CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
Recently, a large part of the United States witnessed heavy rain, strong winds and severe thunderstorms due to a type of storm known as an atmospheric river. What Are Atmospheric Rivers? Impacts of Atmospheric Rivers Link to Climate Change (Sources: IE & NOAA)
The NOAA has confirmed that the most recent La Niña phase has officially ended, and current conditions are now ENSO-neutral. This means that sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), wind patterns, and atmospheric behavior in the tropical Pacific are no longer strongly skewed toward either cooling (La Niña) or warming (El Niño). ENSO Basics: A Global Climate Driver Why This Matters (Sources: DoE & NOAA)
Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—are preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty, citing growing military threats from Russia. Key Highlights
A Nature journal study published on April 2 challenges long-standing assumptions about Earth’s geological past. Researchers discovered that: What’s the Big Deal? For decades, scientists believed: But this study found: A Hellish Beginning (Source: Scitechdaily)
The Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on Australian external territories like Heard and McDonald Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island (10%), and Norfolk Island (29%) seems largely symbolic, especially for places like Heard and McDonald, which have no residents and no exports to speak of. Heard and McDonald Islands: Norfolk Island Exception: (Sources: BBC and UNESCO)
The concept design of the lead unit of Bharat Small Modular Reactor 200 MWe has been completed, which includes sizing of the nuclear reactor alongwith the primary heat transport system, Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh said in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha. (Sources: PIB & BL)
Recently, Novartis announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Vanrafia (atrasentan) to treat primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger’s disease. About IgA Nephropathy (Source: FE)
Travellers from the US, Canada, and most European countries will now need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering the United Kingdom (UK), even if they do not require a visa. What is an Electronic Travel Authorization? (Source: FE)
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, with its epicenter 20 km from Mandalay. The quake was followed by strong aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4 magnitude. Key Highlights: (Source: TH)
On March 28, 2025, ISRO achieved a major milestone in its Semicryogenic engine development programme with the first successful hot test of the Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. Technical Advantages: Key Subsystems of the SE2000 Engine: Engine Specifications: The SE2000 engine operates on an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle, featuring: (Source: ISRO)
The exhibition “Deconstructed Realms: India’s Tryst with Cubism” is being held from February 8 to April 5 at the DAG art gallery in Delhi. About Cubism Art Cubism Art in India (Sources: IE)
According to the Government of India, more than 96,000 vehicles have been registered as ‘adapted’ vehicles for persons with disabilities since 2020. About Adapted Vehicle (Source: DD News)
India’s securities market regulator, SEBI has proposed a rule change that will allow founders to retain their Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) even after an IPO. Existing Rules SEBI’s Proposal Why This Matters? (Source: DD News)
For decades, scientists have puzzled over how iguanas ended up in Fiji and Tonga, while all their relatives live in the Americas. New Research Findings The Epic Journey About Iguanas (Source: IE)
On March 20, 2025, Earth experiences the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. What Happens on the Equinox? About Equinox (Source: Indian Express)
