Current Affairs 18 April 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

NITI Aayog Unveils Roadmap to Unlock USD 25 Billion Exports in India’s Hand & Power Tools SectorIn April 2025, New Delhi (Delhi) based National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog launched a report titled “Unlocking USD25+ Billion Export Potential – India’s Hand & Power Tools Sector.” It indicates that India can achieve USD 25+ billion (Rs. 2,13,925+ crore) in exports within the next 10 years, capturing 25% of the global hand tools market and 10% of the global power tools market.

• The report was released by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman (VC) of NITI Aayog.

i.India’s share in the global hand and power tools trade is currently valued at USD 100 billion and is expected to grow to USD 190 billion by 2035.
ii.China leads the global export market by holding 50% (USD 13 billion) of the hand tools market and 40% (USD 22 billion) of the power tool exports.

• India’s share remains modest at 1.8% (USD 600 million) in hand tools and 0.7% (USD 470 million) in power tools.

About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2015
>> Read Full News

Make in India: Boosting India’s Global Presence in PharmaceuticalsThe Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world’s 3rd largest by volume and 11th largest in terms of value.

• India is globally the largest supplier of generic drugs, accounting for 20% of global supply.
• India is also one of the biggest suppliers of low-cost vaccines in the world.

Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Industry:
i.India is the fourth largest medical device market in Asia, after Japan, China and South Korea.
ii.India is among the top 20 global medical device markets in the world.
iii.The total annual turnover of Pharmaceuticals in Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 was Rs.4,17,345 crores, out of which Rs.2,19,439 was from exports.
iv.As per FDI Policy 2020, up to 100% foreign investment is allowed under the automatic route in meditech activities.
v.In Pharmaceuticals, up to 100% FDI in greenfield projects and up to 74% FDI in brownfield projects is allowed under the automatic route.
vi.In the FY of 2024-25, from April 2024 to December 2024, FDI inflows (in both pharmaceuticals and medical devices) has been ₹11,888 Crores. Also, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has approved 13 FDI proposals worth ₹7,246.40 Crore for brownfield projects during FY 2024-25.
>> Read Full News

India’s Cumulative Exports Expected to Grow by 5.5% to USD 820.93 Billion in FY 2024–25In April 2025, As per the data of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, India’s total exports (merchandise and services) during Financial Year (FY) 2024-25 is estimated at USD 820.93 Billion (bn) registering a growth of 5.50 percent from USD 778.13 bn in FY 2023-2024 .

• Total imports during FY 2024-25 is estimated at USD 915.19 bn registering a growth of 6.85 percent from USD 856.52 bn in FY 2023-2024.

Merchandise Trade:
i.Merchandise exports in FY 2024–25 stood at USD 437.42 bn, marking a marginal rise from USD 437.07 bn in FY 2023–24.
ii.Similarly, merchandise imports rose to USD 720.24 bn in FY 2024–25, compared to USD 678.21 bn in FY 2023–24.
iii.Merchandise trade deficit during FY 2024-25 is estimated to be USD 282.83 bn as compared to USD 241.14 bn during FY 2023-24.
iv.Merchandise exports during March 2025 were USD 41.97 Billion as compared to USD 41.69 Billion in March 2024.

• Merchandise imports during March 2025 were USD 63.51 Billion as compared to USD 57.03 Billion in March 2024.

>> Read Full News

India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI Commences in PuneIn April 2025, the 6th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise(DUSTLIK-VI) commenced at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Aundh, Pune (Maharashtra). The 13-day exercise is scheduled to be conducted from April 16- 28, 2025.

• The Exercise DUSTLIK-VI focuses on strengthening bilateral defence ties and refining counter-terrorism strategies in semi-urban environments.

