Current Affairs 19 April 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 19 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

Mission Amrit Sarovar: Reviving India’s Water Heritage through Community-led ConservationThe Mission Amrit Sarovar, a flagship initiative under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, was announced on 24th April 2022 by the Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi during the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day at Palli Gram Panchayat, Samba District, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K)

• The objective of this mission is to construct/rejuvenate at least 75 Amrit Sarovar (ponds) in every district of the country. 
• Each Amrit Sarovar is designed to have a pondage area of minimum of 1 acre (0.4 hectare) with water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic meter (m3).

Key Points:
i.The Mission Amrit Sarovar follows a “Whole of Government” approach, involving multiple ministries and organizations for effective implementation.

• This mission is also supported by the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N).

ii.As of March 2025, over 68,000 Sarovars have been completed, out of which 46,000 sarovars were constructed/rejuvenated under MGNREGS.
iii.Recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures increased from 13.98 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024.
>> Read Full News

Union Minister of Jal Shakti CR Patil Reviewed Key Projects of WII under NMCGIn April 2025, Union Minister Chandrakant Raghunath (C.R.) Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) chaired a review meeting of key projects implemented by Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and supported by MoJS under the aegis of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)in New Delhi, Delhi.

• Union Minister appreciated the work being carried out by NMCG and WII in restoring marine biodiversity, enhancing river health, local capacity building, and engaging communities in conservation efforts.

i.During the meeting, Union Minister launched an important digital platform i.e. information dashboard https://www.rivres.in/. The platform is developed under MoJS and WII.
ii.He also launched a series of knowledge products developed under various initiatives. Some of the newly launched products are: Hydrophytes: Green Lungs of Ganga Volumes I & II and Protocols for collection, storage and transportation of biological samples of freshwater macrofauna.

• These publications reflect the robust scientific foundation and practical relevance of MoJS’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

About Wildlife Institute of India (WII):
It is an autonomous body established in 1982 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Director- Dr. Dhananjal Mohan
Headquarters- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
>> Read Full News

India Signs Headquarters Agreement with IBCA to Become Permanent Host of IBCA SecretariatOn 17 April 2025, the Government of India (GoI) signed a Headquarters Agreement with the New Delhi (Delhi) based International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), officially designating India as the host country for IBCA’s headquarters and secretariat.

• The agreement was signed by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Dr. S. P. Yadav, the first Director General of IBCA in New Delhi (Delhi).

Key Highlights of the Agreement:
i.Financial Commitment:

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved a budgetary support of Rs 150 crore to IBCA for a period of five years (2023-24 to 2028-29).
• Funds will be used for creating a corpus, building infrastructure, and recurring expenses.

ii.Operational Framework:

• Provisions include visa facilitation, privileges, and immunities for IBCA personnel and premises.
• Legal framework enables supplementary agreements for administrative needs.

iii.The alliance plays a crucial role in addressing threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
i.The IBCA was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023, during the ‘Commemorating 50 Years of Project Tiger’ event in Mysuru, Karnataka.
ii.The IBCA, headquartered in New Delhi (Delhi), became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation in 2025, and is supported by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

• The MEA will serve as a depository for instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession from countries seeking to become parties to the agreement.

iii.The initiative was launched to facilitate global conservation of the seven big cat species – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
iv.It aims to foster international cooperation, consolidate successful conservation models, and promote capacity building, technology use, and research.
v.On 23 January 2025, IBCA attained legal status as a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation after five countries: India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia, formally signed the Framework Agreement.
vi.The IBCA currently includes 27 countries and several organisations, as per the NTCA.

Banarasi Shehnai & Other 20 Traditional Products from UP Received GI Tag; UP is No.1 in GI Tagging in IndiaIn April 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi awarded Geographical Indication (GI) certificates to 21 traditional products from Uttar Pradesh (UP). Among them was the Banarasi Shehnai, a conventional musical instrument deeply rooted in Varanasi’s cultural heritage, along with the Banarasi Tabla and Banarasi Bharwan Mirch.

