Current Affairs 16 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 16 April 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Deputy PM of Italy Antonio Tajani’s Visit to India from April 11 to 12, 2025
The Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani was on an official 2-day state visit to India from April 11 to 12, 2025.

• He was accompanied by Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of University and Research; and a large delegation of businesses, leading universities and research institutions.

Highlights of the Visit :
i.During his official visit to India, the Deputy PM of Italy Antonio Tajani called on President of India Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.On April 11 2025, EAM Dr. S. Jai Shankar; Union Minister Piyush Goyal, MoC&I and Antonio Tajani, Deputy PM of Italy co-chaired the 1st India-Italy Business, Science and Tech Forum held in New Delhi.
iii.On April 11 2025, Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of University and Research (Italy) called on Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), India held a high-level meeting in New Delhi.

• During the meeting, both the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing collaboration in the fields of science and technology.

About Italy:
Prime Minister (PM)- Georgia Meloni
Capital- Rome
Currency- Euro (EUR)
>> Read Full News

India’s Raw Silk Production Rises Alongside 16.46% Export BoostAccording to recent data from the Ministry of Textiles(MoT), India’s silk production and exports have shown a consistent rise from 2017–18 to 2023–24. This upward trend highlights India’s growing capacity in sericulture and its enhanced role in the global silk market

• India is the second-largest silk producer after China and also the largest consumer of silk globally, with the industry holding significant historical, cultural, and economic importance.

India’s Silk Market Overview:
i.India’s raw silk production increased from 31,906 Million Tonnes(MT) in 2017-18 to 38,913 MT in 2023-24.
ii.Silk and silk goods exports grew from Rs.1,649.48 crores in 2017-18 to Rs.2,027.56 crores in 2023-24.
iii.This growth is supported by the expansion of mulberry plantations from 223,926 hectares(ha) in 2017-18 to 263,352 ha in 2023-24, which boosted mulberry silk production from 22,066 MT in 2017-18 to 29,892 MT in 2023-24.
iv.As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) reports, India exported 3348 MT of silk waste in 2023-24.
>> Read Full News

Accelerating Polymer-Based Industrial Growth through Plastic Parks in IndiaThe Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is implementing the Scheme for Setting up of Plastic Parks under the umbrella scheme of New Scheme of Petrochemicals, to focus on developing Plastic Parks equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and common facilities.

• India stands 12th in the world export of plastics, as per the 2022 World Bank estimates. It has experienced significant growth from 8.2 million thousand USD in 2014 to an estimated 27 million thousand USD in 2022.

Key Highlights:
i.Under the above scheme, the Government of India provides financial assistance of up to 50% of the project cost, with a maximum limit of Rs.40 crores per project.
ii.Centres of Excellence (CoE): To promote the research and development in polymer and plastics the department has established 13 CoE in various national level institutes.
About Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers:
Union Minister – Jagat Prakash Nadda (Constituency – Rajya Sabha, Gujarat)
Union Minister of State  – Anupriya Patel (Constituency – Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh)
Departments – Chemicals & Petro-Chemicals, Fertilizers and Pharmaceuticals
>> Read Full News

CPCB Introduced New ‘Blue Category’ for High Polluting Incineration IndustryIn April 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has introduced new category of industries called ‘Blue category’ industries based on the Essential Environmental Services (EES) for managing the pollution caused by the anthropogenic (human-induced) activities.

• Previously, the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration industries which use the process of burning unsegregated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) produces dirty electricity were classified as a ‘Red Category’ industry by CPCB.

i.The Blue category industry will get an additional two years validity for Consent to Operate (CTO) i.e. consent to pollute by CPCB, as per the Pollution Index (PI).
ii.As per CPCB, the new classification is based on ‘precautionary principle’ which means the potential of industries to pollute the envirionment.

• Also, industries that produce minimum hazardous waste will be classified under the ‘blue industry’ category.

About Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
Chairman- Amandeep Garg
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
>> Read Full News

MoC Signs CMDPAs for Marwatola-II & Namchik West Coal Mines
In April 2025, the Ministry of Coal (MoC), Government of India (GoI), signed Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) with the successful bidders of two coal mines—Marwatola-II and Namchik West under the 11th round of commercial coal mining auctions. 