Background:
i.The exercise, named ‘Dustlik’ (meaning ‘friendship’ in Uzbek), is an annual bilateral event conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan since 2019.
ii.DUSTLIKVI facilitates the exchange of best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for subconventional operations. By strengthening defence cooperation, the exercise further augments bilateral relations and mutual trust between India and Uzbekistan .
iii.The previous edition (DUSTLIK-V) was held in Termez District, Uzbekistan, in April 2024.
About DUSTLIK-VI:
i.​The DUSTLIK-VI exercise emphasizes Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations within semi-urban environments.
ii.​The exercise simulates comprehensive counter-terrorism missions, including territory capture, establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level, population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and coordinated use of air assets.
Participating Contingents:

• Indian Contingent: Includes 60 personnel from a battalion of the JAT Regiment and the Indian Air Force (IAF)‘s Garud (Special Force) personnel.
• Uzbekistan Contingent: Represented by personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.

Key Focus Areas:
i.Counter-Terrorism Drills: Simulate scenarios involving terrorist capture of territory, requiring raids, search-and-destroy missions, and population control measures.
ii.Joint Operations Centre (JOC): Establish a battalion-level command hub for coordinated planning and execution.
iii.Air Force Integration: Utilize helicopters for Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO), Small Team Insertion and Extraction (STIE), reconnaissance, and logistics.
iv.Technology Deployment: Employ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) measures.
About Uzbekistan
Prime Minister(PM) – Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov
Capital – Tashkent
Currency – Uzbekistani Som(UZS)

USA Emerges as India’s Largest Trading Partner for 4th Consecutive Year in FY25: MoC&IIn April 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) released trade data showing that the United States of America (USA) continued to be India’s largest trading partner for the 4th consecutive year in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), with bilateral trade reaching USD 131.84 billion.

• In FY25, China was India’s second-largest trading partner with total bilateral trade amounting to USD 127.7 billion, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked third with USD 100.5 billion in trade value.

i.India’s exports to the USA grew by 11.6% in FY25 to USD 86.51 billion, compared to USD 77.52 billion in FY24.
ii.Imports from the USA rose by 7.44% to USD 45.33 billion, compared to USD 42.2 billion in FY24.
iii.The trade surplus in favour of India with the USA increased to USD 41.18 billion in FY25 from USD 35.32 billion in FY24.
About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I):
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal (Constituency- Mumbai North, Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS)- Jitin Prasada (Constituency- Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
>> Read Full News

Overview of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar’s Visit to Italy from April 14-15, 2025Rajesh Kumar Singh,Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), visited Rome (Italy) from April 14 to 15, 2025 to bolster India-Italy strategic partnership in defence.

• The visit aims to accelerate strategic partnership between both countries, focusing on strengthening defence, maritime, and industrial collaboration.

Key Highlights:
The visit began with Rajesh Kumar Singh meeting Guido Crosetto, the Defence Minister of Italy, and held discussions aimed at enhancing defence cooperation as a pillar of bilateral ties.

• The visit also featured a Business-to-Business (B2B) session, bringing together senior leadership and key stakeholders from both nations.

Joint Defence Committee (JDC) Meeting:
During the visit, the 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting was co-chaired by Rajesh Kumar Singh and Luisa Riccardi, Secretary General (SG) of Defence,Republic of Italy. The meeting focused on

• Maritime security and information-sharing under the Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN).
• Regional security challenges in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean Region (WIOR).
• Collaboration in defence technology, armament production, and industrial partnerships.

India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable:
i.During the visit, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar also participated in the India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable in Italy.
ii.During the Rountable, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the New Delhi (Delhi) based Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Rome (Italy) based Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD).
iii.The MoU will promote cooperation in defence Research and Development (R&D), technology transfer, and joint production, encouraging closer Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements.
About Italy:
President – Sergio Mattarella
Prime Minister (PM) – Giorgia Meloni
Capital – Rome
Currency – Euro (EUR)

Union Minister Amit Shah addresses the State Level Cooperative Conference in MP
In April 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and Minister of Cooperation(MoC) addressed the State Level Cooperative Conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh(MP). The event was organized under the ‘2025 – International Cooperative Year’ to emphasize the importance of cooperative societies in India.