• PM Narendra Modi handed over the GI certificate for the Banarasi Shehnai to Ramesh Kumar, a renowned artisan from Banaras or Varanasi (also known as Kashi), during a public event at Mehndi Ganj, UP.

i.With this recognition, UP surpassed Tamil Nadu (TN) to become the Indian state with the highest number of GI tags, holding 77 GI-certified products. TN holds 69 GI-tagged products.
ii.Since the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, came into force in 2003, this was the first time in India that GI certificates for 21 products were distributed at a single event by the PM.

• Of the 21 products, 9 recipients are from Varanasi (UP), highlighting the city’s cultural and artisanal richness.

iii.In UP, notably, the Varanasi region alone accounts for 32 GI tags, making it a global hub of GI-recognized items.
>> Read Full News

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Inaugurated Amravati Airport, Announced Southeast Asia’s Largest Pilot Training InstituteIn April 2025, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, inaugurated Amravati Airport in Belora, Vidarbha, Maharashtra. The airport is being operated by Alliance Air.

• He also flagged off 1st flight from Amravati to Mumbai under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- Ude Desh ka Aaam Nagrik (UDAN).
• Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Union Minister of State (MoS) Murlidhar Mohol, MoCA and Deputy CMs of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were also present at the event.

Note: So far, Maharashtra has identified 160 routes under UDAN scheme, with 105 already operational.
Background:
i.The airport, initially developed by the Public Works Department (PWD) in 1992, remained non-functional for several years.
ii.Its revival was led by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), which undertook major infrastructure upgrades, extended the runway, and obtained the necessary operating license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), MoCA.
Key Points:
i.During the event, CM Fadnavis also announced that Southeast Asia’s Largest Pilot Training Institute i.e. Flying Training Organisation (FTO) will be established in Amravati and is expected to open within the next 6 months.

• The new training facility will feature 34 training aircraft and aims to train 180 pilots each year, marks a major step in India’s aviation education sector.

ii.While addressing the event, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted 40% increase in air passenger traffic over the last 5 years and further informed that the number of airports in India has increased from 74 (2014) to 159 (2025).
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Governor- CP Radhakrishnan
Capital- Mumbai
National Parks (NPs) –Sanjay Gandhi NP, Chandoli NP
About Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA):
Union Minister- Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu (Constituency- Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, AP)
Minister of State (MoS)– Murlidhar Kisan Mohol (Constituency- Pune, Maharashtra)

CEA Launches STELLAR Model for Resource Adequacy Planning
In April 2025, the New Delhi (Delhi) based Central Electricity Authority (CEA) launched STELLAR (State-of-the-art, Totally indigenously developed Resource Adequacy model), a software tool designed to optimise India’s power generation, transmission, and storage planning.

• The model was launched by Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, CEA, in the presence of Shri Alok Kumar, Former Secretary, Ministry of Power (MoP), representatives from The Lantau Group (TLG), and various State Power Utilities in New Delhi (Delhi)

Collaboration and Development
i.Developed by CEA in partnership with Hong Kong (China) based The Lantau Group (TLG) and Manila (Philippines) based Asian Development Bank (ADB), STELLAR reflects India’s self-reliance in advanced energy technology. The model will undergo annual updates to align with evolving power sector needs.
ii.This software will be distributed free of cost to all State Electricity Distribution Companies (Discoms) and Load Despatch Centres, in line with the Resource Adequacy Guidelines issued by the MoP in June 2023.
iii.The plan helps ensure no power cuts, finds the cheapest ways to produce and manage electricity, chooses the best storage options for renewable energy, and supports India’s aim for 24×7 reliable power under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Key features include:

• Chronological operation of the power system
• Unit commitment constraints (technical minimum, up/down time, ramp rates)
• Endogenous demand response
• Ancillary services integration
• Optimal sizing and siting of storage systems

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India and 62 Other Countries Agreed to World’s 1st Global Carbon Tax in Shipping IndustryIn April 2025, India and 62 other countries have agreed to the world’s 1st ever global carbon tax by bringing commercial shipping under this ambit to combat the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the sector.

