3rd April 2025 Top Current Affairs for Judiciary, APO, and JLO Exams

Stay updated with the 3rd April 2025 Top Current Affairs for Judiciary, APO, and JLO exams, covering Vandana Katariya’s retirement, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha, Kerala’s ASPA Award, Jayanta Bhattacharya’s NIH role, Niharika Singhania’s equestrian gold, and more. This blog provides detailed insights into sports, legal reforms, public administration, and international relations to boost your 2025 exam preparation.

Introduction

Staying informed with the 3rd April 2025 Top Current Affairs is essential for Judiciary, APO, and JLO aspirants preparing for 2025 exams, as these events often form the basis of general awareness questions in prelims, mains essays, and interview discussions. Today’s updates include Indian hockey icon Vandana Katariya’s retirement, the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha, Kerala’s ASPA Award for the Year of Enterprises project, Jayanta Bhattacharya’s appointment as NIH Director, Niharika Singhania’s equestrian gold in Belgium, Arjun Bhati’s National Youth Award, SC Ralhan’s role at FIEO, Reliance’s esports venture with BLAST, the GI tag for Kumbakonam Betel Leaf and Thovalai Maanikka Maalai, and the US sale of F-16 jets to the Philippines. This blog provides a detailed overview of these developments, offering key insights for your exam preparation.

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1. Indian Hockey Icon Vandana Katariya Announces Retirement After 15-Year Career

Indian women’s hockey veteran Vandana Katariya announced her retirement from international hockey on March 31, 2025, concluding a stellar 15-year career that left an indelible mark on the sport.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Most-Capped Player: With 320 international matches and 158 goals, Vandana is India’s most-capped female hockey player.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: She made history as the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, contributing to India’s fourth-place finish.

Honors and Awards

Arjuna Award (2021)
Padma Shri (2022)
Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award (2014) for Player of the Year (Women)
Hockey India President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement (2021)
Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year (2021, 2022)

Significance

Vandana’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian women’s hockey, highlighting her role in elevating the sport’s global standing.
For aspirants, this event underscores sports diplomacy and gender equality in sports, often a topic in mains essays.

2. Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 Introduced in Lok Sabha

The Union government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025, presented by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, which governs Waqf property management in India.

Key Changes in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Waqf by User Applied Prospectively: The concept of ‘Waqf by user’ (properties used for religious/charitable purposes becoming Waqf) now applies only prospectively, protecting pre-existing Waqf properties unless disputed or government-owned.
Role of Collector Revised: An officer above the rank of Collector will now conduct inquiries into disputed properties, ensuring government land isn’t wrongly claimed as Waqf.
Eligibility for Donating Property: Any person practicing Islam for five years, legally owning the property, and with no fraudulent intent, can donate to Waqf, expanding eligibility.
Extension of Legal Proceedings Period: Courts can now entertain applications beyond six months if valid reasons for delay are provided.
Creation of Waqf-alal-Aulad: Ensures Waqf-alal-Aulad (family support Waqf) does not violate inheritance rights of legal heirs, including women.

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Amendments

Introduced in August 2024, the bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which approved 14 amendments adopted by the Union Cabinet before reintroduction.
The bill passed the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025, after a 12-hour debate, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against, despite opposition protests.
TDP, an NDA ally, may propose excluding non-Muslims from State Waqf Boards, leaving the decision to states.

Political Developments

Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bill, accusing the opposition of “fear-mongering” for vote-bank politics, and clarified it does not interfere with religious practices.
Opposition leaders, including Asaduddin Owaisi, criticized the bill as an “insult to Muslims,” alleging it targets Muslim-managed properties and undermines religious autonomy.

Significance

The bill aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in Waqf governance but has sparked debates over religious autonomy and property rights, making it a key topic for exam discussions.

3. Kerala Receives ASPA Award for Innovation in Public Administration

Kerala was awarded the Innovation in Public Administration Award by the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) for its Year of Enterprises (YOE) project, received by Suman Billa, former Principal Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, at an event in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2025.

About ASPA

The American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) is a professional association with nearly 10,000 members in the US, focusing on government policy, public administration, and civil society programs.

Kerala’s Year of Enterprises (YOE) Initiative

Launched: 2022-23 to boost MSME growth and create a business-friendly ecosystem.
Achievements: Created over 350,000 MSMEs between 2022-25, surpassing the target of 100,000 units and 300,000 jobs.

Minister’s Address at ASPA Conference

Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeeve highlighted how YOE transformed Kerala into an industrial and entrepreneurship-friendly state through integrated efforts across government departments, R&D institutions, trade unions, and financial institutions.

Economic Impact and Policy Reforms

Ease of Doing Business (EODB): Kerala’s ranking improved from 28th in 2019 to 1st in India, driven by legislative and administrative reforms.
MSME Financing: Increased significantly, as per State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) data.

Future Vision

Kerala aims for a trillion-dollar economy by focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles for sustainable growth.