• The conference was also attended by dignitaries, including Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister(CM) of MP, Vishwas Sarang, State Cooperation Minister, and Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of MoC.

i.Union Minister Amit Shah emphasized the government’s efforts to modernize the cooperative sector:

• The Government of India(GoI) allocated Rs 2,500 crore to digitize all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), with MP leading in implementation. It is now operate in 13 regional languages,
• Dairy, fishery, and credit cooperatives were merged to form MPACS, enhancing efficiency.

ii.During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Gujarat based National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF) to enhance the role of cooperative dairy societies in milk production across the state.​
Note: ​MP produces approximately 5.5 crore liters of milk daily, accounting for about 9% of India’s total milk production. However, less than 1% of this milk is currently processed through cooperative dairies.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

ACI’s World’s Top 10 Busiest Airports in 2024: Atlanta Airport topped, Delhi Airport Ranked 9th In April 2025, Montreal (Canada)-based Airports Council International (ACI) World released its Annual Rankings of the World’s busiest Airports 2024 . As per the report, Delhi Airport (DEL), named Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi (Delhi) ranked at 9th spot, among the world’s top 10 busiest airports in 2024 in ‘passenger’ category. Over the years, Delhi airport has improved its ranking from 10th (in 2023), 13th (2021) and 17th (2019).

• IGIA saw passenger traffic of 77 million in 2024, marking an increase of 7.8% compared to 2023 and 13.6% compared to 2019.

i.The United States of America, USA-based Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) continues to be the world’s busiest airport, handling over 108 million passengers traffic in 2024.

• It is followed by Dubai (the United Arab Emirates, UAE)-based Dubai International Airport (with airport code: DXB) and USA-based Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) ranked at 2nd and 3rd position, respectively.

ii.As per ACI World latest preliminary report, global passenger traffic reached nearly 9.5 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 9% over 2023 and an increase of 3.8% compared to pre-pandemic levels (2019).
iii.The report further showed that the world’s top 10 busiest airports accounting for 9% of the total global traffic, (handling 855 million passengers in 2024), reflecting an 8.8% increase over 2023 and 8.4% increase compared to 2019.
About Airports Council International (ACI):
Director General (DG)- Justin Erbacci
Headquarters- Montreal, Canada
Established– 1991
Members- 830 members (as of January 2025)
>> Read Full News

WB’s State of Social Protection Report 2025: 2 Billion in LICs and MICs Still Lack Adequate Social CoverageIn April 2025, Washington, (United States of America, USA)-based World Bank (WB)released the “State of Social Protection Report 2025: The 2-Billion-Person Challenge”. According to the report, three out of four people in low-income countries (LICs) still have no access to social protection services. The report highlights the progress and challenges in expanding social protection around the world.

• Almost, two billion people in LICs and Middle-Income Countries (MICs) lacked access to adequate social protection as of 2022.
• The report finds that social protection benefits are unevenly distributed. Across a sample of 27 countries, women receive, on average, 81 cents for every USD 1 received by men.

i.The report has been developed by the WB’s ASPIRE (Atlas of Social Protection Indicators of Resilience and Equity) team, with support from departments working on social safety nets, labour, skills, and pensions.
ii.An analysis of data from 73 countries—including LICs, MICs, HICs—reveals that social protection coverage grew steadily between 2010 and 2022. On average, coverage rose by 10 percentage points, moving from 41% to 51% of the population.
iii.Over the past decade, social protection in LICs and MICs has expanded to cover around 4.7 billion people—three out of every four—yet 1.6 billion still remain without any form of coverage.
>> Read Full News

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

UNCTAD Report Projects Indian Economy to Grow by 6.5% in CY25In April 2025, Geneva (Switzerland)-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its latest report titled ‘Trade and Development Foresights 2025- Under Pressure: Uncertainty Reshapes Global Economic Prospects’. The report has projected that Indian economy will grow at 6.5% in Calendar Year (CY25) compared to estimated 6.9% growth rate in CY24.