• This move is part of India’s ongoing efforts to boost energy security and achieve self-reliance in coal production.

i.Madhya Pradesh (MP) based Marwatola-II has been awarded to Raipur (Chhattisgarh) based Singhal Business Private Limited, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR) based Namchik west to Raipur based PRA Nuravi Coal Mining Private Limited.
ii.Of the two coal mines, one is fully explored, while the other is partially explored.
iii.These blocks have a combined Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of around 0.34 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).
iv.Around Rs. 55 crore will be invested to start operations at the mines, which are expected to generate about Rs. 106.14 crore in annual revenue.
Note: With these additions, MoC has signed CMDPAs for a total of 120 coal mines auctioned under the commercial framework, representing a cumulative PRC of 265.64 MTPA, an annual revenue of Rs. 37,300 crore, and a projected investment of Rs. 39,900 crore.

BANKING & FINANCE

IFC Launches Catalytic First Loss Guarantee Facility to Boost MSME Financing
In April 2025, the United States of America (USA) based International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), initiated a call for expressions of interest for eligible Financial Services Providers (FSPs) to participate in its Catalytic First Loss Guarantee Facility under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Finance Platform.

• The facility aims to expand access to credit for women-owned businesses, agriculture-focused MSMEs, and climate-related financing while demonstrating the commercial viability of these segments.

i.The primary goal of the facility is to provide first-loss guarantees to eligible third-party FSPs, enabling them to scale operations, test innovative products, and adopt inclusive risk criteria.
ii.Globally, MSMEs represent over 90% of all businesses, contribute 50% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and account for 70% of employment. However, the MSME finance gap stands at USD 5.7 trillion, which rises to USD 8 trillion when informal enterprises are included.
iii.Eligible FSPs include Regulated banks, Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) authorized to conduct lending or leasing activities in their respective jurisdictions.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

IIT-Madras & Ziroh Labs Launch CPU-Based AI Platform ‘Kompact AI’ to Democratize Access
In April 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) based Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) and California (the United State of America, USA) based Ziroh Labs, in partnership with IIT-M Pravartak Technologies Foundation, launched ‘Kompact AI’, a platform enabling the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models on Central Processing Units (CPUs) without requiring Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

• This innovation aligns with India’s “AI for All” mission, aiming to bridge the digital divide by providing AI capabilities to regions with limited resources .​
• The collaboration also established the Centre of AI Research (CoAIR) to address compute accessibility challenges in India. CoAIR focuses on creating practical AI solutions for CPU-based and edge device inferencing, benefiting startups, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and government agencies.

Key Features of ‘Kompact AI’ :
i.CPU-Based Deployment: Allows AI models to run efficiently on standard CPUs, reducing reliance on costly GPUs.
ii.Offline Functionality: Designed to operate without constant internet connectivity, making it suitable for remote and under-resourced areas .
iii.Optimized Models: Successfully optimized 17 AI models, including DeepSeek, Qwen, and Llama, for CPU inference, with benchmarking support from IIT Madras .
iv.Cost-Effective: Reduces infrastructure costs, making AI development and deployment more affordable for startups, researchers, and enterprises.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

11th Annual Breakthrough Prizes 2025: University of Jammu RecognizedIn April 2025, the 11th annual Breakthrough Prizes, also known as the Oscars® of Science, were announced by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation during a grand ceremony in Santa Monica, California, the United States of America (USA).The event was held to celebrate extraordinary contributions in the fields of science and mathematics.

•  The High Energy Physics Group from the Department of Physics, University of Jammu, in Jammu( Jammu & Kashmir, J&K) was recognized as part of the international team awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2025 in Fundamental Physics. The recognition highlights the University’s significant role in global scientific advancements.
• The Breakthrough Prize, established in 2013, seeks to honor and celebrate scientists.  This year, Six Breakthrough Prizes of USD 3 million each were awarded in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics.

2025 Breakthrough Prizes:
i.The 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was granted to 13,508 physicists. Among the recipients were members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University (SBU) based in New York, USA.
ii.Eight early-career physicists and mathematicians received six New Horizons Prizes, each worth USD 100,000.
iii.Three women mathematicians who recently completed their PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) were each awarded the Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize of USD 50,000.
iv.The total prize money awarded this year is USD 18.75 million.
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Daniel Noboa Re-elected as President of Ecuador In April 2025, Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín was re-elected as the president of Ecuador for a 4-year term with 55.8% of the votes, defeating Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution Movement, who garnered 44% in the presidential election.

• This marks Daniel Noboa’s second presidential victory in Ecuador, following his initial win in November 2023, when he became the country’s youngest president at the age of 35 after winning a snap general election for a shortened 16-month term.
• He succeeded Guillermo Alberto Santiago Lasso Mendoza, an Ecuadorian businessman who held office as the 47th President of Ecuador from 2021 to 2023.

