1. Koch-Rajbongshi Community: Assam to Drop Foreigner Tribunal Cases
The Assam government has decided to withdraw cases from Foreigners Tribunals involving indigenous members of the Koch-Rajbongshi community.

About the Koch-Rajbongshi:
This ethnic group is primarily located in Assam, West Bengal, and parts of Meghalaya. It is a cultural amalgamation of two groups: the Koch and the Rajbongshi.

• Koches: Historically rulers in parts of Assam, Bengal, and Bihar, believed to have descended from the Kachari Kingdom.

• Rajbongshis: Once part of the Koch dynasty, they later emerged as a separate identity, mainly among Bengali-speaking farming communities.
  The community is demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Assam and other states to access welfare schemes and legal protections.

2. President Withholds Assent to Tamil Nadu’s Anti-NEET Bill
The President has declined assent to Tamil Nadu’s bill seeking exemption from NEET for medical college admissions, following recommendations from the Union government.

About the Bill:
Passed in 2021, the bill proposed admission to medical courses based on Class 12 marks instead of NEET, citing its adverse impact on students from marginalized backgrounds.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 200 & 201: Require Presidential assent for state bills that affect national policy or overlap with Union laws.

• The Governor may forward such bills to the President.

• The President can grant, withhold, or reserve the bill for further consideration.
  Medical education falls under the Concurrent List, necessitating central approval.

3. China Imposes 34% Tariffs on U.S. Goods
In response to the U.S.-China trade tensions under the Trump administration, China has levied 34% tariffs on various American imports.

About Tariffs:

• Definition: Taxes on imports imposed to generate revenue, protect domestic industries, or as a retaliatory tool in trade conflicts.

• Types:

  • Specific Tariff: Fixed charge per quantity.

  • Ad Valorem Tariff: Percentage of the product’s value.

• Purposes: Revenue generation, protectionism, strategic leverage, and retaliation.

WTO’s Role:

• Sets limits on tariff rates through GATT.

• Provides a mechanism for resolving tariff-related disputes.

4. Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) Approved
The Union Cabinet has greenlit the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II), a 100% centrally funded scheme for FY 2024–2029 with an outlay of ₹6,839 crore.

About the Programme:
Launched in 2023, VVP aims to develop border villages to improve quality of life, create livelihoods, and enhance national security.

Coverage:
States and UTs include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and others along the northern border.

Objectives:

• Boost living conditions and self-reliance in remote areas.

• Engage local communities in border security.

• Promote integration and prevent trans-border crimes.

5. Khelo India Games 2025 in Bihar
Bihar will host the 7th Khelo India Youth Games and the Khelo India Para Games from May 4 to 15, 2025.

About Khelo India:
Launched in 2018, this initiative revives sports culture and scouts young talent.

Key Components:

• Talent Development: Youth, University, and Winter Games.

• Infrastructure: Development of training facilities.

• Training Support: Khelo India Centres and Sports Academies.

• Health Awareness: Promotes fitness through the Fit India Movement.

• Inclusivity: Encourages participation across genders, disabilities, and traditional sports.

6. Pale-chinned Flycatcher Spotted in Arunachal Pradesh
A rare sighting of the Pale-chinned Flycatcher (Cyornis poliogenys) has been reported from the Nong Loung (Bor Beel) forest in Namsai district, adding to Arunachal Pradesh’s rich birdlife.

About the Pale-chinned Flycatcher:

• A small, insect-eating songbird from the Muscicapidae family.

• Noted for its shy nature and preference for dense, shady forests.

• Distribution: Found in Eastern Ghats, Northeast India, Eastern Himalayas, West Bengal, and parts of Southeast Asia including Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

• Habitat: Moist evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with dense undergrowth.

• Features:

  • Males: Dull blue upperparts, pale chin, and olive-brown sides.

  • Females: Duller tones with more brown and less blue.

  • Thin black bill and frequent tail-flicking behavior.

• Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

7. Hansa-3 Trainer Aircraft Cleared for Pilot Training
India’s first indigenous flying trainer aircraft, Hansa-3, has been approved for use in pilot training and will now be manufactured domestically by private industry.

About Hansa-3:

• Designed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, under CSIR’s guidance.

• Intended for flying clubs and pilot training programs.

• Known for low cost and fuel efficiency, making it ideal for Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training.

Key Features:

• Two-seater, low-wing aircraft.

• Powered by a Rotax Digital Control Engine.

• Built with JIPREG composite airframe, glass cockpit, and bubble canopy for wide visibility.

• Equipped with electronic fuel injection for altitude-optimized fuel-air mixture.

8. Ottawa Convention: Countries Withdrawing from Mine Ban Treaty
Several NATO nations, including Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States, have initiated withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention.

About the Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty):

• Prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines (APLs).

• Requires destruction of stockpiled APLs within 4 years and clearance of planted mines within 10 years.

• Annual reporting obligations include stockpile data, mine locations, and progress in clearance.

• Came into force on March 1, 1999, with 164 countries ratifying it.

• Major non-signatories include the U.S., China, India, Pakistan, and Russia.

9. Ancient Theater Discovered in Ionian Islands
A historic archaeological discovery in Lefkada, Greece, has revealed the first ancient Greek theater ever found in the Ionian Islands.

About the Ionian Islands:

• Located off Greece’s western coast in the Ionian Sea.

• Known as the “Heptanese” (Seven Islands), including Corfu (Kerkyra), Paxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, and Kythira.

• Cover a total area of 2,306.94 sq. km.

• Notable Landmark: Mount Ainos (1,628 m) on Kefalonia, the largest island.

Historical Control:

• Ruled by Venice in the 15th–16th centuries.

• Later taken by Russian-Turkish forces in 1799.

• Came under British rule in 1815 before being ceded to Greece in 1864.

10. Bear Killed by Explosive in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
A bear in Karnataka’s Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary died after ingesting an explosive-laced item, officials from the Forest Department confirmed.

About Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Located in Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara districts, Karnataka; established in 1987.

• Spans 1,027.5 sq. km and is traversed by the Cauvery River.

• Borders Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri forest division.

Key Attractions & Cultural Spots:

• Includes Hogenakkal Falls, Mekedatu, Sangam, and Muthathi (Anjaneya temple).

• Predominantly dry deciduous forest.

Fauna:

• Hosts species like elephants, leopards, wild boars, dholes, spotted and barking deer, langurs, macaques, and grizzled giant squirrels.

• The river ecosystem supports mugger crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and the prized mahseer fish.