• This landmark decision was taken after voting at the United Nations (UN)-backed International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s headquarters in London, the United Kingdom (UK).
• Total 63 countries including India, Brazil, China, the European Union (EU), Japan, South Africa, Singapore, among others voted in the favour of new carbon pricing mechanism on shipping industry while, major oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia and Venezuela voted against it.

Note: At present, Shipping industry accounts for 3% of global GHG emissions.
Key Features:
i.The new framework is expected to be formally adopted in October 2025, and after which, it will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships of more than 5,000 gross tonnage, which accounts 85% of total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions from international shipping.

• Under the new framework, the carbon tax will formally come into effect in 2028.

ii.As per the new framework, ships will either have to switch to low-emission fuels or pay fees in the range of USD 100 to USD 380 per tonne of emission, based on the level of pollution they produce.
Significance of New Carbon Tax:
i.Since Shipping sector is not covered under the 2015 Paris Agreement, this new legally binding framework on imposing global carbon tax on shipping to tackle carbon emissions will help in realizing the overall ‘net-zero’ target.
ii.The new carbon tax is estimated to generate USD 30-40 billion in revenues by 2030 which means generating around USD 10 billion annually. The revenue collected from this tax will be used exclusively to decarbonise the shipping industry.
iii.The new framework is projected to reduce CO2 emissions from the shipping industry by just 10% by 2030, which is below the IMO’s own target of minimum 20%.
About International Maritime Organisation(IMO):
Secretary General- Arsenio Dominguez
Headquarters- London, the United Kingdom (UK)
Formed- 1948

New York City Proclaims April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day’
In April 2025, New York City (NYC), United States of America (USA) has officially proclaimed April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day’ on the occasion of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s 134th birth anniversary.

• The proclamation was made by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, acknowledging Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions towards justice, equality, and human rights.

Key Details of the Proclamation:
i.The proclamation was announced by Dilip Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, during a commemorative event held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.
ii.The event was organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.
iii.The event was attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr. Ramdas Athawale, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India (GoI)
About Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:
i.Born: 14 April 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India.
ii.Architect of the Indian Constitution: Chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly post-Independence.

• The Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India comprised 7 members – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar,  Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, K. M. Munshi, Mohammad Saadulla, Madhava Rao (who replaced B.L. Mitter due to ill health), T. T. Krishnamachari (who replaced D.P. Khaitan after his death in 1948).

iii.Social Reforms: Campaigned against caste discrimination and advocated for Dalit rights, women’s empowerment, and labour welfare.
iv.Global Influence: His principles of “Educate, Agitate, Organize” resonate in modern human rights movements.

BANKING & FINANCE

SBI & HDFC Bank Rank Among World’s Top 100 Banks by Assets in 2025: S&P Global
In April 2025, S&P Global Market Intelligence released its latest Annual Ranking of the world’s 100 largest banks by assets to showcases the financial powerhouses across the globe. Mumbai (Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI) and Mumbai based HDFC Bank Limited are the only two Indian banks to be featured among the world’s top 100 largest banks by assets.

• SBI climbed 4 places to 43rd position, while HDFC Bank rose 1 spot to 73rd , marking India’s sole representation in the prestigious list.

i.China’s Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, ICBC topped in the list followed by Agricultural Bank of China Ltd.(ABC), China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB).
ii.The ranking by S&P Global Market Intelligence evaluates the world’s largest banks based on total assets as of the year-end 2024. The data reflects the impact of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and other restructuring activities on global banking institutions.
About S&P Global Inc:
President & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Martina L. Cheung
Headquarters – New York, the United States of America(USA)
Established – 1917
>> Read Full News

RBI and FIU-IND Sign MoU to Strengthen AML/CFT Framework; Cancels Licence of Colour Merchants Co-op Bank; Approves Revolut’s EntryOn April 16, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and New Delhi (Delhi) based Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) under the Department of Revenue (DOR), Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance coordination in implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and its associated rules.

