Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 24, 2025

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released its “World Economic Outlook (WEO): A Critical Juncture Among Policy Shift” report. The report cuts the global growth forecast to 2.8% and India’s to 6.2% from the earlier January 2025 update. This downgrade is due to global trade tensions and policy uncertainty. The report highlights rapid population ageing as a key concern for economies worldwide.

Notes:
India and Nepal recently inaugurated the start of electromechanical works at the Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project to ensure its timely completion. The Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project is located on the Arun River, a tributary of the Kosi River, in Sankhuwasabha District of eastern Nepal. It is a 900 Megawatt (MW) Run-of-River scheme, which means it uses the river’s natural flow without needing a large reservoir.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India recently directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to assess the impact of nearby glass industries on the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is a premier research body under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Initially, it focused on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable and occupational diseases, and industrial pollution. Its core aim is to support pollution control, environmental management, and sustainable development. NEERI operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Its headquarters is located in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Notes:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing the first-ever space-based quantum sensor to measure gravity with high precision. Scientists are working on a Quantum Gravity Gradiometer (QGG) to be placed onboard a satellite in low Earth orbit. The QGG can detect the smallest gravitational changes by measuring differences in acceleration as tiny as 10⁻¹⁵ meters per second squared over a distance of 1 meter. In this system, atoms are cooled to near absolute zero, turning them into wave-like states inside a vacuum. Lasers manipulate these atoms, causing a phase shift that reveals the strength of gravitational forces. This technology helps estimate the mass of large structures like the Himalayas and track the movement of water, ice, and rocks from space. The recent development marks a big step in using quantum sensing for environmental monitoring and Earth sciences.

Notes:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in partnership with Microsoft, launched the ‘AI Careers for Women’ initiative on April 22, 2025. The program aims to train 20,000 women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six Indian states in Artificial Intelligence (AI). It focuses on empowering women with digital skills, leadership abilities, and entrepreneurship knowledge. A 240-hour curriculum has been developed in collaboration with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). Training will be delivered using the Hub-and-Spoke model, with 30 Centres of Excellence and 150 spoke centers. The initiative promotes digital inclusion and bridges the gender gap in tech fields.