About Daniel Noboa: 
i.Daniel Noboa, an Ecuadorian politician and businessman, represents the National Democratic Action (ADN) alliance.
ii.He is the son of Alvaro Noboa, Ecuador’s richest man and banana industry tycoon, who contested multiple presidential elections unsuccessfully.
iii.He began his political career in 2021 after being elected to the National Assembly of Ecuador from the Santa Elena province as a member of the United Ecuadorian Movement.
iv.He gained prominence for his strict crime fighting strategies, which include deploying the military to combat drug trafficking and building high-security prisons to detain gang leaders.
v.This re-election grants him a full term to implement his agenda, including crime reduction and anti-drug policies.
About Ecuador:
President – Daniel Noboa
Capital – Quito
Currency – United States Dollar (USD)

Brice Oligui Nguema was elected as President of Gabon for seven yearsOn April 13, 2025, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the interim President of Gabon, was elected as its President following the official provisional results announced by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of Gabon.

• He secured a landslide victory with 90.35% of the total votes, with his closest rival, former Prime Minister (PM) of Gabon Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, securing 3% of the votes.
• The victory enabled Brice Oligui Nguema to commence a full seven-year presidential term in office.

Note: This was Gabon’s first presidential election since the military coup in 2023, which marked the end of a political dynasty that lasted over five decades.
About Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema:
i.Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is a Gabonese politician and military officer who has been serving as the incumbent President of Gabon since August 2023, after ousting President Ali Bongo Ondimba (2009 to 2023), thereby ending the Bongo family’s 56-year rule.
ii.He previously served as the Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), the ruling military junta of Gabon.
iii.He has held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard since 2020.
About Gabon:
President – Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema
Capital – Libreville
Currency – Central African CFA franc (XAF)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Conducted Successful trial of Mk-II Laser DEW System in APIn April 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the field trial of land version of vehicle mounted Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• The Laser-DEW Mark-II(A) was tested for a 3.5 kilometre(km) range in hot weather or extreme conditions.
• With this, India became the 4th country in the world, after the United States of America (USA), Russia and China, possesse this Star Wars-like DEW system.

About Mk-II Laser DEW:
i.It is a 30 kilowatt (KW) laser-based system that has the capability to disable, degrade or destroy small remotely-piloted aircraft, swarm drones, missiles and sensors.
ii.It is developed indigenously by Hyderabad (Telangana)-based DRDO’s lab Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences (CHESS) in collaboration with other DRDO entities like: Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) and academia and other Indian industries.
iii.It is one of the most potent counter drone systems due to the lightning speed of engagement, the precision and lethality delivered at the target within a few seconds.
iv.The DEW will soon replace the conventional kinetic weapons and missile defence systems due to its ease of operations and cost effectiveness.
How Does it Work?
As per DRDO, once detected by a radar or by its inbuilt Electric Optic (EO) system, laser-DEW can engage targets at the speed of light and use an intense beam of light (Laser Beam) to cut through the target, which leads to structural failure or more impactful results, when the warhead is targeted.

• This type of cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize the battlespace by reducing the dependence on expensive ammunitions and also lowering the risk of collateral damage.

About Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO):
It is the Research and Development (R&D) wing of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI).
Chairman- Dr. Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established-1958

Katy Perry launches into space with all-female crew on Blue Origin rocketIn April 2025, Pop star Katy Perry and five other women were launched into space on a Blue Origin rocket and came back safely to Earth. The New Shepard rocket launched from its site in West Texas, the United States of America(USA).

• This was the first space trip with only women in more than 60 years, after Valentina Tereshkova’s solo journey in 1963.
• The singer was joined by Jeff Bezos’s fiancée Lauren Sánchez, CBS presenter Gayle King, former NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyn, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

About the launch:
i.This flight, designated as Blue Origin NS-31 and marks Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight and the first all-female spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. She flew alone around the Earth for almost three days.
ii.The flight lasted about 11 minutes and took the six women over 100 km (62 miles) above Earth. They crossed the internationally recognized boundary of space and experienced a few moments of weightlessness.
iii.The rocket came back to Earth with the help of parachutes, making a soft landing. The rocket booster also landed back in Texas.
iv.The spacecraft was fully automatic, so it didn’t need any pilots. The crew didn’t have to control it themselves.
About Blue Origin Enterprises, L.P:
Blue Origin Enterprises, L.P. is an American space technology company.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Dave Limp
Headquarters – Washington, United States of America(USA)
Established –2000

OBITUARY

Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, Peruvian Literary Icon, passes awayIn April 2025, Mario Vargas Llosa, the Nobel Prize-winning Peruvian novelist and a towering figure in Latin American literature, passed away at the age of 89 in Lima, Peru, on 13th April 2025 surrounded by his family.