• The MoU was signed by Vivek Aggarwal, Director of FIU-IND, and R. Laksmi Kanth Rao, Executive Director (ED) of the Department of Regulation, RBI.

i.RBI cancelled the licence of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Colour Merchants Co-operative Bank Limited due to inadequate capital adequacy, poor earnings prospects, and non-compliance with Section 11(1) and Section 22(3)(d) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
ii.RBI imposed penalties of Rs. 61.4 lakh on KMBL, Rs. 38.6 lakh on IDFC First Bank, and Rs. 29.6 lakh on PNB for regulatory non-compliance.
iii. UK-based Revolut, a global financial application (App), received full authorization from the RBI to operate as a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuer and enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in India.
>> Read Full News

SBI Card Partners with Tata Digital to Launch ‘Tata Neu SBI Card’In April 2025, Gurugram (Haryana)-based SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBICPSL), a subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI), partnered with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Digital Private Limited to launch the ‘Tata Neu SBI Card’, a co-branded credit card.

• The card is available in two variants: Tata Neu Infinity SBI Card and Tata Neu Plus SBI Card, offering rewards in NeuCoins redeemable on the Tata Neu application (app).
• Both variants are offered on RuPay and Visa networks.

i.Fees and Waivers:

• Tata Neu Infinity SBI Card: The joining & annual fees are Rs 1,499 while Spend-Based Annual Fee Reversal is Rs. 3,00,000.
• Tata Neu Plus SBI Card: The joining & annual fees are Rs 499 while Spend-Based Annual Fee Reversal is Rs. 1,00,000.

ii.In April 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA) based Mastercard Inc., partnered with Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu)-based City Union Bank Limited (CUB) to launch India’s first cricket-themed credit cards, offering exclusive benefits for fans of Indian Premier League(IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
>> Read Full News

UIICL Partners with SIDBI to Distribute Insurance Products for MSMEs
In April 2025, Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Finance(MoF), partnered with Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, UP) based Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to distribute general insurance products specifically tailored for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

• The collaboration aims to enhance insurance penetration among MSMEs by offering a wide range of general insurance solutions to SIDBI’s customer base across India.

i.The collaboration aims to provide comprehensive insurance solutions, including home, health, motor, and engineering insurance, to SIDBI’s customers across its 123 branches in India.
ii.The initiative seeks to enhance insurance penetration among MSMEs, a sector crucial to India’s economic growth.
iii. The tie-up will enable MSMEs to access integrated financial and insurance services under a single platform.

SBI Reintroduces ‘Amrit Vrishti’ FD Scheme with Revised Rates
In April 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based State Bank of India (SBI) reintroduced its special Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme, ‘Amrit Vrishti’, with a tenor of 444 days, offering attractive interest rates aimed at enhancing SBI’s deposit mobilisation, particularly among senior citizens.

• The reintroduced scheme shows a 20 basis points (bps) reduction in the interest rate for senior citizens, lowered from 7.75% (2024–25) to 7.55%. The general public rate has also been reduced from 7.25% to 7.05%, while super senior citizens continue to receive a slightly higher rate of 7.65%.

i.Amrit Vrishti was initially launched on 15th July 2024 and extended multiple times until its closure on 31st March 2025. This interest rate change is effective from April 15, 2025.
ii.SBI has also reduced interest rates for other FD tenures by 10 bps with effect from 15th April 2025

• It offers interest rates between 3.50% and 6.90% for regular fixed deposits with tenures from 7 days to 10 years. For senior citizens, the rates range from 4.00% to 7.50%.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

TIME Revealed 2025 TIME 100 List of Most Influential People in the World; No Indian Featured on the ListIn April 2025, New York (the United States of America, USA)-based TIME, the 102-year-old global media brand has revealed the 22nd edition of annual “TIME 100 Most Influential People 2025” in the world. This latest edition of the list has covered global figures from a wide range of fields like: politics, entertainment, science, and business, each recognised for their significant impact and contributions in their respective fields over the last one year.