Significance

The award highlights Kerala’s innovative governance, a potential topic for mains essays on public administration and economic development.

4. Indian-American Jayanta Bhattacharya Appointed Director of US National Institutes of Health

Jayanta ‘Jay’ Bhattacharya, an Indian-American, assumed office as the 18th Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the top medical research agency in the US, on March 25, 2025.

Background and Education

Born: Kolkata, India.
Education: BA, MA, MD, and PhD from Stanford University.
Recognition: Gained prominence for opposing Covid-19 lockdowns and mask mandates, co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration.

Role and Vision

Bhattacharya will align NIH activities with the US President’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda, focusing on medical research, chronic disease prevention, and healthcare innovation.
As one of the senior-most Indian-Americans in the Donald Trump administration, he will lead NIH’s efforts in advancing public health.

Significance

Bhattacharya’s appointment reflects the growing influence of Indian-Americans in global health, a potential topic for interviews on diaspora contributions.

5. Indian Equestrian Niharika Singhania Wins Gold at Azelhof CSI Lier, Belgium

Niharika Singhania, a 19-year-old Indian equestrian, won the gold medal at the Azelhof CSI Lier competition in Belgium on April 1, 2025.

Event Details

Event: Two Phases Special Event, riding Hotese Charboniere.
Performance: Completed with 40.72 and 40.34 penalty points, securing the top position against international equestrians.

Background

Family: Eldest daughter of industrialist and Raymond CMD Gautam Singhania.
FEI Ranking: Ranked 126th in the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Dressage World Ranking for CDI1/CDIO1 events**.

Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI)

Founded: 1921.
Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
President: Ingmar De Vos.

Significance

Niharika’s achievement highlights India’s growing presence in international equestrian sports, a potential topic for prelims questions on sports achievements.

6. Golfer Arjun Bhati to Receive National Youth Award for Contribution During COVID-19

Arjun Bhati, a three-time Golf Junior World Champion, will receive the National Youth Award (NYA) for his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, at an event organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports at Parliament.

Contribution During COVID-19

Bhati sold 102 trophies, raising ₹4,30,000, which he donated to the PM CARES Fund for relief efforts.
His grandmother contributed her one-year pension to inspire his efforts.

Arjun Bhati’s Golf Career

Titles: Won the Junior World Golf Championship in 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Recognition: Received an award from the Virat Kohli Foundation in 2023.

National Youth Award (NYA)

Established: 1985.
Purpose: Recognizes individuals (15-29 years) and organizations for contributions in health, human rights, active citizenship, and community service.
Awards:
- Individuals: Medal, Certificate, ₹50,000 cash prize.
- Organizations: Trophy, Certificate, ₹2,00,000 cash prize.

Significance

Bhati’s award underscores the role of youth in social service, a potential topic for mains essays on nation-building.

7. SC Ralhan Appointed as New President of FIEO

SC Ralhan assumed office as the new President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) on April 1, 2025, replacing Ashwani Kumar.

Vice-President Appointment

Ravikant Kapur was appointed as the Vice-President of FIEO.

Professional Background

SC Ralhan: Over 50 years of experience in the export sector, particularly in engineering and hand tools, as the Managing Director of Sri Tools Industries, Ludhiana.
Ravikant Kapur: An industry veteran from the textiles sector, owner of Group GR.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)

Established: 1965.
Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
Governing Body: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Purpose: Apex body representing Indian exporters, promoting India’s exports.
Functions: Provides policy inputs, assists with trade policies, conducts training programs, and resolves trade-related issues.

Significance

Ralhan’s appointment highlights export sector leadership, a potential topic for prelims questions on economic organizations.

8. Reliance Partners with BLAST to Expand Esports Business in India

RISE Worldwide, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, partnered with BLAST Esports, a Denmark-based tournament organizer, to establish a joint venture (JV) for expanding esports in India.

Key Highlights of the Partnership

Objective: Develop new esports Intellectual Properties (IPs) and introduce BLAST’s global IPs to India.
Ecosystem Growth: Leverage Jio’s technology and distribution network to enhance the esports ecosystem.
Market Potential: India has over 600 million gamers (18% of global gamers), making it a fast-growing esports market.
Government Recognition: Esports is officially recognized as part of multi-sports events in India.
Tournaments: The JV will host esports tournaments on the JioGames platform to boost viewership and industry growth.

BLAST Esports

A leading global esports event organizer, working with publishers like Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft.

Significance

The partnership reflects the growing esports industry in India, a potential topic for mains essays on digital economy and youth engagement.

9. Kumbakonam Betel Leaf & Thovalai Maanikka Maalai Receive GI Tag

The Kumbakonam Vetrilai (Betel Leaf) and Thovalai Maanikka Maalai (Flower Garland) from Tamil Nadu were granted the Geographical Indications (GI) tag on April 1, 2025, confirming their unique regional identity.