• The report cited that this growth projection for CY25 is mainly driven by strong public spending and continuing monetary system easing. Despite a slowdown in 2024, India is expected to be the fastest growing economy in the world.

ii.The report has projected that global growth will drop to 2.3% in 2025 compared to 2.8% growth rate in 2024.
ii.As per the report, the South Asia region as a whole will grow by 5.6% in 2025, supported by declining inflation which is further easing the monetary across most of the region.
About United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
Secretary-General- Rebeca Grynspan
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established- 1964
>> Read Full News

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

6th edition of National Highways Excellence Awards Held in DelhiIn April 2025, the 6th edition of ‘National Highways Excellence Awards’ (NHEA 2023), organised by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), was held at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. These awards recognise professionals delivering excellence in National Highway development.

• This latest edition of NHEA commemorated several officials and concessionaire/contractors for their innovation and outstanding performance.
• Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, MoRTH; Union Minister of State (MoS) Harsh Malhotra, MoRTH; Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and other stakeholders were present at the event.

i.22 entries out of total 125 nominations were shortlisted by the jury through multiple evaluation rounds and for year 2023, awards were given for outstanding projects across 5 different categories.
ii.During the event, winners of the ‘पथ चिंतन Hackathon’ were also honored for their innovative ideas and tech-driven solutions that will bring significant transformation in India’s National Highway infrastructure.
About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):
It was constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1988 and works under the MoRTH.
Chairman- Santosh Kumar Yadav
Headquarters- New Delhi
>> Read Full News

Former England Fast Bowler James Anderson Awarded ‘Knighthood’ for His Services to CricketIn April 2025, former England fast bowler Sir James Michael Anderson has been awarded a ‘Knighthood’, one of the greatest honours conferred by the British Monarchy or Commonwealth nations,  for his ‘services to cricket’.

• He received this award as part of former Prime Minister (PM) of the United Kingdom (UK) Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.
• Sir James Anderson is the only sportsperson to feature in the list. He is the 13th England cricketer to be awarded a knighthood for services to cricket.

About PM’s Resignation Honours:
i.These are honours bestowed at the behest of an outgoing UK PM after his resignation.
ii.An outgoing PM may request the reigning British monarch to award peerages, knighthoods, damehoods or any other awards in the British honours system to any number of people.
iii.Some of the legendary cricketers who were awarded with knighthood: Australia legend Sir Donald Bradman (1949), West Indies Sir Garfield Sobers (1975), West Indies Sir Everton Weekes (1995) and West Indies Sir Vivian Richards (1999).
About Sir James Anderson:
i.Sir James Anderson made his 1st appearance for the England cricket team in a One-Day International (ODI) against Australia in December 2002.
ii.He debuted in test cricket format in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s (England) and took 5 wickets in his 1st innings.
iii.Over 2 decade long career in international cricket, he played 188 test matches, 194 ODIs, and 19 Twenty20 International (T20I) for England and took total 991 wickets across all formats of cricket.
iv.In July 2024, Anderson retired from international cricket as the most successful Test seamer with 704 wickets in a career spanning 21 years.

• Also, he is the 3rd bowler on the all-time list for test wickets only after Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800).

v.In January 2025, Anderson extended his playing career after signing a one-year contract with Lancashire for the 2025 season.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai Set to Become 52nd CJI Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna (BR) Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court of India (SCI), will take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on 14th May 2025. He will replace CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who retires on 13th May 2025.

• He will serve as CJI until his retirement on 23rd November 2025 and will be the second Dalit CJI after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who served from 2007 to 2010.
• The appointment was made as per the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), under which the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) obtains a recommendation from the outgoing CJI for the next appointment.

Note: The retirement age of SCI judges is 65 years.
About Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai: 
i.Enrolled as an advocate in 1985, Justice BR Gavai worked under Raja S. Bhonsale (former Advocate General and Bombay High Court (HC) judge) until 1987.
ii.Practiced independently at the Bombay HC (Mumbai, Maharashtra) from 1987–1990, later shifting to the Nagpur Bench, specializing in Constitutional and Administrative Law.
iii.He served as Standing Counsel for Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University in Maharashtra.
iv.He was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Bombay HC on November 12, 2005, and later elevated to the SCI on May 24, 2019.
v.He was a member of the five-judge Constitution Bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in 2023, revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) special status, leading to its reorganization into a Union Territory (UT).
vi.He was also part of the 2024 verdict that struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme and the 2023 ruling against illegal demolitions (“bulldozer culture”) by states.