• This year no Indian names have been featured on the list.
• However, Indian origin Reshma Kewalramani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boston, Massachusetts (USA)-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals Limited featured on the list in the ‘Leaders’ category.

i.The List has been divided into 6 different categories:  Leaders, Icons, Artists, Innovators, Pioneers and Titans.
ii.This year’s list was released with 5 international covers, each featuring a standout personality: Acclaimed American Actor Demi Moore (Icons category), former American tennis player and 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist Serena Jameka Williams (Titans), American rapper Snoop Dogg (Innovator), famous British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran (Artists) and Demis Hassabis, CEO of the United Kingdom (UK)-based Google DeepMind (Pioneers).
iii.22 years-old Olympic swimmer Leon Marchand (France), is the youngest person on this year’s list in ‘Icons’ category.

• While, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus (84 years old), Chief Advisor of Bangladesh is the oldest person featured on the list in ‘Leaders’ category.

About TIME Magazine:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Jessica Sibley
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
Founded- 1923
>> Read Full News

WEF 2025 Young Global Leaders: 7 Indians Honoured, Including Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu & OYO’s Ritesh AgarwalIn April 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released the 2025 list of Young Global Leaders (YGL), recognizing 116 leaders under the age of 40 from around 50 countries who have significantly contributed to various fields, including business, politics, science, and the arts.

• The list includes seven Indians, such as Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India (GoI), and Ritesh Agarwal, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OYO Hotels and Homes.
• The global list also features prominent leaders such as Sana Mir, Sports Analyst and Commentator at Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (Pakistan), Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister (PM) of Montenegro, and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, PM of Thailand, among others.

About WEF’s YGL: 
i.The Forum of YGL, founded in 2004 by the WEF, is an initiative that aims to nurture responsible leaders to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.
ii.Selected members undergo a 3-year leadership program featuring collaborations with academic institutions, immersive learning, and global networking aligned with WEF’s mission.
Indian Representation in the 2025 YGL List:
Seven Indian personalities were selected, reflecting India’s growing influence in global leadership:
1.Ritesh Agarwal: Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gurugram (Haryana)-based OYO Hotels and Homes.
2.Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu: Union Minister of Civil Aviation, MoCA
3.Nipun Malhotra: Founder of New Delhi (Delhi) based Nipman Foundation, focused on disability advocacy.
4.Alok Medikepura Anil: Founder and Managing Director (MD) of Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Next Big Innovation Labs, a biotechnology firm.
5.Natarajan Sankar: MD and Partner at Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Boston Consulting Group (BCG), India.
6.Manasi Subramaniam: Editor-in-Chief and Vice-President of New Delhi based Penguin Random House India.
7.Anurag Maloo: Mountaineer, Entrepreneur, and Keynote Speaker at Jaipur (Rajasthan) based Orophile Ventures Private Limited (Climbing4SDGs).
About World Economic Forum (WEF):
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Børge Brende(Norway)
Headquarters – Cologny, Switzerland
Founded – 1971

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

ACC Approved Appointment of Mangi Lal Jat as New DG of ICARIn April 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Deputy Director General (DG) of Hyderabad (Telangana)-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Dr. Mangi Lal Jat as new DG of New Delhi (Delhi)-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

• He is also appointed as the ex-officio Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)

i.As per ACC, he will hold both these posts for a period of 3 years from the date of assumption charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
ii.He will assume his role on April 21, 2025. He will succeed Dr. Himanshu Pathak, who took voluntary retirement from ICAR and joined ICRISAT as DG in March 2025.
iii.ACC has also approved the appointment of four 1989 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers of the Income Tax (IT) cadre as new member of New Delhi (Delhi)-based Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

• Names the newly appointed CBDT members are: Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Sanjay Bahadur, L. Rajasekhar Reddy and G. Aparna.

About  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1929
>> Read Full News

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approves Patanjali Ayurved & Entities’ Acquisition of MGIL for Rs. 4,500 Crore
In April 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of a 98.055% stake in Mumbai (Maharashtra)- based Magma General Insurance Limited (MGIL) (formerly Magma HDI General Insurance Company Limited) by Haridwar (Uttarakhand)- based Patanjali Ayurved Limited (PAL) and five related entities through the green channel route under Section 6(4) of the Competition Act, 2002.