Details

Kumbakonam Betel Leaf:
- First Agricultural GI Product: The first agricultural product from Tamil Nadu’s delta region to receive a GI tag.
- Cultivation: Grown along the Cauvery River in Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, known for its distinctive green color and strong flavor.
- Application: Filed by Vettrilai Urpathiyalargal Nalasangam, facilitated by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
Thovalai Maanikka Maalai:
- Craftsmanship: Made in Thovalai, Kanniyakumari, using oleander and rose flowers, with a gem-like pattern created through a traditional folding technique.
- Cultural Significance: Crafted by artisans in Thovalai, who have preserved this art for centuries.
- Application: Filed by Thovalai Maanikkamaalai Kaivinai Kalaingargal Nalasangam, facilitated by Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation and Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre – Chennai.

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

Definition: A sign used on products with a specific geographical origin and qualities tied to that origin.
Governing Body: Geographical Indications Registry, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Legal Framework: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, effective since 2003.
Duration: Valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely.
First GI Tag in India: Darjeeling Tea in 2004-05.

Significance

The GI tag enhances the market value and authenticity of these products, promoting Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage, a potential topic for prelims questions on cultural geography.

10. US Approves Sale of 20 F-16 Fighter Jets to the Philippines for $5.58 Billion

The United States approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets worth $5.58 billion to the Philippines, announced on April 1, 2025, to strengthen its defense capabilities.

Key Highlights

Objective: Enhance the Philippine Air Force’s maritime domain awareness and defense capabilities.
Regional Impact: The sale comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea, particularly around the Scarborough Shoal.
Defense Cooperation: The Philippines has deepened military ties with the US under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., including joint exercises in northern Luzon near Taiwan.
Strategic Importance: Part of the US strategy to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Significance

The deal highlights US-Philippines strategic partnership, a potential topic for mains essays on international relations and regional security.

Relevance for Judiciary, APO, and JLO Aspirants

The 3rd April 2025 Top Current Affairs provide valuable insights for Judiciary, APO, and JLO aspirants preparing for 2025 exams:

Prelims: Focus on factual details like Vandana Katariya’s 320 caps, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025’s key changes, Kerala’s ASPA Award, and Niharika Singhania’s equestrian gold.
Mains: Analyze broader themes such as sports legacy (Vandana Katariya), legal reforms (Waqf Bill), public administration (Kerala YOE), cultural heritage (GI tags), and global diplomacy (US-Philippines F-16 deal).
Interviews: Discuss the implications of these events on gender equality in sports, religious autonomy (Waqf Bill), innovative governance, cultural preservation, and Indo-Pacific security, showcasing a well-rounded understanding of contemporary issues.

Conclusion

The 3rd April 2025 Top Current Affairs offer a comprehensive overview of key events for Judiciary, APO, and JLO aspirants, including Vandana Katariya’s retirement, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha, Kerala’s ASPA Award, Jayanta Bhattacharya’s NIH role, Niharika Singhania’s equestrian gold, Arjun Bhati’s National Youth Award, SC Ralhan’s appointment at FIEO, Reliance’s esports venture with BLAST, the GI tag for Kumbakonam Betel Leaf and Thovalai Maanikka Maalai, and the US sale of F-16 jets to the Philippines. These events provide critical insights into sports, legal reforms, public administration, cultural heritage, and international relations, helping candidates excel in prelims, mains, and interviews. Stay updated and integrate these developments into your preparation to succeed in your 2025 exams!

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FAQs

Who is the most-capped player in Indian women’s hockey history who recently announced her retirement?
Vandana Katariya, with 320 international matches, announced her retirement on March 31, 2025.
Who introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha?
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the bill on April 2, 2025.
Which Act does the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seek to amend?
The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, governing Waqf property management.
Which Indian state received the ASPA Award for Innovation in Public Administration for the Year of Enterprises (YOE) project?
Kerala received the ASPA Award for its Year of Enterprises (YOE) project.
Which organization awarded Kerala for Innovation in Public Administration?
The American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) awarded Kerala.
What is the name of the initiative launched by Kerala in 2022-23 to boost MSME growth?
The Year of Enterprises (YOE) initiative was launched to boost MSME growth.
Who has been appointed as the 18th Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)?
Jayanta ‘Jay’ Bhattacharya, an Indian-American, was appointed as the 18th NIH Director.
Who won the gold medal at the Azelhof CSI Lier equestrian competition in Belgium?
Niharika Singhania, a 19-year-old Indian equestrian, won the gold medal.
Who is the three-time Golf Junior World Champion set to receive the National Youth Award for his contribution during COVID-19?
Arjun Bhati will receive the National Youth Award for his COVID-19 contributions.
Which two products from Tamil Nadu recently received the GI tag?
Kumbakonam Betel Leaf and Thovalai Maanikka Maalai received the GI tag on April 1, 2025.