state by enhancing access to credit facilities and business opportunities.

• As per the MoU, the Telangana  government and Godrej Capital will work closely to accelerate large-scale MSME credit penetration across the state.

i.This strategic partnership aims to bolster the MSME ecosystem across the state by enabling improved access to formal credit, particularly for underserved and 1st time borrowers.

• It also aims to bridge the credit gap, promote entrepreneurships and drive economic growth across emerging business hubs in Telangana.

ii.The initiative primarily focuses on digital-first lending solutions customised to cater the unique requirements of MSMEs.
iii.Through Godrej Capital’s women-centric initiative called ‘Aarohi’, a special focus will be on supporting women entrepreneurs.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice Dinesh Maheshwari Appointed as Chairperson of 23rd LCIIn April 2025, the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) has appointed former Supreme Court(SC) judge Justice Dinesh Maheshwari as the Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India (LCI), succeeding Justice (Retired) Ritu Raj Awasthi.

• Along with him, Advocate Hitesh Jain and Professor D.P. Verma have been appointed as full-time members of the 23rd LCI for a tenure extending until 31st August 2027.

i.The 23rd LCI was constituted with effect from 1st September 2024 for a three-year term, following the conclusion of the 22nd Law Commission’s tenure on 31st August 2024.
ii.Key Objectives:

• Identify obsolete laws and recommend repeals or amendments.
• Examine the feasibility of implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across India.

>> Read Full News

T Koshy Steps Down as CEO of ONDC 
In April 2025, T Koshy, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), stepped down after completing his three-year tenure. His last day in office will be June 30, 2025.

• The ONDC board has temporarily assigned his responsibilities to an executive committee. Koshy will remain available for advisory support over the next three months.

i.Before joining ONDC, Koshy served as an Executive Director(ED) at the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) . He later worked as a Partner at Ernst & Young (EY) for over a decade.
ii.ONDC, incorporated in 2021, is a Section 8 (not-for-profit) initiative launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I). It is not an application or software but a set of open specifications enabling seamless digital commerce in India.

SPORTS

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri Wins 2025 Bahrain Grand PrixIn April 2025, Oscar Piastri, an Australian Formula One (F1) driver representing the United Kingdom (UK)-based McLaren, won the Formula 1(F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) 2025, held at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. This marked Piastri’s second victory of the 2025 F1 season and the fourth F1 career win.

• The Bahrain GP marked the 50th career race start for Oscar Piastri in F1 .
• With this, he became the first driver to win multiple races in the 2025 F1 season, following his earlier win at the Chinese GP in March 2025.

Note: Oscar Piastri became First McLaren driver to win in Sakhir (Bahrain), since the circuit’s F1 debut in 2004.
Key Highlights:
i.Oscar Piastri secured victory after starting from pole position, maintaining a dominant lead throughout the race, and finishing with a time gap of 15.499 seconds over the second-place finisher.
ii.George Russell, representing Germany-based Mercedes, secured 2nd place, despite facing technical difficulties related to the gearbox and Drag Reduction System (DRS).
iii.Lando Norris of McLaren finished 3rd (+16.273 seconds) despite receiving a 5-second penalty for incorrect grid positioning.
iv.Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Italy-based Ferrari finished 4th and 5th respectively.
Note: With this victory, Oscar Piastri moved to 2nd place in the F1 2025 Drivers’ Standings behind Lando Norris
Top 3 Positions in F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2025:

About Bahrain Grand Prix:
The Bahrain Grand Prix is a prestigious Formula One (F1) motor racing event held annually at the Bahrain International Circuit located in Bahrain. It was first introduced into the F1 calendar in 2004, making it the first Formula One race held in the Middle East.

• The Bahrain International Circuit is known for its desert setting, twilight/night race format under floodlights, and a 5.412 kilometre(km) challenging track layout.

Note: The next race in the 2025 F1 season is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.​

Mohun Bagan Super Giant Wins ISL 2024-25 TitleIn April 2025, Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), a Kolkata (West Bengal)-based football club (FC), won the 11th edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 by defeating Bengaluru FC with a score of 2-1 in the final match held at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, Kolkata.

