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GK Update

Thu 03 Apr, 2025

National News

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

  • The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed in the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025. This bill amends the Waqf Act, 1995.
  • A total of 288 votes were cast in favor of the bill, while 232 votes were against it.

Main provisions:

  • Power of District Collector to inspect Waqf properties
  • Removal of the concept of "Waqf by User"
  • Mandatory registration of all Waqf properties in a central database
  • Provision for appeal in High Court against decisions of tribunal
  • Waqf:
  • Islamic property management system, property dedicated for religious, charitable or social purposes
  • Operated: By Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards

Operation Kagar

  • Operation Kagar is an anti-Naxal campaign launched in Maoist-affected areas.
  • This operation has been jointly initiated by the central and state governments, covering states such as Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.

Related Facts:

  • Naxalites' response: Naxalites have demanded ceasefire and peace talks from the central and state governments. They have said that if the government stops military operations, they are ready to join the peace talks

Increase in MGNREGA Wage Rates

  • The central government has issued a notification regarding the increase in wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the financial year 2025-26.
  • As per this revision, wage rates have been increased by 2.33% to 7.48%, resulting in a hike of ₹7 to ₹26 per day, varying across different states.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):

Act passed: 2005 Headquarters: Ministry of Rural Development, New Delhi Functional Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

International News

Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Thailand

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Thailand starting April 3, 2025, to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

BIMSTEC:

  • Full name: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
  • Foundation: Bangkok Declaration in June 1997
  • Main objective: To promote economic, technical and regional cooperation among the countries of the Bay of Bengal
  • Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Member countries: 7 (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand)
  • First BIMSTEC Youth Summit: 7-11 February 2025, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Announcement of Reciprocal Tariffs

  • U.S. President Donald Trump has recently announced the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on various countries.

Duties imposed on major countries:

  • China: 34% (may rise to 54% with fentanyl-related duties)
  • Vietnam: 46%
  • India: 26%
  • South Korea: 25%
  • Japan: 24%
  • Thailand: 36%
  • Taiwan: 32%
  • European Union: 20%

Science and Technology

128 New Moons of Saturn Discovered

  • An international team of astronomers, led by Taiwanese scientists, has discovered 128 new moons of Saturn.
  • This discovery was made using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), with the participation of scientists from Taiwan, Canada, the United States, and France.

Relevant Facts:

 

 

  • With the discovery of these 128 new moons, Saturn now has a total of 274 moons, surpassing Jupiter's 95 moons.
  • All newly discovered moons are irregular moons, orbiting far from Saturn in large elliptical orbits at various angles.
  • The naming of these new moons will be overseen by Dr. Edward Ashton, the lead researcher of this discovery.

Economy and Banking

NHAI Exceeds Its Target

  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has surpassed its target for the financial year 2024-25 by constructing 5,614 kilometers of national highways, exceeding the set target of 5,150 kilometers.

Relevant Facts:

 

  • NHAI's capital expenditure for this financial year exceeded ₹2,50,000 crore, surpassing the set target of ₹2,40,000 crore.
  • Despite these achievements, NHAI constructed 6,644 kilometers of national highways in the previous financial year (2023-24), which is higher than this year’s total.

Dividend Received by the Government from PSU

  • According to data compiled by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the government received a dividend of ₹74,016 crore from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the financial year 2024-25.
  • This is higher than the ₹63,749.3 crore dividend received in financial year 2023-24.

Related Facts:

 

  • In the financial year 2024-25, the Center received dividends of more than Rs 55,000 crore from PSUs. The highest dividends were received from Coal India at Rs 10,252 crore, ONGC at Rs 10,002 crore, Telecommunications Consultants (India) at Rs 3,761.50 crore, Hindustan Zinc at Rs 3,619.06 crore and BPCL at Rs 3,562.47 crore.

₹2000 Banknotes Update

  • According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), 98.21% of ₹2000 banknotes have returned to the banking system, with only ₹6,366 crore worth of such notes still in public circulation.
  • The RBI had announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 denomination banknotes from circulation on May 19, 2023.

Related Facts:

  • The Reserve Bank of India has clarified that Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be legal tender even if they are taken out of circulation

Art and Culture

Ban on Coconut Offerings

  • During Chaitra Navratri, offering coconuts at the Shri Naina Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh has been prohibited.
  • This restriction has been imposed for security reasons and to maintain law and order.

Related Facts:

  • Chaitra Navratri: A sacred festival of worship of Goddess Durga in Hinduism, also known as Vasant Navratri.
  • It is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and concludes on the day of Ram Navami.

Kumbakonam Betel Leaf

  • The Kumbakonam Betel Leaf, grown along the Cauvery River in the Thanjavur Delta region, has become the first agricultural product from this region to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
  • This betel leaf is known for its unique flavor and aroma.

GI Tag (Geographical Indication Tag):

 

  • A registered identification mark linking a product to its specific geographical location
  • Comes under intellectual property rights
  • Regulated in India: By the ‘Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
  • Validity of registration: 10 years

Person In News

Jacob Duffy

  • New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy has secured the top spot in the ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings.

International Cricket Council (ICC):

Founded: June 1909 Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) President: Jay Shah

Salila Pandey

  • Salila Pandey has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Cards & Payment Services.
  • Her appointment is effective from April 1, 2025, succeeding Abhijit Chakravarty, who is retiring on March 31, 2025.

State Bank of India (SBI):

  • The largest public sector bank in India.
  • Founded: July 1955 (by nationalization of Imperial Bank of India)
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Chairman: Challa Srinivasulu Setty (27th)

Poonam Gupta

  • Poonam Gupta, Director General of the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and a part-time member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, has been appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) :

  • is the central bank of India, which regulates the country's monetary policy, banking system and financial stability
  • Established: 1 April 1935 (under RBI Act, 1934)
  • Nationalised: 1 January 1949 (came under government control)
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Original location: Kolkata (1935), then shifted to Mumbai in 1937
  • Governor: Sanjay Malhotra

S. Raman

  • The central government has appointed S. Raman as the Chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
  • He will succeed Deepak Mohanty, whose tenure ends in May 2025.

Related Facts:

  • S Raman is currently serving as Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
  • Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
  • Established: October 2003
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • It is the central body for regulating and managing the pension system in India, it operates the National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
  • Legal status: Under the PFRDA Act, 2013

Today News

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