Sourav Ganguly Reappointed as ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Chairperson
In April 2025, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was reappointed as the Chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket Committee. He succeeded Anil Kumble, who completed the maximum permitted three three-year terms.

• The ICC Cricket Committees play a crucial role in shaping cricket regulations, playing conditions, and development strategies.

i.The committee includes notable former cricketers:

• VVS Laxman (India) – re-appointed
• Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan)
• Desmond Haynes (West Indies)
• Temba Bavuma (South Africa’s Test and ODI captain)
• Jonathan Trott (former England batsman)

ii.The ICC Women’s Cricket Committee was reconstituted with:

• Catherine Campbell (New Zealand, reappointed as Chair)
• Avril Fahey (Australia)
• Pholetsi Moseki (Cricket South Africa)

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on April 15, 2025On 15 April, 2025, Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
i.Approved the acquisition of shares in SNV Aviation Private Limited (Akasa Air) by PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II (PIOF), its executives, Claypond Capital Partners, and 360 ONE Private Equity Fund through their respective affiliates and schemes.
ii.Approved the proposed merger of Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) with Aster DM Healthcare Limited, along with related transactions involving BCP Asia, Centella, and Aster.
iii.Approved the proposed combination involving Waverly Pte. Ltd., TPG Growth V SF Markets, TPG Growth III SF, Asia Healthcare Holdings, Rhea Healthcare, Asia Healthcare Advisory Holdings LLP, and the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU).
iv.Approved the proposed combination involving Alat Technologies Company (ATC) and the TKE Group, including ATC’s acquisition of a stake in TKE and the formation of a joint venture between the two entities.
About the Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairperson– Ravneet Kaur
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established– 2003
>> Read Full News

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

L&T’s Indigenous 651 kW Waterjet Propulsion System Successfully Completes Sea Trials for INOn April 15, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Larsen & Toubro’s Precision Engineering Systems (L&T PES) successfully conducted preliminary sea trials of its 651 kilowatt (kW) Waterjet Propulsion System, marking a major development in India’s indigenous naval propulsion capabilities under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

• The system was tested aboard the Indian Navy’s (IN’s) Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC), demonstrating a high-speed operation capability of over 45 knots (85 kilometers per hour, km/h).
• With over 70% Indigenous Content (IC), the system significantly contributes to India’s self-reliance under the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector.

About 651 kW Waterjet Propulsion System:
i.The system was developed at L&T’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Surat (Gujarat).
ii.It supports high-speed interception, coastal patrolling, surveillance, and search-and-rescue missions, strengthening the IN’s coastal defense capabilities.
iii.Unlike conventional propellers, this system accelerates water through a pump to generate thrust, allowing rapid response and precise control, essential for FICs used in coastal defence and patrol missions.
iv.It has built-in steering and braking systems, allowing a compact design and better control at high speeds. It also offers enhanced maneuverability, efficiency, shallow-water use, and reduces noise.
About Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)- Sekharipuram Narayanan (S.N.)
Subrahmanyan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 1946

China-Based Betavolt Unveils Nuclear-Powered BV100 Battery with 50-Year Lifespan
In April 2025, Beijing (China) based Betavolt Technology Company Limited, a nuclear energy battery developer, introduced a nuclear-powered battery, named BV100, capable of operating for up to 50 years on a single charge.

• This innovation marks a significant advancement in battery technology, providing a potential solution for long-term power supply in medical, aerospace, and remote sensing applications.

i.BV100 is a coin-sized nuclear battery that uses Nickel-63, a radioactive isotope, as its energy source and offers 10 times more energy density than Lithium-ion batteries.
ii.It delivers 100 microwatts (µW) at 3 volts (V) and operates without requiring charging or maintenance during its operational lifespan.
iii.Operates between 60-degree Celsius (°C) to +120°C without risk of explosion or fire.
iv.The battery works as the Nickel-63 emitter undergoes natural decay, releasing high-speed beta particles (electrons) that hit a semiconductor absorber, creating electron-hole pairs to produce electricity.
Note: After its 50-year lifespan, the Nickel-63 decays into stable, non-radioactive copper, posing no environmental threat.

