Civil Registration System (CRS)[1][2]
India’s birth and death registration system ⇒ Records vital events, i.e. Birth, Death & Still Birth ⇒ Formed in 1969. 
Birth and death registration are done under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 (amended in 2023), and State Rules framed based on Model RBD Rules. Birth and death registration is mandatory from October 1, 2023 ⇒ Should be reported within 21 days, but delayed registration is allowed in some cases ⇒ Negligence by the registrar is punishable with a fine.
Registration Functionaries: RGI or the Registrar General of India (central level), Chief Registrar (state level), District Registrar (for each district).Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD): RGI obtains data on death causes from the Chief Registrar ⇒ The RBD (Amendment) Act, 2023 makes it mandatory for all medical institutions to provide a certificate as to the cause of death to the RGI and a copy of the same to the nearest relative.90% of birth or death events are getting registered in India.RGI: Functions under the Union Home Ministry.Under CRS, govt hospitals have been tasked with functioning as registrars.Birth and death certificates should be issued within 7 days ⇒ From October 1, 2023, the digital birth certificate is the single document to prove the date of birth. Reports by RGI: ‘Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System’ and ‘The Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death’ ⇒ NOT released since 2020.
Article 200[3]
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the Governor has neither a pocket veto nor an absolute veto under Article 200 ⇒ Set time limits for the Governor to act under this article.
We have already covered this news HERE.
GenomeIndia Project[4][5]
Launched in 2020 ⇒ Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology ⇒ Aims to build a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variations that reflect the unique diversity of the Indian population. Genotyped over 10,000 healthy and unrelated Indians from 85 populations (32 tribal and 53 non-tribal populations) across India ⇒ 180 million genetic variants were found in the genomes of 9,772 individuals.
What could be the real-world benefits of creating a catalogue of genetic variations in the human genome?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
Shakti Vatika Aastha Aevam Hariyali campaign[6]
A special green drive, launched by UP’s CM, by planting a Rudraksha sapling in Bareilly on April 1. Carried out by UP’s Forest Department from April 1 to April 7 ⇒ 11,047 saplings at 781 religious sites were planted ⇒ Highest number of plantations in Gorakhpur division. Shakti Vatikas: Established within temple premises, ashrams, schools, and other spiritual or public spaces during the drive. Tri-Shakti plantation: Neem (Maa Durga), mango (Maa Saraswati), and kadamba (Maa Parvati). We often hear about government-led sapling plantation drives—but at the same time, there are reports of large-scale deforestation by the same authorities. If the goal is to increase forest cover, why are existing forests being cleared in the first place?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme[7]
A ₹22,919-crore Scheme, recently notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ⇒ Aims at making India self-reliant in the electronics supply chain ⇒ 6-year tenure, with 1-year of gestation. A horizontal initiative with benefits spanning multiple sectors (e.g. consumer electronics, medical devices) ⇒ Expected to create a strong multiplier effect. Focuses on passive electronic components, e.g. resistors, capacitors, and connectors (active components come under the India Semiconductor Mission). Will support the design/manufacturing of capital equipment used in electronics production. 3 incentive structures: Turnover-linked, Capex-linked, and Hybrid (employment generation will be a mandatory requirement) ⇒ Unlike past schemes, this is NOT based on a production-linked incentive.
Attempt THIS MCQ With its tech talent and massive market, why hasn’t India yet built a smartphone brand that rivals giants from China or the US?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
Soyuz MS-27[8]
A spaceflight by Russia’s Roscosmos to the International Space Station ⇒ Launched recently from Baikonur Cosmodrome.Baikonur Cosmodrome: A spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. Which are the world’s most iconic spaceports, and where exactly are they located? Does India have spaceports as well?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
7th Poshan Pakhwada[9]
Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) ⇒ To be observed from April 8-22. 4 core themes: Maternal and infant nutrition in the 1st 1,000 days of life, promotion of the Poshan Tracker app, community-based management of malnutrition (CMAM), and encouraging a healthy lifestyle to combat childhood obesity.Poshan Abhiyaan: Launched in 2018 ⇒ Aims to improve nutritional outcomes for women and children.AI-enabled Poshan Tracker: Launched in 2021 ⇒ Has registered all Anganwadi centres and enables real-time tracking of beneficiaries, meal distribution, and health metrics.Community-based management of malnutrition (CMAM) protocol: Introduced in 2023 ⇒ Enables Anganwadi workers to identify and treat acutely malnourished children at the grassroots level.Palna Scheme: In 2022, erstwhile National Creche Scheme was reorganized/renamed as Palna Scheme under the sub-scheme ‘Samarthya’ of ‘Mission Shakti’ ⇒ Provides quality crèche services for children aged six months to six years. Why does India still struggle with poor nutritional outcomes despite years of government schemes and interventions?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
One State One RRB[10]
Department of Financial Services of MoF has notified the amalgamation of 26 Regional Rural banks (RRBs) in 10 States and 1 UT to improve efficiency ⇒ 4th phase of amalgamation of RRBs. ⇒ Will be effective from May 1. Post amalgamation, there will be 28 RRBs in 26 states and 2 UTs ⇒ Approx. 92% of branches in rural/semi-urban areas.Previous 3 phases: Phase I (2006-2010): RRBs reduced from 196 to 82 Phase II (2013-2015): RRBs reduced to 56 Phase III (2019-2021): RRBs reduced to 43. What makes a Regional Rural Bank (RRB) different from other banks? And how did these banks come into existence? When were they set up, and what was the need?
Feel free to discuss HERE.
Miscellaneous[11][12][13][14][15][16]
Santo Domingo: Capital of the Dominican Republic ⇒ A country in the Caribbean. Rhinoplasty: A surgery to improve the nose’s appearance, correct breathing problems, or both. Karnataka-based writer, Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’, became the 1st Kannada title shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025. Has any Indian ever won the International Booker Prize? And hold on—isn’t there another major award with almost the same name? What’s it called, and how are they different? Navkar Mahamantra: Most revered and universal chant in Jainism. 3rd BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting on Agriculture: Held in Kathmandu.
Can you recall where the 6th BIMSTEC Summit was held recently? We have covered it HERE State Visit of Indian President to Portugal and Slovakia (April 7-10): Capital of Portugal – Lisbon; Capital of Slovakia – Bratislava. 
Locate Portugal and Slovakia on map.
Citations
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