National News
- The Supreme Court set a three‑month deadline for the President to decide on state bills reserved by governors, ending prolonged delays.
- Telangana became the first state to implement Scheduled Caste sub‑categorisation for fairer reservation distribution.
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the Jagannath Dham Temple in Digha on 30 April, hosting over 12,000 guests.
- Tamil Nadu formed a high‑level committee to review Centre–State relations and enhance state autonomy.
- Andhra Pradesh cabinet approved an ordinance to sub‑categorise Scheduled Castes, enabling “reservation within reservation.”
- Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated India’s first Athlete Passport Management Unit to strengthen anti‑doping.
- India is set to become the fastest‑growing major aviation market by 2026, with a projected 10.5% passenger growth.
- A parliamentary panel urged a third‑party evaluation of the Employees’ Pension Scheme and revision of the ₹1,000 minimum pension by 2025.
- PM Modi will inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport on 2 May—a semi‑automated deep‑water transshipment port in Kerala.
- The government began a pilot ANPR‑FASTag barrier‑less tolling system, postponing satellite‑based toll plans.
- New rules under the Legal Metrology Act, effective 1 July 2025, will require calibration and verification of radar speed equipment.
- The Supreme Court issued guidelines to combat child trafficking, including six‑month trial timelines and hospital accountability.
- The CPCB added a “Blue” pollution category for eco‑friendly industries, extending consent validity to seven years.
International News
- India and Italy deepened their strategic partnership in trade, defence, clean energy, and the IMEEC corridor under JSAP 2025–29.
- The US froze $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard over DEI program disputes, sparking academic freedom debates.
- China halted Boeing aircraft orders amid trade‑war tariffs, boosting Airbus and COMAC’s market share.
- Ecuador’s incumbent Daniel Noboa won re‑election with 55.8% of the vote on a tough‑on‑crime platform.
- WHO finalised a binding Pandemic Treaty proposal for the World Health Assembly in May 2025.
- Tanzania recorded its hottest year since 1970 in 2024, with nighttime temperatures 1.1 °C above normal.
- General Brice Oligui Nguema secured over 90% of votes in Gabon’s presidential election following the 2023 coup.
- China restricted exports of seven rare earth elements, threatening global tech supply chains.
- New York City proclaimed 14 April as Dr B.R. Ambedkar Day to honour his 135th birth anniversary.
- PM Modi will visit Saudi Arabia on 22–23 April to deepen energy, trade, and security ties.
- UNESCO added the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra manuscripts to its Memory of the World Register.
Economy & Banking News
- Milkfed Punjab launched ‘Veera’ mascot for Verka to boost national branding and export reach.
- SEBI barred Gensol Engineering Ltd and its promoters for alleged fund diversion and price manipulation.
- CRISIL projected 12–13% banking credit growth in FY26, driven by regulatory support and tax cuts.
- Wholesale price inflation eased to 2.05% in March 2025, led by a 15.9% drop in vegetable prices.
- The WPI index stood at 154.5 in March, with food inflation at 4.66% and manufactured goods at 3.07%.
- Morgan Stanley cut India’s FY26 GDP forecast to 6.1% from 6.5%, citing global tariff pressures.
- India’s exports rose 0.7% to $41.97 billion in March, widening the trade deficit to $21.54 billion.
- FY25 saw a $41.2 billion trade surplus with the US, while the China deficit deepened to $99.2 billion.
- UNCTAD forecasted India’s GDP growth at 6.5% in 2025—the fastest among major economies.
- SBI Card and Tata Digital introduced co‑branded Tata Neu SBI Cards offering NeuCoin rewards and lounge access.
- SBI relaunched its ‘Amrit Vrishti’ FD scheme with rates up to 7.65% for senior citizens.
- India’s pharma exports hit $30.47 billion in FY25, driven by formulations and strong US demand.
- The government clarified there is no GST on UPI transactions above ₹2,000.
- Engineering, textile, and apparel exports grew over 6% in FY25, boosting merchandise earnings.
Appointments & Personnel News
- Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was appointed chairperson of the IWLF Athletes Commission to champion weightlifters’ welfare.