ENVIRONMENT

ZSI and Germany’s Museum Koenig Bonn Discovered Six New Sericinae Beetle Species in India In April 2025, the Kolkata (West Bengal, WB) based Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with Germany-based Museum Koenig Bonn, discovered six new species of Sericinae scarab beetles from the biodiversity-rich regions of Northeast India and the Western Ghats (Kerala).

• The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
• The joint research team, comprising Devanshu Gupta, Debika Bhunia, and Kailash Chandra from ZSI, and Dirk Ahrens from Museum Koenig, conducted extensive specimen analysis from the Coleoptera Section of ZSI in Kolkata (West Bengal) and Museum Koenig (Germany).

Newly Identified Beetle Species:
The six new species are:
i.Maladera champhaiensis – Mizoramii. Neoserica churachandpurensis – Manipuriii.Maladera barasingha – Named after the Indian swamp deeriv.Maladera lumlaensis – Arunachal Pradeshv.Serica subansiriensis – Arunachal Pradeshvi.Maladera onam – Kerala
Note: The study added new state records for Maladera bengalensis in Goa, Maladera seriatoguttata in Maharashtra, and 28 other beetle species, expanding distribution data.
Significance of Biodiversity Hotspots

• Northeast India: Five of the six new beetles were discovered here, which is a part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. This region is ecologically sensitive and known for its high endemism.
• Western Ghats (Kerala): A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, where Maladera onam was discovered, highlighting conservation challenges due to deforestation and human activity.

Ecological and Economic Importance:
Sericinae beetles play dual roles in ecosystems:

• Some are agricultural pests, affecting crops.
• Others contribute to soil health through aeration and nutrient recycling.

About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
Director – Dhriti Banerjee
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Established – 1916

New Frog Species Leptobrachium aryatium Discovered in Assam’s Garbhanga Reserve Forest
In April 2025, a new species of frog named Leptobrachium aryatium was officially described in a 21-year-long zoological study conducted in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, located in the southwestern part of Guwahati, Assam. The frog was named after Arya Vidyapeeth College, a reputed educational institution in Guwahati.

• The species discovery was published in Zootaxa journal and described by four Indian zoologists—Jayaditya Purkayastha from Guwahati (Assam)-based Help Earth (Non-Governmental Organisation – NGO), Dipankar Dutta from the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, Jayanta Gogoi from Arya Vidyapeeth College, Assam, and Saibal Sengupta from Assam Don Bosco University, Assam.

i.The frog belongs to the Leptobrachium genus, a group of stocky frogs characterized by broad heads, short hind limbs, and distinctive eye colors.
ii.It has fiery orange-and-black eyes, a reticulated throat pattern, and a smooth, rhythmic dusk-time call.
iii.The name “aryatium” honours Arya Vidyapeeth College, which influenced the renaming of the nearby area from “Sharabbhati” (a liquor-brewing hub) to “Aryanagar” in 2022 for community upliftment.
iv.The frog was first studied in 2004 and misidentified as Leptobrachium smithi (Southeast Asia and Bangladesh) due to limited information available at that time.

SPORTS

Magnus Carlsen Wins Inaugural Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025 in France
In April 2025, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the world’s top-ranked chess player, secured victory at the Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, held at Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy in Paris, France. This tournament marked the second leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025.​

• Carlsen clinched the title by defeating American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura with a score of 1.5–0.5 in the final match. He won the first game and drew the second, rendering a tiebreak unnecessary.

i.For his victory, Magnus Carlsen received a prize of USD 200,000 (approximately Rs 1.7 crore), while Hikaru Nakamura earned USD 140,000 as the runner-up.
ii.India’s Arjun Erigaisi finished fifth on Freestyle Chess debut after beating France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. He received a prize of USD 50,000 (approximately Rs 43 lakh).
iii.Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured 9th place in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour after defeating Hungary’s Richard Rapport in the placement match. This performance earned him a prize of USD 12,500.
Note: In 2013, Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand in 10 games at the world championship match in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), with a score of 3 wins and 7 draws. Carlsen was the second youngest player (after Kasparov) to win the world title.

