Daily Current Affairs Quiz: April 29, 2025

Notes:
The Indian Navy recently test-fired a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) air defence system from INS Surat in the Arabian Sea. MR-SAM is a high-speed, quick-reaction, vertically launched supersonic missile system. It is designed to destroy enemy aerial threats such as missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, and helicopters. MR-SAM provides high responsiveness and precision in protecting naval assets against aerial attacks. It has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The missile system is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in India. This successful test enhances the Indian Navy’s air defence capabilities at sea.

Notes:
Around 17,000 personnel are participating in the annual Balikatan Exercise 2025, which will simulate a full-scale battle scenario to deter China’s ambitions in the region. Balikatan Exercise is the largest bilateral military exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States. The word “Balikatan” is a Tagalog phrase meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder,” symbolizing strong cooperation between the two countries. This exercise is held every year to improve military interoperability and readiness. It supports the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines, strengthening their defence partnership.

Notes:
The government recently authorised the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to share and receive information with the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law to better detect money trails and combat cyber frauds. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the national nodal agency to fight cybercrime. It provides a framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to handle cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive way. It connects academia, industry, public, and government for prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes. The headquarters of I4C is located in New Delhi.

Notes:
April 27th is celebrated as International Hyena Day to encourage people to change their negative views about hyenas and recognize their importance to the environment. Conservation group Wild Africa has warned that the four living species of hyenas are facing rising threats, leading to declining populations. Hyenas are dog-like carnivores belonging to the family Hyaenidae, and they are native to Asia and Africa. The four existing species are the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea), and Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). Hyenas live in forest edges, grasslands, savannas, sub-deserts, and mountains up to 13,000 feet high. Their distribution spans across Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Asia.

Notes:
A new carnivorous caterpillar, nicknamed the “Bone Collector,” was recently discovered on the Hawaiian island of Oahu due to its unusual behavior. The “Bone Collector” caterpillar is carnivorous and constructs a protective case using body parts of its prey, like ant heads and fly wings, combined with silk. It is found in a small, isolated mountain forest on Oahu, a habitat threatened by invasive species. The caterpillar’s evolutionary lineage is believed to be at least six million years old, predating the formation of the Hawaiian islands. It feeds on insects caught in spider webs and decorates its silk case with the body parts of its prey.