• The deal, valued at Rs. 4,500 crores, will position Patanjali Ayurved as the promoter of MGIL.

About the Acquisition:
i.The transaction involves PAL and five other participating entities, namely S R Foundation, Riti Foundation, RR Foundation, Suruchi Foundation, and Swati Foundation.
ii.These entities are jointly acquiring the stake in MGIL, which is currently held by Pune (Maharashtra) based Sanoti Properties LLP, a firm jointly owned by Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Serum Institute of India (SII), and Mumbai based Rising Sun Holdings Private Limited (RSHPL).
Green Channel Route: 
i.The green channel route is an automatic approval mechanism introduced by the CCI for mergers and acquisitions that do not raise any competition concerns.
ii.This process facilitates quicker regulatory approvals for mergers and acquisitions where the involved parties have no horizontal, vertical, or complementary business overlaps.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India & Slovakia Sign Defence MoU for Indigenous Combat Vehicle Development
In April 2025, India and Slovakia signed their inaugural defence Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance India’s indigenous defence capabilities.The  agreement was signed during the President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Slovakia.

• The partnership aims to facilitate technology transfer and co-development of combat platforms designed for complex terrains and high-altitude environments, with all manufacturing to be conducted in India.

Key Highlights of the MoU:
i.Partnership Entities: The MoU involves JCBL Group’s defence unit, Airbornics Defence & Space Private Limited(ADSL), based in Mohali, Punjab, and Slovakia’s defence sector.​
ii.Focus Areas: The collaboration aims to co-develop and manufacture critical combat systems for light tanks, including Turrets, Active Protection Systems (APS), Remote-Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS), and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) modules.​
iii.Manufacturing Commitment: All production will be conducted in India, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

SPORTS

Australia’s Will Pucovski Announces Retirement from All Forms of CricketIn April 2025, Australian cricketer William Jan Pucovski(Will Pucovski), a former Test batsman, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 27 due to ongoing concussion-related health issues.
i.Will Pucovski debuted for Australia in 2021 against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Australia, scoring 62 runs in his only Test innings.
ii.Despite his brief international career, he amassed 2,350 runs in 36 first-class matches at an average of 45.19, including 7 centuries.
iii.He was hailed as a generational talent and earned the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award by the Australian Cricketers’ Association in 2019.
iv.Post-retirement, he was appointed as senior coach of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), Victoria (Australia), for the 2025–26 Victorian Premier Cricket season.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day For Monuments and Sites 2025 – April 18The International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), also known as World Heritage Day, is observed annually across the world on April 18 to raise awareness about the importance of preserving cultural and historical heritage.

• The theme for IDMS 2025 is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
• The theme for IDMS is annually proposed by the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

Background:
i.Establishment: IDMS was established in 1982 by ICOMOS.​
ii.UNESCO Approval: In 1983, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved the observance of IDMS during its 22nd General Conference.​
iii.First Observation: The first IDMS was observed in 1983.
About International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS): 
President– Teresa Patricio (Belgium)
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established – 1965
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

Justice Arun Palli Appointed as CJ of J&K and Ladakh HC
In April 2025, the Ministry of Law and Justice(MoL&J) issued a notification appointing Justice Arun Palli as the 38th Chief Justice (CJ) of the Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) and Ladakh High Court(HC).

• He succeeds Justice Tashi Rabstan, who retired on 9th April 2025. Following Justice Rabstan’s retirement, Justice Sanjeev Kumar served as the Acting CJ until Justice Arun Palli’s swearing-in ceremony.

i.Justice Palli began his legal practice in 1988 at the Punjab and Haryana HC, specializing in civil, criminal, constitutional, revenue, industrial, and labour law.
ii.He served as Additional Advocate General (AAG) for Punjab from 2004 to2007 and was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2007.
iii.Elevated as a Judge of Punjab and Haryana HC in 2013, he also held the position of Executive Chairman of Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA) since 2023.

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