• He was a prolific author and essayist, renowned for acclaimed novels like The Time of the Hero (La Ciudad y los Perros) and The Feast of the Goat. His work earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010.

About Mario Vargas Llosa:
i.Born on March 28, 1936, in Arequipa, Peru, Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa had a turbulent early life, as his parents separated even before he was born.
ii.Vargas Llosa rose to prominence during the Latin American literary “Boom” of the 1960s and 1970s, joining various other writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Carlos Fuentes. His writing is celebrated for its complex storytelling, political depth, and incisive examination of power and society.
iii.He gained international recognition in the 1960s with acclaimed novels such as The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros, 1963/1966), The Green House (La casa verde, 1965/1968), and the epic Conversation in The Cathedral (Conversación en La Catedral, 1969/1975).
Awards and Recognition:
i.Mario Vargas Llosa received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 for “his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt, and defeat.”
ii.He was honored with numerous prestigious literary awards, including the 1994 Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the 1995 Jerusalem Prize, the 2012 Carlos Fuentes International Prize, and the 2018 Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Chagas Disease Day 2025 – April 14World Chagas Disease Day (WCDD) is observed globally every year on April 14 to spread awareness about Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T.cruzi).

• WCDD emphasizes the need for early detection, comprehensive care, and equitable access to healthcare services for those affected by Chagas Disease.
• The theme for WCDD 2025 is “Prevent, Control, Care: Everyone’s Role in Chagas Disease“, highlighting the collective responsibility in combating this illness.​

Background:
i.In May 2019, during the 72nd World Health Assembly(WHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) officially designated April 14 as World Chagas Disease Day(WCDD)
ii.The inaugural World Chagas Disease Day was observed on April 14, 2020. ​
>> Read Full News

National Fire Service Day 2025 – April 14National Fire Service Day (NFSD) is observed annually on April 14 in India to pay tribute to the brave firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty, particularly during the Bombay Dock Explosion of 1944.

• The day also marks the beginning of the Fire Service Week (FSW), which is observed annually from April 14 to 20 to raise awareness about fire safety measures among the public, employees, and students.
• April 14, 2025, marks the 81st anniversary of the 1944 Bombay Dock explosion.

i.The theme of  NFSD 2025 and FSW 2025 is “Unite to Ignite, a Fire Safe India – Fire Safety, Contribute towards Nation Building.”
ii.Since 1999, the National Safety Council (NSC) has been actively promoting the Fire Service Week (FSW) campaign to raise awareness about fire safety among employees, their families, and the general public.
About Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards (DG FSCDGH):
Director General (DG) – Vivek Srivastava
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1962
>> Read Full News

World Quantum Day 2025 – April 14World Quantum Day is observed annually worldwide on 14th April to promote global awareness and understanding of quantum science and technology.

• April 14, 2025, marks the observance of the 4th World Quantum Day.

Note: In 2025, the day coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) designated by the United Nations (UN).
Background:
i.World Quantum Day was initiated on 14 April 2021 by quantum scientists from over 65 countries.
ii.The first official observance of the day was held globally on 14 April 2022.
Key Points:
i.Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI) released the first edition of the International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q), aimed at boosting India’s global leadership in Quantum Science, Technology, and Innovation (QSTI).
ii.QNu Labs, a quantum cybersecurity startup launched QShield, the world’s first unique platform for seamless cryptography management across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Gujarat Police Launches ‘GP-DRASTI Project’ to Enhance Crime Response with Drones
In April 2025, the Gujarat Police launched the ‘Gujarat Police – Drone Response and Aerial Surveillance Tactical Intervention (GP-DRASTI) Project’, aiming to enhance police response time during crime incidents through drone-based surveillance.

• As part of the project, whenever an incident is reported through the police control number 100, alerts will be simultaneously sent to both the Police Control Room (PCR) van and the drone base station.

i.During a 10-day pilot project conducted in Ahmedabad and Surat, drones were able to reach the scene in 2 to 2.5 minutes, which is less than half the time taken by PCR vans.
ii.The real-time footage captured by drones will be transmitted to officers at the drone base station, enabling quick situation assessment and efficient deployment of police forces.
iii.Initially, the project will be implemented in eight police stations in Ahmedabad. It will later be expanded to Vadodara, Rajkot, and Surat with additional drone deployment.

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