• This marked MBSG’s second ISL title, their first being in the 2022-23 season (then known as ATK Mohun Bagan).
• With this victory, MBSG became the second team in ISL history, after Mumbai City FC (2020-21), to win both the ISL Winners Shield and the ISL Title.
• Pokemon served as the Official Sponsor of the ISL 2024-25 Final, while Hero MotoCorp Limited remained the Title Sponsor of the tournament.

Note: In the 2024-25 season, MBSG won the ISL Winners Shield by defeating Odisha FC.
ISL 2024-25 Awards:
i.Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Alaaeddine Ajaraie, NorthEast United FC (NEUFC)
ii.Golden Ball (Best Player): Alaaeddine Ajaraie, NEUFC
iii.Golden Glove (Most Clean Sheets): Vishal Kaith, MBSG
iv.Emerging Player of the Season: Brison Fernandes, FC Goa (FCG)
v.Best Grassroot Program: Jamshedpur FC
vi.Best Elite Youth Program: Punjab FC
About Indian Super League (ISL):
i.The Indian Super League (ISL) is a top-tier professional football league in India, established in 2014.
ii.It is co-promoted by New Delhi (Delhi) based All India Football Federation (AIFF), Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Reliance Industries Limited, and Star India.
iii.In 2019, both the Zurich (Switzerland) based Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) based Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognised the ISL as India’s top-tier domestic league.
iv.The league features 13 clubs that compete for two major trophies: ISL Winners Shield (a team that finishes at the top of the league table) and ISL Title (a team winning the playoffs)
Note: In the 2023-24 season, the ISL title was won by Mumbai City FC.

Cricket Returns to Olympics After 128 Years in LA Olympics 2028
In April 2025, Lausanne, Switzerland based International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that cricket will make its return to the Olympic Games at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, after a gap of 128 years.

• The sport will feature six teams each in men’s and women’s T20 (Twenty20) tournaments, marking its first Olympic appearance since the 1900 Paris Games, where a one-off match between Great Britain and France was held.

Event Overview
i.Format: Matches will follow the T20 format, with six teams per gender competing for medals.
ii.Athlete Quota: A total of 90 athlete quotas are allocated for each gender, allowing 15-member squads per team.

• The IOC also approved a record 351 medal events for LA 2028, including 22 additional events compared to Paris 2024.
• The total athlete quota remains at 10,500, with an extra 698 spots allocated to the new sports.

iii.Qualification: The qualification criteria are yet to be confirmed. The United States of America (USA) is likely to secure a direct spot as the host nation. Other teams will qualify based on the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.
iv.Venues: Specific locations for cricket matches in Los Angeles (USA) remain unconfirmed, with schedules to be finalized closer to the event.
v.ICC Membership: The ICC comprises 12 full-member nations including India, Australia, England and 94 associate members.

OBITUARY

Former Indian Basketball Captain Hari Dutt Kapri Passes Away at 83
In April 2025, former Indian basketball team captain Hari Dutt Kapri passed away at the age of 83 years in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. He was born in 1942 in Chiiriyakhan village, located in the Muwani area of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.

• He was a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1969, one of India’s highest honours for outstanding achievement in sports.

Career Highlights:
i.Captaincy: Hari Dutt Kapri was a notable figure in Indian basketball, having led the national team as a captain during its golden years from 1965 to 1978.

• Under his leadership, the Indian basketball team rose from 7th to 4th position in Asia in 1969, marking a significant achievement in the country’s sporting history.