- Justice B.R. Gavai will become India’s 52nd Chief Justice on 14 May, succeeding Sanjiv Khanna.
- Santosh Kumar was named Deputy CFO of IndusInd Bank amid scrutiny over microfinance loans.
Defence & Security News
- The ‘Kalam & Kavach 2.0’ defence literature festival in New Delhi highlighted AI, cyber, drones, and self‑reliance.
- Indian Navy hosted Meghayan‑25 symposium on marine meteorology under “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together.”
- Exercise DUSTLIK‑VI began in Pune, enhancing India–Uzbekistan military interoperability in semi‑urban operations.
- India aims to raise defence production to ₹3 lakh crore by 2029 to boost self‑reliance and exports.
- India signed its first defence MoU with Slovakia to co‑develop light tanks under “Make in India.”
Science & Technology News
- Six new scarab beetle species were described from Northeast India and the Western Ghats, enriching biodiversity data.
- India launched its first International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum on World Quantum Day.
- Blue Origin’s New Shepard flew the first all‑female crew past the Kármán line, marking a gender milestone.
- C‑DOT and Sterlite tested India’s first quantum key distribution over 100 km of multi‑core fibre.
- JWST detected possible biosignature molecules on exoplanet K2‑18b, suggesting extraterrestrial life potential.
- NASA‑ISRO’s NISAR mission is now slated for launch in June 2025 to monitor climate and disaster changes.
Awards & Ranks News
- Aamir Khan received the Master Humor Award at the Macau Comedy Festival for his humour impact.
- P. Sivakami won the Verchol Dalit Literary Award for her contributions to Dalit literature.
- Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy was honoured with the ‘Legends of Endoscopy’ award in Tokyo.
- Meghalaya received two UIDAI awards for excellence in biometric updates and enrolment verification.
- Shreyas Iyer was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March after scoring 243 runs in three matches.
- National Highways Excellence Awards 2023 recognised top performers in highway development and innovation.
- Five military officers received the MacGregor Memorial Medal for outstanding reconnaissance and adventure.
Important National & International Days
- 14 April: Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti honours the chief architect of India’s Constitution.
- 14 April: World Chagas Disease Day raises awareness of a parasitic illness spread by “kissing bugs.”
- 15 April: World Art Day celebrates creativity and unity on Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday.
- 15 April: Himachal Day marks the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948.
- 18 April: World Heritage Day promotes protection of global cultural and natural sites.
- 19 April: World Liver Day highlights liver health and the theme “Food Is Medicine.”
Sports News
- ICC formed a task force with BCCI, ECB, and CA to support displaced Afghan women cricketers.
- Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, McLaren’s first victory at the circuit.
- India’s men’s recurve archery team earned silver at Stage 1 of the Archery World Cup in Florida.
- Virat Kohli recorded his 100th T20 half‑century in the IPL, tying the league’s record.
- Carlos Alcaraz claimed the Monte Carlo Masters title after a 3‑6, 6‑1, 6‑0 comeback.
- India finished second overall at the ISSF World Cup with eight medals ahead of Paris 2024 qualifiers.
- Mohun Bagan won the ISL 2024‑25 title at home, also securing the League Shield.
- Saurabh Chaudhary won bronze in 10 m air pistol at the Lima ISSF World Cup after a two‑year break.
Obituaries News
- Kumudini Lakhia (1930–2025), Kathak legend who modernised classical dance, passed away on 14 April.
- Jean Marsh (1934–2025), Emmy‑winning “Upstairs, Downstairs” actress, died on 13 April in London.
- Mario Vargas Llosa (1936–2025), Nobel Prize laureate and Peruvian novelist, died on 14 April.
Additional Current Affairs
- Labour Ministry signed an MoU with Swiggy to post 1.2 million gig and logistics jobs on the NCS portal.
- Banaras shehnai artisans received a GI tag to protect their traditional wind instrument heritage.
- WHO and IDF co‑hosted a Bangkok event on integrated TB and diabetes care strategies.
- A two‑day Buddhism conclave in Arunachal Pradesh will explore Theravāda traditions and regional culture.
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