OBITUARY

Former PM of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Passed Away
In April 2025, the former Prime Minister (PM) of Malaysia Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi who was affectionately known as ‘Pak Lah’ (uncle Lah) passed away at the age of 85 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.He was born on November 26, 1939 in the northern state of Penang in Malaysia.

• He served as the 5th PM of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009.

About Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:
i.Prior to starting his political career, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi served in the  Malaysian civil service for 14 years before resigning in 1978 to become a Member of Parliament (MP).

• He served as the Defence Minister and Foreign Minister of Malaysia.

ii.He was appointed deputy PM of Malaysia as well as Home Affairs Minister in January 1999 and held these portfolios till 2003.
iii.He became the PM of Malaysia in 2003 succeeding Mahatir bin Mohamad Abdullah, the sharp-tongued authoritarian leader who resigned after 22 years in power.
iv.He remained at the office of PM till 2009 following then-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had ruled the country since 1957 and of which his party United Malays National Organisation (UNMO) was a member, lose its parliamentary supermajority.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hemophilia Day 2025 – April 17World Hemophilia Day (WHD) is annually observed on 17 April across the globe to raise awareness about Hemophilia, a rare inherited bleeding disorder, and other related disorders that affect the blood’s ability to clot. The observance is organized by the Canada-based World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).

• WHD aims to promote understanding and advocacy for improved diagnosis, treatment, and support for people with bleeding disorders.
• April 17 2025, WHD marks its 31st anniversary.

Theme:
i.The theme for 2025 is “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too”.
ii.This year theme emphasizes the importance of equitable diagnosis and treatment for females with bleeding disorders—often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Background: 
i.World Haemophilia Day was first celebrated on the 17th of April 1989, by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH).
ii.April 17 commemorates the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the WFH.
What is Hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a condition where the blood lacks clotting factors, leading to prolonged bleeding. The major types are:

• Hemophilia A: Deficiency of Factor VIII – affects 21 in 100,000 males
• Hemophilia B (Christmas Disease): Deficiency of Factor IX – affects 4 in 100,000 males

Global Challenges:

• Treatment Gap: Only 25% of 1.1 million affected people worldwide receive adequate care, with 85% in low-income countries lacking access 10.
• Advocacy: WHD encourages policy changes to improve clotting factor therapies and comprehensive care programs

2025 Events:
The WFH 2025 Comprehensive Care Summit titled “New Developments in Bleeding Disorders and Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care” will be held from 23 to 25 April 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), in collaboration with the Hemophilia Eastern Mediterranean Network (HEMNET).
The WFH 2026 World Congress is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia from 19 to 22 April 2026.
About World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH): 
President- Cesar Garrido (Venezuela)
Headquarters– Québec, Canada
Established – 1963

STATE NEWS

Telangana Launches ‘Bhu Bharati’ Portal to Enhance Land Record Transparency
In April 2025, Chief Minister(CM) of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy  inaugurated the ‘Bhu Bharati’ portal, an integrated online revenue records management system designed to enhance land security and bring transparency to land records across the state. This initiative replaces the previous Dharani portal, introduced in 2020.​

• The portal operates under the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2024, which consolidates and amends the law relating to the record of rights in land in the state. Under this Act, landowners will be issued a Bhudhaar card.

i.The portal offers services such as online access to Record of Rights (RoR-1B), Pahani details, mutation applications, encumbrance certificates, and property registration slot bookings.
ii. The portal has been rolled out on a pilot basis in four mandals:Maddur (Narayanpet district), Nelakondapalli (Khammam district), Lingampeta (Kamareddy district), and Venkatapur (Mulugu district).
iii. Mandal Revenue Officers (MROs) will visit every revenue village in these mandals to resolve all pending land-related issues by May 1, 2025.
iv.Subsequently, one block in each district will be selected for a similar exercise, with statewide expansion planned from June 2, 2025.​

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