ii.Coaching Legacy: After his retirement from professional basketball, he served in the Uttarakhand Police and continued to mentor young athletes as a basketball coach and trainer, significantly contributing to grassroots sports development in the region.
iii.Awards :The Uttarakhand Government also honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the sport and his impact on basketball development in the state.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Freedom Fighter S. Ambujammal’s Autobiography ‘The India I Saw’ Released
Historian Sriram V translated freedom fighter S. Ambujammal’s 1973 Tamil autobiography ‘Nan Kanda Bharatham’ into English as ‘The India I Saw:: A Glimpse into the Life of S. Ambujammal’. It was published by New Delhi(Delhi) based Rupa Publications.
i.The book stands out for documenting over 65 undocumented rebels, with Sriram V noting there are likely more, shedding light on lesser-known contributors to the freedom struggle.
ii.The autobiography provides a subaltern viewpoint, offering a grassroots perspective on India’s journey to independence. It explores the challenges faced by women in 20th-century India, making it a significant historical and social document.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Art Day 2025 – April 15World Art Day (WAD) is observed annually worldwide on April 15 to strengthen the connection between artistic creations and society, promote awareness of diverse artistic expressions, and acknowledge artists’ contributions to sustainable development.

• The WAD 2025 theme, “DNA – Do No Algorithm,” emphasizes human creativity as a counter to AI-generated art.

Note: The International Association of Art/Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques (IAA/AIAP), a Paris (France)-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), spearheads the celebrations.
Background:
i.In April 2011, during the 17th General Assembly of IAA/AIAP in Guadalajara, Mexico, the IAA/AIAP adopted a proposal by the Turkish National Committee to declare 15 April as World Art Day.
ii.The inaugural World Art Day was celebrated on April 15, 2012.
>> Read Full News

World Voice Day 2025 – April 16World Voice Day (WVD) is an annual global event observed on April 16 to celebrate the significance of the human voice in communication, identity, and culture.

• It is a day dedicated to recognising the significance of the human voice, highlighting its vital role in everyday communication, professional interaction, and artistic expression.

Theme:
i.The 2025 campaign, themed “Empower Your Voice,” emphasizes vocal health awareness and the importance of nurturing one’s voice.
ii.The theme was chosen by the Voice Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).
Background:
i.WVD originated in Brazil on April 16, 1999, initiated by the Brazilian Society of Laryngology and Voice (SBLV) under the leadership of Dr. Nedio Steffen. The event began as Brazilian Voice Day, aiming to raise awareness about voice health and disorders.
ii.The Brazilian initiative inspired countries like Argentina and Portugal to adopt similar observances.
iii.In 2002, the AAO-HNS officially recognized the day, renaming it World Voice Day(WVD) and promoting it internationally
Significance:
The day serves as a global platform to:

• Educate the public on vocal health and prevention of voice disorders.
• Promote research in voice science, medicine, and speech therapy.
• Encourage artistic expression through singing and public speaking.
• Support individuals with voice-related conditions, such as spasmodic dysphonia

About American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS):
It is one of the world’s largest professional organisations representing medical specialists who diagnose and treat conditions related to the ear, nose, throat (ENT), as well as associated structures of the head and neck.
President- Troy D. Woodard
Headquarters– Virginia, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1896

STATE NEWS

MP Declares 25th WLS Named After Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Sagar DistrictIn April 2025, the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) declared its 25th wildlife sanctuary (WLS), named Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Abhyaran, covering an area of 258.64 square kilometres (sq. km) in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• The WLS was notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and was inaugurated on 14th April 2025, coinciding with the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
• It has been designated to strengthen wildlife conservation, preserve biodiversity, and support sustainable eco-tourism and employment in MP, which is widely recognized as the “Tiger State of India”.

About Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Abhyaran:
i.Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Abhyaran is located within the North Sagar Forest Division, covering forested areas in Banda Tehsil and Shahgarh region of Sagar district.
ii.It will act as a protected corridor between Panna Tiger Reserve (Bundelkhand region) and Madhav Tiger Reserve (Gwalior-Chambal region) of MP.

• The corridor will contribute towards the formation of the longest and largest tiger corridor in North-Central India, enhancing the movement of tigers, cheetahs, leopards, wolves, gharials, and vultures.

iii.It enhances connectivity between Madhav Tiger Reserve and Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan), passing through Kuno National Park in Sheopur (MP), which is home to African cheetahs.
iv.Some notable WLS in MP are Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, and Panna Tiger Reserves.
Key Points:
i.Ranthambore National Park, located in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest and most renowned tiger reserves in India.
ii.Among all states and Union Territories (UTs), the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands have the highest number of WLS, with a total of 97.

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